ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING TERMINAL

• US 20120003883A1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Pavlovic, Slobodan, Menzies, David, Brown, Cecil Lamar II, Glick, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,382,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/840
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/111 co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence

Abstract

An electrical terminal having at least one open end that is configured to receive a connector in an electrically conducting manner. The open end portion of the connector may be configured with differently sized and/or shaped portions to facilitate receipt of connector, such as to receive the connector in a manner that limits misalignment and/or receipt of bent or crooked connectors.

Claims

1. An electrical terminal configured to receive a connector having a connector diameter, the terminal comprising:

an electrically conducting body;

an open end interior to at least one end of the body;

a first portion of the open end having a first diameter;

a second portion of the open end having a second diameter;

wherein the first diameter is a first amount greater than the connector diameter;

wherein the second diameter is a second amount greater than the connector diameter; and

wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount.

2. The electrical terminal of claim 1 further comprising a third portion of the open end having a third diameter greater than the second diameter.

3. The electrical terminal of claim 2 further comprising a fourth portion of the open end having a fourth diameter greater than the second diameter.

4. The electrical terminal of claim 3 wherein the fourth diameter is greater than the first diameter.

5. The electrical terminal of claim 3 wherein the fourth diameter is approximately equal to the first diameter.

6. The electrical terminal of claim 3 wherein the fourth diameter is less than the third diameter and the third diameter is greater than the first diameter.

7. The electrical terminal of claim 2 further comprising a resilient element having an opening configured to receive the connector when positioned within the third portion.

8. The electrical terminal of claim 7 wherein an inner diameter of the opening in the resilient element is less than the second diameter.

9. The electrical terminal of claim 8 wherein the inner diameter of the opening in the resilient element is less than the connector diameter.

10. The electrical terminal of claim 9 wherein the resilient element includes a plurality of coils configured to define the inner diameter, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of coils configured to provide an interference fit when the connector is inserted within the open end.

11. An electrical terminal configured to receive a connector having a connector diameter, the terminal comprising:

an electrically conducting body having an open end;

a first portion of the open end having a first diameter greater than the connector diameter;

a second portion of the open end having a second diameter different from the first diameter and greater than the connector diameter; and

a resilient element within the open end having an inner opening configured to receive the connector, the inner opening having an inner diameter less than the connector diameter so as to facilitate electrical connectivity between the terminal and the connector through an interference fit.

12. The electrical terminal of claim 11 further comprising a third portion of the open end having a third diameter greater than the connector diameter.

13. The electrical terminal of claim 12 further comprising a fourth portion of the open end having a fourth diameter greater than the connector diameter.

14. The electrical terminal of claim 13 wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, the fourth diameter is greater than the first diameter, and the third diameter is greater than the fourth.

15. The electrical terminal of claim 13 wherein the third portion is configured to receive the resilient element.

16. The electrical terminal of claim 15 wherein an axial length of the second portion is less than an axial length of the fourth portion.

17. The electrical terminal of claim 16 wherein an axial length of the first portion is greater than the axial length of the second portion and less than the axial length of the fourth portion.

18. The electrical terminal of claim 17 wherein the resilient element is comprised of a plurality of coils arranged to delimit the inner opening.

19. The electrical terminal of claim 18 wherein an axial length of the third portion is approximately equal to a diameter of the plurality of coils.

20. An electrical terminal configured to receive a connector having a connector diameter, the terminal comprising:

an electrically conducting body having an open end;

a first portion of the open end having a first diameter greater than the connector diameter and a first axial length;

a second portion of the open end having a second diameter different from the first diameter and greater than the connector diameter and a second axial length less than the first axial length;

a third portion of the open end having a third diameter greater than the connector diameter and a third axial length less than the second axial length; and

a fourth portion of the open end having a fourth diameter greater than the connector diameter and a fourth axial length greater than the first axial length.