US4729740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluorescent ballast having integral connector
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1986-12-12
•
Granted: 1988-03-08
•
Expires: 2006-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An electrical ballast for use with fluorescent light fixtures includes a housing with side and endwalls. The endwalls have cutout portions therein for receiving an electrical connector. The electrical components which comprise the ballast are mounted on a printed circuit board, and the connector is electrically interconnected to the printed circuit board and inserted within the cutout portion of the ballast housing. The connector is profiled for receipt within the cutout portion to seal the cavity within the housing during the curing period of the potting compound.
Inventors
- 👤 Don H. Crowe
- 👤 Jessie L. Moser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/6608; H01R13/6633; H01R13/665; H01R13/6658; H01R4/00; H01R4/28; H01R4/48; H01R4/4809; H01R4/48185; H01R4/4819; H01R4/4821; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An electrical ballast for use with flourescent lights and the like, the ballast comprising: an outer shell means having sidewalls and endwalls, a portion of said outer shell means having a connector locating area defined by a cutout area in at least one of the endwalls; a printed circuit board having the ballast components mounted thereon and circuit board through holes located adjacent to the connector locating area, the printed circuit board being disposed in the shell means though an open face of said shell means; and an electrical connector means mounted to said printed circuit board, the electrical connector means including an insulative housing having spaced plates along side edges of the housing for receipt in the cutout area of said outer shell means, the electrical connector having contact means for interconnection to stripped insulated conductors, said contact means including terminal means extending through an aperture in said housing for connection to the circuit board through holes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An electrical ballast for use with flourescent lights and the like, the ballast comprising: an outer shell means having sidewalls and endwalls, a portion of said outer shell means having a connector locating area defined by a cutout area in at least one of the endwalls; a printed circuit board having the ballast components mounted thereon and circuit board through holes located adjacent to the connector locating area, the printed circuit board being disposed in the shell means though an open face of said shell means; and an electrical connector means mounted to said printed circuit board, the electrical connector means including an insulative housing having spaced plates along side edges of the housing for receipt in the cutout area of said outer shell means, the electrical connector having contact means for interconnection to stripped insulated conductors, said contact means including terminal means extending through an aperture in said housing for connection to the circuit board through holes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ballast of claim 1 wherein the connector locating area comprises a cutout portion in at least one of said endwalls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ballast of claim 2 wherein said electrical is profiled to be slidably receivable in said cutout portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical ballast of claim 1 wherein the connector means includes electrical terminal means having portions interconnectable with the printed circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein the electrical connector means includes an insulative body portion having a front mating face and a plurality of wire receiving openings therein, extending from the front mating face.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the terminal includes a resilient contacting portion disposed adjacent to the wire receiving opening for contacting the conductor of a wire insertable through the wire reciving opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein the terminal comprises a flat blade portion located in a channel which extends from the front mating face to a rear face of the connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein the resilient contact portion comprises a finger portion contiguous with the flat blade portion and extends downwardly and orthoginally away from the front mating face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electrical connector for use with an electrical ballast which includes an outer housing having sidewalls and endwalls, with a cutout portion within at least one of the endwalls, and a printed circuit board disposed within the housing having the electrical components disposed thereon, the connector comprising: an insulative housing for mounting within an opening in the ballast outer housing, the insulative housing including spaced plates along side edges thereof profiled for receipt in the cutout portion, the housing having terminal receiving openings therein; and a plurality of electrical terminals disposed within the terminal receiving openings, each electrical terminal having a portion interconnectable with the printed circuit board, and an end which is interconnectable with a mating conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electrical connector for use with an electrical ballast which includes an outer housing having sidewalls and endwalls, with a cutout portion within at least one of the endwalls, and a printed circuit board disposed within the housing having the electrical components disposed thereon, the connector comprising: an insulative housing for mounting within an opening in the ballast outer housing, the insulative housing including spaced plates along side edges thereof profiled for receipt in the cutout portion, the housing having terminal receiving openings therein; and a plurality of electrical terminals disposed within the terminal receiving openings, each electrical terminal having a portion interconnectable with the printed circuit board, and an end which is interconnectable with a mating conductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the connector comprises means for mounting within an opening means in the housing endwall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the insulative housing includes a central vertical wall having a front mating face parallel to said central wall, with said terminal receiving openings extending normally into the front mating face.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said terminal portions interconnectable to said printed circuit board are disposable within an envelope defined by said ballast housing sidewalls and endwalls, the said conductor interconnecton end is disposable outside of the envelope defined by the ballast housing sidewalls and endwalls.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein the terminal receiving opening is defined by sidewalls, a floor and a ceiling which all extend towards a rear face of said central wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the sidewalls include channels therein which extend adjacent to the ceiling, and a circular opening is disposed adjacent to the floor in an intersecting relationship therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein the terminal includes a leg portion extending into the terminal receiving cavity, and through an aperture in the central wall, the leg portion which projects through the central wall extending in a transverse direction from the terminal receiving cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrical connector of claim 15 wherein the terminal further comprises a flat blade portion having a rearwardly facing shoulder, the flat blade portions being disposed within said channels until the shoulder of said flat blade portion abuts the shoulder within said channels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein the terminal portion interconnectable with a matable conductor comprises a second leg portion which extends into the opening orthoginally away from the front mating face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein the circular opening is profiled such that when an electrical wire with a portion of the conductor exposed, is inserted into the circular opening, the conductor lies adjacent to the floor of the insulative housing and the second leg is resiliently biased thereagainst.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2777893A
Cited
US3135822A
Cited
US3383565A
Cited
US4047242A
Cited
US4129897A
Cited
GB2018051A
Cited
US4519015A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-08 | 1991-09-07 | 1992-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-08 | 1995-09-07 | 1996-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-08 | 1999-09-07 | 2000-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |