Appeal No. 2004-0787
Application No. 09/827,048
THE INVENTION
According to Appellants, the claimed invention relates to an electrical
connector for “electrically and mechanically connecting a plurality of wires or other
types of electrical conductors in a quick, secure and reliable manner.” (Brief, p. 2).
The scope of the appealed claims can be ascertained from representative claim 39
reproduced from the Brief below:
39. 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
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