US3508189A - Electrical junction - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1970 c. CULVER ELECTRICAL JUNCTION :5 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1968 INVENTOR.

PEER/IV C CUL V52 April 1970 P. c. CULVER 3,508,189

ELECTRICAL JUNCTION Filed June a. 1968 s SheetsSheet 2 INVENTO PEEE/N C. CZ/AV BYM%%/ ATTOENfVS'.

A ril 21, 1970 P. c. CULVER 3,508,189

ELECTRICAL JUNCTION Filed June 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7? 7/ INVENTOR. PEEK/N 62 (UL 1/52 Ezra .6.

dZ/k 14 TTOe/V YS'.

United States Patent 3,508,189 ELECTRICAL JUNCTION Perriu C. Culver, Oceanside, Calif., assignor to The Deutsch Company Electronic Components Division, Banning, Calif., a corporation of California Filed June 3, 1968, Ser. No. 734,114 Int. Cl. H011 13/12 US. Cl. 339205 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector that includes a body of dielectric material having at least one opening therein, and a duality of sheet metal members in the opening, the sheet metal members including side edge portions, which are in adjacency and received in lateral slots extending from the opening, and having opposed arcuate portions Within the opening, each arcuate portion including a resilient tab directed inwardly toward the axis of the opening to a position adjacent the rearward shoulder of a contact received therein, each sheet metal member also including an oblique portion, these portions being in opposed relationship in the two sheet metal elements and defining arcuate segments which engage opposite sides of the forward pin portion of the contact to effect an electrical connection therewith, the rearward edges of the arcuate segments of the oblique portions presenting surfaces that preclude movement of the contact in the forward direction, the sheet metal members being adapted for construction to receive either one contact in each opening, or pairs of contacts in each opening in an end-to-end relationship, and also being adapted for construction in strips extending to additional openings for receiving additional contacts and connecting the contacts for electrical current to flow therebetween through the sheet metal members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to an electrical connector.

The prior art Electrical connecting devices that serve as junctions commonly include a bus bar or equivalent connecting means that provides a path of current for various contacts secured to it. In one form of junction device, the connector includes a body of dielectric material having openings in it, within which is a clip to hold the contact in place. The clip is of tubular shape with appropriate elements to engage and secure the contact. The contact engages the bus bar Within the body to join appropriate numbers of contacts. Prior electrical connectors of this and other types have necessitated the size, expense and complexity of the various parts required in both holding the contacts in place and joining the contacts to each other in an electrically conductive realtionship. Also, the clip devices used in securing the contacts usually are of tubular configuration with various portions bent from them to engage the contact and the body to serve the retaining function. Such tubular elements are relatively difiicult to form, particularly in the small sizes becoming increasingly prevalent for high-performance missile and aircraft applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a vastly simplied connector overcoming the difficulties encountered with prior connector and junction devices. It entirely eliminates the need for a separate bus bar or other interconnecting element. The invention includes a body of dielectric material 3,508,189 Patented Apr. 21, 1970 having openings in it to receive the contacts. Also within each opening is a duality of sheet metal members. These members include overlapping side edge portions which extend into slots in the body of the openings for positioning the sheet metal elements. Opposed resilient tabs extend from the sheet metal members for holding the contacts against movement rearwardly. These tabs are defiectable by the insertion of tubular tools to allow rear insertion and release of the electrical contacts. Also included on each sheet metal element is an oblique portion having an arcuate section that bears against the end of the contact to effect an electrical connection with it. This section of each element also has an edge that is adjacent an additional shoulder on the contact to prevent forward movement of the contact.

The sheet metal members may be made up in strips with alternate sections that are assembled in a mating relation ship to receive desired numbers of contacts and to bus them together, as the electrical circuit is completed through the sheet metal elements rather than a bus bar. The device may be made as a feed-through connector, where each pair of opposed sheet metal elements is adapted to receive two contacts in an end-to-end realtionship. It also is adaptable for use as a terminal device, where all the contacts are received from the same side, with the sheet metal elements then being of only half the lengths of those used in the feed-through configuration.

An object of this invention is to provide a simplified electrical connecting device.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connecting device that will join together in an electrically conductive relationship a plurality of contacts without requiring the use of a bus bar.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an electrical connecting device in which the same elements are used both in retaining the contacts and in bussing them together.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical connecting device that is compact in size and easily manufactured.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector which is manufacturable either as a feed-through device for accepting contacts from either end in an opposed relationship, or as a terminal device in which all the contacts are inserted from one side.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector of appropriate strength and durability that will securely hold the contacts and provide a lowresistance current path therebetween.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simplified electrical connecting device providing for rearward insertion and extraction of the contacts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connecting device in which the sheet metal parts that retain and connect the contacts include alternate sections of identical configuration allowing these parts to be arranged in many different combinations to bus together various numbers of contacts.

