US5147228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Terminal having positive retention feature and method of using same
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1992-03-26
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Granted: 1992-09-15
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Expires: 2012-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A terminal (10) for an electrical connector (1). The terminal (10) comprises a mating portion (14) for mating with a contact of a mating connector, restraining means (58) for blocking withdrawal of the terminal (10) from the connector (1), and an elongate terminating portion (16) adapted to project from the connector (1). The terminating portion (16) comprises a leg (20) for terminating the terminal (10) to the substrate (4) and positive retention means (62) for securing the terminal (10) to the connector (1). The positive retention means (62) comprises a portion of the terminating portion (16) being adapted to be deflected at substantially a right angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitchell E. Miller
- 👤 Victor E. Slack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/40; H01R13/405; H01R13/415; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/947
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
An electrical terminal received in and secured to an electrical connector comprising: an insulative header defining a mounting face, a mating portion of the terminal facing toward an open mating face of the header, a terminating portion of the terminal, tines laterally spaced from the terminating portion, the terminating portion being bent to overlie the mounting face of the header, and the tines remaining unbent for aligning the terminal in the header.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electrical terminal received in and secured to an electrical connector comprising: an insulative header defining a mounting face, a mating portion of the terminal facing toward an open mating face of the header, a terminating portion of the terminal, tines laterally spaced from the terminating portion, the terminating portion being bent to overlie the mounting face of the header, and the tines remaining unbent for aligning the terminal in the header.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the terminating portion of the terminal further comprises: multiple legs at an end of the terminal for efficient heat dissipation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein, the terminal is bent to extend the terminating portion of the terminal toward a side of the mounting surface and beyond the header.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein, the terminal includes restraining means for restraining the terminal from passing entirely through the header, and the terminating portion of the terminal is bent so as to oppose said restraining means to secure the terminal in the header.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein, the terminating portion is laterally between restraining means for restraining the terminal from passing entirely through the header.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 5, wherein, the restraining means includes shoulders of the terminal on opposite sides of the terminal, the shoulders being articulated with a floor of the header.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector comprising: an insulative header, a mating portion of the terminal facing toward an open mating face of the header, a terminating portion of the terminal between tines of the terminal having multiple legs to provide multiple electrical paths from the mating portion to a trace on a substrate on which the connector is mounted, the tines and the terminating portion extending from a mounting face of the header, the tines being bent to overlie the mounting face of the header, and the terminating portion without the tines being adapted for establishing an electrical connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector comprising: an insulative header, a mating portion of the terminal facing toward an open mating face of the header, a terminating portion of the terminal between tines of the terminal having multiple legs to provide multiple electrical paths from the mating portion to a trace on a substrate on which the connector is mounted, the tines and the terminating portion extending from a mounting face of the header, the tines being bent to overlie the mounting face of the header, and the terminating portion without the tines being adapted for establishing an electrical connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 7, wherein, the terminal includes restraining means for restraining the terminal from passing entirely through the header, and the tines are bent so as to oppose the restraining means to secure the terminal in the header.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 7, wherein, the terminating portion is laterally between restraining means for restraining the terminal from passing entirely through the header.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrical terminal in an electrical connector as recited in claim 9, wherein, the restraining means includes shoulders of the terminal on opposite sides of the terminal, the shoulders being articulated with a floor of the header.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having a bottom wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the bottom wall having at least one slot therethrough for receiving a terminal; a terminal received in said at least one slot, said terminal having a mating portion extending away from said inner surface and a pair of spaced legs extending beyond the outer surface, said terminal having at least one shoulder engaging said inner surface to prevent the terminal from passing through the slot, said terminal having a pair of tines spaced outwardly from the legs, said tines extending through the slot to beyond the outer surface, the tines bent to overlie respective portions of the outer surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having a bottom wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the bottom wall having at least one slot therethrough for receiving a terminal; a terminal received in said at least one slot, said terminal having a mating portion extending away from said inner surface and a pair of spaced legs extending beyond the outer surface, said terminal having at least one shoulder engaging said inner surface to prevent the terminal from passing through the slot, said terminal having a pair of tines spaced outwardly from the legs, said tines extending through the slot to beyond the outer surface, the tines bent to overlie respective portions of the outer surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
141 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having a bottom wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the bottom wall having at least one elongate aperture therethrough for receiving a terminal; a terminal received in said at least one aperture, said terminal having a mating portion extending away from said inner surface and a terminating section extending beyond said outer surface, said terminal having at least one shoulder engaging said inner surface to prevent the terminal from passing through the aperture, said terminating section bent to be substantially normal to the mating portion and to extend along the outer surface, said terminating section terminating in a pair of spaced legs, said terminal having a pair of tines spaced outwardly from the terminating section, the tines received in the aperture and remaining unbent for aligning the terminal in the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
An electrical connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having a bottom wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the bottom wall having at least one elongate aperture therethrough for receiving a terminal; a terminal received in said at least one aperture, said terminal having a mating portion extending away from said inner surface and a terminating section extending beyond said outer surface, said terminal having at least one shoulder engaging said inner surface to prevent the terminal from passing through the aperture, said terminating section bent to be substantially normal to the mating portion and to extend along the outer surface, said terminating section terminating in a pair of spaced legs, said terminal having a pair of tines spaced outwardly from the terminating section, the tines received in the aperture and remaining unbent for aligning the terminal in the housing.
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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) | 1995-09-15 | 1996-03-16 | 1996-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-15 | 2000-03-16 | 2000-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-15 | 2004-03-16 | 2004-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |