Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-05-08
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
C439S752500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227915
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a female terminal fitting.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art female terminal fitting is identified generally by the numeral
20
in FIG.
6
. The prior art female terminal fitting
20
includes a connecting portion
21
for the connection with a male terminal fitting. The connecting portion
21
is formed at a front part of a female terminal fitting
20
bat bending, and is normally in the form of a rectangular tube extending in forward and backward directions. Further, a tongue
22
is provided at or on the bottom surface of the connecting portion
21
, and can be brought elastically into contact with a tab of the male terminal fitting. The tongue
22
is formed by turning the bottom wall of the connecting portion
21
inwardly at the front end to have a substantially U-shape. The tongue
22
undergoes an elastic deformation and exerts a specified spring force to hold the tab of the male terminal fitting tightly against the ceiling surface of the connecting portion
21
. Accordingly, it is essential to avoid excessive deformation of the tongue
22
in order to ensure a satisfactory electrical connection with the male terminal fitting. However, when a jig with a tapered leading end is inserted to withdraw the female terminal fitting
20
from the connector housing, it may mistakenly strike against the tongue
22
. To avoid such an event, a protection wall
23
conventionally has been provided in front of the turned portion of the tongue
22
.
There are some cases where the center axis of the tab of the male terminal fitting is displaced with respect to the female terminal fitting when the male and female connector housings are connected. In such cases, the tab may be deformed by interference with the above-mentioned protection wall
23
.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem, and an object thereof is to provide a female terminal fitting which can guide a male terminal fitting to a proper position by avoiding interference with a protection wall even if the center axis of a male terminal fitting is slightly displaced from the female terminal fitting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a female terminal fitting is formed at its front with a connecting portion into which a male terminal fitting can be inserted. A tongue is formed at or on a first or bottom surface of the connecting portion, and can be brought elastically into contact with a tab of the male terminal fitting. At least ones protection wall projects from the connecting portion and substantially covers the front end of a portion of the tongue. At least one guide surface is provided at the protection wall and comes into sliding contact with the male terminal fitting. The guide surface is tapered across its width to guide the male terminal fitting to a proper contact position with the tongue.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion is in the form of a substantially rectangular tube.
The tongue portion may be formed at or on the first or bottom surface of the connecting portion by being elastically deformed and turned into the connecting portion. The protection wall preferably projects from the connecting portion and covers the front end of the turned portion of the tongue. More particularly, the protection wall preferably projects from an opening end of the connecting portion.
The guide surface preferably is provided for sliding contact with a guide portion formed at the leading end of the male terminal. Two guide surfaces preferably are formed on opposed ends of two protection walls.
Most preferably, the female terminal fitting is formed by bending an integral or unitary electrically conductive metal plate.
According to a further preferred embodiment, a female terminal fitting is formed by bending an electrically conductive metal plate. A front part of the female terminal fitting is formed with a connecting portion in the form of a rectangular tube into which a male terminal fitting can be inserted. A tongue is formed at or on the bottom surface of the connecting portion by elastically deforming the connecting portion inwardly so that it can be elastically brought into contact with a tab of the male terminal fitting. A pair of protection walls project from an opening end of the connecting portion and cover the front end of the turned portion of the tongue. Guide surfaces are formed at the opposed ends of the protection walls, and function to guide the male terminal fitting to a proper contact position with the tongue.
Accordingly, if the central axis of the male terminal fitting is not displaced when the male terminal fitting is inserted into the connecting portion, the male terminal fitting is inserted to a proper position in the connecting portion after passing the protection walls and is brought elastically into contact with the tongue. However, if the central axis of the male terminal fitting is displaced, the side edges of the guide portion of the male terminal fitting come into contact with the guide surfaces. In response to further insertion, the male terminal fitting is slid along the guide surface and guided to the proper position. Thus, the male terminal fitting can be guided to the proper position in the connecting portion by having a displacement of its central axis corrected.
Preferably, the pair of protection walls project from the opposite sides of the opening end of the connecting portion and the guide surfaces are formed by cutting the opposed ends of the protection walls such that a spacing therebetween is widened toward the top or to a tab insertion space of the connection portion.
Accordingly, the pair of protection walls that have the above function can be formed easily by bending the side ends of the opening end of the connecting portion.
Most preferably, one or more stoppers are formed in one or more walls of the connecting portion and are located substantially below a contact portion of the tongue with the male terminal fitting.
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: 5593328 (1997-01-01), Okada et al.
patent: 5769673 (1998-06-01), Ohta et al.
patent: 5788542 (1998-08-01), Miwa
patent: 2 335 802 (1999-09-01), None
patent: 11-307160 (1999-11-01), None
Fujita Shinya
Sakatani Atsushi
Abrams Neil
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Porco Michael J.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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