GB2225183A

GB2225183A - Electric socket terminal

Info

Publication number: GB2225183A
Application number: GB8923437A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald John Simmons
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1988-10-21
Filing date: 1989-10-18
Publication date: 1990-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-18
Also published as: GB8923437D0; GB2225183B; GB8824719D0

Abstract

An electrical socket terminal (2) for mating with a blade terminal (15) is provided with resilient contact arms (22) which extend into blade-receiving opening (17) near sides (10, 12). A front plate (14) extends across a portion of the blade-receiving opening (17) to ensure that the blade (15) is properly inserted thereby preventing the resilient contact arms (22) from taking a permanent set. The front plate (14) also provides structural support to the sides (10, 12). <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL TAB RECEPTACLE The invention relates to an electrical tab receptacle. In particular, the invention is directed to an electrical tab receptacle which has means provided thereon which provided for a more stable and reliable electrical connection with a matable tab.

A variety of electrical terminals have a receptacle contact section which has a contact receiving area for receiving a matable contact tab therein. Examples of these types of terminals are found in U.S. Patent Numbers 4,69s,:44 and Re. 31,142. These terminals generally have a resilient contact member which is provided ir. the contact receiving area.Upon insertion cf the matable ta ifltO the contact receiving area, the resilient contact member, which extends from the floor of the contact section, resilient engages the tab, thereby resilient disposing the tab in the contact section, such tat the two terminals are electrically connected.

In recent years there has been an increasing demand ftr increased reliability of electrical connectors cue tc r.-n maintenance and warranty iabilities of consumer goods and automotive manufacturers.There S this a demand for a tab receptacle which can be used n the conventional manner but which is less susceptibie to inadvertent disconnection from a complementary tab due, for example, to vibration or mishandling, but which can nevertheless be easily disconnected when required. One soltion to this problen has bee to incorporate mcre than one resilient contact member in the contact receiving area.However, while providing more resilient contact members increases the contact force exerted by the contact receiving area on the tab, a problem of misinsertion cf the tabs and cf overstress cf the resilient contact mergers is still present. Consequently, these problems limit the reliability of the connectors.

it would, therefore, be beneficial to provide an electrical- - tab receptacle. which provides adequate resilint. characteristics, while preventing the isinsertion of the tab into the contact insertion area.

It would -also be beneficial to provided a contact insertion area which was protected from allowing the resilient contact members from overstress.

The present invention is directed to an electrical terminal comprising a tab receiving portion having a base plate, a top plate and side plates. The side plates extend between the base plate and the top plate, and are essentially perpendicular to the base plate and to the te plate. The top plate has a slot which extends across the length of the top plate, the slot divides the top plate into two essentially identical portions. Each portion of the top plate has a contact sect'on which extends toward the base plate to electrically engage a matable tab when the tab is inserted into the tab receiving portion.The tab receiving portion has a tab receiving opening extending therein, the tab receiving opening extends frown a mating face, and is provided to receive te natable tab terminal therein.

Resilient contact arms are provided in the tab receiving opening of the tab receiving portion, proxiriate the side plates. The resilient contact arms have the resilient characteristic3 rewired to insure that the matable tab terminal is maintained in electrical engagement between the resilient contact arns and the contact sections of the top plate.

A front plate extends across the mating face of te tab receiving portion. The front plate cooperates with the matable tab terminal to insure that the matable tab terminal is properly inserted into the tab receiving cpening, thereby preventing the resilient contact arms from being overstressed as the matable tab is inserted into the tab receiving opening.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the electrical receptacle terminal of the present invention, showing matable tab terminal prior to being inserted into a tab receptacle portion of the receptacle terminal; FIGURE 2 is a front view of the tab receptacle portion of the receptacle terminal; and FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle terminal taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

As is shown in Figure 1, terminal 2 has a tab receptacle portion 4 and a wire receiving portion 6.

Terminal 2 is stamped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock having the resilient characteristics required. It should be noted that the wire receiving portion can be of varied configurations without effecting the scope of the inentisn.

As best shown in Figure 2, receptacle pcrti-. 4 has 2 base plate 8, side plates 10, 12, and front plate 14.

SIde plates 1O, 12 extend essentially perpenicular base plate 8, and essentially parallel to each other.

Front plate 14 extends essentially perpendicular to base plate 8 and perpendicular to side plates 10, 12.

Each side plate 10, 12 is formed to provide a portion of a tcp plate 16. The tcp plate extends essentially perpendicular to the side plates and essentially parallel t the base plate 8. The configuration of the base plate, side plates, and the top plate forms a box with a tab receiving opening 17 provided therethrough, inte which a tab contact "5 (Figure 1) is inserted. It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown, the top plate 16 has a slit 19 which extends across the entire length thereon. the dimensions of the slit provided on the top plate is dependent upon the resilient and electrical characteristics required.

Referring to Figure 3, base plate 8 has a lance 18 provided thereon. Lance 18 extends from base plate 8 at an angle away from top plate 16. A free end portion 20 Gi lance 18 is bent such that free end portion 20 extends toward top plate 16 in a plane which is essentially perpendicular to base plate 8. The end of free end portion 20 is provided in opening 17 of receptacle portion 4. This configuration of lance 18 insures that the wires (not shown), which extend from the wire receiving portion 6, will not get tangled in the lance. In other words, providing the free end of lance i8 within te receptacle portion 4 eliminates the possibility of the ires getting caught between lance 18 and base plate 8.

As is best shown in Figure 2, side plates 10, 12 are configured to provide receptacle portion 4 with the means required to insure that terminal 2 is provide in positive electrical connection with tab 15. In order for terminal 2 to be placed in electrical engagement with the tab, tab receiving tracks 22 are provided on side plates 10, 12.

Tab receiving tracks 22 extend from a center port ion 2 of each side plate. As is shown in Figure 3, center portions 24 are cut fron side plates 10, 12. Tcp portions of center portions 24 are formed into opening 17 at an angle relative to side plates 10, 12. The top portIons have tab receiving tracks 22 provided proximate the tcp plate thereof. The tab receiving tracks 22 are provided in opening 17 of receptacle portion 4 to make electrical engagement with the tab, as will be described. The configuration of center portions 24 allows tab receiving tracks 22 to have resilient characteristics, thereby facilitating the insertion and electrical engagement of tab 15. Each center portion 24 and respective tab receiving track 22 forms a resilient contact arm.

Tab receiving tracks 22 have arcuate surfaces 23 provided thereon. Arcuate surfaces 23 are positioned proxi:nate tab insertion end 25 of receptacle portion 4, to act as lead-in surfaces as the tab is inserted.

The particular configuration of side plates 10, 12 can vary according to the strength characteristics required. In the particular embodiment shown, side plates 10, 12 are formed in such a manner as to provide certain bends therein. This bending of the side plates Frovides the side plates with increased strength, thereby increasing the strength of the entire receptacle portIon 4. If a weaker contact is desired, the bends may be eliminated as required.

Top plate 16 is bent, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3, to provide the increased strength required. Top plate 16 is also bent te provide lower portions or contact areas rewired for the electrical connection to be insured between the tab and the terminal. The lower portions cf top plate 16 are provided nearer base plate ê than is the remaining portion of top plate 16. Mwo lower portions are provided on each terminal 2. Slot 19, which. extends the entire length cf top plate 16, also divides the lower potions into two essentially identical portions.The lower portions of the top plate have upper tracks 26 provided thereon. Upper tracks 26 cooperate with tab 15 as the tab is inserted into opening 17, as will be discussed.

Front plate 14 is provided proximate tab inserticn end 25 of receptacle portion 4. Front plate 14 extends essentially perpendicular to base plate 8 toward top plate .6. As is shown in Figure 1, front plate 14 extends across opening 17 to prevent the insertion of the tab ite tat portion of the opening across which front plate 14 extends, Portions of front plate 14 are provided adjacent ends of side plates 10, 12, such that as front plate 14 is forced to move inward, toward opening 17, -ends of side plates 10, 12 cooperate with front plate 14 to prevent the movement of the plate into the opening.

Side engagement projections 2 & are integral with front plate 14 and cooperate with side plates 10, 12. As is shown in Figure 1, engagement projections 28 extend at essentially ninety degrees with respect to the front plate. The engagement projections engage side plates 10, 12 to provide the side plates with increased strength.

In operation, tab 15 is inserted into receptacle portion 4 of terminal 2. The tab is inserted between tab receiving tracks 22 and upper tracks 26. Insertion between tracks 22 and tracks 26 is insured because front plate 14 blocks the portion of opening 17 which is provided below tracks 22. Consequently, the tab can only be inserted between the tracks. Front plate 14 also prevents the insertion of an improper mating terminal in the receptacle portion. For example, if an attempt is made to insert a large round pin into the receptacle portion, the front plate will prevent the pin from being inserted therein. This eliminates the possibility of the receptacle portion 4 being damaged due to the insertion of the wrong tab therein. In particular, this greatly reduces the possibility of the tracks or resilient members from taking a permanent set.

As tab 15 is inserted into receptacle portion 4, upper tracks 26, which are slightly resilient, flex a minimal amount. However, due to the increased strength of the receptacle portion 4, the upper tracks 26 do not flex a significant amount. Tab receiving tracks 22, which do not have the increased strength characteristics associated therewith, do have the resilient characteristics to flex as the tab is inserted therein. Consequently, tab receiving tracks 22 are resiliently moved to cooperate with the tab, to provide the contact force required to maintain the tracks in electrical engagement with the tab.

The resiliency of tracks 22 also allows the receptacle portion 4 to accommodate for slight misinsertion of the tab, and to accommodate for any dimensional variations of the tab. Therefore, due to the configuration of the tracks and the resilient characteristics of tracks 22, a positive electrical connection is insured between the receptacle portion 4 of terminal 2 and tab 15.

It is important to note, that due to the relatively weak resilient nature of tab receiving tracks 22, the tracks are susceptible to taking a permanent set if the tab is badly misaligned during the insertion of the tab into the receptacle portion. However, front plate 14 prevents this from occurring. if the tab is badly misaligned, the front plate will prevent the tab from entering the receptacle portion. Ccnsequently, the front plate prevents tracks 22 from taking a permanent set.

In the alternative, if the tab is slightly misaligned, front plate 14 will allow tab 15 to be inserted between the tracks. However, the configuration of front plate 14 only permits tracks 22 to be moved toward base plate 8 a limited distance. The receptacle portion is configured so that the maximum displacement of tracks 22 is within the elastic range for the metal used.

Consequently, the resiliency of tracks 22 is maintained over many cycles.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

Claims

1. An electrical terminal comprising a tab receiving portion having a base plate; a top plate and side plates, the side plates extend;between the base plate and the top plate, and are essentially perpendicular to the base plate and to the top plate, the top plate has a slot which extends across the length of the top plate, the slot divides the top plate into two essentially identical portions, each portion of the top plate has a contact section which extends toward the base plate to electrically engage a matable tab when the tab is inserted into the tab receiving portion, the tab receiving portion has a tab receiving opening extending therein, the tab receiving opening extends from a mating face, and is provided to receive the matable tab terminal therein, the electrical terminal being characterized in that:: resilient contact arms are provided in the tab receiving opening of the tab receiving portion, proximate the side plates, the resilient contact arms have the resilient characteristics required to insure that the matable tab terminal is maintained in electrical engagement between the resilient contact arms and the contact sections of the top plate, a front plate extends across the mating face of the tab receiving portion, the front plate cooperates with. the matable tab terminal to insure that the matable tab terminal is properly inserted into the tab receiving opening, thereby preventing the resilient contact arms from being overstressed as the matable tab is inserted into the tab receiving opening.

2. An electrical terminal as set forth in claim t characterized in that each side wall has an opening provided thereon which extends to the tab receiving opening.

3. An electrical terminal as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that the resilient contact arns extend from the base plate toward the top plate, free ends of the resilient contact arms are bent so that the free ends of the resilient contact arms extend through the openings provided in the side plates and into the tab receiving opening of the tab receiving portion.

4. kl ultc;trfcal terminal as set rortn in claim 1 or 3 characterized in that the front plate extends between the side plates, the front plate extends from the base plate toward the top plate such that a top edge of the front plate is provided at approximately the same height as the free ends of the resilient contact arms.

5. An electrical terminal as set forth in claim 4 characterized in that the front plate has support members which extend therefrom, the support members are essentially perpendicular to the front plate and are provided proximate the side plates of the tab receiving portion, the support members cooperate with the side plates to provide the side plates with increased support, such that as a tab is inserted into the tab receiving opening, the side plates will not fail.

6. An electrical terminal as recited in claim 1 characterized in that the base plate has a locking lance which extends therefrom in a direction which is essentially away from the top plate, the locking lance has an end portion which is bent such that the end portion cf the locking lance extends toward the top plate, the end portion extending through an opening provided in the base plate.

7. An electrical terminal as recited in- claim t characterized in that tab receiving tracks are provided at ends of the resilient contact arms, the tab receiving tracks engage the matable tab as the matable tab is inserted into the tab receiving opening.

8. An electrical terminal as recited in claim 7 characterized in that arcuate surfaces are provided on the tab receiving tracks proximate the mating face, the arcuate surfaces act a lead-in surfaces as the matable tab is inserted into the tab receiving opening.

9. An electrical terminal constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.