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US4017143A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solderless electrical contact

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1975-12-16
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Granted: 1977-04-12
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Expires: 1995-12-16
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Abstract

Abstract A solderless electrical contact is shown having first and second ends for connection to conductive elements joined by a central section having a C-shaped cross section with opposing arms tapering to a reduced end thickness for press-fit mounting into a printed circuit board aperture. The tapering arms of the C-shaped cross section provide uniformly stressed beams that allow the radii of each arm to better conform to tolerance variations of the aperture without creating undue stresses therein.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert Gordon Knowles

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 14:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/58; H01R12/585

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
An electrical contact for insertion into a mounting plane aperture wherein said contact comprises: an aperture engaging section having a C-shaped cross section formed from opposing arms; and said opposing arms engaging said aperture along their outer surface to the ends thereof and tapering over a circumferential arc greater than 90° to a reduced cross-sectional thickness at the ends thereof for reducing internal stress within said C-shaped section as said section is inserted into said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 76 words
An electrical contact for insertion into a mounting plane aperture wherein said contact comprises: an aperture engaging section having a C-shaped cross section formed from opposing arms; and said opposing arms engaging said aperture along their outer surface to the ends thereof and tapering over a circumferential arc greater than 90° to a reduced cross-sectional thickness at the ends thereof for reducing internal stress within said C-shaped section as said section is inserted into said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
An electrical contact for insertion into a mounting plane aperture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said C-shaped section has an outer diameter for insertion into a mounting plane aperture whose inner diameter may be from 8.5 to 21 percent smaller than said outer diameter of said C-shaped section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 88 words
A contact for electrical connection to conductive elements and for insertion into an insulated board having a mounting aperture therein, comprising: a first end section for engaging a first of said conductive elements; a second end section for engagement with a second of said conductive elements; and a center section joining said first and second end sections having a C-shaped cross section formed by opposing arms that taper over a circumferential arc greater than 90° to a reduced cross-sectional thickness for insertion into said insulated board mounting aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 88 words
A contact for electrical connection to conductive elements and for insertion into an insulated board having a mounting aperture therein, comprising: a first end section for engaging a first of said conductive elements; a second end section for engagement with a second of said conductive elements; and a center section joining said first and second end sections having a C-shaped cross section formed by opposing arms that taper over a circumferential arc greater than 90° to a reduced cross-sectional thickness for insertion into said insulated board mounting aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
A contact for insertion into an insulated board having mounting apertures as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting apertures are lined with a conductive layer to provide a third conductive element to which said contact may be electrically connected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 41 words
A contact for insertion into an insulated board having mounting apertures as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end section merges into said C-shaped cross section through a slotted truncated cone section which prevents the deformation of said mounting aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
A contact for insertion into an insulated board having mounting apertures as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end section includes a square cross-sectional wire-wrap tail about which said first conductive element may be wrapped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
A contact for insertion into an insulated board having mounting apertures as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end section includes a hat-shaped cross sectional wire-wrap tail having a cross-sectional thickness slightly greater than said cross-sectional thickness of said C-shaped cross section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 49 words
A contact for insertion into an insulated board having mounting apertures as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end section includes a hat-shaped cross-sectional wire-wrap tail having a cross-sectional thickness equal to said cross-sectional thickness of said C-shaped cross section at the thickest portion of said opposing arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 90 words
An electrical contact for insertion into an aperture comprising: a C-shaped cross section for insertion into said aperture formed from joined opposing arms having outer surfaces that engage the inner surface of said aperture along the full axial length and full circumferential width of said opposing arm surfaces; said opposing arms tapering from the jointure thereof along the full circumferential width of said opposing arms to a reduced cross-sectional thickness at the ends thereof for reducing internal stress within the C-shaped section as said contact is inserted into said aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 90 words
An electrical contact for insertion into an aperture comprising: a C-shaped cross section for insertion into said aperture formed from joined opposing arms having outer surfaces that engage the inner surface of said aperture along the full axial length and full circumferential width of said opposing arm surfaces; said opposing arms tapering from the jointure thereof along the full circumferential width of said opposing arms to a reduced cross-sectional thickness at the ends thereof for reducing internal stress within the C-shaped section as said contact is inserted into said aperture.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2755453A Cited
US3185952A Cited
US3444504A Cited
US3783433A Cited
US3846741A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-04-11 1980-10-11 1981-04-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-04-11 1984-10-11 1985-04-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-04-11 1988-10-11 1989-04-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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