US3070772A - Terminal - Google Patents

Terminal Download PDF

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US3070772A
US3070772A US837160A US83716059A US3070772A US 3070772 A US3070772 A US 3070772A US 837160 A US837160 A US 837160A US 83716059 A US83716059 A US 83716059A US 3070772 A US3070772 A US 3070772A
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terminal
male
female
terminals
tines
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US837160A
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Biliy E Olsson
Just Alex
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Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp
Malco Manufacturing Co Inc
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Amphenol Borg Electronics Corp
Malco Manufacturing Co Inc
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Priority to US837160A priority Critical patent/US3070772A/en
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02Contact members

Definitions

  • ILM/ E OLsso/J ALEX Jus'r ATTO/ZA/E-YS.
  • the present invention relates to electrical terminals and, more particularly, to a male blade terminal adapted to mate with a female terminal.
  • It is yet another object of the present invention provide a male blade terminal that is so constructed that when the male terminal mates with a misaligned female terminal, permanent deformation of the female terminal does not result.
  • the above and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a new and improved male terminal of the blade-type that is particularly suited to mate with a fork-type female terminal having spaced-apart tines.
  • the female terminal is also of the blade-type and, accordingly, when mated with the male terminal is 90 degrees related to the male terminal.
  • the female terminal preferably embodies at the end of its tines inwardly extending contact portions which specifically engage the opposite contacting surfaces of the male terminal.
  • the male, blade-type terminal is so constructed that its opposite contacting surfaces engage the tines of a ymisaligned female terminal without permanently distorting the tines of the terminal.
  • the contacting sides of the male terminal are configured to be received by a misaligned female terminal without permanently distoring either of the terminals. Furthermore, a good electrical connection is provided between the contacting sides of the male terminal and the tine's of the female terminal when the terminals are within a relatively wide range of their normal 90 degree orientation.
  • FIG. l is a perspective view of a male terminal assembly embodying the features of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional View of a male Iterminal embodied in the male terminal assembly of FIG. l shown in position to engage a female terminal of a female terminal assembly;
  • FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the male and female terminals 9() degrees displaced from their positions illustrated in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view, illustrating the terminals of FIG. 2 in mated relation;
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a View similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the positions of a female terminal and a misaligned male terminal
  • FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the relative positions of a misaligned male -ter-minal and a misaligned female terminal;
  • FIG. 9 is a View similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the deformation of a female terminal resulting from a prior art male terminal.
  • the terminal assembly 1t embodies a plurality of spatially arranged male terminals 12, only a few of which are illustrated.
  • the male terminal assembly 10 is adapted to mate with a female terminal assembly, shown fragmentarily in FIGS. 2 and 3 and identified generally by reference numeral 11.
  • the female terminal assembly 11, similar to the male assembly 10, embodies a plurality of spatially arranged female terminals, only one of which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and identied by reference numeral 14.
  • the male terminals 12 and female terminals 14 are so spaced on their respective blocks 16 and 26 that incident to mating of the male and female terminal assemblies 10 and 11, oppositely related terminals 112 and 14 register and engage one another. As described in greater detail hereinafter, the terminals 12 and 14 are detachably connected to one another to permit facile engagement and disengagement of the terminal assemblies 10 and 11.
  • the free ends of the male and female terminals 12 and 14 are respectively connected to suitable electrical leads, for example, conductors and leads of electrical components, with the result that a plurality of solderless electrical connections are obtained between pairs of the electrical leads through the male and female terminal assemblies 10 and 11.
  • the male terminal assembly 10' specifically comprises a generally rectangular block 16 made of aluminum, for example, and is provided with two parallel rows of spacedapart openings 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for accommodating, respectively, a plurality of bushings 20. Although only two rows are illustrated, it will be appreciated that the block 16 may have any number fof rows of openings 18 Iin accordance with the requirements of the particular installation.
  • Each bushing 20 is made of suitable insulating material and includes a longitudinally extending bore 22 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for respectively accommodating the male terminal 12.
  • the bushing 20 spaces and insulates the terminal 12 from the support 16.
  • the connector part or head 24 of the terminal hows ever, extends beyond the left end of the bushing 20- to coact with the female terminal ⁇ 14 as described below.
  • the male terminal 12 and the insulating bushing 20 are mounted and secured to the block 16 in accordance with an appropriate method, for example, the method described and illustrated in the lust et al. Patent No. 2,995,617 entitled Self-Locking Terminal, and ass-igned to the same assignee as the present application.
  • the female terminal assembly 11 shown only fragmentarily in FIG. 2, likewise includes a generally rectangular block 2o made from aluminum, for example, and is provided with two rows of openings 2S (only one of which is shown in FEGS. 2 and 3) for respectively accommodating a plurality of insulating bushings 36B. Similar to the block i6, ⁇ :the block 26 alternatively may have any number of rows of openings 28.
  • the bushings 33t) and terminals 14 are also mounted and secu-red to the block in accordance with the method disclosed in the above-identified patent.
  • Each bushing Sti similar to the bushing 2li, is made of suitable insulating and somewhat resilient material and includes an axially extending bore 32 for accommodating the female terminal 14.
  • the bushing Si has a block engaging portion a extending through the block 26 for spacing and insulating the terminal 14 from the block 26, and also has, in contrast to the bushings 29, a shielding portion Elib extending to the right of the block 2e to substantially surround the connector part or head 34 of the female terminal 14. Accordingly, when the male terminal assembly lil and the female terminal assembly l1 are in mated position, oppositely related bushings 20 and 3i? abut one another to entirely surround the connector parts 24 and 34 of the terminals 12 and 14, thereby to isolate the connector parts 24 and 34 from foreign matter, dust and the like.
  • the male terminal 12 embodying the features of the present invention and the female terminal 14 are identically constructed, with the exception of the connector parts 24 and 34.
  • the terminal 12 is formed by stamping or the like, from any relatively hard metallic substance having good electrical conductive characteristics, for example, brass or the like.
  • the terminal 12 includes a wire-wrap shank 40 of generally rectangular cross section having relatively sharp corners about which wiring leads (not shown) are tightly wrapped to form a permanent electrical connection between the leads and the terminal 12.
  • the bottom end 40a of the wire-wrap shank 4t is beveled as indicated at 40a to facilitate entrance of the terminal 12 into suitable automatic wire wrapping machinery (not shown).
  • the wire-wrap shank is integrally connected to an enlarged gripping shank 42 by a pair of inclined shoulders 44 (see FIG. 3).
  • the gripping shank 42 functions to expand the bushing 20 into frictional engagement with the opening 18 of the block 16, thereby providing a good frictional connection between the gripping portion 42 and the'bushing 2t) and between the bushing 20 and the block 16.
  • the gripping shank 42 is of generally rectangular cross section but, in contrast to the wire-wrap shank 40, the edges of the gripping shank 42 are beveled (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 5).
  • the left end of the gripping shank 42 includes a pair of locking notches 46 which extend inwardly to accommodate portions of the bushing 20 that are compressed dur-ing mounting of the terminal 12.
  • a pair of outwardly extending ilanges 48 are located intermediate the locking notches 46 and the connector part 24, which anges 48 coact with the left end of the bushing 20, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the connector part 24 comprises a generally blade-like structure that is coplanar with the gripping shank 42 and the wire-wrap shank 40.
  • the female terminal 14, similar to the male terminal 12, is formed by stamping or the like, from any relatively hard metallic substance having good electrical conductive characteristics, for example, a Phosphor bronze alloy.
  • the female terminal 14 is identically constructed to the male terminal 12, with the exception of the connector parts 24 and 34 and, accordingly, the terminal pin 14 likewise embodies a wire-wrap shank 50 and a gripping shank 52. Similar to the terminal 12, locking notches 5e are located adjacent the end of the gripping portion :T2 for the purpose of accommodating compressed portions of the insulating bushing 30. However, in contrast with the terminal 12, outwardly extending vanges 48 are not provided but, instead the right end of the terminal ⁇ 14 terminates in a flat, fork-type connector part 34 that receives lthe blade connector part '2.4. y
  • the fork-type connector part 34 comprises a pair of spaced-apart tines 58 interconnected by a web portion 6G, the tines 53 having generally rectangular cross sections.
  • the tines 58 are generally elongated and, since the terminal 14 is constructed from Phosphor bronze, the tines 5S are somewhat resilient, i.e., they are capable of limited relative planar movement toward and away from one another.
  • semi-cylindrical Contact portions 62 extend inwardly to coact with opposite longitudinal surfaces of the blade connector par-t 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.
  • terminals 12 and y14 must be 90 related to one another in order that their connector parts 24 and 34 mate.
  • the male and female terminals 12 and 14 are accurately mounted on the supporting blocks 16 and 26, respectively, the terminals 12 and 14 are infrequently mounted in other than the ⁇ desired position so that the ⁇ connector parts 24 and 34 are not 90 related to one another.
  • exceptionally slight misal-ignment of existing or prior art male and female terminals does not subsequently render the male and female terminals 12 and 14 inoperative.
  • the misalignment exceeds a relatively slight amount, for example, three degrees, the misaligned prior art terminals cause the material of the tines 58 to be deformed beyond its elastic limit.
  • the retentive force developed by the female terminal after mating with a misaligned male terminal is reduced to approximately fifty percent of the retentive force developed by the female terminal after mating with a properly aligned male terminal.
  • a substantially reduced pressure contact is obtained between the male and female terminals and, hence, a poor electrical connection results.
  • the blade connector part 24 of the male terminal 12 is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, terminals 12 and 14 can be misaligned over a relatively wide range but can be readily mated without permanently deforming the tines 58 and reducing the retentive force of the female terminal 14.
  • the connector part 24, as indicated above comprises a generally blade-like construction and includes a pair of spaced-apart contacting or longitudinal sides 70 and 71 respectively interconnected by a pair of fiat, laterally extending sides 72 and 73.
  • the sides 70, 71, 72 and 73 terminate in an end 74 having beveled corners 75 to facilitate entry of the blade connector pant 24 into a female terminal having a construction different than the one described above.
  • the contacting or longitudinal sides 70 and 71 are nonplanar in construction so that irrespective of the misalignment of the terminals i12 and 14 ⁇ the contacting sides 70 and 71 coact with the Contact portions 62 Without permanently deforming the tines 58'.
  • each of the contacting sides 70 and 71 is identical in construction and, thus, only the contacting side 70 will be described.
  • the contacting side 70 is generally peaked outwardly, and is formed by removing or cutting away portions of the terminal, thereby defining a pair of generally triangular shoulders 76 and 77.
  • the contacting side 70 includes a pair of fiat surfaces 78 and 80' which extend from the edges of the lateral at sides 72 and 73. These surfaces 78 and 80 converge toward one another but do not intersect in planar fashion since the center portion of the contacting side 70 indicated by reference numeral 82, is rounded throughout a relatively small angle of twelve degrees.
  • the contacting side 70 comprises a pair of converging surfaces 78 and 80 which are interconnected by a rounded or cylindrical surface 82, the surfaces '78, 8@ and 82 providing a continuous and uninterrupted surface. It will be appreciated that by virtue of the diverging construction of the surfaces 78 and S0 the tines 5S of the fork-type connector part 34 are not unduly ⁇ spread even though a slight misalignment exists between the male and female terminals 12 and 14.
  • the structure embodied in the side 71 is identified by the same reference numerals as the corresponding structure in side 70. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the fo-rward ends of the contacting surfaces 70 and 71 are beveled as indicated at 83 to facilitate the disposition of the blade connector part 24 between the contact portions 62 of the fork-type connector part 34.
  • the blade connector part 24 and the fork-type connector part 34 assume the positions indicated in FIG. 6.
  • the lcontact portions 62 coact respectively with the centerrnost points of the rounded surfaces e2, as indicated at 84 and, consequently, the dat surfaces 78 and S0 are spaced apart from the balance of the contact portions 62.
  • misaligned terminals 12 and 14 may be mated without permanently deforming the tines 58 of the female terminal 14.
  • the blade connector part 24 and fork-type connector part 34 assume the positions illustrated in FIG. 7.
  • the tines 58 are not spread apart because of the diverging relationship of the fiat surfaces 78 and 8l) and the tines 58 are spaced apart the same amount as when the male and female terminals 12 and 14 are 90 degrees related to one another.
  • the angle beta may :be as great as six degrees and the tines 58 are not permanently distorted, whereas a misalignment of only three degrees with the prior art terminals effects the permanent deformation of the tines 5S. In any event, as shown in FIG.
  • the tines 58 are spread apart no more than when the -male and female terminals 12 and 14 were properly mounted to the supports 16 and 26 and, accordingly, the tines 58 are not permanently deformed although the terminals 12 and 14 are misaligned by six degrees.
  • FIG. 9 an improperly mounted prior art male terminal and terminal similar to the above-described female terminal 14 are illustrated in FIG. 9.
  • the male terminal 96 is improperly mounted to its support such that it is located in a position displaced from its desired position by an angle beta, for example, six degrees, then the contacting portions 62 of the tines 58 are spread and deformed outwardly by a distance equal to D.
  • the outward deformation of the tines 5S by a distance of D is adequate to effect a permanent deformation in the tines v58.
  • the deformed female terminal illustrated in FIG. 9 does not develop the desired or necessary retentive force when thereafter used with a properly mounted prior art male terminal.
  • a relatively low Contact pressure is thereafter produced between the connector parts of the properly mounted male terminal and the deformed female terminal.
  • a male terminal embodying the features of the present invention uniformly spreads the tines of the female terminal so that a substantially uniform retentive force is produced lby the female terminal.
  • the ⁇ blade-type terminal of the present invention functions similarly to a pin type terminal which spreads the tines a uniform amount regardless of its rotary position.
  • the desirable result of uniform spreading of the tines is achieved; this result, however, would not be achieved by a terminal having converging and intersecting planar surfaces (and no rounded surfaces 82) since the tines of the female terminal would be spread by progressively lesser amounts for progressively greater amounts of misalignment of the terminals.
  • a blade-type terminal constructed in accordance with the present invention permits mating of misaligned male and female terminals without effecting a permanent setting or deformation of the tines of the female terminal.
  • a plurality of male terminal assemblies are successively mated with one female assembly, it is extremely important that the female assembly provide good .electrical connections with each of the subsequently mated male terminal assemblies, irrespective of the fact that the male or female terminals are slightly misaligned.
  • a terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposing sides, portions of each of said opposed sides being adapted to engage said contact surfaces of said female terminal, each of said sides including relatively inclined surfaces permitting ⁇ said portions to er1- gage said contact surfaces without permanently deforming said contact surfaces, irrespective of Whether the terminals are properly aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.
  • each portion includes a transversely extending, curved surface -for engaging said contact surface.
  • a terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposing sides, portions of each of said opposed sides being adapted to engage said contact surfaces of said female terminal, each of said sides including nonarcnate surfaces permitting said portions to engage said contact surfaces without permanently deforming said contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are properly aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.
  • a terminal for coactiny with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces said terminal comprising a generally :blade-like structure having generally opposing, laterally spaced sides lfor coacting with said contact surfaces, each of said sides including outwardly extending irst portions for engaging said contact surfaces and, further, including second non-arcuate portions laterally spaced apart less than the Contact portions, said second portions being conligured to permit said first portions to engage said contact surfaces without effecting permanent deformation of said contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are accurately aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.
  • a terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having generally opposing sides, eac-h of said Sides being generally peaked outwardly -to coact with one of said contact surfaces, said generally peaked sides assuring good electrical contact ⁇ between the terminals yet permitting limited angular terminal misalignment without spreading and permanently deforming the contact surfaces.
  • a terminal for coacting with a ⁇ female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposed sides, each of said sides including relatively inclined surfaces, each of Said relatively inclined surfaces including a portion engaging said contact surface of said female terminal, whereby said inclined surfaces assure good electrical contact between the portions and the contact surfaces without permanently deforming the contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are correctly aligned or angulariy misaligned.
  • a terminal for mating with a female terminal having spaced-apart contact surfaces said terminal comprising an elongated blade having a generally rectangular crosssection including oposite sides, each of said sides including relatively inclined sections converging in a transversely extending, curved section, said curved sections being engageable with said contact surfaces and being symmetrically located on said sides to permit mating of said terminals when angularly misaligned without permanently spreading the contact surfaces.
  • a terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposing sides, portions of each of said opposing sides being adapted to engage said contact surfaces of said female terminal, each of said sides lbeing constructed so as to permit said portions to engage said surfaces without permanently deforming said contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are properly aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.

Description

Dec. 25, 1962 B. E. oLssoN ETAL 3,070,772
TERMINAL Filed Aug. 31. 1959 ze 4 W 30 34 30; 'f/
ILM/ E: OLsso/J ALEX Jus'r ATTO/ZA/E-YS.
United States Patent Ofice 3,070,772 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,070,772 TERMENAL Biliy E. Olssen, Chicago, and Alex Just, River Forest, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, of fifty percent to Maico Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a partnership, and fifty percent to Amphenol-Borg Electronics Corporation, Broadview, Ill., a corporation of Dela- Ware Fired Aug. si, 1959, ser. Ne. 837,160 a claims. (el. 339-278) The present invention relates to electrical terminals and, more particularly, to a male blade terminal adapted to mate with a female terminal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved blade-type terminal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved blade terminal that provides good electrical connection with a female connector, even though the male and female terminals are slightly misaligned.
It is yet another object of the present invention provide a male blade terminal that is so constructed that when the male terminal mates with a misaligned female terminal, permanent deformation of the female terminal does not result.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a blade terminal that is adapted to be readily inserted between the tines of a fork-type female terminal, whereby good electrical connection is made between the opposite sides of the blade terminal and the respective tines of the fork-type female terminal, irrespective of misalignment of the male and/or female terminals.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blade-type terminal embodying double-beveled opposite surfaces for permitting slight -misalignment between the male and a female terminal without permanently deforming the female terminal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a blade-type terminal that exhibits characteristics similar to a round pin terminal in the sense that the -tines of a fork-type terminal are uniformly spaced apart by the blade-type terminal irrespective of relative misalignment v of the terminals.
The above and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a new and improved male terminal of the blade-type that is particularly suited to mate with a fork-type female terminal having spaced-apart tines. The female terminal is also of the blade-type and, accordingly, when mated with the male terminal is 90 degrees related to the male terminal. Although not necessary, the female terminal preferably embodies at the end of its tines inwardly extending contact portions which specifically engage the opposite contacting surfaces of the male terminal. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the male, blade-type terminal is so constructed that its opposite contacting surfaces engage the tines of a ymisaligned female terminal without permanently distorting the tines of the terminal. In contrast to existing male terminals wherein a misalignment between a male and a female terminal effects a permanent setting or deformation of a female terminal, the contacting sides of the male terminal are configured to be received by a misaligned female terminal without permanently distoring either of the terminals. Furthermore, a good electrical connection is provided between the contacting sides of the male terminal and the tine's of the female terminal when the terminals are within a relatively wide range of their normal 90 degree orientation.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, .taken with further objects and advaantages thereof, -will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. l is a perspective view of a male terminal assembly embodying the features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional View of a male Iterminal embodied in the male terminal assembly of FIG. l shown in position to engage a female terminal of a female terminal assembly;
FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the male and female terminals 9() degrees displaced from their positions illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view, illustrating the terminals of FIG. 2 in mated relation;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a View similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the positions of a female terminal and a misaligned male terminal;
FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the relative positions of a misaligned male -ter-minal and a misaligned female terminal; and
FIG. 9 is a View similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the deformation of a female terminal resulting from a prior art male terminal.
Referring now to the drawing and in particular to FIG. l, a terminal assembly or connector embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated and is identitied generally by reference numeral 10. The terminal assembly 1t) embodies a plurality of spatially arranged male terminals 12, only a few of which are illustrated. The male terminal assembly 10 is adapted to mate with a female terminal assembly, shown fragmentarily in FIGS. 2 and 3 and identified generally by reference numeral 11. The female terminal assembly 11, similar to the male assembly 10, embodies a plurality of spatially arranged female terminals, only one of which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and identied by reference numeral 14. The male terminals 12 and female terminals 14 are so spaced on their respective blocks 16 and 26 that incident to mating of the male and female terminal assemblies 10 and 11, oppositely related terminals 112 and 14 register and engage one another. As described in greater detail hereinafter, the terminals 12 and 14 are detachably connected to one another to permit facile engagement and disengagement of the terminal assemblies 10 and 11. In use, the free ends of the male and female terminals 12 and 14 are respectively connected to suitable electrical leads, for example, conductors and leads of electrical components, with the result that a plurality of solderless electrical connections are obtained between pairs of the electrical leads through the male and female terminal assemblies 10 and 11.
The male terminal assembly 10' specifically comprises a generally rectangular block 16 made of aluminum, for example, and is provided with two parallel rows of spacedapart openings 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for accommodating, respectively, a plurality of bushings 20. Although only two rows are illustrated, it will be appreciated that the block 16 may have any number fof rows of openings 18 Iin accordance with the requirements of the particular installation. Each bushing 20 is made of suitable insulating material and includes a longitudinally extending bore 22 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for respectively accommodating the male terminal 12. The bushing 20, made of suitable insulating and somewhat resilient material, extends through the support 16 and terminates slightly beyond the opposite sides `of the support 16 as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. By this construction, the bushing 20 spaces and insulates the terminal 12 from the support 16. The connector part or head 24 of the terminal 12, hows ever, extends beyond the left end of the bushing 20- to coact with the female terminal `14 as described below. The male terminal 12 and the insulating bushing 20 are mounted and secured to the block 16 in accordance with an appropriate method, for example, the method described and illustrated in the lust et al. Patent No. 2,995,617 entitled Self-Locking Terminal, and ass-igned to the same assignee as the present application.
The female terminal assembly 11, shown only fragmentarily in FIG. 2, likewise includes a generally rectangular block 2o made from aluminum, for example, and is provided with two rows of openings 2S (only one of which is shown in FEGS. 2 and 3) for respectively accommodating a plurality of insulating bushings 36B. Similar to the block i6, `:the block 26 alternatively may have any number of rows of openings 28. The bushings 33t) and terminals 14 are also mounted and secu-red to the block in accordance with the method disclosed in the above-identified patent. Each bushing Sti, similar to the bushing 2li, is made of suitable insulating and somewhat resilient material and includes an axially extending bore 32 for accommodating the female terminal 14. The bushing Si) has a block engaging portion a extending through the block 26 for spacing and insulating the terminal 14 from the block 26, and also has, in contrast to the bushings 29, a shielding portion Elib extending to the right of the block 2e to substantially surround the connector part or head 34 of the female terminal 14. Accordingly, when the male terminal assembly lil and the female terminal assembly l1 are in mated position, oppositely related bushings 20 and 3i? abut one another to entirely surround the connector parts 24 and 34 of the terminals 12 and 14, thereby to isolate the connector parts 24 and 34 from foreign matter, dust and the like.
As best seen in flGS. 2 and 3, the male terminal 12 embodying the features of the present invention and the female terminal 14 are identically constructed, with the exception of the connector parts 24 and 34. Considering first the detailed construction of the terminal 12, it is formed by stamping or the like, from any relatively hard metallic substance having good electrical conductive characteristics, for example, brass or the like. The terminal 12 includes a wire-wrap shank 40 of generally rectangular cross section having relatively sharp corners about which wiring leads (not shown) are tightly wrapped to form a permanent electrical connection between the leads and the terminal 12. The bottom end 40a of the wire-wrap shank 4t) is beveled as indicated at 40a to facilitate entrance of the terminal 12 into suitable automatic wire wrapping machinery (not shown). The wire-wrap shank is integrally connected to an enlarged gripping shank 42 by a pair of inclined shoulders 44 (see FIG. 3). During the mounting of the terminal 12 and the bushing 20 to the support 16, the gripping shank 42 functions to expand the bushing 20 into frictional engagement with the opening 18 of the block 16, thereby providing a good frictional connection between the gripping portion 42 and the'bushing 2t) and between the bushing 20 and the block 16. The gripping shank 42 is of generally rectangular cross section but, in contrast to the wire-wrap shank 40, the edges of the gripping shank 42 are beveled (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). The left end of the gripping shank 42 includes a pair of locking notches 46 which extend inwardly to accommodate portions of the bushing 20 that are compressed dur-ing mounting of the terminal 12. To properly position the terminal 12 relative to the bushing 20, a pair of outwardly extending ilanges 48 are located intermediate the locking notches 46 and the connector part 24, which anges 48 coact with the left end of the bushing 20, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. As described in detail below, the connector part 24 comprises a generally blade-like structure that is coplanar with the gripping shank 42 and the wire-wrap shank 40. The female terminal 14, similar to the male terminal 12, :is formed by stamping or the like, from any relatively hard metallic substance having good electrical conductive characteristics, for example, a Phosphor bronze alloy.
As stated above, the female terminal 14 is identically constructed to the male terminal 12, with the exception of the connector parts 24 and 34 and, accordingly, the terminal pin 14 likewise embodies a wire-wrap shank 50 and a gripping shank 52. Similar to the terminal 12, locking notches 5e are located adjacent the end of the gripping portion :T2 for the purpose of accommodating compressed portions of the insulating bushing 30. However, in contrast with the terminal 12, outwardly extending vanges 48 are not provided but, instead the right end of the terminal `14 terminates in a flat, fork-type connector part 34 that receives lthe blade connector part '2.4. y
More specifically, the fork-type connector part 34 comprises a pair of spaced-apart tines 58 interconnected by a web portion 6G, the tines 53 having generally rectangular cross sections. The tines 58 are generally elongated and, since the terminal 14 is constructed from Phosphor bronze, the tines 5S are somewhat resilient, i.e., they are capable of limited relative planar movement toward and away from one another. To assure good electrical con nection between the fork-type connector part 34 and the blade `connector part 24, semi-cylindrical Contact portions 62 extend inwardly to coact with opposite longitudinal surfaces of the blade connector par-t 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. By this semi-cylindrical structure, a good electrical connection between the contact portions 62 and the blade connector part 24 is assured. In addition, since the t-ines 5S are somewhat resilient, the contact portions 62 move apart to accommodate the blade connector part 24 of the terminal 12 as it mates with forktype connector part 34 and, furthermore, when the blade connector part 24 and the fork-type connector part 34 are mated, the resiliency of the tines 5? urges the contact portions 62 toward the opposite sides ofthe blade connector part 24 to provide a good pressure contact between the connector parts 24 and 34. Thus, irrespective of variations in the dimensions of the connector pant 24 caused by commercially acceptable tolerances, a good electrical connection between the male and female terminals 12 and 14 is assured.
It will be appreciated from viewing FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 that terminals 12 and y14 must be 90 related to one another in order that their connector parts 24 and 34 mate. Although the male and female terminals 12 and 14 are accurately mounted on the supporting blocks 16 and 26, respectively, the terminals 12 and 14 are infrequently mounted in other than the `desired position so that the ` connector parts 24 and 34 are not 90 related to one another. It has been observed that exceptionally slight misal-ignment of existing or prior art male and female terminals does not subsequently render the male and female terminals 12 and 14 inoperative. However, when the misalignment exceeds a relatively slight amount, for example, three degrees, the misaligned prior art terminals cause the material of the tines 58 to be deformed beyond its elastic limit. Consequently, a permanent setting or deformation of the tines is obtained, with the result that thereafter a lower retentive force is produced by the tines, and, hence the connector part. For example, the retentive force developed by the female terminal after mating with a misaligned male terminal is reduced to approximately fifty percent of the retentive force developed by the female terminal after mating with a properly aligned male terminal. Thus, a substantially reduced pressure contact is obtained between the male and female terminals and, hence, a poor electrical connection results.
In order to obviate the above-described disadvantages of the prior art terminals, the blade connector part 24 of the male terminal 12 is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, terminals 12 and 14 can be misaligned over a relatively wide range but can be readily mated without permanently deforming the tines 58 and reducing the retentive force of the female terminal 14. Specifically, and referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and 5, the connector part 24, as indicated above, comprises a generally blade-like construction and includes a pair of spaced-apart contacting or longitudinal sides 70 and 71 respectively interconnected by a pair of fiat, laterally extending sides 72 and 73. The sides 70, 71, 72 and 73 terminate in an end 74 having beveled corners 75 to facilitate entry of the blade connector pant 24 into a female terminal having a construction different than the one described above. In accordance wi-th the features of the present invention, the contacting or longitudinal sides 70 and 71 are nonplanar in construction so that irrespective of the misalignment of the terminals i12 and 14 `the contacting sides 70 and 71 coact with the Contact portions 62 Without permanently deforming the tines 58'.
More particularly, each of the contacting sides 70 and 71 is identical in construction and, thus, only the contacting side 70 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the contacting side 70 is generally peaked outwardly, and is formed by removing or cutting away portions of the terminal, thereby defining a pair of generally triangular shoulders 76 and 77. Speciiically, the contacting side 70 includes a pair of fiat surfaces 78 and 80' which extend from the edges of the lateral at sides 72 and 73. These surfaces 78 and 80 converge toward one another but do not intersect in planar fashion since the center portion of the contacting side 70 indicated by reference numeral 82, is rounded throughout a relatively small angle of twelve degrees. Thus, the contacting side 70 comprises a pair of converging surfaces 78 and 80 which are interconnected by a rounded or cylindrical surface 82, the surfaces '78, 8@ and 82 providing a continuous and uninterrupted surface. It will be appreciated that by virtue of the diverging construction of the surfaces 78 and S0 the tines 5S of the fork-type connector part 34 are not unduly `spread even though a slight misalignment exists between the male and female terminals 12 and 14.
Since the side 71 is identically constructed to the above described side 7i), the structure embodied in the side 71 is identified by the same reference numerals as the corresponding structure in side 70. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the fo-rward ends of the contacting surfaces 70 and 71 are beveled as indicated at 83 to facilitate the disposition of the blade connector part 24 between the contact portions 62 of the fork-type connector part 34.
