US4775336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact insertion feature
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1987-09-09
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Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2007-09-09
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to terminal contacts for electrical connectors and in particular one aspect of the invention relates to socket contacts formed in strip on close centerline spacing and another aspect of the invention relates to an insertion feature to facilitate insertion of terminal contacts into an electrical connector housing.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Paulo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/58; H01R12/585; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/341; H05K3/3421; H05K3/3426; H01R4/00; H01R4/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising an insulative housing having terminal receiving passages extending therethrough; each of said passages having an electrical terminal disposed therein, said terminal comprising: a mating section; a terminating section; planar means for securing the electrical terminal in a terminal receiving passage in an interference fit; and insertion means integral with the planar securing means for inserting the electrical terminal into the terminal receiving passage, said insertion means having a surface normal to said planar securing means, whereby when a force is applied to the normal surface of the insertion means the electrical terminal is pushed into a respective terminal receiving passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising an insulative housing having terminal receiving passages extending therethrough; each of said passages having an electrical terminal disposed therein, said terminal comprising: a mating section; a terminating section; planar means for securing the electrical terminal in a terminal receiving passage in an interference fit; and insertion means integral with the planar securing means for inserting the electrical terminal into the terminal receiving passage, said insertion means having a surface normal to said planar securing means, whereby when a force is applied to the normal surface of the insertion means the electrical terminal is pushed into a respective terminal receiving passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the normal surface is formed from a sheared line segment in the planar securing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the insertion means extends along the electrical terminal in the direction of insertion from the rearward facing normal surface, terminating in the planar securing means in a leading edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising an insulative housing having terminal receiving passages extending therethrough: each of said passages having an electrical terminal disposed therein, said terminal comprising: a mating section; a terminating section; a retaining plate having scalloped edges for securing the electrical terminal in a terminal receiving passage in an interference fit, said scalloped edges diverging from the centerline of the retaining plate rearward of the insertion direction; and insertion means integral with the retaining plate for inserting the electrical terminal into the terminal receiving passage, said insertion means having a surface normal to the retaining plate, said surface facing rearward of the insertion direction, whereby when a force is applied to the rearward facing normal surface the electrical terminal is pushed into the terminal receiving passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising an insulative housing having terminal receiving passages extending therethrough: each of said passages having an electrical terminal disposed therein, said terminal comprising: a mating section; a terminating section; a retaining plate having scalloped edges for securing the electrical terminal in a terminal receiving passage in an interference fit, said scalloped edges diverging from the centerline of the retaining plate rearward of the insertion direction; and insertion means integral with the retaining plate for inserting the electrical terminal into the terminal receiving passage, said insertion means having a surface normal to the retaining plate, said surface facing rearward of the insertion direction, whereby when a force is applied to the rearward facing normal surface the electrical terminal is pushed into the terminal receiving passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the rearward facing normal surface is formed from a sheared line segment in the retaining plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein the rearward facing normal surface is arcuate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the insertion means extends along the electrical terminal in the direction of insertion from the rearward facing normal surface terminating in the retaining plate in a leading edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein the leading edge is arcuate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrical terminal for insertion into a terminal receiving passage in a dielectric housing, comprising: a mating section; a terminating section; a retaining plate having scalloped edges for securing the electrical terminal in a terminal receiving passage in an interference fit, said scalloped edges diverging from the centerline of the retaining plate rearward of the insertion direction; and insertion means integral with the retaining plate for inserting the electrical terminal into a terminal receiving passage, said insertion means having a surface normal to the retaining plate, said surface facing rearward of the insertion direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrical terminal for insertion into a terminal receiving passage in a dielectric housing, comprising: a mating section; a terminating section; a retaining plate having scalloped edges for securing the electrical terminal in a terminal receiving passage in an interference fit, said scalloped edges diverging from the centerline of the retaining plate rearward of the insertion direction; and insertion means integral with the retaining plate for inserting the electrical terminal into a terminal receiving passage, said insertion means having a surface normal to the retaining plate, said surface facing rearward of the insertion direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical terminal as recited in claim 9 wherein the rearward facing normal surface is formed from a sheared line segment in the retaining plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical terminal as recited in claim 10 wherein the rearward facing normal face is arcuate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrical terminal as recited in claim 9 wherein the insertion means extend along the electrical terminal in the direction of insertion from the rearward facing normal surface terminating in the retaining plate in a leading edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical terminal as recited in claim 9 wherein the leading edge is arcuate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of inserting contacts into a connector housing to a predetermined position using a tool having a stop thereon, comprising the steps of stamping a series of insertion features in a continuous strip of metal stock at regulr spacing; stamping and forming the continuous strip of metal stock into a series of contacts each having an insertion feature with the insertion feature as a datum reference with respect to the other features of each contact; severing a predetermined number of contacts from the continuous strip series of contacts; forming tails of the severed contacts a predetermined distance from the insertion feature; applying an insertion force to the insertion feature of the severed contacts using a tool to push the contacts into terminal receiving passages in a connector housing until the insertion feature is at a predetermined axial position within the passage, whereby the precise position of the inserted contacts is controlled.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of inserting contacts into a connector housing to a predetermined position using a tool having a stop thereon, comprising the steps of stamping a series of insertion features in a continuous strip of metal stock at regulr spacing; stamping and forming the continuous strip of metal stock into a series of contacts each having an insertion feature with the insertion feature as a datum reference with respect to the other features of each contact; severing a predetermined number of contacts from the continuous strip series of contacts; forming tails of the severed contacts a predetermined distance from the insertion feature; applying an insertion force to the insertion feature of the severed contacts using a tool to push the contacts into terminal receiving passages in a connector housing until the insertion feature is at a predetermined axial position within the passage, whereby the precise position of the inserted contacts is controlled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of inserting contacts as recited in claim 14 further comprising the steps of partially inserting the severed contacts into terminal receiving passages; and severing the carrier strip, prior to applying an insertion force to the insertion feature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method of inserting contacts as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of applying an insertion force to the insertion feature to push the contacts into terminal receiving passages in a connector housing until the insertion feature is at a predetermined axial position within the passage further comprises applying the insertion force to the insertion feature until a stop on the insertion tool engages the connector housing.
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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) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |