US3178669A - Electrical connecting device - Google Patents

Electrical connecting device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3178669A
US3178669A US374801A US37480164A US3178669A US 3178669 A US3178669 A US 3178669A US 374801 A US374801 A US 374801A US 37480164 A US37480164 A US 37480164A US 3178669 A US3178669 A US 3178669A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
arm
web
sidewalls
terminal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US374801A
Inventor
Lincoln E Roberts
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Corp
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMP Inc filed Critical AMP Inc
Priority to US374801A priority Critical patent/US3178669A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3178669A publication Critical patent/US3178669A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02Contact members
    • H01R13/28Contacts for sliding cooperation with identically-shaped contact, e.g. for hermaphroditic coupling devices
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/64Means for preventing incorrect coupling
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12201Width or thickness variation or marginal cuts repeating longitudinally
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12229Intermediate article [e.g., blank, etc.]
    • Y10T428/12264Intermediate article [e.g., blank, etc.] having outward flange, gripping means or interlocking feature
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12354Nonplanar, uniform-thickness material having symmetrical channel shape or reverse fold [e.g., making acute angle, etc.]

Definitions

  • This invention relates to multi-contact electrical connectors and to contact terminals for such connectors.
  • the phrase rnulti-contact connector is employed herein with reference to the type of disengageable electrical connecting device comprising a pair of insulating blocks which are engageable with each other and which have a plurality of terminal contacts therein. The terminal contacts are secured to the ends of wires so that upon bringing the blocks into engagement with each other, the wires are electrically connected.
  • Multi-contact connecting devices of this type are widely used where disengageaible electrical connections are required among large numbers of conductors.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an improved hermaphroditic type multi-contact electrical connector.
  • a further object is to provide an improved hermaphroditic terminal contact for electrical connectors.
  • a still further object is to provide a multi-contact electrical connector in which the individual contacts are closely spaced with respect to each other thereby permitting a high density of electrical connections in the connector block.
  • a still further object is to provide a multi-contact electrical con nector in which the force required to engage and disengage the blocks with each other is relatively low and which achieves a low resistance electrical contact between the mated terminal contacts in the insulating blocks.
  • a still further object is to provide a durable and foolproof multi-contact electrical connecting device which is' not easily damaged in the course of ordinary usage and which is substantially incapable of improper coupling and decoupling.
  • the terminal contact comprieses a relatively elongated web having upstanding sidewalls extending from the opposite sides thereof at each end.
  • Means are provided on the web intermediate its ends for crimping the contact onto the end of an electrical conductor extending between one of the pairs of sidewalls.
  • a pair of arms extend from the other pair of sidewalls beyond the Web and generally along the axis of the contact, one of these arms being relatively longer than the other and having a cusp-like inter-mediate portion which is directed inwardly towards the axis of the terminal contact.
  • the end portion of this first arm diverges slightly with respect to the contact axis and terminates with an outwardly convex contact surface.
  • the shorter arm has an intermediate inwardly directed section and a divergent (with respect to the contact axis) contact ramp extending from this intermediate portion.
  • An outwardly directed hook is provided on the end of this shorter arm to facilitate its mounting in an insulating block.
  • the terminal contact in accordance with the invention is matable with an identical contacts upon alignment of the two contacts in opposed axial relationship with respect to each other so that as they are moved towards each other, the outwardly directed contact' surface of the long arm of each contact engages the contact ramp of the other arm of the other contact.
  • the insulating blocks in accordance with the invention which contain the terminal contacts have cavities extending therethrough which conform to the shape of the terminal contacts in a manner such that the contacts can only be 3,178, 669 Patented Apr. '13, 1965 inserted into the cavities in the proper and intended manner and will be securely held in the cavities after insertion.
  • the cavities have a rectangular cross section throughout a substantial portion of their lengths which conforms to the cross section of the sidewalls of the web so that the contacts are firmly'held by the Walls of these cavities bearing against the sidewalls of the web and against the web itself.
  • each cavity has a recess defining a forwardly facing shoulder over which the hooked end of the shorter arm extends.
  • the salient advantage of the invention is that a complete connector assembly comprising two insulating blocks each having a plurality of electrical contacts therein can be achieved with two identical insulating blocks and a number of identical terminal contacts corresponding to the cavities in the blocks. Moreover, this hermaphroditic effect, with its advantages of simplicity and standardization, is achieved without sacrifice of electrical reliability, mechanical durability, or contact density.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a contact terminal in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the progressive stages of the forming of the contact terminal of FIGURE 1 by conventional die'stamping and forming operations;
  • FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view showing a pair of insulating blocks in accordance with the invention in engagement with each other and showing contact terminals in only some of the cavities in the block;
  • FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along the lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 of FIGURE 3;
  • FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing a pair of blocks in accordance with the invention'in face-to-face relationship and illustrating the orientation of the cavities of the blocks;
  • FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing an alternative form of a contact terminal in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the hooked end portion of the short arm 20 of the contact terminal of FIGURE 8.
  • a preferred form of terminal contact 2 in accordance with the invention com prises an elongated substantially flat web 4 having a first pair of parallel sidewalls 6 extending from opposite sides of its forward end and a second pair of sidewalls 8 extending from opposite sides of its rearward end. Intermediate the ends of the web there are provided ferruleforming ears 10 and 12 on opposite sides of the web to permit crimping of the contact onto the conducting core 14 of a wire and the insulation 16 of the wire as shown in FIGURE 3.
  • the wire extends between the sidewalls 8 and along the web andmay be crimped to the terminal contact by means of an automatic or semi-automatic crimping device as is commonly known to the art.
  • Arms 18, 20 extend from the forward sidewalls 6 and beyond the forward end of the Web.
  • the arm 18 has a portion 22 which is immediately adjacent to the sidewall and constitutes a planar extention thereof and an intermediate cusp-like portion 24, 26 which is directed inwardly towards the terminal con-tact axis.
  • the end portion 26, of the arm 18 is slightly divergent with respect to the contact axis and terminates in an outwardly facing contact surface.
  • an outwardly convex dimple or boss 28 may be provided at this contact surface to facilitate smooth even engagement of the terminal contact with a mating contact.
  • the extreme end portion of the arm 18 is slightly inwardly curved, again to facilitate mating of the contact with an identical contact as described below.
  • a relatively short arm 20 extends from the opposite one of the sidewalls 6, this arm comprising an initial planar extension 30 of the sidewall, an intermediate abruptly inwardly directed section 32, and a contact ramp 34 which extends divergently from this intermediate section and which faces towards the contact axis.
  • the extreme end portion 36 of this arm is reversely outwardly bent to form a hook by means of which the contact is retained in the block cavity.
  • the inclination of the contact ramp 34 is not critical, however, for best results its slope should be relatively gentle for reasons explained below.
  • the hooked end 36 of the arm 30 is disposed laterally with respect to the contact axis of the plane defined by the sidewalls 8, 6 so that if the end of this arm is flexed inwardly it has a tendency to return to its normal position.
  • FIG- URE 2 shows the various stages of forming this type of contact in parallel side-by-side form so that the finished strip can be fed to an automatic or semi-automatic crimping machine which simultaneously crimps the leading contact of the strip onto a wire end and severs this leading contact from the side carrier strips.
  • the connecting slug 38 is sheared from the contact at a location adjacent to the forward end of the web. After shearing, a vestige 38' of this connecting slug may remain on the end of the web.
  • FIGURE 7 A preferred form of insulating block is shown in FIGURE 7 at 40 which can be engaged with an identical block to form a complete electrical connector assembly.
  • the blocks 40 each have flanges 42 on their ends with openings extending therethrough in which are mounted suitable jack screw means 44 for holding the blocks in engagement with each other as is commonly known.
  • the cavities 46 in the blocks which receive the contacts extend from the rearward sides 48 to the forward or mating faces 50. Each cavity has a substantially rectangular entrance section 52 extending inwardly from the rearward side 48.
  • This rectangular cavity section has opposed sides 54, 56 which are spaced-apart by a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the external surfaces of the sidewalls 6 and 8.
  • the remaining sides 58, 59 of the cavity are spaced-apart by a distance substantially equal to the height of the contact as measured along the side walls 6, 8 so that upon insertion, the sidewalls and the web bear against the surfaces of the cavity as shown in FIGURE 4.
  • the side 56 of the cavity has a groove 60 extending partially inwardly of the rectangular section and terminating in an inwardly inclined surface 62 for reception of the hooked end 36 of the arm 20.
  • the forward end of the rectangular section has ledges 64 on the surface 58 which define rearwardly facing shoulders 66 adapted to act as stops for the frontal edge of the contact web.
  • the cavity cross section is constricted at a location 67 close to the mating face 50 and the reduced cross section of the cavity extends to and opens into this mating face.
  • a recess 70 extends inwardly from the mating face on the side of the cavity which is adapted to receive the shorter arm 20 of the contact and a curved shoulder 72 is provided at the end of this recess to function as a bearing surface for the curved end of the arm.
  • the cross section of the cavity in the constricted area 68 is such that the arm 20 is resiliently stressed and has a tendency to spring outwardly when its end is hooked over this shoulder.
  • Insertion of the contacts into the cavities of the blocks 40 is accomplished by merely aligning each contact with its respective cavity as shown in FIGURE 3 with the arm 20 in alignment with the groove 60 and moving the contacts axially through the cavity. Improper insertion is virtually impossible for the reason that the end 36 of the arm 20 will not enter the cavity unless this arm is in alignment with the groove.
  • the contacts are moved inwardly of the cavities until the arms snap over the shoulders as described above and the forward end of the web moves against the stops 66. After insertion, the longer arm 18 will project beyond the mating face of the cavity by a distance sufiicient to permit its being brought into engagement with the contact ramp of a terminal contact in a mating connector.
  • the lateral force components of the contacts'in the blocks are at least partially balanced out when the blocks are brought into enagagement with each other.
  • three of the rows are oriented with the cavities in one attitude while two rows are oriented with their cavities in the opposite attitude.
  • an equal number of cavities should be oriented in the one attitude and the same number oriented in the opposite attitude.
  • this is inconvenient where an odd number of rows are provided as in the disclosed embodiment. If six rows of cavities were provided in this block, the most logical arrangement would be to have three rows in one attitude and three rows of cavities on the opposite attitude.
  • the cavities should be symmetrically arranged with respect to at least one of the axes of the block.
  • the cavity row identified by the letter C is symmetrically arranged with respect to an axis extending transversely of the long dimension of the block and centrally through the openings for the jack screws.
  • the flanges which surround the block must also be preferentially arranged as is fully described in the above-mentioned Curtis et al. application.
  • a principal advantage of the instant invention is that close spacing of the contacts in the dielectric blocks is achieved in spite of the fact that the contacts themselves are a hermaphroditic and nonsymmetrical (as compared with pin and socket contacts) type of contact.
  • the features of the invention which permit such close spacing without sacrifice of electrical or mechanical integrity in the connector are briefly described below.
  • the arms 18, 20 are disposed within the planes defined by the sidewalls 6 and 8 excepting the hooked end 36 of the shorter arm 20.
  • the cavities are necked down at 67 so that the openings in the mating faces of the blocks are relatively small as compared to the openings in the rearward face 48.
  • the divergent end 36 of the short arm 20 of each contact is received within the recess 70 of each cavity and does not extend to the mating face of the block.
  • the arrangement of the cavities in the block is such that the recesses '70 of the lower block in FIGURE 3 are adjacent to the recesses of the next adjacent cavity of the upper block, however, since the arms are recessed with respect to the mating faces of the block, a relatively long path is provided between adjacent contacts which must be electrically separate from each other so that a high breakdown voltage between adjacent contacts is achieved. It should be added that while the openings in the rearward ends of the cavities are relatively large, this fact does not adversely aflect the breakdown voltage of the connector between adjacent contacts since the contacts are themselves all contained within their respective cavities and a relatively long path is provided between adjacent contacts.
  • Contacts of the instant type are often plated with gold or other highly conductive metal to improve their electrical performance. into and out of engagement with each other, the plating is worn by the sliding contact surfaces as they move over each other and may be removed after a relatively low num. ber of coupling and decoupling cycles. This wear problem is particularly important where the contacts are gold plated since gold plating must be kept to a minimum thickness for economic reasons.
  • the instant type of contact reduces the plating wear to an extremely low mini mum by virtue of the contact ramp 34 and the contact dimple 36 if these parts are matched to each other as regards inclination of the ramp and radius of the dimple.
  • the radius of the dimple and the inclination of the ramp should be suchthat as the dimple of one of the long arms moves over the ramp the zone of tangency of both parts, the contact zone continually changes in the same manner as the contact zone of a ball or sphere rolling over a surface continually changes as the ball moves along the surface. Since the zones of contact of the parts continually change during movement of the contacts into engagement with each other, the amount of wear on any given point is reduced to an absolute minimum.
  • the disclosed arrangement provides an extremely durable contact which will not be damaged easily in the ordinary cour-se of usage.
  • the long contact arms 18 of the contact terminals can be flexed towards the short contact arms without impairing the electrical function of the con tact since this arm will snap back into its normal position after such flexure.
  • the parts are brought into proper alignment as the insulating blocks are moved against each other by virtue of the inclined ramp surface of the one contact and the curved Ordinarily, when contacts are moved contact surface of the long arm of the mating contact.
  • the actual contact force acting between each individual contact ramp and contact surface 28 is main tained within relatively close limits by reason of the rela tively long stem of the long contact arm about its bending axis which is at the inwardly directed cusp portion of the arm.
  • Contacts in accordance withthe invention are amenable to straightforward and simplified die-forming processes as is apparent from the progression of FIGURE 1. After stamping of the form of the contact from the strip, it is merely necessary to form the inwardly displaced intermediate sections of the contact arms 18, 20 and thereafter to bend up the sides of the contact with respect to the web. Operations of this type can be formed with relative ease by conventional die-stamping and forming methods.
  • FIGURE 8 shows a contact terminal 21 having a modified hooked end portion 36'.
  • the hooked end 36' extends obliquely of the ramp portion 34 but diverges from the plane of the ramp at a smaller angle than the angle of the embodiment of FIGURE 1.
  • a laterally extending car 37 is provided on the upper side of the hooked end 36 to provide a rearwardly facing edge 39.
  • the contact terminal of FIGURE 8 is useable with a block having cavities of the type previously described and shown in FIGURES 36.
  • the hooked end portion 36 of the arm 20 is dimem sioned such that the ear 37 occupies a substantial portion of the recess and the tip of the end portion 36 normally bears against the left-hand Wall of this recess as viewed in FIGURE 9.
  • a comparative advantage of this embodiment is that the surface of the hooked end 36' provides a somewhat wider lead-in for the long arm 18 of the ma ing terminal than the lead-in of the previous embodiment.
  • a contact terminal for an electrical connector comprising, an elongated web, a first pair of parallel sidewalls extending from opposite sides of said Web at one end thereof and a second pair of parallel sidewalls extending from opposite sides of said web at the opposite end thereof, means on said "web intermediate the ends thereof and between said sidewalls for securing said contact to an electrical conductor extending between said second pair of sidewalls, an arm extending from and constituting a planar extension of each of said first pair of sidewalls, a first one of said arms having an intermediate cusp portion directed inwardly towards the axis of said contact and having a diverging end portion terminating in an outwardly facing contact surface, the second one of said arms being substantially shorter than said first arm and having an inwardly directed intermediate section, a contact ramp extending divergently of the axis of said contact from said intermediate section and terminating in an outwardly hooked end portion, said contact terminal being mateable with an identical contact terminal upon axial movement of said contacts towards each other until the contact surface of the first arm
  • Electrical connecting means comprising an insulating block having a contact terminal receiving cavity extending therethrough and a contact terminal in said cavity, said cavity having a rearward end, a first section of said cavity having a rectangular cross section extending from said rearward end to a location adjacent the forward end of said cavity, one pair of opposed walls of said cavity tapering towards each other in a zone adjacent to said forward end, one of said opposed walls extending axially from said adjacent zone to said forward end and the other of said opposed walls having a reentrant surface defining a forwardly facing shoulder recessed from said forward end, said contact terminal having a web portion disposed in said rectangular first section, upstanding parallel sidewalls on said web, said web and sidewalls bearing against the opposed walls of said first section whereby said contact is firmly wedged in said cavity, a first arm extending from one of said sidewalls as a planar extension thereof, said first arm having an intermediate cusp portion directed inwardly towards the axis of said contact terminal and said first arm projecting substantially beyond said forward end, a
  • An insertable contact terminal for an electrical connector comprising, an elongated web, a pair of sidewalls extending from opposite sides of said web at one end thereof, stablizing means extending from said web at the opposite end thereof, said stabilizing means and said sidewalls being cooperable with the sidewalls of a connector block cavity to stabilize said contact terminal within said cavity, means on said web intermediate the ends thereof for securing said contact to an electrical conductor, a pair of arms extending from and constituting planar extensions of each of' said sidewalls, a first one of said arms having an intermediate cusp portion directed inwardly towards the axis of said contact and having a diverging end portion terminating in an outwardly facing contact surface, the second one of said arms being substantially shorter than said first arm and having an inwardly directed intermediate section, a contact ramp extending divergently of the axis of said contact from said intermediate section and terminating in an outwardly hooked end portion, said contact terminal being mateable with an identical contact terminal upon axial movement of said contacts towards each

Description

April 13, 1965 Filed June 12, 1964 L. E. ROBERTS ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 13, 1965 E. ROBERTS ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1964 April 13, 1965 E. ROBERTS 3,178,669
ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE Filed June 12. 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent ()7 3,17 8,669 ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE Lincoln E. Roberts, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed June 12, 1964, Ser. No. 374,801 Claims. (Cl. 339--49) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 183,542, filed March 29, 1962.
This invention relates to multi-contact electrical connectors and to contact terminals for such connectors. The phrase rnulti-contact connector is employed herein with reference to the type of disengageable electrical connecting device comprising a pair of insulating blocks which are engageable with each other and which have a plurality of terminal contacts therein. The terminal contacts are secured to the ends of wires so that upon bringing the blocks into engagement with each other, the wires are electrically connected. Multi-contact connecting devices of this type are widely used where disengageaible electrical connections are required among large numbers of conductors.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved hermaphroditic type multi-contact electrical connector. A further object is to provide an improved hermaphroditic terminal contact for electrical connectors. A still further object is to provide a multi-contact electrical connector in which the individual contacts are closely spaced with respect to each other thereby permitting a high density of electrical connections in the connector block. A still further object is to provide a multi-contact electrical con nector in which the force required to engage and disengage the blocks with each other is relatively low and which achieves a low resistance electrical contact between the mated terminal contacts in the insulating blocks. A still further object is to provide a durable and foolproof multi-contact electrical connecting device which is' not easily damaged in the course of ordinary usage and which is substantially incapable of improper coupling and decoupling.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment in which the terminal contact comprieses a relatively elongated web having upstanding sidewalls extending from the opposite sides thereof at each end. Means are provided on the web intermediate its ends for crimping the contact onto the end of an electrical conductor extending between one of the pairs of sidewalls. A pair of arms extend from the other pair of sidewalls beyond the Web and generally along the axis of the contact, one of these arms being relatively longer than the other and having a cusp-like inter-mediate portion which is directed inwardly towards the axis of the terminal contact. The end portion of this first arm diverges slightly with respect to the contact axis and terminates with an outwardly convex contact surface. The shorter arm has an intermediate inwardly directed section and a divergent (with respect to the contact axis) contact ramp extending from this intermediate portion. An outwardly directed hook is provided on the end of this shorter arm to facilitate its mounting in an insulating block. The terminal contact in accordance with the invention is matable with an identical contacts upon alignment of the two contacts in opposed axial relationship with respect to each other so that as they are moved towards each other, the outwardly directed contact' surface of the long arm of each contact engages the contact ramp of the other arm of the other contact.
The insulating blocks in accordance with the invention which contain the terminal contacts have cavities extending therethrough which conform to the shape of the terminal contacts in a manner such that the contacts can only be 3,178, 669 Patented Apr. '13, 1965 inserted into the cavities in the proper and intended manner and will be securely held in the cavities after insertion. The cavities have a rectangular cross section throughout a substantial portion of their lengths which conforms to the cross section of the sidewalls of the web so that the contacts are firmly'held by the Walls of these cavities bearing against the sidewalls of the web and against the web itself. At its forward end, each cavity has a recess defining a forwardly facing shoulder over which the hooked end of the shorter arm extends. This hooked end thus prevents rearward movement of the terminal contact with respect to the block while forward movement thereof is prevented by means of a shoulder in the cavity which engages the leading edge of the web of the contact. The salient advantage of the invention is that a complete connector assembly comprising two insulating blocks each having a plurality of electrical contacts therein can be achieved with two identical insulating blocks and a number of identical terminal contacts corresponding to the cavities in the blocks. Moreover, this hermaphroditic effect, with its advantages of simplicity and standardization, is achieved without sacrifice of electrical reliability, mechanical durability, or contact density.
In the drawing:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a contact terminal in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the progressive stages of the forming of the contact terminal of FIGURE 1 by conventional die'stamping and forming operations;
FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view showing a pair of insulating blocks in accordance with the invention in engagement with each other and showing contact terminals in only some of the cavities in the block;
FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along the lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing a pair of blocks in accordance with the invention'in face-to-face relationship and illustrating the orientation of the cavities of the blocks;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing an alternative form of a contact terminal in acordance with the invention; and
FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the hooked end portion of the short arm 20 of the contact terminal of FIGURE 8.
Referring first to FIGURE 1, a preferred form of terminal contact 2 in accordance with the invention com prises an elongated substantially flat web 4 having a first pair of parallel sidewalls 6 extending from opposite sides of its forward end and a second pair of sidewalls 8 extending from opposite sides of its rearward end. Intermediate the ends of the web there are provided ferruleforming ears 10 and 12 on opposite sides of the web to permit crimping of the contact onto the conducting core 14 of a wire and the insulation 16 of the wire as shown in FIGURE 3. The wire extends between the sidewalls 8 and along the web andmay be crimped to the terminal contact by means of an automatic or semi-automatic crimping device as is commonly known to the art.
Arms 18, 20 extend from the forward sidewalls 6 and beyond the forward end of the Web. The arm 18 has a portion 22 which is immediately adjacent to the sidewall and constitutes a planar extention thereof and an intermediate cusp- like portion 24, 26 which is directed inwardly towards the terminal con-tact axis. The end portion 26, of the arm 18 is slightly divergent with respect to the contact axis and terminates in an outwardly facing contact surface. Advantageously, an outwardly convex dimple or boss 28 may be provided at this contact surface to facilitate smooth even engagement of the terminal contact with a mating contact. The extreme end portion of the arm 18 is slightly inwardly curved, again to facilitate mating of the contact with an identical contact as described below.
A relatively short arm 20 extends from the opposite one of the sidewalls 6, this arm comprising an initial planar extension 30 of the sidewall, an intermediate abruptly inwardly directed section 32, and a contact ramp 34 which extends divergently from this intermediate section and which faces towards the contact axis. The extreme end portion 36 of this arm is reversely outwardly bent to form a hook by means of which the contact is retained in the block cavity. The inclination of the contact ramp 34 is not critical, however, for best results its slope should be relatively gentle for reasons explained below. It will be noted that the hooked end 36 of the arm 30 is disposed laterally with respect to the contact axis of the plane defined by the sidewalls 8, 6 so that if the end of this arm is flexed inwardly it has a tendency to return to its normal position.
Contact terminals in accordance with the invention are advantageously manufactured from strip metal by means of progressive die stamping and forming methods. FIG- URE 2 shows the various stages of forming this type of contact in parallel side-by-side form so that the finished strip can be fed to an automatic or semi-automatic crimping machine which simultaneously crimps the leading contact of the strip onto a wire end and severs this leading contact from the side carrier strips. At the time of crimping the connecting slug 38 is sheared from the contact at a location adjacent to the forward end of the web. After shearing, a vestige 38' of this connecting slug may remain on the end of the web.
Contacts in accordance with the invention can be mated with an identical contact by merely axially aligning the two contacts in face-to-face relationship and moving them relatively towards each other until the contact surfaces 28 of each contact engage the contact ramp 34 of the other contact. A preferred form of insulating block is shown in FIGURE 7 at 40 which can be engaged with an identical block to form a complete electrical connector assembly. The blocks 40 each have flanges 42 on their ends with openings extending therethrough in which are mounted suitable jack screw means 44 for holding the blocks in engagement with each other as is commonly known. The cavities 46 in the blocks which receive the contacts extend from the rearward sides 48 to the forward or mating faces 50. Each cavity has a substantially rectangular entrance section 52 extending inwardly from the rearward side 48. This rectangular cavity section has opposed sides 54, 56 which are spaced-apart by a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the external surfaces of the sidewalls 6 and 8. The remaining sides 58, 59 of the cavity are spaced-apart by a distance substantially equal to the height of the contact as measured along the side walls 6, 8 so that upon insertion, the sidewalls and the web bear against the surfaces of the cavity as shown in FIGURE 4. The side 56 of the cavity has a groove 60 extending partially inwardly of the rectangular section and terminating in an inwardly inclined surface 62 for reception of the hooked end 36 of the arm 20. The forward end of the rectangular section has ledges 64 on the surface 58 which define rearwardly facing shoulders 66 adapted to act as stops for the frontal edge of the contact web.
The cavity cross section is constricted at a location 67 close to the mating face 50 and the reduced cross section of the cavity extends to and opens into this mating face. A recess 70 extends inwardly from the mating face on the side of the cavity which is adapted to receive the shorter arm 20 of the contact and a curved shoulder 72 is provided at the end of this recess to function as a bearing surface for the curved end of the arm. The cross section of the cavity in the constricted area 68 is such that the arm 20 is resiliently stressed and has a tendency to spring outwardly when its end is hooked over this shoulder.
Insertion of the contacts into the cavities of the blocks 40 is accomplished by merely aligning each contact with its respective cavity as shown in FIGURE 3 with the arm 20 in alignment with the groove 60 and moving the contacts axially through the cavity. Improper insertion is virtually impossible for the reason that the end 36 of the arm 20 will not enter the cavity unless this arm is in alignment with the groove. The contacts are moved inwardly of the cavities until the arms snap over the shoulders as described above and the forward end of the web moves against the stops 66. After insertion, the longer arm 18 will project beyond the mating face of the cavity by a distance sufiicient to permit its being brought into engagement with the contact ramp of a terminal contact in a mating connector.
It will be apparent from FIGURE 3 that the force exerted by the long arm of each contact on the contact ramp of its mating counterpart is in a direction such that it tends to move the blocks 49 laterally with respect to each other. Thus, referring to the contacts shown at the right in FIGURE 3, the long arm 18 of the lower contact exerts a force on the contact ramp of the upper contact which has a component tending to move the upper block 40 to the right in the drawing. The long arm 18 of the upper contact on the other hand exerts a force on the contact ramp of the lower contact which would tend to move the lower block 40 to the left in this Figure. These same force components would be present in all of the contacts in the row of cavities shown in FIGURE 7. It follows that when the blocks are engaged with each other, these lateral force componets must be overcome as the mating faces 50 of the block move towards each other. In order to reduce these lateral force components to a minimum and thereby reduce the force required to move the blocks together to a minimum, it is desirable to orient about half of the cavities in the block in a first attitude and the other half of the cavities in an opposite attitude. Referring to FIGURE 7, the several rows of cavities extending along the long dimension of the block are identified by the leters A, B, C, D and E. The cavities in the rows B, C and D are oriented such that the recesses 70 thereof are on the right in this figure while the cavities in the end rows A and E are oriented such that the recesses 70 are on the left. By virtue of this arrangement, the lateral force components of the contacts'in the blocks are at least partially balanced out when the blocks are brought into enagagement with each other. In the particular embodiment shown, three of the rows are oriented with the cavities in one attitude while two rows are oriented with their cavities in the opposite attitude. Ideally, an equal number of cavities should be oriented in the one attitude and the same number oriented in the opposite attitude. However, this is inconvenient where an odd number of rows are provided as in the disclosed embodiment. If six rows of cavities were provided in this block, the most logical arrangement would be to have three rows in one attitude and three rows of cavities on the opposite attitude.
The particular form of block shown is provided with peripheral flanges which extend beyond the projecting long arms of the contacts as is more fully described in the copending application of Charles R. Curtis and Lincoln E. Roberts, Serial No. 183,554, filed March 29, 1962, for Multi-contact Electrical Connector, now Patent No. 3,112,974. These flanges function as polarizing and keying means for the block and additionally form a protecting shroud in surrounding relationship to the projecting arms of the contacts.
In order that the dielectric insulating blocks 40 may be hermaphorditic, that is in order that they shall be capable of being brought into engagement with an identical block, the cavities should be symmetrically arranged with respect to at least one of the axes of the block. Thus, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, which contains 40 cavities, the cavity row identified by the letter C is symmetrically arranged with respect to an axis extending transversely of the long dimension of the block and centrally through the openings for the jack screws. The flanges which surround the block must also be preferentially arranged as is fully described in the above-mentioned Curtis et al. application.
A principal advantage of the instant invention is that close spacing of the contacts in the dielectric blocks is achieved in spite of the fact that the contacts themselves are a hermaphroditic and nonsymmetrical (as compared with pin and socket contacts) type of contact. The features of the invention which permit such close spacing without sacrifice of electrical or mechanical integrity in the connector are briefly described below.
It will be noted that the arms 18, 20 are disposed within the planes defined by the sidewalls 6 and 8 excepting the hooked end 36 of the shorter arm 20. The cavities are necked down at 67 so that the openings in the mating faces of the blocks are relatively small as compared to the openings in the rearward face 48. The divergent end 36 of the short arm 20 of each contact is received within the recess 70 of each cavity and does not extend to the mating face of the block. The arrangement of the cavities in the block is such that the recesses '70 of the lower block in FIGURE 3 are adjacent to the recesses of the next adjacent cavity of the upper block, however, since the arms are recessed with respect to the mating faces of the block, a relatively long path is provided between adjacent contacts which must be electrically separate from each other so that a high breakdown voltage between adjacent contacts is achieved. It should be added that while the openings in the rearward ends of the cavities are relatively large, this fact does not adversely aflect the breakdown voltage of the connector between adjacent contacts since the contacts are themselves all contained within their respective cavities and a relatively long path is provided between adjacent contacts.
Contacts of the instant type are often plated with gold or other highly conductive metal to improve their electrical performance. into and out of engagement with each other, the plating is worn by the sliding contact surfaces as they move over each other and may be removed after a relatively low num. ber of coupling and decoupling cycles. This wear problem is particularly important where the contacts are gold plated since gold plating must be kept to a minimum thickness for economic reasons. The instant type of contact reduces the plating wear to an extremely low mini mum by virtue of the contact ramp 34 and the contact dimple 36 if these parts are matched to each other as regards inclination of the ramp and radius of the dimple. Particularly, the radius of the dimple and the inclination of the ramp should be suchthat as the dimple of one of the long arms moves over the ramp the zone of tangency of both parts, the contact zone continually changes in the same manner as the contact zone of a ball or sphere rolling over a surface continually changes as the ball moves along the surface. Since the zones of contact of the parts continually change during movement of the contacts into engagement with each other, the amount of wear on any given point is reduced to an absolute minimum.
The disclosed arrangement provides an extremely durable contact which will not be damaged easily in the ordinary cour-se of usage. The long contact arms 18 of the contact terminals can be flexed towards the short contact arms without impairing the electrical function of the con tact since this arm will snap back into its normal position after such flexure. In case of slight misalignment of a given contact with respect to its mating counterpart, the parts are brought into proper alignment as the insulating blocks are moved against each other by virtue of the inclined ramp surface of the one contact and the curved Ordinarily, when contacts are moved contact surface of the long arm of the mating contact. Furthermore, the actual contact force acting between each individual contact ramp and contact surface 28 is main tained within relatively close limits by reason of the rela tively long stem of the long contact arm about its bending axis which is at the inwardly directed cusp portion of the arm.
Contacts in accordance withthe invention are amenable to straightforward and simplified die-forming processes as is apparent from the progression of FIGURE 1. After stamping of the form of the contact from the strip, it is merely necessary to form the inwardly displaced intermediate sections of the contact arms 18, 20 and thereafter to bend up the sides of the contact with respect to the web. Operations of this type can be formed with relative ease by conventional die-stamping and forming methods.
FIGURE 8 shows a contact terminal 21 having a modified hooked end portion 36'. In accordance with this embodiment, the hooked end 36' extends obliquely of the ramp portion 34 but diverges from the plane of the ramp at a smaller angle than the angle of the embodiment of FIGURE 1. A laterally extending car 37 is provided on the upper side of the hooked end 36 to provide a rearwardly facing edge 39. The contact terminal of FIGURE 8 is useable with a block having cavities of the type previously described and shown in FIGURES 36. The hooked end portion 36 of the arm 20 is dimem sioned such that the ear 37 occupies a substantial portion of the recess and the tip of the end portion 36 normally bears against the left-hand Wall of this recess as viewed in FIGURE 9. A comparative advantage of this embodiment is that the surface of the hooked end 36' provides a somewhat wider lead-in for the long arm 18 of the ma ing terminal than the lead-in of the previous embodiment.
In other words, when two contact terminals in accordance with the embodiment of FIGURE 8 are mated with each other, the long arms of the terminals will be guided into engagement with the ramp portions even if these long arms are initially somewhat out of alignment. It will be apparent that with the exception of this provision of a relatively wider lead-in surface, the terminal of FIG- URE 8 is similar to the terminal of FIGURE 1.
Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently diflerent modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.
I claim:
1. A contact terminal for an electrical connector comprising, an elongated web, a first pair of parallel sidewalls extending from opposite sides of said Web at one end thereof and a second pair of parallel sidewalls extending from opposite sides of said web at the opposite end thereof, means on said "web intermediate the ends thereof and between said sidewalls for securing said contact to an electrical conductor extending between said second pair of sidewalls, an arm extending from and constituting a planar extension of each of said first pair of sidewalls, a first one of said arms having an intermediate cusp portion directed inwardly towards the axis of said contact and having a diverging end portion terminating in an outwardly facing contact surface, the second one of said arms being substantially shorter than said first arm and having an inwardly directed intermediate section, a contact ramp extending divergently of the axis of said contact from said intermediate section and terminating in an outwardly hooked end portion, said contact terminal being mateable with an identical contact terminal upon axial movement of said contacts towards each other until the contact surface of the first arm of each contact terminal engages the contact ramp of the second arm of the other contact terminal.
2. Electrical connecting means comprising an insulating block having a contact terminal receiving cavity extending therethrough and a contact terminal in said cavity, said cavity having a rearward end, a first section of said cavity having a rectangular cross section extending from said rearward end to a location adjacent the forward end of said cavity, one pair of opposed walls of said cavity tapering towards each other in a zone adjacent to said forward end, one of said opposed walls extending axially from said adjacent zone to said forward end and the other of said opposed walls having a reentrant surface defining a forwardly facing shoulder recessed from said forward end, said contact terminal having a web portion disposed in said rectangular first section, upstanding parallel sidewalls on said web, said web and sidewalls bearing against the opposed walls of said first section whereby said contact is firmly wedged in said cavity, a first arm extending from one of said sidewalls as a planar extension thereof, said first arm having an intermediate cusp portion directed inwardly towards the axis of said contact terminal and said first arm projecting substantially beyond said forward end, a second arm extending from a second one of said sidewalls, said second arm having an inwardly directed intermediate section and a diverging contact ramp, said second arm terminating in an outwardly hooked end portion extending into said recess and over said forwardly facing shoulder, said connecting means being mateable with an identical connecting means disposed in axial alignment and opposed relationship thereto upon movement of said connecting means together until the end of the first arm of each contact terminal engages the contact ramp of the other contact terminal.
3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said block has a plurality of cavities extending therethrough, a first group of said cavities having said reentrant surface on one sidewall and a second group of said cavities having said reentrant surface on an opposite sidewall from said first group whereby, when said block is brought into engagement with a mating block, the lateral force produced by the contact terminals in said first group of cavities is counteracted by the lateral force component of the contact terminals in said second group of cavities.
4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first group of cavities is arranged in a first row in said block and said second group is arranged in'a second row.
- 5. An insertable contact terminal for an electrical connector comprising, an elongated web, a pair of sidewalls extending from opposite sides of said web at one end thereof, stablizing means extending from said web at the opposite end thereof, said stabilizing means and said sidewalls being cooperable with the sidewalls of a connector block cavity to stabilize said contact terminal within said cavity, means on said web intermediate the ends thereof for securing said contact to an electrical conductor, a pair of arms extending from and constituting planar extensions of each of' said sidewalls, a first one of said arms having an intermediate cusp portion directed inwardly towards the axis of said contact and having a diverging end portion terminating in an outwardly facing contact surface, the second one of said arms being substantially shorter than said first arm and having an inwardly directed intermediate section, a contact ramp extending divergently of the axis of said contact from said intermediate section and terminating in an outwardly hooked end portion, said contact terminal being mateable with an identical contact terminal upon axial movement of said contacts towards each other until the contact surface of the first arm of each contact terminal engages the contact ramp of the second arm of the other contact terminal.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,327 8/43 Brewer 339-49 3,034,089 5/62 Curtis 339-49 3,083,345 3/63 Scheller 339-49 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,121,148 2/55 France.
JOSEPH-D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

  1. 5. AN INSERTABLE CONTACT TERMINAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED WEB, A PAIR OF SIDEWALLS EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WEB AT ONE END THEREOF, STABILIZING MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID WEB AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, SAID STABILIZING MEANS AND SAID SIDEWALLS BEING COOPERABLE WITH THE SIDEWALLS OF A CONNECTOR BLOCK CAVITY OF STABILIZE AND CONTACT TERMINAL WITHIN SAID CAVITY, MEANS ON SAID WEB INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF FOR SECURING SAID CONTACT TO AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR, A PAIR OF ARMS EXTENDING FROM AND CONSTITUTING PLANAR EXTENSIONS OF EACH OF SAID SIDEWALLS, A FIRST ONE OF SAID ARMS HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE CUSP PORTION DIRECTED INWARDLY TOWARDS THE AXIS OF SAID CONTACT AND HAVING A DIVERGING END PORTION TERMINATING IN AN OUTWARDLY FACING CONTACT SURFACE, THE SECOND ONE OF SAID ARMS, BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER THAN SAID FIRST ARM AND HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED INTERMEDIATE SECTION, A CONTACT RAMP EXTENDING DIVERGENTLY OF THE AXIS OF SAID CONTACT FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE SECTION AND TERMINATING IN AN OUTWARDLY HOOKED END PORTION, SAID CONTACT TERMINAL BEING MATEABLE WITH AN IDENTICAL CONTACT TERMINAL UPON AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTACTS TOWARDS EACH OTHER UNTIL THE CONTACT SURFACE OF THE FIRST ARM OF EACH CONTACT TERMINAL ENGAGES THE CONTACT RAMP OF THE SECOND ARM OF THE OTHER CONTACT TERMINAL.
US374801A 1964-06-12 1964-06-12 Electrical connecting device Expired - Lifetime US3178669A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US374801A US3178669A (en) 1964-06-12 1964-06-12 Electrical connecting device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US374801A US3178669A (en) 1964-06-12 1964-06-12 Electrical connecting device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3178669A true US3178669A (en) 1965-04-13

Family

ID=23478248

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US374801A Expired - Lifetime US3178669A (en) 1964-06-12 1964-06-12 Electrical connecting device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3178669A (en)

Cited By (65)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3335397A (en) * 1964-11-19 1967-08-08 Amp Inc Plug wire contactor
US3414871A (en) * 1965-02-13 1968-12-03 Tuchel Ulrich Electrical connector having a resilient tongue means carrying two detent flaps
US3605068A (en) * 1964-12-17 1971-09-14 Western Electric Co Electric coupler
US3697927A (en) * 1970-10-28 1972-10-10 Amp Inc Electrical connectors and housings therefore
US3699498A (en) * 1970-04-30 1972-10-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Devices for making electrical connections
US3865462A (en) * 1973-03-07 1975-02-11 Amp Inc Preloaded contact and latchable housing assembly
US3867008A (en) * 1972-08-25 1975-02-18 Hubbell Inc Harvey Contact spring
US4193660A (en) * 1978-02-06 1980-03-18 Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated Electrical contact assembly
US4398780A (en) * 1979-07-03 1983-08-16 Amp Incorporated Shielded electrical connector
US4455056A (en) * 1980-04-23 1984-06-19 Amp Incorporated Multi-pin high voltage connector
US4565001A (en) * 1984-05-18 1986-01-21 Patton Roy A Method of making crimp connect terminals
USRE32760E (en) * 1982-12-22 1988-10-04 Amp Domestic Inc. Electrical connector
US4787864A (en) * 1987-03-25 1988-11-29 Amp Incorporated Terminal stabilization and retention system for an electrical connector
US4790779A (en) * 1987-05-06 1988-12-13 Amp Incorporated Burn-in socket for zig-zag inline semiconductor package
US4963102A (en) * 1990-01-30 1990-10-16 Gettig Technologies Electrical connector of the hermaphroditic type
US5127839A (en) * 1991-04-26 1992-07-07 Amp Incorporated Electrical connector having reliable terminals
US6537244B2 (en) 1999-01-19 2003-03-25 Assistive Technology Products, Inc. Methods and apparatus for delivering fluids
US6855013B2 (en) 2000-05-08 2005-02-15 Tyco Electronic Logistics Ag LCD connector for printed circuit boards
US7033194B1 (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-04-25 Yazaki North America, Inc. Standardized electrical terminal
US20060189194A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2006-08-24 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7114979B1 (en) * 2005-08-09 2006-10-03 Li-Chun Lai Structure of conductive sheet in socket
US20060228948A1 (en) * 2004-12-22 2006-10-12 Swain Wilfred J Electrical power connector
US20060281354A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2006-12-14 Ngo Hung V Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US20070184339A1 (en) * 2006-02-09 2007-08-09 Scheucher Karl F Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
US20070188130A1 (en) * 2006-02-09 2007-08-16 Scheucher Karl F Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
US20070197063A1 (en) * 2006-02-21 2007-08-23 Ngo Hung V Electrical connectors having power contacts with alignment and/or restraining features
US20070275586A1 (en) * 2006-05-26 2007-11-29 Ngo Hung V Connectors and contacts for transmitting electrical power
US20070293084A1 (en) * 2006-06-15 2007-12-20 Hung Viet Ngo Electrical connectors with air-circulation features
US20080213652A1 (en) * 2007-02-08 2008-09-04 Karl Frederick Scheucher Battery pack safety and thermal management apparatus and method
US20080248680A1 (en) * 2007-04-04 2008-10-09 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Power cable connector
US20080293267A1 (en) * 2007-05-21 2008-11-27 Fci Electrical connector with stress-distribution features
US7541135B2 (en) 2005-04-05 2009-06-02 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Power contact having conductive plates with curved portions contact beams and board tails
USD608293S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2010-01-19 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Vertical electrical connector
US20100029126A1 (en) * 2008-07-29 2010-02-04 Hung Viet Ngo Electrical communication system having latching and strain relief features
USD610548S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2010-02-23 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Right-angle electrical connector
USD618181S1 (en) 2009-04-03 2010-06-22 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Asymmetrical electrical connector
USD618180S1 (en) 2009-04-03 2010-06-22 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Asymmetrical electrical connector
USD619099S1 (en) 2009-01-30 2010-07-06 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical connector
US7749009B2 (en) 2005-01-31 2010-07-06 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Surface-mount connector
US7762857B2 (en) 2007-10-01 2010-07-27 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Power connectors with contact-retention features
US20100197222A1 (en) * 2009-01-30 2010-08-05 Karl Frederick Scheucher In-building-communication apparatus and method
USD632649S1 (en) 2006-09-29 2011-02-15 Karl F. Scheucher Cordless power supply
USD640637S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2011-06-28 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD641709S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2011-07-19 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
US7990102B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2011-08-02 Karl Frederick Scheucher Cordless power supply
US8043131B2 (en) 2008-09-19 2011-10-25 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable contact
US8131145B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2012-03-06 Karl Frederick Scheucher Lightweight cordless security camera
USD664096S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2012-07-24 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
WO2012160123A1 (en) * 2011-05-26 2012-11-29 Gn Netcom A/S Hermaphroditic electrical connector device with additional contact elements
US8323049B2 (en) 2009-01-30 2012-12-04 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector having power contacts
US8472881B2 (en) 2009-03-31 2013-06-25 Karl Frederick Scheucher Communication system apparatus and method
US8860377B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2014-10-14 Karl F. Scheucher Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
USD718253S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2014-11-25 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable connector
US8905651B2 (en) 2012-01-31 2014-12-09 Fci Dismountable optical coupling device
USD720698S1 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-01-06 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable connector
US8944831B2 (en) 2012-04-13 2015-02-03 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate with engagement members
USD727268S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2015-04-21 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD727852S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2015-04-28 Fci Americas Technology Llc Ground shield for a right angle electrical connector
US9048583B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2015-06-02 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate
USD733662S1 (en) 2013-01-25 2015-07-07 Fci Americas Technology Llc Connector housing for electrical connector
USD746236S1 (en) 2012-07-11 2015-12-29 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector housing
US9257778B2 (en) 2012-04-13 2016-02-09 Fci Americas Technology High speed electrical connector
US9543703B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2017-01-10 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector with reduced stack height
WO2017212374A1 (en) * 2016-06-09 2017-12-14 Te Connectivity Corporation Electrical contact with anti-rotation feature
US20180301842A1 (en) * 2015-10-29 2018-10-18 Molex, Llc Power connector

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2326327A (en) * 1941-10-31 1943-08-10 Ford Motor Co Connector
FR1121148A (en) * 1955-02-07 1956-07-23 Lignes Telegraph Telephon Symmetrical electrical junction system
US3034089A (en) * 1959-02-09 1962-05-08 Amp Inc Means for connecting multiconductor cables
US3083345A (en) * 1960-11-21 1963-03-26 Amp Inc Electrical connector

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2326327A (en) * 1941-10-31 1943-08-10 Ford Motor Co Connector
FR1121148A (en) * 1955-02-07 1956-07-23 Lignes Telegraph Telephon Symmetrical electrical junction system
US3034089A (en) * 1959-02-09 1962-05-08 Amp Inc Means for connecting multiconductor cables
US3083345A (en) * 1960-11-21 1963-03-26 Amp Inc Electrical connector

Cited By (120)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3335397A (en) * 1964-11-19 1967-08-08 Amp Inc Plug wire contactor
US3605068A (en) * 1964-12-17 1971-09-14 Western Electric Co Electric coupler
US3414871A (en) * 1965-02-13 1968-12-03 Tuchel Ulrich Electrical connector having a resilient tongue means carrying two detent flaps
US3699498A (en) * 1970-04-30 1972-10-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Devices for making electrical connections
US3697927A (en) * 1970-10-28 1972-10-10 Amp Inc Electrical connectors and housings therefore
US3867008A (en) * 1972-08-25 1975-02-18 Hubbell Inc Harvey Contact spring
US3865462A (en) * 1973-03-07 1975-02-11 Amp Inc Preloaded contact and latchable housing assembly
US4193660A (en) * 1978-02-06 1980-03-18 Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated Electrical contact assembly
US4398780A (en) * 1979-07-03 1983-08-16 Amp Incorporated Shielded electrical connector
US4455056A (en) * 1980-04-23 1984-06-19 Amp Incorporated Multi-pin high voltage connector
USRE32760E (en) * 1982-12-22 1988-10-04 Amp Domestic Inc. Electrical connector
US4565001A (en) * 1984-05-18 1986-01-21 Patton Roy A Method of making crimp connect terminals
US4787864A (en) * 1987-03-25 1988-11-29 Amp Incorporated Terminal stabilization and retention system for an electrical connector
US4790779A (en) * 1987-05-06 1988-12-13 Amp Incorporated Burn-in socket for zig-zag inline semiconductor package
US4963102A (en) * 1990-01-30 1990-10-16 Gettig Technologies Electrical connector of the hermaphroditic type
US5127839A (en) * 1991-04-26 1992-07-07 Amp Incorporated Electrical connector having reliable terminals
US6537244B2 (en) 1999-01-19 2003-03-25 Assistive Technology Products, Inc. Methods and apparatus for delivering fluids
US6752779B2 (en) 1999-01-19 2004-06-22 Assistive Technology Products, Inc. Methods and apparatus for delivering fluids
US6855013B2 (en) 2000-05-08 2005-02-15 Tyco Electronic Logistics Ag LCD connector for printed circuit boards
US8062046B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2011-11-22 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7862359B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2011-01-04 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7775822B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2010-08-17 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical connectors having power contacts with alignment/or restraining features
US20080248670A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2008-10-09 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US20060281354A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2006-12-14 Ngo Hung V Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7220141B2 (en) * 2003-12-31 2007-05-22 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7690937B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2010-04-06 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US20100048056A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2010-02-25 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical Power Contacts and Connectors Comprising Same
US7258562B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2007-08-21 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7452249B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2008-11-18 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US20070202748A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2007-08-30 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US8187017B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2012-05-29 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US20060189194A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2006-08-24 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7335043B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2008-02-26 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US20090042417A1 (en) * 2003-12-31 2009-02-12 Hung Viet Ngo Electrical connectors having power contacts with alignment/or restraining features
US7402064B2 (en) 2003-12-31 2008-07-22 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power contacts and connectors comprising same
US7033194B1 (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-04-25 Yazaki North America, Inc. Standardized electrical terminal
US7476108B2 (en) 2004-12-22 2009-01-13 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical power connectors with cooling features
US20060228948A1 (en) * 2004-12-22 2006-10-12 Swain Wilfred J Electrical power connector
US7749009B2 (en) 2005-01-31 2010-07-06 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Surface-mount connector
US7541135B2 (en) 2005-04-05 2009-06-02 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Power contact having conductive plates with curved portions contact beams and board tails
US7114979B1 (en) * 2005-08-09 2006-10-03 Li-Chun Lai Structure of conductive sheet in socket
US7990102B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2011-08-02 Karl Frederick Scheucher Cordless power supply
US8710795B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2014-04-29 Karl F. Scheucher Refuelable battery-powered electric vehicle
US20080053716A1 (en) * 2006-02-09 2008-03-06 Scheucher Karl F Refuelable battery-powered electric vehicle
US8860377B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2014-10-14 Karl F. Scheucher Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
US8026698B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2011-09-27 Scheucher Karl F Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
US8131145B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2012-03-06 Karl Frederick Scheucher Lightweight cordless security camera
US7948207B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2011-05-24 Karl Frederick Scheucher Refuelable battery-powered electric vehicle
US20070188130A1 (en) * 2006-02-09 2007-08-16 Scheucher Karl F Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
US20070184339A1 (en) * 2006-02-09 2007-08-09 Scheucher Karl F Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
US7838142B2 (en) 2006-02-09 2010-11-23 Scheucher Karl F Scalable intelligent power supply system and method
US20070197063A1 (en) * 2006-02-21 2007-08-23 Ngo Hung V Electrical connectors having power contacts with alignment and/or restraining features
US7458839B2 (en) 2006-02-21 2008-12-02 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical connectors having power contacts with alignment and/or restraining features
US20070275586A1 (en) * 2006-05-26 2007-11-29 Ngo Hung V Connectors and contacts for transmitting electrical power
US7425145B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2008-09-16 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Connectors and contacts for transmitting electrical power
US20070293084A1 (en) * 2006-06-15 2007-12-20 Hung Viet Ngo Electrical connectors with air-circulation features
US7726982B2 (en) 2006-06-15 2010-06-01 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical connectors with air-circulation features
USD632649S1 (en) 2006-09-29 2011-02-15 Karl F. Scheucher Cordless power supply
US8815424B2 (en) 2007-02-08 2014-08-26 Karl Frederick Scheucher Battery pack safety and thermal management apparatus and method
US20080213652A1 (en) * 2007-02-08 2008-09-04 Karl Frederick Scheucher Battery pack safety and thermal management apparatus and method
US8084154B2 (en) 2007-02-08 2011-12-27 Karl Frederick Scheucher Battery pack safety and thermal management apparatus and method
US7641500B2 (en) 2007-04-04 2010-01-05 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Power cable connector system
US20080248680A1 (en) * 2007-04-04 2008-10-09 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Power cable connector
US7905731B2 (en) 2007-05-21 2011-03-15 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical connector with stress-distribution features
US20080293267A1 (en) * 2007-05-21 2008-11-27 Fci Electrical connector with stress-distribution features
US7762857B2 (en) 2007-10-01 2010-07-27 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Power connectors with contact-retention features
US8062051B2 (en) 2008-07-29 2011-11-22 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical communication system having latching and strain relief features
US20100029126A1 (en) * 2008-07-29 2010-02-04 Hung Viet Ngo Electrical communication system having latching and strain relief features
US8043131B2 (en) 2008-09-19 2011-10-25 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable contact
USD610548S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2010-02-23 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Right-angle electrical connector
USD696199S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2013-12-24 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD641709S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2011-07-19 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD640637S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2011-06-28 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD651981S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2012-01-10 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD608293S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2010-01-19 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Vertical electrical connector
USD647058S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2011-10-18 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD660245S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2012-05-22 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD664096S1 (en) 2009-01-16 2012-07-24 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
US8323049B2 (en) 2009-01-30 2012-12-04 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector having power contacts
USD619099S1 (en) 2009-01-30 2010-07-06 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Electrical connector
US9711868B2 (en) 2009-01-30 2017-07-18 Karl Frederick Scheucher In-building-communication apparatus and method
US20100197222A1 (en) * 2009-01-30 2010-08-05 Karl Frederick Scheucher In-building-communication apparatus and method
US10720721B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2020-07-21 Fci Usa Llc Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate
US9048583B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2015-06-02 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate
US9461410B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2016-10-04 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate
US10096921B2 (en) 2009-03-19 2018-10-09 Fci Usa Llc Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate
US8472881B2 (en) 2009-03-31 2013-06-25 Karl Frederick Scheucher Communication system apparatus and method
USD653621S1 (en) 2009-04-03 2012-02-07 Fci Americas Technology Llc Asymmetrical electrical connector
USD618180S1 (en) 2009-04-03 2010-06-22 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Asymmetrical electrical connector
USD618181S1 (en) 2009-04-03 2010-06-22 Fci Americas Technology, Inc. Asymmetrical electrical connector
CN103597672A (en) * 2011-05-26 2014-02-19 Gn奈康有限公司 Hermaphroditic electrical connector device with additional contact elements
WO2012160123A1 (en) * 2011-05-26 2012-11-29 Gn Netcom A/S Hermaphroditic electrical connector device with additional contact elements
CN103597672B (en) * 2011-05-26 2015-11-25 Gn奈康有限公司 There is the nonpolarity electric connector of supplementary contact element
US9337594B2 (en) 2011-05-26 2016-05-10 Gn Netcom A/S Hermaphroditic electrical connector device with additional contact elements
US8905651B2 (en) 2012-01-31 2014-12-09 Fci Dismountable optical coupling device
USD727852S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2015-04-28 Fci Americas Technology Llc Ground shield for a right angle electrical connector
USD790471S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2017-06-27 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD718253S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2014-11-25 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable connector
USD748063S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2016-01-26 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical ground shield
US9257778B2 (en) 2012-04-13 2016-02-09 Fci Americas Technology High speed electrical connector
USD750025S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2016-02-23 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD750030S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2016-02-23 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable connector
USD816044S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2018-04-24 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable connector
US9831605B2 (en) 2012-04-13 2017-11-28 Fci Americas Technology Llc High speed electrical connector
US8944831B2 (en) 2012-04-13 2015-02-03 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector having ribbed ground plate with engagement members
USD727268S1 (en) 2012-04-13 2015-04-21 Fci Americas Technology Llc Vertical electrical connector
USD751507S1 (en) 2012-07-11 2016-03-15 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector
US9871323B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2018-01-16 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector with reduced stack height
USD746236S1 (en) 2012-07-11 2015-12-29 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector housing
US9543703B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2017-01-10 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector with reduced stack height
USD745852S1 (en) 2013-01-25 2015-12-22 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector
USD733662S1 (en) 2013-01-25 2015-07-07 Fci Americas Technology Llc Connector housing for electrical connector
USD766832S1 (en) 2013-01-25 2016-09-20 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector
USD772168S1 (en) 2013-01-25 2016-11-22 Fci Americas Technology Llc Connector housing for electrical connector
USD720698S1 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-01-06 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical cable connector
US20180301842A1 (en) * 2015-10-29 2018-10-18 Molex, Llc Power connector
US11031719B2 (en) * 2015-10-29 2021-06-08 Molex, Llc Power connector
WO2017212374A1 (en) * 2016-06-09 2017-12-14 Te Connectivity Corporation Electrical contact with anti-rotation feature
US10044118B2 (en) 2016-06-09 2018-08-07 Te Connectivity Corporation Electrical contact with anti-rotation feature
CN109219907A (en) * 2016-06-09 2019-01-15 泰连公司 Electrical contact with automatic hyperspin feature

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3178669A (en) Electrical connecting device
US3208030A (en) Electrical connector
EP0608851B1 (en) Low insertion force mating electrical contact structure
US4740180A (en) Low insertion force mating electrical contact
US5582519A (en) Make-first-break-last ground connections
US8128441B2 (en) Terminal fitting connecting structure
US3697925A (en) Termination means for flat cable
US3173737A (en) Connector with tab terminal latching means
JP2706309B2 (en) Electrical connector assembly
US4416504A (en) Contact with dual cantilevered arms with narrowed, complimentary tip portions
US4068915A (en) Electrical connector
US3069652A (en) Electrical connector for printed circuit boards
US4891017A (en) Socket connector with pin aligning housing
US4013331A (en) Electrical housing member
US3215975A (en) Connector block assembly
US7402087B2 (en) Electric connector
US5145422A (en) Female electrical terminal with improved contact force
KR870001865B1 (en) Rib cage terminal
US4530553A (en) Minimum insertion force connector
US3275765A (en) Electrical connecting and switch device
US6918798B2 (en) Female terminal with flexible sidewalls and flat angled contacts
US20070249217A1 (en) Electrical connector with improved terminals
US3777301A (en) Terminals and connectors for interconnecting conductors and male contacts
EP0022362A1 (en) Zero insertion force electrical connector
US5135417A (en) Dual usage electrical/electronic pin terminal system