US5647751A — Female receptacle and premold therefor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

In a female receptacle adapted for electrical connection to a male plug and having an overmold, a pair of clothes-pin type metal female contacts and a D-shaped metal female pin, the improvement comprising a premold positioned in said overmold for housing said female contacts and said female pin, said premold including a body, which has first receiving means for receiving one of said pair of female contacts, second receiving means for receiving another of said pair of female contacts and third receiving means for receiving said female pin, and a cover, releasably mounted on said body in a snap-fit manner, for covering said first, second and third receiving means, said first and second receiving means including cooperating means for cooperating with said female contacts to exert a substantially constant gripping force on male pins of a male plug connected to said female receptacle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a female receptacle adapted for electrical connection to a male plug and having an overmold, a pair of clothes-pin type metal female contacts and a D-shaped metal female pin, the improvement comprising a premold positioned in said overmold for housing said female contacts and said female pin, said premold including a body, which has first receiving means for receiving one of said pair of female contacts, second receiving means for receiving another of said pair of female contacts and third receiving means for receiving said female pin, and a cover, releasably mounted on said body in a snap-fit manner, for covering said first, second and third receiving means, said first and second receiving means including cooperating means for cooperating with said female contacts to exert a substantially constant gripping force on male pins of a male plug connected to said female receptacle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The improved female receptacle of claim 1, wherein said premold is made of nylon; and wherein said overmold is made of vinyl, which has a durometer measurement of about 80 durometer or less.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The improved female receptacle of claim 1, further comprising locking means for locking said female receptacle to a male plug connected to said female receptacle.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The improved female receptacle of claim 3, wherein said locking means includes a cam movable between a first position, in which said cam urges said female contacts into locking engagement with corresponding male pins of the male plug, and a second position, in which said cam does not urge said female contacts into locking engagement with the corresponding male pins of the male plug.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 88 words

A premold for a female receptacle adapted for electrical connection to a male plug, comprising a body having first receiving means for receiving one clothes-spin type metal female contact, second receiving means for receiving another clothes-pin type metal female contact, and third receiving means for receiving a D-shaped metal female pin; a cover, releasably mounted on said body, for covering said first, second and third receiving means; and gripping means for exerting a substantially constant gripping force on male pins of a male plug connected to said premold.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 88 words

A premold for a female receptacle adapted for electrical connection to a male plug, comprising a body having first receiving means for receiving one clothes-spin type metal female contact, second receiving means for receiving another clothes-pin type metal female contact, and third receiving means for receiving a D-shaped metal female pin; a cover, releasably mounted on said body, for covering said first, second and third receiving means; and gripping means for exerting a substantially constant gripping force on male pins of a male plug connected to said premold.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 77 words

The premold of claim 5, wherein said first receiving means includes a first trough extending from one end of said body to an opposite end of said body; wherein said second receiving means includes a second trough extending from said one end of said body to said opposite end of said body; and wherein said third receiving means includes a third trough extending from said one end of said body to said opposite end of said body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 71 words

The premold of claim 6, wherein said first trough is formed in a first side portion of said body; wherein said second trough is formed in a second side portion of said body, said first and second side portions being on opposite sides of said premold; and wherein said third trough is formed in a central portion of said body, said central portion being intermediate said first and second side portions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 65 words

The premold of claim 7, wherein said body further includes a first retaining wall, which substantially obstructs one end of said first trough adjacent said one end of said body and which has a slot formed therein, and a second retaining wall, which substantially obstructs one end of said second trough adjacent said one end of said body and which has a slot formed therein.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The premold of claim 8, wherein said body includes reinforcing means for reinforcing said body.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The premold of claim 9, wherein said reinforcing means includes a rib depending from said central portion of said body and connecting said first and second side portions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

The premold of claim 6, wherein said cover includes a cap, which is releasably mounted on said body, and a face plate depending from said cap and sized and shaped so as to substantially obstruct said opposite end of said body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The premold of claim 11, wherein said cover includes a tongue depending from said cap and sized and shaped so as to substantially obstruct one end of said third trough adjacent said one end of said body.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 38 words

The premold of claim 12, wherein said cover includes a notch; and wherein said body further includes a locking lip engageable with said notch so as to releasably lock said cover onto said body in a snap-fit manner.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The premold of claim 6, wherein said gripping means includes a first tab formed in said first trough and a second tab formed in said second trough.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The premold of claim 14, wherein said gripping means further includes a first rib formed in said first trough and a second rib formed in said second trough.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The premold of claim 5, further comprising locking means for locking said female receptacle to a mate plug connected to said female receptacle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 62 words

The premold of claim 16, wherein said locking means includes a cam movable between a first position, in which said cam urges said female contacts into locking engagement with corresponding male pins of the male plug, and a second position, in which said cam does not urge said female contacts into locking engagement with the corresponding male pins of the male plug.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 125 words

A female receptacle adapted for electrical connection to a male plug, comprising a premold, which includes a body having first receiving means for receiving a first clothes-pin type metal female contact, second receiving means for receiving a second clothes-pin type metal female contact, and third receiving means for receiving a D-shaped metal female pin, and a cover, releasably mounted on said body, for covering said first, second and third receiving means; said first and second receiving means including cooperating means for cooperating with said female contacts to exert a substantially constant gripping force on male pins of a male plug connected to said female receptacle; and an overmold which houses said premold, as well as said first and second female contacts and said female pin.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 125 words

A female receptacle adapted for electrical connection to a male plug, comprising a premold, which includes a body having first receiving means for receiving a first clothes-pin type metal female contact, second receiving means for receiving a second clothes-pin type metal female contact, and third receiving means for receiving a D-shaped metal female pin, and a cover, releasably mounted on said body, for covering said first, second and third receiving means; said first and second receiving means including cooperating means for cooperating with said female contacts to exert a substantially constant gripping force on male pins of a male plug connected to said female receptacle; and an overmold which houses said premold, as well as said first and second female contacts and said female pin.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The female receptacle of claim 18, wherein said body and said cover are rigid so as to maintain predetermined spacial relationships between said first and second female contacts and said female pin.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 42 words

The female receptacle of claim 19, wherein said cover cooperates with said body such that at least a portion of each of said first and second female contacts and at least a portion of said female pin are enclosed within said premold.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The female receptacle of claim 18, further comprising locking means for locking said female receptacle to a male plug connected to said female receptacle.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 63 words

The female receptacle of claim 21, wherein said locking means includes a cam movable between a first position, in which said cam urges said female contacts into locking engagement with corresponding male pins of the male plug, and a second position, in which said cam does not urge said female contacts into locking engagement with the corresponding male pins of the male plug.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-07-14	2001-01-13	2001-07-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-07-14	2005-01-13	2005-07-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-07-14	2009-01-13	2009-07-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Female receptacle and premold therefor

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