Patent US6465963B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5132494A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5132494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual durometer twist-on connector
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1991-03-01
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Granted: 1992-07-21
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Expires: 2011-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A twist-on or wire-nut electrical connector having a rigid, electrically insulative upper body, a flexible, elastic, electrically insulative lower skirt, and a coil spring within the body for gripping wires which may be inserted therein. The provision of a flexible, elastic skirt allows the insertion of a larger number of wires (or larger sized wires) into the connector; the skirt further deforms to fit more easily within a crowded junction box or other high-density wiring environment. Unlike prior art twist-on connectors, the lower skirt is attached directly to the open end of the polymeric body, allowing greater application of torque to the rigid body. In the preferred embodiment, the upper body is formed of polypropylene, the lower skirt is formed of a styrenebutylene compound or an olefinic thermoplastic vulcanizate, and the connector is constructed by multicomponent injection molding.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Burton
- 👤 Gregg D. Paul
- 👤 Richard B. Clifton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49194; Y10T29/49195; Y10T29/49201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An article for connecting two or more wires together, comprising: a rigid, electrically insulative body having an internal bore, a closed end, and an open end; means located within said internal bore for resiliently gripping wires which may be inserted therein; and a flexible, electrically insulative, generally tubular skirt member having first and second open ends, said first end being attached to said open end of said rigid body, said skirt member being constructed from a material having a durometer in the range of Shore A 18 to Shore D 75.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An article for connecting two or more wires together, comprising: a rigid, electrically insulative body having an internal bore, a closed end, and an open end; means located within said internal bore for resiliently gripping wires which may be inserted therein; and a flexible, electrically insulative, generally tubular skirt member having first and second open ends, said first end being attached to said open end of said rigid body, said skirt member being constructed from a material having a durometer in the range of Shore A 18 to Shore D 75.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said skirt member is formed from an elastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said rigid body is constructed from a material having a Rockwell hardness of at least R50.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said rigid body is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate, hard vinyl, and polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flexible skirt member is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-butylene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, ethylene-propylene diene terpolmer (EPDM), polychloroprene, copolyester elastomers, plasticized vinyl, olefinic thermoplastic vulcanizates, and modified plastisols.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said rigid body includes integrally formed wing means for applying torque to said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said open end of said body terminates in a tapered margin, and said first end of said skirt member terminates in a tapered margin, said margins overlapping and forming a bond which attaches said body to said skirt member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrical connector comprising: a body having a closed end, an open end, and an internal bore defining a frusto-conical cavity, said body formed from a rigid, electrically insulative polymer; a helically wound coil spring inserted in said internal bore of said body; and a tubular skirt attached to said open end of said body, said skirt formed from a flexible, elastic, electrically insulative polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrical connector comprising: a body having a closed end, an open end, and an internal bore defining a frusto-conical cavity, said body formed from a rigid, electrically insulative polymer; a helically wound coil spring inserted in said internal bore of said body; and a tubular skirt attached to said open end of said body, said skirt formed from a flexible, elastic, electrically insulative polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connector of claim 8 wherein said body has a Rockwell hardness of at least R50, and said rigid polymer is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate, hard vinyl, and polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The connector of claim 8 wherein said skirt has a durometer in the range of Shore A 18 to Shore D 75, and said flexible, elastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-butylene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, ethylene-propylene diene terpolmer (EPDM), polychloroprene, copolyester elastomers, plasticized vinyl, olefinic thermoplastic vulcanizates, and modified plastisols.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector of claim 8 wherein said body has an outer surface, and further comprising a pair of wing extensions attached to said outer surface of said body, said outer surface further having a plurality of longitudinal grooves therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said body includes: a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending into said internal bore, in contact with said coil spring; and an annular rim extending into said internal bore, proximate said open end of said body, for retaining said coil spring in said internal bore.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
A twist-on electrical connector consisting essentially of: a body having a closed end, an open end, and an internal bore, said body formed from a rigid, electrically insulative polymer; means located within said internal bore for resiliently gripping wires which may be inserted therein; and a tubular skirt attached to and integral with said open end of said body, said skirt formed from a flexible, elastic, electrically insulative polymer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
A twist-on electrical connector consisting essentially of: a body having a closed end, an open end, and an internal bore, said body formed from a rigid, electrically insulative polymer; means located within said internal bore for resiliently gripping wires which may be inserted therein; and a tubular skirt attached to and integral with said open end of said body, said skirt formed from a flexible, elastic, electrically insulative polymer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of manufacturing an electrical connector, comprising the steps of: forming a body from a rigid, electrically insulative polymer, said body having a closed end, an open end, and an internal bore, said open end terminating in a tapered margin; fabricating a tubular skirt from a flexible, electrically insulative polymer, said skirt having first and second open ends, said first end terminating in a tapered margin; bonding said tapered margin of said open end of said body to said tapered margin of said first end of said skirt; and inserting, within said internal bore of said body, means for resiliently gripping wires which may be placed in said internal bore.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of manufacturing an electrical connector, comprising the steps of: forming a body from a rigid, electrically insulative polymer, said body having a closed end, an open end, and an internal bore, said open end terminating in a tapered margin; fabricating a tubular skirt from a flexible, electrically insulative polymer, said skirt having first and second open ends, said first end terminating in a tapered margin; bonding said tapered margin of said open end of said body to said tapered margin of said first end of said skirt; and inserting, within said internal bore of said body, means for resiliently gripping wires which may be placed in said internal bore.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said forming, fabricating, and bonding steps are performed using multicomponent injection molding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said forming, fabricating, and bonding steps are performed using insert molding.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said bonding step is performed by ultrasonic welding.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said bonding step is performed by solvent welding.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said bonding step is performed by applying an adhesive at an interface between said tapered margin of said open end of said body and said tapered margin of said first end of said skirt.
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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) | 1995-07-21 | 1996-01-20 | 1996-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-21 | 2000-01-20 | 2000-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-21 | 2004-01-20 | 2004-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |