US5061209A — Wall plate jack and contact therefor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 95 words

An electrical connector, comprising: a housing having a plug receiving portion and a contact support portion coupled to said plug receiving portion; a plurality of spring contacts housed within said plug receiving portion; a plurality of press-fit contacts housed within said contact support portion, each of said press-fit contacts being substantially flat along its length and including a press-fit tail, a body, and a bifurcated extension, said tail, said body and said bifurcated extension each aligned colinearly along a single longitudinal axis; and connector means for electrically connecting said spring contacts to said press-fit contacts.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 95 words

An electrical connector, comprising: a housing having a plug receiving portion and a contact support portion coupled to said plug receiving portion; a plurality of spring contacts housed within said plug receiving portion; a plurality of press-fit contacts housed within said contact support portion, each of said press-fit contacts being substantially flat along its length and including a press-fit tail, a body, and a bifurcated extension, said tail, said body and said bifurcated extension each aligned colinearly along a single longitudinal axis; and connector means for electrically connecting said spring contacts to said press-fit contacts.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 96 words

An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein each press-fit contact has a body portion having a longitudinal axis; a press-fit tail extending colinearly from said body portion along said longitudinal axis and being formed with two pairs of longitudinal indentations, one pair on each of two opposed sides, said tail being quadrangular in cross section and having substantially equal lengths between midpoints of opposed sides; and a bifurcated extension extending colinearly from said body portion along said longitudinal axis in a direction away from said tail, said extension having two arms defining a slot therebetween.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said contact support portion is unitarily formed of molded material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said connector means is a printed circuit board.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a stuffer member for securing conductors to said press-fit contacts is coupled to said housing, said stuffer being U-shaped and having a web and a pair of spaced walls, said walls having serrated edges, internal cross-members, and internal depressions.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said contact support portion has a hollow body with a pair of opposed side walls enclosing said extensions of said press-fit contacts.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

An electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said opposed side walls extend from said body beyond said extensions of said press-fit contacts.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

An electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said side walls have slots aligned with the longitudinal axes of said press-fit contacts.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

An electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said side walls are joined together by a plurality of cross webs, separating at least a portion of each of said extensions of adjacent press-fit contacts from each other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

An electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said side walls have a plurality of protrusions located between said slots.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

An electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein said side walls taper toward each other and support each of said press-fit contacts on two sides of said contacts.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 98 words

A contact for electrical connection between a conductor and a printed circuit board, comprising: a body portion having a longitudinal axis; a press-fit tail extending colinearly from said body portion along said longitudinal axis and being formed with two pairs of longitudinal indentations, one pair on each of two opposed sides, said tail being quadrangular in cross section and having substantially equal lengths between midpoints of opposed sides; and a bifurcated extension extending colinearly from said body portion along said longitudinal axis in a direction away from said tail, said extension having two arms defining a slot therebetween.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 98 words

A contact for electrical connection between a conductor and a printed circuit board, comprising: a body portion having a longitudinal axis; a press-fit tail extending colinearly from said body portion along said longitudinal axis and being formed with two pairs of longitudinal indentations, one pair on each of two opposed sides, said tail being quadrangular in cross section and having substantially equal lengths between midpoints of opposed sides; and a bifurcated extension extending colinearly from said body portion along said longitudinal axis in a direction away from said tail, said extension having two arms defining a slot therebetween.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein said body has an aperture therein.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein said arms are angled toward each other.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein said arms have ends, said ends being beveled toward said longitudinal axis in the direction of said body portion.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein said slot has a constricted portion where said arms contact.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein said tail has an end, said tail tapering on opposed sides toward said end to a line.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein said indentations in said tail are substantially V-shaped at about a 30° angle and have a rounded bottom.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein said tail has two opposed sides which are arcuate.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

A contact according to claim 12, wherein the distance between indentations comprising each of said pairs of indentations is less than the distance between midpoints of said opposed sides having said indentations therein.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 127 words

An electrical connector, comprising: a housing having a plug receiving portion with a cavity and a contact support portion with opposed slotted side walls coupled to said plug receiving portion; a plurality of spring contacts housed within said plug receiving portion; a plurality of press-fit contacts housed within said contact support portion between said side walls, each of said press-fit contacts being substantially flat along its length and including a quadrangular prism shaped press-fit tail, a body, and a bifurcated extension aligned colinearly along a longitudinal axis, said tail having two pairs of generally V-shaped indentations, one pair on each of two opposed sides and having substantially equal lengths between midpoints of opposed sides; and connector means for electrically connecting said spring contacts to said press-fit contacts.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 127 words

An electrical connector, comprising: a housing having a plug receiving portion with a cavity and a contact support portion with opposed slotted side walls coupled to said plug receiving portion; a plurality of spring contacts housed within said plug receiving portion; a plurality of press-fit contacts housed within said contact support portion between said side walls, each of said press-fit contacts being substantially flat along its length and including a quadrangular prism shaped press-fit tail, a body, and a bifurcated extension aligned colinearly along a longitudinal axis, said tail having two pairs of generally V-shaped indentations, one pair on each of two opposed sides and having substantially equal lengths between midpoints of opposed sides; and connector means for electrically connecting said spring contacts to said press-fit contacts.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 116 words

A process for manufacturing a contact having a press-fit tail, comprising the steps of providing a substantially flat contact with an elongate tail shaped as a rectangular prism having a substantially square cross section; affixing the contact onto a length of tape; profiling the end of the tail by cutting two bevels across the longitudinal axis of the end at about 45°; punching a pair of longitudinal indents into one flat side of the tail in about a 30° V-shaped, thereby partially deforming the sides of the tail; and punching a pair of complementary longitudinal indents into the opposed flat side of the tail in about a 30° V-shape, thereby deforming the sides of the tail.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 116 words

A process for manufacturing a contact having a press-fit tail, comprising the steps of providing a substantially flat contact with an elongate tail shaped as a rectangular prism having a substantially square cross section; affixing the contact onto a length of tape; profiling the end of the tail by cutting two bevels across the longitudinal axis of the end at about 45°; punching a pair of longitudinal indents into one flat side of the tail in about a 30° V-shaped, thereby partially deforming the sides of the tail; and punching a pair of complementary longitudinal indents into the opposed flat side of the tail in about a 30° V-shape, thereby deforming the sides of the tail.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-10-28	1995-04-29	1995-10-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-10-28	1999-04-29	1999-10-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-10-28	2003-04-29	2003-10-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Wall plate jack and contact therefor

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag