Patent US4780097A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4780097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Socket contact for an electrical connector
Assignee: Amphenol Corp
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Filing: 1988-01-29
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Granted: 1988-10-25
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Expires: 2008-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A socket contact for an electrical connector is disclosed which includes a contact body, a tubular spring member snapped onto the contact body and a protective sleeve telescopically disposed over the spring member. The contact body includes an annular groove and the spring member includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs. The tabs are formed over the groove through the sleeve to prevent axial movement of the spring member relative to the contact body, whereby a highly reliable electrical joint is made between the spring member and the contact body to avoid electrical discontinuities that might otherwise result.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Amelia Piscitelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/15; H01R13/187; H01R13/10; H01R13/11; H01R13/111; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/49218; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49917; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/49
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A socket contact for an electrical connector, comprising: a solid contact body having at least one circumferential groove thereon; a tubular spring member snapped over the contact body, said spring member having a plurality of tabs thereupon disposed in the area of the contact body groove; a sleeve member telescopically disposed over the tubular spring member; and the spring member tabs being formed over the groove through the sleeve to prevent axial movement of the spring member for providing a reliable electrical joint between the spring member and the contact body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A socket contact for an electrical connector, comprising: a solid contact body having at least one circumferential groove thereon; a tubular spring member snapped over the contact body, said spring member having a plurality of tabs thereupon disposed in the area of the contact body groove; a sleeve member telescopically disposed over the tubular spring member; and the spring member tabs being formed over the groove through the sleeve to prevent axial movement of the spring member for providing a reliable electrical joint between the spring member and the contact body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A socket contact as described by claim 1, wherein: the tabs in the plurality of tabs are spaced around the circumference of the spring member at a rear portion thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A socket contact as described by claim 2, wherein: the plurality of tabs includes at least three tabs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A socket contact as described by claim 1, wherein: the tabs in the plurality of tabs are spaced around the circumference of the spring at a rear portion thereof so as to provide relief for the spring material when the tabs are formed over the groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A socket contact as described by claim 4, wherein: the plurality of tabs includes at least three tabs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a socket contact for an electrical connector of the type including a solid contact body having a circumferential groove thereon, a tubular spring member snapped over the contact body, and a sleeve telescopically disposed over the tubular spring member, the improvement comprising: the tubular spring member having a plurality of tabs, said tabs disposed in the area of the contact body groove when the spring member is snapped thereover; and the tabs being formed over the groove through the sleeve to prevent axial movement of the spring member for providing a reliable electrical joint between said spring member and the contact body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a socket contact for an electrical connector of the type including a solid contact body having a circumferential groove thereon, a tubular spring member snapped over the contact body, and a sleeve telescopically disposed over the tubular spring member, the improvement comprising: the tubular spring member having a plurality of tabs, said tabs disposed in the area of the contact body groove when the spring member is snapped thereover; and the tabs being formed over the groove through the sleeve to prevent axial movement of the spring member for providing a reliable electrical joint between said spring member and the contact body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A socket contact as described by claim 6, wherein: the tabs in the plurality of tabs are spaced around the circumference of the spring member at a rear portion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A socket contact as described by claim 7, wherein: the plurality of tabs includes at least three tabs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A socket contact as described by claim 6, wherein: the tabs in the plurality of tabs are spaced around the circumference of the spring at a rear portion thereof so as to provide relief for the spring material when the tabs are formed over the groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A socket contact as described by claim 9, wherein: the plurality of tabs includes at least three tabs.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for providing a socket contact for an electrical connector, comprising: providing a solid contact body; providing a circumferential groove on the solid contact body; snapping a tubular spring member over the contact body so that a plurality of tabs circumferentially spaced around the spring member are in the area of the contact body groove; telescopically disposing a sleeve over the tubular spring member; and forming the spring member tabs over the groove through the sleeve for preventing axial movement of the spring member and for providing a reliable electrical joint between the spring member and the contact body.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for providing a socket contact for an electrical connector, comprising: providing a solid contact body; providing a circumferential groove on the solid contact body; snapping a tubular spring member over the contact body so that a plurality of tabs circumferentially spaced around the spring member are in the area of the contact body groove; telescopically disposing a sleeve over the tubular spring member; and forming the spring member tabs over the groove through the sleeve for preventing axial movement of the spring member and for providing a reliable electrical joint between the spring member and the contact body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for providing a socket contact as described by claim 11, including: circumferentially spacing the tabs around the spring member at a rear portion thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for providing a socket contact as described by claim 12, including: circumferentially spacing the tabs around the spring member at the rear portion thereof for relieving the spring member material when forming the tabs over the groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4461531A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-25 | 1992-04-25 | 1992-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-25 | 1996-04-25 | 1996-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-25 | 2000-04-25 | 2000-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |