Connector having optimized tip

• US 8,951,051 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Natter, Brantley, Hardy, Michael, Pavlovic, Slobodan, Glick, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US13/269,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 439/146, 439135-138, 439/149
• US Class Current: 439/149
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/04 Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/44 Means for preventing access to live contacts making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A connector having an optimized tip is disclosed. The tip may be optimized to facilitate insulating the connector and/or providing a low friction surface to facilitate insertion. The tip may be optimized with a non-conducting and/or low friction end cap configured to be positioned over the tip.

Claims

1. A touch proof blade connector comprising:

a blade-shaped conducting body portion narrowing to a tip at one end;

a non-conducting end cap secured to the tip; and

a metal inset positioned over substantially an entire top and bottom of the non-conducting end cap.

2. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 further comprising a non-conducting blade shroud surrounding substantially an entire outer perimeter of the blade-shaped conducting body portion.

3. The touch proof blade connector of claim 2 wherein the non-conducting blade shroud includes at least one sidewall extending beyond an end of the non-conducting end cap.

4. The touch proof blade connector of claim 2 wherein the non-conducting blade shroud is secured to the blade-shaped conducting body portion.

5. The touch proof blade connector of claim 4 wherein the non-conducting blade shroud is part of a connector assembly included within a vehicle to facilitate electrical interconnect with at least one female terminal included on a plug-in cordset.

6. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 wherein the tip is formed by skiving the blade-shaped conducting body portion.

7. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 wherein a top and a bottom of the tip angle downwardly to a point and a left side and a right side between the top and the bottom each include at least one ridge.

8. The touch proof blade connector of claim 7 wherein the non-conducting end cap includes an opening opposite the point, wherein a left side and a right side of the opening at least partially deforms proximate the at least one ridge when positioned over the tip.

9. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 wherein the end cap is overmolded to the tip.

10. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 wherein the non-conducting end cap entirely surrounds the tip.

11. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 wherein the non-conducting end cap covers substantially all of a top and a bottom of the tip but not a left and a right side between the top and the bottom.

12. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 wherein the non-conducting end cap includes a tang configured to lodge within a recess of the tip to prevent removal of the end cap from the tip.

13. The touch proof blade connector of claim 1 wherein the metal inset has a lower coefficient of friction than the non-conducting end cap.

14. A method of manufacturing a blade connector comprising:

stamping a conducting body portion;

skiving one end of the stamped conducting body portion into a tip;

attaching a non-conducting end cap to the tip; and

positioning a metal inset over substantially an entire top and bottom of the non-conducting end cap.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising press fitting an opening within the non-conducting end cap over the tip.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising securing a low friction inset to the non-conducting end cap by positioning a tang included within the inset relative to a recess included within the non-conducting end cap, the low friction inset having a lower coefficient of friction than the non-conducting end cap.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising overmolding the non-conducting end cap to the tip.

18. A connector comprising:

a female-shaped conducting body portion having at least one set of opposed fingers, wherein at least a portion of the opposed fingers are coated with a low friction substance, the low friction substance having a lower coefficient of friction than the female-shaped conducting body portion; and

a blade-shaped conducting body portion shaped to engage at least one set of opposed fingers, the blade-shaped conducting body portion having a tip at one end, a non-conducting end cap secured to the tip, and a metal inset positioned over substantially an entire top and bottom of the non-conducting end cap.

19. The connector of claim 18 wherein the non-conducting end cap includes a low friction inset to engage the low friction substance, the low friction inset having a lower coefficient of friction than the non-conducting end cap.

20. A touch proof blade connector comprising:

a blade-shaped conducting body portion narrowing to a tip at one end; and

a non-conducting end cap secured to the tip;

wherein a top and a bottom of the tip angle downwardly to a point and a left side and a right side between the top and the bottom each include at least one ridge.

21. A method of manufacturing a blade connector comprising:

stamping a conducting body portion;

skiving one end of the stamped conducting body portion into a tip, wherein a top and a bottom of the tip angle downwardly to a point and a left side and a right side between the top and the bottom each include at least one ridge; and

attaching a non-conducting end cap to the tip.

22. A connector comprising:

a female-shaped conducting body portion having at least one set of opposed fingers, wherein at least a portion of the opposed fingers are coated with a low friction substance, the low friction substance having a lower coefficient of friction than the female-shaped conducting body portion; and

a blade-shaped conducting body portion shaped to engage at least one set of opposed fingers, the blade-shaped conducting body portion having a tip at one end and a non-conducting end cap secured to the tip, wherein a top and a bottom of the tip angle downwardly to a point and a left side and a right side between the top and the bottom each include at least one ridge.