These and other objects will become apparent from the .following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a feed-through electrical connector in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the retainer clip, separated from the remaining components of the connector;

FIGURE is an end elevational view of the retainer clip in the assembled position;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, illustrating a modified arrangement of the retainer clip for bussing together a different number of contacts;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of a contoured sheet metal strip, severable to form the retainer clip assernblies; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating the invention as employed in a different electrical connector in which contacts are inserted from only one end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the arrangement of this invention is used in providing a feed-through type of electrical connector. In other words, this device will receive electrical contacts inserted from either end of the connector, and provide an electrical connection between them. Within the unit, desired combinations of the contacts in the various openings are bussed together.

The device includes a housing 10 made up of identical sections 11 and 12 of rigid dielectric material, such as a hard plastic. The housing sections include flat abutting surfaces that are secured together at the plane of engagement 13 by suitable means, such as sonic welding. The housing 10 includes a plurality of openings 14 extending from one end of the housing to the other. In the embodiment illustrated, there are eight of the openings 14 arranged with their axes parallel in two straight rows of four. At their outer ends, the housing sections 11 and 12 are recessed to receive sealing inserts 15 and 16 preferably made of a resilient elastomer, such as rubber. The openings 14 continue through the members 15 and 16, so that there is an uninterrupted passageway from one end of the unit to the other at the location of each of the openings 14. Within the openings 14 in the member 15 are annular ribs 18, 19 and 20 that bear against the peripheries of the wires extending through them to provide a moistureproof seal. Similar ribs 22, 23 and 24 in the member 16 provide a seal for the wires extending inwardly from the opposite end of the openings 14.

At the right-hand side of the connector shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3, an insulated Wire 25 extends downwardly into the upper portion of the opening 14. The insulation is removed from the end of the wire 25, which is received within the hollow barrel 26 of a pin contact 27. There, it is secured to the contact by crimping or other suitable means. The contact 27 includes an enlarged annular portion 28 beyond which is a short forwardly projecting pin section 29. A forward shoulder 30 is provided between the annular section 28 and the pin portion 29, while a rearward shoulder 31 is located between the annular portion 28 and the barrel 26.

An additional wire 32 extends upwardly into the bottom end of the same opening 14 and connects to the barrel portion 33 of a similar pin contact 34. The latter element includes a rearward shoulder 35 between the annular enlargement 36 and the barrel 33. A forward shoulder 37 is located between the annular section 36 and the projecting pin portion 38.

In the upper portion of the adjacent opening 14 to the left is an additional contact 39 at the end of a wire 40. The bottom portion of this opening 14 does not contain a contact or wire, as the device is shown.

The contacts 27, 34 and 39 are held in the opening 14 in the positions shown by means of a retainer clip assembly 41. The latter unit is seen alone in exploded perspective in FIGURE 4 and in end elevation in its assembled position in FIGURE 5. The retainer clip assembly 41 is made up of two sheet metal sections 42 and 43,

which may be made of resilient beryllium copper or other appropriate electrically conductive material. The unit shown is adapted to retain a maximum of four contacts in sets of two in axially aligned end-to-end relationship.

The sheet metal member 42 is generally U-shaped in end elevation. Along its side edges are longitudinally extending flanges 45 and 46. Inwardly of the flanges 45 and 46, the element 42 includes upstanding walls 47 and 48 which, through arcuate portions 49 and 50, connect to a flat longitudinal central portion 51. The central portion 51 is parallel to the side flanges 45 and 46, and perpendicular to the walls 47 and 48.

Inwardly of either end, the member 42 is cut longitudinally and transversely to allow four generally triangular tabs 52, 53, 54 and 55 to be bent inwardly. The tabs are formed from the arcuate portions 49 and 50 of the member 42. They are resilient and preferably of spiral contour, terminating in end edges 56, 57, 58 and 59, which are radial relative to the curvature of the arcuate portions 49 and 50.

The middle portion of the member 42 includes oblique sections 61 and 62 that are inclined at an angle of 45 relative to the plane of the portion 51 and that of the flanges 45 and 46. The oblique sections 61 and 62 converge from locations adjacent the bases of the side walls 47 and 48 to the central planar section 51, but are spaced apart at the latter location. The oblique sections 61 and 62 at their side edges are planar, inwardly of which are arcuate portions 63 and 64 defined by segments of cylinders. The material of the member 42 is cut away so that the ends of the arcuate segments 63 and 64 are spaced from the adjacent ends of the inwardly inclined tabs 52, 53, 54 and 55. Thus, the ends 66 and 67 of the arcuate segment 63 are spaced from the end edges 56 and 59 of the tabs 52 and 53, respectively. Similarly, there is a spacing between the end edges 58 and 59 of the tabs 54 and 55, and the adjacent ends 68 and 69 of the arcuate segment 64. This spacing is slightly greater than the lengths of the enlarged annular portions 28 and 36 of the contacts to be retained. The ends 66, 67, '68 and 69 of the arcuate segments are bent outwardly, as illustrated, so that there are provided inclined entrances into the arcuate portions 63 and 64.

The member 43 is contoured to mate with the member 42 to provide two elongated receptacle portions. The member 43 includes two substantially flat longitudinal side edge portions 71 and 72 which connect to arcuate portions 73 and 74. Each of the latter sections extends through approximately 90, and they connect to parallel upstanding walls 75 and 76. A flat, relatively narrow longitudinal wall 77, which is parallel to the side portions 71 and 72, interconnects the upper edges of the walls 75 and 76.

Inwardly of the ends of the members 43 are spiralshaped resilient tabs 79, 80, 81 and 82, inclined inwardly relative to the axes of curvature of the arcuate portions 73 and 74. These tabs, which are similar in size and shape to the tabs '52, 53, 54 and 55, terminate in forward edges 83, 84, 85 and 86 that are radial relative to the arcuate portions 73 and 74. The central oblique portions 87 and 88 of the member 43 correspond to the sections 61 and 62 of the member 42, being inclined at 45 relative to the flat portions 71, 72 and 77. The oblique sections 87 and 88 have central arcuate portions 89 and 90 that are segments of cylinders. The ends 91 and 92 of the portion 89, and 93 and 94 of the portion 90, incline outwardly away from the axis of curvature to provide sloping entrances to the arcuate central sections. These ends are spaced from the end edges of the resilient tabs 79, 80, 81 and 82 a distance slightly greater than that of the length of the annular enlargement of a contact.

The sections 42 and 43 of the retainer clip assembly are assembled as indicated in FIGURE 4. In this relationship, the side flanges 45 and 46 of the section 42 bear against the outer edges of the logitudinally extending side portions 71 and 72 of the member 43. Also, the central portion of the fiat part 51 of the member 42 engages the longitudinally extending central portion 77 of the member 43. The retainer tabs 52 and 53 are opposed to the retainer tabs 79 and 80, respectively, while the tabs 54 and 55 are positioned opposite from the tabs 81 and 82, respectively. The areuateportions 49 and 50 of the members 42 are disposed oppositely from the arcuate corners 73 and 74, respectively, of the member 43. Similarly, the oblique central portions 61 and 62 of the member 42 are in opposed relationship and spaced from the corresponding oblique portions 87 and 88 of the mem' ber 43. These portions of the two sections of the retainer clip assembly 41 thereby define two longitudinally extending openings 96 and 97 through the retainer clip assembly.

The outer end portions 99 and 100 of the openings 14in the housing sections 11 and 12, respectively, are cylindrical in shape. Inwardly of these outer portions, the openings 14 are substantially square. Radial shoulders 101 and 102 are provided between the cylindrical end portions 99 and 100 and the central square portion. The assembled clip members 42 and 43 fit within the square portions of the openings 14, being held against movement axially of the openings 14 by the shoulders 101 and 102. The elements 42 and 43 fit within two adjacent square central portions of the openings 14, these being the lower right-hand two openings 14 as the device is seen in FIG- URE 2. These adjacent openings are interconnected by a transverse slot 104 that extends between two adjacent corners of the openings. The upper edge of the slot 104, as viewed in FIGURE 2, forms a continuation of the flat upper walls of the two openings 14. The superimposed portions 51 and 77 of the members 42 and '43 fit within the slot 104, where they are closely confined. At the opposite corners of the two adjacent openings 14 are additional slots 105 and 106 that are parallel to the slot 104. The lower walls of these slots are extensions of the lower walls of the openings 14 from which they project. The side flange 45 of the member 42, and the outer edge of the side portion 71 of the member 43 fit substantially complementarily within the slot 105. The other side edge 46 of the member 42, together with the outer portion of the side 72 of the member 43, is received within the slot 106.

In addition, the openings 14 are dimensioned so that the planar walls 47, 48 and 51 of the member 42 and 71 and 72 of the member 43 bear against the sides of the openings 14. Also, the walls 75 and 76 contact the walls of the adjacent openings 14 on either side of the interconnecting web of the housing 10. In this manner, the retainer clip assembly 41 is securely positioned within the housing 10.

The contacts 27 and 34, after having been associated with the wires and 32, are inserted into the opposite ends of the opening 14 at the right-hand side as the connector is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. That is to say, the contact 27 is pushed inwardly through the elastomeric element 15 into one end of the opening 14, while the other contact 34 is inserted through the elastomeric sealing member 16 into the opposite end of the opening 14. As the contacts enter, they pry the tabs outwardly, permitting them subsequently to snap into place behind the shoulders 31 and 35 of the contacts 27 and 34. Thus, as the contact 27 is pushed into the opening 14 in one direction, its annular enlarged portion 28 engages and slides along the generally longitudinal edges 107 and 108 of the two opposed tabs 52 and 79. This deflects the tabs outwardly, opening them up so that the enlarged portion 28 of the contact may pass between them. After the shoulder 31 of the enlarged portion 28 of the contact 27 passes the forward ends 56 and 83 of the tabs 52 and 79', respectively, the tabs 52 and 79 can move inwardly to where their inner corners bear against the surface of the barrel portion 26 of the contact 27. This presents the radial for- 6 Ward ends 56 and 83 of the two tabs adjacent the radial shoulder 31 of the contact, so that the contact is prevented from withdrawal toward the rear.

As the contact 27 is being inserted, its pin portion 29 enters the space between the arcuate sections 63 and 89 of the clip members 42 and 43. The pin end 29 moves smoothly into the space between the sections 63 and 89 as the inclined entrance portions 66 and 91 make certain that the contact does not become obstructed as it is slid into position. The contact 27 may move inwardly until the forward shoulder 30 of the contact is adjacent the shoulders defined by the ends 66 and 91 of the arcuate portions 63 and 89 of the retainer clip sections 42 and 43. This limits the travel of the contact in the forward direction. Thus, when the contact 27 is moved to the position shown in FIGURE 3, it is prevented from axial movement in either direction.

The insertion and retention of the contact 34, and that of the contact 39, of course, are the same as that of the contact 27.

When the forward pin ends of the contacts enter the space between the arcuate segments of the central oblique portions of the retainer clip, they spring these segments outwardly. The parts are dimensioned so that this will occur in order to assure firm engagement with the contacts and a consequent low-resistance current path. The arcuate segments, therefore, are resiliently biased against the surfaces of the contacts between them.

However, when only one contact is present in an opening in the connector, its pin end will tend to cock the arcuate segments it engages as they become expanded only at one end. Such cocking will make the entrance to the arcuate segments more narrow at their opposite ends. This may be avoided by providing transverse slots in the oblique sections that allow the two end portions of the arcuate segments thereof to move independently. Consequently, there are transverse slots 109 and 110 at the center of the oblique segments 61 and 62, respectively, of the member 42. Similar slots 111 and 112 are provided in the oblique sections 87 and 88, respectively, of the member 43. As can be seen in FIGURE 2, there is no contact in the bottom portion of the opening receiving the contact 39 at its upper end, yet the arcuate seg ments 64 and maintain their axes parallel to that of the opening 14, as they are permitted to flex independently above the slots and 112.

When the contacts 27, 34 and 39 are positioned Within the retainer clip assembly 41, an electrical connection is created as current can flow among the contacts through the members 42 and 43. Each of the members 42 and 43 acts as a carrier of electrical current. There is a large area of engagement around the projecting pin portions of the contacts, where the opposed arcuate portions 63 and 89, and 64 and 90, substantially complementarily engage the contacts (see FIGURE 6). This results in a low-resistance path for the current between each contact and the members 42 and 43. Thus, a connection is effected among the wires 25, 32 and 40 when the contacts 27, 34 and 39 are inserted into the retainer clip assembly 41 within the housing 10.

As the device is illustrated, three contacts 27, 34 and 39 are received Within the retainer clip assembly 41. Obviously, other combinations of contacts may be made, and a fourth contact may be introduced into the lower portion of the left-hand opening 14 as seen in FIGURE 3.

The arrangement of this invention not only is advantageous in securely holding the contacts in position and providing an effective electrical connection, but also simplifies the insertion and removal of the contacts. The contacts are held by a rear-release system wherein there need be access only to the rearward portions of the contacts where they are joined to the wires, rather than to the forward ends of the contacts remote from the wires. Removal of any contact is effected by insertion of a standard tubular removal tool into the opening 14, which will pry the retaining tabs outwardly away from the rearward contact shoulder. Then, the contact is free to be pulled from the opening 14 by the wire secured to it. Also, a tubular installation tool is utilized, pushing the contacts into the openings 14 for engagement by the retainer clip assembly 41. While the sheet metal members 42 and 43 may be made of relatively light-gauge material, they securely hold the contacts and are not vulnerable to damage during installation, removal or service conditions. The shapes of the parts allow the contacts to be inserted and removed Without catching or tending to bend or distort any of the components. Consequently, there is a long service life for the connector.

These advantages are obtained with a construction that is particularly simple to manufacture. The retainer clip sections 42 and 43 are easily stamped and bent from fiat sheet metal, requiring no complicated or ditficult fabrication procedures. They are less difiicult to form than conventional retainer clips, which normally are of tubular configuration. In the present design, it is unnecessary to bend anything to a tubular shape. No connection is necessary between the two sections 42 and 43 of the retainer clip assembly 41 as they merely may be dropped into place within the openings 14. In some instances, however, it may be preferred to spot-weld or otherwise attach the retainer clip sections together. This permits the retainer clip assembly 41 to be handled as a unit during assembly. A minimum number of parts is required for the completed connector, as the assembly 41 serves not only to retain the contacts but also to provide the means of conducting electricity among them. I he need for a separate bus bar or other connecting element is entirely avoided.

The retainer clip 41 as shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, as mentioned above, is devised to interconnect up to four contacts. However, the design is well adapted to connect other numbers of contacts as desired. As shown in FIGURE 7, the unit will bus together the contacts in four of the openings 14, so that eight contacts in all are interconnected. Nevertheless, only two pieces of sheet metal are required for the retainer clip assembly that holds all the contacts and serves as the means to bus them together. In such a construction, the two sheet metal strips 113 and 113a are formed similarly, but terminated at different locations. Each strip is extended laterally to reproduce an additional section of the clip assembly 41. There are, in effect, therefore, two sections 42 positioned in an edge-to-edge relationship and mated with similarly arranged sections 43 in the row of four openings 14 in the housing 114. The housing 114 is provided with a slot 115 between the two central openings 14, and opposite additional slots 116 and 117 leading to the outer openings 14. At the outer corners there are shorter slots 118 and 119, similar to the slots 105 and 106. Very little modification of the tooling is needed in molding the housing to provide for bussing of different combinations of contacts.

Normally, in production, it is preferred to manufacture the retainer clip elements from an elongated strip formed as illustrated in FIGURE 8. This strip may be cut transversely to then provide mating clip assemblies of any desired capacity. Actually, therefore, only one part forms both the sections 42 and the sections 43 needed in a completed contact retainer of any size. Also, the sections 42 and 43 blend together in the contoured strip that is used to make up the assemblies. That is to say, the only real distinction between the sections 42 and 43 is in the locations where the cuts are made in the contoured strip. Thus, the side portions of two adjacent sections 42 constitute a section 43 if appropriately severed at the middle of their central walls along the lines A. Similarly, two adjoining sections 43 cut at their centers at the lines B then become a section 42. In a unit of the capacity of that shown in FIGURE 7, or larger, the various segments of the clip assembly serve simultaneously as portions of both the sections 42 and the sections 43. Also, the device can be made to hold only two contacts in an end-to-end relationship through the use of two segments, each of which extends between two adjacent lines A and B. Consequently, the retainer clip has great versatility, and it is one of the significant advantages of this invention that only a single relatively easily produced strip need be cut to appropriate lengths to provide both parts of the retainer clip assembly made to any capacity.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 7, the contacts are connected in straight rows. It is possible to interconnect contacts around a corner with a slight modification, such as shown in the left-hand portion of FIGURE 2. Here, it may be seen that there is an outer sheet metal element 120 that defines, in effect, two of the sections 42 in an edge-to-edge relationship interconnected by a transversely extending section 121. The mating part 122 is the equivalent of two of the sections 43 in an edge-toedge relationship, also interconnected by a lateral portion 123. The result is a retainer clip arrangement that interconnects the four openings shown, which are positioned in a square pattern rather than a continuous row. A slot 124 interconnects the two left-hand openings and receives the lateral portions 121 and 123 of the clip members 120 and 122.

The device has been described previously as relating to a feed-through type of electrical connector in which contacts are inserted from either end. It is equally adaptable for a junction device in which all the contacts enter from one side. This type of arrangement is the equivalent of the feed-through construction, but only half the length. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 9, the retainer clip assembly 125 is made up of sections 126 and 127 that are only half as long as the sections 42 and 43. Each of these, therefore, includes only a single resilient retainer tab, the section 126 having a tab 128, with an opposing tab 129 being provided on the section 127. The central arcuate portions 130 and 131 of the two clip portions 126 and 127 are dimensioned in length to receive only the projecting pin portion of one contact. Also, there is an end wall 132 over the bottom end of the housing 133 that closes the ends of the openings 134. The clip assemblies 125 are arranged to bus together the contacts in as many of the openings 134 as desired, so that the contacts will be interconnected in appropriate combinations.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only.

I claim:

1. A retainer clip device for receiving, holding and establishing an electrical connection with an electrically conductive element comprising a duality of sheet members,

each of said members having side edge portions, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween,

said side edge portions being in overlapping adjacent relationship, said intermediate portions beingin opposed spaced relationship, each of said members having a resilient tab means extending inwardly from the intermediate portion thereof toward the intermediate portion of the other of said'members,

said tab means having abutment surfaces for engaging the shoulder of a contact received therebetween, each of said intermediate portions having an acurate segment for engaging the pin portionof a contact received therebetween and establishing an electrical connection therewith,

each of said intermediate portions having an additional abutment surface for engaging another shoulder of a Contact,

said members including means for connection to an additional electrically conductive member. 2. An electrical connector comprising a body of dielectric material, said body having at least one opening therein, an electrically conductive member in said opening, said electrically conductive member having a forward shoulder, a rearward shoulder, and a contact surface, and a duality of sheet metal members in said opening, said sheet metal members having opposed portions defining a receptacle receiving said electrically conductive member,

said opposed portions of said sheet metal members including deflectable resilient tab means adjacent said rearward shoulder for preventing movement of said electrically conductive member in one direction, abutment means adjacent said forward shoulder for preventing movement of said electrically conductive member in the opposite direction, means resiliently engaging said contact surface for establishing an electrical connection therewith, and means for connection to an additional electrically conductive member for establishing an electrical connection between said first-mentioned electrically conductive member and said additional electrically conductive member. 3. An electrical connector device comprising a body of rigid dielectric material,

said body having an opening therein, an electrical contact in said opening,

said contact including a rearwardly facing shoulder, a forwardly facing shoulder, and a forward pin portion, and a plurality of sheet metal members in said opening,

said members including resilient tab means inclined inwardly toward the axis of said opening, said tab means including a surface adjacent said rearwardly facing shoulder for preventing removal of said contact in a rearward direction, said members including arcuate portions,

said arcuate portions receiving and engaging said pin portion of said contact for establishing an electrical connection therewith, said members including surface means adjacent said forward shoulder of said contact for preventing movement of said contact in a forward direction, said members further including means for connection to an electrically conductive element for conduction of current between said element and said contact. 4. An electrical connector device comprising a body of dielectric material,

said body having an opening and having a duality of spaced slots in communication with and extending longitudinaly of said opening, a contact in said opening,

said contact having a rearward shoulder, a forward shoulder, and a forward portion beyond said forward shoulder, a duality of sheet metal members in said opening,

said members including marginal portions in abutment and received in said slots, the portions of said sheet metal members intermediate said marginal portions defining a receptacle receiving said contact,

said receptacle including spaced portions of said members resiliently gripping said forward portion of said contact, a first abutment engaging said forward shoulder of said contact, and a second abutment engaging said rearward should of said contact,

1% said second abutment including a spring element engageable reardwardly of said contact and adapted to be pried away from said rearward shoulder for thereby releasing said contact, and means for connecting said members to an additional electrically conductive element. 5. A device as recited in claim 4 including in addition a second contact in said opening in end-to-end rela tionship with said first-mentioned contact for providing said additional electrically conductive element,

said second contact being similar in configuration to said first-mentioned contact, said means for connecting said members to said additional electrically conductive element including an extension of said sheet metal members in said opensaid extension including marginal portions and an intermediate portion similar in configuration to said first-mentioned marginal and intermediate portions, said intermediate portion of said extension engaging said second contact similarly to the engage ment of said first-mentioned intermediate portion and said first-mentioned contact.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said spaced portions of said members are arcuate, said spaced portions including transverse slots therein intermediate the forward portions of said contacts for allowing independ ent flexure upon the introduction of said forward portions of said contacts.

7. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said body of dielectric material includes an additional opening adjacent said first-mentioned opening,

said body including additional spaced slots extending longitudinally of and in communication with said additional opening,

one of said additional slots forming an extension of one of said first-mentioned slots. said means for connection to an additional electrically conductive element including a lateral extension of said sheet metal members extending through said one slot and said extension thereof into said additional opening,

said extension including additional marginal portions in said other additional slot, and including an additional intermediate portion in said additional opening similar in configuration to said first-mentioned intermediate portion.

and including, in addition, a second contact, in said additional opening for providing said additional electrically conductive element,

said second contact being similar in configuration to said first-mentioned contact,

said additional intermediate portion engaging said second contact similarly to the engagement of said first-mentioned intermediate portion and said first-mentioned contact. 8. An electrical connecting device comprising a body of rigid dielectric material,

said body having an opening therein,

said opening having a central portion and a duality of slots extending laterally therefrom on opposite sides thereof, an electrical contact in said central portion of said opening,

said electrical contact including a rearwardly facing shoulder, a forwardly facing shoulder, and a substantially cylindrical pin portion, and a duality of sheet metal members in said opening, each of said members including a duality of side edge portions,

said side edge portions of said members being in interengagement and received in said slots, each of said members including a first arcuate portion interconnecting said side edge portions,

each of said first arcuate portions including a resilient tab means extending inwardly toward the axis of said central portion of said opening and having a surface adjacent said rearward shoulder for precluding movement of said contact in a rearward direction,

each of said members including an oblique section, each of said oblique sections including a second arcuate portion, said second arcuate portions of said oblique sections engaging said pin portion on opposite sides thereof and establishing an electrical connection therewith, each of said second arcuate portions including a surface adjacent said forward shoulder for preventing movement of said contact in a forward direction, said members including means for connection to an electrically conductive member for establishing a connection between such an electrically conductive member and said electrical contact.

9. A device as recited in claim 8 in which each of said first arcuate portions extends through approximately 90.

10. A device as recited in claim 8 in which each of said resilient tab means is an arcuate element having a first substantially longitudinal edge, and a second substantially radial edge defining said surface adjacent said rearward shoulder.

11. A device as recited in claim 10 in which each of said resilient tab means is substantially spiral-shaped.

12. A device as recited in claim 8 in which each of said second arcuate portions includes a radially and axially outwardly inclined edge portion for facilitating entry of said pin portion between said second arcuate portions, said edge portions defining said surfaces adjacent said forward shoulder.

13. A device for receiving, retaining and forming an electrical connection with an electrical contact comprising a body of rigid dielectric material,

said body having an opening therein, a duality of sheet metal members in said opening,

said members being in opposed relationship to define a receptacle adapted to receive an electrical contact, each of said members including a resilient tab inclined inwardly toward the axis of said opening,

said tabs having abutment surfaces for engaging a shoulder on an electrical contact received in said receptacle for preventing movement of said contact in one direction, said members including opposed spaced arcuate portions for gripping a portion of said electrical contact therebetween and providing an electrical connection therewith said arcuate portions having abutment surfaces adjacent and spaced from said abutment surfaces of said tabs for engaging another shoulder of said contact and preventing movement of said contact in the opposite direction,

and means for providing a connection to an additional electrically conductive member.

14. A device as recited in claim 13 in which for said means for providing a connection to an additional electrically conductive member said body is provided with an additional opening therein adjacent said first-mentioned opening,

and a slot interconnecting said openings, said members having lateral extensions in said slot, and additional portions in said additional opening and connected to said lateral extensions,

said additional portions including resilient tabs and arcuate portions similar to said first-mentioned resilient tabs and arcuate portions,

whereby said additional portions are adapted to receive and provide an electrical connection with an additional electrical contact.

15. A device as recited in claim 13 in which said means for providing a connection to an additional electrically conductive member includes extensions of said arcuate portions,

said extensions having abutment surfaces thereon,

each of said members being extended beyond said extensions of said arcuate portions and including an additional resilient tab inclined inwardly toward the axis of said opening,

said additional tabs having abutment surfaces adjacent and spaced from said abutment surfaces of said extensions of said arcuate portions,

whereby said members are adapted to receive and provide an electrical connection with an additional electrical contact.

16. A device as recited in claim 15 in which each of said members is provided with a transverse slot between said arcuate portion thereof and said extension of said arcuate portion, for thereby allowing said arcuate portion and said extension of said arcuate portion to flex independently in receiving and gripping electrical contacts.

17. A device for retaining a plurality of electrical contacts in an electrically conductive relationship comprising a duality of sheet metal members,

the first of said sheet metal members including a duality of spaced planar longitudinal side edge portions,

a sidewall projecting substantially vertically from each of said side edge portions inwardly of the outer edge thereof,

an arcuate portion extending through approximately and extending from the upper edge of each of said sidewalls,

a planar central Wall interconnecting the inner edges of said arcuate portions,

said central Wall being parallel to said side edge portions, each of said arcuate portions including a resilient tab inclined inwardly toward the axis thereof,

each of said tabs having an abutment surface at the inner portion thereof, said first member including a duality of oblique portions adjacent the ends of said arcuate portions,

each of said oblique portions extending from a sidewall to said central Wall,

said oblique portions converging toward said central wall, each of said oblique portions including an arcuate portion centrally thereof and having an end surface adjacent and spaced from said abutment surface of said tab, the second of said members including a duality of second relatively wide spaced planar longitudinal side edge portions,

a duality of second arcuate portions extending from the inner edges of said second side edge portions, a duality of parallel spaced inner walls extending from the ends of said second arcuate portions and substantially normal to said second side edge portions, said second member including a relatively narrow planar longitudinally extending second central wall substantially parallel to said secand side edge portions and interconnecting the ends of said inner walls thereof,

each of said second arcuate portions including a second resilient tab inclined inwardly toward the axis thereof,

each of said second tabs having an abutment surface at the inner portion thereof, said second member including a duality of second oblique portions,

said second oblique portions interconnecting said second side edge portions and said inner walls, said second oblique portions being convergent toward said inner walls, each of said second oblique portions including an arcuate portion centrally thereof and having an end surface adjacent and spaced from said surface of said second tab, said side edge portions of said first member overlapping and abutting the marginal portions of said second side edge portions, said central wall of said first member overlapping and abutting said second central Wall, said oblique portions of said first member being opposed to said second oblique portions, and said arcuate portions of said oblique portions of said first member being opposed to said arcuate portions of said second oblique portions,

whereby said first and second members define a duality of receptacles therethrough adapted to receive electrical contacts, a body of substantially rigid dielectric material, said body having a duality of openings therein, each of said openings receiving an arcuate portion of said first member and a second arcuate portion, and receiving an oblique portion of said first member and a second oblique portion, said body including a first slot receiving said abutting central portions of said members,

said first slot extending between and communicating with said openings, said body including an additional slot communicating with each of said openings,

each additional slot receiving one of said overlapping side edge portions of said first member and said marginal portion of said second side edge portion, said body having a shoulder at either end of said openings adjacent the ends of said first and and second members for preventing axial movement of said first and second members in said openings relative to said body.

18. A device for providing a retainer clip assembly for connecting and retaining electrical contacts comprising a strip of sheet metal,

said strip including a series of identical sections, each section including a central portion, a side portion adjacent either side of said central portion, and a portion extending between said central portion and each of said side portions,

said portions extending between said central portion and said side portions including recessed segments and abutment surfaces, said sections including inwardly bent resilient tab means,

said tab means including abutment surfaces, said strip further including portions interconnecting the side portions of adjacent sections,

whereby said strip is severable at said interconnecting portions and at said central portions intermediate said oblique sections to provide mating units for receiving and retaining electrical contacts. 19. A device as recited in claim 18 in which said portions extending from said central portion to said side portions are oblique and convergent said central portion.

20. A device as recited in claim 18 in which said identical sections include arcuate portions interconnecting said central portions and said side portions,

said portions extending between said central portion and said side portions being oblique, convergent toward said central portion, spaced apart at said central portion, and spaced from said tabs, said recessed segments being arcuate for engaging the sides of an electrical contact.

21. A device as recited in claim 20 in which said side portions are substantially normal to said central portion a and to said interconnecting portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,441 6/1928 McKinley 339-208 2,402,578 6/1946 Rollow 339-205 3,354,421 11/1967 Rodgers 339242 X 3,383,642 5/1968 Nova et al. 3392l7 X 3,383,644 5/1968 Nova et al. 339-242 X 5 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

32 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 189 D d April 21, 1970 I v Perrin C. Culver It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 68, "acurate" should read arcuate Column 10, line 51, contact, in" should read contact in SIGNED KND SEALED AUG 4 .1910

fiEAL) Afloat: mm mm! E. mm, m. Awest'mg Officer Oomissioner of Patents

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