Abstract An improved tubular ferrule which may be employed in a wire connector or the like comprises a helical coil of closely wound turns of generally elongate tubular form with each of the turns of the coil being bonded to an adjacent turn to form a crimpable tubular structure having an undulating interior surface and readily adaptable for use as an electrical connector or the like. The individual turns of the coil may be bonded to one another either by the selective application of a bonding material to the coil or by pre-coating the wire with a preferably heat responsive fusible material and subjecting the coil to a heating operation to fuse the turns together. Wire having a circular, rectangular, or other suitable cross section may be employed and selectively oriented to provide a variety of selective interior and exterior surface configurations. The wire may be pre-worked, prior to winding, to provide sharp protrusions thereon to enhance the engagement between the ferrule and external parts joined thereto.
Inventors
👤 Donald E. Loeber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-02 18:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A tubular ferrule comprising: a helical coil of wire formed from electrically conducting material and wound so that each of the turns of said coil directly abuts an adjacent turn, said coil having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said coil being defined by at least a portion of the inner surface of each of said turns, and said outer surface of said coil being defined by at least a portion of the outer surface of each of said turns; a plurality of spaced, generally sharp protrusions extending generally radially inwardly towards the interior of said coil from said inner surface of each of said turns for engagement with a conductor to be inserted within said ferrule; and bonding means joining adjacent turns together to form a substantially tubular structure, said bonding means joining said turns together adjacent said inner and said outer surface of said coil, said ferrule further comprising a plurality of spaced, generally sharp protrusions extending generally radially outwardly from said outer surface of each of said turns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A tubular ferrule comprising: a helical coil of wire formed from electrically conducting material and wound so that each of the turns of said coil directly abuts an adjacent turn, said coil having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said coil being defined by at least a portion of the inner surface of each of said turns, and said outer surface of said coil being defined by at least a portion of the outer surface of each of said turns; a plurality of spaced, generally sharp protrusions extending generally radially inwardly towards the interior of said coil from said inner surface of each of said turns for engagement with a conductor to be inserted within said ferrule; and bonding means joining adjacent turns together to form a substantially tubular structure, said bonding means joining said turns together adjacent said inner and said outer surface of said coil, said ferrule further comprising a plurality of spaced, generally sharp protrusions extending generally radially outwardly from said outer surface of each of said turns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tubular ferrule as defined in claim 1 further comprising a sleeve formed from electrically insulative material, and intimately disposed over said coil of wire, said outwardly extending protrusions engaging the inner surface of said sleeve to restrict the removal of said sleeve from said coil.