Electrical connector and contact terminal therefor
First Claim
1. A pin terminal member for mating with a complimentary socket terminal member, said pin terminal member comprising:
- a forward portion including contact means therearound defining a tapered contact surface, said surface having an array of facets disposed in selected areas along said surface, the outer surface portions of said facets defining a plurality of small contact areas;
said forward portion being adapted to conform to an complimentary inner tapered surface of a mating socket terminal member;
wherebyupon mating of said pin and socket terminal members and urging said pin and socket terminal members together, said facets provide a multitude of macrocontactasperities between said pin terminal contact areas and said inner socket terminal surface to establish a plurality of essentially parallel circuit paths for current passing through said mated terminal members thus decreasing the constriction resistance of the mated members.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a connector assembly 20 comprising a pin terminal member 24 having a forward portion 26 including contact means therearound defining a frustoconical contact surface, a complimentary socket terminal member 72 including contact means and housing means that assures assembly of respective said pin and socket terminal members 24, 72 as they are moved axially together and electrical engagement of respective contact surfaces 30, 78 thereof upon full mating of said terminal members 24, 72. The surface of the pin terminal member 24 has an array of facets 28 disposed in selected areas therealong, the outer surface portions defining a plurality of contact areas 30. The socket member 72 includes a forward portion having a frustoconical contact surface defining a cavity 76 adapted to receive the forward section 26 of the pin terminal member 24. The housing means includes first and second insert members 52, 82 in which the pin and socket terminal members 24, 72 are disposed and first and second sleeve members 42, 98 coupleable together to assure engagement of the terminal members 24, 72.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A pin terminal member for mating with a complimentary socket terminal member, said pin terminal member comprising:
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a forward portion including contact means therearound defining a tapered contact surface, said surface having an array of facets disposed in selected areas along said surface, the outer surface portions of said facets defining a plurality of small contact areas; said forward portion being adapted to conform to an complimentary inner tapered surface of a mating socket terminal member;
wherebyupon mating of said pin and socket terminal members and urging said pin and socket terminal members together, said facets provide a multitude of macrocontactasperities between said pin terminal contact areas and said inner socket terminal surface to establish a plurality of essentially parallel circuit paths for current passing through said mated terminal members thus decreasing the constriction resistance of the mated members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An electrical terminal assembly comprising:
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a pin terminal member having a forward portion including contact means therearound defining a tapered contact surface, said surface having an array of facets disposed in selected areas along said surface, the outer surface portions of said facets defining a plurality of small contact areas; and a socket terminal member having a forward portion including a tapered cavity, said cavity having contact surfaces extending therearound, said cavity being adapted to receive said tapered portion of said pin terminal member;
wherebyupon mating of said pin and socket terminal members and urging said pin and socket terminal members together, said facets provide a multitude of macrocontactasperities between said pin terminal contact areas and said inner socket surface to establish a plurality of essentially parallel circuit paths for current passing through said mated members thus decreasing the constriction resistance of the mated members. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A connector assembly comprising:
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a pin terminal member having a forward portion including contact means therearound defining a tapered contact surface, said surface having an array of facets disposed in selected areas along said surface, the outer surface portions of said facets defining a plurality of small contact areas; a socket terminal member having a forward portion including contact means comprising a tapered contact surface defining a cavity adapted to receive said forward section of said pin terminal member; and housing means including first and second insert members in which are disposed said pin and socket terminal members and first and second sleeve members coupleable together to assure assembly of respective said pin and socket terminal members as they are moved axially together and electrical engagement of respective contact surfaces thereof upon full mating of said terminal members;
wherebyupon mating of said pin and socket terminal members and urging said pin and socket terminal members together, said facets provide a multitude of macrocontactasperities between said pin terminal contact areas and said inner socket surface to establish a plurality of essentially parallel circuit paths for current passing through said mated terminal members thus decreasing the constriction resistance of the mated terminal members. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A connector assembly comprising:
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a male terminal member having a forward portion including contact means therearound defining a tapered contact surface; a female terminal member having a forward section including contact means comprising a tapered contact surface defining a cavity adapted to receive said forward section of said male terminal member; housing means including first and second insert members in which are disposed said male and female terminal members and first and second sleeve members coupleable together to assure assembly of respective said male and female terminal members as they are moved axially together and electrical engagement of respective contact surfaces thereof upon full mating of said terminal members; and means restraining said male and female terminal members at least against incremental movement of said contact surfaces axially apart upon a substantial rise in temperature. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification