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US5290176A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Insulation displacement contact having back up spring

Assignee: Whitaker LLC
•
Filing: 1992-12-09
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Granted: 1994-03-01
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Expires: 2012-12-09
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Abstract

Abstract An electrical terminal includes an insulation displacement slot formed by two upstanding beams having a slot there between profiled to receive a wire. At an upper portion of the terminal, a wire receiving opening is formed which is profiled to receive an insulated wire, the opening being in transition with, insulation severing surfaces. To increase the reaction forces on the beams, a back-up spring is added to the spring beams, interconnected to the spring beams alongside the wire contact surfaces.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lucas Soes
  • 👤 Franciscus M. Wouters

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 06:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R9/00; H01R9/22; H01R9/24; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/2445; H01R4/2462; H01R4/242

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 139 words
An electrical terminal comprising an insulation displacement contact having upstanding beams with a slot therebetween formed by sheared edges along a length thereof, said slot having an open upper wire receiving end, and a lower root portion defined by an end of sad slot, said slot defining an upper insulation cutting position profiled to cut through the insulation of an insulated wire upon transverse movement into said slot, and a contact position located medially of said root and said open upper end, the contact being characterized in that: said upstanding beams are rigidifed at said cutting position by a backup spring interconnected to said beams via a reversely bent bight portion, said back-up spring comprising spring beams interconnects at ends thereof, said spring beams being spaced apart a distance greater than said slot, to receive an insulated wire therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 139 words
An electrical terminal comprising an insulation displacement contact having upstanding beams with a slot therebetween formed by sheared edges along a length thereof, said slot having an open upper wire receiving end, and a lower root portion defined by an end of sad slot, said slot defining an upper insulation cutting position profiled to cut through the insulation of an insulated wire upon transverse movement into said slot, and a contact position located medially of said root and said open upper end, the contact being characterized in that: said upstanding beams are rigidifed at said cutting position by a backup spring interconnected to said beams via a reversely bent bight portion, said back-up spring comprising spring beams interconnects at ends thereof, said spring beams being spaced apart a distance greater than said slot, to receive an insulated wire therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The electrical terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said weakened sections are defined by reducing the cross-sectional area of said beams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The electrical terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said weakened sections are defined by narrowed sections of said beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The electrical terminal of claim 1, characterized in that insulation displacement contact is interconnected to a tab portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The electrical terminal of claim 1 characterized in that said upstanding beams having weakened sections adjacent to said contact position to counteract said backup spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The electrical terminal of claim 1 characterized in that said backup spring is generally U-shaped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The electrical terminal of claim 1, characterized in that two insulation displacement contacts are interconnected to each other by way of a bus bar portion intermediate the two.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The electrical terminal of claim 7, characterized in that said bus bar portion further comprises a tab portion extending therefrom defining an interconnection member for a mating receptacle.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4159158A Cited
US4255009A Cited
US4408824A Cited
US4531803A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-02-28 1997-08-30 1998-03-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-02-28 2001-08-30 2002-03-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-02-28 2005-08-30 2006-03-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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