Switch connector and method
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsKenneth G. Irish, James A. Turek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for connecting a plurality of wires to a sub-miniature switch and lamp socket assembly having tabs and a ground pin includes a molded, one-piece housing and a plurality of terminals for joining the plurality of wires to the tabs and ground pin. A plurality of openings are formed within the housing, accepting both the plurality of terminals and the tabs and ground pin of the assembly, and allowing the terminals to connect with the tabs and ground pin. The plurality of openings are formed within the bottom, front, and back faces of the housing. A method of connecting a sub-miniature switch and lamp socket assembly having tabs and a ground pin to a plurality of wires is also disclosed.
Claims19
A connector device for use with a plurality of wires and a sub-miniature switch and lamp socket assembly having tabs and a ground pin, comprising:
- a molded, one-piece housing having bottom, top, front, back, and side faces, wherein the bottom and top faces are positioned perpendicular to the front and back faces;
- a plurality of terminals attached to the plurality of wires, for joining the plurality of wires to the tabs and ground pin;
- and
- a plurality of openings spaced from one another and formed within the housing, accepting both the plurality of terminals and the tabs and ground pin of the assembly, and allowing the plurality of terminals to connect with the tabs and ground pin of the assembly, wherein the plurality of openings are formed within the bottom, front, and back faces of the housing, and wherein the housing is formed in three distinct steps, each step defining a plane above and parallel to each prior step and each step having bottom, top, front, back, and side faces.
A connector device for use with a plurality of wires and a sub-miniature switch and lamp socket assembly having tabs and a ground pin, comprising:
- a molded, one-piece housing having bottom, top, front, back, and side faces, wherein the bottom and top faces are positioned perpendicular to the front and back faces;
- a plurality of terminals attached to the plurality of wires, for joining the plurality of wires to the tabs and ground pin;
- and
- a plurality of openings spaced from one another and formed within the housing, accepting both the plurality of terminals and the tabs and ground pin of the assembly, and allowing the plurality of terminals to connect with the tabs and ground pin of the assembly, wherein the plurality of openings are formed within the bottom, front, and back faces of the housing, and wherein each of the plurality of terminals includes a pair of flexible flaps, having outer and inner faces, and front and back edges, a dimple formed on the outer face of each flap, a chamfered edge formed at the front edge of each flap, a wire crimp barrel at the back edge of each flap and an insulation crimp barrel joined to the wire crimp barrel.
A method of connecting a sub-miniature switch and lamp socket assembly having tabs and a ground pin to a plurality of wires, comprising the steps of:
- providing a connector device having a molded, one-piece housing having bottom top, front, back, and side faces, in which the bottom and top faces are positioned perpendicular to the front and back faces, the housing having a plurality of openings formed therein spaced from one another, the housing being formed in three distinct steps, each step defining a plane above and parallel to each prior step and each step having bottom top, front, back, and side faces;
- inserting the tabs and ground pin of the assembly into a plurality of openings in a first face of the molded, one-piece housing;
- attaching a plurality of terminals to the plurality of wires;
- and
- inserting the plurality of terminals into a plurality of openings located within a second, perpendicular face of the housing, so that the plurality of terminals connect with the tabs and ground pin of the assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.