US 6,981,890 B2
Electrical connector with improved locking means
Stephen Cutler, P.O. Box 333, Captiva, Fla. 33924 (US); and Paul A. Verwer, Sanibel, Fla. (US)
Assigned to Stephen Cutler, Captiva, Fla. (US), part interest; and Sue Ellen Cutler, Captiva, Fla. (US), part interest
Filed on Apr. 05, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/827,048.
Application 09/827048 is a continuation of application No. 09/340234, filed on Jul. 01, 1999, granted, now 6,257,919.
Prior Publication US 2001/0010981 A1, Aug. 02, 2001
Int. Cl. H01R 4/24 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 439—441 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
2. A locking connector for electrically interconnecting two or more electrical conductors comprising:
an electrical contact component electrically interengaged with a first conductor, said contact component being made of metal sheet material having a contact section, another section in parallel spaced relation from said contact section, an intermediate section that interconnects one end of each of said contact section and said another section, an opening extending through said intermediate section that receives a second conductor, and an inturned lip integral with said contact section in axial spaced relation from said opening in said intermediate section that acts as a stop for said second conductor when inserted through said opening in said intermediate section;
at least one spring locking clip that is spring biased to grip the second conductor and hold the second conductor in electrical interengagement with said contact section, while resisting disengagement of the second conductor from said contact section; and
a release hole formed through said contact section transversely offset from said opening for receiving a clip release element, said clip having a portion extending transversely outward of said opening in line with said release hole for engagement by the clip release element upon insertion of the clip release element into the release hole to urge said clip into an open condition to permit unobstructed insertion and removal of the second conductor into and out of said contact component.