Electrical half connector with contact-centering vanes

In combination, an inexpensive small electrical connector for use in completing at least one electrical circuit, and comprising:

• a small and very inexpensive half-connector body that defines at least one hole formed through the body for receiving a respective terminal;
• at least one electrical terminal, each having at least one retaining element for engaging with the half-connector body to retain the terminal within the half-connector body;
• and
• a small and very inexpensive half-connector body that defines at least one hole formed through the body for receiving the at least one terminal respectively;
• each hole having:
• each hole having:
• at least one segment of relatively large transverse dimension for receiving the respective terminal, with transverse clearance about substantially the entire circumference of the terminal,
• at least one segment of reduced transverse dimension, for receiving the respective terminal and engaging with the at least one retaining element of the respective terminal to retain the terminal, and
• integral means for approximately centering the terminal in the large-transverse-dimension segment of the hole;
• and
• a mating half connector having at least one male pin that is formed as a bared end of a wire;
• and wherein:
• the centering means comprise a plurality of inward-extending protrusions from an inner wall of the large-transverse-dimension segment of the hole, for guiding the terminal;
• each retaining element has a circumferential extent less than a full circumference of the terminal;
• each of the inward-extending protrusions has a circumferential extent less than a full circumference of the hole;
• the protrusions are circumferentially disposed so that even in event of coincidental alignment and obstruction of any of the retaining elements by any of the protrusions during installation, at least one retaining element is engaged with the connector;
• each of the inward-extending protrusions is longitudinally disposed along an interior surface of the hole;
• at least near one end of the hole in the first-mentioned half connector, each of the inward-extending protrusions is tapered radially outward toward that end of the hole, to help guide the at least one male pin of the mating half connector into engagement with the terminal;
• and
• one of the half connectors is installed in a fluorescent-lighting ballast, and the other of the half connectors carries wires within a fluorescent luminaire.

An inexpensive small electrical half connector for use in completing a plurality of electrical circuits, and comprising:

• a small and very inexpensive half-connector body that defines a plurality of generally circular-cross-section holes formed through the body for receiving respective terminals;
• a plurality of electrical terminals, each having plural resilient tangs for engaging with the half-connector body, after installation therein, to retain the terminals within the half connector body;
• each hole having:
• at least two segments of relatively large radius for receiving the respective terminal, with transverse clearance about substantially the entire circumference of the terminal,
• an internal flange of circular cross-section, separating the two segments, for receiving the respective terminal and engaging with the tangs of the respective terminal to retain the terminal, and
• integral means for approximately centering the terminal in one of the large-radius segments of the hole;
• all portions of each terminal that pass into or through the circular-cross-section internal flange, except said tangs, having substantially circular cross-section;
• wherein each terminal is assembled into the corresponding internal flange of its respective hole with no need for rotational alignment of the terminal relative to the internal flange;
• said centering means comprising at least three thin, longitudinal vanes extending radially inward from an inner wall of said one large-radius segment of the hole, and spaced circumferentially about the hole, for guiding the terminal.

An inexpensive small electrical half connector for use in completing a plurality of electrical circuits, and comprising:

• a small and very inexpensive half-connector body that defines a plurality of generally circular-cross-section holes formed through the body for receiving respective terminals;
• a plurality of electrical terminals, each having plural resilient tangs for engaging with the half-connector body, after installation therein, to retain the terminals within the half connector body;
• each hole having:
• at least two segments of relatively large radius for receiving the respective terminal, with transverse clearance about substantially the entire circumference of the terminal,
• an internal flange, separating the two segments, for receiving the respective terminal and engaging with the tangs of the respective terminal to retain the terminal, and
• integral means for approximately centering the terminal in one of the large-radius segments of the hole;
• said centering means comprising at least three thin, longitudinal vanes extending radially inward from an inner wall of said one large-radius segment of the hole, and spaced circumferentially about the hole, for guiding the terminal;
• and
• wherein at least near one end of the hole, each vane is tapered radially outward toward that end of the hole, to help guide a respective contact of a mating half connector into engagement with the terminal.