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Electrical connector with improved centering of mating terminal pins, for a fluorescent-lighting ballast

  • US 5,488,268 A
  • Filed: 04/08/1994
  • Issued: 01/30/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In combination, a ballast and connecting apparatus for use in a fluorescent-lamp fixture having lamp sockets;

  • said combination comprising;

    at least one electrical winding mounted within the ballast;

    two pluralities of electrical leads within the fluorescent-lamp fixture;

    one plurality of electrical leads within the ballast and operatively connected to the winding, for carrying electrical power to and from the winding, andanother plurality of electrical leads extending through such fixture substantially outside the ballast, at least some of these leads being operatively connected with lamp sockets of such fixture for carrying electrical power to the sockets;

    two mutually matable electrical half-connectors, one for terminating said one plurality of leads and another for terminating said other plurality of leads;

    a plurality of individual electrical male contacts, formed from or operatively connected to one of the two pluralities of electrical leads respectively, and fixed within a first of the two half-connectors;

    a plurality of individual electrical female contacts, operatively connected to the other of the two pluralities of electrical leads respectively, and fixed within a second of the two half-connectors;

    a plurality of through-holes defined within the second half-connector, each said through-hole holding a respective one of the female contacts, and each through-hole having;

    a rearward end for receiving insertion of one female contact,a forward end for receiving insertion of a part of one male contact, extending from the first half-connector, into the female contact to complete connections from the ballast winding to the lamp sockets,a necked-down section, forward from a forward tip of the female contact in that hole, anda preformed bore whose transverse preformed dimensions along the entire length of the bore rearward from the necked-down forward section are at least as great as its transverse dimensions immediately rearward from the necked-down forward section; and

    means for retaining each female contact in its respective bore.

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