US4029377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Push-on bus bar
Assignee: Circuit Components Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-03
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Granted: 1977-06-14
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Expires: 1996-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A bus connector for use in the interconnection of terminal posts arranged in a linear array includes a nonconductive housing which defines passages through which the terminal posts may pass. The connector also includes at least one conductor extending along a side surface of the housing; the conductor preferably having a dual comb-like construction with fingers extending from the opposite edges thereof. These fingers pass around the edges of the housing and the fingers extending from a first edge of the conductor project into the passages to function as spring contacts for the terminal pins. The conductor fingers cooperate with walls of the housing to mechanically hold the conductor on the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony C. Guglielmi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/08; H01R31/085; H01R31/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An electrical bus connector for interconnecting terminal pins of a linear array comprising: an elongated housing, said housing being formed from a nonconductive material and being provided with a plurality of passages extending therethrough from oppositely disposed first and second sides thereof, said passages being arranged in a linear array for receiving terminal pins to be interconnected; at least a first bus conductor, said first conductor having a first portion which is adjacent to a third side of said housing, said third housing side extending between said first and second sides, said first conductor being provided with a first plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a first edge thereof, said first conductor first edge facing the junction of said first and third housing sides and said fingers of said first plurality of fingers being spaced in a pattern defined by the terminal pins to be interconnected and having a width less than the width of said housing passages, said fingers of said first plurality of fingers passing about the junction of said housing first and third sides into preselected of said passages whereby said fingers define spring contacts for establishing electrical connections with the terminal pins extending through housing passages into which said fingers extend; and mounting means mounting said first conductor on said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
An electrical bus connector for interconnecting terminal pins of a linear array comprising: an elongated housing, said housing being formed from a nonconductive material and being provided with a plurality of passages extending therethrough from oppositely disposed first and second sides thereof, said passages being arranged in a linear array for receiving terminal pins to be interconnected; at least a first bus conductor, said first conductor having a first portion which is adjacent to a third side of said housing, said third housing side extending between said first and second sides, said first conductor being provided with a first plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a first edge thereof, said first conductor first edge facing the junction of said first and third housing sides and said fingers of said first plurality of fingers being spaced in a pattern defined by the terminal pins to be interconnected and having a width less than the width of said housing passages, said fingers of said first plurality of fingers passing about the junction of said housing first and third sides into preselected of said passages whereby said fingers define spring contacts for establishing electrical connections with the terminal pins extending through housing passages into which said fingers extend; and mounting means mounting said first conductor on said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The bus connector of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said first conductor on said housing comprises: a second plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a second edge of said first conductor, said first conductor second edge facing the junction of said housing second and third sides, the fingers of said second plurality of fingers passing about the junction of said housing second and third sides and cooperating with said fingers of said first plurality of fingers to mechanically affix said first conductor to said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The bus connector of claim 1 wherein said housing passages each receive a single terminal pin and said housing further includes a first plurality of notches at the junction of said first and third sides thereof, said notches of said first plurality of notches being in alignment with said passages whereby said conductor fingers of said first plurality of fingers will be positioned in at least some of said notches of said first plurality of notches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The bus connector of claim 3 wherein the base portions of said notches of said first plurality of notches define a smooth bend about which said conductor fingers of said first plurality of fingers pass before extending downwardly with respect to their root portions and outwardly with respect to the passages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
The bus connector of claim 4 wherein said means mounting said first conductor on said housing comprises: a second plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a second edge of said first conductor, said first conductor second edge facing the junction of said housing second and third sides, the fingers of said second plurality of fingers passing about the junction of said housing second and third sides and cooperating with said fingers of said first plurality of fingers to mechanically affix said first conductor to said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The bus connector of claim 5 wherein said housing further includes a second plurality of notches at the junction of said second and third sides, said notches of said second plurality of notches being in registration with said housing passages and defining a sharp bend line to which the conductor fingers of said plurality of fingers are conformed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
The bus connector of claim 1 further comprising: a second bus conductor, said second conductor having a first portion which is adjacent to a fourth side of said housing, said fourth housing side extending between said first and second sides, said second conductor being provided with a first plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a first edge thereof, said second conductor first edge facing the junction of said first and fourth housing sides and said fingers of said first plurality of finger of said second conductor being spaced in a pattern defined by terminal pins to be interconnected, said second conductor fingers of said first plurality of fingers having a width less than the width of said housing passages, said fingers of said first plurality of fingers of said second conductor passing about the junction of said housing first and fourth sides and into preselected of said passages to define spring contacts located in said preselected passages; and mounting means mounting said second conductor to said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
The bus connector of claim 7 wherein said mounting means mounting said first and second conductors on said housing each comprises: a second plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a second edge of each of said conductors, the second edges of said conductors being oppositely disposed from said conductor first edges and facing the junction of said adjacent housing sides and said housing second side, the fingers of said second plurality of fingers passing about the junction of said housing adjacent and second sides and cooperating with the fingers of said first plurality of fingers of each of said conductors to mechanically affix said conductors to said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The bus connector of claim 7 wherein said housing passages each receive a single terminal pin and said housing further includes a first plurality of notches at the junction of said first and third sides thereof and at the junction of said first and fourth sides thereof, said notches being in alignment with said passages whereby said conductor fingers of said first plurality of fingers of each of said first and second bus conductors will be positioned in notches of said first plurality of notches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bus connector of claim 9 wherein the base portions of said notches define a smooth bend about which said conductor fingers pass before extending downwardly with respect to their root portions and outwardly with respect to the passages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
The bus connector of claim 10 wherein said mounting means mounting said first and second conductors on said housing each comprises: a second plurality of fingers extending outwardly from a second edge of each of said conductors, the second edges of said conductors being oppositely disposed from said conductor first edges and facing the junction of said adjacent housing sides and said housing second side, the fingers of said second plurality of fingers passing about the junction of said housing adjacent and second sides and cooperating with the fingers of said first plurality of fingers of each of said conductors to mechanically affix said conductors to said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The bus connector of claim 11 wherein said housing further includes second pluralities of notches at the junction of said second and third sides thereof and at the junction of said second and fourth sides thereof, said notches of said second pluralities of notches being in registration with said housing passages and defining a sharp bend line to which the conductor fingers of said second plurality of fingers of each of said first and second bus conductors are conformed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The bus connector of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of fingers of said first conductor and part of said first portion of said first conductor interconnecting the roots of said fingers of said first plurality of fingers is comprised of a first metal and the remainder of said first conductor is comprised of a second metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The bus connector of claim 6 wherein said first plurality of fingers of said first conductor and part of said first portion of said first conductor interconnecting the roots of said fingers of said first plurality of fingers is comprised of a first metal and the remainder of said first conductor is comprised of a second metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The bus connector of claim 7 wherein said first plurality of fingers of said first and second conductors and part of said first portion of said first and second conductors interconnecting the roots of said fingers of said first pluralities of fingers is comprised of a first metal and the remainder of said bus conductors is comprised of a second metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The bus connector of claim 12 wherein said first plurality of fingers of said first and second conductors and part of said first portion of said first and second conductors interconnecting the roots of said fingers of said first pluralities of fingers is comprised of a first metal and the remainder of said bus conductors is comprised of a second metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The bus connector of claim 7 wherein said fingers of said first plurality of fingers of said first and second conductors extend only into different passages in said housing whereby said bus connector may deliver two different potentials to a terminal pin array.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The bus connector of claim 12 wherein said fingers of said first plurality of fingers of said first and second conductors extend only into different passages in said housing whereby said bus connector may deliver two different potentials to a terminal pin array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
The bus connector of claim 1 wherein said first conductor first portion has a first side abutting said housing third side and wherein said first conductor further comprises: a layer of insulating material disposed over at least a portion of the second side of said first portion of said first conductor, said second side of said first conductor being parallel to said first conductor first side.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The bus connector of claim 6 wherein said first conductor first portion has a first side abutting said housing third side and wherein said first conductor further comprises: a layer of insulating material disposed over at least a portion of the second side of said first portion of said first conductor, said second side of said first conductor being parallel to said first conductor first side.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
74 words
The bus connector of claim 7 wherein said first and second conductor first portions each have a first side abutting said housing third and fourth sides, respectively, and wherein said conductors further comprise: a layer of insulating material disposed over at least a portion of the second sides of said first portions of said first and second conductors, said second sides of said first and second conductors being parallel to said conductor first sides.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
The bus connector of claim 12 wherein said first and second conductor first portions each have a first side abutting said housing third and fourth sides, respectively, and wherein said conductors further comprise: a layer of insulating material disposed over at least a portion of the second sides of said first portions of said first and second conductors, said second sides of said first and second conductors being parallel to said conductor first sides.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
The bus connector of claim 16 wherein said first and second conductor first portions each have a first side abutting said housing third and fourth sides, respectively, and wherein said bus conductors further comprise: a layer of insulating material disposed over at least a portion of the second sides of said first portions of said first and second conductors, said second sides of said first and second conductors being parallel to said conductor first sides.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The bus connector of claim 23 wherein said fingers of said first plurality of fingers of said first and second conductors extend only into different passages in said housing whereby said bus connector may deliver two different potentials to a terminal pin array.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-13 | 1980-12-13 | 1981-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-13 | 1984-12-13 | 1985-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-13 | 1988-12-13 | 1989-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |