Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Resiliently biased
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2001-11-13
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Resiliently biased
C439S029000, C439S441000, C439S816000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315597
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power connectors and, in particular, to a power connector that provides high contact force to a wire but requires low insertion and removal forces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art power connectors such as the screw-type connector block and spring-loaded connectors require special tools to torque the adjustment screw so that proper contact force is applied to the power-transmitting wire connected thereto. Incorrect torque values often result in a high resistance connection between the wire and the spring contact, which could lead to fire or equipment failures. Furthermore, prior art power connectors require very high insertion and removal forces to assure a high normal contact force, thereby rendering the connectors difficult to use.
Accordingly, there is a need for a spring type power connector that requires low insertion and removal forces relative to the normal contact force and which accommodates a range of wire gages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, easy-to-use power connector.
According to one aspect of the invention, the inventive power connector includes a spring contact configured such that its contact end lifts off when a user-applied force is directed laterally against the spring contact.
According to another aspect of the invention, the spring contact is formed of a strip material having a thickness optimized with respect to stresses arising from the intended uses.
In one embodiment, the power connector includes a connector housing having a wire insertion side defining an opening for receiving a wire to be connected to the power connector. Also included is a spring contact having an attachment end for attaching the spring contact to the connector housing and a contact end for contacting the wire. The spring contact has a substantially C-shaped segment extending longitudinally from the attachment end and toward the contact end. The substantially C-shaped segment is dimensioned such that the spring contact applies a contact force against the wire through the contact end sufficient for conducting electricity between the wire and the contact end. The segment is furthermore oriented so that when a lateral force is imparted to the spring contact from the wire-insertion side of the housing, the contact force applied against the wire is lessened to thereby reduce the force required to remove the wire from the connector housing.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3255428 (1966-06-01), Robbins
patent: 5746606 (1998-05-01), Sobhani
Coyne James Christopher
LaGrotta James T.
LaGrotta Richard Thomas
Bradley Paula
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Nguyen Truc
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