Patent EP0236013A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4288918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for making a crimped, insulation-pierce electrical connection
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1979-03-26
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Granted: 1981-09-15
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Expires: 1999-03-26
Abstract
Abstract An insulated conductor is terminated in an insulation-opening portion of an electrical contact and the contact jaws are crimped over the conductor to secure the conductor therein. A tool includes a pair of cutting edges and crimping surfaces for cutting and folding over sections of the contact jaws as the tool presses an insulated conductor into an insulation-opening notch formed by the contact jaws. The tool includes a forward end having a surface for engaging and pressing the conductor into the notch, the surface acting against the conductor as a stop to limit the depth of cut of the cutting edges. The tool may also be used after conductor insertion by other techniques to perform the crimping operation. The side surfaces of the tool slidingly engage the cut edges of the contact jaws and prevent an inward movement of the jaws during cutting and crimping. The resulting electrical connection is mechanically secure in that a normally open conductor-receiving channel is closed by the peeled over sections of the contact jaws there by preventing outward movement of the conductor. The contact structure is of particular advantage where stranded wire is used in that the clamping action of the peeled over sections prevents relaxation distortions of the conductor which has become distorted during insertion and thus prevents pressure drop at the contact jaws which can result from relaxation distortion.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Nijman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/01; H01R43/015; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49194; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209; Y10T29/53213; Y10T29/53222; Y10T29/53226; Y10T29/53235
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
In a method of terminating an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing contact portion in which a conductor is engaged by an insertion blade and pressed into an insulation-piercing notch formed by at least one insulation-piercing contact jaw which extends at an angle to a supporting member, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: cutting a section of the contact jaw; and simultaneously with the step of cutting, folding the cut section over the conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a method of terminating an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing contact portion in which a conductor is engaged by an insertion blade and pressed into an insulation-piercing notch formed by at least one insulation-piercing contact jaw which extends at an angle to a supporting member, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: cutting a section of the contact jaw; and simultaneously with the step of cutting, folding the cut section over the conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a method of terminating an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing contact portion in which a conductor is engaged by an insertion blade having a cutting edge and pressed into an insulation-piercing notch formed by at least one insulation-piercing contact jaw which extends at an angle to a supporting member, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: cutting a section of the contact jaw with the tool cutting edge during pressing of the conductor into the contact portion; and folding the cut section over the conductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a method of terminating an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing contact portion in which a conductor is engaged by an insertion blade having a cutting edge and pressed into an insulation-piercing notch formed by at least one insulation-piercing contact jaw which extends at an angle to a supporting member, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: cutting a section of the contact jaw with the tool cutting edge during pressing of the conductor into the contact portion; and folding the cut section over the conductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a method of terminating an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing contact portion in which a conductor is engaged by an insertion blade and pressed into an insulation-piercing notch formed by at least one insulation-piercing contact jaw which extends at an angle to a supporting member, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: peeling a section of the contact jaw; and contemporaneously folding the section over the conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a method of terminating an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing contact portion in which a conductor is engaged by an insertion blade and pressed into an insulation-piercing notch formed by at least one insulation-piercing contact jaw which extends at an angle to a supporting member, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: peeling a section of the contact jaw; and contemporaneously folding the section over the conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the step of peeling and folding are performed simultaneously with the pressing of the conductor into the insulation-piercing notch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a method of terminating and electrically contacting the core of an insulated conductor in an insulation-opening contact in which an insulated conductor is pressed into an insulation-opening notch formed by at least one insulation-opening contact jaw which contacts the core of the conductor over a given area, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: cutting a section of the contact jaw; contemporaneously folding the cut section of the contact jaw over the conductor; and contemporaneously increasing the contact area of the contact jaw with the core of the conductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a method of terminating and electrically contacting the core of an insulated conductor in an insulation-opening contact in which an insulated conductor is pressed into an insulation-opening notch formed by at least one insulation-opening contact jaw which contacts the core of the conductor over a given area, the improvement therein comprising the steps of: cutting a section of the contact jaw; contemporaneously folding the cut section of the contact jaw over the conductor; and contemporaneously increasing the contact area of the contact jaw with the core of the conductor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a pair of spaced apart contact jaws defining at least a portion of the notch, said tool comprising: a blade including an end surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notch; and a pair of cutters carried spaced apart on said blade for engaging respective contact jaws to cut and convergently peel portions of the contact jaws over the conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a pair of spaced apart contact jaws defining at least a portion of the notch, said tool comprising: a blade including an end surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notch; and a pair of cutters carried spaced apart on said blade for engaging respective contact jaws to cut and convergently peel portions of the contact jaws over the conductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tool set forth in claim 6, wherein said pair of cutters includes a pair of surfaces divergently extending toward said end surface, and a pair of cutting edges located at the plane of intersection of said divergent and end surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A tool for securing a conductor in an insulation-piercing portion of an electrical contact, the insulation-piercing portion having an outwardly open notch defined by at least one contact wall portion and receiving an insulated conductor supported and seated therein, the tool comprising: a blade; cutting means carried on said blade for engaging and cutting a section of the wall portion; and crimping means carried on said blade for folding the cut section over the seated conductor thereby securing the conductor in the notch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
A tool for securing a conductor in an insulation-piercing portion of an electrical contact, the insulation-piercing portion having an outwardly open notch defined by at least one contact wall portion and receiving an insulated conductor supported and seated therein, the tool comprising: a blade; cutting means carried on said blade for engaging and cutting a section of the wall portion; and crimping means carried on said blade for folding the cut section over the seated conductor thereby securing the conductor in the notch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tool set forth in claim 8, wherein said blade includes a stop surface for engaging the seated conductor to limit the depth of cut of said cutting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tool set forth in claim 8, wherein said blade invludes a forward surface, said crimping means includes a crimping surface oblique to and intersecting said forward surface, and said cutting means includes an edge at the intersection of said forward and crimping surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tool set forth in claim 8, wherein the electrical contact has a strain relief longitudinally aligned with said notch, and wherein said tool comprises: a portion on said blade for engaging and pressing the conductor into the strain relief.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tool set forth in claim 11, wherein said blade includes at least one recessed portion defining a reduced thickness section which constitutes said portion for pressing the conductor into the strain relief.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tool for securing an insulated connector in an electrical contact which includes a first pair of spaced apart contact jaws and a second pair of spaced apart contact jaws aligned with and spaced apart from the first contact jaws, the contact jaws open outwardly to receive, electrically contact and support an insulated conductor, said tool comprising: a blade; first and second pairs of cutting edges on said blade for engaging and cutting sections of respective ones of said first contact jaws and second contact jaws; and first and second pairs of crimping surfaces extending from said first and second pairs of cutting edges, respectively, for folding the respective cut sections over a conductor supported in said contact jaws.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tool for securing an insulated connector in an electrical contact which includes a first pair of spaced apart contact jaws and a second pair of spaced apart contact jaws aligned with and spaced apart from the first contact jaws, the contact jaws open outwardly to receive, electrically contact and support an insulated conductor, said tool comprising: a blade; first and second pairs of cutting edges on said blade for engaging and cutting sections of respective ones of said first contact jaws and second contact jaws; and first and second pairs of crimping surfaces extending from said first and second pairs of cutting edges, respectively, for folding the respective cut sections over a conductor supported in said contact jaws.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tool set forth in claim 13, wherein said blade includes a stop surface for engaging a supported conductor and limiting the depth of cut.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
141 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an insulation-opening portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a pair of spaced apart transversely stabilized contact elements defining at least a portion of the notch, said tool comprising: a blade including an end surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notch; a pair of cutters carried spaced apart on said blade for engaging respective contact elements to cut and convergently peel portions of the contact jaws over the conductor, the cutting generating cut edges on the contact jaw; and at least one side surface on said blade for slidingly engaging and being guided by a respective cut edge to stabilize the movement of said tool in the direction of said contact.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
141 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an insulation-opening portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a pair of spaced apart transversely stabilized contact elements defining at least a portion of the notch, said tool comprising: a blade including an end surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notch; a pair of cutters carried spaced apart on said blade for engaging respective contact elements to cut and convergently peel portions of the contact jaws over the conductor, the cutting generating cut edges on the contact jaw; and at least one side surface on said blade for slidingly engaging and being guided by a respective cut edge to stabilize the movement of said tool in the direction of said contact.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
