US4480385A — Tool and method for terminating electrical conduc…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 110 words

A method of terminating an electrical conductor to a contact member premounted in an electrical connector, said contact member having a terminal portion including at least one conductor engaging element, said method comprising the steps of: inserting the conductor into the contact member by engaging the conductor in line with said element to seat the conductor within said terminal portion and make electrical engagement between the conductor and said element; and simultaneously shearing a segment of the contact member from a wall of said terminal portion other than said element and forming the sheared segment onto said conductor to mechanically retain said conductor in electrical engagement with said contact member.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 110 words

A method of terminating an electrical conductor to a contact member premounted in an electrical connector, said contact member having a terminal portion including at least one conductor engaging element, said method comprising the steps of: inserting the conductor into the contact member by engaging the conductor in line with said element to seat the conductor within said terminal portion and make electrical engagement between the conductor and said element; and simultaneously shearing a segment of the contact member from a wall of said terminal portion other than said element and forming the sheared segment onto said conductor to mechanically retain said conductor in electrical engagement with said contact member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said terminal portion comprises a generally U-shaped channel and said conductor engaging element comprises a pair of detents extending inwardly from opposing sidewalls of said channel, and said shearing step includes shearing said segment from at least one of said sidewalls.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 2 wherein a segment is sheared from both said sidewalls.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said terminal portion includes two pairs of said detents spaced along said channel, and said shearing step includes shearing said segment from at least one of said sidewalls between said two pairs of detents.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 4 wherein a segment is sheared from both said sidewalls.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method claim 1 wherein said terminal portion is elongated in part and includes two spaced conductor engaging elements, and said shearing step comprises shearing said segment from a wall of said terminal portion between said spaced elements and forming said segment onto said conductor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said terminal portion comprises a generally U-shaped channel and each of said spaced conductor engaging elements comprises a pair of detents extending inwardly from opposing sidewalls of said channel, and said shearing step includes shearing said segment from at least one of said sidewalls between said spaced elements.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 7 wherein a segment is sheared from both said sidewalls between said spaced elements.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for terminating an insulated conductor to a contact member premounted in an electrical connector, said contact member having a terminal portion including at least one element for piercing the insulation and engaging the core of the conductor, said method comprising the steps of: inserting the conductor into the contact member by engaging the conductor in line with said element to seat the conductor within said terminal portion, pierce the insulation and make electrical connection between the conductor core and said element, and simultaneously shearing a segment of the contact member terminal portion other than said element and forming the sheared segment onto the conductor to mechanically retain the conductor core in electrical engagement with said contact member.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for terminating an insulated conductor to a contact member premounted in an electrical connector, said contact member having a terminal portion including at least one element for piercing the insulation and engaging the core of the conductor, said method comprising the steps of: inserting the conductor into the contact member by engaging the conductor in line with said element to seat the conductor within said terminal portion, pierce the insulation and make electrical connection between the conductor core and said element, and simultaneously shearing a segment of the contact member terminal portion other than said element and forming the sheared segment onto the conductor to mechanically retain the conductor core in electrical engagement with said contact member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said contact member terminal portion comprises a generally U-shaped channel housed within said connector, said insulation-piercing element comprises a pair of detents extending inwardly from opposing sidewalls of said channel, and said shearing step comprises shearing said segment from at least one of said sidewalls and forming said segment over said seated conductor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method claim 10 wherein a segment is sheared from both said sidewalls.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said terminal portion includes two pairs of said detents spaced along said channel, and said shearing step includes shearing said segment from at least one of said sidewalls between said two pairs of detents.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 12 wherein a segment is sheared from both said sidewalls.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said terminal portion is elongated in part and includes spaced conductor engaging elements, and said shearing step comprises shearing said segment from a wall of said terminal portion between said spaced elements and forming said segment onto said conductor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said terminal portion is elongated in part and includes spaced conductor engaging elements, and said shearing step comprises shearing said segment from a wall of said terminal portion between said spaced elements and forming said segment onto said conductor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 15 wherein a segment is sheared from both said sidewalls between said spaced elements.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 112 words

A tool for terminating an insulated conductor into a portion of an electrical contact which has an outwardly open channel formed by a pair of contact sidewalls and at least one conductor engaging element, comprising: a member including insertion means aligned with said element for engaging and inserting a conductor into said channel and make electrical engagement between the conductor and said element; and crimping means on said member for engaging and shearing wall portions of said contact sidewalls other than said element simultaneously with the insertion of the conductor by said insertion means into engagement with said element, and forming the sheared wall portions onto the inserted conductor within said channel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 112 words

A tool for terminating an insulated conductor into a portion of an electrical contact which has an outwardly open channel formed by a pair of contact sidewalls and at least one conductor engaging element, comprising: a member including insertion means aligned with said element for engaging and inserting a conductor into said channel and make electrical engagement between the conductor and said element; and crimping means on said member for engaging and shearing wall portions of said contact sidewalls other than said element simultaneously with the insertion of the conductor by said insertion means into engagement with said element, and forming the sheared wall portions onto the inserted conductor within said channel.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

The tool of claim 17 wherein said contact includes two conductor engaging elements spaced along said channel, and wherein said insertion means includes spaced portions respectively aligned with said two spaced elements with said crimping means disposed therebetween for shearing wall portions of said contact sidewalls between said spaced elements.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The tool of claim 18 wherein said spaced portions of said insertion means have generally planar end faces for engaging and inserting the conductor.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 47 words

The tool of claim 18 wherein said crimping means includes cutting edges for engaging and shearing said wall portions of said contact side walls, and curved surface means for folding the sheared wall portions onto said conductor to mechanically retain said conductor in engagement with said elements.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The tool of claim 20 wherein said spaced portions of said insertion means have generally planar end faces for engaging and inserting the conductor.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 35 words

The tool of claim 20 wherein said crimping means includes a pair of curved surface portions for folding the sheared wall portions onto said conductors to mechanically retain said conductor in engagement with said elements.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The tool of claim 22 wherein said curved surface portions intersect each other along a common edge portion.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

The tool of claim 23 wherein the distance between the centers of curvature of said pair of curved surface portions versus the radii of curvature thereof is on the order of 5:3.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 47 words

The tool of claim 17 wherein said crimping means includes cutting edges for engaging and shearing said wall portions of said contact side walls, and curved surface means for folding the sheared wall portions onto said conductor to mechanically retain said conductor in engagement with said elements.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 35 words

The tool of claim 17 wherein said crimping means includes a pair of curved surface portions for folding the sheared wall portions onto said conductor to mechanically retain said conductor in engagement with said elements.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The tool of claim 26 wherein said curved surface portions intersect each other along a common edge portion.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The tool of claim 27 wherein the distance between the centers of curvature of said pair of curved surface portions versus the radii of curvature thereof is on the order of 5:3.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-11-06	1988-05-07	1988-11-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-11-06	1992-05-07	1992-11-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-11-06	1996-05-07	1996-11-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tool and method for terminating electrical conductors in contact members

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