WO1995028020A1 - Double-flexible-blade electric terminal - Google Patents

Double-flexible-blade electric terminal Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1995028020A1
WO1995028020A1 PCT/EP1995/001325 EP9501325W WO9528020A1 WO 1995028020 A1 WO1995028020 A1 WO 1995028020A1 EP 9501325 W EP9501325 W EP 9501325W WO 9528020 A1 WO9528020 A1 WO 9528020A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
blade
terminal
contact
wall
cooperating
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP1995/001325
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Alessandro Genta
Original Assignee
Framatome Connectors International S.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Framatome Connectors International S.A. filed Critical Framatome Connectors International S.A.
Priority to DE69503775T priority Critical patent/DE69503775T2/en
Priority to EP95917309A priority patent/EP0755579B1/en
Publication of WO1995028020A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995028020A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/10—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation
    • H01R4/18—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping
    • H01R4/183—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section
    • H01R4/184—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion
    • H01R4/185—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion combined with a U-shaped insulation-receiving portion

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electric terminal, in particular, with a double flexible blade.
  • Electric terminals are known, formed by blanking and bending conductive sheet metal, and integrally comprising a deformable portion for connection to a cable, and a contact body cooperating with a complementary contact element, such as another electric terminal or a printed circuit.
  • such a terminal is described for example in US Patent n. 3,069,652, wherein the contact body presents a first flexible contact blade cooperating with the complementary contact element; and a second reinforcing blade cooperating with the first blade when this is deformed duri; .j connection to the complementary contact element, to increase the elastic load on the latter.
  • the first blade extends integrally from one end of a wall of the contact body, and is bent rearwards towards the connecting portion, while the second blade is blanked in the same wall of the contact body and projects frontwards from a portion of said wall adjacent to the connecting portion.
  • the first and second blades project in opposite directions and cooperate with each other at a central portion of the contact body.
  • an electric terminal comprising a deformable portion for connection to an electric cable; and a_ contact portion cooperating with a complementary contact element; said contact portion comprising a first flexible contact blade extending integrally from the front portion of a wall of said contact body and bent towards said connecting portion, said first blade cooperating elastically with said complementary contact element; and a second reinforcing blade, blanked in said wall of said contact body and cooperating with said first blade at least as of a predetermined degree of deformation of said first blade, to increase the elastic load on said complementary contact element; characterized in that said second blade extends from said front portion of said wall of said contact body towards said connecting portion of said terminal.
  • Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a female electric terminal in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows a front view of the Figure 1 terminal
  • Figure 3 shows a section along line III-III in Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 shows a sheet metal blank for producing the Figure 1 terminal.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a so-called “box” type female electric terminal.
  • the terms “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear” and similar used in the following description and claims are in no way limiting, and are used purely for description purposes with reference to the position of terminal 1 as illustrated in Figure 1 " .
  • Terminal 1 is formed in one piece from conductive sheet metal by pressing and bending blank 1 ' in Figure 4.
  • Terminal 1 substantially comprises a box type contact body 2 cooperating with a male blade terminal 3 (shown partially by the dotted line in Figure 3) ; and a deformable connecting portion 4 for connection to an electric cable 5.
  • Body 2 substantially comprises a bottom wall 6, from a rear portion 7 of which connecting portion 4 originates; a pair of lateral walls 8a, 8b bent 90° upwards in relation to bottom wall 6; and a top wall 9 integral with one of the lateral walls (8a) and bent in relation to it in a plane substantially parallel to bottom wall 6.
  • Body 2 presents a front opening 10 for insertion of male terminal 3.
  • Terminal 1 also comprises a first flexible contact blade 11 (Figure 3) extending integrally from a front portion 12 of bottom wall 6, and bent inside body 2 towards connecting portion 4.
  • Blade 11 presents a curved longitudinal profile with its convexity facing top wall 9, and comprises an intermediate contact portion 13 of maximum convexity facing top wall 9 and forming with wall 9 a clearance smaller than the thickness of terminal 3.
  • Blade 11 also presents a free end 14 bent slightly towards top wall 9 and located close to the rear end of body 2. Transversely, blade 11 is conveniently slightly convex (Figure 2) to reduce the area of the portion contacting male terminal 3.
  • Terminal 1 also comprises a second flexible 5 reinforcing blade 15 projecting from front portion 12 of bottom wall 6 towards connecting portion 4, and sloping inwards of the body so that its free end 16 is located close to and substantially parallel to the free end 14 of blade 11.
  • 10 Blade 15 is in the form of a flat isosceles trapezium, and is formed in bottom wall 6 by means of a substantially U-shaped slot 17 ( Figure 4) .
  • terminal 1 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
  • reinforcing blade 15 extends rearwards from the front end of body 2 enables the free bending length of the blade to be sized freely and so selected as to prevent peak insertion loads of the male terminal. Moreover, any possibility of jamming is prevented by the two blades 11, 15 extending substantially in the same direction and cooperating with each other at the respective free ends. Finally, the design of end 14 of blade 11, which is bent substantially parallel to blade 15, provides for minimizing deformation of the end portion of blade 11 by the elastic load of blade 15, and hence the portion of the elastic load of blade 15 absorbed by such deformation.
  • terminal 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • terminal 1 may be other than a box type, and may be connected to any type of complementary contact element, e.g. a male terminal of any design, or a printed circuit.
  • blades 11 and 15 may contact each other prior to deformation, to achieve immediate action of blade 15 upon blade 11 being deformed by the complementary contact element.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
  • Shielding Devices Or Components To Electric Or Magnetic Fields (AREA)

Abstract

An electric terminal (1) including a deformable portion (4) for connection to an electric cable (5); and a contact portion (2) presenting a first flexible contact blade (11) extending integrally from a front portion (12) of a wall (6) of the contact body (2) and bent rearwards towards the connecting portion (4), the first blade (11) cooperating elastically with a complementary contact element (3), and a second reinforcing blade (15) blanked in the same wall (6) of the contact body (2) and cooperating with the first blade (11) at least as of a predetermined degree of deformation of the first blade, for increasing the elastic load on the complementary contact element; the second blade (15) extending from the front portion (12) of the aforementioned wall of the contact body (2) towards the connecting portion (4) of the terminal (1); and the first (11) and second (15) blades cooperating mutually at the respective free ends (14, 16).

Description

DOUBLE-FLEXIBLE-BLADE ELECTRIC TERMINAL
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electric terminal, in particular, with a double flexible blade. BACKGROUND ART
Electric terminals are known, formed by blanking and bending conductive sheet metal, and integrally comprising a deformable portion for connection to a cable, and a contact body cooperating with a complementary contact element, such as another electric terminal or a printed circuit.
More specifically, such a terminal is described for example in US Patent n. 3,069,652, wherein the contact body presents a first flexible contact blade cooperating with the complementary contact element; and a second reinforcing blade cooperating with the first blade when this is deformed duri; .j connection to the complementary contact element, to increase the elastic load on the latter. The first blade extends integrally from one end of a wall of the contact body, and is bent rearwards towards the connecting portion, while the second blade is blanked in the same wall of the contact body and projects frontwards from a portion of said wall adjacent to the connecting portion.
As such, the first and second blades project in opposite directions and cooperate with each other at a central portion of the contact body.
The above mutual arrangement of the blades results in a limitation of the respective bending lengths, the total of which must obviously be less than the length of the contact body. This in turn results in severe flexural rigidity and, in use, in undesired peak insertion loads (i.e. the load required for connection to the complementary contact element) . What is more, the above blade arrangement also results in jamming. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric terminal designed to overcome the drawbacks typically associated with the above known terminals. According to the present invention, there is provided an electric terminal comprising a deformable portion for connection to an electric cable; and a_ contact portion cooperating with a complementary contact element; said contact portion comprising a first flexible contact blade extending integrally from the front portion of a wall of said contact body and bent towards said connecting portion, said first blade cooperating elastically with said complementary contact element; and a second reinforcing blade, blanked in said wall of said contact body and cooperating with said first blade at least as of a predetermined degree of deformation of said first blade, to increase the elastic load on said complementary contact element; characterized in that said second blade extends from said front portion of said wall of said contact body towards said connecting portion of said terminal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a female electric terminal in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a front view of the Figure 1 terminal;
Figure 3 shows a section along line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a sheet metal blank for producing the Figure 1 terminal.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a so-called "box" type female electric terminal. The terms "top", "bottom", "front", "rear" and similar used in the following description and claims are in no way limiting, and are used purely for description purposes with reference to the position of terminal 1 as illustrated in Figure 1".
Terminal 1 is formed in one piece from conductive sheet metal by pressing and bending blank 1 ' in Figure 4. Terminal 1 substantially comprises a box type contact body 2 cooperating with a male blade terminal 3 (shown partially by the dotted line in Figure 3) ; and a deformable connecting portion 4 for connection to an electric cable 5. Body 2 substantially comprises a bottom wall 6, from a rear portion 7 of which connecting portion 4 originates; a pair of lateral walls 8a, 8b bent 90° upwards in relation to bottom wall 6; and a top wall 9 integral with one of the lateral walls (8a) and bent in relation to it in a plane substantially parallel to bottom wall 6.
Body 2 presents a front opening 10 for insertion of male terminal 3.
Terminal 1 also comprises a first flexible contact blade 11 (Figure 3) extending integrally from a front portion 12 of bottom wall 6, and bent inside body 2 towards connecting portion 4. Blade 11 presents a curved longitudinal profile with its convexity facing top wall 9, and comprises an intermediate contact portion 13 of maximum convexity facing top wall 9 and forming with wall 9 a clearance smaller than the thickness of terminal 3. Blade 11 also presents a free end 14 bent slightly towards top wall 9 and located close to the rear end of body 2. Transversely, blade 11 is conveniently slightly convex (Figure 2) to reduce the area of the portion contacting male terminal 3.
Terminal 1 also comprises a second flexible 5 reinforcing blade 15 projecting from front portion 12 of bottom wall 6 towards connecting portion 4, and sloping inwards of the body so that its free end 16 is located close to and substantially parallel to the free end 14 of blade 11. 10 Blade 15 is in the form of a flat isosceles trapezium, and is formed in bottom wall 6 by means of a substantially U-shaped slot 17 (Figure 4) .
From the opposite ends of lateral wall 8b of body 2, there extend upwards two tabs 18 bent substantially 15 in a U so that the free ends cooperate with top wall 9, to increase the structural rigidity of body 2.
In actual use, when male terminal 3 is inserted inside box body 2 through front opening 10 and between contact blade 11 and top wall 9, it flexes contact blade 20 11 towards reinforcing blade 15 which remains idle until its free end 16 is contacted by the free end 14 of blade 11.
Upon further insertion of male terminal 3, blades
« 11 and 15 flex jointly, and the rigidity of blade 15 ■* 25 provides for increasing the contact pressure exerted by blade 11 on terminal 3.
The advantages of terminal 1 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
In particular, the fact that reinforcing blade 15 extends rearwards from the front end of body 2 enables the free bending length of the blade to be sized freely and so selected as to prevent peak insertion loads of the male terminal. Moreover, any possibility of jamming is prevented by the two blades 11, 15 extending substantially in the same direction and cooperating with each other at the respective free ends. Finally, the design of end 14 of blade 11, which is bent substantially parallel to blade 15, provides for minimizing deformation of the end portion of blade 11 by the elastic load of blade 15, and hence the portion of the elastic load of blade 15 absorbed by such deformation.
Clearly, changes may be made to terminal 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.
In particular, terminal 1 may be other than a box type, and may be connected to any type of complementary contact element, e.g. a male terminal of any design, or a printed circuit.
Also, blades 11 and 15 may contact each other prior to deformation, to achieve immediate action of blade 15 upon blade 11 being deformed by the complementary contact element.

Claims

1) An electric terminal (1) comprising a deformable portion (4) for connection to an electric cable (5) ; and a contact portion (2) cooperating with a complementary contact element (3) ; said contact portion (2) comprising a first flexible contact blade (11) extending integrally from the front portion (12) of a wall (6) of said contact body (2) and bent towards said connecting portion (4) , said first blade (11) cooperating elastically with said complementary contact element (3) ; and a second reinforcing blade (15) , blanked in said wall (6) of said contact body (2) and cooperating with said first blade (11) at least as of a predetermined degree of deformation of said first blade (11) , to increase the elastic load on said complementary contact element (3) ; characterized in that said second blade (15) extends from said front portion (12) of said wall (6) of said contact body (2) towards said connecting portion (4) of said terminal (1) .
2) A terminal as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said first and second blades (11, 15) cooperate mutually at the respective free ends (14, 16).
3) A terminal as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said first blade (11) presents a curved longitudinal profile so that an intermediate portion of the first blade cooperates with said complementary contact element (3); said free end (14) of said first blade (11) being bent" substantially parallel to said second blade (15) .
4) A terminal as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said contact body (2) is a box type, and presents a front opening
(10) for receiving a male terminal (3) .
5) A terminal as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said first blade
(11) presents a transversely convex profile. 6) A terminal as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized in that said second blade (15) is flat.
PCT/EP1995/001325 1994-04-12 1995-04-11 Double-flexible-blade electric terminal WO1995028020A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE69503775T DE69503775T2 (en) 1994-04-12 1995-04-11 ELECTRICAL CONNECTING SLEEVE WITH DOUBLE FLEXIBLE CONTACTS
EP95917309A EP0755579B1 (en) 1994-04-12 1995-04-11 Double-flexible-blade electric terminal

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO94A000273 1994-04-12
ITTO940273A IT1273126B (en) 1994-04-12 1994-04-12 ELECTRIC TERMINAL WITH DOUBLE ELASTIC SHEET

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1995028020A1 true WO1995028020A1 (en) 1995-10-19

Family

ID=11412449

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP1995/001325 WO1995028020A1 (en) 1994-04-12 1995-04-11 Double-flexible-blade electric terminal

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0755579B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69503775T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2120745T3 (en)
IT (1) IT1273126B (en)
WO (1) WO1995028020A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1737077A2 (en) * 2005-06-23 2006-12-27 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Electrical connector having dual contact function spring contact terminal
EP1742300A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2007-01-10 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. A terminal fitting and a forming method therefor
JP2013143303A (en) * 2012-01-11 2013-07-22 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The Female terminal
US20220021145A1 (en) * 2020-07-14 2022-01-20 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Terminal fitting

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP7176372B2 (en) 2018-11-27 2022-11-22 Ｉ－Ｐｅｘ株式会社 terminal

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3069652A (en) * 1959-03-23 1962-12-18 Burndy Corp Electrical connector for printed circuit boards
EP0147076A2 (en) * 1983-12-27 1985-07-03 Amp Incorporated Electrical terminal having a receptacle contact section of low insertion force and terminating section therefor
FR2565423A1 (en) * 1984-05-29 1985-12-06 Essex Group Receptacle terminal with leads
US4699444A (en) * 1985-04-11 1987-10-13 Amp Incorporated Electrical receptacle which assures positive connection

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3069652A (en) * 1959-03-23 1962-12-18 Burndy Corp Electrical connector for printed circuit boards
EP0147076A2 (en) * 1983-12-27 1985-07-03 Amp Incorporated Electrical terminal having a receptacle contact section of low insertion force and terminating section therefor
FR2565423A1 (en) * 1984-05-29 1985-12-06 Essex Group Receptacle terminal with leads
US4699444A (en) * 1985-04-11 1987-10-13 Amp Incorporated Electrical receptacle which assures positive connection

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1737077A2 (en) * 2005-06-23 2006-12-27 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Electrical connector having dual contact function spring contact terminal
EP1737077A3 (en) * 2005-06-23 2007-03-21 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Electrical connector having dual contact function spring contact terminal
EP1742300A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2007-01-10 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. A terminal fitting and a forming method therefor
US7275969B2 (en) 2005-07-05 2007-10-02 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Terminal fitting
CN100486060C (en) * 2005-07-05 2009-05-06 住友电装株式会社 A terminal fitting and a forming method therefor
JP2013143303A (en) * 2012-01-11 2013-07-22 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The Female terminal
US20220021145A1 (en) * 2020-07-14 2022-01-20 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Terminal fitting
US11670885B2 (en) * 2020-07-14 2023-06-06 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Terminal fitting with body portion including walls

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO940273A0 (en) 1994-04-12
DE69503775T2 (en) 1999-01-21
IT1273126B (en) 1997-07-04
ITTO940273A1 (en) 1995-10-12
ES2120745T3 (en) 1998-11-01
DE69503775D1 (en) 1998-09-03
EP0755579A1 (en) 1997-01-29
EP0755579B1 (en) 1998-07-29

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