115 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a pair of spaced apart contact jaws defining at least a portion of the notch, said tool comprising: a blade including an end surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notch; a pair of cutters carried spaced apart on said blade for engaging respective contact jaws to cut sections of the contact jaws; and at least one surface on said blade between said cutters for guiding the cut sections over and in gripping relation to the cutters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
115 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an insulation-piercing portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a pair of spaced apart contact jaws defining at least a portion of the notch, said tool comprising: a blade including an end surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notch; a pair of cutters carried spaced apart on said blade for engaging respective contact jaws to cut sections of the contact jaws; and at least one surface on said blade between said cutters for guiding the cut sections over and in gripping relation to the cutters.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
A tool for inserting insulated conductors into respective insulation-piercing portions of electrical contacts, which portions each have an outwardly open notch formed from a pair of contact sidewalls, comprising: a member including an element for engaging and pressing an insulated conductor into a notch; and crimping means carried by said member for engaging and cutting wall portions of the contact sidewalls and bending the cut portions over an inserted insulated conductor to sever the insulation and additionally electrically contact the conductor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
A tool for inserting insulated conductors into respective insulation-piercing portions of electrical contacts, which portions each have an outwardly open notch formed from a pair of contact sidewalls, comprising: a member including an element for engaging and pressing an insulated conductor into a notch; and crimping means carried by said member for engaging and cutting wall portions of the contact sidewalls and bending the cut portions over an inserted insulated conductor to sever the insulation and additionally electrically contact the conductor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tool of claim 17, wherein said crimping means comprises: a pair of cutting edges for engaging and cutting respective sidewalls; and at least one surface for slidingly engaging the cut portions and guiding the same inwardly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tool of claim 17, wherein said crimping means comprises: a pair of cutting edges for engaging and cutting respective sidewalls; and a pair of surfaces for slidingly engaging the cut portions and guiding the same inwardly.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tool for inserting an insulated conductor into an insulation piercing portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a wall portion adjacent the notch, said tool comprising: a conductor insertion member including a forward end for engaging and pressing an insulated conductor into the notch; and crimping means connected to said insertion member for engaging and crimping a section of said wall portion over the conductor and close at least a portion of the notch, said crimping means comprising a cutting edge on said forward end to cut a section of the wall portion, and an oblique surface extending from said cutting edge for guiding and folding the cut section over the conductor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tool for inserting an insulated conductor into an insulation piercing portion of an electrical contact, which portion has an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor and a wall portion adjacent the notch, said tool comprising: a conductor insertion member including a forward end for engaging and pressing an insulated conductor into the notch; and crimping means connected to said insertion member for engaging and crimping a section of said wall portion over the conductor and close at least a portion of the notch, said crimping means comprising a cutting edge on said forward end to cut a section of the wall portion, and an oblique surface extending from said cutting edge for guiding and folding the cut section over the conductor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
164 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an electrical contact which includes a pair of spaced apart first insulation-piercing jaws and a pair of spaced apart second insulation-piercing jaws spaced from the pair of first jaws, each of the pairs of jaws defining an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor, the tool comprising: a blade including a forward surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notches; first crimping means carried on said blade for engaging and crimping portions of the first jaws over the conductor; and second crimping means carried on said blade for engaging and crimping portions of said second jaws over the conductor, said forward surface being a planar surface and each of said crimping means comprising a pair of crimping surfaces directed rearwardly from said planar surface and toward each other and a pair of cutting edges at the intersections of said crimping surfaces with said planar surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
164 words
A tool for inserting and securing an insulated conductor in an electrical contact which includes a pair of spaced apart first insulation-piercing jaws and a pair of spaced apart second insulation-piercing jaws spaced from the pair of first jaws, each of the pairs of jaws defining an outwardly open notch for receiving a conductor transversely of the axis of the conductor, the tool comprising: a blade including a forward surface for engaging and pressing a conductor into the notches; first crimping means carried on said blade for engaging and crimping portions of the first jaws over the conductor; and second crimping means carried on said blade for engaging and crimping portions of said second jaws over the conductor, said forward surface being a planar surface and each of said crimping means comprising a pair of crimping surfaces directed rearwardly from said planar surface and toward each other and a pair of cutting edges at the intersections of said crimping surfaces with said planar surface.
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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) | 1984-09-14 | 1985-03-16 | 1985-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-14 | 1989-03-16 | 1989-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-14 | 1993-03-16 | 1993-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |