Power port terminal
First Claim
1. A female-type power port terminal for connecting to a male lug of a wide range of lengths and cross-sectional dimensions, comprising:
- a contact receiving portion having a web and a plurality of fingers that are unitary with said web, said fingers being arranged to form an axially extending socket that is aligned about a reference axis, each of said fingers having a free end that is distal from said web, said free ends being unconnected to each other except through said web, each of said fingers further having a bend therein proximate said free end, said bends together defining a contact surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a male plug that is inserted into said socket, said contact surface being the most constricted point along said reference axis in said terminal; and
a mounting portion that is unitary with and extends longitudinally from said contact receiving portion and is formed together with said contact receiving portion from a single blank of conductive material, said mounting portion comprising a hood region that is curved about said reference axis by substantially 270 degrees to define a space that is coextensive and aligned with said socket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug to pass into said space, said mounting portion further comprising a plurality of mounting legs thereon for mounting the terminal on a substrate;
whereby said terminal, as a result of said unconnected free ends, is constructed to accept male plugs within a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions, and, as a result of said open space defined by said hood portion, is constructed to accept a male plug of a wide range of lengths.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power port terminal formed by stamping from a blank of conductive material comprises a contact receiving socket portion and an integral mounting portion. The socket includes a web with a plurality of beams thereon. Each of the beams has a curved surface with a bend therein. The inner surface of the beams on the bends thereof define a substantially continuous cylindrical contact surface at a predetermined point along the reference axis of the terminal. The contact surface has a predetermined constricted dimension measured in a plane perpendicular to the reference axis, this dimension being the most constricted dimension along the reference axis of the terminal. The terminal is thereby able to accommodate a pin of any desired axial length. The trailing mounting portion has a set of mounting legs thereon that, the preferred instance, extend generally perpendicular to the reference axis of the terminal. Latch tabs may be provided one or more of the beams.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A female-type power port terminal for connecting to a male lug of a wide range of lengths and cross-sectional dimensions, comprising:
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a contact receiving portion having a web and a plurality of fingers that are unitary with said web, said fingers being arranged to form an axially extending socket that is aligned about a reference axis, each of said fingers having a free end that is distal from said web, said free ends being unconnected to each other except through said web, each of said fingers further having a bend therein proximate said free end, said bends together defining a contact surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a male plug that is inserted into said socket, said contact surface being the most constricted point along said reference axis in said terminal; and a mounting portion that is unitary with and extends longitudinally from said contact receiving portion and is formed together with said contact receiving portion from a single blank of conductive material, said mounting portion comprising a hood region that is curved about said reference axis by substantially 270 degrees to define a space that is coextensive and aligned with said socket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug to pass into said space, said mounting portion further comprising a plurality of mounting legs thereon for mounting the terminal on a substrate; whereby said terminal, as a result of said unconnected free ends, is constructed to accept male plugs within a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions, and, as a result of said open space defined by said hood portion, is constructed to accept a male plug of a wide range of lengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A female-type power port terminal for connecting to a male lug of a wide range of lengths and cross-sectional dimensions, comprising:
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a contact receiving portion having a web and a plurality of fingers that are unitary with said web, said fingers being arranged to form an axially extending socket that is aligned about a reference axis, each of said fingers having a free end that is distal from said web, said free ends being unconnected to each other except through said web, each of said fingers further having a bend therein proximate said free end, said bends together defining a contact surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a male plug that is inserted into said socket, said contact surface being the most constricted point along said reference axis in said terminal; and a mounting portion that is unitary with and extends longitudinally from said contact receiving portion and is formed together with said contact receiving portion from a single blank of conductive material, said mounting portion comprising a hood region that is curved about said reference axis to define a space that is coextensive and aligned with said socket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug to pass into said space, said mounting portion further comprising at least three mounting legs thereon form mounting the terminal on a substrate, said mounting legs each extending downwardly a substantial distance below said contact receiving portion; whereby said terminal, as a result of said unconnected free ends, is constructed to accept male plugs within a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions, and, as a result of said open space defined by said hood portion, is constructed to accept a male plug of a wide range of lengths.
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Specification