Connector

• US 5,082,456 A
• Filed: 08/23/1989
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shirley S. Lan
• Original Assignee: Shirley S. Lan
• Inventors: Lan, Shirley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desmond, Eugene F.
• Application Number:
  US07/397,400
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 439/345, 439/503, 439/504, 439/506, 439/513, 439/786, 439/817, 439/819, 439/828, 439/829, 439/835, 439/759, 439/761, 439/861, 439/754, 439/756, 439/832, 439/909
• US Class Current: 439/504
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip

Abstract

A connector for a cable which includes a housing and the two clamping strips which are bent at their front ends and extend outwardly from an opening in the housing.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a) generally elongated member having a substantially elongated opening, said member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object, said means being positioned in said hollow portion, said means for connecting comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member; and

c) means for slidably biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting includes a generally elongate fixed element fastened to an interior surface of said hollow member, said generally elongate fixed element having a forward end comprising said first contact surface.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein said generally elongate member has an upper side and said open forward portion is a longitudinal slot in said upper side of said generally elongate member.

4. The connector of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching an article to said means for connecting, with said means for attaching being fastened to said means for connecting.

5. A connector comprising:

a) generally elongated member having a substantially elongated opening, said member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object, said means being positioned in said hollow portion, said means for connecting comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member, said means for connecting including a generally elongate fixed element fastened to an interior surface of said hollow member, said generally elongate fixed element having a forward end comprising said first contact surface, and said forward end portion comprises a section extending substantially perpendicularly from an elongated section of said generally elongate fixed element; and

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein said forward end portion comprises a free end section inclined rearwardly from said section extending substantially perpendicularly from said elongate section.

7. The connector of claim 5, wherein said means for connecting further comprises a slide element comprising said second contact surface, said slide element being mounted within said hollow member to move with respect to said elongate section of said generally elongate fixed element.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein said slide element comprises a slide section in contact with said elongate section.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein said slide element further comprises a section extending substantially perpendicularly from said slide section.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein said slide element further comprises a free, forwardly projecting end section extending from said section extending substantially perpendicularly from said slide section towards said free end section of said generally elongate fixed element.

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein said means for biasing comprises a resilient member interconnecting said generally elongate fixed element and said slide element.

12. The connector according to claim 11, wherein said resilient member comprises a coil spring.

13. The connector according to claim 12, wherein said coil spring comprises opposite free ends connected to said section extending substantially perpendicularly from said elongate section of said generally elongate fixed element, and said section extending substantially perpendicular from said slide section.

14. A connector comprising:

a) generally elongated member having a substantially elongated opening, said member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object, said means being positioned in said hollow portion, said means for connecting comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member, said means for connecting including a generally elongate fixed element fastened to an interior surface of said hollow member, said generally elongate fixed element having a forward end comprising said first contact surface, and said forward end portion is substantially hook-shaped; and

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface.

15. A connector comprising:

a) generally elongated member having a substantially elongated opening, said member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object, said means being positioned in said hollow portion, said means for connecting comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member;

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface; and

d) said generally elongated member having an upper side, and said open forward portion being a longitudinal slot in said upper side of said generally elongated member, and said slot is open-ended at a forward end of said generally elongated member.

16. A connector comprising:

a) generally elongated member having a substantially elongated opening, said member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object, said means being positioned in said hollow portion, said means for connecting comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member;

c) means for slidably biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface; and

d) said generally elongated member having an upper side and said open forward portion being a longitudinal slot in said upper side of said generally elongated member, and wherein said open forward portion of said generally elongated member is a trough, and said rearward portion is substantially tubular shaped with an open end.

17. A battery jumper cable connector comprising:

a) generally elongated insulated member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object comprising conductive material being positioned in said hollow portion and comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member;

c) means for slidably biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface;

d) means for attaching a means for conducting electric current to said means for connecting, said means for attaching being fastened to said means for connecting; and

e) means for conducting electric current attached to said means for connecting, and wherein said means for connecting includes a generally elongate fixed element fastened to an interior surface of said hollow portion, said generally elongate fixed element having a forward end comprising said first contact surface.

