High current automotive electrical connector and terminal
First Claim
1. A terminal for connection to a flat blade, the terminal comprising:
- a terminal body including a receptacle section and a wire termination section, the receptacle section having a pair of opposed flat walls and strap sections extending between the opposed flat walls, the strap sections on at least one side of the terminal body having swaged sections locked into notches in at least one of the opposed flat walls; and
a pair of multiple contact bands formed from a material having a greater elasticity than the terminal body, one of the multiple contact bands being positioned along an interior surface of each terminal body wall, each contact band including spring beams, the contact bands being positioned so that the spring beams are deflected when the flat blade is inserted through a front of the terminal body and between opposed contact bands; and
clips surrounding front edges of the opposed walls to attach the multiple contact bands to the receptacle section.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A terminal 20 for use in connecting a battery cable 9 to a rectangular blade 4 on a battery 2 includes a terminal body 22 and a spring member or multiple contact band 70. The spring member 70 is fabricated from a material that is more elastic than the terminal body 22 to reduce mating force, but still generate sufficient normal force to provide a good connection to the rectangular blade 4. The multiple contact spring band 70 has a plurality of spring beams in the form of twisted louvered spring beams 78 or curved spring beams 80. The spring member 70 is positioned within a receptacle section 30 of the terminal body 22 that includes two parallel walls 32, 46. The terminal body 22 also includes a wire termination section for attaching the terminal 20 to a battery cable 8. Inline and right angle versions of the terminals employ similar spring members 70.
67 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A terminal for connection to a flat blade, the terminal comprising:
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a terminal body including a receptacle section and a wire termination section, the receptacle section having a pair of opposed flat walls and strap sections extending between the opposed flat walls, the strap sections on at least one side of the terminal body having swaged sections locked into notches in at least one of the opposed flat walls; and a pair of multiple contact bands formed from a material having a greater elasticity than the terminal body, one of the multiple contact bands being positioned along an interior surface of each terminal body wall, each contact band including spring beams, the contact bands being positioned so that the spring beams are deflected when the flat blade is inserted through a front of the terminal body and between opposed contact bands; and clips surrounding front edges of the opposed walls to attach the multiple contact bands to the receptacle section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A terminal for use in an electrical connector, the terminal comprising:
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a terminal body including a receptacle section joined to a wire termination section, the receptacle section having a pair of opposed flat walls and strap sections extending between the opposed flat walls, the strap sections on at least one side of the terminal body having swaged sections locked into notches in at least one of the opposed flat walls; and a spring member positioned with the receptacle section, the spring member comprising a stamped and formed member including opposed arrays of individual spring beams joined at rear ends by an inwardly folded section extending between the opposed arrays, each array of spring members joined at front ends to a clip outwardly folded around a forward end of the terminal body receptacle section, the spring member comprising means for engaging both the terminal body and a mating terminal blade received between the opposed arrays of individual spring beams. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A battery connector for connection to a rectangular battery header blade on a 36 volt battery, the battery header blade being located within a cavity, the battery connector comprising:
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a single battery terminal positioned within a surrounding housing, the housing being insertable into the cavity with the single battery terminal engaging the rectangular battery blade;
wherein,the battery terminal comprises; a terminal body including a wire termination section for terminating a battery cable to the terminal body located on a rear end of the terminal body, and a receptacle section adjacent a front end of the terminal body, the receptacle section having opposed, flat, parallel wall sections and strap sections extending between the wall sections, the strap sections on at least one side of the terminal body having swaged sections locked into notches in at least one of the wall sections; and two stamped and formed spring members having a greater elasticity than the terminal body, each spring member including a plurality of side by side spring beams, each stamped and formed spring member being positioned on an interior surface of one of the wall sections with the two stamped and formed spring members being in opposing relationship, so that the rectangular battery blade can be received between the two stamped and formed spring members to deflect the spring members so that the battery terminal can be mated to the rectangular battery blade without excessive mating force. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification