# US 8,540,532 B2 · Electrical contact for shock-resistant electrical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,532 B2 - Document ID: US8540532B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/564,865 - Filed: 2012-08-02 - Published: 2012-11-22 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-16 - Assignees: AG Geophysical Products, Inc. - Applicants: Robert Barnard; Michael Williams - Inventors: Robert Barnard; Michael Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540532B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/18: with the spring member surrounding the socket - H01R 13/111: {co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section} - Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electrical connector in the form of a socket assembly defining a plurality of arcuate leaf contacts adapted for insertion of a pin contact therein. The socket assembly comprises an elongate socket core having the leaf contacts formed at a distal end thereof, and a substantially cylindrical hood surrounding the leaf contacts. In one embodiment of the invention, the hood is provided with structure for limiting the radial outward deflection of the leaf contacts when the electrical connector is subjected to shock forces. The limiting structure can be a stepped inner cylindrical sidewall of the hood, defining a reduced inner diameter portion of the hood surrounding at least a distal portion of each leaf contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector, comprising: a connector body supporting a socket assembly, the socket assembly adapted to receive a pin contact therein; the socket assembly comprising: a socket core having a distal portion that includes: a base portion; and a plurality of arcuate leaf contacts, each of the arcuate leaf contacts having a fixed length from the base portion to a distal end of the socket core; and a socket hood having an inner surface surrounding the distal portion of the socket core, the inner surface comprising: a first cylindrical section having a first inner diameter; and a second cylindrical section having a second inner diameter about the arcuate leaf contacts, the second inner diameter abutting the arcuate leaf contacts when no pin contact resides therein, being smaller than the first inner diameter, and defining a range of outward radial deflection of the arcuate leaf contacts when the socket assembly is subjected to shock forces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the inner surface has a stepped cylindrical inner diameter and the second cylindrical section surrounds the distal end of the socket core. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the connector body further supports at least one pin contact assembly adjacent to the socket assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the socket core is made of a beryllium/copper alloy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the socket core includes four leaf contacts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the socket core defines a uniform outer diameter along the length of the leaf contacts. ### Claim 7 An electrical connector, comprising: a connector body supporting a socket assembly, the socket assembly adapted to receive a pin contact therein; and the socket assembly comprising: a socket core that includes: a base portion; and a plurality of arcuate leaf contacts, each of the arcuate leaf contacts having a fixed length from the base portion to a distal end of the socket core; and a socket hood having a cylindrical inner surface surrounding the leaf contacts; the leaf contacts each have an outwardly flanged distal portion, the outwardly flanged distal portions define an outer diameter that cooperates with the cylindrical inner surface of the socket hood to define a range of outward radial deflection of the leaf contacts when the socket assembly is subjected to shock forces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical inner surface has a uniform cylindrical inner diameter along a length of the leaf contacts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the connector body further supports at least one pin contact assembly adjacent to the socket assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the socket core is made of a beryllium/copper alloy. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the socket core has four leaf contacts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the leaf contacts have a stepped outer diameter. ### Claim 13 A method of modifying an electrical connector that includes a socket core adapted to receive a pin contact, the method comprising: accessing arcuate leaf contacts at a distal portion of the socket core, each of the arcuate leaf contacts having a fixed length from a base portion of the socket core to a distal end of the socket core; and providing a socket hood surrounding the distal portion of the socket core, the socket hood having an inner surface surrounding the distal portion of the socket core, the inner surface including: a first cylindrical section having a first inner diameter; and a second cylindrical section having a second inner diameter about the arcuate leaf contacts, the second inner diameter abutting the arcuate leaf contacts when no pin contact resides therein, being smaller than the first inner diameter, and defining a range of outward radial deflection of the arcuate leaf contacts when the electrical connector is subjected to shock forces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the inner surface has a stepped cylindrical inner diameter and the second cylindrical section surrounds the distal end of the socket core. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the electrical connector includes a pin contact assembly and a socket assembly, and the socket assembly includes the socket core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the socket core is made of a beryllium/copper alloy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the distal portion of the socket core includes four leaf contacts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the distal portion of the socket core defines a uniform outer diameter along the length of the leaf contacts. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein providing the socket hood comprises inserting the socket hood into a socket assembly that includes the socket core.