Patent US2324525A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4138604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical plug-type connector
Assignee: WC Heraus GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1976-07-16
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Granted: 1979-02-06
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Expires: 1996-07-16
Abstract
Abstract To provide low contact resistance, long life, and resistance against tarnishing under corrosive, particularly sulfur atmospheres, a substrate carrier has a layer of palladium applied thereto, of a thickness between 0.5 and 5 μm, preferably between 1 and 3 μm, to which a coating of gold is applied which is porous and has a thickness of only between 0.05 μm and 0.1 μm; the porous gold coating forms islands of gold on the palladium which, in use and as the terminal is wiped against a counter element, smears over the palladium, thus effectively covering the palladium, preventing tarnishing, and maintaining low contact resistance throughout the useful life of the terminal element.
Inventors
- 👤 Nils Harmsen
- 👤 Horst Markhof
- 👤 Walter Reichelt
- 👤 Klaus-Ludwig Schiff
- 👤 Horst Thiede
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/03; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; H01H1/023; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/929; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
Electrical plug-type terminal connector contact element adapted to be wiped against a counter element comprising a metal electrical plug-type termainal connector substrate and a gold surfaced contact layer in direct contact with and covering at least a portion of said metal plug-type terminal connector substrate, said contact layer consisting essentially of (i) a layer of palladium between about 0.5 and 5 μ m thick which is coated with (ii) a thin and a porous surface coating of hard gold having a thickness of between 0.05 μ m and 0.1 μ m.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
Electrical plug-type terminal connector contact element adapted to be wiped against a counter element comprising a metal electrical plug-type termainal connector substrate and a gold surfaced contact layer in direct contact with and covering at least a portion of said metal plug-type terminal connector substrate, said contact layer consisting essentially of (i) a layer of palladium between about 0.5 and 5 μ m thick which is coated with (ii) a thin and a porous surface coating of hard gold having a thickness of between 0.05 μ m and 0.1 μ m.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Contact element according to claim 1, wherein the contact layer and the gold layer completely surround the carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Contact element according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is a copper-base alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Contact element according to claim 3, wherein the palladium layer has a thickness of between 1 and 3 μ m.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Contact element according to claim 1, wherein the palladium layer is a layer applied by rolling on, roll bonding, vapor deposition sputtering or galvanic deposition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Contact element according to claim 1, wherein the gold coating comprises a coating applied by galvanic deposition, vacuum deposition including at least one of: evaporation; sputtering; or by ion implantation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Contact element according to claim 4 wherein said substrate is brass or bronze.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1982-02-05 | 1982-08-07 | 1983-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-05 | 1986-08-07 | 1987-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-05 | 1990-08-07 | 1991-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |