Electrical half connector with contact-centering vanes
US5350292A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 19, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R2107/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This inexpensive, small half connector includes at least one electrical terminal (usually a female contact). The half-connector body defines a hole to receive each terminal. Each terminal has at least one retaining element for engaging the half connector (e.g., a springy tang that snaps into behind an internal flange) to retain the terminal in the half connector. Each hole has a segment of relatively large transverse dimension to receive its terminal, generally with transverse clearance about the circumference of the terminal. Each hole also has a segment of reduced transverse dimension to receive the terminal and engage the retaining element(s) of that terminal to retain the terminal. Each hole has some integral feature--in other words, some structural element(s) integral with the half-connector body--for centering the terminal in the large-dimension segment of the hole. Preferably the integral element includes at least two and preferably three radially inward-extending protrusions from an inner wall of the large-dimension segment of the hole. Each of these is preferably very thin, ideally about 0.2 to 0.23 millimeter thick.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.