Plug-in terminal

Claim 2

An electrical connector, which comprises: an elongated ferrule base constructed of electrically conductive, ductile material; a pair of first side walls projecting in the same direction from opposite sides of said ferrule base along the length thereof, said first side walls being of different heights and being of sufficient heights to be deformed toward each other to abut the end of the shorter side wall against the edge face of the longer side wall to define with the ferrule base a triangular configuration, and a pair of second side walls projecting in said same direction from opposite sides of said ferrule base along the length thereof, said second side walls being of different heights and projecting further from said base than said first side walls, and being of sufficient heights to be deformed toward each other to abut the end of the shorter second side wall against the edge face of the longer second side wall to define with the ferrule base a triangular configuration having a cross-sectional area which is greater than that of the triangular configuration defined by the deformed first side walls.

Claim 3

An electrical connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein the shorter walls of said pairs of first and second walls project from opposite sides of said ferrule base.

Claim 4

An electrical connector as defined in claim 1, which includes: a pair of third side walls projecting in said same direction from opposite sides of said ferrule base, said third walls being of equal heights.

Claim 5

An electrical connector for an insulated electrical conductor having a stripped end section, which comprises: an elongated ferrule base constructed of electrically conductive, deformable material for receiving in overlying relation the stripped end section and an adjacent end portion of said insulated conductor; a pair of first walls projecting from opposite edges of said ferrule base, said first walls being deformed toward each other and being of sufficient heights to substantially encircle and grip the insulation adjacent the stripped end of the conductor; a pair of second walls projecting from opposite edges of said ferrule base, said second walls being deformed toward each other and being of sufficient heights to abut the end of a second side wall against the inner edge face of the other second wall to define with the ferrule base a triangular configuration for firmly gripping a portion of the stripped end section of the conductor adjacent to the gripped insulation; and a pair of third walls projecting from opposite edges of said ferrule base, said third walls being of heights greater than the heights of the second walls, said third walls also being deformed toward each other to abut the end of a third wall against the inner edge face of the other third wall to define with the ferrule base a triangular configuration of greater cross-sectional area than that defined by the second side walls for encircling and lightly gripping the extremity of the stripped end section of the conductor.

Claim 6

An electrical connector for an insulated electrical conductor having a stripped end section, which comprises: an elongated ferrule base constructed of electrically conductive, deformable material for receiving in overlying relation the stripped end section and an adjacent end portion of said insulated conductor; a pair of first walls projecting from opposite edges of said ferrule base, said first walls being deformed toward each other and being of sufficient heights to substantially encircle and grip the insulation adjacent the stripped end of the conductor; a pair of second walls projecting from opposite edges of said ferrule base, said second walls being deformed toward each other and being of sufficient heights to abut the end of a second side wall against the inner edge face of the other second wall to define with the ferrule base a triangular configuration for firmly gripping a portion of the stripped end section of the conductor adjacent to the gripped insulation; and a pair of third walls projecting from opposite edges of said ferrule base, said third walls being of heights greater than the heights of the second walls, said third walls also being deformed toward each other to abut the end of a third wall against the inner edge face of the other third wall to define with the ferrule base a triangular configuration of greater cross-sectional area than that defined by the second side walls for encircling and lightly gripping the extremity of the stripped end section of the conductor.

Claim 7

A circuit board and terminal plug assembly, wherein the circuit board has a hole extending therethrough and a circuit path on one side thereof which extends to said hole, and the terminal plug comprises: a connector as defined in claim 4 seated within said hole with said third pair of walls projecting from said circuit path side of said board and beyond said circuit path; and a glob of solder secured to said circuit path and said third walls, and extending into the deformed third side walls and around the lightly gripped end of the conductor to electrically connect the conductor to said circuit path.

Claim 8

A circuit board and terminal plug assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the connector includes: a pair of laterally extending stop arms engaging a surface of the circuit board for positioning said connector with the deformed third walls projecting beyond said circuit path and said deformed second walls within said hole; and a pair of projecting locking cleats engaging said circuit path for holding said connector against withdrawal from said hole.

Claim 9

In an electrical connector of a ductile conductive metal for terminating a stranded insulated wire at an end thereof which has the insulation stripped therefrom: an elongated base member for having the wire overlaid on a surface thereof along its length with the insulation adjacent the stripped end overlying a first end of the base, with the extremity of the stripped end overlying a second and opposite end of the base, and with the length of wire between the extremity and the insulation overlying a central portion of the base; a first pair of side walls at the first end of the base projecting up from opposite sides of the base between which a channel is defined extending along the length of the base from the first to the second and opposite end of the base, and deformable around the insulation on a wire overlying the base thereat to surround the insulation within the channel; a second pair of first and second side walls at the second end of the base projecting up from opposite sides of the base and between which the channel passes, and deformable around the extremity of the stripped end of a wire overlying the base thereat to abut the end of one side wall of the pair against the edge face of the other side wall of the pair to loosely grip the strands within the channel, and with the base to define an open-ended triangular shaped configuration; a third pair of first and second side walls projecting up from opposite sides of the base at the central portion thereof and between which the channel passes, and deformable around the stripped end of a wire overlying the base thereat to abut the end of one side wall of the pair against the edge face of the other side wall of the pair to tightly grip the strands within the channel, and with the base to define a triangular shaped configuration, wherein the first side wall of each of the second and third pairs of side walls is on the same side of the base, the first side wall of the third pair projects further from the base than the second side wall of that pair, the second side wall of the second pair projects further from the base than both the first side wall of that pair and of the third pair, the first side wall of the second pair projects further from the base than the second side wall of the third pair, the end of the first side wall of the second pair abuts the edge face of the second side wall of that pair, and the end of the second side wall of the third pair abuts the edge face of the first side wall of that pair, and a pair of arms which extend in opposite directions beyond the sides of the base at a point intermediate the first and the third pairs of side walls, each arm having an edge toward the second end of the base which extends essentially perpendicular to the length of the base.