If 4the terminals 12 and 14 are exactly 90` degrees related to one another, the blade connector part 24 and the fork-type connector part 34 assume the positions indicated in FIG. 6. As shown, the lcontact portions 62 coact respectively with the centerrnost points of the rounded surfaces e2, as indicated at 84 and, consequently, the dat surfaces 78 and S0 are spaced apart from the balance of the contact portions 62. As a result of this clearance between the surfaces 78 and 80 and the contact porti-ons 62, misaligned terminals 12 and 14 may be mated without permanently deforming the tines 58 of the female terminal 14.
If it -be assumed that the male terminal is improperly mounted to the support 16 so that it is turned by angle beta from its desired position, then the blade connector part 24 and fork-type connector part 34 assume the positions illustrated in FIG. 7. As shown, the tines 58 are not spread apart because of the diverging relationship of the fiat surfaces 78 and 8l) and the tines 58 are spaced apart the same amount as when the male and female terminals 12 and 14 are 90 degrees related to one another. With the above described construction, the angle beta may :be as great as six degrees and the tines 58 are not permanently distorted, whereas a misalignment of only three degrees with the prior art terminals effects the permanent deformation of the tines 5S. In any event, as shown in FIG. 7, the right contact portion 62 coacts with the lowermost point of the rounded surface 82 of the contacting side 70, as indicated at 86, while the left contact portion 62 coacts with the uppermost point of the rounded surface 82, as indicated at 88. On the other hand, if it be assumed that both the male terminal 12 and the female :terminal 14 are improperly mounted on their respective supports '16 and 26, for example, both are positioned at an angle equal to half of Ibeta, -for example, three degrees from their desired positions, then the blade connector part 24 and the fork-type connector par-t 34 assume the positions illustrated in FIG. 8. As seen, the tines 58 are spread apart no more than when the -male and female terminals 12 and 14 were properly mounted to the supports 16 and 26 and, accordingly, the tines 58 are not permanently deformed although the terminals 12 and 14 are misaligned by six degrees.
To emphasize the advantage of the present invention,
an improperly mounted prior art male terminal and terminal similar to the above-described female terminal 14 are illustrated in FIG. 9. It it be assumed that the male terminal 96 is improperly mounted to its support such that it is located in a position displaced from its desired position by an angle beta, for example, six degrees, then the contacting portions 62 of the tines 58 are spread and deformed outwardly by a distance equal to D. The outward deformation of the tines 5S by a distance of D is adequate to effect a permanent deformation in the tines v58. Thus, the deformed female terminal illustrated in FIG. 9 does not develop the desired or necessary retentive force when thereafter used with a properly mounted prior art male terminal. As a result, a relatively low Contact pressure is thereafter produced between the connector parts of the properly mounted male terminal and the deformed female terminal.
It should be understood that within a six degree range of misalignment a male terminal embodying the features of the present invention uniformly spreads the tines of the female terminal so that a substantially uniform retentive force is produced lby the female terminal. In this sense, the `blade-type terminal of the present invention functions similarly to a pin type terminal which spreads the tines a uniform amount regardless of its rotary position. Hence, by virtue of the rounded contact surfaces 82, the desirable result of uniform spreading of the tines is achieved; this result, however, would not be achieved by a terminal having converging and intersecting planar surfaces (and no rounded surfaces 82) since the tines of the female terminal would be spread by progressively lesser amounts for progressively greater amounts of misalignment of the terminals. This result obtains because the effective width of the terminal having no rounded surfaces decreases as the misalignment increases and,` therefore, the tines are not adequately spread to produce the necessary retentive force-which is assured by the terminal of the present invention within a relatively wide range of misalignment.
-From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that a blade-type terminal constructed in accordance with the present invention permits mating of misaligned male and female terminals without effecting a permanent setting or deformation of the tines of the female terminal. In those installations in which a plurality of male terminal assemblies are successively mated with one female assembly, it is extremely important that the female assembly provide good .electrical connections with each of the subsequently mated male terminal assemblies, irrespective of the fact that the male or female terminals are slightly misaligned.
While the embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
1. A terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces, said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposing sides, portions of each of said opposed sides being adapted to engage said contact surfaces of said female terminal, each of said sides including relatively inclined surfaces permitting `said portions to er1- gage said contact surfaces without permanently deforming said contact surfaces, irrespective of Whether the terminals are properly aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.
2. The terminal of claim 1 wherein each portion includes a transversely extending, curved surface -for engaging said contact surface.
3. A terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces, said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposing sides, portions of each of said opposed sides being adapted to engage said contact surfaces of said female terminal, each of said sides including nonarcnate surfaces permitting said portions to engage said contact surfaces without permanently deforming said contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are properly aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.
4. A terminal for coactiny with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces, said terminal comprising a generally :blade-like structure having generally opposing, laterally spaced sides lfor coacting with said contact surfaces, each of said sides including outwardly extending irst portions for engaging said contact surfaces and, further, including second non-arcuate portions laterally spaced apart less than the Contact portions, said second portions being conligured to permit said first portions to engage said contact surfaces without effecting permanent deformation of said contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are accurately aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.
