Patent US4906210A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4906210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector with improved contact
Assignee: IMO Industries Inc
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Filing: 1988-08-15
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Granted: 1990-03-06
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Expires: 2008-08-15
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector comprises a plug having an elongate prong releasably received in a hollow receptacle and retained for electrical contact by a retainer. An improvement of that electrical contact is achieved by tensioning the prong in the receptacle against the retainer. A spring may be tensioned for that purpose in the receptacle between that receptacle and the prong.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. McNiel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/15; H01R13/187; H01R13/62; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An electrical connector comprising in combination: a plug having an electrically conducting elongate prong; a receptacle having an electrically conducting hollow portion for receiving said prong for electrical contact of a conductor connected to said prong with a conductor connected to said hollow portion; means for releasably retaining said prong in said hollow portion, including a retainer coupled to said plug and to said receptacle externally of said plug and said receptacle and spaced from said prong; and means for tensioning said retainer coupled to said plug and to said receptacle, including a spring tensioned in said hollow portion against said prong.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electrical connector comprising in combination: a plug having an electrically conducting elongate prong; a receptacle having an electrically conducting hollow portion for receiving said prong for electrical contact of a conductor connected to said prong with a conductor connected to said hollow portion; means for releasably retaining said prong in said hollow portion, including a retainer coupled to said plug and to said receptacle externally of said plug and said receptacle and spaced from said prong; and means for tensioning said retainer coupled to said plug and to said receptacle, including a spring tensioned in said hollow portion against said prong.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said retainer includes a first part mechanically connected to the receptacle and a second part mechanically connected to the plug and releasably coupled to said first part; and said means for tensioning said retainer include said spring for tensioning said first and second parts into engagement with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said spring is a helical spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said helical spring is in said hollow portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said helical spring has a portion in a path of said prong in said hollow portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
9 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
said helical spring encompasses a longitudinal axis of said hollow portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
said helical spring encompasses a longitudinal axis of said hollow portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said prong, said hollow portion and said helical spring have a common longitudinal axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said hollow portion has an elongate cavity for receiving said prong; and said spring is in an extension of said cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, said hollow portion has an inwardly bent region for intimate contact with said prong.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an electrical connector wherein an elongate prong releasably received in a hollow receptacle is retained for electrical contact, the improvement comprising, in combination: a retainer spaced from said prong and from said receptacle for releasably retaining said prong in said receptacle; a spring positioned in said receptacle to tension said retainer via said prong for improved electrical contact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an electrical connector wherein an elongate prong releasably received in a hollow receptacle is retained for electrical contact, the improvement comprising, in combination: a retainer spaced from said prong and from said receptacle for releasably retaining said prong in said receptacle; a spring positioned in said receptacle to tension said retainer via said prong for improved electrical contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said receptacle has an elongate cavity for receiving said prong; and said spring is in an extension of said cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said spring encompasses a longitudinal axis of an elongate prong-receiving cavity in said receptable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said prong, said hollow cavity and said spring have a common longitudinal axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said spring has a portion in a path of said prong in said hollow receptacle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said hollow receptacle has an inwardly bent region for intimate contact with said prong.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said spring is a helical spring in said hollow receptacle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a method of providing electrical connection via a hollow receptacle and an elongate prong releasably received in said hollow receptacle and retained for electrical contact by a retainer, the method of improving said electrical contact by locating said retainer at all times spaced from said hollow receptacle and from said prong and by tensioning said retainer via said prong in said receptacle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
In a method of providing electrical connection via a hollow receptacle and an elongate prong releasably received in said hollow receptacle and retained for electrical contact by a retainer, the method of improving said electrical contact by locating said retainer at all times spaced from said hollow receptacle and from said prong and by tensioning said retainer via said prong in said receptacle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
8 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
said prong is tensioned in said receptacle by biasing said prong in a direction out of said receptacle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
said prong is tensioned in said receptacle by biasing said prong in a direction out of said receptacle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
8 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
said tensioning is effected with a spring in said receptacle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
said tensioning is effected with a spring in said receptacle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
8 words
A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein:
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
said spring is retained in said receptacle by tensioning portions of said receptacle inwardly for engagement by said prong.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
said spring is retained in said receptacle by tensioning portions of said receptacle inwardly for engagement by said prong.
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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) | 1993-03-05 | 1993-09-04 | 1994-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-05 | 1997-09-04 | 1998-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-05 | 2001-09-04 | 2002-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |