Strimp

Claim 2

An electrical contact comprising: a metallic member having a conductor engaging portion and a mateable contact engaging portion, said conductor engaging portion comprising a base, a pair of spaced beam members extending from said base, a protrusion near the free end of each said beam member directed towards the protrusion on the opposite beam member, said protrusions and beam members defining therebetween an arrow head shaped slot, and a pair of arched legs, each leg connected between said base and the free end of one of said beam members to define therewith a quadrilateral whereby said beam members are held together against resilient deflection away from a conductor inserted into said slot by substantially straightening said arched legs to form a triangle with said base and beam members.

Claim 3

An electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said protrusions serve to pierce and displace insulation from an insulated conductor inserted therein.

Claim 4

An electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said mateable contact engaging portion comprises: a male pin.

Claim 5

An electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said mateable contact engaging portion comprises: a female receptacle.

Claim 6

An electrical contact according to claim 1 further comprising strain relief means parallel to and spaced from said conductor engaging portion, said strain relief means comprising a pair of parallel spaced beam members joined together at one end and a pair of bridge members each joining the free end of one of said beam members to the free end of a corresponding conductor engaging beam member, said strain relief beam members defining therebetween a slot having dimensions substantially the same as the outer dimensions of the conductor inserted therein whereby the insulation of said conductor will be grasped but not pierced by said strain relief beams as they are bent together.

Claim 7

An electrical contact according to claim 1 further comprising: means fixedly mounting said contact in a connector housing.

Claim 8

An electrical contact according to claim 6 wherein said contact mounting means comprises: locking lances engageable with detents in said housing.

Claim 9

An electrical contact according to claim 6 wherein said contact mounting means comprises: shoulders engageable with like shoulders in said housing.

Claim 10

An electrical contact according to claim 6 wherein said contact mounting means comprises: steps engageable with like steps in said housing.

Claim 11

An improved electrical contact of the slotted beam type comprising: a unitary metallic member stamped and formed from a continuous strip of metal and including a conductor engaging portion and a mateable contact engaging portion, said conductor engaging portion including a base, a pair of spaced beam members extending from said base with inwardly directed protrusions near the upper ends of said beam members and with said members defining a substantially arrow head shaped slot therebetween, and an arched shaped leg outwardly positioned of each said beam members integrally attached at opposite ends to said base and the free end of the respective beam member to form a quadrilateral therewith whereby upon straightening of said arched leg a substantially triangular configuration is formed resulting in a rigid closed slotted beam.

Claim 12

An improved electrical contact of the slotted beam type comprising: a unitary metallic member stamped and formed from a continuous strip of metal and including a conductor engaging portion and a mateable contact engaging portion, said conductor engaging portion including a base, a pair of spaced beam members extending from said base with inwardly directed protrusions near the upper ends of said beam members and with said members defining a substantially arrow head shaped slot therebetween, and an arched shaped leg outwardly positioned of each said beam members integrally attached at opposite ends to said base and the free end of the respective beam member to form a quadrilateral therewith whereby upon straightening of said arched leg a substantially triangular configuration is formed resulting in a rigid closed slotted beam.

Claim 13

The electrical contact according to claim 10 wherein: said mateable contact engaging portion is a male pin.

Claim 14

The electrical contact according to claim 10 wherein: said mateable contact engaging portion is a female receptacle.

Claim 15

The electrical contact according to claim 10 further comprising: locking means adapted to fixedly mount said contact in an associated connector housing.

Claim 16

The electrical contact according to claim 10 further comprising: strain relief means including a pair of beam members joined together at one end defining a slot therebetween which is substantially the same width as the outer diameter of the conductor to be received therein, and a pair of bridge members each connecting the free end of one of said strain relief beam members to the free end of the corresponding conductor engaging beam member, whereby when said conductor engaging beams are driven together said strain relief beams tightly engage but do not pierce the insulator sheath of said conductor.

Claim 17

The electrical contact according to claim 14 wherein said strain relief means is parallel to and spaced from said conductor engaging portion.

Claim 18

An electrical connector comprising: a housing having a plurality of contact receiving passageways therein, and a like plurality of contacts each mounted in a respective passageway of said housing, each said contact comprising an integral metal member having a conductor engaging portion and a mateable contact engaging portion, said conductor portion comprising a base, a pair of beam members extending from said base defining therebetween a slot having an arrow head configuration, and a pair of arched legs each connected between said base and the free end of a respective beam member to define a quadrilateral which, upon substantial straightening of said arched leg, becomes a triangle resisting separation of said beam members.

Claim 19

An electrical connector comprising: a housing having a plurality of contact receiving passageways therein, and a like plurality of contacts each mounted in a respective passageway of said housing, each said contact comprising an integral metal member having a conductor engaging portion and a mateable contact engaging portion, said conductor portion comprising a base, a pair of beam members extending from said base defining therebetween a slot having an arrow head configuration, and a pair of arched legs each connected between said base and the free end of a respective beam member to define a quadrilateral which, upon substantial straightening of said arched leg, becomes a triangle resisting separation of said beam members.