WO2012069499A1

WO2012069499A1 - Electrical terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2012069499A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/070723
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steffen Mueller
Original assignee: Fci Automotive Holding
Priority date: 2010-11-23
Filing date: 2011-11-22
Publication date: 2012-05-31

Abstract

Electrical terminal (100) comprising a mating portion (200) having an essentially box shape form with four walls (201, 202, 203, 204) which are folded from a piece of sheet metal. The two walls (201, 202) with an open edge are provided respectively with a latching tongue (301) and a latching recess (302), the respective dimension of which are dimensioned so that the latching tongue (301) can be fixed inside said latching recess (302) by a snap-fitting interaction of the latching tongue (301).

Description

Electrical terminal

I. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an improved electrical terminal, which preferably produced from a single piece of sheet metal.

II. Technical Background

Electrical terminals are commonly used for the termination and connection of cables in various fields of applications. Therefore, such terminals have to be cheap and easily producible in mass production.

Document US 5,658,175 describes a typical prior art electrical terminal. This document describes to produce the electrical terminal by first stamping and bending all necessary terminal features into a sheet metal blank before bending the blank into the final shape. The open edges of the sheet metal blank which upon bending the terminal shape come into mutual contact are joined either by welding or brazing. An improved way for joining the open edges of a sheet metal piece is described in the document WO2011077190 for the example of a cylindrical electrical terminal. The electrical terminal described in this document is provided with an additional and separate spring-cage to increase the mechanical stability of the terminal. The spring cage has a cylindrical shape which is closed with a particular edge joining mechanism: in addition to a weld or braze joint as described above, the edges of the sheet metal blank are additionally provided with a locking tongue and a locking recess, respectively. Upon rolling the spring element, these locking members are connected form-fittingly, similar to the connection of puzzle pieces. When connected, these locking members are arranged in a common, curved plane which essentially follows the cylinder surface of the cage and their connection mainly counteracts forces which act in directions within this plane. Such a specialized locking mechanism is well suited to provide a high mechanical stability - but it is relatively expensive to produce and thus its use is limited to certain applications justifying such a cost.

The document WO 2011067632 describes a one-piece electrical terminal which can be produced without the need for welding or brazing. This terminal is folded from a piece of sheet metal into a four-wall box-shape and it is provided with locking members which allow connecting the open edges of the sheet metal piece to close the box-shape: one of the open edges has a locking tongue and the other open edge has a locking recess. This recess is essentially a hole in the corresponding wall of the box- shape, formed near the border of the open edge. Upon folding the box shape, the locking tongue of the first wall is inserted into this hole and thereafter is bent around the edge of the hole. Thereby, a secure mechanical connection of two walls of the box-shape at their joining edge is provided which prevents "unfolding" of the box- shape without the need for welding or brazing operations. However, because the locking tongue needs to be inserted into the corresponding hole relatively precisely, a risk of producing defective parts remains.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved locking members for an essentially box-shaped electrical terminal which facilitate the folding process, thereby reducing the number of defective parts produced upon folding the electrical terminal. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an essentially box-shaped electrical terminal which can be used without any additional holding cage or spring element and which can be produced with a reduced number of welding points as compared to the prior art and preferably without any welding points. Further it is an object of the present invention to achieve all the advantages with an inexpensive product which can preferably be made from a single piece of sheet metal.

These and other objects which will become apparent upon reading the following description are solved by an electrical terminal according to claim 1.

III. Summary of the invention According to the invention, an electrical terminal is provided which comprises a mating portion which is adapted to connect the terminal to a corresponding counter terminal. The mating portion comprises at least four walls which are folded from a piece of sheet metal into an essentially box-shaped form. Thereby, pairs of adjacent walls are arranged essentially perpendicular with respect to each other forming a cylinder with an essentially rectangular cross-section. It should be noted that this four-wall box-shaped embodiment is not strictly limiting to the invention and the mating portion can comprise more than exactly four walls and the mating portion can comprise e.g. a polygonal cross section. It is also important to note that the term "essentially perpendicular" as used herein is not limited to the mathematical 90° angle. For example, in embodiments with more than four walls the angle between adjacent walls can be more than 90°. However, also in the case of a four wall embodiment, the angle can differ from this mathematical angle due to manufacturing tolerances. Therefore, the term "box-shaped" in the context of the present invention only excludes round shapes for which it is no longer possible to define an angle between adjacent walls at all.

According to the invention the mating portion comprises at least three edges and at least one joining edge. The edges result from bending e.g. a piece of sheet metal into an essentially box-shaped form. Upon forming the box-shape, two edges of the former unbent piece of sheet metal meet and form the joining edge of the box-shape. The two walls of the box-shape which form the joining edge are in the following referred to as a first wall and a second wall and their corresponding open edges which form the joining edge are referred to as a first open edge and a second open edge, respectively.

According to the invention, the first open edge comprises at least one latching tongue which extends from the first open edge in a plane essentially parallel to the first wall. The second open edge comprises at least one corresponding latching recess which is cut inwardly into the boundary of the second open edge, thereby changing this boundary shape, and further comprises an effective opening which is dimensioned such that it is less wide than an effective width of the latching tongue. Thereby, "effective width" is the width of a portion of the latching tongue which portion interacts with the latching recess upon inserting the latching tongue into said latching recess to provide the mechanical fastening. The "effective opening" is the corresponding portion of the latching recess which interacts with said portion of the latching tongue.

Preferably, the latching tongue can be fixed/fastened inside said latching recess by a snap-fitting interaction of the tongue with at least one latching element of the latching recess. For example, during insertion of the latching tongue into the latching recess, the latching tongue interacts with the latching element so that first the latching element is bent - thereby opening the latching recess - and when the latching tongue is inserted into the latching recess the latching element "snaps" back - essentially to its former position - and holds the latching tongue inside the latching recess.

The above described locking elements - the latching tongue and the latching recess - provide an advantageous locking mechanism: because they are provided at the open edges, it is possible that for example upon the last step of folding the box-shape of the mating portion - when first and second wall come into mutual contact - the latching tongue quasi automatically is inserted ("snapped") - into the latching recess and held therein by the latching element. Additionally, in contrast e.g. to form-fitting locking elements which are provided in a common plane as described in the introduction, due to the snap-fitting mechanism and their geometry, their connection resists "unfolding forces" even if no welding points are provided. Depending on the used material, most preferably no welding points are required. However, some welding points may be added to the connection to further improve its stability.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the latching tongue can be fastened inside the latching recess without bending the latching tongue around an edge which is essentially parallel to the first open edge. Due to the inventive locking mechanism the latching tongue can be fixed inside the latching recess upon folding the box-shape as described above - no extra bending or locking steps are needed. However, if this is desired for additional fastening, the latching tongue can also be bent e.g. around the second open edge. Preferably, the latching tongue is fixed inside the latching recess after being moved towards the latching recess in a direction essentially parallel to the plane of the second wall. For example, the latching tongue can be fixed inside the latching recess after bending the first wall towards the second wall essentially around the edge of the first wall with its adjacent wall - which in a four- wall box-shaped embodiment essentially opposes the second wall. This bending operation for example moves the first wall - at least shortly before first and second walls touch - essentially parallel to the second wall.

Preferably the latching tongue comprises at least one beveled edge such that the insertion of the latching tongue into the latching recess is facilitated. To facilitate the insertion of the latching tongue into the latching recess, the latching tongue can for example be tapered, such that its side which faces the insertion direction is less wide than the side which opposes the insertion direction.

The above mentioned last step of folding the box-shape of the mating portion can e.g. be bending the first wall into a plane essentially perpendicular to the second wall. Thereby, the two walls come into mutual contact and the latching tongue is fixed inside the latching recess. Preferably, by fixing the latching tongue inside the latching recess a connection of the first wall and the second wall is established which prevents a bending of the first wall away from the second open edge in a direction essentially perpendicular to the plane of the first wall - in other words the connection prevents an undoing of said last step.

As mentioned above, prior to the snap fitting of the latching tongue into the latching recess, the effective opening of the latching recess is less wide than the effective width of the latching tongue to allow for the snap-fitting interaction of the inventive locking elements. Thereby, it is important that the effective width of the latching tongue is not too small - because in this case, the latching tongue could not be inserted into the latching recess at all - nor should it be too big - because in this case it would not hold inside the latching recess. Preferably, the effective opening of the latching recess is less wide than the effective width of the latching tongue by 0.01 mm to 0.15 mm, preferably 0.02 mm to 0.1 mm, more preferably 0.02 mm to 0.08 mm, yet even more preferably 0.03 mm to 0.07 mm and most preferably 0.04 mm to 0.06 mm. For example, if the effective width of the latching tongue is 1.25 mm, and the effective opening of the latching recess is 1.2 mm, the ratio 1.2/1.25 is 0.96 and thereby, the effective opening of the latching recess is smaller than the effective width of the latching tongue by 4 %. Of course, apart from the mentioned examples, the optimal ratio of effective opening and effective width depends also on the material chosen for the corresponding locking elements.

In a preferred embodiment the at least one latching element is an essentially tooth- shaped latching member which is formed essentially by a portion of the boundary of the latching recess and a portion of an inner edge of the latching recess. For example, the latching recess can be cut inwardly into the boundary of the second open edge forming an essentially bay-shaped recess. Thereby, bay-shaped means that the recess is cut into the boundary of the second open edge so that the recess broadens inwardly. Such a cut e.g. results in a more or less sharp angle between the edge of the boundary and the inner edge of the recess, thus forming the essentially tooth shaped latching member. The tooth shaped latching member preferably has a certain degree of flexibility to allow bending upon insertion of the latching tongue into the latching recess and to snap back when the latching tongue is fully inserted, whereby the latching tongue is fixed inside the latching recess. For example, for the provision of a tooth shaped latching member it is preferred that the at least one latching recess is not U-shaped, but rather bay-shaped as described. It should be noted, that in different preferred embodiments of course also the latching tongue can be flexible to facilitate the snap-fitting interaction.

In a preferred embodiment, the latching recess comprises at least one further, essentially round recess. Preferably the latching recess has the form of a stretched W. For example, the latching recess can be cut into the boundary of the second open edge so that the latching recess comprises two essentially tooth shaped latching elements which point towards each other and the latching recess broadens in a direction inwardly into the plane of the second wall. In this example the latching recess further comprises two essentially round recesses in between which the latching recess comprises a tongue which tongue extends essentially parallel to the second wall. Thereby, the latching recess is shaped essentially like a W, whereby the central part of the W is broadened, forming said tongue.

In a preferred embodiment, the latching recess is structurally weakened in order to facilitate insertion of the latching tongue into the latching recess. In other words, the latching recess is designed so that it can flexibly react to the insertion of the latching tongue. Then, upon insertion of the tongue, the recess first flexibly widens to allow for relatively soft the insertion of the tongue, which at the same time protects tongue and recess from getting damaged. The structural weakening of the latching recess can for example be achieved by providing the open edge of the second wall with at least one weakening portion which can for example be provided nearby the latching recess. Preferably, this weakening portion can be provided in form of a weakening cut-out or recess. Similarly, indentations or cuts into the material as well as flexible folding or bending portions can be provided aside of the latching recess.

Preferably, the open edge of the second wall is provided with at least one latching protrusion. This latching protrusion serves for holding the latching tongue inside the latching recess. Advantageously, the latching protrusion can be provided in between said weakening portion, i.e. said weakening recess, and the latching recess. In the case of the above described W-shaped embodiment of the latching recess, said latching protrusion can for example be one of the outer legs of the W.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the latching tongue into the latching recess the latching recess can structurally be weakened as described above, or alternatively the latching tongue can be weakened (of course a combination of the two is also possible). In order to structurally weaken the latching tongue, the latching tongue is preferably provided with a weakening member, such as preferably a clearance cut into the latching tongue. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art to apply further or different weakening measures to the latching tongue. Such further measures can be for example the provision of a kink or a bent portion, etc.

The invention further provides a method for manufacturing an electrical terminal as described above, whereby in one step at least one band of sheet metal for the production of the electrical terminal is provided and in a further step the necessary features are stamped into the at least one sheet as needed to produce the electrical terminal. Then, the sheet metal parts are folded into the desired shape and the electrical terminal is cut from the at least one band of sheet metal. Additional steps in between the mentioned steps are not excluded such as for example the provision of one or more welding points to further increase the stability of the connection, however, upon folding the box-shape the latching tongue is fixed inside the latching recess by a snap-fitting interaction of the latching tongue with at least one latching element of the latching recess.

Further, the invention provides an electrical connector arrangement, comprising at least one first electrical terminal as described before and an at least one corresponding connector housing.

IV. Description of the preferred embodiments

In the following, the invention is exemplarily described with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a prior art terminal assembly (disclosed in WO 2011067632);

Figures 2A and 2B show the electrical terminal according to the invention in two different perspective view examples; Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show schematic detail views of the inventive locking elements;

Figure 4 shows a blank part of the inventive terminal before bending; Figure 5 shows a different preferred embodiment of a mating portion of an electrical terminal according to the invention;

Figures 6A and 6B show a blank part of the mating portion of Figure 5 from two different sides;

Figure 7 shows a further different embodiment of a mating portion of an electrical terminal according to the invention; and Figure 8 shows the mating portion of Figure 7 from a different perspective.

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a newly developed terminal 100' being coupled via a contact lance 400 to a prior art terminal 500. The terminal 100' is described in detail in the document WO 2011067632. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the terminal 100' serves as a female terminal, i.e. a terminal adapted to receive a contact lance upon coupling, however, it may also function as a male terminal, namely if the contact lance 400 is initially provided in the terminal 100'. Typically such terminals are used with cables having diameters in the range from less than 1 mm up to a few mm (for low power applications) to tens of mm (for high power applications). Thereby, the corresponding terminals typically have a size of a few cm in length and a few mm in width. The terminals can have a length of 5 mm to 100 mm, preferably of 8 mm to 80 mm, more preferably of 9 mm to 50 mm and most preferably of 10 mm to 20 mm. Further, the terminals can have a width of 0.1 mm to 5 mm, preferably of 0.1 mm to 4 mm, more preferably of 0.2 mm to 3 mm and most preferably of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Reference numbers 101 ' and 501 denote cables attached to the terminals. The terminal 100' comprises crimping wings 102' being bent over the insulation of cable 101 ' and further crimping elements 109' directly contacting the conductive part of the cable 10 . However, other means for mounting the cable 101 ' are also possible, as for example welding. The terminal further comprises a mating portion 200' with a four-wall box shape which is bent from a single piece of sheet metal (of any appropriate conductive material, e.g. aluminum, copper, steel and their respective alloys).

Figures 2A and 2B show the inventive electrical terminal 100 which is a further development of the terminal 100'. In these figures, the electrical terminal 100 is connected to a guiding portion 700 which serves for guiding the terminal 100 through the production line and is cut off at a later stage of the production process. Similar to the terminal 100', the electrical terminal 100 has a mating portion 200 and crimping elements 109, 102.

As one can derive from Figs. 2A and 2B, the mating portion 200 is made from a first wall 201, a second wall 202, a third wall 203 (only visible in Fig. 4 due to the perspective of the figures) and a fourth wall 204. The walls are bent from a piece of sheet metal into an essentially box-shaped form. Thereby, edges line are formed between first wall 201 and fourth wall 204, fourth wall 204 and third wall 203, third wall 203 and second wall 202. An example for such an edge line is marked with reference numeral 205 in Fig. 2B. Upon folding the box-shape, first wall 201 and second wall 202 come into mutual contact at the joining edge 305 and are connected to each other by the inventive locking elements 300, which are described in more detail in the context of Figs. 3A to 3C below. From Fig. 2A one can further derive an additional locking mechanism: from the free edge of the first wall 201 an additional locking tongue 209 (see also Fig. 4) protrudes in a plane essentially parallel to the first wall 201 and is inserted into a corresponding aperture 210 in the second wall and provides an additional fastening for the box-shape.

In Fig. 3A, one can see the joining edge 305 of the mating portion in assembled condition in which the first wall 201 and the second wall 202 are fixed to each other by the inventive locking elements 300. Figure 3B is a top view of the inventive locking elements 300 in non-assembled condition, i.e. when the walls are not bent as a three-dimensional box shape but are in a same plane as also shown e.g. in Fig. 4. In this top view, one can see that the first wall is provided with a latching tongue 301 extending from the first open edge 211 and the second wall 202 is provided with a corresponding latching recess 302. This latching recess 302 is cut into the border of -l i the second open edge 212 of the second wall 202 and is further provided with essentially tooth shaped latching elements 303 which point towards each other essentially into the latching recess. As one can see e.g. in Fig. 3B, these essentially tooth shaped latching elements 303 are formed essentially by a portion of the boundary of the latching recess 302 and a portion of an inner edge 309 of the latching recess.

Fig. 3C shows a side view of the joining edge 305, whereby the viewing direction is indicated by arrow 601 in Fig. 3A. In this figure, one can see the above mentioned preferred W-shaped form of the latching recess 302. The latching recess 302 has two further, round recesses 307, in between which one can see a tongue 308, which forms the broadened central part of the imagined W. In Fig. 3C the latching tongue 301 is not fully inserted into the latching recess 302. Further, one can see that the latching tongue 301 has a tapered cross-section and becomes narrower in the insertion direction (indicated by arrow 602 in Fig. 3C) of the latching tongue 301 into the latching recess 302. Thereby, the insertion of the latching tongue 301 into the latching recess 302 is facilitated and one may derive from the figure the inventive snap-fitting locking mechanism: upon insertion of the latching tongue 301 into the latching recess 302, the beveled corners 304 of the wedge-shaped, tapered latching tongue press against the (to some extend flexible) latching elements 303, thereby opening the latching recess until the latching tongue 301 has passed the latching elements 303 (of course, the beveled corners 304 may also be flexible to facilitate this snap-fitting interaction). After the latching tongue 301 has passed, the latching elements 303 snap back, thereby fixing the latching tongue 301 inside the latching recess 302. Alternatively, this inventive locking mechanism facilitates the folding process of the mating portion. For example upon folding the box-shape, e.g. when the first wall 201 is bent around the edge of the first wall 201 with the fourth wall 204 towards the second open edge 212, (as indicated by arrow 603 in Fig. 3 A) the latching tongue 301 quasi automatically is inserted (snapped) into the latching recess 301, thereby connecting the first wall 201 to the second wall 202. Due to the mechanical construction, fewer or even no welding points are necessary to hold the box-shape together which makes the assembly process more economic (although welding points may additionally be provided, if desired to increase the stability of the construction).

Figure 4 shows a top view of a blank part of the electrical terminal shown in the above described figures. Due to the perspective of the above described figures some details of the terminals features might not be visible. Therefore, this blank part is provided which shows all features before bending into their final shape. The blank is provided with reference numbers and a skilled person will recognize that upon correct bending of this part, the construction shown in Figs. l to 3 will derive. The approximate positions of the edges 205 are indicated by dashed lines. It should be noted that the terminal of all embodiments disclosed herein in practice may have a length of only 10 to 30 mm and that some dimensions are exaggerated in the figures for clarity purposes.

Figure 5 shows a further improved embodiment of a mating portion 200' of an electrical terminal according to the invention. As one can also see in this figure, in this embodiment, the mating portion 200' of the electrical terminal is made from a first wall 20 , a second wall 202', a third wall 203' and a fourth wall 204'. These walls similarly form edges as in the case described above and a joining edge 305' is formed by walls 201 ' and 202'. Upon folding the box-shape of the mating portion 202' these walls 201 ' and 202' come into mutual contact at this joining edge 305' and are connected to each other by inventive locking elements 300'. As one can see in the figure, on both sides of a W-shaped latching recess 302' (see below figures 6A and 6B) weakening recesses 313' are provided on both sides adjacent recess 302'. These weakening recesses 313' facilitate widening of the latching recess 302' when a latching tongue 301 ' of latching elements 300' is inserted into the latching recess 302' similar to the case of locking elements 300 as described above. Thereby, the snap fitting of latching tongue (301 ') into latching recess (302') is facilitated. The weakening recesses 313' and the W-shaped latching recess 302' form two latching protrusions 315' which upon inserting the latching tongue 30 into the latching recess 302' bend outwardly (with regard to the insertion direction) thereby facilitating the insertion and snap fitting of the latching tongue 301 ' into the latching recess 302'. When the latching tongue 301 ' is fully inserted, these latching protrusions 315' are biased against the inserted latching tongue 301 ' to lock the latching tongue 301 ' inside the latching recess 302'. As it will be clear to the person skilled in the art, similarly, only one weakening recess could be provided on one of the sides of the latching recess 302'. Similarly, recesses could be formed differently such as for example as simple linear cuts, triangular or polygonal shapes. A weakening of the recess could also be achieved by weakening the material, for example by providing thinner material around the latching recess.

Figures 6A and 6B show a blank part of the mating portion 200' of the electrical terminal 100' shown in figure 5. In this figure one can see the components of the mating portion 200' before the blank is bent into the final shape of the mating portion 200'. The blank is provided with reference numeral and a person skilled in the art will recognize, as in the case of the blank shown in figure 4 above, upon correct bending of this part, how is derived the construction shown in figure 5. Again as in the case of figure 4, the approximate positions of the edges 205' are indicated by dashed lines. Figures 7 and 8 show a further preferred embodiment of a mating portion 200" of an electrical terminal according to the invention. As one can see in these figures, the lathing tongue 301 " is provided with a clearance or cut out 319". This clearance 319" serves for weakening the latching tongue 301 " in order to facilitate its insertion into the latching recess 302". As it will be clear to the person skilled in the art, upon insertion of the latching tongue 301 " into the latching recess 302", two halves 331 " of the latching tongue 301 " are pressed towards each other thereby facilitating the insertion of the latching tongue 301 " into the latching recess 302". When fully inserted, these halves 331 " snap back to their original positions preventing a movement of the latching tongue 301 " out of the latching recess 302". As it will be clear to the person skilled in the art, as mentioned in the case of the weakening recesses 307, the shape of the clearance 319" is only exemplary. For example, the clearance can be formed as a linear cut, as a triangle or in different polygonal or irregular shapes. As it will be also clear to the person skilled in the art, the weakening -Im possibilities described above, i.e. the weakening recesses 307 and the clearance 319" can also be used in combination.

Claims

Electrical terminal (100) comprising a mating portion (200), which comprises at least four walls (201, 202, 203, 204) which are folded from a piece of sheet metal into an essentially box shaped form, thereby comprising at least three edges (205) of adjacent walls, and further at least one joining edge (305) formed by a first open edge (211) of a first wall (201) and a second open edge (212) of a second wall (202),

characterized in that

the first open edge (211) comprises at least one latching tongue (301) which extends from the first open edge (211) in a plane essentially parallel to the first wall (201), and the second open edge (212) comprises at least one corresponding latching recess (302), which is cut inwardly into the boundary of the second open edge (212), and further comprises an effective opening which is dimensioned such that it is less wide than an effective width of the latching tongue (301), so that the latching tongue (301) can be fixed inside said latching recess (302) by a snap-fitting interaction of the latching tongue (301) with at least one latching element (303) of the latching recess (302). 2. Electrical terminal (100) according to claim 1, wherein the latching tongue (301) can be fixed inside the latching recess (302) without bending the latching tongue (301) around an edge which is essentially parallel to the first open edge (211). 3. Electrical terminal (100) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the latching tongue (301) is fixed inside the latching recess (302) after a movement directed essentially parallel to the plane of the second wall (202) into the latching recess (302). Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching tongue (301) comprises at least one bevelled edge (304) such that an insertion of the latching tongue (301) into the latching recess (302) is facilitated.

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein by fixing the latching tongue (301) inside the latching recess (302) a connection of the first wall (201) and the second wall (202) is established which prevents a bending of the first wall (201) away from the second open edge (212) in a direction essentially perpendicular to the plane of the first wall (201).

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the effective opening of the latching recess (302), prior to the insertion of the latching tongue into the latching recess, is less wide than the effective width of the latching tongue (301) by 0.01 mm to 0.15 mm, preferably 0.02 mm to 0.1 mm, more preferably 0.02 mm to 0.08 mm, yet even more preferably 0.03 mm to 0.07 mm and most preferably 0.04 mm to 0.06 mm.

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one latching element (303) is an essentially tooth-shaped latching member which is formed essentially by a portion of the boundary of the latching recess (302) and a portion of an inner edge (309) of the latching recess (302).

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one latching recess (302) is not U-shaped. Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching recess (302) comprises at least one further, essentially round, recess (307).

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching recess (302) has essentially the form of a stretched W.

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the open edge (212) of the second wall (202) is provided with at least one weakening portion (313') to facilitate the snap fitting of the latching tongue (30 ) into the latching recess (302'), which weakening portion (313') is preferably formed as a weakening recess (313').

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the open edge (212) of the second wall (202) is provided with at least one latching protrusion (315').

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latching tongue (301 ") is provided with a weakening member (319") to facilitate the snap fitting of the latching tongue (30 ) into the latching recess (302'), which weakening member (319") preferably has the form of a clearance (319").

Electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mating portion (200) does not comprise any welding points.

Method for manufacturing an electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the following steps:

a) providing at least one band of sheet metal for production of the electrical terminal (100); b) stamping features into the at least one sheet as needed to produce the electrical terminal (100) having a latching tongue (301) and a latching recess (302) with at least one latching element (303);

c) folding the sheet metal parts into the desired shape;

d) cutting the electrical terminal (100) from the at least one band of sheet metal,

wherein

upon folding the box-shape the latching tongue (301) is fixed inside the latching recess (302) by a snap-fitting interaction of the tongue with at least one latching element (303) of the latching recess (302) .

Electrical connector arrangement comprising at least one electrical terminal (100) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one corresponding connector housing.