US5498838A — Modular electrical contact assemblies

Claim 1

Independent Claim 375 words

A contact assembly for electrically connecting a first electrical article and a second electrical article to define a discrete electrical circuit therebetween, comprising: a conductive first member and a conductive second member and a conductive intermediate member to be disposed therebetween, said first member having a first assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a first connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of said first electrical article, said second member having a second assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a second connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of said second electrical article, and said intermediate member being of selected length and having opposed first and second mounting faces each associated with a respective one of said first and second members at first and second assembly interfaces and having a respective securing section; one of said first assembly face and said first mounting face having its securing section defined by a small diameter bore extending thereinto, and the other thereof having its securing section defined by a cylindrical embossment extending therefrom; one of said second assembly face and said second mounting face having its securing section defined by a small diameter bore extending thereinto, and the other thereof having its securing section defined by a cylindrical embossment extending therefrom; and each said cylindrical embossment being of solid material and having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said small diameter bore of said one member, and each said small diameter bore being defined into otherwise solid material of the respective said securing face, wherein said first and second members are affixable to said intermediate member by a said cylindrical embossment being force fitted into a said small diameter bore under sufficient insertion force, and with the dimensions of said small diameter bores and said cylindrical embossments preselected to define a substantial desired retention force upon assembly sufficient to define durable joints to enable the assembly to be manipulated as a unit during subsequent electrical connection with the first and second electrical articles, whereby an elongate contact assembly is defined upon assembly of said first, intermediate and second members.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 375 words

A contact assembly for electrically connecting a first electrical article and a second electrical article to define a discrete electrical circuit therebetween, comprising: a conductive first member and a conductive second member and a conductive intermediate member to be disposed therebetween, said first member having a first assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a first connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of said first electrical article, said second member having a second assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a second connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of said second electrical article, and said intermediate member being of selected length and having opposed first and second mounting faces each associated with a respective one of said first and second members at first and second assembly interfaces and having a respective securing section; one of said first assembly face and said first mounting face having its securing section defined by a small diameter bore extending thereinto, and the other thereof having its securing section defined by a cylindrical embossment extending therefrom; one of said second assembly face and said second mounting face having its securing section defined by a small diameter bore extending thereinto, and the other thereof having its securing section defined by a cylindrical embossment extending therefrom; and each said cylindrical embossment being of solid material and having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said small diameter bore of said one member, and each said small diameter bore being defined into otherwise solid material of the respective said securing face, wherein said first and second members are affixable to said intermediate member by a said cylindrical embossment being force fitted into a said small diameter bore under sufficient insertion force, and with the dimensions of said small diameter bores and said cylindrical embossments preselected to define a substantial desired retention force upon assembly sufficient to define durable joints to enable the assembly to be manipulated as a unit during subsequent electrical connection with the first and second electrical articles, whereby an elongate contact assembly is defined upon assembly of said first, intermediate and second members.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

A contact assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing section of one of said first and second mounting faces of said intermediate member is a said cylindrical embossment and the other thereof is a said small diameter bore.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

A contact assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second connection sections is a socket contact section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

A contact assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second connection sections is a pin contact section.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A contact assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second members is a wire barrel including a wire-receiving aperture extending thereinto from a wire-receiving face.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

A contact assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate member has a cylindrical cross-section.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A contact assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate member has a noncylindrical cross-section.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 316 words

A kit of parts for forming a contact assembly for a discrete electrical circuit comprising a conductive first member and a conductive second member and at least one conductive intermediate member of selected length, said first member having an assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of a first electrical article, said second member having an assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of a second electrical article, said second member further including a small diameter bore extending into an assembly face, said intermediate member including opposed mounting faces associated with respective said assembly faces of said first and second members and securable thereto at first and second assembly interfaces; each said assembly interface including a cylindrical embossment extending from one of said assembly face and mounting face and a small diameter bore extending into the other of said assembly face and mounting face for receipt thereinto of said cylindrical embossment, said cylindrical embossments each having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said small diameter bore and with the dimensions of said small diameter bores and said cylindrical embossments preselected to define a substantial desired retention force upon assembly sufficient to assuredly self-retain said first and second members to each other thereafter; and said intermediate member including a said cylindrical embossment at one said mounting face and a said small diameter bore at the other said mounting face, wherein said first member is either affixable to said second member or is affixable to said intermediate member which is affixable to said second member, defining a kit of parts enabling assembly of a contact assembly of a desired one of at least two different lengths.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 316 words

A kit of parts for forming a contact assembly for a discrete electrical circuit comprising a conductive first member and a conductive second member and at least one conductive intermediate member of selected length, said first member having an assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of a first electrical article, said second member having an assembly face with a securing section and further defining at an opposed face thereof a connection section for forming an electrical connection with a complementary connection section of a second electrical article, said second member further including a small diameter bore extending into an assembly face, said intermediate member including opposed mounting faces associated with respective said assembly faces of said first and second members and securable thereto at first and second assembly interfaces; each said assembly interface including a cylindrical embossment extending from one of said assembly face and mounting face and a small diameter bore extending into the other of said assembly face and mounting face for receipt thereinto of said cylindrical embossment, said cylindrical embossments each having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said small diameter bore and with the dimensions of said small diameter bores and said cylindrical embossments preselected to define a substantial desired retention force upon assembly sufficient to assuredly self-retain said first and second members to each other thereafter; and said intermediate member including a said cylindrical embossment at one said mounting face and a said small diameter bore at the other said mounting face, wherein said first member is either affixable to said second member or is affixable to said intermediate member which is affixable to said second member, defining a kit of parts enabling assembly of a contact assembly of a desired one of at least two different lengths.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

A kit of parts as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one of said first and second connection sections is a socket contact section.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

A kit of parts as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one of said first and second connection sections is a pin contact section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A kit of parts as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one of said first and second members is a wire barrel including a wire-receiving aperture extending thereinto from a wire-receiving face.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

A kit of parts as set forth in claim 8 wherein said intermediate member has a cylindrical cross-section.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

A kit of parts as set forth in claim 8 wherein said intermediate member has a noncylindrical cross-section.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 343 words

A contact assembly for electrically connecting a first electrical article and a second electrical article at respective pin-and-socket interfaces adapted for mating and unmating, to define a discrete electrical circuit therebetween, comprising: a conductive first member and a conductive second member, said first member having a first assembly face with a securing section and further defining at a mating face thereof a first connection section for mating with a complementary connection section of said first electrical article, in a manner permitting unmating therefrom, said second member having a second assembly face with a securing section and further defining at a mating face thereof a second connection section for mating with a complementary connection section of said second electrical article, in a manner permitting unmating therefrom, and one of said first and second assembly faces having its securing section defined by a small diameter bore extending into said assembly face thereof, and the other thereof having its securing section defined by a cylindrical embossment extending from an assembly face thereof; and said cylindrical embossment having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said small diameter bore, wherein said first and second members are affixable to each other by said cylindrical embossment being force fitted into said small diameter bore under sufficient insertion force, and with the dimensions of said small diameter bores and said cylindrical embossments preselected to define a substantial desired retention force upon assembly sufficient to assuredly self-retain said first and second members to each other thereafter, whereby a contact assembly is defined upon assembly of said first and second members having a contact section at each end adapted to permit mating with and unmating from complementary contact sections of other electrical articles, and the contact assembly is modular enabling a contact member having a pin contact section to be assembled to a contact member having either a pin or socket contact section as desired and enabling a member having a socket contact section to be assembled to a contact member having either a pin or socket contact section as desired.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 343 words

A contact assembly for electrically connecting a first electrical article and a second electrical article at respective pin-and-socket interfaces adapted for mating and unmating, to define a discrete electrical circuit therebetween, comprising: a conductive first member and a conductive second member, said first member having a first assembly face with a securing section and further defining at a mating face thereof a first connection section for mating with a complementary connection section of said first electrical article, in a manner permitting unmating therefrom, said second member having a second assembly face with a securing section and further defining at a mating face thereof a second connection section for mating with a complementary connection section of said second electrical article, in a manner permitting unmating therefrom, and one of said first and second assembly faces having its securing section defined by a small diameter bore extending into said assembly face thereof, and the other thereof having its securing section defined by a cylindrical embossment extending from an assembly face thereof; and said cylindrical embossment having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said small diameter bore, wherein said first and second members are affixable to each other by said cylindrical embossment being force fitted into said small diameter bore under sufficient insertion force, and with the dimensions of said small diameter bores and said cylindrical embossments preselected to define a substantial desired retention force upon assembly sufficient to assuredly self-retain said first and second members to each other thereafter, whereby a contact assembly is defined upon assembly of said first and second members having a contact section at each end adapted to permit mating with and unmating from complementary contact sections of other electrical articles, and the contact assembly is modular enabling a contact member having a pin contact section to be assembled to a contact member having either a pin or socket contact section as desired and enabling a member having a socket contact section to be assembled to a contact member having either a pin or socket contact section as desired.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

A contact assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein one of said first and second contact members has a pin contact section and the other thereof has a socket contact section.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-03-12	1999-09-11	2000-03-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-03-12	2003-09-11	2004-03-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-03-12	2007-09-11	2008-03-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular electrical contact assemblies

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