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US6142804A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical switching connector

Assignee: Molex LLC
•
Filing: 1999-03-09
•
Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2019-03-09
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Abstract

Abstract An electrical switching connector includes a dielectric housing defining a receptacle. A first switch terminal is mounted on the housing and includes a contact portion at the receptacle. A second switch terminal is mounted on the housing and includes a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal. Therefore, a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion and move that contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal. A pair of ground terminals are mounted on the housing and each ground terminal is juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals. In the exemplary embodiment of invention, at least portions of at least one of the switch terminals and one of the ground terminals are overmolded by the housing.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kirk B. Peloza
  • 👤 John M. Horgan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 19:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 199 words
An electrical switching connector for mounting on a printed circuit board, comprising: a molded dielectric housing defining a receptacle; a first switch terminal at least partially overmolded by the housing and including a tail portion projecting from the housing for connection to the printed circuit board and a contact portion at said receptacle; a second switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a tail portion projecting from the housing for connection to the printed circuit board and a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal, whereby a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion of the second switch terminal to move said flexible contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal; and a pair of ground terminals at least partially overmolded by the housing and including tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to the printed circuit board, each ground terminal being juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals, the contact portion of said first switch terminal and body portions of said pair of ground terminals being coplanar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 199 words
An electrical switching connector for mounting on a printed circuit board, comprising: a molded dielectric housing defining a receptacle; a first switch terminal at least partially overmolded by the housing and including a tail portion projecting from the housing for connection to the printed circuit board and a contact portion at said receptacle; a second switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a tail portion projecting from the housing for connection to the printed circuit board and a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal, whereby a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion of the second switch terminal to move said flexible contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal; and a pair of ground terminals at least partially overmolded by the housing and including tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to the printed circuit board, each ground terminal being juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals, the contact portion of said first switch terminal and body portions of said pair of ground terminals being coplanar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 1 wherein the tail portions of the said first and second switch terminals and said pair of ground terminals are coplanar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 1 wherein said first switch terminal and said pair of ground terminals are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 53 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 3 wherein the tail portions of the said first and second switch terminals and said pair of ground terminals are coplanar in a plane offset from the plane of said contact portion of the first switch terminal and the body portions of the pair of ground terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 1 wherein said pair of ground terminals are integrally joined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 5 wherein said pair of ground terminals form the legs of a generally U-shaped configuration with ends of the legs being integrally joined by a cross portion of the U-shaped configuration which surrounds three sides of the contact portion of the first switch terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said second switch terminal overlaps at least a portion of one of said ground terminals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 147 words
An electrical switching connector, comprising: a dielectric housing defining a receptacle; a first switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a contact portion at said receptacle; a second switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal, whereby a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion of the second switch terminal to move said flexible contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal; a pair of ground terminals juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals, the contact portion of said first switch terminal and body portions of said pair of ground terminals being coplanar; and said second switch terminal and one of said ground terminals having overlapping capacitor plate portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 147 words
An electrical switching connector, comprising: a dielectric housing defining a receptacle; a first switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a contact portion at said receptacle; a second switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal, whereby a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion of the second switch terminal to move said flexible contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal; a pair of ground terminals juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals, the contact portion of said first switch terminal and body portions of said pair of ground terminals being coplanar; and said second switch terminal and one of said ground terminals having overlapping capacitor plate portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 8 wherein said first switch terminal and said pair of ground terminals are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 8 wherein said first switch terminal and said pair of ground terminals are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 8 wherein said pair of ground terminals are integrally joined.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 50 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 11 wherein said pair of ground terminals form the legs of a generally U-shaped configuration with ends of the legs being integrally joined by a cross portion of the U-shaped configuration which surrounds three sides of the contact portion of the first switch terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 174 words
An electrical switching connector, comprising: a dielectric housing defining a receptacle; a first switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a contact portion at said receptacle; a second switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal, whereby a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion of the second switch terminal to move said flexible contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal; a pair of ground terminals juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals, the contact portion of said first switch terminal and body portions of said pair of ground terminals being coplanar; and said pair of ground terminals forming the legs of a generally U-shaped configuration with ends of the legs being integrally joined by a cross portion of the U-shaped configuration which surrounds three sides of the contact portion of the first switch terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 174 words
An electrical switching connector, comprising: a dielectric housing defining a receptacle; a first switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a contact portion at said receptacle; a second switch terminal mounted on the housing and including a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal, whereby a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion of the second switch terminal to move said flexible contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal; a pair of ground terminals juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals, the contact portion of said first switch terminal and body portions of said pair of ground terminals being coplanar; and said pair of ground terminals forming the legs of a generally U-shaped configuration with ends of the legs being integrally joined by a cross portion of the U-shaped configuration which surrounds three sides of the contact portion of the first switch terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 13 wherein said first switch terminal and said pair of ground terminals are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 13 wherein said first switch terminal and said pair of ground terminals are stamped and formed of sheet metal material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 28 words
The electrical switching connector of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said second switch terminal overlaps at least a portion of one of said ground terminals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2003-11-07 2004-05-08 2004-11-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-11-07 2008-05-08 2008-11-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-11-07 2012-05-08 2012-11-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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