Two-piece contact assembly for electrical connector assemblies

Claim 2

A contact assembly adapted to terminate an electrical conductor at one end and to receive and make electrical connection with a compatible contact member at its other end, said contact assembly comprising: a tubular shell having a forward contact receiving portion, a rearward crimp barrel portion, and two apertures extending through said shell on generally opposite sides of said crimp barrel portion; and a tubular liner mounted coaxially within said tubular shell and including a forward portion for engaging said compatible contact member and a rearward portion for crimp-terminating said conductor, said liner also including a generally transverse slot longitudinally aligned with said apertures in said shell, said transverse slot extending circumferentially about said liner sufficiently to align with at least one of said apertures in said shell regardless of the rotational orientation of said liner with respect to said shell.

Claim 3

The contact assembly of claim 1 wherein said liner includes forwardly extending tines for making electrical contact with said compatible contact member.

Claim 4

The contact assembly of claim 1 wherein said transverse slot has a circumferential dimension at least equal to the sum of one-half the circumference of said cylindrical liner and the diameter of one said aperture.

Claim 5

The contact assembly of claim 1 further including a tab inwardly depending from said liner for limiting the distance which said conductor can be inserted into said crimp barrel.

Claim 6

The contact assembly of claim 4 wherein said tab is located adjacent but forwardly of said aperture.

Claim 7

The contact assembly of claim 1 including means for securing said liner in said shell.

Claim 8

The contact assembly of claim 6 wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of dimples in said shell extending into and engaging said liner.

Claim 9

The contact assembly of claim 1 wherein said shell also includes an indexing means for abutting a stop member on said liner to longitudinally position said liner within said shell.

Claim 10

The contact assembly of claim 8 wherein said indexing means comprises a rearwardly directed lip integral with the forward contact receiving portion of said shell.

Claim 11

The contact assembly of claim 9 wherein said liner further includes a plurality of forwardly and inwardly extending tines for electrically engaging said pin contact and said stop member comprises at least one forwardly extending element interposed between said tines.

Claim 12

A two-piece hooded socket contact assembly adapted to terminate an electrical conductor at one end and to receive and make electrical connection with a pin contact at its other end, said socket contact assembly comprising: a tubular shell having a forward pin contact receiving portion, a rearward crimp barrel portion, and two apertures extending through said shell on generally opposite sides of said crimp barrel portion; and a tubular liner mounted coaxially within said tubular shell and including a forward portion for engaging said pin contact and a rearward portion for crimp-terminating said conductor, said liner also including a generally transverse slot longitudinally aligned with said apertures in said shell, said transverse slot extending circumferentially about said liner sufficiently to align with at least one of said apertures in said shell regardless of the rotational orientation of said liner with respect to said shell.

Claim 13

A two-piece hooded socket contact assembly adapted to terminate an electrical conductor at one end and to receive and make electrical connection with a pin contact at its other end, said socket contact assembly comprising: a tubular shell having a forward pin contact receiving portion, a rearward crimp barrel portion, and two apertures extending through said shell on generally opposite sides of said crimp barrel portion; and a tubular liner mounted coaxially within said tubular shell and including a forward portion for engaging said pin contact and a rearward portion for crimp-terminating said conductor, said liner also including a generally transverse slot longitudinally aligned with said apertures in said shell, said transverse slot extending circumferentially about said liner sufficiently to align with at least one of said apertures in said shell regardless of the rotational orientation of said liner with respect to said shell.

Claim 14

The contact assembly of claim 11 wherein said shell also includes an indexing means for abutting a stop member on said liner to longitudinally position said liner within said shell.

Claim 15

The assembly of claim 12 wherein said indexing means comprises a rearwardly directed lip integral with the forward contact receiving portion of said shell.

Claim 16

The assembly of claim 13 wherein said liner further includes a plurality of forwardly and inwardly extending tines for electrically engaging said pin contact and said stop member comprises at least one forwardly extending element interposed between said tines.