US4158473A — Convertible cylindrical electrical connector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

An electrical connector comprising: a cylindrically-shaped plug including a front surface adapted to engage a mating receptacle; said plug including a plug rear surface, said plug having a plurality of cavities therein, said cavities being open on said front surface and said plug rear surface on said plug; at least one removable module adapted to be received in said cavities, said module having at least one hole therethrough for receiving an electrical contact; said cavities in said plug being adapted to receive various types of said module having various numbers of holes and contacts whereby a single plug may be used for a plurality of electrical connector functions; at least one recess located in each of said cavities a predetermined distance from said front surface of said plug; at least one tab protruding from the rear surface of said module for engaging said recess, thereby restricting the movement of said module towards the front of said plug; said tab being integral with said module; said tab being exposed to said rear plug surface for ease of removal of said module from said plug.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 183 words

An electrical connector comprising: a cylindrically-shaped plug including a front surface adapted to engage a mating receptacle; said plug including a plug rear surface, said plug having a plurality of cavities therein, said cavities being open on said front surface and said plug rear surface on said plug; at least one removable module adapted to be received in said cavities, said module having at least one hole therethrough for receiving an electrical contact; said cavities in said plug being adapted to receive various types of said module having various numbers of holes and contacts whereby a single plug may be used for a plurality of electrical connector functions; at least one recess located in each of said cavities a predetermined distance from said front surface of said plug; at least one tab protruding from the rear surface of said module for engaging said recess, thereby restricting the movement of said module towards the front of said plug; said tab being integral with said module; said tab being exposed to said rear plug surface for ease of removal of said module from said plug.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

A connector as set forth in claim 1 further including alignment indicators on the front surface of said plug and on the front surface of said module for properly fitting and aligning said module in said plug.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the openings of said plurality of cavities are arranged substantially symmetrically about the horizontal and vertical axis of said front surface of said plug.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said cavities includes an opening to the rear surface of said plug, and further including at least one protruding shoulder located in each of said cavities, said shoulder being a predetermined distance from the front surface of said plug for restricting the movement of said module towards the rear of said plug.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tab includes a shoulder portion extending outwardly from said tab for engaging said recess in each said cavities.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

A connector as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of holes extending through said plug parallel to said cavities, each of said holes adapted to receive a single electrical contact.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 180 words

An electrical connector comprising: a receptacle adapted to mate with a plug, said receptacle having a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of cavities therethrough; at least one module shaped similarly to said cavities and adapted to be received in and removed from said cavities; said module having a front surface and a rear surface and at least one hole therethrough for receiving an electrical contact wherein said receptacle may be used with a plurality of different types of module for different connector functions; means for inhibiting the movement of said module to the rear of said receptacle when said module has been inserted in said receptacle; each of said cavities being open to said front surface of said receptacle; a resilient tab integral with said module for inhibiting the movement of said module towards the front of said receptacle when said module is inserted in said receptacle, said tab projecting away from said rear surface of said module; said tab being exposed to said rear receptacle surface for ease of removal of said module from said receptacle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 180 words

An electrical connector comprising: a receptacle adapted to mate with a plug, said receptacle having a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of cavities therethrough; at least one module shaped similarly to said cavities and adapted to be received in and removed from said cavities; said module having a front surface and a rear surface and at least one hole therethrough for receiving an electrical contact wherein said receptacle may be used with a plurality of different types of module for different connector functions; means for inhibiting the movement of said module to the rear of said receptacle when said module has been inserted in said receptacle; each of said cavities being open to said front surface of said receptacle; a resilient tab integral with said module for inhibiting the movement of said module towards the front of said receptacle when said module is inserted in said receptacle, said tab projecting away from said rear surface of said module; said tab being exposed to said rear receptacle surface for ease of removal of said module from said receptacle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

A connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein said module is made from an electrically insulating material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

A connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein said receptacle is made from an electrically insulating material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

A connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein said means for preventing movement to the rear includes at least one shoulder in said cavity located a predetermined distance from the front surface of said receptacle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

A connector as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cavities are situated symmetrically with respect to the horizontal and vertical axis of the front surface of said receptacle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

A connector as set forth in claim 7 further including at least one hole in said receptacle located parallel to said cavities, said hole being adapted to receive an electrical contact.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 147 words

An electrical connector comprising: a cylindrical plug and a cylindrical receptacle, each having a plurality of cavities therethrough; said plug and receptacle each having a front surface and a rear surface, said respective cavities having openings to both said surfaces; a plurality of modules adapted to be removably received in said plurality of cavities; each of said modules having a front and rear surface having at least one hole therethrough for receiving an electrical contact; tab means integral with said modules for inhibiting the movement of said modules toward the respective front surfaces; said tab means projecting away from the rear surface of said modules, and means for inhibiting the movement of said modules toward the respective rear surfaces of said plug and receptacle; said tab being exposed to said rear plug and receptacle surface for ease of removal of said module from said plug and receptacle.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 147 words

An electrical connector comprising: a cylindrical plug and a cylindrical receptacle, each having a plurality of cavities therethrough; said plug and receptacle each having a front surface and a rear surface, said respective cavities having openings to both said surfaces; a plurality of modules adapted to be removably received in said plurality of cavities; each of said modules having a front and rear surface having at least one hole therethrough for receiving an electrical contact; tab means integral with said modules for inhibiting the movement of said modules toward the respective front surfaces; said tab means projecting away from the rear surface of said modules, and means for inhibiting the movement of said modules toward the respective rear surfaces of said plug and receptacle; said tab being exposed to said rear plug and receptacle surface for ease of removal of said module from said plug and receptacle.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

A connector as set forth in claim 13 further including key means for aligning the cavities of said plug with the respective cavities of said receptacle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 68 words

A connector as set forth in claim 14 wherein said key means includes a plurality of rails located on the outer surface of said plug parallel to said plug cavities and further includes a plurality of recesses located on the inner surface of said receptacle parallel to said receptacle cavities, said rails and recesses placed in a nonsymmetrical fashion, said rails adapted to be received in said recesses.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 157 words

A cylindrically-shaped plastic electrical connector comprising: a plug and a receptacle, each having a plurality of cavities therethrough; contact carrying removable modules received in said cavities of said plug and receptacle; each of said modules having a front and a rear surface; said cavities including a first pair of shoulders for inhibiting the movement of said modules in one direction; a pair of tabs extending from said rear surfaces of and integral with each of said modules; a second pair of shoulders extending from said tabs; a pair of recesses in said cavities for receiving said second pair of shoulders for inhibiting the movement of said modules in the other direction; a plurality of holes in said plug and receptacles substantially parallel to said cavities, said holes for receiving a plurality of electrical contacts; said tabs being exposed to said rear plug and receptacle surface for ease of removal of said module from said plug and receptacle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 157 words

A cylindrically-shaped plastic electrical connector comprising: a plug and a receptacle, each having a plurality of cavities therethrough; contact carrying removable modules received in said cavities of said plug and receptacle; each of said modules having a front and a rear surface; said cavities including a first pair of shoulders for inhibiting the movement of said modules in one direction; a pair of tabs extending from said rear surfaces of and integral with each of said modules; a second pair of shoulders extending from said tabs; a pair of recesses in said cavities for receiving said second pair of shoulders for inhibiting the movement of said modules in the other direction; a plurality of holes in said plug and receptacles substantially parallel to said cavities, said holes for receiving a plurality of electrical contacts; said tabs being exposed to said rear plug and receptacle surface for ease of removal of said module from said plug and receptacle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-06-18	1982-12-18	1983-06-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-06-18	1986-12-18	1987-06-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-06-18	1990-12-18	1991-06-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Convertible cylindrical electrical connector

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