US5145383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Male electrical contact and connector embodying same
Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1991-07-26
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Granted: 1992-09-08
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Expires: 2011-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector is disclosed with a housing having a through passage. A male electrical contact is stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material for mating with a female contact having a contact-engaging surface. The male contact includes a generally planar body portion which, when the male contact is mated with the female contact, is oriented generally perpendicular to the contact-engaging surface. The male contact includes a pin portion projecting from the body portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact. The pin portion is twisted approximately 90° relative to and in the plane of the body portion to present a smooth side of the pin portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact. The twisted area of the pin portion is press-fit into the through passage in the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Bowen
- 👤 Russell J. Leonard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/405; H01R13/41; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; H01R43/00; H01R43/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A male electrical contact stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material for mating with a female contact having a contact-engaging surface, the male contact including a generally planar body portion, which, when the male contact is mated with the female contact, is oriented generally perpendicular to said contact-engaging surface, and a pin portion projecting from the body portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact, the pin portion being twisted approximately 90° relative to and in the plane of the body portion to present a smooth side of the pin portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A male electrical contact stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material for mating with a female contact having a contact-engaging surface, the male contact including a generally planar body portion, which, when the male contact is mated with the female contact, is oriented generally perpendicular to said contact-engaging surface, and a pin portion projecting from the body portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact, the pin portion being twisted approximately 90° relative to and in the plane of the body portion to present a smooth side of the pin portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The male electrical contact of claim 1 including a solder tail portion projecting from the body portion opposite said pin portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The male electrical contact of claim 2 wherein said solder tail portion is generally coplanar with the body portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The male electrical contact of claim 1 wherein the majority of said pin portion is generally straight, with a twisted area thereof adjacent the body portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
In combination with the male electrical contact of claim 4, a housing having a through passage, and wherein said twisted area is press-fit into the passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a housing having a through passage; and a male contact stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material for mating with a female contact having a contact-engaging surface, the male contact including a generally planar body portion which, when the male contact is mated with the female contact, is oriented generally perpendicular to said contact-engaging surface, and a pin portion projecting from the body portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact, the pin portion being twisted approximately 90° relative to and in the plane of the body portion to present a smooth side of the pin portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact, the twisted area of the pin portion being press-fit into the through passage in the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a housing having a through passage; and a male contact stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material for mating with a female contact having a contact-engaging surface, the male contact including a generally planar body portion which, when the male contact is mated with the female contact, is oriented generally perpendicular to said contact-engaging surface, and a pin portion projecting from the body portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact, the pin portion being twisted approximately 90° relative to and in the plane of the body portion to present a smooth side of the pin portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact, the twisted area of the pin portion being press-fit into the through passage in the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said male contact includes a solder tail portion projecting from the body portion opposite said pin portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein said solder tail portion is generally coplanar with the body portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A male electrical contact stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material thereby having opposite smooth sides and opposite stamped sides, the male contact including a generally planar body portion and a pin portion projecting from the body portion, the pin portion being twisted approximately 90° relative to and in the plane of the body portion to reorient the smooth sides of the pin portion relative to the smooth sides of the body portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
A male electrical contact stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material thereby having opposite smooth sides and opposite stamped sides, the male contact including a generally planar body portion and a pin portion projecting from the body portion, the pin portion being twisted approximately 90° relative to and in the plane of the body portion to reorient the smooth sides of the pin portion relative to the smooth sides of the body portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The male electrical contact of claim 9 including a solder tail portion projecting from the body portion opposite said pin portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The male electrical contact of claim 10 wherein said solder tail portion is generally coplanar with the body portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The male electrical contact of claim 9 wherein the majority of said pin portion is generally straight, with a twisted area thereof adjacent the body portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
In combination with the male electrical contact of claim 12, a housing having a through passage, and wherein said twisted area is press-fit into the passage.
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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) | 1995-09-08 | 1996-03-09 | 1996-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-08 | 2000-03-09 | 2000-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-08 | 2004-03-09 | 2004-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |