Electrical connector
First Claim
1. An electrical connector comprising a conductive female socket terminal having a tubular portion, contact means for forming an electrical connection with a circuit member, and a plurality of contact beams projecting longitudinally from the tubular portion and arranged generally cylindrically around its axis, each beam including an inner electrical contact facing the axis adjacent said portion, an outer electrical contact facing the axis adjacent the end of the beam, and a pivot contact facing away from the axis and located between said electrical contacts;
- and a collar surrounding said beams, the inner surface of the collar engaging the pivot contacts to prevent movement thereof away from the axis, alternate inner electrical contacts being spaced from each other a distance along the axis whereby upon insertion of a pin into the space between the beams the lead end of the pin passes the outer electrical contacts and engages the longitudinally spaced inner electrical contacts to move the same away from the axis and rock their respective beams about the pivot contacts so that the outer contacts are forced against the pin.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector for forming a high amperage connection with a male pin includes a number of beams surrounding the pin and a collar surrounding the beams. The end of the pin is inserted into the connector and moved past outer contacts on the beams and engages inner contacts on the beams to force the inner contacts radially apart and rock the beams about the inner surface of the collar to force the outer contacts against the pin. Alternate inner contacts are axially spaced to reduce the insertion force.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electrical connector comprising a conductive female socket terminal having a tubular portion, contact means for forming an electrical connection with a circuit member, and a plurality of contact beams projecting longitudinally from the tubular portion and arranged generally cylindrically around its axis, each beam including an inner electrical contact facing the axis adjacent said portion, an outer electrical contact facing the axis adjacent the end of the beam, and a pivot contact facing away from the axis and located between said electrical contacts;
- and a collar surrounding said beams, the inner surface of the collar engaging the pivot contacts to prevent movement thereof away from the axis, alternate inner electrical contacts being spaced from each other a distance along the axis whereby upon insertion of a pin into the space between the beams the lead end of the pin passes the outer electrical contacts and engages the longitudinally spaced inner electrical contacts to move the same away from the axis and rock their respective beams about the pivot contacts so that the outer contacts are forced against the pin.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrical connector comprising a conductive female socket terminal having a tubular portion, contact means at one end of said portion for forming an electrical connection between with an insulated conductor, and a plurality of contact beams projecting longitudinally from the other end of said portion and arranged generally cylindrically around the longitudinal axis of the terminal, each beam including first and second electrical contacts facing the axis, said first and second electrical contacts being spaced apart from each other along the axis, and a pivot contact facing away from the axis and located between the first and second electrical contacts;
- and a collar surrounding said beams, the inner surface of the collar engaging the pivot contacts to prevent movement thereof away from the axis, alternate first electrical contacts being spaced differentially from said portion whereby, upon insertion of a pin into the space between the beams, the lead end of the pin passes said second electrical contacts, engages alternate first contacts and then the remaining first contacts to move the same away from the axis and rock the beams about the pivot contact so that the second electrical contacts are forced against the pin.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
Specification