US4197804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical contact retention bushing method of making
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1978-08-21
•
Granted: 1980-04-15
•
Expires: 1998-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An electrical contact retention bushing (100) which is stamped and formed from flat stock. The bushing is stamped in a shape that includes a base portion (110) with a plurality of fingers (120) extending from the base portion. Each finger (120) includes at least one (and preferably two) retention tine (130). Once formed, the bushing fits within and seats on a shoulder (312) of a wafer (300) within an electrical connector. The bushing retains an electrical contact (500) by engaging a shoulder (510) of the contact with the tines (130) on the fingers (120). The bushing (100) is preferably stamped from a soft metal which is then heat-treated to harden it and formed into the desired shape to save weight and manufacturing and material costs when compared with a machined bushing.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert K. Uhlig
- 👤 Clifford R. Waldron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/426; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/49218
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a bushing for retaining an electrical contact within an electrical connector, the steps of the method comprising: stamping from flat stock a predetermined shape having an elongated base portion and a plurality of elongated members extending forwardly from the base, each of said members having laterally-extending projections located intermediate their length; forming the base portion into a three-dimensional shape having two laterally extending shoulders; forming the projections out of the plane of the members by bending the projections to a position extending transversely to the members to form retention tines adapted to engage a contact; and forming the entire retention bushing into a ring-like shape with the tines extending inwardly, the ends of the base portion meeting at a seam and the forwardly extending members each being shaped into an arcuate cross-section disposed about the ring portion to provide symmetry about the central axis of the ring, whereby a stamped and formed retention bushing having inwardly extending tines for releasably retaining a contact is made.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a bushing for retaining an electrical contact within an electrical connector, the steps of the method comprising: stamping from flat stock a predetermined shape having an elongated base portion and a plurality of elongated members extending forwardly from the base, each of said members having laterally-extending projections located intermediate their length; forming the base portion into a three-dimensional shape having two laterally extending shoulders; forming the projections out of the plane of the members by bending the projections to a position extending transversely to the members to form retention tines adapted to engage a contact; and forming the entire retention bushing into a ring-like shape with the tines extending inwardly, the ends of the base portion meeting at a seam and the forwardly extending members each being shaped into an arcuate cross-section disposed about the ring portion to provide symmetry about the central axis of the ring, whereby a stamped and formed retention bushing having inwardly extending tines for releasably retaining a contact is made.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of making a contact retention bushing of the type described in claim 1 where the bushing is initially stamped from a soft metal and, after at least some of the forming steps, is heat-treated to harden the metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of making a contact retention bushing of the type described in claim 1 where the tines are formed substantially perpendicular to the elongated members to extend substantially radially inwardly when formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of making a retention bushing in claim 1 wherein the steps of the method further include forming the free forward ends of the elongated members into an outwardly flaring shape for receiving and guiding a tool into the bushing to release the contact from the tines of the bushing held therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of making a stamped retention bushing of the type described in claim 1 wherein the step of stamping flat stock into a base portion and a plurality of elongated members includes forming four elongated members with approximately uniform spacing between each of the members whereby a symmetrical bushing may be formed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2004076A
Cited
US2468169A
Cited
US2647248A
Cited
US3273108A
Cited
US3348192A
Cited
US3368188A
Cited
US3538491A
Cited
US3601786A
Cited
US4136628A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-04-15 | 1983-10-15 | 1984-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-04-15 | 1987-10-15 | 1988-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-04-15 | 1991-10-15 | 1992-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |