Electrical terminal

• US 9,520,657 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Lawson, Craig E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US14/448,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20160036141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 439/883, 439/927, 439/444, 439/433, 439/966, 439/436
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/20 using a crimping sleeve H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided as a one-piece, unitary element for providing electrical connection between an electrical cable and an electrical component. The electrical connector has a substantially planar body with a planar first surface and a planar second surface and a central aperture with a dimension to receive a fastener. At least one frustoconical shaped projection extends from the body for contacting and penetrating into an electrical component. A cable terminal is integrally formed with the body and extends radially outward for coupling directly to an electrical cable and provides an electrical connection between the electrical cable and the body. The projection has an axial passage and forms an annular contact surface for mating with the electrical component. The projection can surround the central aperture of the body or can be a plurality of projections spaced outwardly from and uniformly spaced around the central aperture.

Claims

1. A one-piece, unitary electrical connector comprising:

a substantially planar body having a substantially planar first surface on a first side and a substantially planar second surface on a second side opposite said first surface, and a central aperture extending between said first surface and said second surface and having a dimension to receive a fastener, said central aperture defining an annular inner edge of said body;

an annular frustoconical shaped projection extending only from said annular inner edge on said first surface of said body and surrounding said central aperture and configured for penetrating a surface of a metal base; and

an electrical terminal integrally formed with said body, and extending radially outward from a side edge of said body for coupling directly to an electrical cable and to provide an electrical connection between the electrical cable and said body.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said electrical terminal includes

a tab integrally formed with said body and extends radially outward from said side edge of said body;

and

a substantially cylindrical shaped cable connector integrally formed with said tab, said cable connector having an axial passage with a dimension for receiving the electrical cable.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein

said terminal is deformable by crimping to couple the electrical cable to said terminal.

4. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein

said terminal has a longitudinal dimension extending radially outward from said side edge of said body and is oriented on said second side of said body.

5. A one-piece unitary electrical connector comprising:

a body having a substantially planar configuration with a substantially planar first surface and a substantially planar second surface opposite said first surface, and a central aperture extending between said first surface and said second surface;

a plurality of frustoconical shaped projections extending from said first surface and oriented only on a first side of said body and substantially surrounding said central aperture, each of said frustoconical shaped members have a base end integrally formed with said body and an open distal end defining an axial passage spaced from said central aperture, and an annular contact surface around said axial passage;

a terminal having a tab extending radially from said side edge of said body and having a substantially cylindrical shaped cable connector extending radially outward from said body and oriented on a second side of said body opposite said first side; and

an electrical cable received in said cylindrical cable connector, said cylindrical cable connector being crimped onto said electrical cable to provide an electrical connection between said electrical cable and said body.

6. The electrical connector of claim 5,

wherein each said frustoconical shaped projection comprises a single, continuous frustoconical shaped member substantially surrounding an axial passage and projecting outwardly from a plane of said first surface.

7. The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein

said frustoconical shaped projections project outwardly from said first surface of said body and are substantially uniformly spaced around said central aperture.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein

each of said frustoconical shaped members have a base end integrally formed with said body and a distal end defining an annular edge with a dimension for making electrical contact with an electrically conducting base member.

9. The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein

said cylindrical shaped cable connector has an axial passage receiving said electrical cable, and where said axial passage extends radially outward from an axis of said central aperture.

10. An electrical assembly comprising:

a metal base having an aperture extending through an outer surface of said metal base;

a metal clamping member overlying said outer surface of said metal base and having an aperture extending through said metal clamping member and aligned with said aperture in said metal base;

an electrical connector positioned between said metal base and said metal clamping member, said electrical connector having a body with a substantially planar first surface and a substantially planar second surface opposite said first surface, an aperture extending between said first surface and second surface and aligned with said aperture in said metal base and said metal clamping member, a continuous frustoconical shaped projection extending only from an inner edge of said first surface and surrounding said aperture, said frustoconical shaped projection having an inner annular edge defining said aperture, and an electrical terminal integrally formed with said body and coupled to a first end of an electrical cable; and

a fastener extending through said apertures in said metal base, said metal clamping member and said body, and clamping said body between said metal base and said metal clamping member with said frustoconical shaped projection penetrating a surface of said metal base and providing an electrical connection between said electrical cable and said metal base and metal clamping member.

11. The electrical assembly of claim 10, wherein

said aperture in said metal base is a threaded aperture, and

said fastener is a threaded fastener extending through said aperture in said clamping member and said electrical connector and threaded into said threaded aperture.

12. The electrical assembly of claim 10, wherein

said electrical terminal includes a tab extending radially outward from a side edge of said body, and

a cylindrical shaped cable connector integrally formed with said tab, said cable connector having an axial passage receiving said electrical cable, said cable connector being crimped to couple said electrical cable to said terminal.

13. The electrical assembly of claim 10, wherein

said electrical terminal includes a tab extending radially outward from a side edge of said body and a cable connector coupled to said electrical cable providing an electrical connection between said electrical cable and said metal base, and where said terminal is oriented on a second side of said body opposite said frustoconical shaped projection.

14. The electrical assembly of claim 13, further comprising a second electrical connector coupled to a second end of said electrical cable, said second electrical connector having a planar body, and aperture extending through said planar body with a dimension for receiving a fastener, and a frustoconical shaped projection extending from an inner edge of said aperture where said projection has an inner annular edge defining said aperture.