Appeal No. 97-3682
Application 08/491,458
78 in the housing to push a beam portion out of engagement with a
wire so that the wire may be withdrawn. See Figure 12. The
configuration of the contact terminal is shown in Figures 10, 11
and 14.
Lytle discloses an electrical connector comprising a
dielectric housing 24 having uniform straight, cross section T-
shaped contact receiving slots 16, and a plurality of spring
contacts 14 received in the slots. Each contact includes a
bottom section 26 adapted to make electrical connection with a
printed circuit board, a middle section 28 having retention arms
32a, 32b for retaining the contact in the housing, and a top
section 30. The top section comprises a bight portion 38 for
engaging a male contact 52, shown in phantom lines in Figures 2
and 3. In addition, the top section comprises preload tabs 42
received behind shoulders founded between the head section 18 and
the base section 20 of a receiving slot to preload the bight
portion and thereby enhance contact pressure between the contact
14 and its male contact counterpart 52.
Independent claim 15 calls for, among other things, a
terminal including a base, a spring contact arm having an
outwardly bowed contact portion, and “a free end portion being
bent so that the free end portion is located generally between
-3-
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Last modified: November 3, 2007