Circular connector with blade terminal

Details Circular connector with blade terminal Circular connector with blade terminal

1999-11-29

2001-07-31

Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Metallic connector or contact having part permanently...

Adapted to be secured to conductor formed on printed circuit...

C228S114500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06267630

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
Windshields and rear windows of vehicles such as automobiles often include electrical devices located within or on the glass. Typically, the electrical devices are antennas or defrosters. In order to provide an electrical connection to such an electrical device, a small area of metallic coating is applied to the glass which is electrically connected to the electrical device. An electrical connector for connecting to a lead is then soldered to the metallic coating on the glass.
Some of these electrical connectors are designed to have improved soldering capabilities to glass but typically are formed from multiple components and/or contain a specialized terminal which requires the connecting lead to have a specialized mating terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a simple electrical connector which is easily and quickly soldered to a metallic coating on glass while, at the same time, mates with a standard terminal. The connector includes a base pad having a substantially rounded perimeter as well as top and bottom surfaces. A layer of solder covers the bottom surface of the base pad. An arm integral with the base pad is bent from the perimeter of the base pad. The arm extends over the top surface of the base pad and terminates in a terminal. The arm has a first portion bent to lie on the top surface of the base pad and a second portion extending from the first portion and bent to extend away from the base pad.
In preferred embodiments, the terminal is a blade terminal. The arm has a third portion forming the blade terminal extending from the second portion and bent to extend parallel to the top surface of the base pad. The first and second arm portions, and the second and third arm portions, are preferably at right angles relative to each other. The base pad includes a central axis wherein the second portion of the arm extends substantially along the central axis. The base pad also has a central opening extending through the base pad about the central axis. Furthermore, the connector is preferably formed from sheet metal.
Forming the present invention electrical connector from a single piece of sheet metal makes it low cost and easy to manufacture. In addition, the layer of solder on the lower surface of the base pad enables the connector to be soldered to a metallic coating on glass by spin soldering, where the connector is gripped in a rotatable chuck and rotated against the coated glass until the solder melts and bonds the connector thereto. Furthermore, the rounded perimeter of the base pad eliminates sharp corners which can cause damage to the glass while the base pad is spinning. The rounded perimeter also eliminates the possibility of stress fractures in the glass which are formed by soldering sharp corners to glass. Finally, the blade type terminal is a standard connection which allows the use of standard mating terminals on connecting leads.


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Research Disclosure, Kenneth Masons Publications, Ltd, England, No. 31552, Jul. 1990.

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