Annular electrical terminal

• US 4,943,247 A
• Filed: 05/31/1989
• Issued: 07/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Wise, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Application Number:
  US07/359,188
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 439/784, 439/799, 439/860, 439/883, 439/889, 439/891, 439/927
• US Class Current: 439/883
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/927 Conductive gasket

Abstract

An annular electrical terminal member 14 adapted to reduce resistance at a contact interface between two electrical articles has a fastener receiving aperture 16 extending therethrough, an inner edge 22 adjacent the fastener receiving aperture 16 and an outer edge 28 extending circumferentially therearound. A plurality of slots 26 are spaced around the annular section, the slots 26 defining therebetween respective spring sections 32 in an annular array. Each of the spring sections includes a respective protrusion 34 extending from one major surface thereof, the protrusion having a crest portion 36, the respective crest portions 36 being disposed substantially in a common plane. The crest portions 36 comprise a contact interface for electrical engagement with a common conductive surface 38 of the first electrical article 60. The other terminal major surface has an array of surface portions engageable by a second electrical article. A plurality of electrical paths in parallel are established between the first and second electrical articles 60,70 upon terminal member 14 being connected to said first and second electrical articles thereby minimizing the electrical resistance at the contact interface.

Claims

1. An improved electrical terminal suitable for use in connecting a first electrical article to a second electrical article comprising:

an annular member having opposed first and second major surfaces, said first and second major surfaces associated respectively with said first and second electrical articles for electrically interconnecting respective conductive surfaces of said first and second electrical articles;

said annular member having a centrally disposed fastener receiving aperture extending therethrough from said first major surface to said second major surface, said annular member having an inner edge adjacent said fastener receiving aperture and an outer edge extending circumferentially therearound;

said annular member further including a plurality of slots spaced therearound each extending between at least one integral strap section along one of said inner edge and said outer edge, said slots defining therebetween respective spring sections in an annular array, each of said spring sections at least include respective protrusions extending outwardly from one of said first and second major surfaces, each said respective protrusion having a crest portion, all of said respective crest portions being disposed substantially in a common plane and defining an array of first contact surfaces comprising a first contact interface for electrical engagement with said conductive surface of said first electrical article upon being fastened thereto by fastening means; and

the other of said first and second major surfaces at least including an array of surface portions disposed substantially in a common plane and defining an array of second contact surfaces comprising a second contact interface for electrical engagement with said conductive surface of said second electrical article, said first and second electrical articles being secured together and biasedly held against said respective connecting portions by said fastening means, thereby compressing said spring sections and establishing contact normal force between said first electrical article and said first contact surfaces and said second electrical article and said second contact surfaces;

whereby

a plurality of electrical paths in parallel are generated between said first electrical article and said second electrical article upon said terminal being connected between said first and second electrical articles thereby minimizing the electrical resistance at the contact interfaces.

2. An electrical assembly comprising first and second electrical articles electrically interconnected by means of the electrical terminal of claim 1.

3. The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said spring sections extend radially outwardly from said inner strap section.

4. The improved electrical terminal of claim 1 further including a second integral section along the other of said inner and said outer edge.

5. The electrical terminal of claim 4 wherein said spring sections extend radially outwardly from said inner strap section.

6. The electrical terminal of claim 5 wherein said spring sections extend along a selected distance around the annular circumference of said annular member.

7. An electrical assembly comprising:

a first electrical article having a first conductive surface thereon;

a second electrical article having a second conductive surface thereon; and

an annular member having opposed first and second major surfaces, said first and major surfaces associated respectively with said first and second electrical articles for electrically interconnecting respective conductive surfaces of said first and second electrical articles;

said annular member having a centrally disposed fastener receiving aperture extending therethrough from said first major surface to said second major surface, said annular member having an inner edge adjacent said fastener receiving aperture and an outer edge extending circumferentially therearound;

said annular member further including a plurality of slots spaced therearound each extending between at least one integral strap section along one of said inner edge and said outer edge, said slots defining therebetween respective spring sections in an annular array, each of said spring sections at least include respective protrusions extending outwardly from one of said first and second major surfaces, each said respective protrusion having a crest portion, all of said respective crest portions being disposed substantially in a common plane and defining an array of first contact surfaces comprising a first contact interface for electrical engagement with said conductive surface of said first electrical article upon being fastened thereto by fastening means; and

the other of said first and second major surfaces at least including an array of surface portions disposed substantially in a common plane and defining an array of second contact surfaces comprising a second contact interface for electrical engagement with said conductive surface of said second electrical article, said first and second electrical articles being secured together and biasedly held against said respective connecting portions by said fastening means, thereby compressing said spring sections and establishing contact normal force between said first electrical article and said first contact surfaces and said second electrical article and said second contacts surfaces;

whereby

a plurality of electrical paths in parallel are generated between said first electrical article and said second electrical article upon said terminal being connected between said first and second electrical articles thereby minimizing the electrical resistance at the contact interfaces.

8. The electrical assembly of claim 7 wherein said spring sections of said annular member extend radially outwardly from said inner strap section.

9. The electrical assembly of claim 7 wherein at least one of said first and second electrical articles is a circuit board.

10. The electrical assembly of claim 7 wherein at least one of said first and second electrical articles is a metal member.

11. The electrical assembly of claim 7 wherein said annular member further includes a second integral section along the other of said inner and said outer edge.

12. The electrical assembly of claim 11 wherein said spring sections extend radially outwardly from said inner strap section.

13. The electrical assembly of claim 11 wherein said spring sections of said annular member extend along a selected distance around the annular circumferential thereof.

14. The electrical assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of said first and second electrical articles is a circuit board.

15. The electrical assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of said first and second electrical articles is a metal member.