US3044040A - Female connector - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1962 B. E. oLssoN 3,044,040

FEMALE CONNECTOR Filed July l5, 1959 INVENoR. H//y Erik Olsson 3,044,040 FEMALE CNNECTR Billy Erik Olsson, Chicago, lll., assignor to Maleo Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a partnership Filed July 15, 1959, Ser. No. 827,212 S Claims. (Cl. 339-273) The present invention relates to electric connectors and specifically to female connectors adapted to receive stripped ends of electrical leads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical connector.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical connector for gripping a stripped end of an electrical lead.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved female connector adapted to mechanically grip a wire-eye terminal incident to its insertion within the connector and, in addition, to provide good solderless, electrical connection between the terminal and the connector.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved female wire-eye connector that deforms a wire-eye terminal during its insertion into the connector, whereby the wire-eye electrical terminal is resiliently gripped by and maintained in mating relation with the connector. l

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a newand improved female Wire-eye connector which offers progressively greater gripping action as a wire-eye terminal is withdrawn from the connector.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved connector that is susceptible to mass production techniques, and, thus, may be produced relatively quickly and inexpensively.

'Ihe above and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a new and improved female wire-eye connector. The connector is adapted to receive a stripped end of an electrical lead, for example, a wire-eye terminal, and is so constructed that the wire-eye terminal is detachably retained in mechanical and electrical engagement incident to its mating with the connector. Briey, the connector comprises a crimp. -ing portion for iixedly securing an electrical lead to the connector and a terminal receiving portion for detachably gripping the wire-eye terminal. lIt should be appreciated that the crimping portion, per se, comprises no part of the present invention but that the terminal receiving portion embodies the features of the present invention. 'I'he terminal receiving portion includes a iioor provided with side walls extending upwardly from the door, parts of the walls having flanges overlying the floor to dene a passage for accommodating the wire-eye terminal. A camming means is delined in the oor adjacent the exit of the passage to deform, in cooperation with the anges, the wire-eye terminal incident to its insertion into the connector. y'In its mated position, the wire-eye terminal is seated on the camming portion to be deformed by the cooperative action of the flanges and the camming portion and thus is resiliently gripped by the female econnector. The camming means is so constructed that the wire-eye terminal during its initial withdrawal movement is deformed progressively greater amounts, with the result that the progressively greater gripping action by the female connector is obtained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objectsand advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vvire-eye female confr t BC@ 3,044,040

Patented July 10, 1962 FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the connector of FIG. 1. i

Referring now to the `drawing and in particular to FIG. 1, a connector embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated and is identified generally by reference numeral 10. The connector 10 is of the female type and may be identified as a female, Wire-eye connector 10 because of its particular utility with male wire-eye terminals. Briefly, the connector 10 comprises a crimping portion 12 which is crimped over an end of a conductor 14 or the like to xedly secure the conductor 14 to the connector 10, the conductor 14 being electrically connected to suitable electrical devices. The connector also includes a terminal-receiving portion 16 adapted to detachably secure or grip a bare wire end 118 of an electrical lead or conductor 20, hereinafter referred to as a wire-eye terminal 18 in View of the generally curved or eye-shaped configuration of the end of the lead 20. The femaleconnector 10 and the wire-eye terminal 1.8` when in mated relation providea solderless connection yet also create a good mechanical and electrical connection between the conductors 14 and 20. In an installation embodying the connectors 10, a plurality of conductors 20 are respectively secured in spaced apart rows to a support. Pairs of the conductor 20 terminate in spaced apart contacts (not shown) which are adapted to be closed by an armature of a suitably energized relay. Since the conductors 20g are arranged .in rows, the terminals 18 extend in generally parallel relation relative to one another. A plurality of female connectors 10 are connected to individual conductors 14 and are individually moved into mating engagement with the Wire-eye terminals 18.

As best seen in FIGS. l and 2, the wire-eye terminal 18 comprises the bare end of the electrical lead 20, which end is deformed into an eye configuration. Specifically, the terminal 18 comprises a generally toroidal tip 18a interconnected between a straight part 20a of the conductor 20 and a straight terminal end 19, the straight part 20 and terminal end 19 being divergingly related to one another.

The female connector 10 of the present invention is susceptible to mass production techniques and specically is produced in large quantity lots by automatic machinery. More particularly, the connectors 10 are cut out from strips of electrically conductive material, such as copper, brass, or bronze, and are formed into substantially the shape shown in the drawing by successive deformation steps. If desired, the conductors 14 can also be fastened to the connectors 10 by crimping the crimping portion 12 about the stripped wire and insulation of the conductors 14 by automatic machinery. Otherwise, the conductors 14 can be secured to the connectors 10 manually.

In any event, the crimping portion 12 of the female connector 10 includes a generally cylindrical body 21 provided with an axially extending, downwardly directed ridge 22 (see lFIGS. 3 -and 6) for imparting rigidity to the crimping portion 12. The crimping portion 12 specifically includes a pair of converging large sized flanges 23 crimped about the end of the insulation 24 of the conductor l14, as well as two pairs of converging flanges 26 and 28 spaced axially to the left of the flanges 23 and crimped about the stripped wire 30 of the conductor 14. By this construction, both the insulation 24 Iand the stripped wire 30 of the conductor 14 are mechanically secured to the crimping portion 12 of the connector 10. In addition, a good electrical connection is obtained between the connector andthe conductor 14.

Considering now the terminal-receiving portion 16 of the connector `10 in greater detail, attention is directed to FIGS. 1, 3, and 5. YAs shown, the receiving portion 16 comprises a generally at iloor 34 including a straight end 34a and a generally rounded end 34h. The 4generally rounded end 34b vdoes not terminate but rather is integrally related to the bottom ofthe body 21 and particularly to the ridge 22. Hence, the receiving portion .16 `and the crimping portion 12 are joined together by a continuous and uninterrupted bottom surface. Along the longitudinal edges of the door 34, la pair of integral walls 36 and 38 extend upwardly at right angles to the door 34. VThewalls 36 and 38 Iare generally parallel to each other adjacent at their left ends, i.e., at the left end 34a of the oor 34, as indicated at 36a and 38a, but generally curve and converge at theirY right ends, i.e., at the right end 341'; or the door 34, as indicated at 36b `and 38h. VIn fact, the walls 36 and 38 are integrally related to the pair of flanges 26,' respectively, so that continuous and uninterrupted side surfaces between the receiving portion 16 and the crimping portion 12 are obtained. Accordingly, thereceiving `and crimping portions 16 and 12 are integrally related at all points of juncture to provide a strong and rugged connector 10.

It should be understood that the inner surfaces of the -curved upstanding walls 36b and 38b serve as stop means predeterminedV mating position relative to the connector 10.' The Awalls 36h 'and 38b also provide spaced-apart contact points 'which produce good electrical connection between the wire-eye terminal 18 and the connector 10. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of planar flanges 40 and. 42 extend inwardly vfrom the tops of the walls 36 and 38 to overliethe floor 34. By this construction', the floor 34, the walls 36 and 38, andthe anges 40 land 42 define Aa passage 44 vwhich is slightly oversized to easily accommodate the Wire-eye terminal 18. More specifically, the Walls( are'so'spaced apart and the anges 40 vand 42 are so spacedfrom the iloor 34 that the tip 18d of the Vwire-'eye terminal 18 is easily introduced into the niouthof the passage'44 and easily yand freely moves throughout the entire length of the passage 44.

Considering now the lianges 40 and 42 in greater detail, they have a configuration best shown in FIG. Z. Each flange 40 or 42 is `of Y generally L-shaped configuration and includes leg portions 40a 'and 42a extending inwardly at V`=apprcorimately the middle of the receiving portion 16.

The leg portions 40a and 42a are in face-to-face relation ,and IareV slightly spaced `apart as clearly shown. rIn addition, the legs 40wrand '42a include terrrnal-engaging edges 46vtand 48, 'more clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, which coact with the 'camming means Adescribed below to retain the terminal 18 in the connector 10. The edges 46 and 48 extend transversely yacross the upper part of the exit of the passage 44 and engage theA wire-eye terminal 18 during and after its insertion into the connector 10. The anges 40h-and 42 are substantially rigid and non-resilient so that the engagement of the wire-eye terminal18 with the engaging edges 46 and 48 effects little or no movement of the flanges 40 and 42. Accordingly, the terminal-engaging edges 46 and 48 remain substantially rigid and, as described below, cooperate with the camming means to bend or deform the terminal y18 when inserted into the connector 10.

