Appeal No. 1999-2699
Application No. 08/884,049
BACKGROUND
Appellant's invention relates to a twist-on wire connector adapted for rapid
assembly. The connector has a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion. The coil
minimally contacts the non-threaded portion of the shell prior to insertion of the wires into
the coil. Therefore, the wire coil may be easily pressed into the shell with negligible
damage to the threaded portion during manufacture. When the coil expands during
twisting with insertion of wire ends, the coil expands and engages the threaded portion
inhibiting accidental removal of the coil from the shell. (Brief at page 3.) An understanding
of the invention can be derived from a reading of exemplary claim 1, which is reproduced
below.
1. A twist-on connector for joining ends of electrical wires, said
twist-on connector comprising:
a shell of electrically insulating material having a frusto-conical shape
with an aperture extending from one end of the shell to closed end, the
aperture has an outer tapered section proximate to the one end and which is
threaded to engage the electrical wires, a beveled section of the aperture
tapers inwardly from the outer tapered section to an intermediate tapered
section, the intermediate tapered section being formed by a threadless
region proximate to the beveled section and a threaded region extending
inward from the threadless region toward the closed end; and
a coil within the aperture of the shell and having a conical shape with
a larger end, a smaller end and a middle portion therebetween, the coil
having a first plurality of turns at the larger end which engage the threadless
region of the aperture, and the middle portion being spaced from the shell
prior to insertion of the electrical wires into the aperture.
2
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