Socket terminal and connector

Claim 2

An improved socket terminal comprising: a. a housing member and a terminal member; b. said housing member formed of an annular-shaped body having an inner wall surface a closure segment and a longitudinal axis thereof; c. said housing body closed at one end thereof by said closure segment and having an entrance aperture at an opposite end for entrance of a plug terminal body therein; d. said terminal member formed of a body of electrically-conductive, resilient material having first and second segments thereof; e. said terminal member positioned in said housing body and adapted to engage a plug terminal body upon entrance thereof into said housing body and to establish contact between said plug body and said housing body; f. said first terminal member segment extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis; g. said second terminal member segment having a bow-shaped configuration extending generally in the direction of said axis for forming a deflectable constriction through which said plug body extends and whereby the entry of said plug body deflects said second terminal segment into engagement with the inner wall of said housing; h. said terminal member unrestrained for rotatable motion about said axis within said housing body in the absence of a male plug body, and, restrained against rotation after entry of said male plug body; and, i. pivot means positioned between said first terminal member segment and said housing closure segment for increasing deflection of said second terminal segment thereby increasing a resilient force between said housing inner wall, said second terminal segment and a plug body positioned in said housing.

Claim 3

The socket terminal of claim 1 wherein said housing member is formed of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 4

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said pivot means is integrally formed with said housing closure segment.

Claim 5

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said pivot means is integrally formed with said first terminal segment.

Claim 6

The socket terminal of claim 4 wherein said pivot means comprises a dimple-shaped protrusion.

Claim 7

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said pivot means comprises an extending body segment positioned between said first terminal segment and said housing closure segment and is spaced transversely from said longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said second terminal segment includes integrally formed dimple-shaped protrusions extending from said second segment for engaging the inner wall surface of said housing.

Claim 9

The socket terminal of claim 7 wherein said dimple-shaped segments are spaced apart at distal locations on said second terminal segment.

Claim 10

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said bow-shaped second terminal segment includes a crest and said constriction is provided between said crest and said innder housing wall.

Claim 11

The socket terminal of claim 9 wherein said housing member includes a wall segment thereof extending transversely to said axis and said constriction is formed between said wall segment and said bow-shaped second segment.

Claim 12

The socket terminal of claim 10 wherein said wall segment and said crest are longitudinally aligned.

Claim 13

The socket terminal of claim 10 wherein said wall segment and said crest are longitudinally spaced-apart.

Claim 14

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said terminal member includes a third segment, said third segment has a bow-shaped configuration extending generally in the direction of said axis and said third segment establishes with said second segment said deflectable constriction.

Claim 15

The socket terminal of claim 13 wherein said pivot means comprises a body positioned between said first terminal segment and said housing closure segment and is centrally located along said longitudinal axis.

Claim 16

The socket terminal of claim 2 including means for retaining said terminal member in said housing member.

Claim 17

The socket terminal of claim 15 wherein said means for retaining said terminal member comprises a housing member segment formed at said second aperture end of said housing member and extending transverse to said axis for limiting longitudinal movement of said terminal member.

Claim 18

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said second terminal segment conforms in part with the cross-sectional configuration of said plug terminal body.

Claim 19

The socket terminal of claim 2 including a support means, said support means having an aperture formed therein for receiving said housing member, said housing member positioned in said aperture and having a friction fit therewith, and, means for providing electrical connection between said housing member and said support means.

Claim 20

The socket terminal of claim 2 wherein said housing member is cylindrically shaped.

Claim 21

The socket terminal of claim 1 wherein said housing member is formed of an electrically insulated material and electrical contact means are provided for extending through said housing member and establishing electrical continuity with said terminal member.

Claim 22

The socket terminal of claim 20 wherein said housing member includes an aperture formed in said closure segment and said electrical contact means comprises an electrically conductive segment integrally formed with said terminal member and extending through said aperture in said closure segment.

Claim 23

The socket terminal of claim 15 wherein said means for restraining said terminal member within said housing comprises an integrally formed housing wall segment extending into said housing in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis for engaging said first lower segment of said terminal member and restricting longitudinal movement thereof.

Claim 24

The socket terminal of claim 1 wherein said housing member includes an aperture formed therein and electrical contact means in electrical contact with said terminal member extend through said housing member aperture.

Claim 25

The socket terminal of claim 23 wherein said electrical contact means comprises an electrically conductive segment which is integrally formed with said terminal member.

Claim 26

The socket terminal of claim 24 wherein said aperture is formed in said closure segment of said housing member.

Claim 27

An improved electrical connector comprising: a. a support body having a plurality of cylindrically shaped apertures formed therein; b. a plurality of cylindrically shaped socket terminal housing members positioned respectively in said plurality of support body apertures; c. said housing members formed of an electrically conductive material having a longitudinal axis thereof; d. said housing members closed at one end thereof by a closure segment and having an entrance aperture at an opposite end for entry of a plug terminal body therein; e. each of said housing members having a terminal member positioned therein and adapted to engage a plug terminal body upon entrance to said housing and to establish electrical contact between said plug terminal body and said housing member; f. said terminal member formed of an electrically conductive, resilient material having first and second segments thereof; g. said first segment extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinal axis; h. said second segment having a bow-shaped configuration extending generally in the direction of said axis and establishing a deflectable constriction through which said plug terminal body extends whereby the entrance of a plug terminal body into said housing engages said second segment and deflects said second segment into engagement with an inner wall of said housing member; i. said terminal member free to rotate about said axis in said housing in the absence of a plug body and inhibited against rotation upon the entry of a plug terminal body; and, j. means providing a pivoting engagement between said first terminal segment and said closure segment for increasing the resilient force between said housing member and said second segment.

Claim 28

An improved electrical connector comprising: a. a support body having a plurality of cylindrically shaped apertures formed therein; b. a plurality of cylindrically shaped socket terminal housing members positioned respectively in said plurality of support body apertures; c. said housing members formed of an electrically conductive material having a longitudinal axis thereof; d. said housing members closed at one end thereof by a closure segment and having an entrance aperture at an opposite end for entry of a plug terminal body therein; e. each of said housing members having a terminal member positioned therein and adapted to engage a plug terminal body upon entrance to said housing and to establish electrical contact between said plug terminal body and said housing member; f. said terminal member formed of an electrically conductive, resilient material having first and second segments thereof; g. said first segment extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinal axis; h. said second segment having a bow-shaped configuration extending generally in the direction of said axis and establishing a deflectable constriction through which said plug terminal body extends whereby the entrance of a plug terminal body into said housing engages said second segment and deflects said second segment into engagement with an inner wall of said housing member; i. said terminal member free to rotate about said axis in said housing in the absence of a plug body and inhibited against rotation upon the entry of a plug terminal body; and, j. means providing a pivoting engagement between said first terminal segment and said closure segment for increasing the resilient force between said housing member and said second segment.

Claim 29

The connector of claim 26 including an electrically conductive terminal lead extending from said housing member.