Patent US3853389A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3853389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector and contact
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-16
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A connector including a body having a plurality of cavities, and socket contacts in the cavities; the cavities have ledges for supporting or limiting insertion of the contacts, the contacts having corresponding shapes engaging the ledges and contact fingers struck in from opposite sidewalls which in one embodiment are oriented in opposite longitudinal directions to provide an early wipe with reduced insertion forces; the contacts are of closed entry type, formed from a single stamped metal blank, shaped to generally tubular form, having a portion defining closed entry aperture, in one embodiment formed by a bent-over piece forming cirumferentially continuously element, and in another embodiment formed by inwardly bent tabs supported by the walls of the cavity; the contacts have reduced tail portions extending through the cavities beyond the body enlarged or otherwise shaped resisting removal from the cavities.
Inventors
- 👤 C Occhipinti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/10; H01R13/11; H01R13/114; H01R13/40; H01R13/42; H01R13/428; H01R13/432
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
An electrical connector comprising a body of insulating material having a front face and a cavity extending longitudinally therefrom in a rearward direction, and a contact at least partially disposed in said cavity and including a front elongated socket section for front engagement with a mating contact and a rear tail section for engagement with an external conductor, said socket section including at least one pair of opposite outer sidewalls and at least one pair of contact fingers outwardly supported by said sidewalls, said fingers including longitudinally offset contact engagement surfaces inwardly disposed within said socket section and beam sections inclined outwardly from said surfaces toward said sidewalls in opposite longitudinal directions, each of said beam sections being integral with one of said side walls and supporting one of said engagement surfaces, one of said contact-engagement surfaces being frontwardly disposed so that said mating contact will initially engage only one of said surfaces with the other of said contact engagement surfaces being rearwardly disposed and the beam section with said rearwardly disposed surface being inclined rearwardly and disposed laterally opposite said frontwardly disposed surface to guide said mating contact to a center position in said socket section and into engagement with said frontwardly disposed surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
An electrical connector comprising a body of insulating material having a front face and a cavity extending longitudinally therefrom in a rearward direction, and a contact at least partially disposed in said cavity and including a front elongated socket section for front engagement with a mating contact and a rear tail section for engagement with an external conductor, said socket section including at least one pair of opposite outer sidewalls and at least one pair of contact fingers outwardly supported by said sidewalls, said fingers including longitudinally offset contact engagement surfaces inwardly disposed within said socket section and beam sections inclined outwardly from said surfaces toward said sidewalls in opposite longitudinal directions, each of said beam sections being integral with one of said side walls and supporting one of said engagement surfaces, one of said contact-engagement surfaces being frontwardly disposed so that said mating contact will initially engage only one of said surfaces with the other of said contact engagement surfaces being rearwardly disposed and the beam section with said rearwardly disposed surface being inclined rearwardly and disposed laterally opposite said frontwardly disposed surface to guide said mating contact to a center position in said socket section and into engagement with said frontwardly disposed surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein the frontwardly disposed contact-engagement surface includes a convex curve with an end opposite said beam section which is inclIned outwardly to funnel a mating contact into engagement with said inwardly disposed surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said beam sections of said fingers are essentially of equal length to develop essentially equal forces against said mating contact when completely inserted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The connector of claim 2 wherein the sidewalls of said contact form a front entry aperture with a pair of opposite front edges having converging tapers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said body includes a rear face, said cavity includes an enlarged portion opening through the front face and a reduced portion opening through the rear face, the socket section of the contact is snugly fitted in the enlarged portion of the cavity, and the tail section is offset laterally from the socket section and extends through the reduced portion of the cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
A contact for an electrical connector comprising a front enlarged socket section elongated longitudinally and a rear reduced tail section, the socket section including at least one pair of opposite outer sidewalls frontwardly forming an entry aperture and at least one pair of contact fingers outwardly supported by said sidewalls and rearwardly disposed from said entry aperture, said fingers including longitudinally offset contact-engagement surfaces inwardly disposed within said socket section for engagement with a mating contact inserted through said entry aperture, and beam sections inclined outwardly in opposite longitudinal directions to said sidewalls, each of said beam sections being integral with one of said sidewalls and supporting one of said engagement surfaces, one of said contact-engagement surfaces being frontwardly disposed near said entry aperture with the other of said contact engagement surfaces being rearwardly disposed and the beam section with said rearwardly disposed surface being inclined rearwardly and disposed laterally opposite said frontwardly disposed surface to guide said mating contact to a center position in said socket section and into engagement with said frontwardly disposed surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A contact for an electrical connector comprising a front enlarged socket section elongated longitudinally and a rear reduced tail section, the socket section including at least one pair of opposite outer sidewalls frontwardly forming an entry aperture and at least one pair of contact fingers outwardly supported by said sidewalls and rearwardly disposed from said entry aperture, said fingers including longitudinally offset contact-engagement surfaces inwardly disposed within said socket section for engagement with a mating contact inserted through said entry aperture, and beam sections inclined outwardly in opposite longitudinal directions to said sidewalls, each of said beam sections being integral with one of said sidewalls and supporting one of said engagement surfaces, one of said contact-engagement surfaces being frontwardly disposed near said entry aperture with the other of said contact engagement surfaces being rearwardly disposed and the beam section with said rearwardly disposed surface being inclined rearwardly and disposed laterally opposite said frontwardly disposed surface to guide said mating contact to a center position in said socket section and into engagement with said frontwardly disposed surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The contact of claim 6 wherein said beam sections are essentially of equal length to develop essentially equal forces against said mating contact when completely inserted, said frontwardly disposed contact-engagement surface is curved convexly and includes an end opposite said beam section inclined outwardly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electrical connector comprising a body having front and rear faces and walls defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being substantially rectangular in cross section and having an enlarged portion opening through the front face and a reduced portion opening through the rear face, the walls of the cavity defining, at least on one side of the cavity, an abrupt ledge between the enlarged and reduced portions of the cavity and laterally disposed ledges on the remaining walls tapering downwardly and inwardly, and a contact in the cavity having an enlarged socket section with sides snugly fitted in the enlarged portion of the cavity, and a reduced tail section extending through the reduced portion of the cavity, the tail section of the contact being offset laterally from the socket section, exposing an abrupt inner end surface on the socket section engaging said ledge and providing positive stop means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
148 words
An electrical connector comprising a body having front and rear faces and walls defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being substantially rectangular in cross section and having an enlarged portion opening through the front face and a reduced portion opening through the rear face, the walls of the cavity defining, at least on one side of the cavity, an abrupt ledge between the enlarged and reduced portions of the cavity and laterally disposed ledges on the remaining walls tapering downwardly and inwardly, and a contact in the cavity having an enlarged socket section with sides snugly fitted in the enlarged portion of the cavity, and a reduced tail section extending through the reduced portion of the cavity, the tail section of the contact being offset laterally from the socket section, exposing an abrupt inner end surface on the socket section engaging said ledge and providing positive stop means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein the contact has tapered surfaces snugly engaging the tapered ledges when the abrupt inner end surface on the socket section engages the abrupt ledges in the cavity walls.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical connector according to claim 9 wherein the tapered ledges extend from a point substantially in the plane of the aburpt ledge downwardly therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein the contact is formed of a single integral sheet metal piece, the socket section is tubular in shape and the tail section is channel shape with a web and side flanges, and disposed with its web on the side of the contact opposite the abrupt end surface of the socket section and the flanges extend from the web a distance less than the corresponding width of the contact, and the tapered surfaces on the contact are provided on the three sides represented by the web and the flanges.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein the enlarged portion of the cavity is substantially uniform in cross section throughout its length, the socket section engages the walls in said portion and has an outer surface, the contact has a length and a front entry end and an integral flat section disposed against the sides at the entry end extending generally perpendicular to the length of the contact, circumferentially continuous, and has an outer surface substantially flush with the outer surface of the socket section of the contact.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein the enlarged portion of the cavity is of substantially uniform cross sectional shape from a position at the juncture with the reduced portion longitudinally outwardly to a position adjacent to but short of the front face of the body, the cavity walls include an outwardly facing ledge adjacent the front face, and the contact has a closed entry construction including tabs extending laterally outwardly beyond the remaining surface of the contact and engaging said ledge, said tabs being confined within that portion of the wall cavities longitudinally beyond the ledge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrical connector according to claim 13 wherein the contact has fingers struck in from opposite sidewalls of the contact to a position transversely inwardly beyond the confining edges of the entry aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
151 words
A contact for an electrical connector formed of an integral sheet metal piece having an enlarged socket section, a reduced tail section, and juncture therebetween, the socket section having at least one pair of opposite sides, contact fingers struck in from said opposite sides, and a construction having an entry aperture of dimensions greater than the distance between the contact fingers but less than the distance between the wall elements from which they were struck, said contact having a length and an integral, flat section forming said construction and extending generally perpendicular to the length of the contact and disposed against the sides thereof, the contact having, at the juncture between the socket section and the tail section, one side of the contact, an abrupt shoulder facing longitudinally in a direction away from the closed entry aperture, and having ledges other than the abrupt shoulder at other sides of the contact.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
A contact for an electrical connector formed of an integral sheet metal piece having an enlarged socket section, a reduced tail section, and juncture therebetween, the socket section having at least one pair of opposite sides, contact fingers struck in from said opposite sides, and a construction having an entry aperture of dimensions greater than the distance between the contact fingers but less than the distance between the wall elements from which they were struck, said contact having a length and an integral, flat section forming said construction and extending generally perpendicular to the length of the contact and disposed against the sides thereof, the contact having, at the juncture between the socket section and the tail section, one side of the contact, an abrupt shoulder facing longitudinally in a direction away from the closed entry aperture, and having ledges other than the abrupt shoulder at other sides of the contact.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A contact according to claim 15 wherein the socket section is substantially tubular in shape and the tail section is substantially channel form in shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrical contact according to claim 15 wherein the closed entry construction includes a plurality of tabs joined to and extending from the socket section at the closed entry end thereof extending longitudinally from the socket section and having a component of extension transversely outwardly beyond the outer perimeter surface of the socket section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
190 words
An electrical connector comprising a body of insulating material having a front face and rear face and a cavity therethrough, said cavity having a portion of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape extending from a position intermediate said faces to a position adjacent to but short of the front face of the body, said cavity also including an outwardly facing ledge adjacent said front face and at least one rearwardly disposed contact-retaining shoulder a contact in said cavity having a socket section with at least a portion being snugly fitted in said cavity portion of uniform shape and a tail section, said socket section including at least one pair of opposite sides, contact fingers struck in from said opposite sides of said socket section, a construction having a frontwardly disposed entry aperture with dimensions greater than the distance between the contact fingers but lEss that the distance between said sides, said construction including a plurality of entry tabs extending laterally beyond the cavity portion of uniform shape and abutting against said ledge said contact including a rearwardly disposed locking member having a laterally extending portion abutting said contact-retaining shoulder of said body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
190 words
An electrical connector comprising a body of insulating material having a front face and rear face and a cavity therethrough, said cavity having a portion of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape extending from a position intermediate said faces to a position adjacent to but short of the front face of the body, said cavity also including an outwardly facing ledge adjacent said front face and at least one rearwardly disposed contact-retaining shoulder a contact in said cavity having a socket section with at least a portion being snugly fitted in said cavity portion of uniform shape and a tail section, said socket section including at least one pair of opposite sides, contact fingers struck in from said opposite sides of said socket section, a construction having a frontwardly disposed entry aperture with dimensions greater than the distance between the contact fingers but lEss that the distance between said sides, said construction including a plurality of entry tabs extending laterally beyond the cavity portion of uniform shape and abutting against said ledge said contact including a rearwardly disposed locking member having a laterally extending portion abutting said contact-retaining shoulder of said body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrical connector according to claim 18 wherein said ledge adjacent the front face of the cavity is tapered at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the cavity and said entry tabs on the contact are complementally inclined.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said contact includes a plurality of said locking members with each member formed as a resilient locking tab disposed on one of said sides of said socket section and tapering outwardly and frontwardly to a free end locked behind said contact-retaining shoulder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrical connector according to claim 20 wherein said entry tabs include an outwardly extending component extending beyond the outer perimeter of said locking tabs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
169 words
A contact for frontwardly mounting in an electrical connector and formed of an integral sheet metal piece, said contact comprising socket and tail sections with said socket section being substantially tubular in shape with opposite sides, an elongated length and frontward and rearward ends, contact fingers disposed intermediate said ends and struck in from said opposite sides of said socket section, a construction at said forward end having an entry aperture with dimensions greater than the distance between the contact fingers but less than the distance between said opposite sides and including a plurality of entry tabs extending longitudinally from the socket section and having a component of extension transversely outwardly beyond the outer perimeter surface of the socket section, said socket section including locking tabs disposed on a plurality of said sides of said socket section rearwardly with respect to said contact tabs and tapering outwardly in a frontward direction, said locking tabs being resiliently yieldable inwardly to permit said contact to be frontwardly mounted in said connector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
169 words
A contact for frontwardly mounting in an electrical connector and formed of an integral sheet metal piece, said contact comprising socket and tail sections with said socket section being substantially tubular in shape with opposite sides, an elongated length and frontward and rearward ends, contact fingers disposed intermediate said ends and struck in from said opposite sides of said socket section, a construction at said forward end having an entry aperture with dimensions greater than the distance between the contact fingers but less than the distance between said opposite sides and including a plurality of entry tabs extending longitudinally from the socket section and having a component of extension transversely outwardly beyond the outer perimeter surface of the socket section, said socket section including locking tabs disposed on a plurality of said sides of said socket section rearwardly with respect to said contact tabs and tapering outwardly in a frontward direction, said locking tabs being resiliently yieldable inwardly to permit said contact to be frontwardly mounted in said connector.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
119 words
A rectangularly shaped contact for an electrical connector formed of an integral sheet metal member having a generally flat base portion with laterally separated U-shaped and L-shaped portions stamped out to form a pair of free-ended oppositely directed fingers and a tail portion integrally formed on the base portion and extending away therefrom, said U-shape portion being inverted with respect to said L-shaped portion with each of said portions being formed by stamped out longitudinal sides and lateral end portions, said base portion being bent along the side portions of the U-shaped and L-shaped portions to form said rectangular shape and said fingers being bent inwardly to longitudinally offset said free ends and form longitudinally offset contact engagement surfaces.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
119 words
A rectangularly shaped contact for an electrical connector formed of an integral sheet metal member having a generally flat base portion with laterally separated U-shaped and L-shaped portions stamped out to form a pair of free-ended oppositely directed fingers and a tail portion integrally formed on the base portion and extending away therefrom, said U-shape portion being inverted with respect to said L-shaped portion with each of said portions being formed by stamped out longitudinal sides and lateral end portions, said base portion being bent along the side portions of the U-shaped and L-shaped portions to form said rectangular shape and said fingers being bent inwardly to longitudinally offset said free ends and form longitudinally offset contact engagement surfaces.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The contact of claim 23 wherein the free end of one of said fingers includes an inwardly directed convex curve forming one of said contact engagement surfaces.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The contact of claim 24 wherein said fingers are essentially of equal length to develop essentially equal forces against said mating contact when completely inserted.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The contact of claim 25 wherein said contact includes an inwardly tapered entry aperture frontwardly disposed from said fingers and directing said mating contact to contact engagement surfaces.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The contact of claim 26 wherein said L-shaped portion includes a second side portion forming a second U-shaped portion.
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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) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |