Patent US2962681A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4330164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hermaphrodite electrical connector
Assignee: Industrial Electronic Hardware Corp
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Filing: 1980-09-29
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Granted: 1982-05-18
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Expires: 2000-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An hermaphrodite electrical connector in which the two substantially identical connector parts are adapted to be associated, after they have been located side by side and pointing in the same direction, by a flip-flop type of relative movement, that is to say, one not involving rotation of the connector units around an axis in the direction of telescoping movement of the parts. When the two connector parts are secured together the engaging contacts are substantially completely enclosed and insulated from adjacent contacts. The construction is such as to accommodate itself to the reception of a substantial number of contact pairs without adversely affecting the strength of the connector, and to be readily manufacturable in a plurality of patterns through the use of a modular mold construction; the use of a plurality of patterns permits the employment in a given piece of equipment of a number of pairs of associatable parts which can only be associated with one another in those predetermined pairs, thus positively preventing the making of incorrect electrical connections. The parts are designed to facilitate their telescoping connection and to rigidify and strengthen the assembled connector. The connector construction leads itself to the production of a simple but effective wire-splicer.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert B. Pittman
- 👤 Ronald O. Wescott
- 👤 Michael Offerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/28; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/2445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An hermaphrodite electrical connector part adapted to mate with a similar connector part comprising a body having upper and lower sections, said lower section extending forwardly beyond said upper section and comprising a plurality of terminal housings open at the rear with the forwardly extending portions thereof laterally separated from one another, said upper section comprising a plurality of compartments defined between partitions, said compartments being of a cross-section such as to receive the housings of a mating connector part therewithin, said partitions being of a cross-section such as to be received in the separations between the forwardly extending housing portions of said mating connector and said partitions having forward ends terminating short of the forward end of said lower section and defining the forward end of said upper section, said housings being adapted to receive contact terminals therein from the rear and having openings in the tops thereof to which said terminals are adapted to extend.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An hermaphrodite electrical connector part adapted to mate with a similar connector part comprising a body having upper and lower sections, said lower section extending forwardly beyond said upper section and comprising a plurality of terminal housings open at the rear with the forwardly extending portions thereof laterally separated from one another, said upper section comprising a plurality of compartments defined between partitions, said compartments being of a cross-section such as to receive the housings of a mating connector part therewithin, said partitions being of a cross-section such as to be received in the separations between the forwardly extending housing portions of said mating connector and said partitions having forward ends terminating short of the forward end of said lower section and defining the forward end of said upper section, said housings being adapted to receive contact terminals therein from the rear and having openings in the tops thereof to which said terminals are adapted to extend.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 1, in which the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminate substantially in line with the forward ends of said partitions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 1, in which said part is molded, and in which said contact housings and cavities are laterally separated into two groups respectively by a rigidifying body wall defining a spacing between the two groups corresponding to the spacing between the center lines of adjacent housings, whereby said mating pair of connector parts can be keyed for use together by appropriately arranging modular parts in the mold therefor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 3, in which the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminate substantially in line with the forward ends of said partitions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 3 in which said rigidifying wall carries a forwardly extending pin and an aperture so relatively located that the pin of a given connector part is adapted to be received in the aperture of the mating connector part.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 5, in which said body is open at its rear, terminals received in said housings from the rears thereof and carrying rearwardly exposed insulation-penetrating portions, the sidewall of said body being provided with rearwardly open slots aligned with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively, and a cover for the open rear of said body, said cover having depending pressure members registering with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively and having locating members registering with and entering into said slots respectively, said slots and locating members being provided substantially only in registration with said grouped contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 5, in which the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminate substantially in line with the forward ends of said partitions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 7, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 6, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 5, in which said pin is in line with said cavities and said aperture is in line with said housings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite part electrical connector of claim 10, in which said body is open at its rear, terminals received in said housings from the rears thereof and carrying rearwardly exposed insulation-penetrating portions, the sidewall of said body being provided with rearwardly open slots aligned with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively, and a cover for the open rear of said body, said cover having depending pressure members registering with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively and having locating members registering with and entering into said slots respectively, said slots and locating members being provided substantially only in registration with said grouped contacts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 10, in which the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminate substantially in line with the forward ends of said partitions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 12, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 10, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite part electrical connector of claim 3, in which said body is open at its rear, terminals received in said housings from the rears thereof and carrying rearwardly exposed insulation-penetrating portions, the sidewall of said body being provided with rearwardly open slots aligned with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively, and a cover for the open rear of said body, said cover having depending pressure members registering with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively and having locating members registering with and entering into said slots respectively, said slots and locating members being provided substantially only in registration with said grouped contacts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite connector part of claim 3, two pairs of first and second fasteners adapted to interengage with corresponding second and first fasteners respectively, said pair of first fasteners being mounted on opposite walls of said body substantially in registration with said upper section thereof and said pair of second fasteners being mounted on said opposite walls substantially in registration with said lower section of said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite connector part of claim 5, two pairs of first and second fasteners adapted to interengage with corresponding second and first fasteners respectively, said pair of first fasteners being mounted on opposite walls of said body substantially in registration with said upper section thereof and said pair of second fasteners being mounted on said opposite walls substantially in registration with said lower section of said body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
173 words
An hermaphrodite electrical connector part adapted to mate with a similar connector part comprising a body having upper and lower sections, said lower section comprising a plurality of terminal housings open at the rear and having forward portions laterally separated from one another, said upper section comprising a plurality of cavities defined between partitions said cavities being of a cross section such as to receive the housings of a mating connector part therewithin, said partitions being of a cross section such as to be received in the separations between the forward portions of said housing portions, said housings being adapted to receive contact terminals therein from the rear and having openings in the top thereof through which said terminals are adapted to extend, said terminal housings and said cavities and axial projections thereof being substantially non-overlapping in cross section, the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminating substantially in a straight line with the forward ends of said partitions when viewed perpendicularly to the combined terminal housing-cavity full profile.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
173 words
An hermaphrodite electrical connector part adapted to mate with a similar connector part comprising a body having upper and lower sections, said lower section comprising a plurality of terminal housings open at the rear and having forward portions laterally separated from one another, said upper section comprising a plurality of cavities defined between partitions said cavities being of a cross section such as to receive the housings of a mating connector part therewithin, said partitions being of a cross section such as to be received in the separations between the forward portions of said housing portions, said housings being adapted to receive contact terminals therein from the rear and having openings in the top thereof through which said terminals are adapted to extend, said terminal housings and said cavities and axial projections thereof being substantially non-overlapping in cross section, the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminating substantially in a straight line with the forward ends of said partitions when viewed perpendicularly to the combined terminal housing-cavity full profile.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 18, in which said part is molded, and in which said contact housings and cavities are laterally separated into two groups respectively by a rigidifying body wall defining a spacing between the two groups corresponding to the spacing between the center lines of adjacent housings, whereby said mating pair of connector parts can be keyed for use together by appropriately arranging modular parts in the mold therefor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 19, in which the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminate substantially in line with the forward ends of said partitions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 19 in which said rigidifying wall carries a forwardly extending pin and an aperture so relatively located that the pin of a given connector is adapted to be received in the aperture of the mating connector part.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
101 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 21, in which said body is open at its rear, terminals received in said housings from the rears thereof and carrying rearwardly exposed insulation-penetrating portions, the sidewall of said body being provided with rearwardly open slots aligned with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively, and a cover for the open rear of said body, said cover having depending pressure members registering with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively and having locating members registering with and entering into said slots respectively, said slots and locating members being provided substantially only in registration with said grouped contacts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 21, in which the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminate substantially in line with the forward ends of said partitions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 23, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 22, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 21, in which said pin is in line with said cavities and said aperture is in line with said housings.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
101 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 26, in which said body is open at its rear, terminals received in said housings from the rears thereof and carrying rearwardly exposed insulation-penetrating portions, the sidewall of said body being provided with rearwardly open slots aligned with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively, and a cover for the open rear of said body, said cover having depending pressure members registering with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively and having locating members registering with and entering into said slots respectively, said slots and locating members being provided substantially only in registration with said grouped contacts.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 26, in which the separations between said forwardly extending portions of said terminal housings terminate substantially in line with the forward ends of said partitions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 28, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 27, in which said body has a top wall extending forwardly beyond the forward ends of said partitions and spaced above said forwardly extending portions of said housings, said top wall being adapted to snugly overlie the bottom surfaces of the said housings of a mating connector part.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
101 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite electrical connector part of claim 19, in which said body is open at its rear, terminals received in said housings from the rears thereof and carrying rearwardly exposed insulation-penetrating portions, the sidewall of said body being provided with rearwardly open slots aligned with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively, and a cover for the open rear of said body, said cover having depending pressure members registering with said insulation-penetrating portions respectively and having locating members registering with and entering into said slots respectively, said slots and locating members being provided substantially only in registration with said grouped contacts.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
70 words
In combination with the hermaphrodite connector part of claim 21, two pairs of first and second fasteners adapted to interengage with corresponding second and first fasteners respectively, said pair of first fasteners being mounted on opposite walls of said body substantially in registration with said upper section thereof and said pair of second fasteners being mounted on said opposite walls substantially in registration with said lower section of said body.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
241 words
A wire splicer comprising a pair of hermaphrodite connector parts adapted to mate with one another, each of said parts comprising a forward section and a rear section and having a terminal contact housed therein with its forward part exposed at said forward section and its rear part exposed in said rear section, the exposed rear part of said terminal contact comprising an insulation-penetrating part, opposed walls of said rear section having openings therethrough registering with one another and with said insulation-penetrating part and adapted to have a wire pass therethrough and extend from said part and be electrically and mechanically engaged with said terminal contact at said insulation-penetrating part thereof, each of said parts having upper and lower sections, said lower section extending forwardly beyond said upper section and comprising a plurality of terminals housings open at said rear section of said part and with the portions thereof extending into said forward section of said part being laterally separated from one another, said upper section comprising a plurality of compartments defined between partitions, said compartments being of a cross-section such as to receive the housings of a mating connector part therewithin, said partitions being of a cross-section such as to be received in the separations between the forwardly extending housing portions of said mating connector and said partitions having forward ends terminating short of the forward end of said lower section and defining the forward end of said upper section.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
241 words
A wire splicer comprising a pair of hermaphrodite connector parts adapted to mate with one another, each of said parts comprising a forward section and a rear section and having a terminal contact housed therein with its forward part exposed at said forward section and its rear part exposed in said rear section, the exposed rear part of said terminal contact comprising an insulation-penetrating part, opposed walls of said rear section having openings therethrough registering with one another and with said insulation-penetrating part and adapted to have a wire pass therethrough and extend from said part and be electrically and mechanically engaged with said terminal contact at said insulation-penetrating part thereof, each of said parts having upper and lower sections, said lower section extending forwardly beyond said upper section and comprising a plurality of terminals housings open at said rear section of said part and with the portions thereof extending into said forward section of said part being laterally separated from one another, said upper section comprising a plurality of compartments defined between partitions, said compartments being of a cross-section such as to receive the housings of a mating connector part therewithin, said partitions being of a cross-section such as to be received in the separations between the forwardly extending housing portions of said mating connector and said partitions having forward ends terminating short of the forward end of said lower section and defining the forward end of said upper section.
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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) | 1985-05-17 | 1985-11-16 | 1986-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-17 | 1989-11-16 | 1990-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-17 | 1993-11-16 | 1994-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |