MXPA95005196A - Bloqueoposit insulated female electric terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical terminal for coupling with a male connecting lug or terminal, characterized in that it comprises: a receptacle portion having a bottom and a pair of opposite side walls having inwardly extending extensions, ending above from the bottom to form an opening that receives the connection terminal, an integral cantilever tongue projecting from the bottom and extending from a sustained end towards the opening receiving the connection terminal, an upwardly curved section formed near the sharp end of the cantilever tongue, and locking means arranged on the cantilevered tongue for engagement with the lug or terminal connection mac

Description

"FEMALE ELECTRIC TERMINAL ISOLATED POSITIVE LOCK" Inventor (s): LENNART C. AXELSSON, North American, domiciled at 9125 West 178th Street, Tinley Park, Illinois 60477, E.U.A ..

Causabiente: PANDUIT CORP. , Delaware State Corporation, E.U.A., domiciled at 17301 Ridgeland Avenue, Tinley Park, Illinois 60477, E.U.A.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrical terminal, and more particularly to an isolated electrical terminal for coupling with a flat male terminal or lug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrical terminals having a receptacle end adapted to receive a pin terminal such as a flat male lug or terminal are well known in the art. Electrical terminals of this type, also known as disconnectors, provide a reliable method for making quick and easy interconnections. In general, these electrical terminals include a receptacle portion having an integral locking tab for engagement with the male connecting lug or terminal, and a releasing member that permits disconnection of the male connecting terminal from the locking tab. These types of terminals also have a crimp or crimped section to terminate the end of a wire to the terminal. In addition, terminals of this type are frequently protected by an insulating housing. While terminals of this type are well known in the art, there are still desirable features and advantages that have not previously been satisfied. An important feature of the disconnects of this type is that the male connection terminal element, once coupled with the locking tab, is prevented from inadvertent disconnection due to being pulled or shaken. This is of particular concern since many of the electrical uses for electrical terminals of this type involve mechanical vibrations such as in automotive applications. It is also an important feature for fully insulated electrical terminals that when disconnection of the male terminal connection is desired, it can be carried out easily. It is also desirable, since these types of terminals and connection terminals are frequently disconnected and reconnected, that this can be carried out repeatedly without damaging or weakening the release element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved electrical terminal. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a female electrical terminal having an improved locking element. It is another object of the present invention to provide an isolated, improved electrical terminal. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an insulated electrical terminal having improved release means. The above objects are achieved by providing an insulated electrical terminal for engagement with a male lug or terminal that generally includes a receptacle portion having a bottom and a pair of opposite side walls that have inwardly extending extensions that terminate above it. from the bottom to form an opening receiving the lug or connection terminal, an integral cantilever tongue projecting from the bottom of the receptacle portion and extending from a sharp end towards the opening receiving the connection terminal, a section upwardly curved formed near the supporting end of the cantilevered tongue, a locking projection on the cantilevered tongue which comes into contact with the male lug or terminal, a release lever disposed upwardly from the cantilevered tongue to release the locking projection from a hole in the lug or connection terminal mach or, wherein the release lever is arranged to be angled upward towards the opening receiving the lug or connection terminal, and, an insulating housing sleeve for covering the terminal, which includes an inner cam surface, disposed in an angle equal to that in which the release lever is angular forward. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a male lug or terminal, facing an isolated female electrical terminal, of one embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Figure 2 is a front view of the isolated electrical terminal of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the isolated electrical terminal taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top view of the isolated electrical terminal of Figure 1 shown with the housing in cross section. Figure 5 is a bottom view of the isolated electrical terminal of Figure 1 shown with the housing in cross section.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the insulated electrical terminal of Figure 1 with an inserted male lug or terminal. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the isolated electrical terminal of Figure 1 with the male lug or connection terminal fixedly coupled. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the isolated electrical terminal of Figure 1 showing the release of the male lug or terminal. Figure 9 is a view of the isolated electrical terminal along lines 9-9 of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the isolated electrical terminal of Figure 1 with the lug or terminal of separate male connection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The female isolated electrical terminal, or disconnector, of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings. The disconnector 10 includes an insulating housing 38 molded from plastic in a tubular housing sleeve to encircle an electrical terminal portion 12 of metal which is formed of a brass strip plated or not plated by a stamping process and is adapted to finish a wire 36 at one end, and for receiving a male lug or terminal 44 at an opposite end. As can be seen in Figures 1-3, terminal 12 includes a receptacle portion 14 formed with a bottom 16 and integral sidewalls 18 that are bent inwardly on bottom 16 to create an opening 20 that receives the connecting terminal. , on the front part of the receptacle portion 14. As shown in Figure 4, the terminal 12 also includes a portion that crimps or crimps the wire, at a rear end that provides a cylindrical body 32 for crimping or crimping the wire in which a wire 36 is crimped to the terminal 12 As can be seen in Figures 3 and 5, the electrical terminal 12 is formed to include an integral cantilever tongue 24 that is resiliently formed and projects from the bottom 16 at a point near the cylindrical body 32 for crimping or crimping of the wire, and extends from its end toward the opening 20 receiving the lug or connection terminal. The cantilevered tongue 24 includes a locking pin 26 projecting upwardly for engagement with a hole 46 in the male lug or terminal 44. There is further provided an integrally formed release lever 30, which includes a curved end facing the opening 20 receiving the lug or connection terminal, which is pushed down to press the tab 24 to release the locking pin 26 from the coupling with the hole 46 in the lug or male connection terminal 44. This tightness of the release lever 30 permits disconnection of the lug or male connecting terminal 44 from the electrical terminal 12. The release lever 30 is formed by a cut portion of a rear end of the cantilever tongue 24 which is folded upwards. The remainder of the rear part of the cantilevered tongue 24 consists of a pair of side edge portions remaining between the sharp end and the release lever. As you can see in figure 3, an upwardly curved section 28 is formed at a rear end of the cantilevered tongue 24 to help protect against inadvertent release of the male lug or terminal 44 of the electrical terminal 12 prior to release by depressing the lever. release 30. As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the upwardly curved section 28 is formed as a protrusion in the pair of side edge portions of the remaining tab 24 from which the release lever 30 is formed upwardly. The upwardly curved section 28 is formed between the sharp end of the tab 24 and the release lever 30. In the absence of the upwardly curved section 28, as the male lug or terminal 44 is pulled in a direction of Extraction outside the receptacle portion 14, the cantilever tab 24 may be flexed slightly downward and the inadvertent release of the male attachment lug 44 may occur. This is a result of the effective pivot location of the tongue on the tongue. cantilever 24 being at the sharp end where the cantilever tab 24 projects first from the rear end of the bottom 16 of the receptacle portion 14. By adding the curved section 28 upwards, the effective pivot location is raised to a point on the cantilevered tongue 24 on the side receiving the connection terminal of the curved section upwards 28. As a result, with the curved section facing went 28, when the attached connection terminal 44 is pulled in a direction d >Upon removal, the force on the locking projection 26 does not press the cantilever tongue 24 sufficiently to result in inadvertent release of the male lug or terminal 44. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the housing 38 includes an angled cam surface 40, extending downwardly from an inner wall of the housing 38. The electrical terminal 12 is inserted into the housing 38 at a front end and is pushed until the release lever 30 passes to the rear side. the cam surface 40 is formed. Seals 42 of the housing are formed, inside the rear end of the housing 33, which prevent the terminal from passing through the housing 38. The release lever 30 has a tightening fit with the housing 38 and the cam surface 40, which helps to seat the terminal 12 within the housing 38. The movement of the terminal 12 is limited within the housing 38 by means of detents 42 fo in the rear end of the housing 38. The movement in the forward direction is also limited by the coupling of the cam surface 40 with the release lever 30. As can be seen in figures 6 and 7, the end rear of the housing 38 includes a funnel entry ramp 48, to facilitate the insertion of the wire 36 to be crimped to the terminal 12. The cylindrical crimping or corrugation body 32 is also provided with a funnel inlet portion 50 that serves to facilitating the easy insertion of the wire 36 and to allow crimping or crimping against the pulls by having an insulated portion and an uninsulated portion of the wire 36 to be crimped or crimped. Once the electrical terminal 12 has been positioned within the insulated housing 33, the wire 36 is inserted into the crimped or crimped portion and crimped or crimped to the isolated disconnect 10. As can be seen in Figure 1, the male connection terminal 44 includes a hole 46 and is inserted into the channel that receives the connection terminal of the electrical terminal 12. The ends of the bottom 16 and the side walls 18 turned inward are flared outwards to facilitate the insertion of the male connection terminal 44. As shown in Figure 6, during the initial insertion of the connection terminal 44 the cantilevered tongue 24 is flexed downward by pressing on the locking projection 26 until the hole 46 in the male connection terminal 44 engages with the locking projection 26. The male connecting terminal 44 is fixedly secured to the electrical terminal 12 until it is released by depressing the release lever 30, which causes the cantilever tongue to move downwards to release the projection locking 26 of the hole 46. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, when it is desired to release the connection terminal of the isolated disconnect in the locked position as shown in FIG. 7, the insulating housing 38 can be pulled back with with respect to the electrical terminal 12, which causes the cam surface 40 to contact and cooperate with the upper curved section of the release lever 30 for pressing on the cantilever tongue 24 and thereby releasing the locking projection 26 from the hole 45, such that the connection terminal 44 can be separated. The cam surface 40 is formed to be at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the housing sleeve and to be approximately equal to the angle at which the release lever 30 is angularly forward from the vertical. Accordingly, the forces exerted on the release lever 30 by the cam surface 40 are advantageously aligned with the release lever 30. This forward alignment of the release lever 30 and cooperation with the similarly angular cam surface 40, it helps to reinforce the release lever 30 against the over-insertion of the male connection terminal 18, and against the effects of repeated disconnection and reconnection. As can be seen in figures 6 and 7, the rear end of the housing 38 includes a funnel entry ramp 48, to facilitate the insertion of the wire 36 to be crimped to the terminal 12. The cylindrical body 32 is also provided. with a funnel inlet portion 50 that serves to facilitate the insertion of the wire 36 and to allow a wavy surge protection by having an insulated portion and an uninsulated portion of the wire 35 to be crimped. 3e will note that the embodiment described herein includes an end of the cylindrical corrugation body having ribbed or ribbed rings 34 that are crimped around a wire 36 terminating to the terminal 12. Other corrugation means could be used, in the qae include cutting grooves formed in the cylindrical corrugated body. It will also be noted that the corrugation grooves 22 formed in the corners of the side walls 18 turned inward from the electrical terminal 12 are optional, but may be helpful in the formation of the metal terminal 12. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The subject set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. It is proposed that the actual scope of the invention be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on prior art. Sa notes that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (18)

1. An electrical terminal for coupling with a male connection lug or terminal, characterized in that it comprises: a receptacle portion having a bottom and a pair of opposite side walls having inwardly extending extensions, which terminate above the bottom to form an opening that receives the connection terminal; an integral cantilever lant projecting from the bottom and extending from a sustained end towards the opening that receives the connection terminal; an upward curved section, formed near the sharp end of the cantilevered tongue; and locking means disposed on the cantilever tongue for engagement with the male lug or terminal.

2. An electrical terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means comprise an elevated portion of the cantilevered tongue forming a locking projection which engages with a hole in the male connecting lug or terminal.

3. An electrical terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that it also includes a release lever that projects upwards from the cantilever tongue.

4. An electrical terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that the release lever is angularly forward towards the opening that receives the lug or connection terminal.

5. An electrical terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that the upwardly curved section is formed as a protrusion in a pair of lateral edge portions of the tongue, disposed between the sustained end and the release lever.

6. An electrical terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that it also includes an insulating housing that covers the terminal.

7. An electrical terminal in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the insulating housing is formed as a tubular sleeve.

8. An electrical terminal according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing sleeve includes a cam surface formed on an inner wall of the housing sleeve, which cooperates with the release lever to allow the release of the lug or terminal of the housing. Connection.

9. An electrical terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that the cam surface is formed at an angle with respect to the housing sleeve equal to that in which the release lever is angular forward.

10. An isolated electrical terminal according to claim 9, characterized in that the release lever is angularly forward approximately 30 degrees.

11. An electrical terminal according to claim 10, characterized in that it further includes a wire corrugation portion, adjacent to the receptacle portion that includes a cylindrical body for wire corrugation.

12. An electrical terminal isolated for coupling with a lug or connection terminal, characterized in that it comprises: a receptacle portion having a bottom and a pair of opposite side walls having inwardly extending extensions that terminate above the bottom to form an opening that receives the lug or connection terminal; a resilient tongue formed integrally with the floor, which includes a protuberance formed upwards; locking means disposed on the tongue for engagement with the male connecting lug or terminal; a release lever projecting upwards from the tongue and disposed to be angular upwards from the vertical towards the channel receiving the lug or connection terminal; and an insulating housing sleeve including an inner cam surface cooperating with the release lever to allow release of the male connection terminal.

13. An insulated electrical terminal according to claim 12, characterized in that the cam surface is formed at an angle with respect to the housing sleeve equal to that in which the release lever is angular forward.

14. An isolated electrical terminal according to claim 13, characterized in that the release lever is angular approximately 30 degrees.

15. An insulated electrical terminal according to claim 14, characterized in that the resilient tongue comprises a cantilever tongue projecting from the bottom and extending from a sustained end towards the opening receiving the lug or connecting terminal.

16. An isolated electrical terminal according to claim 15, characterized in that the upwardly curved protuberance formed on the cantilevered tongue is formed near the sharp end.

17. An insulated electrical terminal according to claim 16, characterized in that the upwardly curved protuberance is formed as an upwardly curved section, in a pair of lateral edge portions of the tongue between the sustained end and the release lever d-s.

18. An insulated electrical terminal according to claim 17, characterized in that it further includes a crimping or corrugation portion of the wire, adjacent to the receptacle portion that includes a cylindrical body for crimping or crimping the wire. In testimony of which I sign this in this Mexico City, D.F., December 11, 1995.