Electrical connectors – With stress relieving means for conductor to terminal joint – Curved conductor path
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-04-24
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With stress relieving means for conductor to terminal joint
Curved conductor path
C439S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220890
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly to an electrical switch connector assembly which is intended to be used in conjunction with any one of a plurality of different microswitches, which comprises a housing within which there is provided a plurality of insulation-displacement type contacts upon which a plurality of electrical wires are adapted to be terminated, mounted, or secured, and which is provided with a unique and novel strain relief structure which is mounted upon the housing for providing strain relief characteristics to the plurality of wires secured, mounted, or terminated upon the insulation-displacement type contacts of the housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical switch connector assemblies are of course well-known in the art. In accordance with the principles and teachings of one well-known PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the structure of such electrical switch connector assembly, which is generally indicated by the reference character
10
, comprises a housing
12
which is manufactured by AMP CORPORATION and within which there is defined a pair of receptacles
14
,
16
. In turn, there is respectively inserted, within each one of the pair of receptacles
14
,
16
a spade-type connector contact, not shown, having an electrical wire
18
,
20
secured, by a means of a suitable crimping operation, upon the non-spade end thereof.
The housing
12
further comprises a third receptacle
22
which is axially offset with respect to the aforenoted pair of receptacles
14
,
16
and which is adapted to house a third common or ground spade-type connector contact, also not shown. The non-spade end of the third common spade-type connector contact has a first end of a third electrical wire
24
, also connected thereto by means of a suitable crimping operation, while a second opposite end of the third electrical wire
24
is adapted to be connected to, for example, the second one of the pair of spade-type connector contacts disposed within the pair of receptacles
14
,
16
and to which the second one
20
of the pair of electrical wires
18
,
20
is already connected. It is also noted that the portion of the housing
12
within which the third receptacle
22
is defined is partially separated from the portion of the housing
12
within which the first and second receptacles
14
,
16
are defined by means of an axially extending slot
26
such that the third receptacle portion of the housing
12
is in effect flexibly mounted upon the main housing portion, within which the receptacles
14
,
16
are defined, in a cantilevered manner. This housing structure permits the spade-end contact portions of the electrical switch connector assembly
10
to be electrically connected to any one of various microswitch elements or components despite the fact that the electrical contacts of such microswitch elements or components, which are adapted to electrically mate with or engage the electrical contacts of the assembly
10
, may be somewhat different or vary in configuration with respect to each other.
While the aforenoted well-known PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly
10
has of course exhibited suitable service and has been commercially successful, such PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assembly
10
also exhibits several operational and assembly drawbacks or disadvantages. For example, each one of the spade-type connector contacts of the electrical switch connector assembly
10
must be individually crimped onto the end portions of the electrical wires
18
,
20
,
24
. In addition, each one of the spade contact-electrical wire assemblies, comprising the electrical wires
18
,
20
,
24
and their respective spade-type connector contacts crimped thereon, must be individually manually inserted within a particular one of the housing receptacles
14
,
16
,
22
. Not only are such individual assembly operations time-consuming and tedious, but in addition, it is difficult to ensure that the crimping operations of the spade-type connector contacts upon the electrical wires
18
,
20
,
24
are always properly performed. Still further, it must be additionally ensured that the proper spade contact-electrical wire assemblies are inserted within the proper receptacles
14
,
16
,
22
in order to, in turn, ensure the fact that the switch-connector assembly has its electrical paths properly routed. Still further, it is additionally noted that the electrical switch connector assembly
10
is not provided with any strain relief means so as to prevent undue strains or stresses from being impressed upon the electrical wires
18
,
20
,
24
and their associated spade-type connector contacts. The impression of such strains or stresses upon the electrical wires
18
,
20
,
24
and their associated contacts could possibly lead to disengagement or disconnection of the wires
18
,
20
,
24
from their associated contacts with obvious deleterious effects upon the associated switch and the machinery or equipment within which such components are installed.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which is readily capable of being easily assembled, which can be assembled by automated machinery, which is capable of being mated, engaged, or operatively connected with several different switch elements or components, and which comprises strain relief structure so as to effectively prevent strains or stresses impressed upon the electrical wires from being transmitted directly to the connection points or locations defined between the wires and the electrical switch connector contacts.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which effectively overcomes the various operational and assembly disadvantages and drawbacks characteristic of the PRIOR ART electrical switch connector assemblies.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which is readily capable of being easily assembled, at least partially by automated machinery, and which is capable of being of being mated, engaged, or operatively connected with several different types of switch elements or components.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which comprises strain relief structure so as to effectively prevent strains or stresses, which may be impressed upon the electrical wires, from being transmitted to the connection locations or points at which the wires are connected to the electrical switch connector contacts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved electrical switch connector assembly which comprises a housing within which three receptacles are defined. Electrical switch connector contacts are respectively disposed within the three receptacles, and the electrical switch connector contacts have insulation displacement or piercing contact portions formed at respective first ends thereof for mating with and mounting the electrical wires thereon, and leaf spring contact portions formed at respective second ends thereof for mating with tab or prong members of a suitable electrical switch with which the electrical switch connector assembly is adapted to be mated.
A cover member is snap-fitted upon the housing so as to effectively close the ends of the housing receptacles within which the electrical wires are mounted and disposed, and a strain relief member is also snap-fitted upon the housing so as to effectively cooperate with the cover member in providing strain relief characteristics to the assembly whereby strains or stresses which may be impressed upon the electrical wires
Irish Kenneth G.
Turek James A.
Bradley Paula
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Ore Shanetta D.
Schwartz & Weinrieb
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