Electrical terminal with contoured contact element
First Claim
1. An electrical terminal comprising:
- a mating end and a wire connect portion;
a spring element extending between the wire connect portion and the mating end of the terminal, the spring element having an elevated section with first, second and third successive segments; and
the spring element having an apex located where the second and third segments meet, the apex being configured as a contact strip bordered by recesses in a surface of the spring element on each side of the contact strip, the contact strip and recesses extending over the apex along the second and third segments, the second segment tapering toward the apex and the recesses widening as the recesses extend over the apex.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical terminal has a frame with an inner spring element for making electrical contact. The spring element has a base section near a wire connect portion of the terminal and an elevated section extending from the base section toward a mating end of the terminal. A raised projection is formed between the base and elevated sections to strengthen the spring element where it bends. The projection is made by punching an indentation in adjacent lower surfaces of the base and elevated sections. The elevated section has an apex with a center contact strip bordered on each side by a recess in the elevated section to avoid a sudden increase in a mating terminal insertion force. A guide member on the frame blocks a mating terminal from being inserted under the elevated section. A support member on the frame underneath the elevated section prevents excessive deflection of the spring element.
20 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electrical terminal comprising:
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a mating end and a wire connect portion; a spring element extending between the wire connect portion and the mating end of the terminal, the spring element having an elevated section with first, second and third successive segments; and the spring element having an apex located where the second and third segments meet, the apex being configured as a contact strip bordered by recesses in a surface of the spring element on each side of the contact strip, the contact strip and recesses extending over the apex along the second and third segments, the second segment tapering toward the apex and the recesses widening as the recesses extend over the apex. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An electrical terminal comprising:
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an outer frame having a mating terminal insertion end; a wire connect portion at an opposite end of the terminal from the mating terminal insertion end of the frame, a spring arm having an elevated section with at least first and second consecutive, inclined segments, the first segment rising from a base section joined to the frame adjacent the wire connect portion; and a raised projection in the first segment between the base section and the second segment, the raised projection providing a ramped transition from the base section over the first segment to the second segment of the spring arm, the raised projection being formed by a punched indentation in lower surfaces of the base section and the first segment of the elevated section. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrical terminal comprising:
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an outer frame joined to a wire connect portion with means for attaching the frame to an electrical wire, the frame having an insertion end for receiving a mating electrical terminal; and an inner spring element, the spring element having a base section extending from the frame adjacent the wire connect portion, and an elevated section rising from the base section toward the insertion end of the frame, the elevated section having an apex consisting of a narrow center electrical contact area formed by depressions in the apex located on each side of the contact area, a first segment of the elevated section and the base section having lower surfaces with an indentation forming a raised projection between the base section and elevated section to strengthen the spring element near the base section and move a pivot axis of the spring element closer to the mating electrical terminal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification