Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact comprising a slotted or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-30
2001-06-26
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact comprising a slotted or...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250975
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of eyelet terminals for connecting electrical wires and cables to automotive electrical system terminals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Eyelet terminals are commonly used in automotive electrical systems to connect wires or cables to terminal points such as battery and junction box terminals and grounds. The eyelet terminals are typically formed from relatively heavy gauge metal to accommodate large terminals, to carry high levels of current, and to be securely crimped to heavy duty cables. One end of the eyelet terminal typically has a flat, annular eyelet designed to fit over a threaded post or stud terminal, secured to the stud with a nut.
Eyelet terminals are also used with “weld nut” terminal connections, in which a nut is welded or otherwise fixed in place on a metal grounding surface or over a female terminal hole to receive a bolt or threaded stud for a ground or power connection.
Rotation of the eyelet terminal and the cable to which it is attached is a common problem encountered when tightening an eyelet-securing nut or bolt onto a stud or weld nut. One known method for solving the rotation problem is to extend perpendicular anti-rotation tabs or legs from portions of the eyelet terminal to engage slots in the underlying mounting structure when the eyelet terminal is placed. Subsequent tightening of a nut or bolt to secure the eyelet terminal at the electrical connection point cannot rotate the eyelet.
The usefulness of such anti-rotation structure on the eyelet terminal is limited. The nature of weld nut terminals generally precludes the use of anti-rotation tabs extending from the eyelet terminal. If the weld nut is used as an electrical ground, the nut may be welded on a solid metal surface. In some instances it may also be desirable to establish secondary ground or power connections to existing nut-using connections which do not lend themselves to the use of an additional eyelet terminal having anti-rotation tabs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an eyelet terminal having an eyelet portion designed to be drop-fit onto an existing terminal nut, preferably over a “weld nut” to ground but not excluding a nut securing an existing power or ground connection. The eyelet portion of the inventive terminal is generally in the form of an inverted metal cup with a nut-engaging internal geometry, for example a polygon with six or preferably twelve sides, adapted to engage corners and flats on the terminal nut to prevent rotation when a bolt or second nut is threaded over the cup terminal to lock it in place. For this purpose, the eyelet cup includes a hole in its upper surface for admitting a bolt or a stud member to which a securing nut can be threaded.
The invention is especially useful as a ground terminal for weld-nut type grounding points, but is readily adaptable to making secondary eyelet terminal connections to already-established terminals secured with a nut. In the latter case, the nut-engaging eyelet cup eliminates the need to remove the underlying terminal nut in order to make a secondary connection. In both cases, the invention uses a terminal nut's own geometry as an anti-rotation feature, rather than relying on features of the underlying mounting structure.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon a further reading of the specification, in light of the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4679888 (1987-07-01), William
patent: 4753615 (1988-06-01), Weidler et al.
patent: 4775339 (1988-10-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 5487685 (1996-01-01), Stillkack et al.
patent: 5842894 (1998-12-01), Melberg
Dinh Phuong K T
EWD., L.L.C.
Sircus Brian
Young & Basile P.C.
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