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US4630880A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tab redundant terminal

Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corp
•
Filing: 1985-07-03
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Granted: 1986-12-23
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Expires: 2005-07-03
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Abstract

Abstract A tab protruding from a primary electrical contact means in a snap-in terminal for urging contact with misaligned filament wires of a wedge-base bulb.

Inventors

  • 👤 Remie P. Durand

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 11:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R33/00; H01R33/05; H01R33/06; H01R33/09; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/10; H01R13/11; H01R13/112

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 287 words
A snap-in lamp terminal for use in a socket housing for receiving, locating and positioning a wedge-base bulb having a pair of filament extension wires positioned on sides of the wedge base, a pair of troughs extending transverse to the wedge base, the wedge base further having a centrally located cylindrical vent tube and a bulbular evacuated chamber both in the same longitudinal axis, the vent tube bounded by laterally extending side wings of the wedge base, the snap-in terminal comprising: a lamp receiving portion and a conduit receiving portion; the conduit receiving portion including wire retention means; the lamp receiving portion of a generally channelized shape having a terminal base and terminal sides forming the channel; cantilevered contact arms projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from the terminal side via folded tabs; the contact arms including spring contact members for communication with the detent troughs of the bulb and filament wires of the bulb; the terminal sides having curved bulb guides at the lamp receiving end to communicate with the wedge-base bulb; a wire guide means projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from one of the terminal sides such that a wiping action will occur when the wedge-base bulb is inserted into the terminal whereby the wire guide means wipes along the vent tube of the bulb thereby straightening any skewed portion of the filament wires; and redundant terminal means comprising a tab redundant terminal notched out from the contact arm designed for contact with the filament wires; the tab redundant terminal being directed toward the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion of the snap-in terminal toward contact between filament wire and contact arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 287 words
A snap-in lamp terminal for use in a socket housing for receiving, locating and positioning a wedge-base bulb having a pair of filament extension wires positioned on sides of the wedge base, a pair of troughs extending transverse to the wedge base, the wedge base further having a centrally located cylindrical vent tube and a bulbular evacuated chamber both in the same longitudinal axis, the vent tube bounded by laterally extending side wings of the wedge base, the snap-in terminal comprising: a lamp receiving portion and a conduit receiving portion; the conduit receiving portion including wire retention means; the lamp receiving portion of a generally channelized shape having a terminal base and terminal sides forming the channel; cantilevered contact arms projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from the terminal side via folded tabs; the contact arms including spring contact members for communication with the detent troughs of the bulb and filament wires of the bulb; the terminal sides having curved bulb guides at the lamp receiving end to communicate with the wedge-base bulb; a wire guide means projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from one of the terminal sides such that a wiping action will occur when the wedge-base bulb is inserted into the terminal whereby the wire guide means wipes along the vent tube of the bulb thereby straightening any skewed portion of the filament wires; and redundant terminal means comprising a tab redundant terminal notched out from the contact arm designed for contact with the filament wires; the tab redundant terminal being directed toward the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion of the snap-in terminal toward contact between filament wire and contact arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 71 words
The snap-in terminal of claim 1 where the terminal base further comprises a wedge receiving slot for engagement with the socket housing; redundant terminal means comprising a tab redundant terminal notched out from the contact arm designed for contact with the filament wires; the tab redundant terminal being directed toward the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion of the snap-in terminal toward contact between filament wire and contact arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 407 words
A snap-in terminal and socket assembly for receiving, locating and positioning a wedge-base bulb having a pair of filament extension wires positioned on the sides of the wedge-base, a pair of troughs extending transverse to the wedge base, the wedge bulb further having a centrally located cylindrical vent tube and a tubular evactuated chamber both in the same longitudinal axis, the vent tube bounded by laterally extended side wings of the base, the snap-in lamp terminal and socket assembly comprising: a lamp receiving portion and a conduit receiving portion; the conduit receiving portion including wire retention means; a lamp receiving portion of a generally channelized shape having a terminal base and terminal sides forming the channel; cantilevered contact arms projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from the terminal side via folded tabs; the contact arms including spring contact members for communication with the detent troughs of the bulb and filament wires of the bulb; the terminal sides having curved bulb guides at the lamp receiving end to communicate with the wedge-base bulb; a wire guide means projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from one of the terminal sides such that a wiping action will occur when the wedge-base bulb is inserted into the terminal whereby the wire guide means wipes along the vent tube of the bulb thereby straightening any skewed portion of the filament wires; a generally tubular shaped socket for receiving the wedge-base bulb and the snap-in terminal; the socket comprising a bulb housing section and a terminal access chamber for a pair of snap-in terminals; the bulb housing section being of generally cylindrical shape and having a pair of end stops which define a bulb entrance to the housing; a pair of terminal guides slotted through the terminal access chamber and bulb housing terminating with the end stops in the bulb housing; terminal guide ports providing access to the terminal guides for the snap-in terminals; the bulb housing further comprising wedge clamps hinged from the socket assembly and providing a wedge for communication with the terminal base wedge receiving slot thereby entrapping the snap-in terminal; redundant terminal means comprising a tab redundant terminal notched out from the contact arm designed for contact with the filament wires; the tab redundant terminal being directed toward the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion of the snap-in terminal toward contact between filament wire and contact arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 407 words
A snap-in terminal and socket assembly for receiving, locating and positioning a wedge-base bulb having a pair of filament extension wires positioned on the sides of the wedge-base, a pair of troughs extending transverse to the wedge base, the wedge bulb further having a centrally located cylindrical vent tube and a tubular evactuated chamber both in the same longitudinal axis, the vent tube bounded by laterally extended side wings of the base, the snap-in lamp terminal and socket assembly comprising: a lamp receiving portion and a conduit receiving portion; the conduit receiving portion including wire retention means; a lamp receiving portion of a generally channelized shape having a terminal base and terminal sides forming the channel; cantilevered contact arms projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from the terminal side via folded tabs; the contact arms including spring contact members for communication with the detent troughs of the bulb and filament wires of the bulb; the terminal sides having curved bulb guides at the lamp receiving end to communicate with the wedge-base bulb; a wire guide means projecting into the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion from one of the terminal sides such that a wiping action will occur when the wedge-base bulb is inserted into the terminal whereby the wire guide means wipes along the vent tube of the bulb thereby straightening any skewed portion of the filament wires; a generally tubular shaped socket for receiving the wedge-base bulb and the snap-in terminal; the socket comprising a bulb housing section and a terminal access chamber for a pair of snap-in terminals; the bulb housing section being of generally cylindrical shape and having a pair of end stops which define a bulb entrance to the housing; a pair of terminal guides slotted through the terminal access chamber and bulb housing terminating with the end stops in the bulb housing; terminal guide ports providing access to the terminal guides for the snap-in terminals; the bulb housing further comprising wedge clamps hinged from the socket assembly and providing a wedge for communication with the terminal base wedge receiving slot thereby entrapping the snap-in terminal; redundant terminal means comprising a tab redundant terminal notched out from the contact arm designed for contact with the filament wires; the tab redundant terminal being directed toward the interior of the generally channelized lamp receiving portion of the snap-in terminal toward contact between filament wire and contact arm.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1989-12-22 1990-06-23 1990-12-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-12-22 1994-06-23 1994-12-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-12-22 1998-06-23 1998-12-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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