18. A connector comprising:

a) generally tubular member having a substantially elongated opening, said member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object with said means being positioned in said hollow portion, and comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally tubular member; and

c) means for slidably biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface.

19. A battery jumper cable connector comprising:

a) generally elongated insulated member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object comprising conductive material being positioned in said hollow portion and comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member, said means for connecting including a generally elongate fixed element fastened to an interior surface of said hollow portion, said generally elongate fixed element having a forward end comprising said first contact surface, said forward end comprising a section extending substantially perpendicular from an elongate section of said generally elongate fixed element;

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface;

d) means for attaching a means for conducting electric current to said means for connecting, said means for attaching being fastened to said means for connecting; and

e) means for conducting electric current attached to said means for connecting.

20. The battery jumper cable connector of claim 19, wherein said forward end comprises a free end section inclined rearwardly from said section extending substantially perpendicularly from said elongate section.

21. A battery jumper cable connector comprising:

a) generally elongated insulated member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion, said generally elongated member having an upper side and said open forward portion is a longitudinal slot in said upper side of said generally elongated member, and slot longitudinal slot is open-ended at a forward end of said generally elongated member;

b) means for connecting to an object comprising conductive material being positioned in said hollow portion and comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member;

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface;

d) means for attaching a means for conducting electric current to said means for connecting, said means for attaching being fastened to said means for connecting; and

e) means for conducting electric current attached to said means for connecting.

22. A battery jumper cable connector comprising:

a) generally elongated insulated member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and rearward portion;

b) means for connecting to an object comprising conductive material being positioned in said hollow portion and comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member, said means for connecting including a generally elongate fixed element fastened to an interior surface of said hollow portion, said generally elongate fixed element having a substantially hook-shaped forward end comprising said first contact surface;

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface;

d) means for attaching a means for conducting electric current to said means for connecting, said means for attaching being fastened to said means for connecting; and

e) means for conducting electric current attached to said means for connecting.

23. The battery jumper cable connector of claim 22, wherein said means for biasing comprises a resilient member interconnecting said generally elongate fixed element and said slide element.

24. The battery jumper cable according to claim 23, wherein said resilient member comprises a coil spring.

25. The battery jumper cable according to claim 24, wherein said coil spring comprises opposite free ends connected to said section extending substantially perpendicularly from said elongate section of said generally elongate fixed element, and said section extending substantially perpendicular from said slide section.

27. The battery jumper cable connector of claim 22, wherein said slide element comprises a slide section in contact with said elongate section.

28. The battery jumper cable connector of claim 27, wherein said slide element further comprises a section extending substantially perpendicularly from said slide section.

29. The battery jumper cable connector of claim 24, wherein said slide element further comprises a free, forwardly projecting end section extending from said section extending substantially perpendicularly from said slide section towards said free end section of said generally elongate fixed element.

30. A battery jumper cable connector comprising:

a) generally elongated insulated member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion, said generally elongated insulated member having an upper side and said open forward portion is a longitudinal slot in said upper side;

b) means for connecting to an object comprising conductive material being positioned in said hollow portion and comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member;

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface;

d) means for attaching a means for conducting electric current to said means for connecting, said means for attaching being fastened to said means for connecting; and

e) means for conducting electric current attached to said means for connecting.

26. The battery jumper cable connector of claim 30, wherein said open forward end position of said generally elongated member is a trough, and said rearward position is substantially tubular shaped with an open end.

31. A battery jumper cable connector comprising:

a) generally elongated insulated member having a hollow portion with an interior surface in communication with an open forward portion and a rearward portion, said generally elongated insulated member having an upper side and said open forward portion is a longitudinal slot in said upper side, and said slot being open-ended at a forward end of said generally elongated member;

b) means for connecting to an object comprising conductive material being positioned in said hollow portion and comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface extending outwardly from said open forward portion of said generally elongated member;

c) means for biasing said first contact surface and said second contact surface towards each other whereby said first contact surface and said second contact surface are separated from each other by applying a force against said second contact surface;

d) means for attaching a means for conducting electric current to said means for connecting, said means for attaching being fastened to said means for connecting; and

e) means for conducting electric current attached to said means for connecting.