WO2010015894A1 - Female terminal - Google Patents

Female terminal Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010015894A1
WO2010015894A1 PCT/IB2008/054471 IB2008054471W WO2010015894A1 WO 2010015894 A1 WO2010015894 A1 WO 2010015894A1 IB 2008054471 W IB2008054471 W IB 2008054471W WO 2010015894 A1 WO2010015894 A1 WO 2010015894A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bottom wall
wall
female terminal
contact
terminal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2008/054471
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gérard Mulot
Dominique Rozet
Claude Casses
Patrice Cappe
Original Assignee
Fci
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 Fci filed Critical Fci
Priority to EP08875843A priority Critical patent/EP2311149A1/en
Priority to PCT/IB2008/054471 priority patent/WO2010015894A1/en
Priority to CN2008801306731A priority patent/CN102119470A/en
Publication of WO2010015894A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010015894A1/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
    • H01R13/115—U-shaped sockets having inwardly bent legs, e.g. spade type
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01R13/112—Resilient sockets forked sockets having two legs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a female terminal intended to accommodate a male terminal, for an electrical connection.
  • a common female terminal comprises a terminal bottom wall and a contact blade extending above the terminal bottom wall.
  • the contact blade comprises a plane lever arm perpendicular to the terminal bottom wall, fixed at one end to the terminal bottom wall, for example through a side wall.
  • the previous common female electrical and/or the male terminal is intended to be accommodated into an insulative body with a clearance.
  • the clearance compensates, if necessary, for a misalignment between the male electrical connector and the female electrical connector. In this way, the load induced by the misalignment is not transmitted to the insulative body, and thus the connector.
  • a first goal of the invention is to reduce the risk that the load be applied to the bodies of the connectors.
  • An other goal of the invention is to obtain a good pressure on the male terminal from both the terminal blade and the terminal bottom wall.
  • An other goal of the invention is to provide a female terminal with a low encumbrance.
  • An other goal of the invention is to provide a female terminal that can be made with a thin sheet of metal without jeopardizing the electrical contact quality.
  • An other goal of the invention is to provide a low cost female terminal, with a single material and a single piece of metal, and that is easy to manufacture in folding the piece metal.
  • an object of the invention is a female terminal according to claim 1.
  • figure 2 a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 1 ,
  • - figure 3 a three dimensional view of a partially folded female terminal according to a second embodiment of the invention
  • - figure 4 a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 3
  • FIG. 5 a three dimensional view of a partially folded female terminal according to a third embodiment of the invention
  • figure 6 a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 5
  • FIG. 7 a three dimensional view of a partially folded female terminal according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • figure 8 a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 7, and
  • figure 9 a three dimensional view of the female terminal of figure 1 with a wire connection system.
  • all plane elements i.e. blade, wall, plate, etc.
  • the female terminal 100 comprises a bottom plate 102 extending along a longitudinal axis XX', a first side plate 104A perpendicular to the bottom plate 102 and fixed to the bottom plate 102 by a first longitudinal edge 106A, and a second side plate 104B perpendicular to the bottom plate 102 and fixed to the bottom plate 102a by a second longitudinal edge 106B.
  • the bottom plate 102 and the first and second side plates 104A, 104B have together the shape of a gutter.
  • the first side plate 104A is represented in the same plane as the bottom plate 102, before being folded around the first longitudinal edge 106A, for coming into the position previously described.
  • the female terminal 100 further comprises first and second contact blades 108A, 108B extending along the longitudinal axis XX' above the bottom plate 102, between the two side plates 104A, 104B, facing the longitudinal median portion of the bottom plate 102.
  • Each contact blade 108A, 108B comprises a rear connecting portion 110A, 11 OB, a plane lever arm 112A, 112B having a rear end 114A, 114B fixed to the rear connecting portion 110A, 110B, and a contact head 116A, 116B fixed to a front end 118A, 118B of the arm lever 112A, 112B.
  • the plane lever arm 112A, 112B and the contact head 116A, 116B are free with respect to the bottom wall 120, i.e. they can move transversally with respect to the bottom wall 120.
  • the lever arm 112A, 112B is flexible, so that the contact blade 108A, 108 applies a desired contact pressure on the male terminal, which must be such that a good electrical contact is insured between the male and female terminals and in nay case this contact resistance must be less that the value of the usual specifications of the connector industry and more particularly of the automotive connector industry. Indeed, the connectors for the automotive connector industry are exposed to particularly severe vibrations.
  • the bottom plate 102 comprises a front portion forming a terminal bottom wall 120 extending along the longitudinal axis XX' and having a rear end 122.
  • the female terminal 100 further comprises a connecting base 123 connecting the rear end 122 of the terminal bottom wall 120 to the rear connecting portions 110A, 110B of the first and second contact blades 108A, 108B, so that a male terminal (not illustrated) can be clamped between the first and second contact blades 108A, 108B and the terminal bottom wall 120.
  • the connecting base 123 is designed for defining vertically the position of the connecting portions 110A,
  • the connecting base 123 comprises a connecting bottom wall 124 formed by a rear portion of the bottom plate 102 fixed to the rear end 122 of the terminal bottom wall 120, and first and second connecting side walls 126A, 126B formed by a rear portion of the side plates 104A, 104B.
  • the connecting base 123 further comprises first and second U-turns 128A, 128B respectively connecting the rear connecting portions 110A, 110B of the first and second contact blades 108A, 108B to upper edges 130A, 130B of the first and second connecting side walls 126A, 126B.
  • the female terminal 100 further comprises rigidifying means for rigidifying at least a portion of the terminal bottom wall 120 extending frontward from the rear end 122.
  • the rigidified portion comprises the whole terminal bottom wall 120. In this way, the rigidified portion of the bottom wall 120 extends until facing the contact heads 116A, 116B.
  • the rigidifying means are designed for rigidifying the terminal bottom wall 120 at least along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX' and going away from the contact blades 108A, 108B.
  • the rigidifying means comprise first and second rigidifying walls 132A,
  • a plane P transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis XX' is represented on figure 1. The plane P separates,
  • the lever arms 112A, 112B from the connecting rear portions 110A, 110B.
  • the contact blades 112A, 112B are free with respect to the bottom wall 120.
  • Each head 116A, 116B of the contact blades 108A, 108B comprises a respective lug 134A, 134B projecting towards the bottom wall 120.
  • the lugs 134A, 134B are each designed for coming into contact with the male terminal.
  • 134A, 134B comprises a rounded lower edge 136A, 136B facing the bottom wall
  • the bottom wall 120 comprises a plateau 138 facing the first and second lugs 134A, 134B.
  • the male terminal is intended to be clamped between the plateau 138 and the lugs 134A, 134B.
  • the female terminal further comprises first and second strengthening means for laterally (in a direction perpendicular to the rigidifying walls 132A, 132B) strengthening the rigidifying walls 132A, 132B.
  • each strengthening means comprises a respective longitudinal rib 140A, 140B projecting from the corresponding rigidifying wall 132A, 132B toward the respective contact blade 108A, 108B.
  • the female terminal 100 further comprises a sloping wall 142, located in front of the contact blades 108A, 108B.
  • the sloping wall 142 is angled rearward and toward the bottom wall 120, so as to guide the male terminal between the bottom wall 120 and the contact blades 108A, 108B.
  • the sloping wall 142 is fixed to the first rigidifying wall 108A.
  • the female terminal 100 further comprises a wire connection system 144 (See Figure 4 and partly illustrated on figures 1 , 3 and 5) intended to be connected to an electrical wire (not illustrated).
  • the wire connection system 144 is fixed to the rear of the bottom plate 102, i.e. to the rear of the bottom connecting wall 124.
  • the wire connection 144 system is adapted to be crimped to the electrical wire.
  • the female terminal 100 is manufactured from a single sheet of metal.
  • the male terminal is received from the front of the female terminal 100.
  • the male terminal is intended to be guided by the sloping wall 142 in order to be introduced between the plateau 138 and the lugs 134A, 134B.
  • the male terminal pushes vertically the contact heads 116A, 116B of the contact blades 108A, 108B and the terminal bottom wall 120, away from each other.
  • the contact blades 108A, 108B are elastically deformed in their planes and the contact heads 116A, 116B apply a first load to the male terminal.
  • the bottom wall 120 is also deformed and applies a second load to the male terminal. Thanks to the rigidifying walls 132A, 132B that strengthen the terminal bottom wall 120 (because they are deformed in their plane), the second load is equivalent to the first load.
  • a female terminal 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
  • the contact head 216B of the second contact blade 108B comprises a lug
  • the contact head 216A of the first contact blade 108A comprises a lug 218A comprising a bent part 222 forming a wall facing the bottom wall 120.
  • the bent part 222 extends below the second lug 218B, between the bottom wall 120 and the straight edge 220.
  • the female terminal 200 is manufactured from a single sheet of metal.
  • the operation of the female terminal 200 is similar to the operation of the female terminal 100, except that the male terminal is intended to come into contact with the bottom wall 120 and the bent part 220, which in turn leans on the straight edge 220 of the second lug 218B.
  • a female terminal 300 according to a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
  • the female terminal 300 differs essentially from the female terminal 100 of figure 1 , by the fact that there is no second contact blade but only the first contact blade. Also, the contact head of the first contact blade is modified and now have the numeral 316A, and there is no plateau.
  • the contact head 316A comprises a lug 318A projecting towards the bottom wall 120.
  • the lug 318A is intended to come into contact with the male terminal.
  • the lug 318A comprises a bent part 320 defining a plane face facing the terminal bottom wall 120.
  • the female terminal 300 comprises a sloping wall 322 located in front of the first lever wall.
  • the sloping wall 322 is angled rearward and toward the bottom wall 302.
  • the sloping wall 322 is fixed to the bent part 320.
  • the female terminal 300 comprises strengthening means for laterally (i.e. perpendicular to the second side plate) strengthening the second side plate, and in particular the second rigidifying wall 132B.
  • the strengthening means comprises a folded upper edge 340 on top of the second side plate 104B, the folded upper edge 340 being folded along the longitudinal axis towards the terminal bottom wall 120.
  • the bent part 320 of the contact head 316A extends below the folded upper edge 340, between the terminal bottom wall 120 and the folded upper edge 340 of the second side plate 104B.
  • the female terminal 300 is also manufactured from a single sheet of metal.
  • the operation of the female terminal 300 is similar to the operation of the female terminal 100.
  • a female terminal 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
  • the female terminal 300 and the female terminal 400 differ essentially from the contact head. Accordingly, same numerals are used on figures 7 and 8 than on figures 5 and 6, except for the contact head which now has the numeral 416A.
  • the contact head 416A comprises a lug 418A comprising a rounded lower edge 420A facing the terminal bottom wall 120, intended to guide the male terminal between the terminal bottom wall 120 and the lug 418A.
  • the female terminal 400 comprises strengthening means for strengthening the lever arm 112A during a flexion in its plane.
  • the strengthening means comprise for instance a folded bottom edge 450 on the bottom of the lever arm 112A of the first contact blade 108A, folded along the longitudinal axis XX'.
  • the female terminal 400 is also manufactured from a single sheet of metal.
  • the operation of the female terminal 400 is similar to the operation of the female terminal 100.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

The female terminal comprises a terminal bottom wall (120) and a first contact blade (108A) extending above the terminal bottom wall (120). The first contact blade has a plane lever arm (112A) perpendicular to the terminal bottom wall (120). A male terminal is intended to be clamped between the contact blade (108A) and the terminal bottom wall (120). The female terminal further comprises rigidifying means (132A, 132B) for hgidifying, along a rigidification direction perpendicular to the terminal bottom wall (120) and going away from the contact blade (108A), at least a portion of the bottom wall (120) extending frontward from the rear end (122).

Description

Female terminal
The present invention relates to a female terminal intended to accommodate a male terminal, for an electrical connection. A common female terminal comprises a terminal bottom wall and a contact blade extending above the terminal bottom wall. The contact blade comprises a plane lever arm perpendicular to the terminal bottom wall, fixed at one end to the terminal bottom wall, for example through a side wall.
Such a female terminal is described in the patent publication US 4, 918, 813.
The previous common female electrical and/or the male terminal is intended to be accommodated into an insulative body with a clearance. The clearance compensates, if necessary, for a misalignment between the male electrical connector and the female electrical connector. In this way, the load induced by the misalignment is not transmitted to the insulative body, and thus the connector.
The previous arrangement requires an equilibrium of the forces applied to the male terminal, and in particular the forces applied by the terminal blade and the terminal bottom wall.
However, the terminal bottom wall is stressed in its plane, while the terminal blade is stressed perpendicularly to its plane, so that the force applied by the terminal bottom wall is less important than the force applied by the terminal blade. There is therefore a risk that the load caused by the misalignment of the male electrical connector and the female electrical connector be applied to the bodies of the connectors. A first goal of the invention is to reduce the risk that the load be applied to the bodies of the connectors.
An other goal of the invention is to obtain a good pressure on the male terminal from both the terminal blade and the terminal bottom wall.
An other goal of the invention is to provide a female terminal with a low encumbrance.
An other goal of the invention is to provide a female terminal that can be made with a thin sheet of metal without jeopardizing the electrical contact quality. An other goal of the invention is to provide a low cost female terminal, with a single material and a single piece of metal, and that is easy to manufacture in folding the piece metal.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is a female terminal according to claim 1.
Other features of the invention are set forth in dependent claims 2 to 17.
These features of the invention, and others, will be apparent in the following description of four preferred embodiments of the invention. The description refers to the accompanying drawings which represent: - figure 1 : a three dimensional view of a partially folded female terminal according to a first embodiment of the invention,
- figure 2: a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 1 ,
- figure 3: a three dimensional view of a partially folded female terminal according to a second embodiment of the invention, - figure 4: a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 3,
- figure 5: a three dimensional view of a partially folded female terminal according to a third embodiment of the invention,
- figure 6: a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 5,
- figure 7: a three dimensional view of a partially folded female terminal according to a fourth embodiment of the invention,
- figure 8: a cross section view of the female terminal of figure 7, and
- figure 9: a three dimensional view of the female terminal of figure 1 with a wire connection system.
In the following description and claims, the terms "bottom", "above", etc. are used for clarity reason. However, these terms are not intended to be interpreted in a restrictive manner, and may refer to any arbitrary direction considered as the vertical direction.
In the following description, all plane elements (i.e. blade, wall, plate, etc.) have a thickness smaller than the two other dimensions. First embodiment
Referring to figures 1 and 2, a female terminal 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In its final shape the female terminal 100 comprises a bottom plate 102 extending along a longitudinal axis XX', a first side plate 104A perpendicular to the bottom plate 102 and fixed to the bottom plate 102 by a first longitudinal edge 106A, and a second side plate 104B perpendicular to the bottom plate 102 and fixed to the bottom plate 102a by a second longitudinal edge 106B. The bottom plate 102 and the first and second side plates 104A, 104B have together the shape of a gutter.
It should be noted that, on figure 1 , the first side plate 104A is represented in the same plane as the bottom plate 102, before being folded around the first longitudinal edge 106A, for coming into the position previously described.
The female terminal 100 further comprises first and second contact blades 108A, 108B extending along the longitudinal axis XX' above the bottom plate 102, between the two side plates 104A, 104B, facing the longitudinal median portion of the bottom plate 102. Each contact blade 108A, 108B comprises a rear connecting portion 110A, 11 OB, a plane lever arm 112A, 112B having a rear end 114A, 114B fixed to the rear connecting portion 110A, 110B, and a contact head 116A, 116B fixed to a front end 118A, 118B of the arm lever 112A, 112B.
The plane lever arm 112A, 112B and the contact head 116A, 116B are free with respect to the bottom wall 120, i.e. they can move transversally with respect to the bottom wall 120. The lever arm 112A, 112B is flexible, so that the contact blade 108A, 108 applies a desired contact pressure on the male terminal, which must be such that a good electrical contact is insured between the male and female terminals and in nay case this contact resistance must be less that the value of the usual specifications of the connector industry and more particularly of the automotive connector industry. Indeed, the connectors for the automotive connector industry are exposed to particularly severe vibrations.
The bottom plate 102 comprises a front portion forming a terminal bottom wall 120 extending along the longitudinal axis XX' and having a rear end 122.
The female terminal 100 further comprises a connecting base 123 connecting the rear end 122 of the terminal bottom wall 120 to the rear connecting portions 110A, 110B of the first and second contact blades 108A, 108B, so that a male terminal (not illustrated) can be clamped between the first and second contact blades 108A, 108B and the terminal bottom wall 120. The connecting base 123 is designed for defining vertically the position of the connecting portions 110A,
110B of the contact blades 108A, 108 with respect to the rear end 122 of the bottom wall 120.
The connecting base 123 comprises a connecting bottom wall 124 formed by a rear portion of the bottom plate 102 fixed to the rear end 122 of the terminal bottom wall 120, and first and second connecting side walls 126A, 126B formed by a rear portion of the side plates 104A, 104B. The connecting base 123 further comprises first and second U-turns 128A, 128B respectively connecting the rear connecting portions 110A, 110B of the first and second contact blades 108A, 108B to upper edges 130A, 130B of the first and second connecting side walls 126A, 126B.
The female terminal 100 further comprises rigidifying means for rigidifying at least a portion of the terminal bottom wall 120 extending frontward from the rear end 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the rigidified portion comprises the whole terminal bottom wall 120. In this way, the rigidified portion of the bottom wall 120 extends until facing the contact heads 116A, 116B.
The rigidifying means are designed for rigidifying the terminal bottom wall 120 at least along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX' and going away from the contact blades 108A, 108B. The rigidifying means comprise first and second rigidifying walls 132A,
132B formed by respective front portions of the side plates 104A, 104B. The rigidifying walls 132A, 132B therefore extend perpendicular to the bottom wall 120 frontward from the connecting walls 126A, 126B, and are linked to the bottom wall 120 and to the connecting walls 126A, 126B. A plane P transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis XX' is represented on figure 1. The plane P separates,
- on the bottom plate 102, the bottom connecting wall 124 from the terminal bottom wall 120,
- on the side plates 104A, 104B, the connecting side walls 126A, 126B from the rigidifying walls 132A, 132B, and,
- on the contact blades 108A, 108B, the lever arms 112A, 112B from the connecting rear portions 110A, 110B. In front of the plane P, the contact blades 112A, 112B are free with respect to the bottom wall 120.
Each head 116A, 116B of the contact blades 108A, 108B comprises a respective lug 134A, 134B projecting towards the bottom wall 120. The lugs 134A, 134B are each designed for coming into contact with the male terminal. Each lug
134A, 134B comprises a rounded lower edge 136A, 136B facing the bottom wall
102.
The bottom wall 120 comprises a plateau 138 facing the first and second lugs 134A, 134B. The male terminal is intended to be clamped between the plateau 138 and the lugs 134A, 134B.
The female terminal further comprises first and second strengthening means for laterally (in a direction perpendicular to the rigidifying walls 132A, 132B) strengthening the rigidifying walls 132A, 132B. In the illustrated embodiment, each strengthening means comprises a respective longitudinal rib 140A, 140B projecting from the corresponding rigidifying wall 132A, 132B toward the respective contact blade 108A, 108B.
The female terminal 100 further comprises a sloping wall 142, located in front of the contact blades 108A, 108B. The sloping wall 142 is angled rearward and toward the bottom wall 120, so as to guide the male terminal between the bottom wall 120 and the contact blades 108A, 108B. The sloping wall 142 is fixed to the first rigidifying wall 108A.
The female terminal 100 further comprises a wire connection system 144 (See Figure 4 and partly illustrated on figures 1 , 3 and 5) intended to be connected to an electrical wire (not illustrated). The wire connection system 144 is fixed to the rear of the bottom plate 102, i.e. to the rear of the bottom connecting wall 124.
For example, as illustrated on figure 9, the wire connection 144 system is adapted to be crimped to the electrical wire.
The female terminal 100 is manufactured from a single sheet of metal. In operation, the male terminal is received from the front of the female terminal 100. The male terminal is intended to be guided by the sloping wall 142 in order to be introduced between the plateau 138 and the lugs 134A, 134B. During the introduction, the male terminal pushes vertically the contact heads 116A, 116B of the contact blades 108A, 108B and the terminal bottom wall 120, away from each other. The contact blades 108A, 108B are elastically deformed in their planes and the contact heads 116A, 116B apply a first load to the male terminal. On the other hand, the bottom wall 120 is also deformed and applies a second load to the male terminal. Thanks to the rigidifying walls 132A, 132B that strengthen the terminal bottom wall 120 (because they are deformed in their plane), the second load is equivalent to the first load.
Second embodiment
Referring to figures 3 and 4, a female terminal 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
Only the contact heads differ between the female terminal 200 and the female terminal 100, and there is no plateau. Accordingly, the same references are used on figures 3 and 4 than on figures 1 and 2, except for the contact heads lugs which now have the numerals 216A, 216B. The contact head 216B of the second contact blade 108B comprises a lug
218B having a straight lower edge 236 facing the bottom wall 102. The contact head 216A of the first contact blade 108A comprises a lug 218A comprising a bent part 222 forming a wall facing the bottom wall 120. The bent part 222 extends below the second lug 218B, between the bottom wall 120 and the straight edge 220.
The female terminal 200 is manufactured from a single sheet of metal.
The operation of the female terminal 200 is similar to the operation of the female terminal 100, except that the male terminal is intended to come into contact with the bottom wall 120 and the bent part 220, which in turn leans on the straight edge 220 of the second lug 218B.
Third embodiment
Referring to figures 5 and 6, a female terminal 300 according to a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
The female terminal 300 differs essentially from the female terminal 100 of figure 1 , by the fact that there is no second contact blade but only the first contact blade. Also, the contact head of the first contact blade is modified and now have the numeral 316A, and there is no plateau. The contact head 316A comprises a lug 318A projecting towards the bottom wall 120. The lug 318A is intended to come into contact with the male terminal. The lug 318A comprises a bent part 320 defining a plane face facing the terminal bottom wall 120. Instead of the sloping wall 142, the female terminal 300 comprises a sloping wall 322 located in front of the first lever wall. The sloping wall 322 is angled rearward and toward the bottom wall 302. The sloping wall 322 is fixed to the bent part 320.
Instead of the second contact blade, the female terminal 300 comprises strengthening means for laterally (i.e. perpendicular to the second side plate) strengthening the second side plate, and in particular the second rigidifying wall 132B. The strengthening means comprises a folded upper edge 340 on top of the second side plate 104B, the folded upper edge 340 being folded along the longitudinal axis towards the terminal bottom wall 120. The bent part 320 of the contact head 316A extends below the folded upper edge 340, between the terminal bottom wall 120 and the folded upper edge 340 of the second side plate 104B.
The female terminal 300 is also manufactured from a single sheet of metal.
The operation of the female terminal 300 is similar to the operation of the female terminal 100.
Fourth embodiment
Referring to figures 7 and 8, a female terminal 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
The female terminal 300 and the female terminal 400 differ essentially from the contact head. Accordingly, same numerals are used on figures 7 and 8 than on figures 5 and 6, except for the contact head which now has the numeral 416A.
The contact head 416A comprises a lug 418A comprising a rounded lower edge 420A facing the terminal bottom wall 120, intended to guide the male terminal between the terminal bottom wall 120 and the lug 418A. Furthermore, the female terminal 400 comprises strengthening means for strengthening the lever arm 112A during a flexion in its plane. The strengthening means comprise for instance a folded bottom edge 450 on the bottom of the lever arm 112A of the first contact blade 108A, folded along the longitudinal axis XX'. The female terminal 400 is also manufactured from a single sheet of metal.
The operation of the female terminal 400 is similar to the operation of the female terminal 100.

Claims

1. Female terminal, comprising: a terminal bottom wall (120) having a rear end (122), a first contact blade (108A) extending above the terminal bottom wall (120), comprising a rear connecting portion (110A) and a plane lever arm (112A) perpendicular to the terminal bottom wall (120), the plane lever arm (112A) having a rear end (114A) fixed to the rear connecting portion (110A), the contact blade (108A) and the terminal bottom wall (120) being intended to clamp a male terminal between them, a connecting base (123) connecting the rear end (122) of the contact bottom (120) wall to the rear connecting portion (110A) of the first contact blade (108A), and rigidifying means (132A, 132B) for hgidifying, along a rigidification direction perpendicular to the terminal bottom wall (120) and going away from the contact blade (108A), at least a portion of the bottom wall (120) extending frontward from the rear end (122).
2. Female terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact blade (108A) comprises a contact head (116A; 216A; 316A; 416A) for contacting the male terminal, fixed to front end (118A) of the lever arm (108A), and wherein the rigidified portion of the bottom wall (120) extends from the rear end up to the contact head (116A; 216A; 316A; 416A).
3. Female terminal according to claim 2, wherein the bottom wall (120) comprises a plateau (138) for contacting the male terminal, facing the contact head (116A) of the first contact blade (108A).
4. Female terminal according to any one of claim 1 to 3, wherein the rigidifying means (132A, 132B) comprise a first rigidifying wall (132A) extending perpendicular to the bottom wall (120) and fixed to the bottom wall (120).
5. Female terminal according to claim 4, wherein the first contact blade
(108A) faces the first rigidifying wall (132A).
6. Female terminal according to claim 5, further comprising strengthening means (140A) for strengthening the first rigidifying wall (132A) in a direction perpendicular to its plane.
7. Female terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a bottom plate (102), wherein the terminal bottom wall (120) is formed by a front portion of the bottom plate (102), and wherein the connecting base (123) comprises a connecting bottom wall (124) formed by a rear portion of the bottom plate (102), and a first connecting side wall (126A) extending perpendicular to the connecting bottom wall (124) and fixed to the connecting bottom wall (124).
8. Female terminal according to claim 7, wherein the first contact blade (108A) is directly linked to an upper edge (130A) of the first connecting side wall (126A).
9. Female terminal according to claim 8, further comprising a first U-turn (128A) connecting the first contact blade (108A) to the upper edge (130A) of the first connecting side wall (126A).
10. Female terminal according to any one of claims 4 to 6 and any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising: a first side plate (104A) extending perpendicular to the bottom plate (102), wherein the first connecting side wall (126A) is formed by a rear portion of the first side plate (104A), and wherein the first rigidifying wall (132A) is formed by a front portion of the first side plate (104A).
11. Female terminal according to claim 10, wherein the first side plate (104A) is fixed to a first edge (106A) of the bottom plate (102), further comprising a second side plate (104B) extending perpendicular to the bottom plate (102) and parallel to the first side plate (104A), the second side plate (104B) being fixed to a second opposite edge (106B) of the bottom plate (102), wherein the bottom plate (102) and the first and second side plates (104A,
104B) have together the shape of a gutter, wherein the rigidifying means (132A, 132B) further comprise a second rigidifying wall (132B) formed by a front portion of the second side plate.
12. Female terminal according to claim 10, further comprising a rigidifying means (340) for strengthening the second rigidifying wall (132B) in a direction perpendicular to its plane.
13. Female terminal according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the connecting base (123) further comprises a second connecting side wall (126B) formed by a rear portion of the second side plate (104B), further comprising a second contact blade (108B) extending above the terminal bottom wall (120), the second contact blade (108B) comprising a plane lever arm (112B) perpendicular to the terminal bottom wall (120), and a rear connecting portion (110B) fixed to a rear end of the lever arm, wherein the connecting base (123) connects the rear end (122) of the terminal bottom wall to the rear connecting portions (110A, 110B) of the first and second contact blades (108A, 108B), wherein the male terminal is intended to be clamped between the contact blades (108A, 108B) and the terminal bottom wall (120).
14. Female terminal according to claim 2 and any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the contact head (216A; 316A) of the first contact blade comprises a bent part (220; 320) defining a plane face facing the bottom wall.
15. Female terminal according to claim 14, wherein the second contact blade comprises a contact head (216B) for contacting the male terminal, fixed to front end (118B) of the lever arm (112B), and wherein the bent part (222) extends below the contact head (216B) of the second contact head, between the bottom wall and the head of the second contact blade.
16. Female terminal according to claim 10 and claim 14, where the rigidifying means comprises a folded upper edge (340) of the second rigidifying wall (132B), and wherein the bent part (320) of the contact head of the first contact blade extends below the folded upper edge, between the bottom wall (120) and the folded upper edge (340).
17. Female terminal according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first contact blade (108A) comprises a rigidifying means (450) for strengthening the lever arm (112A) during a flexion in its plane.
PCT/IB2008/054471 2008-08-08 2008-08-08 Female terminal WO2010015894A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08875843A EP2311149A1 (en) 2008-08-08 2008-08-08 Female terminal
PCT/IB2008/054471 WO2010015894A1 (en) 2008-08-08 2008-08-08 Female terminal
CN2008801306731A CN102119470A (en) 2008-08-08 2008-08-08 Female terminal

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2008/054471 WO2010015894A1 (en) 2008-08-08 2008-08-08 Female terminal

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010015894A1 true WO2010015894A1 (en) 2010-02-11

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2008/054471 WO2010015894A1 (en) 2008-08-08 2008-08-08 Female terminal

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2311149A1 (en)
CN (1) CN102119470A (en)
WO (1) WO2010015894A1 (en)

Cited By (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015081986A1 (en) * 2013-12-03 2015-06-11 Fci Asia Pte.Ltd Connector and pin receiving contact for such a connector
JP2016046194A (en) * 2014-08-26 2016-04-04 目黒設計合同会社 Female terminal fitting
EP3163681A1 (en) * 2015-10-27 2017-05-03 Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.à r.l. Electrical terminal for a female connector and a method to manufacture the same
US9831587B2 (en) 2015-10-27 2017-11-28 Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L. Electrical terminal for a female connector
US9972932B2 (en) 2013-08-19 2018-05-15 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector with high retention force
US10230178B2 (en) 2013-06-07 2019-03-12 Amphenol Fci Asia Pte Ltd Cable connector
US11228130B2 (en) 2018-03-16 2022-01-18 Fci Usa Llc High density electrical connectors

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US4061406A (en) * 1974-08-28 1977-12-06 Amp Incorporated High current carrying connector
US7033194B1 (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-04-25 Yazaki North America, Inc. Standardized electrical terminal

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US3634811A (en) * 1968-09-23 1972-01-11 Amp Inc Hermaphroditic connector assembly
US3842391A (en) * 1972-08-30 1974-10-15 Amp Inc Electrical connector tab receptacle
US4061406A (en) * 1974-08-28 1977-12-06 Amp Incorporated High current carrying connector
US7033194B1 (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-04-25 Yazaki North America, Inc. Standardized electrical terminal

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10230178B2 (en) 2013-06-07 2019-03-12 Amphenol Fci Asia Pte Ltd Cable connector
US9972932B2 (en) 2013-08-19 2018-05-15 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector with high retention force
WO2015081986A1 (en) * 2013-12-03 2015-06-11 Fci Asia Pte.Ltd Connector and pin receiving contact for such a connector
US10230189B2 (en) 2013-12-03 2019-03-12 Amphenol Fci Asia Pte Ltd Connector and pin receiving contact for such a connector
US10879639B2 (en) 2013-12-03 2020-12-29 Amphenol Fci Asia Pte. Ltd. Connector and pin receiving contact for such a connector
JP2016046194A (en) * 2014-08-26 2016-04-04 目黒設計合同会社 Female terminal fitting
EP3163681A1 (en) * 2015-10-27 2017-05-03 Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.à r.l. Electrical terminal for a female connector and a method to manufacture the same
US9831587B2 (en) 2015-10-27 2017-11-28 Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L. Electrical terminal for a female connector
US9831585B2 (en) 2015-10-27 2017-11-28 Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.A.R.L. Electrical terminal for a female connector and a method to manufacture the same
US11228130B2 (en) 2018-03-16 2022-01-18 Fci Usa Llc High density electrical connectors
US11870176B2 (en) 2018-03-16 2024-01-09 Fci Usa Llc High density electrical connectors

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102119470A (en) 2011-07-06
EP2311149A1 (en) 2011-04-20

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