Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-17
2001-02-20
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
C439S080000, C439S857000, C439S746000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190215
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket-type terminal for use in effecting a relatively high-amperage power connection with a male pin of any desired length.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
A power port terminal for interconnecting a backplane with a male pin plug may be formed in any one of a variety of ways. U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,707 illustrates a power terminal that includes a base to which a mating component having a socket may be attached. In this terminal the base and a portion of the mating component are formed as screw machined parts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,357 shows a power connector in which a socket defined from a crown band of spring contact beams is inserted into a block of conductive material. In both of these arrangements the contact beams of the terminal extend around the entire 360° periphery of the male pin. However, since one end of the terminal is closed, the socket may accept a pin having only a predetermined limited axial dimension.
The power terminal shown at page 334, 335 of the Du Pont Electronics Interconnect and Packaging Catalog, August 1988, is also a machined part having a socket that may accept a pin having only a predetermined limited axial dimension. This part also includes a snapring latch arrangement which is received about the socket of the terminal and which cooperates with a housing to retain the terminal.
The terminal shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,400, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, is formed from a stamped blank of conductive material. Again, however, it appears that the socket portion of the terminal is blocked at an axially rearward point by a wire crimp barrel and an insulation crimp barrel, effectively limiting the axial dimension of a pin receivable in the socket.
The power terminal forming a part of the Du Pont HPC Connector System, as shown at page 6 of Bulletin 7121, January 1987, is fabricated from a stamped blank of conductive material. Although in this terminal the length of the pin receivably by the socket is not limited, the socket region does not fully surround the pin when the same is received therein.
U.S. Pat. 5,376,012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a power port terminal which is formed by stamping from a blank of conductive material. The socket includes a web with a plurality of beams. The inner surface of the beams define a substantially continuous cylindrical contact surface. The trailing mounting portion has a set of mounting legs. While this contact provides a socket formed from a stamped conductive material that both surrounds a male pin over substantially 360° of its periphery and does not limit the axial length of pin receivable therein, it has been found that this contact may tend to pivot on its longitudinal axis when it is mounted in a through hole of an insulative housing.
A need, therefore, exists for a stamped power contact which does not pivot on its longitudinal axis. A need also exists for such a stamped power contact which is not subject to being overextended into the through hole of the insulative housing in which it is mounted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a power port terminal formed by stamping from a blank of conductive material. The terminal comprises a contact receiving socket portion and an integral mounting portion. The terminal has a reference axis extending therethrough. The contact receiving socket portion includes a web with a plurality of beams thereon. When the terminal is formed the beams cooperate to form an axially extending tubular socket region. The inner surface of the beams on the bends thereof define a substantially continuous cylindrical contact surface at a predetermined point along the reference axis within the tubular region. The contact surface is interrupted only by the spacing between the beams and is thus adapted to surround a male pin over 360° of its periphery. The cylindrical contact surface has a predetermined constricted dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to the reference axis, this dimension of the substantially continuous cylindrical contact surface being the most constricted dimension along the reference axis of the terminal. The terminal is thereby able to accommodate a pin of any desired axial length.
The trailing mounting portion has a set of mounting legs thereon. The mounting legs depend from the lateral flanges of a curved hood portion. The hood and flanges preferably surround substantially 270° of the periphery of the pin. In the preferred instance the mounting legs extend generally perpendicular to the reference axis of the terminal. Lateral projections also depend from the hood to restrain the terminal from pivoting about its longitudinal axis.
One or more of the beams may have a latch tab thereon. The latch tabs engage with ribs provided in the terminal housing to secure the terminal therewithin.
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DuPont Electronics Interconnect & Packaging Catalog, Aug. 1988, pp. 334-335.
DuPont HPC Connector System Bulletin 712, Jan. 1987, pp. 6, 12, 15, 18.
Doutrich Ray C.
Pendleton Christopher S.
Stoner Stuart C.
Berg Technology Inc.
Bradley Paula
Hamilla Brian J.
Page M. Richard
Ta Tho D.
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