US3924923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat cable electrical connections and methods of making same
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-08
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1993-06-08
Abstract
Abstract Parallel conductors in a flat cable are connected to a row of slotted terminals by punching holes in the cable between adjacent conductors, locating the portions of the conductors which lie between the holes in alignment with the slots in the terminals, and moving the conductors laterally of the plane of the cable into the slots. A ladder type strip of stuffer or wedging pins is then located adjacent to the terminals with the pins in alignment with the slots and the pins are moved into the slots to retain the conductors in the slots and to urge them against edge portions of the slots in order to establish electrical contact.
Inventors
- 👤 John Robert Shoemaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/01; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/65; H01R12/67; H01R12/675; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/2445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A continuous strip of stuffer members, each of said stuffer members being adapted to be inserted into the conductor-receiving slot of a contact terminal member for the purpose of retaining a conductor in the slot, said strip comprising: two spaced-apart parallel co-planar carrier strips of polymeric insulating material, said stuffer members each comprising a stuffer pin which is adapted to be moved laterally of its axis against a conductor and into said slot, each of said pins comprising a flat sheet metal member having parallel side edges, an enlarged center section, and enlarged ends, said stuffer members extending between said strips of polymeric insulating material ladder-rung fashion, said stuffer members being spaced apart along the length of said carrier strips and having said enlarged ends adhered to said strips whereby, upon positioning each of a plurality of conductors in alignment with the slots of each of a plurality of contact terminals, and upon positioning a section of said stuffer strip proximate to said conductors with one stuffer pin parallel to each of said conductors, and upon subsequently moving said section of stuffer strip towards said conductors and then moving said stuffer strip and said conductors into said slots, said conductors will be engaged by the edges of said slots and thereby establish electrical contact with said terminals, and said stuffer pins will retain said conductors in said slots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A continuous strip of stuffer members, each of said stuffer members being adapted to be inserted into the conductor-receiving slot of a contact terminal member for the purpose of retaining a conductor in the slot, said strip comprising: two spaced-apart parallel co-planar carrier strips of polymeric insulating material, said stuffer members each comprising a stuffer pin which is adapted to be moved laterally of its axis against a conductor and into said slot, each of said pins comprising a flat sheet metal member having parallel side edges, an enlarged center section, and enlarged ends, said stuffer members extending between said strips of polymeric insulating material ladder-rung fashion, said stuffer members being spaced apart along the length of said carrier strips and having said enlarged ends adhered to said strips whereby, upon positioning each of a plurality of conductors in alignment with the slots of each of a plurality of contact terminals, and upon positioning a section of said stuffer strip proximate to said conductors with one stuffer pin parallel to each of said conductors, and upon subsequently moving said section of stuffer strip towards said conductors and then moving said stuffer strip and said conductors into said slots, said conductors will be engaged by the edges of said slots and thereby establish electrical contact with said terminals, and said stuffer pins will retain said conductors in said slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
279 words
A continuous strip of stuffer members, each of said stuffer members being adapted to be inserted into the conductor-receiving slot of a contact terminal member for the purpose of retaining a conductor in the slot, said strip comprising: two spaced-apart parallel co-planar carrier strips of polymeric insulating Material, said stuffer members each comprising a stuffer pin which is adapted to be moved laterally of its axis against a conductor and into said slot, said stuffer members extending between said strips of polymeric insulating material ladder-rung fashion, said stuffer members being spaced apart along the length of said carrier strips and having their ends adhered to said strips and a third carrier strip, each of said pins being integral with said third carrier strip, said third carrier strip extending beside one of said polymeric carrier strips and parallel to the edge thereof which is remote from the other one of said polymeric carrier strips, said third carrier strip being removable from said strip upon insertion of said pins into said slots whereby, upon positioning each of a plurality of conductors in alignment with the slots of each of a plurality of contact terminals, and upon positioning a section of said stuffer strip proximate to said conductors with one stuffer pin parallel to each of said conductors, and upon subsequently moving said section of stuffer strip towards said conductors and then moving said stuffer strip and said conductors into said slots, and removing said third carrier strip from said stuffer strip said conductors will be engaged by the edges of said slots and thereby establish electrical contact with said terminals, and said stuffer pins will retain said conductors in said slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
279 words
A continuous strip of stuffer members, each of said stuffer members being adapted to be inserted into the conductor-receiving slot of a contact terminal member for the purpose of retaining a conductor in the slot, said strip comprising: two spaced-apart parallel co-planar carrier strips of polymeric insulating Material, said stuffer members each comprising a stuffer pin which is adapted to be moved laterally of its axis against a conductor and into said slot, said stuffer members extending between said strips of polymeric insulating material ladder-rung fashion, said stuffer members being spaced apart along the length of said carrier strips and having their ends adhered to said strips and a third carrier strip, each of said pins being integral with said third carrier strip, said third carrier strip extending beside one of said polymeric carrier strips and parallel to the edge thereof which is remote from the other one of said polymeric carrier strips, said third carrier strip being removable from said strip upon insertion of said pins into said slots whereby, upon positioning each of a plurality of conductors in alignment with the slots of each of a plurality of contact terminals, and upon positioning a section of said stuffer strip proximate to said conductors with one stuffer pin parallel to each of said conductors, and upon subsequently moving said section of stuffer strip towards said conductors and then moving said stuffer strip and said conductors into said slots, and removing said third carrier strip from said stuffer strip said conductors will be engaged by the edges of said slots and thereby establish electrical contact with said terminals, and said stuffer pins will retain said conductors in said slots.
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) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |