CN117397125A

CN117397125A - Male electric terminal

Info

Publication number: CN117397125A
Application number: CN202180002357.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈平; G·厄普森
Original assignee: JST Corp
Current assignee: JST Corp
Priority date: 2021-06-21
Filing date: 2021-06-21
Publication date: 2024-01-12
Also published as: EP4173088A1

Abstract

The male electrical terminal of the present invention includes a clamping or crimping portion, a body and a blade. The protruding members and the support members of the body serve as overstress protection. The panel shielding member protects the protruding guide member. In another embodiment of the invention, a protruding member extends from the first support member of the body and a cutout at the lower portion of the body accommodates the protruding member therein to prevent inadvertent or accidental rotation of the tang member relative to the lower portion of the body. Further, in this further embodiment of the male electrical terminal of the present invention, the protrusion extends from the unattached end of the lever member to allow the lever member to deflect upward when the protruding member of the unattached end interacts with the inner protrusion of the housing or connector assembly, thereby making it more difficult to remove the male electrical terminal from the housing or connector assembly, thereby protecting the male electrical terminal from inadvertent falling out during use.

Description

Male electric terminal

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/828,291, filed 24/3/2020, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/893,679, filed 29/8/2019, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Background

It is desirable that the male electrical terminal be provided with structural arrangements or features for overstress protection and guiding assistance to effectively protect and guide the male electrical terminal to prevent unwanted deformation of the male electrical terminal during mating thereof with the connector assembly.

It is also desirable to ensure that the orientation or polarity of the male electrical terminals and corresponding connector assemblies of the present invention are maintained for proper mating therewith.

It is further desirable in another embodiment of the male electrical terminal of the present invention to prevent inadvertent or accidental rotation of the tang member relative to the lower portion of the body, thereby further preventing the male electrical terminal from unraveling. This is achieved by having a protruding member extending from the first support member of the main body and a cut-out portion at the lower portion of the main body for receiving the protruding member therein.

It is further desirable that in another embodiment of the male electrical terminal of the present invention, the protrusions extend from the unattached end of the lever member, the protrusions having faces angled relative to one another for urging the lever member to deflect upward upon interaction with the inner protrusions of the housing or connector assembly, which makes it more difficult to remove the male electrical terminal from the housing or connector assembly, thereby protecting the male electrical terminal of the present invention from inadvertent falling out during use.

Disclosure of Invention

The male electrical terminal of the present invention is substantially box-shaped and generally includes a tang member. The tang member includes a lever member that locks the male electrical terminal with the connector assembly. The lever member has a protruding member that contacts another protruding member extending from the body when the lever member is bent. The two protruding members serve as overstress protection for the lever member; that is, the lever member is prevented or protected from being deformed when the male terminal is mated with the connector assembly.

A protruding guide member protrudes from and is attached to the tang member. The front end of the body also includes a taper. The front end portion of the main body further includes a panel shielding member for protecting the protruding guide member. The tapered portion of the body and the protruding guide member and panel guide member help guide the male terminal of the present invention when mated with the connector assembly. The front end of the body transitions into a blade, the tip of which is also tapered. The body further includes support members at either end thereof.

The male electrical terminal of the present invention also has an orientation or polarity for proper fitting into a corresponding connector assembly having an orientation or polarity that is also maintained for proper fitting with the male electrical terminal.

In another embodiment of the male electrical terminal of the present invention, the tang member is prevented from inadvertently or accidentally rotating relative to the lower portion of the body, thereby further preventing the male electrical terminal from unraveling. This is achieved by having a further protruding member extending from the first support member of the body and a cut-out portion at the lower portion of the body for receiving said further protruding member therein.

Further, in this further embodiment of the male electrical terminal of the present invention, the projections extend from the unattached end of the lever member, the projections having faces angled relative to each other for facilitating upward deflection of the lever member upon interaction with the inner projections of the housing or connector assembly. Thus, the protrusion extending from the unattached end of the lever member makes the male electrical terminal of the present invention more difficult to remove from the housing or connector assembly and protects the male electrical terminal of the present invention from inadvertent removal during use.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a front top perspective view of a male electrical terminal of the present invention; and FIG. 1B is a rear top perspective view of the male electrical terminal of the present invention;

fig. 2A is a right side view of the male electrical terminal of the present invention; and FIG. 2B is a left side view of the male electrical terminal of the present invention;

fig. 3A is a top view of a male electrical terminal of the present invention; and FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the male electrical terminal of the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of a grip or crimp having a pair of foldable wire insulation grip tabs or insulation crimp wings and a pair of wire grip tabs or core crimp wings having a plurality of substantially elongated notches extending substantially near the ends of the wire grip tabs or core crimp wings, respectively;

FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of a grip or crimp having a pair of foldable wire insulation grip tabs or insulation crimp wings and a pair of wire grip tabs or core crimp wings having a plurality of substantially elongated notches extending to the ends of the wire grip tabs or core crimp wings, respectively;

FIG. 4C shows a cross-sectional view of a base plate of a substantially flat shaped wire grip tab or core crimp wing, while FIG. 4D shows a cross-sectional view of a base plate of a substantially concave or circular shaped wire grip tab or core crimp wing;

fig. 5A illustrates a body of a male terminal having a tang member and also illustrates the structural arrangement or features of guiding and overstress protection of the male terminal; and fig. 5B shows a first support member and a second support member at a front end portion and a rear end portion of the main body, respectively;

fig. 6A and 6B illustrate a taper of a body of a panel shielding member having a protruding guide member and a protective protruding guide member;

FIG. 7 shows a male blade extending from a tapered front end of a body;

fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a male terminal of the present invention having a further downwardly extending protruding member extending from a first support member of an upper portion at a front portion of the body toward a cutout portion at a lower portion of the body, the cutout portion receiving the further downwardly extending protruding member therein;

fig. 9 shows in more detail a cut-out portion of the lower portion of the main body, which accommodates a further downwardly projecting member therein, so as to prevent the lever member from moving or rotating laterally;

fig. 10 shows a protrusion extending from an unattached end of a lever member, the protrusion having faces angled with respect to each other;

fig. 11 is a left side view of another embodiment of the male electrical terminal of the present invention including a further protruding member extending from a first support member of the front portion of the body, a cutout portion of the lower portion of the body in which the further protruding member is received, and a protruding portion extending from an unattached end of the lever member;

fig. 12 shows a projection extending from an unattached end of the lever member for urging the lever member to deflect upward upon interaction with an inner projection of the housing or connector assembly, which makes it more difficult for the male electrical terminal of the present invention to be removed from the housing or connector assembly and protects the male electrical terminal of the present invention from being inadvertently dropped out during use.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a front top perspective view of a male electrical terminal (generally referred to as reference numeral 1). The male electric terminal 1 includes a clamping or crimping portion 3, a main body 5, and a blade 7 integrally formed in the longitudinal direction. As discussed more fully later, the clamping or crimping portion 3 includes a pair of wire clamping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 and a pair of wire insulating clamping tabs or insulating crimping wings 13, 14. The body 5 includes a tang member 15 and a taper 17 at its forward end 20. The taper 17 tapers towards the blade 7. The clamping or crimping portion 3 is similarly shown in a rear top perspective view of the male terminal 1 in fig. 1B, and includes a pair of wire clamping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 and a pair of wire insulating clamping tabs or insulating crimping wings 13, 14. In a rear top perspective view of the male electrical terminal 1, the tang member 15 as shown in fig. 1A and the taper 17 at the front end 20 of the body 5 are also similarly shown in fig. 1B. Preferably, the body 5 has a shape or form of a substantially box shape or the like, but the shape or form thereof is not limited thereto.

As shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the pair of wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14 are not aligned when viewed from a side view (i.e., the wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 13 of the pair of wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14 are located closer to the wire gripping tabs or core crimp wings 10, 11 than the position of the wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 14 of the pair of wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14). As also shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the clamping or crimping portion 3 integrally transitions to the body 5 with a neck member 52, while the front end portion 20 of the body 5 integrally transitions to the blade 7. As shown in fig. 2A, the tang member 15 includes a lever member 25, the lever member 25 having an unattached end 28 and an attached end 30. As further seen in fig. 2A and 2B, the lever member 25 is shown here in a normal relaxed state.

The unattached end 28 of the lever member 25 preferably has a generally U-shaped form or the like in cross section along its width, but the form thereof is not limited thereto (see fig. 5A). The attachment end 30 of the lever member 25 preferably has a substantially L-shaped form or the like in a cross section along its width, but the form thereof is not limited thereto.

Further, the lever member 25 has a protruding member 35, and the protruding member 35 is in contact with another protruding member 37 extending from the main body 5 (see fig. 2A). Both protruding members 35, 37 serve as overstress protection for the lever member 25. That is, when the lever member 25 is in the bent state, the protruding members 35, 37 strike each other. Therefore, this will prevent or protect the lever member 25 from being deformed when the male terminal 1 is contacted or mated with the connector assembly 90 or the like. In this way, the lever member 25 is substantially operatively moved between the bent state and the normal relaxed state without deformation. The protruding members 35, 37 are preferably substantially rectangular, circular, trapezoidal, etc. when viewed in the side view of fig. 2A and 2B, but the shape or form thereof is not limited thereto.

In operation, when the male electrical terminal 1 enters the connector assembly 90, the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25 is free to push downward and move from a normal relaxed state to a bent state (i.e., the protruding member 35 is proximate to the other protruding member 37). When the male electrical terminal 1 is fully inserted into the connector assembly 90, the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25 is free to move upward and return to the normal relaxed state of the lever member 25 (i.e., the protruding member 35 moves away from the other protruding member 37) (see fig. 2A). Thus, the unattached end 28 impacts on the housing protrusion 210 (see fig. 12) within the connector assembly 90, locking and securing the male electrical terminal 1 therein. This structural arrangement, with the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25 impinging inside the connector assembly, serves as a locking and securing feature for the male electrical terminal 1.

Furthermore, when the male electrical terminal 1 is fully inserted into the connector assembly 90, the clamping or crimping portion 3 is above the neck member 52 (see fig. 2A, 2B) and there is a space or transition region 50 between the wire clamping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 and the body 5. The space or transition region 50 may be used to receive a Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) device (not shown) therein to ensure that the male terminal 1 remains locked, secured, and properly positioned within the connector assembly 90.

Also shown in fig. 2A is a panel shielding member 40 at the front end 20 of the main body 5, the panel shielding member 40 protruding from a portion of the front end 20 of the main body. Fig. 2B further shows the tapered portion 17 of the front end portion 20 of the main body 5. The panel shielding member 40 and the tapered portion 17 (and the protruding guide member 53, as shown in fig. 6A and 6B, discussed later) together help guide and position the blade 7 and the body 5 when the male electrical terminal 1 is mated with the connector assembly 90.

In fig. 3A top view of the clamping or crimping part 3, the body 5 and the blade 7 is shown. As also shown in fig. 3A, and as previously discussed, the pair of wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14 are not aligned, not directly aligned, or are substantially opposite each other. Further, as described above, the one wire insulation grip tab or insulation crimp wing 13 of the pair of wire insulation grip tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14 is located closer to the wire grip tab or core crimp wing 10, 11 of the male terminal 1 than the other wire insulation grip tab or insulation crimp wing 14 of the pair of wire insulation grip tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14 is located. This is to maximize the surface area on the insulation 120 of the wire or cable 100 that is connected and mounted by a pair of wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14 when clamped or crimped.

Also shown in fig. 3A are a pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 of the gripping or crimping portion 3. The pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 are substantially aligned with each other or substantially opposite each other (see also fig. 2A and 2B, where the male electrical terminal 1 is viewed on its sides) and are substantially symmetrical. Between the pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 is a base plate member 45 having a plurality of notches 48. The shape of the floor member 45 may be a substantially flat shape (or a substantially concave, circular shape, similar to the shape of the floor member 40). As shown in more detail, the bottom plate 45 of the wire gripping tab or core crimping wing 10, 11 is substantially flat in shape (as shown in the cross-sectional view of fig. 4C), but the bottom plate 45 may alternatively be substantially concave or circular in shape (similar to the shape of the bottom plate member 40) (as shown in the cross-sectional view of fig. 4D). Each of the plurality of notches 48 is substantially elongated in shape (as shown in fig. 2A, 2B, 4A, and 4B), but the shape of each of the notches 48 is not limited thereto. There may be a minimum of two notches 48, but preferably at least three notches 48. There may be at least one protruding member 60, but preferably at least two protruding members 60. The combination of the recess 48 and the protruding member 60 forms serrations for the base plate member 45 and the pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11. This structural arrangement ensures firm contact and grip between the base plate member 45 and a pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 and the core portion of a wire or cable (not shown).

As further shown in fig. 4A, each of the elongated recesses 48 extends entirely along the base plate member 45 between a pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11; and each of the elongated recesses 48 also extends partially into a pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 at ends 49 thereof, respectively, and substantially adjacent the ends of the wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11. Alternatively, other embodiments shown in fig. 4B have an end 49 of an elongated recess 48, the end 49 extending into the pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11, respectively, and exiting and extending into the ends or tips of the pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 substantially at the ends or tips of the pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11.

Shown in fig. 3B is a bottom view of the clamping or crimping portion 3, the body 5 and the blade 7 of the male terminal 1. The front end 20 of the body 5 transitions the body 5 to the blade 7, the blade 7 being connected to and integral with the body 5 (fig. 3B). Also shown in fig. 3B are a pair of wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 which are substantially symmetrical and extend from the sides of the base plate member 45 of the gripping or crimping portion 3, respectively. The embodiment of the male electrical terminal 1 shown in fig. 3B shows a pair of wire insulation gripping tabs or insulation crimp wings 13, 14 that are substantially misaligned and also apparent when viewed in side elevation (see also fig. 2A and 2B) thereof.

Also shown in each of fig. 4A and 4B is a front portion 51 of the clamping or crimping portion 3. The front portion 51 of the clamping or crimping portion 3 comprises a space or transition region 50, which space or transition region 50 is above the neck member 52 and between the body 5 and the wire clamping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11. The neck member 52 has a narrow tapered shape that tapers from the base member 45 and the wire gripping tabs or core crimping wings 10, 11 to the point where the neck member 52 meets the body 5. In addition, the narrow tapered shape of the neck member 52 of the front portion 51 allows the wire core 110 of the wire or cable 100 to remain seated or mounted within the base member 45 and prevents the wire core of the wire or cable (not shown) from being seated or mounted entirely on the neck member 52. Preferably, the narrow tapered form of the neck member 52 of the clamping or crimping portion 3 allows only the front portion of the wire core of the wire or cable (not shown) to protrude into the neck member 52. That is, the narrow tapered form of neck member 52 further prevents the core portion from substantially entering space or transition region 50. The transition region 50 as previously described becomes available for receiving a TPA device (not shown) therein to ensure that the male terminal 1 remains locked, secured, and properly positioned when inserted into the connector assembly 90. Thus, where only the front portion of the wire core enters or protrudes into the space or transition region 50, the wire core will not interfere with or impede the accommodation of the TPA device (not shown) in the transition region 50.

The tang member 15 is shown in fig. 5A, as well as the attached end 30 and unattached end 28 of the lever member 25. As previously discussed with respect to fig. 2A and 2B, fig. 5A also shows the protruding member 35 of the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25, the protruding member 35 being able to strike another protruding member 37 extending from the body 5 to prevent the lever member 25 from deforming when the main terminal 1 is mated with the connector assembly 90. The structural arrangement just described protects the lever member 25 from overstress (and thereby deformation) when the lever member 25 flexes upon entering the connector assembly 90. Also shown in fig. 5A is a panel shielding member 40 of the front end portion 20 of the main body 5. The panel shielding member 40 will be discussed in more detail in fig. 6A and 6B.

In fig. 5B, a front portion 69 and a rear portion 71 of the main body 5 are shown, the front portion 69 and the rear portion 71 having a first support member 70 and a second support member 75, respectively. More specifically, the upper portion 69a at the front portion 69 of the main body 5 includes a first support member 70, and the upper portion 71a at the rear portion 71 of the main body 5 includes a second support member 75. The gap 76 separates the first support member 70 from the lower portion 80 of the body 5. A set of gaps 78a, 78b separates the second support member 75 from a lower portion 80 of the body 5. When the male electrical terminal 1 enters the connector assembly 90, the first and second support members 70 and 75 are resiliently urged downwardly toward the lower portion 80 of the body 5 through the gaps 76, 78a and 78b, respectively, the gaps 76 being located between the first support member 70 and the lower portion 80 of the body 5, and the gaps 78a and 78b being located between the second support member 75 and the lower portion 80 of the body 5. With the above-described structural arrangement, the first and second support members 70 and 75 provide the necessary elasticity to prevent the male terminal 1 of the present invention from being overstressed and deformed when fitted into the connector assembly 90, thereby maintaining the polarity of the male terminal 1.

The panel shielding member 40 is further shown in fig. 6A and 6B. The panel shielding member 40 is shown herein as extending from a side of the front end portion 20 of the main body 5, but is not limited thereto. The panel shielding member 40 has an upper surface 55 and the upper surface 55 is shown here as being inclined with the lower end of the upper surface 55 facing the blade 7 and the upper end of the upper surface 55 facing the tang member 15.

Also shown in fig. 6A and 6B is a protruding guide member 53 that extends from the tang member 15 of the body 5 and attaches to the tang member 15 of the body 5. The panel shielding member 40 protects the protruding guide member 53 from deformation during, for example, the transfer of the male electrical terminal 1 or preferably when the male electrical terminal 1 is mated with the connector assembly 90 and inserted into the connector assembly 90. As more specifically shown in fig. 6B, it is preferable that the upper surface 55 extending entirely along the panel shielding member 40 is substantially higher or equal in height to the upper surface 58 of the protruding guide member 53 (see fig. 6B). That is, it is preferable that the upper surface 55 of the panel guide member 40 is higher than or equal in height to the upper surface 58 of the protruding guide member 53 as a whole. Likewise, the upper surface 58 of the protruding guide member 53 along a portion of the panel shielding member 40 is lower than or equal to the upper surface 55 of the panel guide member 40, wherein the protruding guide member 53 tapers substantially downward and toward the front end 20 from its point of attachment to the tang member 15.

As shown in fig. 6A, the front end portion 20 of the main body 5 transitions into the blade 7. As also shown in fig. 7, the blade 7 serves as a male contact of the male electrical terminal 1 within the male connector assembly 90, and may be of a substantially rectangular, square, etc. cross-sectional shape, but is not limited thereto. At the end of the blade 7 is a tapered tip 60 which may include a lower portion 62 that is substantially symmetrical to an upper portion 64, although the lower and upper portions 62, 64 of the blade are not so limited as long as the tip 60 of the blade 7 is in the form of a narrow taper. The tapered tips 60 narrow down at the ends of the male electrical terminals 1 toward the ends of the blades 7, respectively, and additionally serve to prevent the chopping or deformation of the blades 7.

Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the male electrical terminal of the present invention, generally referred to by reference numeral 2. Here, all the elements or components of the above-described male electrical terminal 1 are also included in the male electrical terminal 2 unless otherwise specified or described, and similar elements or components are labeled with similar reference numerals. Also shown in the embodiment of the male electrical terminal 2 is the tang member 15 and the unattached and attached ends 28, 30 of the lever member 25.

The front 69 and rear 71 portions of the body 5 having the first 70 and second 75 support members, respectively, are further shown in fig. 8. More specifically, the upper portion 69a at the front portion 69 of the main body 5 includes a first support member 70, and the upper portion 71a at the rear portion 71 of the main body 5 includes a second support member 75. The gap 76 separates the first support member 70 from the lower portion 80 of the body 5. A set of gaps 78a, 78b separates the second support member 75 from a lower portion 80 of the body 5. When the male electrical terminal 2 enters the connector assembly 90, the first and second support members 70, 75 are resiliently urged downwardly toward the lower portion 80 of the body 5 through the gaps 76 and 78a, 78b, respectively, the gaps 76 being located between the first support member 70 and the lower portion 80 of the body 5 and the gaps 78a, 78b being located between the second support member 75 and the lower portion 80 of the body 5. With the above-described structural arrangement, the first support member 70 and the second support member 75 provide the necessary elasticity to prevent the male terminal 2 of the present invention from being subjected to overstress and deformation when fitted into the connector assembly 90, thereby maintaining the polarity (or directivity) of the male terminal 2.

Furthermore, to protect the male electrical terminal 2 in use, more specifically, to support and prevent the tang member 15 from inadvertently or accidentally rotating relative to the lower portion 80 of the body 5 (which may cause the male electrical terminal 2 to spread apart (i.e., the tang member 15 or lever member 25 is separated from the lower portion 80 of the body 5 or rotates relative to the lower portion 80 of the body 5)), a further protruding member 101 extends from the first support member 70. The lower portion 80 of the body 5 is provided with a cut-out portion 105 for receiving a further protruding member 101 therein.

As further shown in fig. 9, the cut-out portion 105 of the lower portion 80 of the body 5 (the cut-out portion 105 receiving the further protruding member 101 therein) includes a side portion 108, which will allow the further protruding member 101 to strike or abut against the side portion 108 of the cut-out portion 105, thereby preventing the tang member 15 or lever member 25 from being separated from the lower portion 80 of the body 5 or rotated relative to the lower portion 80 of the body 5. Therefore, as described above, in the case where the further protruding member 101 is accommodated in the cutout portion 105, the male electric terminal 2 of the present invention is further prevented from being scattered by not only protecting the lever member 25 from overstressing (thereby preventing deformation) by the protruding member 35 of the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25 striking the other protruding member 37 extending from the body 5 (see, for example, fig. 5A), but also by the further protruding member 101 striking or abutting against the side 108 of the cutout portion 105 to prevent the tang member 15 or the lever member 25 from being separated or rotated relative to the lower portion 80 of the body 5.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, although a further protruding member 101 is shown located at the first support member 70 of the front portion 69 of the body 5 and extending from the first support member 70, the further protruding member 101 is in a more forward position than the position of the attachment end 30 of the tang member 15, such position of the further protruding member 101 is not limited thereto.

As shown in fig. 10, the male electrical terminal 2 of the present invention further includes a protrusion 150 extending from the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25. The unattached end 28 of the lever member 25 preferably has a side end 28a and a center end 28b. As shown in fig. 10, the protrusion 150 preferably extends from the central end 28b, but the structural arrangement is not limited thereto. That is, the protruding portion 150 is not limited to extending from the center end portion 28b of the end portion 28 of the lever member 25, and may also extend from the side end portion 28a of the end portion 28 of the lever member 25. Although not limited thereto, as shown in fig. 10, the protrusion 150 includes faces 150a, 150b, 150c that are angled with respect to each other. When the tab 150 interacts with the housing 200 or an inner tab of the connector assembly 90, the relative angle between the faces 150a, 150b, 150c of the tab 150 may vary depending on the ability of the tab 150 to effectively deflect the lever member 25 upward, as discussed further below with respect to fig. 12. Thus, the protrusion 150 makes it more difficult for the male electrical terminal 2 of the present invention to be removed from the housing 200 or connector assembly 90, and thus the male electrical terminal 2 is protected from the male electrical terminal 2 falling out during use.

It should be noted that the remaining parts shown in fig. 10 are similar to those previously described for the male electrical terminal 1 (and other embodiments of the male electrical terminal 2 in fig. 8 and 9), and have the same reference numerals, and thus the description thereof will not be repeated here.

Fig. 11 is a left side view of the male electrical terminal 2 of the present invention, which corresponds to the left side view of the male electrical terminal 1, except that the embodiment of the male electrical terminal 2 includes a further protruding member 101 extending from the first support member 70 of the front portion 69 of the body 5 and a cut-out portion 105 of the lower portion 80 of the body 5 in which the further protruding member 101 is received, as described in detail above with respect to fig. 8 and 9. As shown in the side view of fig. 11, the male electrical terminal 2 of the present invention also includes a protrusion 150 therein extending from the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25, as described in more detail with respect to fig. 10 and 12.

In fig. 12, there is shown a housing protrusion 210 extending from the interior of the housing 200 (or connector assembly 90), the housing protrusion 210 blocking the end 28 of the lever member 25 and thus blocking the male electrical terminal 2 from falling out in use. More specifically, when the tab 150 interacts with the housing 200 or the inner tab 210 of the connector assembly 90, the tab 150 extending from the unattached end 28 of the lever member 25 allows the tab 150 to effectively deflect the lever member 25 upward. Thus, the protrusion 150 makes it more difficult for the male electrical terminal 2 of the present invention to be removed from the housing 200 or connector assembly 90, and thus the male electrical terminal 2 is protected from the male electrical terminal 2 falling out during use.

While the foregoing description relates to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Furthermore, features described in connection with one embodiment of the invention may be used in connection with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated above.

Claim (modification according to treaty 19)

1. A male electrical terminal for insertion into a connector assembly, comprising:

a clamping or crimping portion;

a body attached to the clamping or crimping portion, the body having a tang member and a taper;

a blade extending from the body;

wherein the support member of the main body comprises a protruding member extending towards the lower part of the main body;

wherein the lower portion of the main body includes a cutout portion for accommodating the protruding member therein;

wherein the clamping or crimping portion, the main body, and the blade are integrally formed in a longitudinal direction.

2. The male electrical terminal of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a protruding guide member and a panel shielding member that shields the protruding guide member when the male electrical terminal enters the connector assembly.

3. The male electrical terminal of claim 1, wherein the cutout portion of the lower portion of the body includes a side portion against which the protruding member impacts or abuts to prevent the tang member of the lever member from separating or rotating relative to the lower portion of the body.

4. The male electrical terminal of claim 1, wherein the tang member comprises a lever member having an unattached end and an attached end.

5. The male electrical terminal of claim 4, wherein the unattached end is substantially U-shaped in cross section, and wherein the attached end is substantially L-shaped in cross section.

6. The male electrical terminal of claim 4, wherein the unattached end of the lever member comprises a side end and a center end.

7. The male electrical terminal of claim 6, wherein the central end of the unattached end of the lever member includes a protrusion extending therefrom.

8. The male electrical terminal of claim 7, wherein the protrusion extends from the central end of the unattached end of the lever member.

9. The male electrical terminal of claim 8, wherein the protrusion extending from the central end of the unattached end comprises a plurality of faces.

10. The male electrical terminal of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of faces interacts with a protrusion of a housing or connector assembly.

11. The male electrical terminal of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of faces interacts with an inner protrusion of a housing or connector assembly by the lever member being deflected upward, thereby making it difficult to remove the male electrical terminal from the housing or connector assembly.

12. The male electrical terminal of claim 11, wherein the protrusion extending from the unattached end of the lever member prevents the male electrical terminal from inadvertently falling out during use.

13. The male electrical terminal of claim 2, wherein an upper surface extending generally along the panel shielding member is substantially higher or equal in height to an upper surface of the protruding guide member.

14. A male electrical terminal for insertion into a connector assembly, comprising:

a clamping or crimping portion;

a body attached to the clamping or crimping portion, the body having a tang member and a taper; and

a blade extending from the body;

wherein the unattached end of the lever member includes a protrusion extending therefrom;

wherein the body further comprises a protruding guide member and a panel shielding member that shields the protruding guide member when the male electrical terminal enters the connector assembly;

15. The male electrical terminal of claim 14, wherein the unattached end comprises a central end from which the tab extends.

Claims

a clamping or crimping portion;

a blade extending from the body;

wherein the support member of the main body includes a protruding member extending toward a lower portion of the main body;

wherein the lower portion of the main body includes a cutout portion for accommodating the protruding member therein.

a clamping or crimping portion;

a blade extending from the body;

wherein the body further comprises a protruding guide member and a panel shielding member shielding the protruding guide member when the male electrical terminal enters the connector assembly.