Terminal having contact portion with reduced thickness

Details Terminal having contact portion with reduced thickness Terminal having contact portion with reduced thickness

1998-12-07

2001-07-03

Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...

Spring actuated or resilient securing part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06254440

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method, and particularly to a method for making low-friction electrical connection element. The contact portion has a reduced thickness thereby providing a burr-free face during stamping process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Flat flexible cable or flexible printed circuits includes a plurality of parallel spaced electrical conductors. Connectors for connecting the individual flexible cable to printed circuit board are known to skilled in the art. The connector used to connect the cable to a printed circuit board includes housing defining a cavity for arranging an array of terminals. Each terminal includes a connecting portion for connecting a corresponding conductor of a flat flexible cable. The terminal typically includes a base portion having a pair of upper and lower arms cantilevered from the base portion. A gap is defmed between the upper and lower arms for entrance of the conductor. The size of the gap is slightly small than a thickness of the conductor, accordingly, when the conductor is inserted, a normal force generated thereof ensures the electrical connection therebetween.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,113 issued on Feb. 28, 1989 to Kanesige et al discloses a flat flexible cable suitable for surface mounting. U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,186 issued on Mar. 28, 1995 to Nozaki et al discloses an electrical connection element with a widened contact span. The connection element includes a first and second edge portions bent laterally. By the provision of widened connection surface, even the conductors are slightly and randomly arranged, effective electrical connection therebetween can still be ensured. However, even a plurality of patents have issued, none addresses to frictional force between the contact portion of the terminal and the conductor of the flat flexible cable.
Basically, connection terminals are manufactured from a material sheet through stamping process. The thicker the thickness of the material is, the higher the normal force may generate. However, material sheet of higher thickness generates burr on edge of a terminal
50
after stamping, as shown in FIG.
1
. Each burr
51
is a sharp cutter which wears off the conductor
20
when connected thereto. Additionally, burrs increase frictional force tremendously, almost three times. Conventionally, burrs are removed by polishing and this inevitably increases the manufacturing cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of this invention is to provide a method for producing a low frictional force connection terminal which is free from burrs during stamping process thereby reducing frictional force.
In order to achieve the objective set forth, the method in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of 1) providing a material sheet of a first thickness and having a first and second sides; 2) defining a second thickness along the first side; 3) stamping the material sheet to form a plurality of connection terminals.
According to one aspect of the present invention, wherein a contact portion is formed on the first side.
A connection terminal for use with flat flexible connector comprises a base defining a first and second sides, a pair of cantilevered arms extending forward from one of said first and second sides, an end edge of one of first and second arms forming a contact portion, characterized in that the contact portion has reduced thickness than the rest of the terminal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, wherein the first and second arms are convergent to each other.
These and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2490631 (1949-12-01), Johansson
patent: 3812452 (1974-05-01), Sturm
patent: 4776651 (1988-10-01), Paulo
patent: 5051099 (1991-09-01), Pickles et al.
patent: 5183421 (1993-02-01), Yin
patent: 5551883 (1996-09-01), Davis
patent: 5865649 (1999-02-01), Yu et al.
patent: 5897394 (1999-04-01), Adachi

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