Contact Terminal With Self-Adjusting Contact Surface

• US 20090203253A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chaojiong Zhang
• Original Assignee: Chaojiong Zhang
• Inventors: Zhang, Chaojiong
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/522
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/33 Contact members made of resilient wire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/93 Coupling part wherein contact is comprised of a wire or brush

Abstract

A self-adjusting contact includes a plurality of conductive fibers, such as wires, arrayed along an axis perpendicular to the major plane of the battery terminal. The contact may include straight or corrugated wires, aligned substantially along the axis. The wires may be arranged in a bundle and held within an electrically conductive holder, which may be cylindrical or bell-shaped, and the wire bundle may be soldered to the bottom of a well formed in the holder.

Claims

1. A self-adjusting contact for contact with a hard, irregular planar terminal surface, the contact comprising:

a. an axially oriented, electrically conductive holder having a well and a mounting post extending from the well, the axis of the holder perpendicular to the plane of the terminal surface; and

b. a bundle of spaced, flexible wires secured within the well having ends opposite the holder, the bundle of wires directed perpendicular to the ilTegular planar terminal surface and further defining a contact surface at the ends of the wires adapted for perpendicular stationary conforming contact with the planar terminal surface by bending in random directions from the axis of the holder.

2. The contact of claim 1, wherein the holder defines a lip and wherein the bundle of wires extends beyond the lip of the holder.

3. The contact of claim 1, wherein the holder defines a lip and wherein the bundle of wires does not extend beyond the lip of the holder.

4. The contact of claim 1, wherein the well is cylindrical.

5. The contact of claim 1, wherein the well comprises a cylindrical wall adjacent the mounting post and a frustoconical wall adjacent the cylindrical wall.

6. The contact of claim 1, wherein the well defines a bottom and further comprising a recess in the bottom of the well adapted to retain a quantity of solder to secure the bundle of wires.

7. The contact of claim 6, further comprising an orifice extending through the well to communicate solder through the orifice into the recess.

8. The contact of claim 1, wherein the wires are corrugated.

9. A self-adjusting contact for contact with a battery terminal, the contact comprising:

a. an insulated cable comprising a plurality of electrically conductive wires and a layer of insulation surrounding the wires so that the wires are exposed at a first end of the cable; and

b. a mounting bracket mechanically secured to the cable.

10. The contact of claim 9, further comprising:

a. an annular opening in the insulation;

b. a quantity of solder in the wires adjacent the annular opening;

c. wherein the mounting bracket is mechanically and electrically secured to the cable at the annular opening.

11. The contact of claim 9, wherein the wires extending beyond the insulation at the first end of the cable.

12. A self-adjusting contact for contact with a hard, planar terminal surface, the contact comprising:

a. an axially oriented, electrically conductive holder having a well and a mounting post extending from the well, wherein the well defines a bottom and further comprising a recess in the bottom of the well adapted to retain a quantity of solder to secure the bundle of wires;

b. a bundle of spaced, flexible wires secured within the well; and

c. an orifice extending through the well to communicate solder through the orifice into the recess.