Terminal fitting with upstanding projection

Details Terminal fitting with upstanding projection Terminal fitting with upstanding projection

2000-05-26

2001-07-24

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation

Reexamination Certificate

active

06264507

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electrical terminal fitting, doubly retained by a retainer.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
FIG. 11
of this specification shows an example of a terminal fitting which is inserted within a connector housing provided with a retainer. This terminal fitting
1
consists of a box-shaped main body
2
provided at the anterior, and attaching members
3
for crimping electric wires provided at the posterior. When the terminal fitting
1
is in an inserted state within a cavity
5
of a connector housing
4
, it is retained by a lance
5
A which protrudes from an upper face of the cavity
5
, and is doubly retained by a retainer
6
which is inserted from a lower face side of the cavity
5
. The retainer
6
is provided with a stopping member
6
A which is capable of engaging with a posterior side face
2
A of the main body
2
of the terminal fitting
1
. The retainer
6
can be attached to the connector housing
4
in a temporary stopping position, whereby the stopping member
6
A is removed from the cavity
5
and the terminal fitting
1
can be inserted, and a main stopping position, whereby the retainer
6
is pressed inwards from the temporary stopping position and the stopping member
6
A protrudes into the cavity
5
and retains the terminal fitting
1
. This type of terminal fitting is described in JP 6-58570.
If the retainer
6
is pressed into the main stopping position when the terminal fitting
1
is in a half-inserted state, the stopping member
6
A strikes against a lower face
2
B of the main body
2
which faces the retainer
6
. By this means, the retainer
6
remains in a protruding state and its movement is halted at a position short of its main stopping position. The protrusion of the retainer
6
allows one to detect that the terminal fitting
1
has been half inserted.
The protrusion of the retainer
6
can be ascertained visually. However, when the connector is small, the degree to which the retainer
6
protrudes is extremely small. Consequently, it is difficult to ascertain whether it is in the main stopping position, and the protrusion of the retainer
6
might not be noticed.
The present invention has been developed after taking the above problem into consideration, and aims to present a terminal fitting wherein a half-inserted state can reliably be detected by a retainer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an electrical terminal for insertion into a connector body, the terminal having an anterior end for connection to a mating terminal, a posterior end for connection to an electrical wire, and a mid-portion having a recess adapted to receive a retainer, wherein said terminal further comprises an upstanding projection at the anterior side of said recess, said projection having an upper side for contact with a retainer in a half fitted state with said connector body, and a posterior side for contact with a retainer in a fully fitted state with said connector body.
Such a terminal has an upstanding projection adapted to prevent insertion of the retainer before the retainer has been inserted a significant distance. Accordingly the retainer protrudes to a greater degree compared with the prior art, and half-fitting is more likely to be noticed.
The projection may be a part sheared tab or an outward indentation. The tab may be rectangular in elevation and aligned with a stabilizing tab to the anterior thereof.
Preferably the projection and recess are coincident at one respective end so as to provide a single plane of contact for the retainer.
The retainer is preferably insertable at an acute angle to the direction of insertion of the terminal, and may have temporary and final positions determined by a releasable resilient latch thereof.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3781760 (1973-12-01), Mancini et al.
patent: 4690477 (1987-09-01), Doutrich et al.
patent: 5651703 (1997-07-01), Sasai

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