For the purpose of gripping the wire-eye terminal 18 in the receiving portion 16, the right end 34h of the licor 4 34 is provided with a camming means comprising an upraised, apertured embossment 50. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the -apertured embossment 50 is 1ocated centrally of the right end 34b of the floor 34 to be equally spaced lfrom the curved Walls 36b and 38h and, in addition, -is positioned 'adjacent the exit of the passage 44 so that the terminal 18 engages the embossment 50 immediately :after it leaves the passage 44. More spe cically, the embossrnent 50 has a generally upwardly converging frusto-conical Wall 52, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 Iand 5, which includes an upper rim 54 that is inclined upwardly from left fto right as viewed in FIGS. 4 Iand 5 to be spaced slightly above the 'floor 34. The forward or left par-t of the wall 52, identiiied by reference numeral S6, comprises a camming part gradually inclined at approximately 3() degrees to the floor 34 for directing the wire-eye terminal 18 from the licor 34 onto the rim 54 of the embossment 58. On the other hand, the rearward or right portion of the embossment 50, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6, comprises `an inclined seat -or the terminal 18 when 4in mating relation with the connector 10. This inclined seat 58 is more sharply inclined relative to the oor 34 than is the camming part 56. For example, it is inclined at approximately 45 degrees instead of 30 degrees, since it serves to retain the terminal 18 in its mated position and provides a more vertical surface to offer a greaterresistive force to the Withdrawal of the termina-l 18 than the camming part 56l provides during insertion of the termin-al 18. In any event, the seat 58 has a generally curved surface that conforms to the extreme lower portion of the terminal tip 18a.

In operation, the connector 10 and the wire-eye terminal 18 are axially aligned and are moved relative to one another. Specically, either the wire-eye terminal 18 is moved toward and manually inserted into the passage44 of the receiving portion 16 or the connector 10 is moved over the wire-eye terminal 18. IIn .the installation referred to above, the connectors 10, being connected to the individual conductors 24, are individually moved toward and manually positioned over the terminals 18 tixedly secured to the above referred to support (not shown). In any event, for the purpose of this description, it will be assumed that the wire-eye terminal 18 is moved toward the connector 10. As the terminal 18 is moved toward the connector 10, the tip 18a of the terminal 18 is inserted into the passage 44 of the receiving portion 16. 'Inasmuch as the passage 44 is slightly oversized relative to the wire-eye terminal 18, the tip 18a of the terminal 18 freely and easily slides into and through the passage 44. Even though the terminal end 19 of the wire-eye terminal 18 diverges relative to the conductor 20, the extreme end 19 'and the conductor 20 do not simultaneously engage the Walls 36 and 38 as the tip 18a of the terminal 18 enters'th'e passage 44 and, hence, no resistance lis oiered'to the terminal 18 as the tip 18a enters and passes through the passage 44. Theretore, as the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 moves through the passage 44, i.e., between the floor 34, the walls 36 and 38, and the flanges 40 and 42, the wire eye terminal v18 is freely slidable therein. Only after the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 moves through and leaves the passage `44 is` a resistive force encountered. More speciiically,as the 'Wire-eye'terminal 18 leaves the exit of the passage 44 and continues to'move rightwardly along the iloor 34, the tip 18a engages the camming part 56 of the embossment 50. YThe camming part S6' cams the tip 18a upwardly onto the rim 54, with the result that the upperV surface of the terminal tip `18a engages at two spaced points, identiied as `68 and 70, the edges 46 and 48 of the flanges 40 and 42, respectively. It will be appreciated that the spaced contact points 68 and 70 change location on the edges 46 and 48 as the terminal of the generally toroidal configuration of the terminal tip nal 18 onto the rim 54 of the embossment 50 causes the deformation of the inherently resilient terminal 18. Speciically, as the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 rides upwardly over the camming part 56, the wire-eyeI terminal 18 is deformed or curled upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 4, the. points of contact 68 and 70 being further spaced apart on the engaging edges 46 and 48 than when the tip 18a initially engages the edges 46 and 48. It will be understood that the wire-eye terminal 18 is cammed onto the rim 54 only by applying to the terminal 18 an inserting force Ihaving a magnitude greater lthan the resistive -force developed by the deformed terminal 18.

At about the same time Ithe wire-eye terminal 18 is cammed onto the rim 54 of the embossment 50 as described, the terminal end 19 and the conductor 20 both engage the walls 36 and 38, respectively, thereby causing the eye of the terminal `18 to close slightly as it continues its rightward movement. This result obtains because of the generally diverging relationship of the terminal end 19 and the conductor 20. It will be appreciated that the coaction of the terminal end 19 and the conductor 20 with the walls 36 and 38 offers an additional drag force to the insertion movement of the wireeye terminal 18.

Returning now to the rightward movement of the wireeye terminal 18 in the connector 10, the terminal tip 18a continues -to move rightwardly across the rim 54 until it rides off the rim 54 into engagement with the inclined seat 58 of the embossment 50. The tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 remains seated on the inclined seat 58 and does not move downwardly to the level of the oor 34 because of the stop meansprovided by the walls 36b and 38b. In this connection, the curved walls 36b and 38`b coact with the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 to prevent further axial movement of the terminal 10, and, Ithus, prevent further downward movement of the tip 18a. Since the walls 36'b and 38h are generally curved to coact with the terminal tip 18a, at least -two spaced points of contact are obtained between the tip 18a and the walls 3611 and I31817. Although several points of contact probably exist, -for purposes of positioning the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18, only two points A60 and `62 are necessary to restrain further axial movement of the wire-eye terminal 18.

It will be understood that since the tip 18a of the wireeye terminal 18 is seated on the inclined seat 58 which is not at the same level as the floor 34, the terminal 18 re mains slightly deformed when in mated relation with the connector 10, i.e., the terminal 18 is deformed upwardly around or about the engaging edges 46 and 48 of the flanges 40 and 42. Particularly, the contact points 60 and 62 of vthe curved walls 36b and 38b, the inclined seat 58, and the engaging edges 46 and 48 of the anges 40 and 42 all coact together to bow the wire-eye terminal 18 ina generally upward manner. It will thus be appreciated that the inherent resiliency of the wire-eye terminal 18 provides the `gripping action Afor the connector and develops a gripping force to oppose the withdrawal of the wire-eye terminal 18 lfrom the connector 10.

Although the wire-eye terminal 18 is 'firmly gripped by the connector 10, the terminal 18 is, of course, detachably held by the connector 10 to permit the terminal 18 to be disconnected from the connector 10. However, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a progressively greater clamping force is developed as the terminal 18 is withdrawn lfrom the connector 10. By employing the inclined seat 58 on the embossment 50, the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 must be further elevated before the terminal 18 is withdrawn from the connector 10. Therefore, as the wire-eye terminal 18 is withdrawn Ifrom the connector 10, the terminal 18 is progressively more deformed so that the connector 10 provides a progressively greater gripping action.

However, assuming that the withdrawal lforce is adequate, the tip 18a is cammed upwardly onto the rim 54 and is moved leftwardly over the rim 54 toward the edges 46 and 48.l As the tip 18a moves along the downwardly inclined rim 54, it moves downwardly to permit the tip 18a to pass beneath the edges 46 and 48 without wedging between the embossment 50 and the flanges 40 and 42. Of course, once the tip 18a rides olf the rim 54 and down the camming part 56 onto the door 34, the wire-eye terminal 18 is easily and quickly withdrawn from the connector 10.

With the wire-eye terminal 18 mated in the connector 10, both a good mechanical and good electrical connection are effected between the wire-eye terminal 18 and the connector 10. More specifically, at least the two contact points 60 and 62 exist between the wall portions 36h and 38h and the tip 18a of the terminal 1'8 and, further, at least a contact point I64 exists between the tip 18a and the inclined seat 58. In addition, the following contact points also exist: contact points 68 and 70 (see FIG. 2) between the upper surface of the wire-eye terminal 18 and the engaging edges 46 and 48, respectively, contact point 72 (see FIG. 2) between the terminal end 19l and the inner surface of the Wall 38a, and contact point 74 (see FIG. 2) between the conductor 20 and the extreme left end of the wall 36a. It will thus be appreciated that a plurality of spaced-apart mechanical and electrical contact points are provided between the various parts of the connector 10 and the'wire-eye terminal 18 to provide a strong and rugged solderless connection between the conductors 14 and 20.

-It will be appreciated that the hollow embossment 50 is also particularly adapted to receive a bare wire, also referred to as a jumper wire. The jumper wire can be quickly inserted through the embossment 50, twisted in position, and then soldered to the wire-eye terminal 18 and the connector 10. The jumper wire is employed to interconnect pairs of connectors 10 or to interconnect a specific connector 10l with an electrical lead. It will be understood that when the jumper wire is soldered to the connector 10 and the wire-eye terminal 18, the connector 10 and the terminal 18 can not be disconnected as described above. j

While the embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within th true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: l v

l. An electrical connector adapted to receive a wire-eye terminal, said connector comprising a generally plane oor having first and second sections, said first section being provided with an upraised, generally inclined portion, which is'uncovered, stop means upwardly extending from said iloor and spaced from said inclined portion to permit disposition of the extreme end of said wire-eye terminal therebetween, and means extending upwardly from said oor to overlie said second section of Ithe oor only `and to coact with said wire-eye terminal, said oor means, inclined portion, stop means, and overlie means co-operating to deform and hold said wire-eye terminal in said connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said overlie means and inclined portion are so constructed and spaced relative `to one another vand to the first section of the oor that the wire-eye terminal deformed progressively greater amounts to progressively increase the clamping action of the connector 4as--the terminal is withdrawn from the connector.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein a generally frustoconical embossment is additionally included in the first section of the oor to deform said wire-eye terminal incident to its insertion into said connector, Vsaid embossment including said generally-,inclined portion.

4. An electrical connector adapted to receive'a' Wireeye terminal, said connector comprising a generally plane iioor having in its iirst section a generally curved end and an embossment located adjacent said curved end, side walls extending upwardly :from the side edges of said oor and being curved at said curved end, flanges located above a second section of the door and extending inwardly from the top ends of the side Walls remote from said curved walls, said floor, said flanges, said embossment, and said curved walls coacting to deform and retain 'said wire-eye terminal in said connector.

5. An electrical connector adapted to receive a wireeye terminal, said connector comprising a generally plane iioor having a first section provided with a generally curved end .and an embossed located adjacent said curved end, said embossment including a generally inclined part, curved side walls extending upwardly from the curved sides of the iioor at its curved end, the curved side walls and the embossment being relatively dirnensioned that said wire-eye terminal is seated on the generally inclined part of the embossment and not on the iioor adjacentits curved end when in connected relation with said connector, and means supported from a second section of said iioor -for coacting with said wire-eye terminal Ito urge said terminal against said oor and into seating relation with said generally inclined par-t.

6. An electrical connector adapted to receive a wireeye terminal, said connector comprising a generally plane iloor having a rst section provided with a generally curved end and an embossment located adjacent said curved end, curved side Walls extending upwardly from Athe curved sides of the oor at its curved end, said embossment and curved walls coacting to elevate the extreme tip of said terminal relative to theoor, side Walls extending upwardly along a portion of the side edges of the iioor remote from its curved end, and inturned anges at a second section of the door only extending inwardly from the `top of the side Walls to coact with the intermediate part of said terminal, said floor, inturned iianges, ern` bossmen'g and curved walls cooperating to deform said Wire-eye terminal so that the terminal is detachably secured to the connector.

7, The connector of claim 6 wherein said inturned anges include terminal-engaging portions equally spaced from said tloor and spaced adjacent to said embossment.

8. An electrical connector adapted -to receive a wire-eye terminal, said connector comprising a generally plane oor having a first section provided with -a generally curved end and an embossment located adjacent said curved end, said embossment being generally frusto-conical in conguration and including a terminal seating portion adjacent the curved end of the floor, side walls extending upwardly from the side edges of the iioor, said Walls being curved adjacent the curved end of said floor, and ilanges located at a second section of the floor only -to extend inwardly from portions of the side walls remote from the curved oor end and 'adjacent to said embossment, said anges being planar and generally parallel to the floor to provide a terminal receiving passage slightly oversized relative 4to said terminal, said iioor, said anges, said seating portion of said embossment, Iand said curved Walls coacting to deform and hold the terminal in said connector. I

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Great Britain i Apr. 16, 1958 Angus, I

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