Female terminal for large current

• US 5,857,879 A
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Hashizawa, Shigemi, Endo, Takayoshi, Ishizaki, Kazuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nasri, Javaid H.
• Application Number:
  US08/947,351
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 439/851, 439/843, 439/846, 439/823, 439/839
• US Class Current: 439/851
• 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 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

A female terminal for a large current is provided which includes a tubular contact portion having an inlet for inserting a terminal pin of a male terminal. The female terminal for a large current also includes a plurality of projections formed on an inner face of the tubular contact portion, which is adjacent to the inlet, which has adequate spaces therebetween, and which protrudes inwardly of the tubular contact portion. The plurality of projections are formed from outside of the terminal contact portion easily and at a low cost.

Claims

1. A female terminal for large current comprising:

a tubular contact portion for insertion of a terminal pin of a male terminal therein, wherein said tubular contact portion has a same circular cross-section at any point in a direction of a longitudinal axis of said tubular contact portion;

a plurality of projections projecting from an inner face of an annular thin portion and evenly spaced in a peripheral direction so as to attain point contact with the terminal pin;

a plurality of longitudinal slits dividing said tubular contact portion into a plurality of resilient contact pieces, wherein each of said plurality of resilient contact pieces corresponds to each of said plurality of projections; and

whereby said plurality of projections are resiliently put into said point contact with the terminal pin thereby enabling smooth insertion/retraction of the terminal pin against said tubular contact portion and also enabling stable contact resistance between said tubular contact portion and the terminal pin.

2. A female terminal for large current comprising:

a tubular contact portion for insertion of a terminal pin of a male terminal therein, wherein said tubular contact portion has a same circular cross-section at any point in a direction of a longitudinal axis of said tubular contact portion;

a plurality of pin holding holes penetrating a peripheral wall adjacent to an inlet of said tubular contact portion and evenly spaced in a peripheral direction;

a plurality of pins fitted into each of said plurality of pin holding holes and projecting from an inner face of said tubular contact portion so as to attain point contact with the terminal pin;

a plurality of longitudinal slits dividing said tubular contact portion into a plurality of resilient contact pieces, wherein each of said plurality of resilient contact pieces corresponds to each of said plurality of pins; and

whereby said plurality of pins are resiliently put into said point contact with the terminal pin thereby enabling smooth insertion/retraction of the terminal pin against said tubular contact portion and also enabling stable contact resistance between said tubular contact portion and the terminal pin.

3. A female terminal for large current comprising:

a tubular contact portion for insertion of a terminal pin of a male terminal therein, wherein said tubular contact portion has a same circular cross-section at any point in a direction of a longitudinal axis of said tubular contact portion;

a contact ring fitted inside of an annular thin portion formed at an inlet of said tubular contact portion and made of any one of a same material and a different material as a material of said tubular contact portion;

a plurality of projections projecting from an inner face of said contact ring and evenly spaced in a peripheral direction so as to attain point contact with the terminal pin; and

whereby said plurality of projections are resiliently put into said point contact with the terminal pin thereby enabling stable contact resistance between said tubular contact portion and the terminal pin.