US4010993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector device
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1975-02-28
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Granted: 1977-03-08
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Expires: 1995-02-28
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a device for connecting electrical conductors, portions of which can be used as both a receptacle and as a mating connector for joining conductors of an electrical circuit. The device has an insulating body with a passageway extending therethrough from a front end to a rear end. An electrically conductive sleeve is inserted into the passageway, wherein the sleeve is locked and held by abutments formed in the passageway. The sleeve has a resilient electrical contact and serves as a female contact, receiving a mating male contact member. Alternatively the support end of a connector element can be inserted into the sleeve, converting it into a male contact which can be inserted into an insulating body identical to the firstmentioned insulating body to form a plug-type electrical connector. Attachment means, such as a soldering sleeve, is provided on one end of the sleeve for connecting the sleeve to an electrical circuit. An opening is provided in the body so that a tool can be used to withdraw the sleeve from the insulating body in order to replace the sleeve and/or male contact element.
Inventors
- 👤 Reiner Mathias Hohenberger
- 👤 Gerd Johann Emil Holst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/428; H01R13/434; H01R13/02; H01R13/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
An electrical connector device which may be used either as a female connector device or as a male connector device, said electrical connector device comprising: a body of insulating material having a passageway extending from a front end to a rear end and including an outwardly formed stop means between said ends; and a one-piece metallic sleeve located at least partially within said passageway and having outwardly extending resilient means cooperating with said stop means for positioning said sleeve in said passageway, the sleeve having front and rear end portions and contact means interconnecting said end portions, said contact means bowed inwardly to resiliently contact a projecting end portion of a first male contact element of a mating connector when such element is inserted into said sleeve in a direction from the front end of said passageway toward the rear end thereof with said contact means then acting as a female connector device, and said contact means also being outwardly expandible to alternatively engage and support an enlarged rear portion of a second male contact element constituting an adapter converting said sleeve from a female contact to a male contact when the combination of said sleeve and said second male contact element is inserted in said passageway in the opposite direction from the rear end thereof toward the front end thereof, said contact means receiving the second male contact element in a position where the smaller front portion of said second male contact element then extends outwardly from said body beyond the front end of said passageway, the sleeve including attachement means on said rear end portion for making electrical connection to an external conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
An electrical connector device which may be used either as a female connector device or as a male connector device, said electrical connector device comprising: a body of insulating material having a passageway extending from a front end to a rear end and including an outwardly formed stop means between said ends; and a one-piece metallic sleeve located at least partially within said passageway and having outwardly extending resilient means cooperating with said stop means for positioning said sleeve in said passageway, the sleeve having front and rear end portions and contact means interconnecting said end portions, said contact means bowed inwardly to resiliently contact a projecting end portion of a first male contact element of a mating connector when such element is inserted into said sleeve in a direction from the front end of said passageway toward the rear end thereof with said contact means then acting as a female connector device, and said contact means also being outwardly expandible to alternatively engage and support an enlarged rear portion of a second male contact element constituting an adapter converting said sleeve from a female contact to a male contact when the combination of said sleeve and said second male contact element is inserted in said passageway in the opposite direction from the rear end thereof toward the front end thereof, said contact means receiving the second male contact element in a position where the smaller front portion of said second male contact element then extends outwardly from said body beyond the front end of said passageway, the sleeve including attachement means on said rear end portion for making electrical connection to an external conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an outwardly projecting lug and said body has a groove receiving and engaging said lug to prevent rotation of said sleeve in said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body includes an opening communicating with said resilient means, whereby a tool can be inserted into said opening to elastically disengage said resilient means from said stop means to withdraw said sleeve from said passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
245 words
An electrical connector device adapted for use as a female connector device or a male connector device, said electrical connector device comprising a body of insulating material having a plurality of passageways extending therethrough from a front end to a rear end, with outwardly formed stop means between said ends in each of said passageways, metallic sleeves located in at least some of said passageways, said sleeve having outwardly extending resilient means cooperating with said stop means for positioning said sleeves in said passageways, each sleeve having front and rear end portions and contact means interconnecting said end portions, said contact means bowed inwardly to resiliently contact a projecting end portion of a first male contact element of a mating connector when said element is inserted into said sleeve in a direction from the front end of said passageway toward the rear end thereof so that said metallic sleeve constitutes a female connector device, the sleeve including attachment means on said rear end portion extending outwardly from said body for making electrical connection to an external conductor, and adapter means in at least one of said sleeves converting said sleeve from a female contact to a male contact, said adapter means comprising a male contact element having a rear portion engaged and supported by said contact means, and a smaller front portion extending outwardly from said body beyond the front end of the passageway in which said at least one of said sleeves is positioned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
245 words
An electrical connector device adapted for use as a female connector device or a male connector device, said electrical connector device comprising a body of insulating material having a plurality of passageways extending therethrough from a front end to a rear end, with outwardly formed stop means between said ends in each of said passageways, metallic sleeves located in at least some of said passageways, said sleeve having outwardly extending resilient means cooperating with said stop means for positioning said sleeves in said passageways, each sleeve having front and rear end portions and contact means interconnecting said end portions, said contact means bowed inwardly to resiliently contact a projecting end portion of a first male contact element of a mating connector when said element is inserted into said sleeve in a direction from the front end of said passageway toward the rear end thereof so that said metallic sleeve constitutes a female connector device, the sleeve including attachment means on said rear end portion extending outwardly from said body for making electrical connection to an external conductor, and adapter means in at least one of said sleeves converting said sleeve from a female contact to a male contact, said adapter means comprising a male contact element having a rear portion engaged and supported by said contact means, and a smaller front portion extending outwardly from said body beyond the front end of the passageway in which said at least one of said sleeves is positioned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said body has additional stop means adjacent said front end abutting against said sleeve, and stopping said sleeve and the rear portion of said male contact element from moving towards said front end.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-07 | 1980-09-06 | 1981-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-07 | 1984-09-06 | 1985-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-07 | 1988-09-06 | 1989-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |