Spring grip contact assembly

Claim 2

A spring grip electrical connector assembly for low force mating with a plurality of closely spaced, fixed, parallel terminal pins, said assembly comprising: a housing having a contact carrying base portion and a cover portion mating with said base portion, and a plurality of spring grip contacts mounted in said contact carrying base portion of said housing in parallel spaced relationship, each said contact including a conductor engaging portion and a resilient terminal pin engaging portion of arcuate longitudinal section with an elongated aperture at each end thereof, said contact adapted to receive an associated terminal pin axially through said apertures whereby said cover portion, in the closed position, engages said conductor engaging portion of said contacts and biases said contacts into engagement with said terminal pins.

Claim 3

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said spring grip contact comprises: a stamped and formed integral metallic body member, said conductor engaging portion including means for crimp connection to a conductor, and said arcuate terminal pin engaging portion having a smooth bowed configuration.

Claim 4

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein said arcuate terminal pin engaging portion Comprises at least three interconnected arcs whereby each end of each elongated aperture is substantially normal to the terminal pin passing therethrough.

Claim 5

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein: said resilient terminal pin engaging portion extends back along said body above said conductor engaging portion.

Claim 6

A spring grip electrical connector according to claim 1 further comprising: a locking lance on each said contact, and a plurality of locking lance receiving apertures in said base, said locking lances adapted to engage in said apertures in said housing base to thereby limit longitudinal movement of said contacts.

Claim 7

A spring grip electrical connector according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one integral locking ear extending transversely of each said contact, and a recess in said housing base, said ear engaging in said recess thereby preventing rotation of each said contact about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein: said contact carrying base portion of said housing comprises: a back wall, a plurality of parallel, spaced apart spacer blocks integral with said wall defining a plurality of contact receiving recesses therebetween, a terminal pin receiving aperture communicating with one end of each said recess along the longitudinal axis thereof, and latching means adapted to hold said cover portion in a closed condition.

Claim 9

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 7 wherein base portion and said cover portion of said housing are separate members, said base portion further comprising: a wall spaced parallel from said spacer blocks to define a groove therebetween, said cover portion having a depending flange adapted to be received in said groove, and said latching means detachably securing said base and cover portions together in the closed condition.

Claim 10

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a unitary member including base portion and said cover portion.

Claim 11

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 7 further comprising: a groove in each said spacer block opening into each said contact receiving recess, and each said contact further comprises at least one integral ear engaging in said groove thereby preventing movement of said contact about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 12

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 7 further comprising: a plurality of apertures in said base, each aperture opening into a respective one of said contact recesses, and each said contact having an integral locking lance engaging in said aperture thereby limiting longitudinal movement of said contacts.

Claim 13

A spring grip electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein said contacts are mounted in said base in at least two parallel spaced rows.

Claim 14

A spring grip electrical connector assembly for zero force mating with a plurality of closely spaced, fixed, parallel terminal pins, said assembly comprising: housing means including a base portion having a plurality of parallel spaced apart contact receiving recesses and a terminal receiving aperture at one end of and aligned with the longitudinal axis of each said recess, and a cover portion adapted to close on said base portion; a plurality of spring grip contacts, each contact including a conductor engaging portion and a terminal pin engaging portion, said terminal pin engaging portion having a normal relaxed bowed configuration in longitudinal section with an elongaged aperture at each end thereof, each contact being mounted in a respective one of said recesses with at least part of said bowed configuration extending therefrom and adapted to receive said terminal pins along their longitudinal axis through said elongated apertures; and said cover of said housing, in a closed condition, eNgaging said terminal pin engaging portion and deforming the bowed configuration thereof whereby opposite ends of said apertures are driven into mechanical and electrical engagement with terminal pins received therein.

Claim 15

A spring grip electrical connector assembly for zero force mating with a plurality of closely spaced, fixed, parallel terminal pins, said assembly comprising: housing means including a base portion having a plurality of parallel spaced apart contact receiving recesses and a terminal receiving aperture at one end of and aligned with the longitudinal axis of each said recess, and a cover portion adapted to close on said base portion; a plurality of spring grip contacts, each contact including a conductor engaging portion and a terminal pin engaging portion, said terminal pin engaging portion having a normal relaxed bowed configuration in longitudinal section with an elongaged aperture at each end thereof, each contact being mounted in a respective one of said recesses with at least part of said bowed configuration extending therefrom and adapted to receive said terminal pins along their longitudinal axis through said elongated apertures; and said cover of said housing, in a closed condition, eNgaging said terminal pin engaging portion and deforming the bowed configuration thereof whereby opposite ends of said apertures are driven into mechanical and electrical engagement with terminal pins received therein.

Claim 16

A spring grip electrical contact for zero force engagement with a fixed terminal pin, said contact comprising: an elongated, unitary metallic member having a conductor engaging portion and a terminal pin engaging portion, said conductor engaging portion having means for fixedly engaging an associated conductor, said terminal pin engaging portion having a normal, relaxed bowed configuration in longitudinal section and an elongated aperture adjacent each end thereof, whereby a terminal pin can freely pass through said apertures in said normal condition and said contact biased into engagement with said pin.

Claim 17

A spring grip electrical contact for zero force engagement with a fixed terminal pin, said contact comprising: an elongated, unitary metallic member having a conductor engaging portion and a terminal pin engaging portion, said conductor engaging portion having means for fixedly engaging an associated conductor, said terminal pin engaging portion having a normal, relaxed bowed configuration in longitudinal section and an elongated aperture adjacent each end thereof, whereby a terminal pin can freely pass through said apertures in said normal condition and said contact biased into engagement with said pin.

Claim 18

A spring grip contact according to claim 14 wherein said terminal pin engaging portion extends over the conductor engaging portion of said contact.

Claim 19

A spring grip contact according to claim 14 wherein said conductor engaging portion comprises an insulation displacing slot and insulation gripping flanges.

Claim 20

A spring grip contact according to claim 14 further comprising: a locking lance integral with said contact.

Claim 21

A spring grip contact according to claim 14 further comprising: locking ears extending transversely of said contact.