US5098320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shrouded electrical connector
Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1990-11-29
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Granted: 1992-03-24
•
Expires: 2010-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A male terminal is provided with a male contact portion and a shroud portion disposed about the male contact portion. The male contact portion is integral with and folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion protects the male contact portion. An electrical connector assembly includes a female connector having a housing which includes channels for receiving the shroud portion of the male terminal, and a female terminal in the housing mates with the male contact portion of the male terminal when the shroud is received in the channels of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Colleran
- 👤 Lawrence E. Geib
- 👤 Fred L. Krehbiel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/10; H01R13/11; H01R13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A male terminal, comprising: a male contact portion; a shroud portion about the male contact portion; and wherein the male contact portion is integral with an folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion substantially surrounds and protects the male contact portion; and wherein said shroud portion is generally hollow with opposite open ends, and the male contact portion is folded inwardly from one end of the shroud portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A male terminal, comprising: a male contact portion; a shroud portion about the male contact portion; and wherein the male contact portion is integral with an folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion substantially surrounds and protects the male contact portion; and wherein said shroud portion is generally hollow with opposite open ends, and the male contact portion is folded inwardly from one end of the shroud portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The male terminal of claim 1 wherein the terminal comprises a one-piece structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The male terminal of claim 2 wherein the terminal is fabricated of stamped and formed metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The male terminal of claim 1 wherein said male contact portion is folded onto itself to form a double thickness therefor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The male terminal of claim 1 wherein said shroud portion is generally rectangularly shaped in cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The male terminal of claim 1 wherein said shroud portion has terminating means thereon for coupling the terminal in an appropriate circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The male terminal of claim 6 wherein said terminating means are disposed on the outside of the shroud portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The male terminal of claim 7 wherein said terminating means comprise a solder pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A male terminal, comprising: a male contact portion folded onto itself to form a double thickness therefor; a shroud portion substantially surrounding the male contact portion; and wherein the male terminal comprises a one-piece construction of stamped and formed metal, and the male contact portion is integral with and folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion protects the male contact portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A male terminal, comprising: a male contact portion folded onto itself to form a double thickness therefor; a shroud portion substantially surrounding the male contact portion; and wherein the male terminal comprises a one-piece construction of stamped and formed metal, and the male contact portion is integral with and folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion protects the male contact portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The male terminal of claim 9 wherein said shroud portion is generally hollow with opposite open ends, and the male contact portion is folded inwardly from one ned of the shroud portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The male terminal of claim 10 wherein said shroud portion is generally rectangularly shaped in cross-section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The male terminal of claim 9 wherein said shroud portion has terminating means thereon for coupling the terminal in an appropriate circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The male terminal of claim 12 wherein said terminating means are disposed on the outside of the shroud portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The male terminal of claim 13 wherein said terminating means comprise a solder pad.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a male terminal including a male contact portion, a shroud portion about the male contact portion, and wherein the male contact portion is integral with and folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion protects the male contact portion; and a female connector including a housing having channel means for receiving the shroud portion of the male terminal, and a female terminal on the housing for mating with the male contact portion of the male terminal when the shroud is received in said channel means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a male terminal including a male contact portion, a shroud portion about the male contact portion, and wherein the male contact portion is integral with and folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion protects the male contact portion; and a female connector including a housing having channel means for receiving the shroud portion of the male terminal, and a female terminal on the housing for mating with the male contact portion of the male terminal when the shroud is received in said channel means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 15 wherein said housing has an interior cavity receiving and positioning the female terminal, and said channel means are disposed about the interior cavity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 16 wherein the shroud portion of said male terminal substantially surrounds the male contact portion, and the channel means of said housing substantially surrounds the interior cavity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 17 wherein said shroud portion is generally hollow with opposite open ends, the male contact portion is folded inwardly from one end of the shroud portion, and the other end of the shroud portion is positionable in said channel means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 15 wherein said male terminal comprises a one-piece structure of stamped and formed metal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 15 wherein said male contact portion is folded onto itself to form a double thickness therefor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 15 wherein said shroud portion of the male terminal is generally rectangularly shaped in cross-section, and the channel means of said housing are complementarily rectangularly shaped for receiving the rectangularly shaped shroud portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 15 wherein said shroud portion has terminating means thereon for coupling the terminal in an appropriate circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 22 wherein said terminating means are disposed on the outside of the shroud portion of the male terminal, and a portion of the channel means of the housing is open to expose the terminating means on the outside of the electrical connector assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector assembly of claim 23 wherein said terminating means comprise a solder pad.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3188600A
Cited
US3972580A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-24 | 1995-09-23 | 1996-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-24 | 1999-09-23 | 2000-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-24 | 2003-09-23 | 2004-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |