US4284320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1979-07-05
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Granted: 1981-08-18
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Expires: 1999-07-05
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector housing is formed of two relatively slidable parts movable between a condition in which contact cavities are aligned, for insertion of contacts and a condition in which the cavities are slightly out of alignment so that one housing part presents shoulders overlapping edges of cavities in the other part for positively retaining contacts in the other part. The housing parts have interengaging guide means and resilient latch means securing the housing parts in the second condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Lothar H. W. Nix
- 👤 John Heinrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/436; H01R13/46; H01R13/502; H01R13/506; H01R13/516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An electrical connector housing of resilient insulating material including first and second housing parts, the first part having a through cavity for receiving a contact portion of a terminal, and the second part having a through cavity for receiving a wire connecting portion of the terminal, the housing parts being assembled with the cavities in general alignment, the connector housing comprising, interengaging guide means integral with said housing parts including parallel guide rails on one said housing part and cooperating ribs on the other said housing part, wherein said guide rails slidably engage said ribs to allow for relative sliding movement transversely of the cavities between said first and second housing parts to permit adjustment of the alignment between said cavities, said interengaging guide means additionally preventing separation of said first and second housing parts in the direction longitudinal of the cavities, said housing parts being moveable to a relatively offset position in which a portion of said second housing part overlaps an edge of the cavity in said first housing part thereby forming a retaining shoulder for securing and positively engaging a terminal contact therein, and position indexing means for releaseably holding said housing parts in either of two relative positions, one of said positions being said relatively offset position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
An electrical connector housing of resilient insulating material including first and second housing parts, the first part having a through cavity for receiving a contact portion of a terminal, and the second part having a through cavity for receiving a wire connecting portion of the terminal, the housing parts being assembled with the cavities in general alignment, the connector housing comprising, interengaging guide means integral with said housing parts including parallel guide rails on one said housing part and cooperating ribs on the other said housing part, wherein said guide rails slidably engage said ribs to allow for relative sliding movement transversely of the cavities between said first and second housing parts to permit adjustment of the alignment between said cavities, said interengaging guide means additionally preventing separation of said first and second housing parts in the direction longitudinal of the cavities, said housing parts being moveable to a relatively offset position in which a portion of said second housing part overlaps an edge of the cavity in said first housing part thereby forming a retaining shoulder for securing and positively engaging a terminal contact therein, and position indexing means for releaseably holding said housing parts in either of two relative positions, one of said positions being said relatively offset position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A connector housing as claimed in claim 1 in which each said housing part includes a plurality of through cavities, and in which portions of the second housing part overlap edge portions of respective cavities of the first part when in said relatively offset position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector housing as in claim 1 in which said position indexing means includes a rib on one of the housing parts engageable with either of two grooves on the other housing part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A connector housing as in claim 1 including latch means for securing said housing parts in said relatively offset position, said latch means including a resilient latch arm on one housing part and a shoulder on the other housing part.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector housing as in claim 4 in which said shoulder associated with said latch means includes a projection having a ramp surface on its side facing the one housing part.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3573720A
Cited
DE1912825A1
Cited
US4080041A
Cited
US4130330A
Cited
US4190952A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-17 | 1985-02-16 | 1985-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-17 | 1989-02-16 | 1989-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-17 | 1993-02-16 | 1993-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |