US5980335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical terminal
Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1998-03-27
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2018-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A one-piece electrical terminal (10) includes a strip (44) of conductive metal material having a contact portion (14) and a terminating portion (16). The contact portion (14) is fabricated of a relatively soft metal drawn into a shaped contact (18). The terminating portion (16) is integral with the contact portion (14) and is fabricated of a relatively hard tempered metal formed into a spring arm (16) supporting the contact (18).
Inventors
- 👤 Silvio Barbieri
- 👤 Roberto Martucci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2442; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R13/03; H01R13/2464; H01R13/2471
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A one-piece electrical terminal, comprising: a strip of conductive metal material having a short contact portion and a long terminating portion, the short contact portion being fabricated of a relatively soft metal drawn into a shaped contact, and the long terminating portion being integral with the short contact portion and being fabricated of a relatively hard tempered metal formed into a spring arm supporting the contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A one-piece electrical terminal, comprising: a strip of conductive metal material having a short contact portion and a long terminating portion, the short contact portion being fabricated of a relatively soft metal drawn into a shaped contact, and the long terminating portion being integral with the short contact portion and being fabricated of a relatively hard tempered metal formed into a spring arm supporting the contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said contact portion is drawn into a closed-ended cylindrical contact configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said terminating portion is formed into a generally S-shaped spring arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein a distal end of said terminating portion is generally planar for surface-mounting on a printed circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said strip is an integral bi-metal strip with said short contact portion being of a relatively soft first metal integrally joined to the long terminating portion which is of a relatively hard second metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said strip is fabricated of a singular metal material with the terminating portion being selectively strain hardened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 6 wherein said strip is fabricated of a copper material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 6 wherein said strip is fabricated of a brass material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A one-piece electrical terminal, comprising: an elongated strip of conductive metal material having a short contact end and a long terminating end, the short contact end being fabricated of a relatively soft metal drawn into a contact having a close-ended cylindrical configuration, and the long terminating end being integral with the contact end and being fabricated of a relatively hard tempered metal formed into a generally S-shaped spring arm supporting the contact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A one-piece electrical terminal, comprising: an elongated strip of conductive metal material having a short contact end and a long terminating end, the short contact end being fabricated of a relatively soft metal drawn into a contact having a close-ended cylindrical configuration, and the long terminating end being integral with the contact end and being fabricated of a relatively hard tempered metal formed into a generally S-shaped spring arm supporting the contact.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 9 wherein a distal end of said terminating end is generally planar for surface-mounting on a printed circuit board.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 9 wherein said strip is an integral bi-metal strip with said short contact end being of a relatively soft first metal integrally joined to the long terminating end which is of a relatively hard second metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 9 wherein said strip is fabricated of a singular metal material with the terminating end being selectively strain hardened.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 12 wherein said strip is fabricated of a copper material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 12 wherein said strip is fabricated of a brass material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said contact end is fabricated of a copper material and said terminating end is fabricated of a phosphorus-bronze material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A one-piece electrical terminal, comprising: a conductive metal structure having first and second portions, the first portion being fabricated of a relatively soft material drawn into a given shape, and the second portion being fabricated of a relatively hard tempered material formed into a spring configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A one-piece electrical terminal, comprising: a conductive metal structure having first and second portions, the first portion being fabricated of a relatively soft material drawn into a given shape, and the second portion being fabricated of a relatively hard tempered material formed into a spring configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 16 wherein said first portion is drawn into a closed-ended cylindrical shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 16 wherein said second portion is formed into a generally S-shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 16 wherein said structure is fabricated of a singular metal material with the second portion being selectively strain hardened.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 19 wherein said structure is fabricated of copper material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 19 wherein said structure is fabricated of brass material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 19 wherein said structure is an integral bi-metal structure with said first portion being of a relatively soft first metal integrally joined to the second portion which is of a relatively hard second metal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The one-piece electrical terminal of claim 22 wherein said first portion is fabricated of a copper material and said second portion is fabricated of a phosphorus-bronze material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US4778404A
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US5350322A
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US5151643A
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US5540599A
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US5664973A
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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) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |