Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2001-04-03
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
C439S947000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210240
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector having an improved terminal, such as a power terminal for mating with a blade terminal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, an electrical connector includes some form of insulative or dielectric housing which mounts one or more conductive terminals. The housing is configured for mating with a complementary mating connector or other connecting device which, itself, has one or more conductive terminals. A connector assembly typically includes a pair of mating connectors, such as plug and receptacle connectors sometimes called male and female connectors. The interengaging terminals of the connectors, themselves, may be male and female terminals.
One type of electrical connector is a power connector which mounts one or more power terminals. One type of power terminal, as shown in
FIG. 6a and 6b
as opposed terminals, is a female terminal adapted for receiving and engaging a power terminal blade of a complementary mating connector or other connecting device. The female terminal is configured for engaging both opposite sides of the power terminal blade. Heretofore, typical female terminals of this type included a redundant pair of contact walls on opposite sides of the terminal blade, each wall having a plurality of bent contact arms for engaging a respective side of the terminal blade. For instance, the contact arms may be bent back from a top edge of the contact wall. The opposite edge of the contact wall is located at a terminating face of the connector and may include a plurality of tail portions for insertion into appropriate holes in a printed circuit board, for instance.
One problem with prior art connectors as described above is that the terminals include a pair of separate contact portions on opposite sides of the power terminal blade. If one of the contact portions is not fully inserted into the connector housing or is not inserted at all, the other contact portion still may pass an electrical continuity inspection but will result in a lower current carrying capacity since both contact portions are required for an effective electrical engagement. Other problems with such two-part female terminals for receiving terminal blades involves the latch in the base which will reduce current flow, will not allow for a close side by side placement of the terminals, and will not provide a precise location and a stable engagement in the housing. The present invention is directed to solving these various problems and providing an efficient connector having an improved female terminal of the character described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector for mating with a complementary connecting device having a blade terminal.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved female terminal for receiving and engaging the blade terminal.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, an electrical connector is shown to include a dielectric housing having a front mating face, an elongated terminal-receiving cavity with an open end through the mating face for insertion therethrough of the blade terminal, and a locking ledge on an end wall of the cavity. A conductive female terminal is received in the cavity and includes a pair of elongated side walls joined in spaced relation by at least one end wall. A plurality of flexible contact arms are folded back over each side wall from an upper edge thereof nearest the open end of the cavity for engaging a respective side of the blade terminal. A locking finger projects from the end wall of the terminal and is engageable with the locking ledge on the end wall of the terminal-receiving cavity.
According to one aspect of the invention, the dielectric housing includes a rear terminating face through which the terminal is inserted into the terminal-receiving cavity. Complementary interengaging abutting shoulders are provided between the terminal and the housing to define the depth of insertion of the terminal into the cavity. The abutting shoulders are between the one end wall of the terminal and the housing. As disclosed herein, the terminal includes a pair of the end walls each having an abutting shoulder engageable with a respective abutting shoulder on opposite end walls of the terminal-receiving cavity.
Other features of the invention including the terminal being stamped and formed of sheet metal material, and the flexible contact arms of the terminal being of thinner material than the side walls thereof. The terminal includes a plurality of terminating tails projecting from a lower edge of each side wall of the terminal.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4029377 (1977-06-01), Guglielmi
patent: 4379611 (1983-04-01), Foege et al.
patent: 4557548 (1985-12-01), Thrush
patent: 4790764 (1988-12-01), Kawaguchi et al.
patent: 5421751 (1995-06-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 5431576 (1995-07-01), Matthews
patent: 5545943 (1996-08-01), Arvidsson et al.
patent: 5630720 (1997-05-01), Kocher
patent: 5647748 (1997-07-01), Mills et al.
patent: 5807120 (1998-09-01), Matthews
patent: 5842876 (1998-12-01), Collin et al.
Comerci Joseph D.
Kotz Kenneth K.
Mayo Michael
Bradley Paula
Molex Incorporated
Ta Tho D.
Weiss Stephen Z.
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