US3163484A

US3163484A - Electric terminal

Info

Publication number: US3163484A
Application number: US78513A
Authority: US
Inventors: William P Herman; Joseph C Collins
Original assignee: US Philips Corp
Current assignee: US Philips Corp; North American Philips Co Inc
Priority date: 1960-12-27
Filing date: 1960-12-27
Publication date: 1964-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-29

Description

29, 1964 w. P. HERMAN ETAL.

ELECTRIC TERMINAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1960 FIG. 2

INVENTORS WlLLiAM F? HERMAN BY JOSEPH C. COLLINS ATTNEY 1964 w. P. HERMAN ETAL 3,163,484

ELECTRIC TERMINAL Filed Dec. 27, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 9

INVENTOR WILLIAM F? HERMAN y JOSEPH .C. COLLINS United States Patent Ofiice $363,484 Patented Dec. 29,, 1964 3,163,484 ELECTRIC TERMINAL William P. Herman and Joseph C. Collins, Providence,

RI, assignors, by mesne assignments, to North American Phiiips tlempany, End, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 27, 19st], Ser. No. 78,513 3 laims. (Ci. 339258) Our present invention relates to electrical terminals of the type which are adapted to be detachably interengaged with one another.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an electrical terminal of the quick disconnect type in which a tab slides into a receptacle for making the electrical contact.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric terminal having a positive gripping and locking action between the inter-engaging parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a terminal in which the female element is designed to receive the conventional male elements now in use.

Another object of the presentinvention is to provide an electric terminal having high current carrying capacity and positive locking means.

' A further object of the present invention is to provide an electric terminal of the type described which can be manufactured from sheet stock in strip form and readily attached to electrical wires by automatic machines.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, our invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an enlarged top plan view of an electric terminal with the male and female portions inter-engaged. FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another form of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 on FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing still another form of our invention.

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 on FIG. 5.

' FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the form shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the male tab.

FIG. 9 is an edge view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the form shown in FIG. 3.

It has been customary to provide electric terminals for electronic devices which permit rapid and easy connections and quick releases. Good electrical contact must be made and the parts must hold together against accidental release. Ihese terminals are referred to in the art as quick disconnects and usually comprise a female receptacle in the form of a channel member and'a male tab which slides into the channel member and is frictionally heldtherein. For good electrical contact it has been found desirable to slightly taper the male tab and to similarly taper the female channel member or receptacle.

This produces a wedging action which increases the hold ing power of the connection but permits easy withdrawal.

The present invention is designedto' eliminate the taper by providing a more positive locking action for holding the tab in the channel. The present invention therefore comprises a new type of female receptacle and a new type of complementary male tab. However, the receptacle has been designed so that it will receive the conventional taper tab where those are still in use.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and7 illustrate one form of the invention in conjunction with the novel male tab shown in FIG. 8. The female receptacle 26) comprises an elongated member stamped from sheet stock. The'front end of the member 20 is folded over from each side as at 21 to form a channel portion as shown in FIG. 2. The bottom 22 may be curved upwardly to provide a spring friction contact portion. Extending integrally rearwardly from the channel portion 21 is a portion 23 having a flat bottom and upstanding sides 24. Rearwardly of the portion 24 are

portions

25 and 26 for crimping on to the electrical connector and the insulation of an electrical cord lead wire. The side walls 24 are pushed inwardly at 27 at opposite sides just back of the channel portion 21 to form vertical rounded :obstructionsat the sides of the channel and extending from the top to the bottom of each wall 24.

The male tab shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be attached to an electrical cord connection or may be part of a multiple electronic connector. The rear portion 28 may thus be formed in any desired manner. The contact portion of the tab comprises an elongated flat member 29 having straight parallel sides 31 in the central area terminating with wider shoulders 31 towards the rear and having a wider portion 32 at the thrust end. The wider portion 32 is tapered at 33 at the front end and is provided at the center thereof with oppositely formed V-shaped grooves 34 at each side edge. Now as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the tab is pushed into the receptacle 20 the portion 32 snaps by the indented wall portions 27 because of the resiliency of the material of the receptacle. As the tab is thrust forwardly the indented portions 27 snap into the grooves 34 to resiliently lock the tab into the receptacle. In the meanwhile the channel portion 21 and bottom 22 frictionally engage the portion 29 for the electrical contact. The shoulders 31 acting as additional stops to limit the inward movement of the tab.

The above construction thus provides a quick disconnect electric terminal that permits the withdrawal of the tab with a positive pressure but resiliently holds the parts in electrical engagment against accidental parting. r

The form shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 illustrates an alternative form of receptacle for receiving the tab heretofore illustrated. In this form the receptacle is again provided with a channel front end 35 which may be rounded to a greater eXtent as shown in FIG. 4 for electrical contact. The channel portion 35 may be provided with an upraised bottom 36 for better spring contact. The rear end 37 is formed similarly to the form shown in FIG. 1 to receive the electrical cord connection. However, the intermediate portion 38 is provided with upstanding sides 39, the top edges of which are bent inwardly from each side to form spring fingers 40. Each spring finger being provided at its outer end with an angle portion 41 which forms a V in the path of movement of the tab. As the tab is pushed inwardly the front end snaps by the spring fingersd until the spring ends 41 snap into the grooves 34'. of the tab. Electrical contact is made similarly to the form shown in FIG. 1. The

form shown in FIG. 3 therefore operates similarly to the form shown in FIG. 1 except that the separate spring members 4% form a more resilient locking action than the indentations 27 shown in FIG. 1.

Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 it may be necessary to form the female receptacle so that it will not only receive the type of tab shown in FIG. 8 but will also receive the conventional tapered tab now on the market. In this form the channel portion 42 at the front end of the receptacle shown in FIG. 5 is extended rearwardly a greater distance than in the forms shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. This is to ensure the proper positioning of the tab in the receptacle and to prevent vertical movement thereof. The sides 43 are now provided with inwardly extending detents 44 as shown in FIG. 6 whichmay be spotted rather than extending the full height of the walls as shown in FIG. 2. The rear portion 45 is formed in the usual manner to engage the cord lead connection. The type of tab shown in FIG. 8 can thus be inserted in this receptacle and the indentations 34 will look over the detents 44 in the manner above described. However, when a tapered tab 46 is inserted as shown in FIGS. and 6 the forward narrower end will engage the detents to support the tab at that point and the wider rear end will jam into the channel to frictionally lock it at the rear. For this purpose the width of the channel is made approximately equal to or slightly narrower than the width of the rear of the tapered tab 46. Electrical contact besides being made at the inter-engaging points is positively made at the top and bottom as shown in FIG. 6. The elongation of the channel portion 42 adds to the contact area. This form thus provides a female receptacle which is not only designed to interlock with the tab shown in FIG. 8 in the same manner as in the forms shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, but will also receive the tapered tab 46 now in use.

We have thus provided an electric terminal of the quick disconnect type in which a male tab and female receptacle can be quickly connected and disconnected but in which a positive resilient locking action is provided to prevent accidental dislodgment of the members. The various forms are designed for high speed manufacture from sheet stock with automatic tools. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A female electric terminal for detachable electrical engagement with a flat male terminal having cut out portions at each side edge, comprising an elongated member having a generally rectangular contact portion at the front end with an upwardly facing bottom surface, the sides of said contact portion being bent inwardly toward each other to form a channel portion for receiving the male terminal, said inwardly bent sides having downwardly facing lower surfaces, at least a portion of said downwardly facing surfaces being spaced from said upwardly facing surface by a distance less than the thickness of said male terminal whereby said downwardly facing surfaces and said upwardly facing surface exert pressure on said male terminal from opposite sides, an intermediate portion extending integrally rearwardly from said contact portion and having a substantially flat bottom, vertical side walls and an open top, and an electrical cord connecting portion extending integrally from the rear of said intermediate portion, the side Walls of said intermediate portion having integral means for engaging and interlocking with the cut out portions of a male terminal inserted in said channel portion, said means comprising spring fingers extending inwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of each of said side walls to exert pressure on said male terminal substantially perpendicularly to said side walls. l

2. A female electric terminal for detachable electrical engagement with a flat male terminal having cut out portions at each side edge, comprising an elongated member having a generally rectangular contact portion at the front end with an upwardly facing bottom surface, the sides of said contact portion being bent inwardly toward each other to form a channel portion for receiving the male terminal, said inwardly bent sides having downward facing lower surfaces, at least a portion of said downwardly facing surfaces being spaced from said upwardly facing surface by a distance less than the thickness of said male terminal whereby said downwardly facing surfaces and said upwardly facing surface exert pressure on said male terminal from opposite sides, an intermediate portion extending integrally rearwardly from said contact portion and having a substantially fiat bottom, vertical side walls and an open top, and an electrical cord conneeting portion extending integrally from the rear of said intermediate portion, the side walls of said intermediate portion having integral means for engaging and interlocking with the cut out portions of a male terminal inserted in said channel portion, said means comprising spring fingers extending inwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of each of said side walls, said spring fingers terminating in angularly bent back portions adapted to enter the cut out portions of the male terminal to exert pressure on said male terminal perpendicularly to said side walls.

3. A female electric terminal for detachable electrical engagement with a fiat male terminal having cut out portions at each side edge, comprising an elongated member having a generally rectangular contact portion at the front end, the sides of said contact portion being bent inwardly toward each other to form a channel portion for receiving the male terminal, an intermediate portion extending integrally rearwardly from said contact portion and having a substantially fiat bottom, vertical sides and an open top, and an electrical cord connecting portion extending integrally from the rear of said intermediate portion, the sides of said intermediate portion having integral means for engaging and interlocking with the cut out portions of a male terminal inserted in said channel portion, said means comprising spring fingers extending inwardly and rearwardly from the top edge of each of said side walls to exert pressure on said male terminal perpendicularly to said side walls, the bottom of said channel portion being bent upwardly to frictionally and electrically engage the inserted male terminal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,197 Hubbell June 27, 1905 1,509,822 Benjamin Sept. 30, 1924 2,157,188 Robinson May 9, 1939 2,552,392 Batcheller May 8, 1951 2,579,739 Hayes Dec. 25, 1951 2,697,820 Elliott et al. Dec. 21, 1954 2,682,040 Batcheller June 22, 1954 2,703,872 Duane Mar. 8, 1955 2,774,951 Kinkaid et al Dec. 18, 1956 2,816,275 Hamrnell Dec. 10, 1957 2,825,883 Batcheller Mar. 4, 1958 2,921,287 Matthysse et al. Jan. 12, 1960 2,942,230 Gluck June 21, 1960 2,987,697 Davis June 6, 1961 3,066,275 Hammell Nov. 27, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,201,157 France July 6, 1959 137,932 Great Britain Jan. 29, 1920 799,370 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1958

Claims

1. A FEMALE ELECTRIC TERMINAL FOR DETACHABLE ELETRICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH A FLAT MALE TERMINAL HAVING CUT OUT PORTIONS AT EACH SIDE EDGE, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CONTACT PORTION AT THE FRONT END WITH AN UPWARDLY FACING BOTTOM SURFACE, THE SIDES OF SAID CONTACT PORTION BEING BENT INWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER TO FORM A CHANNEL PORTION FOR RECEIVING THE MALE TERMINAL, SAID INWARDLY BENT SIDES HAVING DOWNWARDLY FACING LOWER SURFACES, AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID DOWNWARDLY FACING SURFACES BEING SPACED FROM SAID UPWARDLY FACING SURFACE BY A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID MALE TERMINAL WHEREBY SAID DOWNWARDLY FACING SURFACES AND SAID UPWARDLY FACING SURFACE EXERT PRESSURE ON SAID MALE TERMINAL FROM OPPOSITE SIDES, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION EXTENDING INTEGRALLY REARWARDLY FROM SAID CONTACT PORTION AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BOTTOM, VERTICAL SIDE WALLS AND AN OPEN TOP, AND AN ELECTRICAL CORD CONNECTING PORTION EXTENDING INTEGRALLY FROM THE REAR OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION, THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION HAVING INTEGRAL MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND INTERLOCKING WITH THE CUT PORTIONS OF A MALE TERMINAL INSERTED IN SAID CHANNEL PORTION, SAID MEANS COMPRISING SPRING FINGERS EXTENDING INWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM THE TOP EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS TO EXERT PRESSURE ON SAID MALE TERMINAL SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID SIDE WALLS.