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US4860445A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of mounting electrical contacts in connector body

Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1989-02-09
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Granted: 1989-08-29
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Expires: 2009-02-09
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Abstract

Abstract In a method of fixing an electrical contact into a connector body, said connector body having at least one relatively thin-walled portion including a plurality of transversely extending slots, each of said slots including oppositely disposed wings upstanding from said thin-walled portion; and an electrical contact portion in said slot and extending normal thereto and projecting therefrom, the steps comprising: positioning said connector body and its attendent contacts at a work station; engaging said contacts with an alignment plate to position said contacts at the rearwardmost portion of said slots; lifting said connector body and alignment plate until the projecting portions of said contacts engaging mating apertures in an ultrasonic horn, said horn having ribs which engage said wings; and ultrasonically vibrating said horn to melt said wings and substantially close said slots, thereby securing said contacts.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerald M. Jones

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 21:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49147

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
In a method of fixing an electrical contact into a connector body, said connector body having at least one relatively thin-walled portion including a plurality of transversely extending slots, each of said slots including oppositely disposed wings upstanding from said thin-walled portion; and an electrical contact portion in said slot and extending normal thereto and projecting therefrom, the steps comprising: positioning said connector body and its attendent contacts at a work station; engaging said contacts with an alignment plate to position said contacts at the rearwardmost portion of said slots; lifting said connector body and alignment plate until the projecting portions of said contacts engaging mating apertures in an ultrasonic horn, said horn having ribs which engage said wings; and ultrasonically vibrating said horn to melt said wings and substantially close said slots, thereby securing said contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 137 words
In a method of fixing an electrical contact into a connector body, said connector body having at least one relatively thin-walled portion including a plurality of transversely extending slots, each of said slots including oppositely disposed wings upstanding from said thin-walled portion; and an electrical contact portion in said slot and extending normal thereto and projecting therefrom, the steps comprising: positioning said connector body and its attendent contacts at a work station; engaging said contacts with an alignment plate to position said contacts at the rearwardmost portion of said slots; lifting said connector body and alignment plate until the projecting portions of said contacts engaging mating apertures in an ultrasonic horn, said horn having ribs which engage said wings; and ultrasonically vibrating said horn to melt said wings and substantially close said slots, thereby securing said contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said horn vibrates at a frequency of 60,000 cycles per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said horn vibrates for about two seconds.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3735214A Cited
JPH02207629A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-08-28 1993-02-27 1993-08-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-08-28 1997-02-27 1997-08-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-08-28 2001-02-27 2001-08-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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