Devices, systems, and methods for increasing terminal electrical contact

• US 10,446,944 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Inventors: Beckert, James J., Albrecht, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US16/138,922
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 439883
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/28 Contacts for sliding cooperation with identically-shaped contact, e.g. for hermaphroditic coupling devices H01R24/84 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28

Abstract

A system for increasing terminal electrical contact may include a first tuning fork terminal extendable on a first plane, and may include a first prong and a second prong both extending from a joined first end to respective distal ends and may form a first gap therebetween. The system may further include a second tuning fork terminal extendable on a second plane and may include a third prong and a fourth prong both extending from a joined second end to respective distal ends and may form a second gap therebetween. The first plane and the second plane may be substantially perpendicular. The distal ends of the first and second prongs may be configured to contact the second end of the second tuning fork, and the distal ends of the third and fourth prongs may be configured to contact the first end of the first tuning fork.

Claims

1. A system for increasing terminal electrical contact, comprising:

a first tuning fork terminal end extendable on a first plane and including a first prong and a second prong both extending from a joined first end to respective distal ends and forming a first gap therebetween;

a second tuning fork terminal end extendable on a second plane and including a third prong and a fourth prong both extending from a joined second end to respective distal ends and forming a second gap therebetween;

wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular; and

wherein the distal ends of the first and second prongs are configured to contact the second end of the second tuning fork, and the distal ends of the third and fourth prongs are configured to contact the first end of the first tuning fork.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first gap at the distal ends of the first and second prongs has a width smaller than a thickness of the second tuning fork, and wherein the second gap at the distal ends of the third and fourth prongs has a width smaller than a thickness of the first tuning fork.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first prong and the second prong are flexible to deflect away from each other such that the first gap is enlarged for receiving the second tuning fork terminal, wherein a first spring force maintains the second tuning fork terminal in the first gap between the first and second prongs.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the third prong and the second prong are flexible to deflect away from each other such that the second gap is enlarged for receiving the first tuning fork terminal, wherein a second spring force maintains the first tuning fork terminal in the second gap between the third and fourth prongs.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a first protrusion disposed on a distal end of the first prong and extending towards the first gap, and a second protrusion disposed on the distal end of the second prong and extending toward the first gap.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a third protrusion disposed on the distal end of the third prong and extending toward the second gap, and a fourth protrusion disposed on the distal end of the second prong and extending toward the second gap.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein a distance from a centerline of the first gap to the protrusions of the first and second prongs for contacting the second tuning fork is different from a distance from a centerline of the second gap to the protrusions of the third and fourth prongs for contacting the first tuning fork.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein contact between the first tuning fork and the second tuning fork is staggered during insertion.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first prong, second prong, third prong, fourth prong, or combinations thereof, has a constant width.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first prong, second prong, third prong, fourth prong, or combinations thereof, has a variable width.

11. A method for increasing terminal electrical contact, comprising:

attaching a first tuning fork terminal to a second tuning fork terminal, wherein;

the first tuning fork terminal includes a first prong and a second prong both extending from a joined first end to respective distal ends and forming a first gap therebetween;

the second tuning fork terminal includes a third prong and a fourth prong both extending from a joined second end to respective distal ends and forming a second gap therebetween; and

the first and second gaps being configured such that the first tuning fork terminal is insertable substantially perpendicular with respect to the second tuning fork terminal; and

wherein the distal ends of the first and second prongs are configured to contact the second end of the second tuning fork, and the distal ends of the third and fourth prongs are configured to contact the first end of the first tuning fork.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first gap at the distal ends of the first and second prongs has a width smaller than a thickness of the second tuning fork, and wherein the second gap at the distal ends of the third and fourth prongs has a width smaller than a thickness of the first tuning fork.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first prong and the second prong are flexible to deflect away from each other such that the first gap is enlarged for receiving the second tuning fork terminal, wherein a first spring force maintains the second tuning fork terminal in the first gap between the first and second prongs.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the third prong and the second prong are flexible to deflect away from each other such that the second gap is enlarged for receiving the first tuning fork terminal, wherein a second spring force maintains the first tuning fork terminal in the second gap between the third and fourth prongs.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein a first protrusion is disposed on the distal end of the first prong and extending toward the first gap, and a second protrusion is disposed on the distal end of the second prong and extending toward the first gap.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a third protrusion is disposed on the distal end of the third prong and extending toward the second gap, and a fourth protrusion is disposed on the distal end of the second prong and extending toward the second gap.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein a distance from a centerline of the first gap to the protrusions of the first and second prongs for contacting the second tuning fork is different from a distance from a centerline of the second gap to the protrusions of the third and fourth prongs for contacting the first tuning fork.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein contact between the first tuning fork and the second tuning fork is staggered during insertion.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first prong, second prong, third prong, fourth prong, or combinations thereof, has a constant width.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first prong, second prong, third prong, fourth prong, or combinations thereof, has a variable width.