5. A terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces, said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having generally opposing sides, eac-h of said Sides being generally peaked outwardly -to coact with one of said contact surfaces, said generally peaked sides assuring good electrical contact `between the terminals yet permitting limited angular terminal misalignment without spreading and permanently deforming the contact surfaces.
6. A terminal for coacting with a `female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces, said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposed sides, each of said sides including relatively inclined surfaces, each of Said relatively inclined surfaces including a portion engaging said contact surface of said female terminal, whereby said inclined surfaces assure good electrical contact between the portions and the contact surfaces without permanently deforming the contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are correctly aligned or angulariy misaligned.
7. A terminal for mating with a female terminal having spaced-apart contact surfaces, said terminal comprising an elongated blade having a generally rectangular crosssection including oposite sides, each of said sides including relatively inclined sections converging in a transversely extending, curved section, said curved sections being engageable with said contact surfaces and being symmetrically located on said sides to permit mating of said terminals when angularly misaligned without permanently spreading the contact surfaces.
8. A terminal for coacting with a female terminal having spaced apart contact surfaces, said terminal comprising a generally blade-like structure having a pair of generally opposing sides, portions of each of said opposing sides being adapted to engage said contact surfaces of said female terminal, each of said sides lbeing constructed so as to permit said portions to engage said surfaces without permanently deforming said contact surfaces, irrespective of whether the terminals are properly aligned or slightly angularly misaligned.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,547 Fox Sept. 9, 1952 1,418,171 Raettig May 30, 1922 1,497,944 Russell June 17, 1924 2,129,725 Alden Sept. 1.3, 1938 2,333,694 Warsher Nov. 9, 1943 2,343,675 Kenyon Mar. 7, 1944 2,521,056 Frei et al. Sept. 5, 2,554,876 Olson May 29, 1951 2,832,943 Cutler Apr. 29, 1958
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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3104925A (en) * 1962-01-16 1963-09-24 Nat Connector Corp Electrical connector assembly
EP0492815A2 (en) * 1990-12-21 1992-07-01 The Whitaker Corporation Stamped and formed electrical tab
US5368506A (en) * 1993-11-12 1994-11-29 Standex International Corporation Electric street light terminal block assembly
DE102011103738A1 (en) * 2011-05-31 2012-12-06 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh Coupling connector has wraparound insulating housing that is provided at connecting portion of pin contact portions

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1418171A (en) * 1921-09-17 1922-05-30 Raettig Bruno Plug and socket contact
US1497944A (en) * 1923-08-08 1924-06-17 Thomas C Russell Process for making electric terminals
US2129725A (en) * 1934-11-28 1938-09-13 Alden Milton Socket for vacuum tubes, etc.
US2333694A (en) * 1941-02-20 1943-11-09 Duro Test Corp Vapor electric lamp installation
US2343675A (en) * 1941-01-06 1944-03-07 Franklin P Kenyon Plug-in transformer
US2521056A (en) * 1945-08-18 1950-09-05 Bendix Aviat Corp Electrical connecting means
US2554876A (en) * 1948-10-02 1951-05-29 Kenneth T Snow Electrical connection having identical, bifurcated plate members
USRE23547E (en) * 1952-09-09 Quick detachable connector
US2832943A (en) * 1954-12-09 1958-04-29 Cutler Morris Detachable coupling

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE23547E (en) * 1952-09-09 Quick detachable connector
US1418171A (en) * 1921-09-17 1922-05-30 Raettig Bruno Plug and socket contact
US1497944A (en) * 1923-08-08 1924-06-17 Thomas C Russell Process for making electric terminals
US2129725A (en) * 1934-11-28 1938-09-13 Alden Milton Socket for vacuum tubes, etc.
US2343675A (en) * 1941-01-06 1944-03-07 Franklin P Kenyon Plug-in transformer
US2333694A (en) * 1941-02-20 1943-11-09 Duro Test Corp Vapor electric lamp installation
US2521056A (en) * 1945-08-18 1950-09-05 Bendix Aviat Corp Electrical connecting means
US2554876A (en) * 1948-10-02 1951-05-29 Kenneth T Snow Electrical connection having identical, bifurcated plate members
US2832943A (en) * 1954-12-09 1958-04-29 Cutler Morris Detachable coupling

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3104925A (en) * 1962-01-16 1963-09-24 Nat Connector Corp Electrical connector assembly
EP0492815A2 (en) * 1990-12-21 1992-07-01 The Whitaker Corporation Stamped and formed electrical tab
EP0492815A3 (en) * 1990-12-21 1992-10-14 Amp Incorporated Stamped and formed electrical tab
US5368506A (en) * 1993-11-12 1994-11-29 Standex International Corporation Electric street light terminal block assembly
DE102011103738A1 (en) * 2011-05-31 2012-12-06 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh Coupling connector has wraparound insulating housing that is provided at connecting portion of pin contact portions
DE102011103738B4 (en) * 2011-05-31 2015-04-02 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh Coupling connector and set of connectors

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