Sleeve terminal

Details Sleeve terminal Sleeve terminal

2000-04-06

2001-10-09

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

C439S252000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06299489

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to sleeve terminals structured for resiliently contacting a pin terminal concentrically received therein and for providing a ground plane to an internal wall of a barrel shaped shield.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sleeve terminals provide an electrical connection with a pin terminal which is concentrically received by a slotted sleeve member of the sleeve terminal, where in the sleeve member is resiliently expanded by the pin terminal and presses thereagainst. A typical example of a sleeve and pin terminals connection is that of a spark plug wire sleeve terminal which receives therein the pin terminal at the top of a spark plug.
An interesting example of a sleeve terminal is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,960, and is generally reproduced at
FIGS. 1 and 2
. As shown at
FIG. 1
, a sleeve terminal
10
is composed of a pair of opposed resilient arms
12
,
14
which are connected to a base
16
, which is, in turn, connected to a wire mount
18
. The resilient arms
12
,
14
are separated from each other by slits
20
,
22
, and each feature a forward flaired end
24
,
26
(which collectively form what is basically a sleeve member of the sleeve terminal). The resilient arms
12
14
are inserted into a barrel
28
having an access opening
30
. As shown at
FIG. 2
, a pin terminal
32
is then inserted through the access opening
30
and between the resilient arms
12
,
14
, causing them to deflect away from each other as they resiliently press against the pin terminal.
While a sleeve terminal does offer a good electrical connection with a received pin terminal, there is a danger that the sleeve member may relax and no longer provide a secure normal force against the pin terminal. If the sleeve member should loose good abutting contact with the pin terminal, the electrical connection therebetween is then compromised. Unfortunately, over time due to vibration and heat, among other things, the sleeve member can relax, whereby the normal force of the sleeve member against the pin terminal reduces commensurately. Accordingly, it is seen that when the normal force of the sleeve member decreases, there is introduced potential loss of electrical continuity between the sleeve terminal and the received pin terminal.
Accordingly, what remains needed in the art is a sleeve terminal which provides an assured level of normal force with respect to a received pin terminal, besides providing a ground plane to an internal wall of a barrel shaped shield.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a sleeve terminal which provides a continually assured level of normal force with respect to a received pin terminal and an internal surface of a barrel, even as the sleeve member thereof may tend to relax over time.
The sleeve terminal according to the present invention includes a sleeve member having a slot which allows the sleeve member to be resiliently expanded when a pin terminal is inserted therewithin. A pair of resilient arms characterized by an opposing V-shape are formed integrally with the sleeve member on opposing sides of the slot. The apex of each of the resilient arms is located radially remote from the sleeve member and provides a contact location with the inner surface of a barrel which is concentrically receives the sleeve terminal. A free end of each resilient arm is spaced a predetermined distance from the sleeve member. A wire mount is connected to the sleeve member opposite the slot.
In operation, a pin terminal is inserted into the sleeve member, causing the sleeve member to be resiliently expanded as the slot widens, whereupon the sleeve member applies a normal force on the pin terminal. The sleeve terminal is then received into a barrel, during which operation the apices forcefully abut the barrel at opposing locations of the inner surface thereof. This forceful abutment of the barrel with the apices results in the resilient arms being compressed toward the sleeve member such that the V-shape of the resilient arms tends to become flattened, eventually resulting in the free ends abutting the sleeve member. Once the free ends abut the sleeve member, any further compression of the resilient arms is accompanied by an increased application of normal force against the inner surface of the barrel in one direction and against the sleeve member, and in turn the pin terminal, in the opposite direction. As a result, even if the sleeve member may tend to relax over time due to vibration or heat, the incremented normal force due to the compressed resilient arms will continuously supply an adequate level of normal force to ensure electrical continuity between the sleeve member and the pin terminal, as well as the sleeve member and the barrel, over time.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sleeve terminal which is not sensitive to sleeve member relaxation over time, and provides a ground plane to an internal wall of a barrel shaped shield.
This, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3187297 (1965-06-01), Gluntz
patent: 3445930 (1969-05-01), Shlesinger, Jr.
patent: 4938720 (1990-07-01), Romak
patent: 5775960 (1998-07-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5776601 (1998-07-01), Fournier et al.
patent: 5787866 (1998-08-01), Sugiyama et al.
Molex-Etc™ Special Devices—Snap Plugs, Snap Plug Receptacles, Wire Pin Terminals, Molex, Inc. 2222 Wellington Court, Lisle, IL 60532; Date Unknown.

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