WO2017014751A1

WO2017014751A1 - Female electrical terminals

Info

Publication number: WO2017014751A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/041248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolae Popescu; Omar Pena; Adolfo GOMEZ
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2015-07-21
Filing date: 2015-07-21
Publication date: 2017-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-21

Abstract

An example female electrical terminal includes a terminating region to receive an electrical element. The female electrical terminal also includes a contact region to receive a male electrical terminal. The contact region includes a first member and a second member. The contact region also includes a substantially rectangular cross-section including a set of diagonally opposing corners. The cross-section is defined by the first member and the second member. The first member and the second member are spaced apart at the set of diagonally opposing corners.

Description

FEMALE ELECTRICAL TERMINALS

BACKGROUND

[0001 ] An electronic component, such as a hard disk drive, a power supply, may be coupled to other electronic components via electrical connectors. An electrical connector may include a set of electrical terminals to establish an electrical connection so that data or power may be exchanged between two electronic components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Some examples of the present application are described with respect to the following figures:

[0003] FIG, 1 is a perspective view of a female electrical terminal with a contact region having diagonally spaced apart members, according to an example;

[0004] FIG, 2A is a cross-sectional view of a contact region of the female electrical terminal of FIG, 1 , according to an example;

[0005] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a contact region of the female electrical terminal of FIG. 1 , according to an example;

[0006] FIG. 3A is a first side view of the female electrical terminal of FiG, 1 , according to an example;

[0007] FIG. 3B is a second side view of the female electrical terminal of FIG. 1 , according to an example;

[0008] FIG. 4A is a plan side view of the female electrical terminal of FIG. 1 , according to an example;

[0009] FIG. 4B is a plan side view of the female electrical terminal of FIG. 1 , according to an example; and

[0010] FIG. 5 is a side view of an eiectricai contact, according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0011] There are two types of electrical terminals used to couple electrical components. One type is a male electrical termina! and the other type is a female electrical terminal. A male eiectrical terminal may include a plug for inserting into a female eiectrical terminal. A female eiectrical terminal may include an opening to receive the male electrical terminal so that an electrical connection may be established. To ensure a good electrical connection, the female terminal is to apply high amount of pressure to the male terminal so that the male terminal is securely mated to the female terminal. However, the amount of pressure is not so high that either the male terminal or the female terminal is damaged when the male terminal is unplugged from the female terminal. Thus, a design complexity of a female eiectrica! termina! is increased.

[0012] Examples described herein provide a femaie electrical terminal includes a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by two members that are spaced apart diagonally. For exampie, a female eiectrical terminal may include a terminating region to receive an electrical element. The female electrical terminal may also include a contact region to receive a maie electrical terminal. The contact region may include a first member, a second member, and a substantially rectangular cross-section including a set of diagonally opposing comers. The cross-section may be defined by the first member and the second member. The first member and the second member may be spaced apart at the set of diagonally opposing corners,

[0013] In an exampie, the first member may include a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The second member may include a third sidewail and a fourth sidewaii. The first sidewall and the third sidewall may define a first set of opposing eiectrica! contacts. The second sidewall and the fourth sidewall may define a second set of opposing electrical contacts that is offset from the first set of opposing electrical contacts. In an example, an electrical contact may include a front slope and a back slope. The back slope may have a greater angle of inclination than the front slope, in this manner, examples described herein may reduce a design complexity of a female electrical terminal.

[0014] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female electrical terminal 100 with a contact region having diagonally spaced apart members, according to an example. Female electrical terminal 100 may include a contact region 102 and a terminating region 104. Contact region 102 may receive a male electrical terminal (not shown in FIG. 1 ), Terminating region 104 may receive an electrical element, such as a metal wire or cable. Female electrical terminal 100 may also include a proximal end 108 and a distal end 108. Proximal end 106 may be an end of female electrical terminal 100 that is closer to a male electrical terminal than the other end of female electrical terminal 100 when the male electrical terminal is inserted. Proximal end 106 may be located in contact region 102 and distal end 108 may be located in terminating region 104. Female electrical terminal 100 may further include a longitudinal axis 1 10 that defines an inner axial bore extending from contact region 102 to terminating region 104.

[0015] Contact region 102 may include a first member 112 and a second member 1 14. First member 112 may include a first electrical contact 116 and a second electrical contact 1 18. Second member 114 may include a third electrical contact 120 and a fourth efectrical contact 122. First electrical contact 1 16 and third electrical contact 120 may form a first set of opposing electrical contacts so that electrical contacts 1 16 and 120 extend toward longitudinal axis 110. Second electrical contact 1 18 and fourth electrical contact 122 may form a second set of opposing electrical contacts so that electrical contacts 118 and 122 extend toward longitudinal axis 1 10. Each of electrical contacts 116-122 may be formed as a semi-circular protrusion.

[0016] Terminating region 104 may include at least one set of contact arms, such as a first set of contact arms 124 and/or a second set of contact arms 126. When terminating region 104 receives one end of an electrical element, such as a metal wire or cable, the electrical element may be coupled to female electrical terminal 100 via first set of contact arms 124 and/or second set of contact arms 126. The other end of the electrical e!ement may be coupled to an electronic component.

[0017] During operation, eiectrica! contacts 116-122 may make physical contact with a male electrical terminal so that electrical power or data may be exchanged between two electronic components coupied via the male electrical terminal and fema!e electrical terminal 100. First member 1 12 and second member 1 14 may define a cross-sectional shape of female electrical terminal 100. Examples of cross-sectional shapes of female electrical terminal 100 are described in more detail in FIGs. 2A and 2B.

[0018] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of contact region 102 of female electrical terminal 100 of FIG. 1A, according to an example. First member 112 may include a first sidewail 202 and a second sidewail 204. First sidewail 202 and second sidewail 204 may define an angled profile of first member 112. For example, first sidewail 202 and second sidewail 204 may define a single corner having a substantially right angle so that the angled profile may be an L-shaped profiie.

[0019] Second member 114 may include a third sidewail 206 and a fourth sidewail 208. Third sidewail 206 and fourth sidewail 208 may define an angled profile of second member 1 14. For example, third sidewail 208 and fourth sidewail 208 may define a substantially right angle so that the angled profile may be an L-shaped profile. It should be understood that the angles defined by sidewaSis 202 and 206 or sidewa!ls 204 and 208 may be greater than 90 degrees. Thus, the angled profiles of first member 112 and second member 114 may be of another shape other than the L-shaped profile.

[0020] Each sidewail 202-208 may include a distinct electrical contact to spread out the contact wear due to repeated insertions of a mate electrical contact. For example, first electrical contact 1 16 may be formed on first sidewail 202. Second electrical contact 1 18 may be formed on second sidewail 204. Third electrical contact 120 may be formed on third sidewail 206. Fourth electrical contact 122 may be formed on fourth sidewall 208. First electrical contact 1 16 and third electrical contact 120 may be aligned with a first axis 222. Second electrical contact 118 and fourth electrical contact 122 may be aligned with a second axis 224 that is substantially perpendicular to first axis 222. For example, first axis 222 may be a horizontal axis and second axis 224 may be a vertical axis. Although four electrical contacts are described, it should be understood that contact region 102 may include any number of electrical contacts.

[0021] First member 112 and second member 1 14 may define a

substantially rectangular cross-section having four comers. The four corners may include a first corner 210 defined by first sidewall 202 and second sidewall 204, a second corner 212 defined by second sidewall 204 and third sidewati 206, a third corner 214 defined by third sidewall 206 and fourth sidewall 208, and a fourth corner 218 defined by fourth sidewall 208 and first sidewall 202. First corner 210 and third corner 214 may be a first set of diagonally opposing corners. Second corner 212 and fourth corner 216 may be a second set of diagonally opposing corners.

[0022] First member 112 and second member 114 may be spaced apart at a set of diagonally opposing corners. For example, first member 112 and second member 114 may be spaced apart at the second set of diagonally opposing comers including second corner 212 and fourth corner 216. That is, first member 112 and second member 1 14 may not make physical contact at second corner 212 and fourth corner 216. Thus, first member 1 12 and second member 114 may define a first expansion gap 218 and a second expansion gap 220.

Expansion gaps 218 and 220 may enable freedom of movements of first member 112 and second member 114 with respect to an axis 228. Thus, the freedom of movements may enable electrical contacts 118-122 to make physical contact with a male electrical terminal with reduced sensitivity to mechanical tolerances and manufacturing variabilities of the male electrical terminal and/or female eiectrical terminal 100. [0023] FiG. 2B is a cross-section a! view of a contact region of the female electrical terminal of FiG, 1, according to an example. As illustrated in FiG. 2B, first member 1 12 and second member 1 14 may define a substantially circular cross-section of contact region 102. First member 112 may have a semi-circular profile and second member 114 may have a semi-circular profile. First member 1 12 and second member 1 14 may be spaced apart with respect to second sidewall 204 and third sidewall 206 to define first expansion gap 218. First member 1 12 and second member 1 14 may be spaced apart with respect to first sidewa!i 202 and fourth sidewall 208 to define second expansion gap 220.

[0024] FIG. 3A is a first side view of female electrical terminal 100 of FiG. 1 , according to an example. First expansion gap 218 may extend along a first portion of contact region 102 and may have a length of L1. FIG. 38 is a second side view of female electrical terminal 100 of FIG. 1 , according to an example. Second expansion gap 220 may extend along a second portion of contact region 102 and may have a length of L2 that is different from 11. For example, L1 may be greater than L2.

[0025] FIG. 4A is a plan side view of female electrical terminal 100 of FIG. 1 , according to an example. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, first member 112 and second member 1 14 may be joined as a single piece at terminating region 104 so that female electrical terminal 100 may be formed from a single flat strip of metal via stamping. The first set of opposing electrical contacts (e.g., first electrical contact 116 and third electrical contact 120) may be located at a first distance D1 away from proximal end 106. The second set of opposing electrical contacts (e.g., second electrical contact 1 18 and fourth electrical contact 122) may be located at a second distance D2 away from proximal end 106. The second distance D2 may be greater than the first distance 01. Thus, when female electrical terminal 100 is formed, the second set of opposing electrical contacts may be offset from the first set of opposing electrical contacts.

[0026] FIG. 4B is a plan side view of female electrical terminal 100 of FIG. 1 , according to an example. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, electrical contacts 1 16-122 may be equidistant from proximal end 108. For example, each of electrical contacts 116-122 may be a third distance D3 away from proximal end 106.

[0027] FIG, 5 is a side view of an electrical contact 500, according to an example. Electrical contact 500 may implement any of first electrical contact 1 16, second electrical contact 1 18, third electrical contact 120, and fourth electrical contact 122. Electrical contact 500 may include a front slope 502 and a back slope 504. Front slope 502 may be oriented toward a proximal end of a female electrical terminal, such as proximal end 106. Back slope 504 may be oriented toward a distal end of a female electrical terminal such as distal end 108. Front slope 502 may have a first angle of inclination A1 and back slope 504 may have a second angle of inclination A2. First angle of inclination A1 may be smaller than second angle of inclination A2 to reduce insertion force of a male electrical terminal

[0028] The use of "comprising", "including" or "having" are synonymous and variations thereof herein are meant to be inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A female electrical terminal comprising:

a terminating region to receive an electrical element;

a contact region to receive a mate electrical terminal, the contact region including:

a first member;

a second member; and

a substantially rectangular cross-section including a set of

diagonally opposing corners, wherein the cross-section is defined by the first member and the second member , and wherein the first member and the second member are spaced apart at the set of diagonally opposing corners.

2. The female electrical terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first member has an L-shaped profile, and wherein the second member has the L-shaped profile.

3. The female electrical terminal of claim 1 , wherein the contact region further includes:

a first set of opposing electrical contacts; and

a second set of opposing electrical contacts, wherein the first set of

opposing electrical contacts is aligned with a first axis, and wherein the second set of opposing electrical contact is aligned with a second axis that is different from the first axis and is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

4. The female electrical terminal of claim 3, further comprising a longitudinal axis extending between the terminating region and the contact region, wherein the first set of opposing electricai contacts and the second set of opposing electricai contacts extend toward the longitudinal axis.

5. The female electricai terminal of c!aim 3, wherein the contact region includes a proximal end, wherein the first set of opposing eieetrical contacts and the second set of opposing electrical contacts are equidistant from the proximal end,

6. A female electrical terminal comprising:

a terminating region to receive an electrical eiement; and

a contact region to receive a male electrical terminal, the contact region comprising;

a first member having a first sidewali and a second sidewali; and a second member having a third sidewail and a fourth sidewali, wherein the first sidewali and the third sidewali define a first set of opposing electricai contacts, and wherein the second sidewali and the fourth sidewali define a second set of opposing electricai contacts that is offset from the first set of opposing electrical contacts.

7. The female electricai terminal of claim 6, wherein the contact region includes a proximal end, wherein the first set of opposing electrical contacts is a first distance away from the proximal end, wherein the second set of opposing electrical contacts is a second distance away from the proximal end, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

8. The female electricai terminal of claim 6, wherein the first sidewail and the second sidewail define an angled profile of the first member.

9. The female electricai terminal of claim 6, further comprising a

substantially circular cross-section defined by the first member and the second member.

10. The female electrics! terminal of claim 6, wherein the first sidewali and the fourth sidewali define a first expansion gap of the contact region, and wherein the second sidewali and fhe third sidewali define a second expansion gap of the contact region.

1 1 . A female electrical terminal comprising;

a terminating region to receive an electrical element;

a contact region to receive a mate electrical terminal, the contact region comprising:

a first member having a first sidewali, wherein the first sidewaiS includes a electricai contact, wherein the electrical contact includes a front slope and a back slope, wherein the front slope has a smaller angle of inclination than the front slope, wherein the front slope is oriented toward a proximal end of the contact region, and wherein the back slope is oriented toward a distal end of the contact region; and

a second member; and

a substantially rectangular cross-section having a set of diagonally

opposing corners, wherein the cross-section is defined by the first member and the second member.

12. The female electricai terminal of claim 1 1 , wherein the first member further includes a second sidewali, wherein the second member includes a third sidewali and a fourth sidewali.

13. The female electrical terminal of claim 12, wherein the first sidewali and the fourth sidewall define a first expansion gap of the contact region, and wherein the second sidewaiS and the third sidewali define a second expansion gap of the contact region.

14. The female electrical terminal of claim 12, wherein the first sidewail and the second sidewail define an angled profile of the first member, and wherein the angied profile includes a single corner.

15, The female electrical terminal of claim 11, wherein the first member and the second member are joined as a single piece at the terminating region.