ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

• US 3,862,792 A
• Filed: 10/03/1973
• Issued: 01/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Max L. Jayne
• Original Assignee: Max L. Jayne
• Inventors: Jayne, Max L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US05/403,151
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 339/93,182,183,256,258,259,262,220,221,278
• US Class Current: 439/733.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/111 co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly comprising an insulative housing with at least one opening therein. Positioned substantially within this opening is an electrical contact having a contacting portion for engaging a male contact pin as the pin is inserted within said contacting portion, a central retaining portion for frictionally engaging the internal walls of the opening, and a male end portion for protruding from the insulative housing. The contacting portion of the contact further includes means for applying progressively increasing force against the male pin during initial insertion of the pin.

Claims

1. An electrical contact for being positioned substantially within an established opening in an electrically insulative housing, said contact comprising:

a contacting portion having means therein for initially engaging a male contact member and thereafter applying progressively increasing force against said male contact member during initial insertion of said male contact member into said contacting portion, said means comprising at least three engagement members, each of said engagement members being of different lengths;

a centrally located retaining portion substantially adjacent said contacting portion having means located thereon for frictionally engaging the internal walls of said established opening in said connector body; and

a male end portion substantially adjacent said retaining portion for protruding from said connector body.

2. The electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said contact is of one piece construction.

3. The electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein each of said engagement members are adapted for mutually engaging at least one other engagement member upon removal of said male contact member from said contacting portion.

4. The electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said means located on said centrally located retaining portion for frictionally engaging the internal walls of said established opening in said connector body comprises at least two retention areas, each of said areas having a plurality of protruding flat-walled members extending therefrom and adapted for engaging said internal walls of said opening.

5. The electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said engagement members has an upstanding contact portion thereon for engaging said male contact member, said upstanding contact portion of a material possessing good electrical conducting properties.

6. The electrical contact according to claim 5 wherein said material for said upstanding contact portion is of a gold alloy composition.

7. An electrical connecTor assembly comprising:

an electrically insulative housing having at least one opening therein; and

at least one electrical contact for being positioned substantially within said opening within said insulative housing, said contact having means therein for initially engaging a male contact member and thereafter applying progressively increasing force against said male contact member during initial insertion of said male contact member into said contacting portion, said means comprising at least three engagement members, each of said engagement members being of different lengths, a centrally located retaining portion substantially adjacent said contacting portion having means located thereon for frictionally engaging the internal walls of said established opening connector body, and a male end portion substantially adjacent said retaining portion for protruding from said connector body.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein said contact is of one-piece construction.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein each of said engagement members are adapted for mutually engaging at least one other engagement member upon removal of said male contact member from said contacting portion.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein said means located on said centrally located retaining portion for frictionally engaging the internal walls of said established opening in said connector body comprises at least two retention areas, each of said areas having a plurality of protruding flat-walled members extending therefrom and adapted for engaging said internal walls of said opening.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein at least one of said engagement members has an upstanding contact portion thereon for engaging said male contact member, said upstanding contact portion of a material possessing good electrical conducting properties.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein said material for said upstanding contact portion is of a gold alloy composition.