Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Screw-thread operated securing part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-02
2001-08-28
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Screw-thread operated securing part
C439S813000, C439S883000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280263
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of eyelet terminals of the type used in automotive junction boxes for connecting electrical wires and cables to threaded terminal posts.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Electrical connection of an eyelet terminal to a bolt or stud in a vehicle electrical system typically requires manipulation of three pieces: eyelet terminal, nut and tool. The nut is easily dropped, leading to higher scrap cost and possibly impairing the vehicle's function. A shortage of either eyelet terminals or nuts in a sub-assembly can hold up the entire vehicle assembly operation. Attempting to tighten an eyelet terminal on a battery or grounding stud is difficult and awkward since the terminal tends to rotate with the nut and tool, especially if space constraints require a one-handed operation.
One prior art solution to the foregoing problems is the use of an eyelet terminal with a nut rotatably captured over the eyelet. Such captured nut terminals proved useful for low amperage (40-50 amps) applications allowing the use of relatively small gage wire (e.g. 12 AWG) and thin, easily folded metal blanks for the terminals. Such terminals are not useful for high-amperage vehicle applications of the type increasingly encountered in the automotive industry, requiring thicker terminal metal, larger wire, and bus bar contact capability. Moreover, the special squared-flange, washer-type nuts needed in such terminals are expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a high-amperage, bus bar contacting, trapped nut eyelet terminal stamped from a relatively thick, flat metal blank and capable of using a standard hex flange nut. The terminal has a flat eyelet section at one end, with an aperture for a threaded terminal post. A nut-trapping leg extends laterally from the eyelet section, comprising a foldable tab terminating in a lock ring with an aperture sized to fit over a nut. During assembly, a flanged nut is placed on the eyelet section and the lock ring is folded over the nut thereby rotatably trapping the flange to allow rotation of the nut on the eyelet section.
The lock ring preferably includes an integral anti-rotation tab, which is preferably formed as a flat extension of the lock ring and which can be folded down to extend through a slot in the terminal to engage a mounting surface underneath the terminal, thereby preventing the terminal from rotating as the trapped nut is tightened on a threaded stud or bolt. This anti-rotation feature facilitates one-handed operation.
The captured nut reduces human error in assembling the terminal connection, and less time is spent gathering components. There are fewer part numbers to track at the assembly plant. The possibility of similar looking but non-mating parts being assembled is eliminated.
The ability to form the terminal from a single flat piece of metal reduces cost and simplifies production.
The invention, together with other objects, features, aspects and advantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4842557 (1989-06-01), Muz
patent: 4875876 (1989-10-01), O'Loughlin
patent: 4900259 (1990-02-01), Ludwing et al.
patent: 4905122 (1990-02-01), Culnan et al.
patent: 5183419 (1993-02-01), Dewar
patent: 5492780 (1996-02-01), Okada
patent: 5547403 (1996-08-01), Haberstroh et al.
patent: 5588883 (1996-12-01), Hattori
patent: 5655936 (1997-08-01), Meredith
patent: 5842894 (1998-12-01), Mehlberg
patent: 5863227 (1999-01-01), Bell
Reference Drawing, Burnett Jason; Jun. 30, 1997, Canton, Michigan.
Manor Michael Anthony
Shimizu Kazuhiro
Takahashi Takeshi
Donovan Lincoln
Lee Kyung S.
Yazaki North America, Inc.
Young and Basile, P.C.
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