Patent US5718599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5718599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Small pitch dual row leaf connector
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1997-02-18
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Granted: 1998-02-17
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Expires: 2017-02-18
Abstract
Abstract An electrical I/O connector is particularly suitable for docking-type connection applications and has a terminal block assembly held within a protective exterior casing. The terminal block assembly includes two interengaging halves which receive a plurality of metal terminals disposed thereon in a spaced-apart order. The terminals define two groups of terminals on each surface of the terminal block assembly halves and the two groups are defined by staggering the terminals lengthwise. A spacer is provided between the terminal block halves to maintain the terminals in their spaced apart order and includes projections which support insulation displacement terminals which extend from the terminals on opposite sides of the terminal block assembly. These insulation displacement terminals are arranged in a two separate tiers, which enable the connector to have an increased terminal density.
Inventors
- 👤 Shozou Ichikawa
- 👤 Naoya Matsuura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6591; H01R13/6592; H01R13/6593; H01R13/62; H01R13/621; H01R24/00; H01R24/28; H01R24/60; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/724; H01R2107/00; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/242; H01R4/2425; H01R4/2429; H01R4/2433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An I/O connector for establishing an electrical connection between a plurality of individual wires and an electronic device, said connector comprising: a housing, said housing including a terminal block assembly, the terminal block assembly having respective interior and exterior terminal support surfaces, a plurality of conductive terminals disposed widthwise in spaced-apart order at a predetermined pitch on said terminal block assembly interior and exterior support surfaces, the terminals further being disposed in respective discrete arrays on said terminal block assembly interior and exterior support surfaces, each of said terminals including an elongated contact blade portion for contacting a corresponding terminal of said electronic device and a wire engagement portion for engaging one of said individual wires, said wire engagement portions being staggered lengthwise along said terminal block assembly interior and exterior support surfaces to facilitate a reduction in the pitch of said terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An I/O connector for establishing an electrical connection between a plurality of individual wires and an electronic device, said connector comprising: a housing, said housing including a terminal block assembly, the terminal block assembly having respective interior and exterior terminal support surfaces, a plurality of conductive terminals disposed widthwise in spaced-apart order at a predetermined pitch on said terminal block assembly interior and exterior support surfaces, the terminals further being disposed in respective discrete arrays on said terminal block assembly interior and exterior support surfaces, each of said terminals including an elongated contact blade portion for contacting a corresponding terminal of said electronic device and a wire engagement portion for engaging one of said individual wires, said wire engagement portions being staggered lengthwise along said terminal block assembly interior and exterior support surfaces to facilitate a reduction in the pitch of said terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The I/O connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminal block assembly includes two identical terminal block halves, said terminal block halves having confronting surfaces that cooperatively define said terminal block assembly interior support surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The I/O connector as defined in claim 2, further including a spacer member disposed between said two terminal block halves, said spacer preventing said terminals disposed on said interior support surfaces of said terminal block halves from contacting each other and further assisting in maintaining said terminals disposed on said confronting surfaces in said spaced-apart order.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The I/O connector as defined in claim 2, said housing further including a connector bulkhead, said connector bulkhead including having two terminal support arms, said two terminal block halves abutting said terminal support arms such that said terminals from each said terminal block half extends onto one of said terminal support arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The I/O connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said wire engagement portions include insulation displacement sections and wherein alternating ones of said terminals disposed on said interior support surfaces are folded upon themselves intermediate said terminal contact blade and wire engagement portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The I/O connector as defined in claim 1, further including cover plates for engaging said wire engagement portions of said contact terminals disposed on said exterior support surfaces of said terminal block to retain wires held by said wire engagement portions in contact therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The I/O connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminal wire engagement portions of said terminals disposed on said interior support surfaces extend through said terminal block assembly and above said exterior support surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
145 words
A connector for connecting a plurality of wires to an electronic device, the connector comprising: a connector housing, said housing including first and second terminal blocks, the first and second terminal blocks cooperatively defining a terminal support assembly for supporting conductive terminals within said connector housing, said first and second terminal blocks each having respective exterior and interior terminal support surfaces; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals disposed laterally on said terminal support assembly in discrete arrays along said exterior and interior terminal support surfaces of said first and second terminal blocks, each of said terminals including a wire engaging portion for engaging an individual wire and a contact portion for contacting a mating terminal of said electronic device, said wire engaging portions of said terminals including insulation-displacement terminals spaced from said contact portions and away from said first and second terminal block exterior surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
A connector for connecting a plurality of wires to an electronic device, the connector comprising: a connector housing, said housing including first and second terminal blocks, the first and second terminal blocks cooperatively defining a terminal support assembly for supporting conductive terminals within said connector housing, said first and second terminal blocks each having respective exterior and interior terminal support surfaces; a plurality of electrically conductive terminals disposed laterally on said terminal support assembly in discrete arrays along said exterior and interior terminal support surfaces of said first and second terminal blocks, each of said terminals including a wire engaging portion for engaging an individual wire and a contact portion for contacting a mating terminal of said electronic device, said wire engaging portions of said terminals including insulation-displacement terminals spaced from said contact portions and away from said first and second terminal block exterior surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The connector according to claim 8, wherein said terminal support assembly includes a spacer interposed between said first and second terminal blocks and between said interior surfaces thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The connector according to claim 8, wherein said first and second terminal block interior and exterior surfaces include a plurality of slots that receive said contacts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector according to claim 10, further including a spacer interposed between said first and second terminal blocks, said spacer including a plurality of ribs that extend in opposition to said first and second terminal block interior surface slots.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The connector according to claim 8, wherein said insulation displacement terminals of said terminal arrays disposed on said interior terminal support surfaces respectively extend through said first and second terminal blocks and past said first and second terminal block terminal support surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
A connector for connecting a plurality of individual wires to an electronic device, the connector comprising: a connector housing, said housing including a terminal block having two identical parts, a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on said housing, each of the terminal block parts having opposing support surfaces disposed thereon, each of said opposing support surfaces supporting said terminals in a predetermined order, said terminals including insulation displacement portions for engaging individual ones of said plurality of wires.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A connector for connecting a plurality of individual wires to an electronic device, the connector comprising: a connector housing, said housing including a terminal block having two identical parts, a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on said housing, each of the terminal block parts having opposing support surfaces disposed thereon, each of said opposing support surfaces supporting said terminals in a predetermined order, said terminals including insulation displacement portions for engaging individual ones of said plurality of wires.
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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) | 2001-02-16 | 2001-08-18 | 2002-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-16 | 2005-08-18 | 2006-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-16 | 2009-08-18 | 2010-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |