US5127839A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector having reliable terminals
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1991-04-26
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Granted: 1992-07-07
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Expires: 2011-04-26
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly has terminals which have first resilient legs and second rigid legs. The second rigid legs cooperate with the housing to secure the terminals therein. The entire length of the first resilient leg is utilized as a resilient beam. The first and second legs also provide two parallel paths over which signals can travel. The configuration of the terminals minimize the height of the assembly and provides a reliable electrical connection over which high speed signals can travel.
Inventors
- 👤 Iosif Korsunsky
- 👤 Dimitry G. Grabbe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/57; H01R13/02; H01R13/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A electrical connector assembly having a first connector housing and a second connector housing, the first connector housing has first terminal receiving cavities provided therein, first terminals are positioned in the first terminal receiving cavities, the second connector housing has second terminal receiving cavities provided therein, second terminals are positioned in the second terminal receiving cavities, the electrical connector comprising: the first and second terminals have first legs which extend beyond mating surfaces of the respective housings, and second legs which are retained in the respective housings, the second legs are rigid and cooperate with the housings to ensure that the first and second terminal are maintained in position relative to the first and second housings, the first legs are resilient and having a contact section provided at a free end thereof, dividing walls are provided in the first and second terminals receiving cavities, the dividing walls are positioned between the first legs and the second legs of the first and second terminals, whereby when the first housing is mated to the second housing, the first legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the second legs of the second terminals and the second legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the first legs of the second terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A electrical connector assembly having a first connector housing and a second connector housing, the first connector housing has first terminal receiving cavities provided therein, first terminals are positioned in the first terminal receiving cavities, the second connector housing has second terminal receiving cavities provided therein, second terminals are positioned in the second terminal receiving cavities, the electrical connector comprising: the first and second terminals have first legs which extend beyond mating surfaces of the respective housings, and second legs which are retained in the respective housings, the second legs are rigid and cooperate with the housings to ensure that the first and second terminal are maintained in position relative to the first and second housings, the first legs are resilient and having a contact section provided at a free end thereof, dividing walls are provided in the first and second terminals receiving cavities, the dividing walls are positioned between the first legs and the second legs of the first and second terminals, whereby when the first housing is mated to the second housing, the first legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the second legs of the second terminals and the second legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the first legs of the second terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the second legs of the first and second terminals have lead-in surfaces provided at the free ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the second legs of the first and second terminals engage the dividing walls to provide the force required to stabilize the terminals in the housings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first legs have enlarged contact sections provided at free ends thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the first legs are movable relative to the terminal receiving cavities over their entire length, such that the first legs are resilient over their entire length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein mounting portions extend between the first legs and the second legs, the mounting portions and the second legs cooperate with the housings to provide the retention required to maintain the terminals in the housings, thereby enabling the first legs to move relative to the housings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein walls of the first and second terminal receiving cavities are dimensioned to prevent the first legs of the first and second terminals from overstress.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein printed circuit board mating legs extend from the mounting portions of the first and second terminals in a direction which is essentially opposed to the direction of the first and second legs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first housing has terminal receiving cavities provided on opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the connector, the opposed terminal receiving cavities are mirror images of each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
195 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector housing and a second connector housing, the first connector housing has first terminal receiving cavities provided therein, first terminals are positioned in the first terminal receiving cavities, the second connector housing has second terminal receiving cavities provided therein, second terminals are positioned in the second terminal receiving cavities; the first and second terminals have first legs and second legs the second legs are rigid and cooperate with the housings to ensure that the first and second terminals are maintained in position relative to the first and second housings, the first legs are resilient and have a contact section provided at a free end thereof, dividing walls are provided in the first and second terminals receiving cavities, the dividing walls are positioned between the first legs and the second legs of the first and second terminals; whereby when the first housing is mated to the second housing, the first legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the second legs of the second terminals and the second legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the first legs of the second terminals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
195 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector housing and a second connector housing, the first connector housing has first terminal receiving cavities provided therein, first terminals are positioned in the first terminal receiving cavities, the second connector housing has second terminal receiving cavities provided therein, second terminals are positioned in the second terminal receiving cavities; the first and second terminals have first legs and second legs the second legs are rigid and cooperate with the housings to ensure that the first and second terminals are maintained in position relative to the first and second housings, the first legs are resilient and have a contact section provided at a free end thereof, dividing walls are provided in the first and second terminals receiving cavities, the dividing walls are positioned between the first legs and the second legs of the first and second terminals; whereby when the first housing is mated to the second housing, the first legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the second legs of the second terminals and the second legs of the first terminals are provided in electrical engagement with the first legs of the second terminals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrical connector assembly as recite d in claim 10 wherein the first legs are movable relative to the terminal receiving cavities over their entire length, such that the first legs are resilient over their entire length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein the first and second terminals each include mounting portions that extend between the first legs and second legs, the mounting portions and the second legs cooperate with the housings to provide the retention required to maintain the terminals in the housings, thereby enabling the first legs to move relative to the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein walls of the first and second terminal receiving cavities are dimensioned to prevent the first legs of the first and second terminals from overstress.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein the first housing has terminal receiving cavities provided on opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the connector, the opposed terminal receiving cavities are mirror images of each other.
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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) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-01-06 | 1996-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-07 | 2000-01-06 | 2000-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-07 | 2004-01-06 | 2004-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |