Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
A method of fabricating an electric plug contact which comprises the steps of (a) providing a prefabricated, elongated, electrically conductive contact body which has a cylindrical portion that includes at least one pair of anchoring members extending outwardly thereof, (b) providing an elongated, flat sheet metal blank which includes generally parallel side edges and pairs of perforations therein at least equal in number to the number of pairs of anchoring members on the contact body, each perforation of each pair of perforations being located near an opposite side edge of the sheet metal blank so as to create a holding bridge portion between each perforation and an associated side edge, each perforation being suitably located and shaped to be engagable by a separate anchoring member, (c) bending the elongated, flat sheet metal blank into a generally U-shaped configuration, the U-shaped configuration including a middle part and two lateral leg parts, the middle part and the two leg parts, when viewed in cross section, each extending along a circular arc which extends over about 120° and are adaptable to conform to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the contact body, (d) placing the contact body between the leg parts of the generally U-shaped sheet metal blank and such that it contacts the middle part, the contact body being oriented such that the anchoring members extending outwardly thereof are on the side opposite the side in contact with the middle part of the generally U-shaped sheet metal blank, (e) bending the leg parts of the generally U-shaped sheet metal blank towards the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the contact body until the side edges thereof are closely positioned and the perforations therein enclose the anchoring members of the contact body, each anchoring member contacting an associated holding bridge of the bent sheet of metal blank.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
307 words
A method of fabricating an electric plug contact which comprises the steps of (a) providing a prefabricated, elongated, electrically conductive contact body which has a cylindrical portion that includes at least one pair of anchoring members extending outwardly thereof, (b) providing an elongated, flat sheet metal blank which includes generally parallel side edges and pairs of perforations therein at least equal in number to the number of pairs of anchoring members on the contact body, each perforation of each pair of perforations being located near an opposite side edge of the sheet metal blank so as to create a holding bridge portion between each perforation and an associated side edge, each perforation being suitably located and shaped to be engagable by a separate anchoring member, (c) bending the elongated, flat sheet metal blank into a generally U-shaped configuration, the U-shaped configuration including a middle part and two lateral leg parts, the middle part and the two leg parts, when viewed in cross section, each extending along a circular arc which extends over about 120° and are adaptable to conform to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the contact body, (d) placing the contact body between the leg parts of the generally U-shaped sheet metal blank and such that it contacts the middle part, the contact body being oriented such that the anchoring members extending outwardly thereof are on the side opposite the side in contact with the middle part of the generally U-shaped sheet metal blank, (e) bending the leg parts of the generally U-shaped sheet metal blank towards the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the contact body until the side edges thereof are closely positioned and the perforations therein enclose the anchoring members of the contact body, each anchoring member contacting an associated holding bridge of the bent sheet of metal blank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of fabricating an electric plug contact as defined in claim 1 wherein each holding portion of the flat sheet metal blank is similarly bent out of the plane defined by the flat sheet metal blank, wherein in step (c) the sheet metal blank is bent such that the holding portions thereof extend outwardly of the produced generally U-shaped configuration, and wherein the method includes as step (f) bending each of the holding portions towards the outer surface of the contact body so as to wedge each holding portion against the anchoring member located in the associated perforation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of fabricating an electric plug contact as defined in claim 1 wherein the method includes as step (d) driving the end of a tool into the top of each anchoring member to provide an indentation therein and cause the anchoring member to be wedged with greater force against the associated holding bridge of the sheet metal blank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of fabricating an electric plug contact as defined in claim 1 wherein said prefabricated, elongated, electrically conductive contact body is by rolling a flat piece of sheet metal into a cylindrical shape and then outwardly punching portions of the rolled sheet metal from the interior thereof so as to form the anchoring members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric plug contact which has been formed by the method of claim 1.