USRE32810E - Electrical contact for terminating insulated conductors - Google Patents

Electrical contact for terminating insulated conductors Download PDF

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Publication number
USRE32810E
USRE32810E US07/053,657 US5365787A USRE32810E US RE32810 E USRE32810 E US RE32810E US 5365787 A US5365787 A US 5365787A US RE32810 E USRE32810 E US RE32810E
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
conductor
contact member
insulation
piercing
arm
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/053,657
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English (en)
Inventor
Weldon L. Brubaker
Arnold A. Case
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of USRE32810E publication Critical patent/USRE32810E/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
    • H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
    • H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
    • H01R4/2466—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the contact members having a channel-shaped part, the opposite sidewalls of which comprise insulation-cutting means

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to electrical contact members for terminating insulated conductors, and specifically, to a contact member having the capability of terminating a conductor without prior removal of the conductor's insulative coating.
  • a wide variety of methods and devices are available for terminating an insulated electrical conductor such that the conductor may provide a reliable electrical connection between circuitry apparatus of diverse type. Because of its inherent economies, a preferred method involves terminating a conductor to a contact member without prior stripping or removal of the insulative coating covering the conductor. Such a method is particularly well suited for use in the telecommunications or data processing industries, wherein electronic equipment is often field-installed or serviced. By eliminating the step of stripping the insulation from the conductor, significant economics are possible in the wiring of electronic or electrical apparatus.
  • Solid core conductors which typically comprise a unitary core of conductive material covered with a dielectric coating, are best suited for insulation displacement techniques because of the relative rigidity of the central core. Conversely, piercing methods are generally unreliable for use with a solid core conductor.
  • Stranded wire usually has a core consisting of a plurality of relatively thin conductive members grouped together. This type of wire may be terminated by either insulation piercing or insulation displacement, if suitable precautions are taken in the design of the contact member to assure a reliable electrical connection to the terminated wire.
  • Tinsel conductors typically comprise a plurality of tinsel ribbons wrapped helically about a filamentary core with the resulting assembly enclosed in a textile braid or nylon jacket. This type of conductor is known to be unsuitable for termination by insulation displacement, inasmuch as the filamentary core is too soft to provide for appropriate contact forces between the contact member and the tinsel ribbon.
  • the principal object of the present invention to provide a contact member having the capability of establishing a reliable electrical connection with either a solid, a stranded, or a tinsel wire.
  • Yet another object is to provide such a contact member in the form of a unitary structure.
  • a still further object is to provide a housing for the contact member which permits for ease of conductor termination in field installation situations without the requirement of specially made implements.
  • a contact member for forming an electrical connection with an insulated conductor includes a plate having a slot defining a pair opposed edges for severing and displacing the insulation of the conductor inserted therebetween. A mouth formed at an edge of the plate opens to the slot and leads to a relatively narrow section for receiving and terminating the conductor to the contact member.
  • insulation piercing means are connected to and spaced laterally from the plate, in alignment with the slot, for piercing the insulation of a conductor upon its termination to the contact member.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the contact members shown in FIG. 1 may be formed.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the contact member in its fully formed state.
  • the connector assembly 10 is of a type suitable for use in telecommunications applications and comprises a dielectric housing 12 fitted with a plurality of contact members 14 for forming electrical connections with respective insulated conductors 16.
  • the housing 12 includes a plurality of internal partitions 18 which define recesses 20 for receiving and electrically isolating the contact members 14.
  • An opening 22 in the housing 12 allows for exit of the terminated conductors 16, and suitable strain relief formations 24 are provided internally of the housing 12 to aid in the prevention of dissociation of the conductors 16 from the contact members 14.
  • a plastic living hinge arrangement 28 Extending from sidewalls 26 of the housing 12 by means of a plastic living hinge arrangement 28 are a plurality of termination tabs 30 corresponding in number to the number of contact members 14 housed within the assembly 10.
  • the termination tabs 30 carry ram blocks 32 and 34 which are receivable within the recesses 20, for purposes which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
  • Ramp-like latching projections 35 extend from the sides of the blocks 34.
  • the connector assembly 10 includes a suitable cover 36 connected to the housing 12 by means of an integrally formed hinge 38.
  • the cover 36 may be adapted to snap fit over the housing after tabs 30 and blocks 32 and 34 are received within their respective recesses 20.
  • the contact member 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown as it would appear in the form of a stamped, sheet metal blank, designated generally by the reference numeral 14'.
  • the blank 14' is preferably a unitary piece of relatively thin, highly conductive material.
  • the contact member 14 includes a central body 40 portion from which an elongated, blade-like terminal portion 42 extends providing an electrical contact member for connection to other circuitry apparatus (not shown). Extending from the opposite side of the body 40 is a retention tab 44. Both the terminal portion 42 and tab 44 have a pair of ears 46 extending laterally therefrom for retaining the contact member 14 between the partitions 18 formed in the housing 12.
  • the body 40 portion also carries a pair of wings 48 connected to the body portion 40 by support members 50. Each wing 48 is the mirror image of the other and is seen to include an insulation displacement portion and insulation piercing portion, designated generally by the reference numerals 52 and 54, respectively.
  • the insulation displacement portion 52 is adapted to form an electrical connection with an insulated conductor by severing and displacing the insulative coating of the conductor core.
  • a plate 56 is provided and includes a slot 58 having a mouth 60 opening to an edge of the plate 56.
  • the insulation piercing portion 54 is intended to establish an electrical connection with an insulated conductor by the method of piercing the insulative coating, and therefrom, is formed with an arm 62 having an opening 64 for guiding the insulated conductor.
  • the opening 64 is generally U-shaped and at its bight portion is adapted with an upwardly pointing barb 66.
  • the support members 50 are adapted with latching apertures 68, the operation of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
  • the contact member 44 is shown as it would appear in a fully formed state.
  • the wings 48 are bent upwardly on their support members 50 and each plate 56 is bent through an angle of ninety degrees such that plates 56 are substantially parallel one to another.
  • each arm 62 of the insulation piercing portions 54 is bent at right angles so as to reside in a plane which is substantially parallel to the planes of the plates 56. Because of this resulting U-shape forming of the wings 48, the insulation piercing barbs 66 and insulation displacement slots 58 are all aligned along a common axis of termination designated generally by the reference numeral 70.
  • the insulative coating is pierced by the barbs 66 of the insulation piercing portion 54 of the contact member 14 and the conductor 16 assumes a terminated position along the axis 70.
  • the latching projections 35 thereupon engage the upper edges of the apertures 68 of respective contact members 14, thereby retaining the conductors 16 in seated position against the advent of vibration.
  • the barbs 66 provide for effective termination of the tinsel conductor by piercing its insulative coating and establishing contact with the tinsel ribbon.
  • the insulation displacement slots 58 provide for the effective termination of those conductor types as well.
  • the insulation piercing portion of the contact member 14 is spaced above the body portion 40 by appropriate dimensioning of the support member 50.
  • the arms 62 are, thereby, cantilevered over the body 40, a solid core conductor will cause the arms 62 to deflect downwardly due to natural resilience of the arm material and the inability of the barbs 66 to penetrate the core of the conductor. Therefore, the barbs 66 will not interfere with the action of the insulation displacement slots 58 in providing effective electrical contact between the solid conductor core and the contact member 14.

Landscapes

  • Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
  • Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
US07/053,657 1982-11-22 1987-05-26 Electrical contact for terminating insulated conductors Expired - Fee Related USRE32810E (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8233243 1982-11-22
GB8233243 1982-11-22

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/549,109 Reissue US4538872A (en) 1983-11-07 1983-11-07 Electrical contact for terminating insulated conductors

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
USRE32810E true USRE32810E (en) 1988-12-27

Family

ID=10534415

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/053,657 Expired - Fee Related USRE32810E (en) 1982-11-22 1987-05-26 Electrical contact for terminating insulated conductors

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) USRE32810E (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
EP (1) EP0112051B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS59103285A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3367304D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB2130820B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0382039A1 (de) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-16 Grote & Hartmann GmbH & Co. KG Schneidklemmkontaktelement sowie Steckergehäuse mit Schneidklemmkontaktelementen
WO1994018721A1 (en) * 1993-02-05 1994-08-18 Henry Guy Stevens Electric plugs

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4586775A (en) * 1984-08-03 1986-05-06 General Motors Corporation Duplex insulation displacement terminal
US4728298A (en) * 1985-06-20 1988-03-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Contact member
FR2650706B1 (fr) * 1989-08-07 1992-09-04 Labinal Dispositif de raccordement d'un conducteur de derivation a un conducteur principal isole
US5019795A (en) * 1989-12-06 1991-05-28 Molex Incorporated Splice block for security system switch
NL192314C (nl) * 1991-05-02 1997-05-07 Du Pont Nederland Connector bevattende een isolatieverplaatsingscontact.
DE9203355U1 (de) * 1992-03-12 1993-07-15 Grote & Hartmann Gmbh & Co Kg, 5600 Wuppertal Elektrisches Kontaktelement mit Schneidklemmen
US5643004A (en) * 1992-09-04 1997-07-01 Quante Aktiengesellschaft Electric connection contact in a single piece
DE9211917U1 (de) * 1992-09-04 1992-11-12 Quante AG, 5600 Wuppertal Einstückiger Anschlußkontakt

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3878318A (en) * 1973-01-02 1975-04-15 Amp Inc Aluminum electrical connection
US4243286A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-01-06 Methode Electronics, Inc. Insulation displacement connector

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3971615A (en) * 1974-06-11 1976-07-27 Syunichi Hashimoto Series connector
FR2413804A1 (fr) * 1977-12-28 1979-07-27 Souriau & Cie Borne autodenudante a fourche elastique, et connecteur muni d'une telle borne
GB2037493B (en) * 1978-12-08 1982-09-15 Ferranti Ltd Insulation displacing contact for electrical connector

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3878318A (en) * 1973-01-02 1975-04-15 Amp Inc Aluminum electrical connection
US4243286A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-01-06 Methode Electronics, Inc. Insulation displacement connector

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0382039A1 (de) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-16 Grote & Hartmann GmbH & Co. KG Schneidklemmkontaktelement sowie Steckergehäuse mit Schneidklemmkontaktelementen
WO1994018721A1 (en) * 1993-02-05 1994-08-18 Henry Guy Stevens Electric plugs
GB2291546A (en) * 1993-02-05 1996-01-24 Henry Guy Stevens Electric plugs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0112051A1 (en) 1984-06-27
GB2130820A (en) 1984-06-06
JPS59103285A (ja) 1984-06-14
EP0112051B1 (en) 1986-10-29
DE3367304D1 (en) 1986-12-04
GB2130820B (en) 1986-04-03
JPH059906B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1993-02-08
GB8330616D0 (en) 1983-12-21

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