Claim 10

In an electrical connector of a ductile conductive metal for terminating a stranded insulated wire at an end thereof which has the insulation stripped therefrom: an elongated base member for having the wire overlaid on a surface thereof along its length with the insulation adjacent the stripped end overlying a first end of the base, with the extremity of the stripped end overlying a second and opposite end of the base, and with the length of wire between the extremity and the insulation overlying a central portion of the base; a first pair of side walls at the first end of the base projecting up from opposite sides of the base between which a channel is defined extending along the length of the base from the first to the second and opposite end of the base, and deformable around the insulation on a wire overlying the base thereat to surround the insulation within the channel; a second pair of first and second side walls at the second end of the base projecting up from opposite sides of the base and between which the channel passes, and deformable around the extremity of the stripped end of a wire overlying the base thereat to abut the end of one side wall of the pair against the edge face of the other side wall of the pair to loosely grip the strands within the channel, and with the base to define an open-ended triangular shaped configuration; a third pair of first and second side walls projecting up from opposite sides of the base at the central portion thereof and between which the channel passes, and deformable around the stripped end of a wire overlying the base thereat to abut the end of one side wall of the pair against the edge face of the other side wall of the pair to tightly grip the strands within the channel, and with the base to define a triangular shaped configuration, wherein the first side wall of each of the second and third pairs of side walls is on the same side of the base, the first side wall of the third pair projects further from the base than the second side wall of that pair, the second side wall of the second pair projects further from the base than both the first side wall of that pair and of the third pair, the first side wall of the second pair projects further from the base than the second side wall of the third pair, the end of the first side wall of the second pair abuts the edge face of the second side wall of that pair, and the end of the second side wall of the third pair abuts the edge face of the first side wall of that pair, and a pair of arms which extend in opposite directions beyond the sides of the base at a point intermediate the first and the third pairs of side walls, each arm having an edge toward the second end of the base which extends essentially perpendicular to the length of the base.

Claim 11

In a wire connector of a ductile conductive metal for terminating an insulated wire having the insulation stripped from an end thereof: an elongated base for having the wire overlaid on a surface thereof along its length with the insulation adjacent the stripped end overlying a first end of the base, with the extremity of the stripped end overlying a second and opposite end of the base, and with the length of wire between the extremity of the stripped end and the insulation overlying a central portion of the base; a first pair of first and second side walls extending from the surface of the base at the first end of the base on opposite sides thereof, bendable around the insulation on a wire overlying the first end of the base; a second pair of first and second side walls extending from the surface of the base at the central portion of the base on opposite sides thereof with the second side wall extending further from the base than the first side wall, bendable around a wire overlying the base thereat into an opposing relationship to abut the end of the first side wall against the edge face of the second side wall and to define with the base a triangular shaped configuration, the height of the side walls being chosen to tightly grip the wire therewith, and a third pair of first and second side walls extending from the surface of the base at the second end of the base on opposite sides thereof, bendable around the extremity of a wire overlying the base thereat into an opposing relationship to abut the end of the second side wall against the edge face of the first side wall and to define with the base an open-ended triangular shaped configuration, the first side wall of the pair extending further from the base than the second side wall thereof, and the first and second side walls of the third pair extending further from the base than the second and first side walls, respectively, of the second pair, to grip the wire with the third pair of side walls less tightly than with the second pair of side walls.

Claim 12

In a wire connector of a ductile conductive metal for terminating an insulated wire having the insulation stripped from an end thereof: an elongated base for having the wire overlaid on a surface thereof along its length with the insulation adjacent the stripped end overlying a first end of the base, with the extremity of the stripped end overlying a second and opposite end of the base, and with the length of wire between the extremity of the stripped end and the insulation overlying a central portion of the base; a first pair of first and second side walls extending from the surface of the base at the first end of the base on opposite sides thereof, bendable around the insulation on a wire overlying the first end of the base; a second pair of first and second side walls extending from the surface of the base at the central portion of the base on opposite sides thereof with the second side wall extending further from the base than the first side wall, bendable around a wire overlying the base thereat into an opposing relationship to abut the end of the first side wall against the edge face of the second side wall and to define with the base a triangular shaped configuration, the height of the side walls being chosen to tightly grip the wire therewith, and a third pair of first and second side walls extending from the surface of the base at the second end of the base on opposite sides thereof, bendable around the extremity of a wire overlying the base thereat into an opposing relationship to abut the end of the second side wall against the edge face of the first side wall and to define with the base an open-ended triangular shaped configuration, the first side wall of the pair extending further from the base than the second side wall thereof, and the first and second side walls of the third pair extending further from the base than the second and first side walls, respectively, of the second pair, to grip the wire with the third pair of side walls less tightly than with the second pair of side walls.