US5122081A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical power connector
Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1991-12-16
•
Granted: 1992-06-16
•
Expires: 2011-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector is provided with a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end. The forward mating end has at least one terminal receiving cavity. A terminal is received in the cavity for connection to a complementary terminal of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing. The terminal is terminated to a conductor projecting from the rear terminating end of the housing. The rear end of the housing is provided substantially entirely by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminal easily to be inserted into the cavity and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminal. Complementary interengaging retaining portions are provided on the terminal and at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminal in the cavity when the clam-shell members are in their closed condition. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in their closed condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven B. Bogiel
- 👤 Mark M. Data
- 👤 Robert DeRoss
- 👤 David M. Skowronski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An electrical connector, comprising a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having a multiple of terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to complementary terminals of an appropriate mating connected when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, the terminals being terminated to a conductor projecting from the rear terminating end of the housing, and the rear end of the housing being provided substantially entirely by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminals freely t be inserted into the cavities and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals including complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surfaces of said second clam-shell member through which said latch arms pass and lock.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
An electrical connector, comprising a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having a multiple of terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to complementary terminals of an appropriate mating connected when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, the terminals being terminated to a conductor projecting from the rear terminating end of the housing, and the rear end of the housing being provided substantially entirely by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminals freely t be inserted into the cavities and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals including complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surfaces of said second clam-shell member through which said latch arms pass and lock.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said complementary interengaging latch means include latch means between the clam-shell members at each opposite end of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 including complementary interengaging retaining means between the terminals and at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminals in the cavities when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein said complementary interengaging retaining means are provided between the terminals and both clam-shell members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said complementary interengaging retaining means include shoulders on opposite sides of the terminals engageable with a shoulder on each of the clam-shell members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 including hinge means movably mounted the clam-shell members to the forward mating end of the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said housing comprises a unitarily molded component and said hinge means comprise unitary living hinge portions thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
225 words
An electrical connector, comprising a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having a multiple of terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to complementary terminals of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, each terminal being terminated to a conductor projecting from the rear terminating end of the housing, the rear end of the housing being provided by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminals easily to be inserted into the cavities and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals complementary interengaging retaining means between the terminals and at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminals in the cavities when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition, and complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surface of said second clam shell member through which sad latch arms pass and lock.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
225 words
An electrical connector, comprising a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having a multiple of terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to complementary terminals of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, each terminal being terminated to a conductor projecting from the rear terminating end of the housing, the rear end of the housing being provided by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminals easily to be inserted into the cavities and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals complementary interengaging retaining means between the terminals and at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminals in the cavities when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition, and complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surface of said second clam shell member through which sad latch arms pass and lock.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said complementary interengaging retaining means are provided between the terminals and both clam-shell members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said complementary interengaging retaining means include shoulders on opposite sides of the terminals engageable with a shoulder on each of the clam-shell members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 8 including hinge means movably mounting the clam-shell members to the forward mating end of the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein said housing comprises a unitarily molded component and said hinge means comprise unitary living hinge portions thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
198 words
An electrical connector, comprising a unitarily molded dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having multiple terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to a complementary terminal of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, the rear end of the housing being provided by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminals easily to be inserted into the cavities and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals, and said clam-shell members being movably mounted on the forward end of the housing by unitarily molded hinge portions thereof including complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surfaces of said second clam-shell member through which said latch arms pass and lock.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
198 words
An electrical connector, comprising a unitarily molded dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having multiple terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to a complementary terminal of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, the rear end of the housing being provided by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminals easily to be inserted into the cavities and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals, and said clam-shell members being movably mounted on the forward end of the housing by unitarily molded hinge portions thereof including complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surfaces of said second clam-shell member through which said latch arms pass and lock.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
236 words
An electrical connector, comprising a unitarily molded dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having multiple terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to complementary terminals of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, the rear end of the housing being provided by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminal easily to be inserted into the cavity and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals, said clam-shell members being movably mounted on the forward end of the housing by unitarily molded hinge portions thereof, and including complementary interengaging retaining means between the terminals and an integrally molded portion of at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminals in the cavities when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and further including complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surface of said second clam-shell member through which said latch arms pass and lock.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
236 words
An electrical connector, comprising a unitarily molded dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, the forward mating end having multiple terminal receiving cavities, a terminal received in each cavity for connection to complementary terminals of an appropriate mating connector when the mating connector is coupled to the mating end of the housing, the rear end of the housing being provided by a pair of clam-shell members movably mounted on the forward end of the housing for movement between an open condition to allow the terminal easily to be inserted into the cavity and a closed condition securely encapsulating the inserted terminals, said clam-shell members being movably mounted on the forward end of the housing by unitarily molded hinge portions thereof, and including complementary interengaging retaining means between the terminals and an integrally molded portion of at least one of the clam-shell members for holding the terminals in the cavities when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and further including complementary interengaging latch means between the clam-shell members for latching the clam-shell members in said closed condition said latch means separating the terminals and spanning the interior of the housing when the clam-shell members are in said closed condition and including flexible latch arms projecting from the inside of one clam-shell member and apertures in the surface of said second clam-shell member through which said latch arms pass and lock.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4257666A
Cited
GB2062979A
Cited
US4660914A
Cited
US4767361A
Cited
US4750893A
Cited
US4758183A
Cited
US4867705A
Cited
DE4000436A1
Cited
US5076806A
Cited
US4979913A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-16 | 1995-12-16 | 1996-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-16 | 1999-12-16 | 2000-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-16 | 2003-12-16 | 2004-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |