US6129592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector assembly having terminal modules
Assignee: Tyco Electronics Service GmbH
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Filing: 1998-11-03
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Granted: 2000-10-10
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Expires: 2018-11-03
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly (30) includes an insulating housing (32) and assembled thereto a plurality of terminal modules (50). Each terminal module (50) has a plurality of terminals (56), each including a cantilevered beam (58) having a protuberance (59) at the leading end thereof, a conductor connecting portion (62) and an intermediate portion (60) therebetween encapsulated in an insulative web (76). The beams (58) of all the terminals (56) extend in a single line. The protuberances (59) of a first group (64) of adjacent terminals (56) in the row extend in one direction in the single line and the protuberances (59) of the beams of a second group (66) extend in an opposite direction in the single line.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Keith Mickievicz
- 👤 George Preputnick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/724; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An electrical terminal module comprising: a housing that holds a plurality of discrete terminals, each of said terminals having a cantilevered beam, the beams of all of said terminals extending in a single plane from a forward face of said module housing, each said beam having a leading end and a protuberance adjacent said leading end to define a contact surface for engagement with a mating terminal; a first group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in one direction in said single plane; and a second group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in an opposite direction from said one direction; whereby upon engagement of said protuberances and deflection of said beams by corresponding terminals of a mating connector, forces generated by said first group resisting deflection are counterbalanced by forces generated by said second group, thereby applying no moment to the mating connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electrical terminal module comprising: a housing that holds a plurality of discrete terminals, each of said terminals having a cantilevered beam, the beams of all of said terminals extending in a single plane from a forward face of said module housing, each said beam having a leading end and a protuberance adjacent said leading end to define a contact surface for engagement with a mating terminal; a first group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in one direction in said single plane; and a second group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in an opposite direction from said one direction; whereby upon engagement of said protuberances and deflection of said beams by corresponding terminals of a mating connector, forces generated by said first group resisting deflection are counterbalanced by forces generated by said second group, thereby applying no moment to the mating connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical terminal module of claim 1 wherein said terminals in said first group are adjacent one another and said terminals in said second group are adjacent one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical terminal module of claim 1 wherein said protuberances of said first group of terminals face toward the protuberances of said second group of terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: an insulative connector housing and a plurality of terminal modules inserted therein, each said terminal module including an insulative module housing that holds a plurality of discrete terminals; each of said terminals having a cantilevered beam, the beams of all of said terminals extending in a single plane from a forward face of said module housing, each said beam having a leading end and a protuberance adjacent said leading end to define a contact surface for engagement with a mating terminal; a first group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in one direction in said single plane; and a second group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in an opposite direction from said one direction; whereby upon engagement of said protuberances and deflection of said beams by corresponding terminals of a mating connector, forces generated by said first group resisting deflection are counterbalanced by forces generated by said second group, thereby applying no moment to the mating connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: an insulative connector housing and a plurality of terminal modules inserted therein, each said terminal module including an insulative module housing that holds a plurality of discrete terminals; each of said terminals having a cantilevered beam, the beams of all of said terminals extending in a single plane from a forward face of said module housing, each said beam having a leading end and a protuberance adjacent said leading end to define a contact surface for engagement with a mating terminal; a first group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in one direction in said single plane; and a second group of said terminals having said protuberances extending only in an opposite direction from said one direction; whereby upon engagement of said protuberances and deflection of said beams by corresponding terminals of a mating connector, forces generated by said first group resisting deflection are counterbalanced by forces generated by said second group, thereby applying no moment to the mating connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrical terminal module of claim 4 wherein said terminals in said first group are adjacent one another and said terminals in said second group are adjacent one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical terminal module of claim 4 wherein said protuberances of said first group of terminals face toward the protuberances of said second group of terminals.
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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) | 2003-10-10 | 2004-04-10 | 2004-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-10 | 2008-04-10 | 2008-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-10 | 2012-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |