INSULATION AND OXIDE PIERCING CONTACT MEANS

• US 3,761,867 A
• Filed: 01/19/1972
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John J. Churla
• Original Assignee: John J. Churla
• Inventors: Churla, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US05/219,079
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 339/95,97-99,277 85/51,50 151/35
• US Class Current: 439/413
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2479 penetrating the area under the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/957 Biting tooth
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/927 Conductive gasket

Abstract

Contact means for improving the contact between acjacent conductive members comprising a substantially flat, multiple toothed member having a selectively proportioned slotted aperture arranged to permit the contact means to be disposed about a binding post or similar fastening element. The toothed projections which may be disposed on at least a portion of either one or both surfaces of the contact means are selectively dimensioned to bit into and engage the adjacent conductive surface of one or more conductors urged thereagainst as the contact means is interposed between the conductor and the adjacent conductive member. The contact means may be formed either as discrete, single apertured members, or as multiapertured members wherein the apertures are selectively spaced preferably to bridge two or more adjacently disposed binding posts or the like. The contact means may be provided in strip form and selectively scored or recessed to enable convenient separation of the interconnected members.

Claims

1. Insulation and oxide piercing contact means comprising:

a body member formed of flat electrically conducting metallic material and having a first surface and a second surface, said surfaces defining the thickness of said body member, at least one smoothly contoured outer edge, at least one selectively proportioned aperture extending between said first and said second surfaces, at least one smoothly contoured inner edge at least partially defining the periphery of said aperture, and at least one restrictively proportioned slot extending between and communicating with its associated aperture and at least a portion of said outer edge of said body member; and

a plurality of discrete, generally sharply pointed protrusions having a predetermined length and extending outwardly generally normal to the plane of said body member, said protrusions being disposed generally uniformly over substantially the entire area defined by at least one of said first and said second surfaces, said protrusions being confined solely to the area intermediate but not including said inner edge and said outer edge of said body member and arranged in such close proximate relationship one to another as to penetrate the outer surface of and selectively engage the interior of a conductor impaled on said protrusions to provide intimate electrical contact between said body member and such conductor.

2. Contact means as defined in claim 1 wherein said body member has at least two apertures in selectively spaced arrangement extending between said first and said second surfaces thereof, and at least two slots, each extending between and communicating with its associated aperture and a portion of said outer edge of said body member.

3. Contact means as defined in claim 2 further comprising separating means disposed on said body member and aligned to facilitate the separation of said body member into discrete contact means each having a single aperture and an associated slot.

4. Contact means as defined in claim 3 wherein said separating means comprises a generally transversely extending recessed portion having a depth selectively proportioned to provide a frangible zone thereat.

5. Contact means as defined in claim 2 further comprising separating means disposed on said body member and aligned to facilitate the separation of said body member into discrete contacts each having at least a pair of said apertures and their respective associated slots.

6. Contact means as defined in claim 5 wherein said separating means comprises a generally transversely extending recessed portion having a depth selectively proportioned to provide a frangible zone thereat.