US7726982B2 — Electrical connectors with air-circulation featur…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 395 words

An electrical connector system for mounting on a substrate comprising: a first electrical connector comprising a first power contact and a first electrically insulative housing that receives the first power contact, wherein: a first aperture is formed in the first housing; the first aperture is aligned with a mating portion of the first power contact whereby air heated by the first power contact can exit the first power contact by way of the first aperture; a first recess is formed in the first housing; the first recess is positioned to face the substrate so that the first recess and the substrate define a first passage extending from a side portion of the first housing when the first electrical connector is mounted on the substrate; and a portion of the first power contact extends through the first recess; whereby air from the environment around the first electrical connector can pass between the first housing and substrate and over the first power contact when the first electrical connector is mounted on the substrate; a second electrical connector that mates with the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector comprising a second power contact and a second electrically insulative housing that receives the second power contact, wherein a second aperture is formed in the second housing, the second aperture is aligned with a mating portion of the second power contact whereby air heated by the second power contact can exit the second power contact by way of the second aperture; a second recess is formed in the second housing; wherein the first recess, the first aperture, the second recess and the second aperture are interconnected when the first and second electrical connectors are mated; and a third power contact, wherein (i) the first and third power contacts each comprises a tab, (ii) the first housing comprises a first and a second cavity formed therein that receive the respective first and third power contacts, and (iii) the tab of the first power contact interferedly contacts the first housing when the first power contact is partially inserted into the second cavity thereby preventing installation of the first power contact in the second cavity, and the tab of the third power contact interferedly contacts the first housing when the third power contact is partially inserted into the first cavity thereby preventing installation of the third power contact in the first cavity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 395 words

An electrical connector system for mounting on a substrate comprising: a first electrical connector comprising a first power contact and a first electrically insulative housing that receives the first power contact, wherein: a first aperture is formed in the first housing; the first aperture is aligned with a mating portion of the first power contact whereby air heated by the first power contact can exit the first power contact by way of the first aperture; a first recess is formed in the first housing; the first recess is positioned to face the substrate so that the first recess and the substrate define a first passage extending from a side portion of the first housing when the first electrical connector is mounted on the substrate; and a portion of the first power contact extends through the first recess; whereby air from the environment around the first electrical connector can pass between the first housing and substrate and over the first power contact when the first electrical connector is mounted on the substrate; a second electrical connector that mates with the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector comprising a second power contact and a second electrically insulative housing that receives the second power contact, wherein a second aperture is formed in the second housing, the second aperture is aligned with a mating portion of the second power contact whereby air heated by the second power contact can exit the second power contact by way of the second aperture; a second recess is formed in the second housing; wherein the first recess, the first aperture, the second recess and the second aperture are interconnected when the first and second electrical connectors are mated; and a third power contact, wherein (i) the first and third power contacts each comprises a tab, (ii) the first housing comprises a first and a second cavity formed therein that receive the respective first and third power contacts, and (iii) the tab of the first power contact interferedly contacts the first housing when the first power contact is partially inserted into the second cavity thereby preventing installation of the first power contact in the second cavity, and the tab of the third power contact interferedly contacts the first housing when the third power contact is partially inserted into the first cavity thereby preventing installation of the third power contact in the first cavity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

The connector system of claim 1 , wherein a another aperture is formed in the first housing and is aligned with the first aperture and the mating portion of the first power contact, whereby air heated by the first power contact can circulate over the mating portion of the first power contact by way of the apertures.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture of the first electrical connector overlaps with the second aperture of the second electrical connector when the first and second electrical connectors are mated together.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector further comprises the third power contact.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 42 words

The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first power contact comprises a terminal pin that engages the substrate, and a portion of the terminal pin is located within the first recess formed in the bottom portion of the first housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

The connector system of claim 5 , wherein the first power contact further comprises a plate-like body member and a substantially S-shaped portion that adjoins the body member and the terminal pin, wherein the a portion of the S-shaped portion is located within the first recess.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first power contact comprises a plurality of contact beams and the first aperture is aligned with the contact beams.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The connector system of claim 7 , wherein the contact beams are located in a cavity defined by the first housing and the first aperture places the cavity in fluid communication with the environment around the first electrical connector.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

The connector system of claim 8 , wherein the first aperture is located above the contact beams, and another aperture is formed in the first housing below the contact beams whereby air can circulate through the cavity and over the contact beams by way of the apertures.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The connector system of claim 8 , wherein the first aperture facilitates air circulation in a first direction, and the first recess facilitates air circulation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The connector system of claim 10 , wherein an end of the cavity is in fluid communication with the environment around the first electrical connector, and the cavity extends substantially in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions whereby the cavity facilitates air circulation in the third direction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 164 words

An electrical connector, comprising: an electrically insulative housing; and a first power contact mounted in the housing and having a mating portion, wherein the housing has an aperture formed therein and aligned with the mating portion of the first contact whereby air heated by the power contact can exit the power contact by way of the aperture; and a second power contact, wherein (i) each power contact comprises a tab, (ii) the housing comprises a first and a second cavity formed therein that receive the respective first and second power contacts, and (iii) the tab of the first power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the first power contact is partially inserted into the second cavity thereby preventing installation of the first power contact in the second cavity, and the tab of the second power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the second power contact is partially inserted into the first cavity thereby preventing installation of the second power contact in the first cavity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 164 words

An electrical connector, comprising: an electrically insulative housing; and a first power contact mounted in the housing and having a mating portion, wherein the housing has an aperture formed therein and aligned with the mating portion of the first contact whereby air heated by the power contact can exit the power contact by way of the aperture; and a second power contact, wherein (i) each power contact comprises a tab, (ii) the housing comprises a first and a second cavity formed therein that receive the respective first and second power contacts, and (iii) the tab of the first power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the first power contact is partially inserted into the second cavity thereby preventing installation of the first power contact in the second cavity, and the tab of the second power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the second power contact is partially inserted into the first cavity thereby preventing installation of the second power contact in the first cavity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electrical connector of claim 12 , configured to mate with a corresponding connector such that the aperture overlaps with a complementary aperture of the corresponding connector.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 93 words

The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein (i) a passage is defined by the housing and a substrate when the electrical connector is mounted on the substrate, (ii) the passage extends from a first side of the housing to an opposite second side of the housing, (iii) a portion of the power contact extends into the passage, (iv) at least a portion of the aperture terminates at the passage, and (v) whereby air from the environment around the electrical connector can pass between the housing and substrate and over the power contact.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein the housing has a top portion having the aperture formed therein, and a bottom portion having another aperture formed therein and aligned with the mating portion of the contact.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electrical connector of claim 15 , wherein the bottom portion of the housing has a recess formed therein, and the power contact extends through the recess.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 111 words

An electrical connector, comprising: a first power contact comprising a tab; a second power contact comprising a tab; and a housing having a first and a second cavity formed therein that receive the respective first and second power contacts, wherein the tab of the first power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the first power contact is partially inserted into the second cavity thereby preventing installation of the first power contact in the second cavity, and the tab of the second power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the second power contact is partially inserted into the first cavity thereby preventing installation of the second power contact in the first cavity.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 111 words

An electrical connector, comprising: a first power contact comprising a tab; a second power contact comprising a tab; and a housing having a first and a second cavity formed therein that receive the respective first and second power contacts, wherein the tab of the first power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the first power contact is partially inserted into the second cavity thereby preventing installation of the first power contact in the second cavity, and the tab of the second power contact interferedly contacts the housing when the second power contact is partially inserted into the first cavity thereby preventing installation of the second power contact in the first cavity.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 181 words

The electrical connector of claim 17 , wherein: the first power contact includes a first and a second half, the first half having a first and a second projection formed thereon, and the second half having a first and a second hole formed therein that each receive an associated one of the projections when the first half is stacked against the second half, the projections being spaced apart on the first half by a first distance; and the second power contact includes a first and a second half, the first half of the second power contact having a first and a second projection formed thereon, and the second half of the second power contact having a first and a second hole formed therein that each receive an associated one of the projections of the second power contact when the first half of the second power contact is stacked against the second half of the second power contact, the projections formed on the first half of the second power contact being spaced apart by a second distance different that the first distance.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The electrical connector of claim 17 , wherein the first power contact and the second power contact are of different sizes.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 65 words

The electrical connector of claim 17 , wherein the tab of the first power contact is disposed at a first location relative to an upper surface of the first power contact, and the tab of the second power contact is disposed at a second location relative to an upper surface of the second power contact, and the second location is different than the first location.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

The electrical connector of claim 17 , wherein the first cavity includes a window that receives the tab of the first power contact, and the second cavity includes a window that receives the tab of the second power contact.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 65 words

The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein the window of the first cavity and the tab of the second power contact are misaligned when the second power contact is partially inserted into the first cavity; and the window of the second cavity and the tab of the first power contact are misaligned when the first power contact is partially inserted into the second cavity.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 146 words

The electrical connector of claim 17 , configured to be mounted on a substrate, wherein an aperture is formed in the housing; the aperture is aligned with a mating portion of the first power contact whereby air heated by the first power contact can exit the first power contact by way of the aperture; a recess is formed in the housing; the first recess is positioned to face the substrate so that the recess and the substrate define a passage extending from a side portion of the first housing when the electrical connector is mounted on the substrate; and a portion of the first power contact extends through the recess such that air from the environment around the first electrical connector can pass between the first housing and the substrate and over the first power contact when the first electrical connector is mounted on the substrate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

The electrical connector of claim 23 , wherein the recess and the aperture are configured to interconnect with a corresponding recess and aperture of a complementary connector when the electrical connector is mated with the complementary connector.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2013-05-31	2013-11-30	2014-06-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2017-05-31	2017-11-30	2018-06-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2021-05-31	2021-11-30	2022-06-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical connectors with air-circulation features

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