Electrical contact terminal

• US 4,950,186 A
• Filed: 06/15/1989
• Issued: 08/21/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Wise, James H., Kaley, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US07/366,817
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 29/863-866, 439/856, 439/857, 439/865-868, 439/877-882, 439/883
• US Class Current: 439/882
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/11 End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member H01R11/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/206 with transversal grooves or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Abstract

A wire-receiving barrel terminal comprises first and second terminal portions 12, 32, which together define a dual contact portion 76, dual transition portion 78 and double barrel portion 80. The first and second terminal portions 12, 32, each include respective at least one contact section 14, 36, respective transition portions 16, 60 being joined integrally with and extending rearwardly from the corresponding at least one first contact section 14, 36 respectively and respective barrel sections 18, 62, joined integrally with and extending rearwardly from the respective transition portions 16, 60. The first barrel section 18 being joined integrally with and extending from said second barrel section 62, the first and second barrel sections 18, 62 being generally rectangular, each having at least one lateral edge 24, 70 and a respective lateral dimension at least equal to the circumference of a circle of a desired wire-receiving barrel inner diameter. The first barrel section 18 is formed into a barrel-shaped member 30 having its axis parallel to the at least one respective lateral edge of the first barrel section 18 and the second barrel section 62 is formed circumferentially around and adjacent the first barrel section defining a wire-receiving barrel having inner and outer walls. After forming terminal 10, first contact section 14 and first transition portion 16 extend respectively along second contact section 36 and second transition portion 60 thereby defining dual contact portion 76, and dual transition portion 78, respectively. The resulting wire-receiving barrel has substantially two wall thicknesses circumferentially therearound with no open seam and the two transition portions 16, 60 provide a plurality of contact paths for current passed through said terminal.

Claims

1. A wire-receiving barrel terminal comprising:

first and second terminal portions;

said first terminal portion including at least one first contact section, a first transition portion being joined integrally with and extending rearwardly from said at least one first contact section and a first barrel section being joined integrally with and extending rearwardly from said first transition portion;

said second terminal portion including at least one second contact section, a second transition portion being joined integrally with and extending rearwardly from said at least one second contact section and a second barrel section being joined integrally with and extending rearwardly from said second transition portion;

said first barrel section being joined integrally with and extending from said second barrel section, said first and second barrel sections being generally rectangular before being formed, each having at least one lateral edge and a respective lateral dimension at least equal to the circumference of a circle of a desired wire-receiving barrel inner diameter;

said first barrel section being formed into a barrelshaped member having its axis parallel to said at least one lateral edge of said first barrel section; and

said second barrel section being formed circumferentially around and adjacent said first barrel section, said barrel sections defining a wire receiving barrel having inner and outer walls, each said at least one lateral edge of said first and second barrel sections being disposed along a continuous wall portion of said second or first barrel section respectively such that said first contact section and said first transition portion extend along said second contact section and said second transition portion respectively with said first contact section adjacent and overlying said second contact section, said first and second contact sections being adapted to be connected to a first electrical article;

whereby

the wire-receiving barrel has substantially two wall thicknesses circumferentially therearound with no open seam and said two transition portions provide a plurality of contact paths for current passed through said terminal.

2. The terminal of claim 1 wherein said first and second terminal portions are joined integrally with and extend from a bight section, said bight section extending rearwardly from and between respective rearward edges of said first and second barrel sections, said bight section being bent back upon itself such that said first and second terminal portions extend along one another.

3. The terminal of claim 1 wherein said first and second contact sections have different geometric configurations.

4. The terminal of claim 3 wherein said second contact section is an annular member having a plurality of spring sections extending therearound.