US3899236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector
Assignee: Buchanan Construction Products Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-24
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1994-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A solderless electrically insulated connector has an insulating body including a base portion and a cover portion. The cover portion includes a depressible member and a resilient metal contact element fixedly retained therein for movement with respect thereto. The base portion is longitudinally grooved to accept insulated electrically conductive wires therein. Both the base portion and the cover portion are provided with a first locking means for locking the base and cover portions together. During installation, movement of the depressible member causes the contact element to be forced into the base portion thereby causing the resilient metal contact element to make a common electrically conductive contact with each of the wires inserted therein. The contact element is retained in its depressed position by tangs provided thereon thereby providing a second locking means between the cover and base portions.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony J Santos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/242; H01R4/2425; H01R4/2429; H01R4/2433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Electrical connector apparatus comprising: a. an insulating body member including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion including means for receiving a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires therein; and b. a contact element in said second portion movable between a first position and a second position relative to said second portion for providing common electrically conductive engagement with said plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires positioned within said receiving means, said contact element including means for fixedly engaging said first portion upon movement thereof to said second position thereby providing means for locking said first portion and said second portion together upon said movement of said contact element to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Electrical connector apparatus comprising: a. an insulating body member including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion including means for receiving a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires therein; and b. a contact element in said second portion movable between a first position and a second position relative to said second portion for providing common electrically conductive engagement with said plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires positioned within said receiving means, said contact element including means for fixedly engaging said first portion upon movement thereof to said second position thereby providing means for locking said first portion and said second portion together upon said movement of said contact element to said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises a plurality of grooves each having means therein adapted to cooperate with said insulated wires for retaining said wires within said grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of opposed obliquely extending wall portions disposed in a direction resisting longitudinal withdrawal of said wire engaged thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body member includes separate means for locking said first and second portions together independent of said last-mentioned means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first and second portions are connected together by a longitudinally extending integral hinge along one side thereof and said separate locking means comprises cooperating hook-shaped protrusions provided on said first and second portions along the side opposite said one side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second portion includes a depressible member adapted to retain said contact element therein, and means joining said depressible member to said second portion for enabling said contact element to be moved from said first position to said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said joining means comprises a flexible web joined between said depressible member and said second portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said second portion includes a recess therein defining the path of movement of said depressible member between said first position and said second position, said web being joined between said depressible member and the interior wall of said recess, said contact element being retained in a groove disposed in the lowermost portion of said depressible member, whereby in said first position said uppermost portion of said member is adapted to extend above the upper surface of said second portion and in said second position said depressible member is adapted to be seated within said recess with its said uppermost portion substantially flush with the upper surface of said second portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said contact element includes a plurality of tangs for fixedly retaining at least a portion of said depressible member in said groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said contact element includes a plurality of slots therein for engaging the conductive cores of a like plurality of Wires positioned within said receiving means and a second plurality of tangs provided on said contact element and defining said means for fixedly engaging said first portion upon movement of said contact element to said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Electrical connector apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the longitudinally opposed edges of at least one of said slots are slightly bent out of the plane of the contact element in a direction resisting longitudinal withdrawal of said wire engaged thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
A solderless electrical connector comprising: a. a unitary insulating body member having a cover portion and a base portion interconnected by an integral longitudinal hinge along one side thereof, said body member including a first locking means for locking said cover portion relative to said base portion, said base portion having internal longitudinally extending wire receiving grooves therein, said cover portion including a depressible member; and b. a resilient slotted contact element for making electrically conductive contact with the electrically conductive cores of insulated wires inserted within said longitudinal grooves, said contact element being provided with tangs located on the upper and lower portions of the outer edges thereof, said upper tangs fixedly retaining said contact element within said depressible member and said lower tangs fixedly retaining said contact element within said base portion when said contact element is caused to engage said insulated wires thereby providing electrical conductive contact between the cores of said wires and providing a second locking means between said cover and base portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A solderless electrical connector comprising: a. a unitary insulating body member having a cover portion and a base portion interconnected by an integral longitudinal hinge along one side thereof, said body member including a first locking means for locking said cover portion relative to said base portion, said base portion having internal longitudinally extending wire receiving grooves therein, said cover portion including a depressible member; and b. a resilient slotted contact element for making electrically conductive contact with the electrically conductive cores of insulated wires inserted within said longitudinal grooves, said contact element being provided with tangs located on the upper and lower portions of the outer edges thereof, said upper tangs fixedly retaining said contact element within said depressible member and said lower tangs fixedly retaining said contact element within said base portion when said contact element is caused to engage said insulated wires thereby providing electrical conductive contact between the cores of said wires and providing a second locking means between said cover and base portions.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
200 words
The method of making and electrically insulating a solderless connection between a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires using connector apparatus comprising an insulation body member including first and second portions, said body member including first means for locking said first and second portions together, said first portion including means for receiving said plurality of electrically conductive wires therein, and a contact element in said second portion movable between a first position and a second position for providing common electrically conductive engagement with said plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires positioned within said receiving means, said contact element including means for fixedly engaging said first portion upon movement thereof to said second position to provide a second means for locking said first portion and said second portion together, said method comprising: a. positioning a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires within said receiving means; b. actuating said first locking means to retain said insulated electrically conductive wires in position with said contact element in its said first position; and c. moving said contact element to its said second position to actuate said second locking means and simultaneously provide said common electrically conductive engagement among said plurality of electrically conductive wires.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
200 words
The method of making and electrically insulating a solderless connection between a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires using connector apparatus comprising an insulation body member including first and second portions, said body member including first means for locking said first and second portions together, said first portion including means for receiving said plurality of electrically conductive wires therein, and a contact element in said second portion movable between a first position and a second position for providing common electrically conductive engagement with said plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires positioned within said receiving means, said contact element including means for fixedly engaging said first portion upon movement thereof to said second position to provide a second means for locking said first portion and said second portion together, said method comprising: a. positioning a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires within said receiving means; b. actuating said first locking means to retain said insulated electrically conductive wires in position with said contact element in its said first position; and c. moving said contact element to its said second position to actuate said second locking means and simultaneously provide said common electrically conductive engagement among said plurality of electrically conductive wires.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |