Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-09-18
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290554
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a female terminal fitting, and more particularly to a box-shaped female terminal fitting that can be inserted into a waterproof rubber plug. The invention also relates to a female connector comprising one or more of such female terminal fittings.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art female terminal fitting that can be inserted into a waterproof rubber plug is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 10-134875, and also is illustrated in
FIG. 7
of this application. The prior art female terminal fitting is identified generally by the numeral
1
in
FIG. 7
, and is formed by bending a metal plate to define a box-shaped main portion
2
at its front and a barrel portion
3
at its rear for crimped connection to a wire. An opening is made in the leading end of the main portion
2
, and a mating male terminal fitting can be inserted into the opening from the front for electrical connection with the female terminal fitting. The female terminal fitting
1
can be inserted into one of a plurality of cavities formed in a connector housing. A waterproof plug is provided at the rear end of the connector housing for collectively protecting a plurality of the wires from water. The female terminal fitting
1
is inserted in an insertion hole formed in the waterproof rubber plug from the front end of the main portion
2
.
As noted above, the female terminal fitting
1
is formed by bending a stamped metal plate. Thus a sharp edge
5
is exposed at the opening
4
of the main portion
2
. The sharp edge
5
may damage or tear the wall of the insertion hole when the main portion
2
of the female terminal fitting
1
is inserted into the insertion hole of the waterproof rubber plug. Such damage or tearing may reduce the ability of the rubber plug to seal the interface of the wires and the connector housing. Further, the box-shaped main portion
2
has four corners
6
, and the vertices
7
of the corners
6
may damage or tear the inner surface of the insertion hole.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem, and an object of the invention is to provide an improved female terminal fitting having substantially no sharp edges.
A further object of the invention is to prevent a waterproof rubber plug from being damaged during assembly of a female connector.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a female connector comprising one or more of such female terminal fittings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a female terminal fitting with a leading end and a main portion extending rearward from the leading end. An opening extends into the leading end of the main portion, and is configured to receive a mating male terminal fitting. The opening has an edge that is rounded by turning inwardly extending pieces formed at the leading end of the main portion. Thus, no sharp edge is exposed at the front end, and hence the female terminal fitting is not likely to damage a waterproof rubber plug during insertion of the female terminal fitting into an insertion hole of the waterproof rubber plug.
Leading ends of angular portions at corners of the main portion may be retracted from the edge of the opening. Thus the rounded edge of the opening at the leading end of the main body widens the insertion hole as the main portion enters the insertion hole of the waterproof rubber plug. The retracted angular portions then pass through the insertion hole after the widening by the edge of the opening. Accordingly, the interference of the leading ends of the angular portions with the inner surface of the insertion hole can be avoided to the utmost, thereby further preventing damage to the inner surface.
The terminal fitting may be formed by bending a metal plate along bend lines. More particularly, the main portion may be formed by bending side plates at the opposite side edges of a bottom plate and bending ceiling plates inwardly. The ceiling plates may be dimensioned such that side portions of the ceiling plates are placed at least partially one over the other.
At least one projection may be provided on a side surface of the main portion for preventing an upside-down insertion of the female terminal fitting into a cavity of a connector housing. The projection may have a bridge-shape extending along longitudinal direction of the main portion.
The front end of the projection may have a sufficiently large width so as not to be pointed or sharp. Preferably, the projection has a lateral width between 20% and 90% of the total width of the main portion. Accordingly, when the terminal fitting is inserted into a waterproof plug, such as a waterproof rubber plug, the projection does not cut into or damage the opening of the waterproof plug.
The main portion may comprise a tongue that is bent inwardly for coming into contact with a contact portion of the male terminal fitting. The tongue preferably is substantially U-turned inwardly on the main portion and is shaped to have a triangular cross section along a fitting direction of the female terminal fitting. One or more restricting pieces preferably are provided on sidewalls of the main portion to prevent the tongue from being struck by external matter.
The front end of the tongue may be retracted with respect to the front end of the main portion.
Most preferably, the edges of all sidewalls are rounded except for the sidewall on which the tongue is formed.
According to the invention, there is further provided a female connector having one or more cavities for at least partly accommodating one or more resilient plugs. One or more female terminal fittings as described above can be inserted are at least partly into corresponding insertion holes in the resilient plugs.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4690478 (1987-09-01), Rahrig et al.
patent: 4717356 (1988-01-01), Rahrig et al.
patent: 5540603 (1996-07-01), Fujiwara
patent: 5601458 (1997-02-01), Ohsumi et al.
patent: 5607328 (1997-03-01), Joly
patent: 5788542 (1998-08-01), Miwa
patent: 5833500 (1998-11-01), Mahon et al.
patent: 5839925 (1998-11-01), Simmons
patent: 10-134875 (1998-05-01), None
Fukatsu Yukihiro
Makita Yasumitsu
Bradley Paula
Casella Anthony J.
Harvey James
Hespos Gerald E.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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