Torsion-style connector

• US 7,938,697 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Asakawa, Kazushige, Inaba, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US12/520,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20100136850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 439/862, 439/289, 439/500, 439/660
• US Class Current: 439/862
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

A terminal (51) utilizes a torsional spring as its contact portion. The terminal is formed form a plate of sheet metal and first (52), second (53) and third (54) members are defined by two spaced apart slits formed in the plate. The members are formed in circular arcs and the first member has a free end that is extended out and away from of the arc and bent into a general U-shape to define the contact portion. The remainder of the plate serves as a base portion (57) for attaching the terminal to a connector or circuit board.

Claims

1. A connector terminal, comprising:

a base for attachment to a connector;

a cylindrical portion connected to the base; and

a projecting portion projecting toward one side of the cylindrical portion and including a contact portion, wherein the cylindrical portion includes strip-shaped first member, second member and third members, the second and third members being connected to one end of the first member and parallel to each other;

said first member, second member and the third members forming a continuous circular arc with a central angle of 360 degrees or more;

a portion of the first member being located between said second and the third members; and

said projecting portion including a portion of the first member adjacent to an free end thereof;

wherein said first member includes a longitudinal slit extending in the projecting portion, and the contact portion is divided in a widthwise of said connector terminal.

2. The connector terminal according to claim 1, wherein said contact portion receives a biasing force exhibited by an opposite-side device terminal toward said cylindrical portion.

3. The connector terminal according to claim 1, wherein said contact portion is displaced by elastic deformation of said cylindrical portion when the contact portion receives a biasing force exhibited by said opposite-side device terminal.

4. The connector terminal according to claim 3, wherein said contact portion is provided to displace toward said cylindrical portion.

5. The connector terminal according to claim 4, wherein a straight line which indicates a direction of the biasing force that said contact portion receives from said opposite-side device terminal is located closer to said base than a central axis of said cylindrical portion.

6. The connector terminal according to claim 4, wherein a straight line which indicates a direction of the biasing force that said contact portion receives from said opposite-side device terminal passes a central axis of said cylindrical portion.

7. The connector terminal according to claim 1, wherein said first member is located at a center of the connector terminal in a widthwise direction.

8. The connector terminal according to claim 1, wherein said first member, the second member, and third member are connected together via an interconnecting portion, and have a shape of two-pronged fork in a state before forming said circular arc.

9. A connector, comprising:

a connector terminal including;

a base for attachment to the connector;

a cylindrical portion connected to the base;

a projecting portion projecting toward one side of the cylindrical portion and including a contact portion thereof; and

a housing supporting the connector terminal, wherein

the cylindrical portion comprises a strip-shaped first member, and strip-shaped second and third members which are connected to one end of the first member and parallel to each other,

said first through third members forming a continuous circular arc with a central angle of 360 degrees or more,

a portion of said first member is located between said second member and said third member,

the projecting portion is a portion of said first member located adjacent to a free end thereof,

the housing including an accommodating recessed portion receiving therein said connector terminal, and

the accommodating recessed portion accommodates one or more of said connector terminals;

wherein said first member includes a longitudinal slit extending in the projecting portion, and the contact portion is divided in a widthwise of said connector terminal.

10. The connector according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes an opening communicating with said accommodating recessed portion, and the contact portion projects outwards from said opening.

11. The connector according to claim 9, wherein:

said contact portion is displaced due to elastic deformation of said cylindrical portion when said contact portion receives a biasing force exhibited by an opposite-side terminal, and

said housing includes a terminal receiving portion which contacts said displaced contact portion.