Separate Latching Part Secured To Contact Prior To Engagement With Insulation Patents (Class 439/745)
  • Patent number: 11431142
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an electric wire with terminal formed by connecting a first core exposed portion of an electric wire to a metal terminal having a box portion that is formed by processing a single conductive board into a box shape and has an opening in which a counterpart terminal is inserted, and a spring inside the box portion. After laser-welding opposed portions where parts of the single conductive board forming the box portion are opposed to each other, applying ultrasonic vibration to a second core exposed portion of the electric wire is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaya Kondo, Junya Shinohara, Ryuji Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 11245212
    Abstract: An electrical female terminal for mating with a connector assembly generally including a main body, a two-bodied spring, and a wire fastening portion. The two-bodied spring includes two members to provide spring force to impinge upon and mate the terminal with a male pin or male terminal, or further “blade-like” object. A guide member directs and “self-corrects” the insertion of a male pin or male terminal, or further “blade-like” object into the electrical female terminal. The main body further includes a tang member with overstress protection which fastens and locks the terminal within a connector housing. The main body has support members at either end thereof. The terminal has a polarity defined by the main body and for proper mating with a corresponding housing. The electrical female terminal also may accommodate a TPA device within a space above the wire fastening portion and located behind the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: J.S.T. CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ping Chen, Gwendolyn Upson
  • Patent number: 10522934
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a connection terminal and a connection assembly. The connection assembly has the connection terminal and a housing. The connection terminal has a body, a plug-in portion, and a wire connecting portion. The plug-in portion and the wire connecting portion are disposed at two ends of the body respectively. The body is provided with a primary locking portion, which has a connection portion, a first stopping portion, and a reinforcing portion. The connection portion is disposed on the body. The first stopping portion is disposed on the connection portion, and extends in a direction opposite to a plug-in direction. The reinforcing portion is disposed on the first stopping portion, and extends continuously along the plug-in direction of the connection terminal to the connection portion. The connection terminal of the present invention has high mechanical strength and a high pressure-bearing capability, so as to be securely mounted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yueou Zhang, Haomai Yin
  • Patent number: 10476178
    Abstract: A cable mounting member (30) to be mounted on a cable (21) including cores (23) and an insulation coating (24) surrounding the cores (23) includes a first holding portion (34) for holding the cable (21) by being held in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating (24), a second holding portion (35) provided at a position different from the first holding portion (34) in a direction along an axial direction of the cable (21) via a first slit (33) for holding the cable (21) by being held in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating (24), and deflectable and deformable first couplings (37) provided in parts between the first and second holding portions (34, 35) where the first slit (33) is absent and coupling the first and second holding portions (34, 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hamada, Kenji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10381766
    Abstract: An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material that can have a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that engage the flexible contact beam providing increased normal force to the flexible contact beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Dwaraganathan Bhagyanathan Sathianathan, Yves LePottier, Xin Wang, Eric Hepler
  • Patent number: 10230190
    Abstract: A contact terminal is assembled from parts including a base part and a sleeve. The base part has a plurality of contact tongues aligned along a mating axis and configured to contact a male connector pin by contact surfaces on the plurality of contact tongues. The sleeve is configured to be arranged at least partially over the base part, the sleeve having a spring element. The spring element is configured to contact the plurality of contact tongues on a side opposite to the contact surfaces side. The spring element comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a flexible support structure therebetween. The first arm and the second arm protrude from the sleeve along the mating axis inside the sleeve. The flexible support structure undulates from the first arm to the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Gregor Frimmersdorf
  • Patent number: 10122108
    Abstract: An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material that can have a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that engages the flexible contact beam providing increased normal force to the flexible contact beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventors: Dwaraganathan Bhagyanathan Sathianathan, Yves LePottier, Xin Wang, Eric Hepler
  • Patent number: 9954302
    Abstract: A contact increased in contact reliability by suppressing variation in contact area between the contact and a mating contact. A contact body including a contact portion that is brought into contact with a contact portion of a male-side contact, and a supporting member formed separate from the contact body, for receiving therein the contact portion and movably supporting the contact portion form a female-side contact. The supporting member includes a supporting member body for receiving therein the contact portion and the contact portion, first and second spring portions and provided on the supporting member body, for bringing the contact portion inserted in the supporting member body and the contact portion into contact with each other, and restricting portions provided on the supporting member body, for restricting movement of the male-side contact in a spring portion-bending direction of the first and second spring portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Yuji Kamei
  • Patent number: 9799980
    Abstract: A contact for electrical connectors including a contact member, a box-shaped hood extending along a longitudinal axis and enclosing at least partially the contact member, the sheet-metal part having a first connection portion with a first abutment edge and a second connection portion with a second abutment edge wherein the first and second abutment edges abut each other, wherein the first connection portion is provided with a first connection element at the front side, and the second connection portion is provided with a second connection element at the front side, and the first connection element and the second connection element engage each other so as to lock the first connection portion and the second connection portion against detaching the first and second connection portions away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI EUROPE LTD.
    Inventors: Ivica Jakoplic, Dragan Babic, Mario Sprljan
  • Patent number: 9761967
    Abstract: A connector has an insertion opening for a cable at a front end of thereof in a front-rear direction. The connector has a bottom portion, a first section and a second section. The bottom portion has opposite ends in a lateral direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The first section and the second section extend from the opposite ends, respectively, of the bottom portion. The first section and the second section overlap with each other so that the first section, the second section and the bottom portion form the insertion opening. The first section is formed with a first engagement portion. The second section is formed with a second engagement portion. The first engagement portion and the second engagement portion face each other in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Tetsu Urano
  • Patent number: 9761984
    Abstract: A contact element. The contact element has a contact body extending along a longitudinal axis and a cable holder connected to the contact body and extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the cable holder has at least one retaining section for fixing a cable to the cable holder. The contact element additionally has a protective element. In order to prevent the protruding strands of the cable from damaging the sealing mat when inserting the contact element through the sealing mat, the protective element is displaceable along the longitudinal axis from a first position into a second position, wherein the protective element covers the cable holder in the second position. A method for producing a contact-element/cable arrangement is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Wittmann
  • Patent number: 9559452
    Abstract: A housing for an electrical contact that includes a unitary one-piece body that has an internal bore that extends between a front end and an opposite rear end of the unitary one-piece body and is adapted to receive the electrical contact. A front holding member extends into the internal bore from an inner surface of the internal bore, and the front holding member is located at the front end of the one-piece body. A rear holding member extends into the internal bore, and is disposed on the inner surface of the internal bore at the rear end of the one-piece body. A contact retaining member receiving area is defined in the internal bore between the front holding member and the rear holding member for capturing a contact retaining member therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AMPHENOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shan Mugan
  • Patent number: 9438019
    Abstract: A multi-hub electrical fitting for electrical cable or conduit includes a connector body constructed of metal, said connector body including an inbound end and an outbound end; a plurality of inbound bores in said inbound end of said connector body; an outbound bore in said outbound end; an end stop within said connector body segregating said inbound bores from said outbound bores; an attachment arrangement on said inbound end for securing and holding electrical cable or conduit within each inbound bore; and an attachment arrangement on said outbound end for securing said electrical fitting to a panel or pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Henry J. Plathe
  • Patent number: 9356375
    Abstract: A male terminal fitting includes a tubular main body (10) and a plate-like tab (40) projecting forward from the main body (10). A first support (51) and a second support (52) are provided respectively on a surface side facing in a direction of action of the external force (P1, P2) and a surface side opposite to the former surface side at a front end part of the main body (10) connected to the tab (40). The first and second supports (51, 52) serve as starting points of bending when an excessive external force (P1, P2) acts on the tab (40) in a direction intersecting with a projecting direction of the tab (40) and are displaced from each other in a front-back direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazumi Oka
  • Patent number: 9300072
    Abstract: Full lock receiving portions (31) are provided on a widthwise central part of a housing (10), and partial lock receiving portions (28) are provided on opposite widthwise end parts of the housing (10). Full locking portions (68) configured to prevent a movement of a retainer (60) to a full locking position by coming into contact with a facing wall surface of a housing (10) at a partial locking position and prevent the retainer (60) from returning to the partial locking position by being locked to the full lock receiving portions (31) at the full locking position are provided on a widthwise central part of the retainer (60). Partial locking portions (73) configured to prevent the retainer (60) from coming out of the housing (10) by being locked to the partial lock receiving portions (28) at the partial locking position are provided on opposite widthwise end parts of the retainer (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidefumi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9118131
    Abstract: An electric terminal (1) made of sheet metal having a contact portion (3) including a top wall (7), a bottom wall (8), a first side wall (9) and a second side wall (10) and a contact spring arm (6) having: a contact beam (14) for achieving an electric contact with a complementary contact element and being integrally connected to the top wall (7) and a reinforcement beam (15), wherein the contact beam (14) and the reinforcement beam (15) together form an L-shaped cross-section, wherein the reinforcement beam (15) is only connected to the contact beam (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI EUROPE LTD.
    Inventors: Ivica Jakoplic, Josip Jelak
  • Patent number: 8961205
    Abstract: An electrical connector system including contacts configured to electrically couple to cables at one end and to one another at the other end. Contacts may be housed in rubberized insulations, which in turn may be housed in various types of receptacles, e.g., bulkhead mounts, wall mounts, in line connectors, or caps. Male contact may be disposed within opening of female contact, but insulation surrounding male contact may be configured to envelope insulation surrounding female contact. As a result, an overall diameter of insulations and contacts may be reduced significantly, permitting the use of receptacles sized to accommodate openings previously reserved for metal-on-metal insulating connection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Electrical Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Graeme Sandwith
  • Patent number: 8029324
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing that has an insert and an organizer separate from, and coupled to, the insert. The insert and the organizer have insert openings and organizer openings aligned with corresponding insert openings. The organizer openings have a smaller diameter than the insert openings and the insert openings have a lip that extends into the insert opening. Electrical connectors are received in the housing that have shells and include clips surrounding corresponding shells. The clips engage the lips of the insert openings for securing the electrical connectors in the insert openings. The organizer openings circumferentially surround the shells and restrict lateral movement of the electrical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chong Hun Yi, Stephen J. Morley
  • Patent number: 8029322
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a plug insert having a dielectric body and having a pair of contact channels. The contact channels have central axes that extend parallel to each other in a common direction. The contact channels are defined by respective channel walls and are separated by an inter-channel portion of the dielectric body. The channel walls have wall perimeters that extend around the corresponding central axes. The electrical connector also has a contact sub-assembly that includes mating contacts that are received in the contact channels and retention clips that are positioned within the contact channels between the mating contacts and the channel walls. Each of the retention clips has a concave body with an open side. The concave body extends partially about the wall perimeter with the open side positioned along a portion of the wall perimeter. The retention clips are oriented to face one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Se-Jun Oh, Graham Henry Smith, Jr., Richard Vincent Lucente
  • Publication number: 20100273363
    Abstract: An electrical contact includes a body extending a length from a contacting end to a terminating end. The body includes a base extending between the contacting and terminating ends. A passageway extends through at least a portion of the length of the body. A locking barb is connected to the base of the body. The locking barb extends a length from an engagement end to a locking end. The locking barb is connected to the base of the body at a pivot point located along the locking barb between the engagement and locking ends. The locking barb is pivotable about the pivot point between a locked and an unlocked position. The engagement end of the locking barb extends into the passageway of the body when the locking barb is in the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: David Patrick Orris, William Crusey Van Scyoc
  • Patent number: 7780482
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include an insulating body including a series of at least two parallel and adjacent longitudinal cells which may be aligned. The electrical connector may include a series of electrical contact elements, each of which may include a locking section which may include at least one locking notch and which may be configured to be received axially in one of the cells and to be axially immobilized therein. The electrical connector may include a series of locking elements each of which may be configured to retain axially, at least towards the rear, a locking section of an associated electrical contact element. Each locking element may include a locating base fixed axially relative to the insulating body and at least one locking finger, a free end of which may be received in a locking notch of the associated contact element to retain it axially, wherein each base may be arranged outside the locking section of the associated cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Daubigney
  • Patent number: 7736199
    Abstract: A contact retention assembly includes a body, an outward angled tine and an inward angled tine. The body extends between a front end and a back end. The outward angled tine extends from the body to a housing engagement surface and is configured to engage a portion of a housing. The inward angled tine extends from the body to a contact engagement surface and is configured to engage a contact in order to retain the contact within the assembly. The inward angled tine extends from the body in a different direction than the outward angled tine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Luke Antonio Cossette
  • Publication number: 20100029143
    Abstract: A contact retention assembly includes a body, an outward angled tine and an inward angled tine. The body extends between a front end and a back end. The outward angled tine extends from the body to a housing engagement surface and is configured to engage a portion of a housing. The inward angled tine extends from the body to a contact engagement surface and is configured to engage a contact in order to retain the contact within the assembly. The inward angled tine extends from the body in a different direction than the outward angled tine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: LUKE ANTONIO COSSETTE
  • Patent number: 7192318
    Abstract: A contact element has a contact body. A contact arrangement is attached to the contact body. The contact arrangement has a spring tongue. The spring tongue has a free end with a locking face for securing the contact element in a contact housing. The locking face is movable between a locked position and an assembly position. The spring tongue has first and second retention tongues. The first retention tongue extends laterally to a longitudinal direction of the spring tongue and engages an opening in the contact body when the locking face is in the locked position. The second retention tongue extends perpendicular to the spring tongue for engagement with the contact housing when the locking face is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Gheorghe Hotea, Hannes Jahn Wendling
  • Patent number: 7008270
    Abstract: A cable connector comprises a housing having a terminus receiving cavity that receives a terminus assembly. The cavity has a rearward facing shoulder and an annular recess defining a forward facing shoulder. The terminus assembly includes a terminus which is attached to the end of a cable. The terminus has rearward and forward facing shoulders, an annular recess rearward of the forward facing shoulder and a second forward facing shoulder rearward of the recess. The terminus assembly also includes a forward stop ring and a rearward lock ring slidably mounted on the terminus, and a coil spring biasing the rearward lock ring toward the first forward facing shoulder. A retention ring that is slideably mounted on the terminus behind the rearward lock ring has a rearward end engageable with the second forward facing shoulder of the terminus and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, cantilevered, depressible fingers having outwardly projecting lock tangs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben S. Huh, Mehrdad Ghara, Norbert Gibola, Monish J. Doshi
  • Publication number: 20040259429
    Abstract: A connector body comprising a plastic housing with a central pillar shape connector and a spring arm ground connector; the central pillar shape connector consists of a central pillar and a solder part; the central pillar is a solid body with a compression part and a round head; the solder part is in “L” shape with a round hole, the round hole connects to the compression part of the central pillar firmly together into one piece; the mold is simple for lower manufacturing cost and higher efficiency of manufacturing, the product has better competition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Chang Sing Chu, Wen Lung Hsu
  • Patent number: 6679735
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical pin contact, (1, 32, 56), having a connecting part (2) and a connector tongue (4) together with a locking part (3, 33, 57). A separate locking spring (14, 34, 58), is provided which is inserted into the locking part (3, 33, 57) perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the contact (1, 32, 56). Particularly simple mounting of the locking spring (14, 34, 48) is achieved in that the latter has latching means, which fix the locking spring (14, 34, 58) in position in the locking part (3, 33, 57) through insertion of the locking spring into the locking part (3, 33, 57).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Otto Boemmel, Rolf Jetter, Manfred Proff
  • Publication number: 20030087561
    Abstract: As a rule, electrical microconnectors have a outer diameter of approximately 2 mm, the contact elements themselves having a dimension of approximately 0.63 mm. Described herein is a microconnector, which includes a housing and a plug connector situated in the housing. In addition, a primary and a secondary locking mechanism protect the microconnector against being unintentionally detached from a plug housing. The secondary locking mechanism acts on the end face of the microconnector facing in the direction opposite to the plugging direction. In order to now provide a greater contact area for the secondary locking mechanism, the end face is increased in size, in that the guide elements, which are necessary for inserting the microconnector in a directionally restricted manner and are provided on a side of the outer microconnector wall, extend to the end face of the microconnector, so that the end face of the guide elements and the end face of the microconnector form an enlarged surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Achim Puettner, Uwe Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 6537112
    Abstract: A strip (1) is described which includes a first device (5, 15) for temporarily holding a contact (2), and having a second device (26) for retaining the contact inside a tube. Provided with a clip (39) in such a manner that the contact is ready to be inserted in a receptacle of a connector. The strip allows the displacement of several grouped contacts, in a parallel arrangement on the strip. The strip is preferably displaced in coiled form, therefore having protection devices (41) to prevent the contacts from crushing over each other. Precut bridges (44) allow an easy separation of contacts surrounded by their respective clip from the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Striebig, Jerome Fortin, Yann Herrouin, Sylvain Gault, Gilbert Spinnato
  • Publication number: 20020182943
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical pin contact, (1, 32, 56), having a connecting part (2) and a connector tongue (4) together with a locking part (3, 33, 57). A separate locking spring (14, 34, 58), is provided which is inserted into the locking part (3, 33, 57) perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the contact (1, 32, 56). Particularly simple mounting of the locking spring (14, 34, 48) is achieved in that the latter has latching means, which fix the locking spring (14, 34, 58) in position in the locking part (3, 33, 57) through insertion of the locking spring into the locking part (3, 33, 57).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Christian Otto Boemmel, Rolf Jetter, Manfred Proff
  • Patent number: 6475037
    Abstract: For transmitting high currents, such as in the electrical system of a motor vehicle for example, a contact element is proposed which is rolled and stamped from sheet-metal material and which consists of a contact-making section, a conductor-connecting section and a fastening section with an overlapping sleeve. In the contact element, the sleeve is at a radial distance from the fastening section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Harting KGaA
    Inventors: Dietmar Harting, Jens Krause, Ludger Leve
  • Patent number: 6402571
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrical socket contact (1) with a base part (2) and two contact spring arms (7) integrated on the base part. The socket contact also has a guide rail (8) which is integrated on the base part in an offset position in relation to the spring arms (7) and which on the introduction of a contact pin of a complementary plug guides and centres the said contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventors: Steffen Muller, Harald Lutsch
  • Patent number: 6361377
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (30) is provided for contact with a contact terminal (20) and for inverted insertion into a cavity (11). The terminal (30) has a cover (40) and a terminal main body (31). The cover (40) has a relatively high strength and is integrally secured to the terminal main body (31) in such a manner as to cover substantially entirely a connection portion (32). Cuts are made in opposite side walls of the cover (40) and the cut portions are bent to project outward to form elastically deformable metal locking portions (42). Openings (45) are provided in surfaces of the cover (40) adjacent to the side walls that have the metal locking portions (42). Contact portions (36) are provided on the connection portion (32) inside the cover (40) and can be brought into contact with a shorting terminal (20) that is exposed through the openings (45). The contact portions (36) and the metal locking portions (42) are displaced substantially by 90° from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Saka, Masamitsu Chishima
  • Patent number: 6299491
    Abstract: A clip ring for securing a contact pin in a connector cavity is circumferentially compressible as in prior art clip ring, but includes several beam fingers projecting radially and obliquely outward against the walls of the cavity for a more secure and more stable position of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Burton B. Bruce
  • Publication number: 20010019921
    Abstract: A contact socket according to the invention, which is formed in two parts, an engagement sleeve and a contact spring, the contact sleeve is engaged in a sleeve-like manner onto the frontal side of engagement sleeve where two-part construction allows the material for the engagement sleeve and the contact spring to be separate so the manufacturing process can be optimized and adapted to the individual component function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventor: Hans Jost Heimueller
  • Patent number: 6149472
    Abstract: An electrical terminal for use with a resin-made connector housing containing a locking lance, consists of a terminal body having a collar projecting circumferentially therearound, and a locking member separate from the terminal body. The locking member has engagement means engageable with the collar to retain the locking member longitudinally in place on the terminal body. The locking member engages with the locking lance to lock the terminal in the connector housing. The locking member is made of resin so that during moving the terminal into and out of the connector housing, resin is prevented from being shaved off from the connector housing including the locking lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Endo, Kazuhisa Ishizaki, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5997347
    Abstract: A jaw blade contact for a watthour meter socket adapter includes a terminal with a blade end and an opposed jaw contact end. A spring clip is fixedly mounted on the terminal and has a jaw contact end opposed from the jaw contact end of the terminal for receiving a blade terminal of a meter there-between. Angled arms carried on the spring clip releasibly engage the base of the socket adapter housing to mount the jaw blade contact on the housing in a snap-on connection. In another embodiment, a spring clip engages apertures in a jaw contact formed of two folded over portions to mount the jaw contact in the housing. The housing has a mounting flange with a frangible portion conformable to different sized socket cover openings. An arcuate surge ground conductor is mounted on the housing sidewall by an integral bendable member which is movable from an in-line position to a mounting position extendable through an aperture in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Karl R. Loehr, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 5989079
    Abstract: A male terminal fitting 20 is formed by bending, for example, copper alloy metal plate, and comprises, in a unified manner, a barrel member 30, a contact protrusion 40 for insertion into a female terminal fitting, and a tubular member 50 located between these. The terminal fitting comprises an overlapping plate 53 that overlaps with a roof wall 52 of the tubular member 50, a strengthening plate 54 extending in a unified manner from the anterior end of the overlapping plate 53 entering into the root portion of the contact protrusion 40. As a result, the strength of the contact protrusion 40 is increased and change of shape thereof due to an external force is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring System, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satomi Seko, Masamitsu Chishima
  • Patent number: 5951336
    Abstract: A protecting cover B is provided for a miniature terminal, the upper face having a lance 41 formed by shearing. This lance 41 has a pair of protecting members 42 located in the posterior side thereof, the posterior edges of the protecting members 42 being cut so as to form diagonal edges with respect to the direction of extension of the lance 41. In this way, a portion of the bending space formed under the lance 41 is surrounded by the protecting member 42, thereby preventing entry of foreign matter. As a result, bending and entanglement can be prevented. The cover may have a protruding wall 43 to provide additional protection against external forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satomi Seko, Masamitsu Chishima, Kenji Okamura, Yoshimasa Wada, Hiroyuki Oka
  • Patent number: 5938486
    Abstract: A female electrical contact member comprises a body with connecting members at one end for connecting it to an electrical conductor, such as crimping lugs, and at the other end a series of elastic lugs for gripping a cylindrical male member and extending from a cylindrical ring connected to the connecting members by a profiled part. It is completed by an outer sleeve having a bush inserted in and fixed to the cylindrical ring and a sleeve with cut-out elastic tongues which cooperate with the elastic lugs to strengthen their action. The outer sleeve has retaining members which cooperate with a shoulder in a passage of a connector housing member and receive the female member. The part of the body including the elastic lugs has a diameter less than that of the ring, the two parts being joined by a shoulder. The diameter of the sleeve of the outer sleeve is smaller than that of the bush, the two parts being joined by a shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Connecteurs Cinch
    Inventors: Fabrice Durand-Cochet, Stephane Barnabe
  • Patent number: 5921821
    Abstract: A protective cover B of an electrical terminal is partitioned into an upper cover 50 and a lower cover 40. By doing this, the upper cover 50 and the lower cover 40 can be simultaneously bent prior to fitting. The upper cover 50 has its left and right edges bent perpendicular downwards, the left and right side plates having supporting holes 54 formed thereon. The lower cover 40 has a pair of fitting members 41 and crimping members 42 protruding therefrom, the fitting members 41 having supporting protrusions 43,44 fitting with the supporting holes 54,15 formed on the upper cover 50 and the terminal main body A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Oka, Naoya Kurimoto, Yoshimasa Wada, Kenji Okamura, Masahiro Hiratani
  • Patent number: 5755599
    Abstract: A contact is shown comprised of an inner spring and an outer assist spring where the front contact section is longitudinally moveable within the outer assist spring. The front contact section includes contact arms where side spring sections are constricted inwardly by way of transition sections at, thereby forming a compact forward contact section. A contact having a contact section, a conductor engaging section and a central section therebetween where the contact section includes opposing contact arms with side arms therealong both arms being joined to the central section where the central section has a width greater then the width of the contact section, where the central section may be made resilient for float between the contact section and conductor engaging section, an outer assist spring may be provided to prevent overstress, or include a locking lance cantilevered from a band section defined by a slit therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Gheorghe Hotea
  • Patent number: 5711687
    Abstract: A tab terminal comprises an inner contact body and an outer spring body having a locking lance. The outer body is mounted over the inner body in a vertical direction, whereby inwardly bent tabs of the inner contact body receive a side wall of the outer body, the other side wall of the outer body having a clinching tab that engages in a cutout of the inner contact body. The latter enables a very simple assembly procedure that reduces assembly time, tool complication, and therefore production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: David Bouwe Kuiper-Moore, Peter Donald Gaulton, Christian Otto Bommel, Rolf Jetter, Antonio Lehner
  • Patent number: 5697813
    Abstract: To provide a connection terminal which can be mounted with an improved operation efficiency, and has sufficient retaining force and strength, a front end portion of a connection terminal is constituted by side plate portions formed by substantially perpendicularly bending opposite side portions of a developed material along a longitudinal direction which developed material is stamped by a die from an electrically-conductive metal plate having spring properties, and resilient contact piece portions formed respectively by inwardly bending front end portions of these side plate portions. A retaining hole for receiving an elastic lance provided in a terminal receiving chamber of a connector is formed through a base plate portion disposed between the opposite side plate portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5653612
    Abstract: An electrical connector with a housing and a plurality of contact assemblies. Each contact assembly has a contact and a contact mount. Both the contact and the contact mount are generally tubular shaped. The contact mount surrounds a substantial portion of the contact and has tabs that are bent into a slot in the contact to fixedly and stationarily attach the contact mount to the contact. A front end of the contact mount has a latch that latches behind a portion of the housing. A rear end of the contact mount has a stabilizer cone that circumferentially contacts the housing to stabilize the assembly inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors USA Inc.
    Inventors: Carl C. Peterson, Frederick D. Hooper, Forest W. Whitesel
  • Patent number: 5634825
    Abstract: An electrical terminal to be inserted into a terminal receiving chamber of a connector housing is provided. The terminal includes a terminal body which can be provided by folding a conductive metal plate and a protective cover made of synthetic insulating material to cover the terminal body. The protective cover is provided on a rear side thereof with a flexible engagement piece having an engagement projection by which the terminal can be engaged in the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Maki
  • Patent number: 5624283
    Abstract: An electrical terminal comprises an inner contact body and an outer spring body. The outer spring body is box-shaped and encloses the inner contact body. The outer spring body comprises spring beams edge-stamped out of top and bottom walls respectively. Protrusions are positioned centrally along the spring beams, and project beyond side walls of the outer spring body such that when the terminal is inserted into a corresponding housing cavity, the protrusions interfere with walls thereof. The spring beams are thus resiliently biased and the terminal is resiliently held within the housing cavity such that chattering of the terminal therein is prevented. Vibration movements parallel to the top and bottom walls causes the spring beams to act in the plane of the metal, and vibration movements perpendicular thereto cause the spring beams to act in torsion. Due to the edge-stamping of the spring beams out of top and bottom walls, they are very simple to manufacture, yet very effective, robust and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Gheorghe Hotea
  • Patent number: 5567179
    Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a housing, at least one electrical cable assembly, at least one retaining member and a resilient locking member. The housing has formed therethrough at least one retention window and at least one shaped aperture which is formed through a rear portion of the housing. The at least one retaining member is dimensioned to substantially mirror the dimension of the at least one shaped aperture. The at least one retaining member has an internal surface which defines a channel portion having a predetermined diametral dimension. The channel portion terminates to a slot. The at least one retaining member snap-fittingly engages an individual at least one electrical cable. The at least one electrical cable and the at least one retaining member are insertably received by an individual shaped aperture. A resilient locking member is made integral with each at least one retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: John Voltz
  • Patent number: 5409405
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a connector body having a plurality of cavities extending from a rearward conductor end to an intermediate location and an enlarged common opening along its forward end from the intermediate location to a forward end and with the intermediate location defining a transverse shoulder. It further comprises cylindrically shaped metal terminals having lands and each connected to a conductor. The terminals are inserted through the connector body and attach to a deflectable collar whose cross-sectional shape is like that of the common opening. The terminals are snap fittingly attached to the collar and then simultaneously pulled to seat via the lands on the collar engaging a shoulder on the collar and sliding the collar through the common opening of the connector body until the collar engages the transverse shoulder therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Edward M. Bungo
  • Patent number: 5266056
    Abstract: An electrical terminal (2,102) is shown having a pin (4) or socket contacts (104) a retaining spring (6) and an insulation crimping barrel (8). The retaining spring (6) is defined as a substantial box section where the upper wall (36) includes a stamped out locking lance (38) having a free end (40) for engaging a locking shoulder within an electrical terminal housing. The free end (40) of the locking lance (38) has an embossed section (42) forming a raised surface on the upper surface (44) of the locking lance and an indentation (50) on the lower surface (46) of the locking lance. The embossed area (42) extends into the free end (40) of the electrical terminal so as to define a discontinuous end edge for engaging the locking shoulder of the electrical terminal housing. Medially positioned within the embossed area (42), and extending from the free end (40) thereof, is a sheared tab (54) defined by sheared slits ( 52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt P. Baderschneider, Gheorghe Hotea