U.S. patent number 3,777,301 [Application Number 05/310,329] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-04 for terminals and connectors for interconnecting conductors and male contacts.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Molex Incorporated. Invention is credited to Leonard H. Michaels.
United States Patent |
3,777,301 |
Michaels |
December 4, 1973 |
TERMINALS AND CONNECTORS FOR INTERCONNECTING CONDUCTORS AND MALE
CONTACTS
Abstract
A generally dish-shaped terminal includes female contact
structure for receiving a projecting male terminal and includes a
wire gripping portion. The contact structure includes two or more
arms integral at both ends with a planar portion of the terminal,
and each arm carries a contact segment interfacing with similar
contact segments to receive male terminals of different shapes,
including blade terminals and round and square post or pin
terminals, with an interference fit. Connectors including terminals
mounted in cavities in insulating housings are used when covering
or protecting of the terminals is desired.
Inventors: |
Michaels; Leonard H.
(Warrenville, IL) |
Assignee: |
Molex Incorporated (Downers
Grove, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23202020 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/310,329 |
Filed: |
November 29, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/749;
439/855 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
25/00 (20130101); H01R 13/432 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
25/00 (20060101); H01R 13/428 (20060101); H01R
13/432 (20060101); H01r 009/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/192R,192T,217R,217S,217PS,219R,219F,223R,223S,194R,194N,241,243 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
241,517 |
|
Jul 1946 |
|
CH |
|
659,316 |
|
Oct 1951 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Champion; Marvin A.
Assistant Examiner: Hafer; Robert A.
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the
United States is:
1. A terminal for interconnecting an insulated wire and a male
contact comprising a sheet metal body including a planar portion
surrounded at least in part by a rim, at least three apertures in
said planar portion defining at least two arms integral at both
ends with said body, a contact segment extending laterally from
each said arm, said contact segments interfacing to define a
contact receiving region sized to receive the male contact with an
interference fit, said contact portions being shorter than said
arms to permit the portions of said arms between the contact
portions and the ends of said arms to flex in torsion, and a wire
gripping structure extending laterally from said planar portion and
disposed at least in part generally in the plane of said planar
portion, said wire gripping portion including first crimping flange
means engageable with a stripped end portion of the wire and second
crimping flange means engageable with an insulated portion of the
wire.
2. The terminal claimed in claim 1 including two said arms
generally parallel with each other for receiving a male contact
with parallel sides.
3. The terminal claimed in claim 1 including at least three said
arms arranged generally on a circle for receiving a circular male
contact.
4. The terminal of claim 1, each said contact portion being
integral with one arm and being rounded in shape to present a
smooth contact receiving surface.
5. The terminal of claim 1, said rim extending around the periphery
of said planar portion and including portions extending from said
planar portion outwardly along opposite edges of said wire gripping
portion.
6. The terminal of claim 5, a resilient locking tab formed in said
wire gripping portion in the region between said rib portions.
7. The terminal of claim 1, a resilient locking tab formed in said
wire gripping portion.
8. A connector for interconnecting a male terminal and a conductor,
said connector comprising a sheet metal terminal including a planar
portion surrounded at least in part by a rim, at least three
apertures in said planar portion defining at least two arms
integral at both ends with said body, a contact segment extending
laterally from each said arm, said contact segments interfacing to
define a contact receiving region sized to receive the male contact
with an interference fit, said contact portions being shorter than
said arms to permit the portions of said arms between the contact
portions and the ends of the arms to flex in torsion, conductor
gripping means for fastening the terminal to the conductor, an
insulating housing having a cavity therein for containing said
terminal, a first passage in said housing extending from said
cavity in a first direction to the exterior of the housing for
receiving the conductor, said first passage having a cross
sectional configuration complementary with the profile of the
terminal to permit insertion of the terminal through the first
passage into said cavity after fastening of the terminal to the
conductor, and a second passage in said housing extending from said
cavity in a second direction to the exterior of said housing for
receiving the male contact engaged with said terminal.
9. The connector of claim 8, said conductor gripping means
including means for attachment to a flexible circuit conductor.
10. The connector of claim 8, said conductor gripping means
including a wire gripping portion disposed at least in part in the
plane of said planar portion and including first and second
crimping flange means for attachment to a stripped end portion and
an insulated portion respectively of an insulated wire.
11. The connector of claim 10, said cavity and said first passage
defining a shoulder, and a resilient locking tab on said terminal
engageable with said shoulder upon insertion of the terminal into
said cavity.
12. The connector of claim 8, said second passage extending in said
second direction entirely through said housing to permit
connections to the male contact at either side of said housing.
13. The connector of claim 8, said housing including a third
passage generally coplanar with said first passage and disposed
generally normal thereto extending from said cavity to the exterior
of said housing, said third passage having a configuration
complementary with the profile of said terminal.
Description
The present invention relates to improved terminals and connectors,
and more particularly to terminals and connectors useful for
connecting conductors such as wires to male terminals.
In the assembly of electrical circuits it is often necessary to
provide connections between projecting terminals, such as blades,
pins or posts, and insulated wire conductors. Due to the expense
and difficulty of providing such connections by soldering, screw
fasteners or the like, conductive terminals of many types have been
developed for this purpose. Such terminals may be formed of stamped
sheet metal and include a portion adapted to be attached to a wire
and another portion releasably and frictionally engageable with the
male contact. Terminals developed in the past have suffered from
disadvantages such as large size, unsatisfactory electrical contact
with the male terminal, inconvenience in use, and expense of
manufacture.
My copending application Ser. No. 272,441, filed July 17, 1972
discloses terminals useful for interconnecting flexible circuits
and other electrical devices having male contacts. It has been
found that the improved contact structure of the terminals
disclosed in that application may also be used with advantage in
terminals for interconnecting wires and male contacts.
In some instances it is desirable to provide a connector including
a male contact engaging terminal mounted within an insulating
housing. For example, it may be desired to avoid the presence of
exposed conductive elements where a shock hazard might be present.
Moreover, a housing can serve the purpose of protecting the
terminal from being dislodged or being damaged.
Objects of the present invention are to provide improved terminals
for interconnecting wires and male terminals; to provide terminals
having extremely small size and having excellent electrical contact
properties; to provide terminals overcoming the above noted and
other disadvantages of known structures; and to provide terminals
which are both convenient to use and economical to manufacture. An
additional object of the invention is to provide improved
connectors including terminals and housings, and in particular to
provide connectors having great versatility in use.
Briefly, the above and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are achieved by providing a terminal fabricated of
conductive metal and including a generally planar portion
surrounded by a rim portion to create a sturdy dish-shaped
configuration. In accordance with a feature of the invention, there
is provided a female contact structure adapted to receive a
projecting male terminal. The planar portion of the body is
provided with slots or apertures defining spaced, relatively narrow
arms each of which is integral at both ends with the body. Contact
portions shorter than the arms are formed as integral lateral
projections of the arms and face centrally to define a contact
space smaller than the corresponding dimension of the male contact
to which a connection is to be made. The contact structure may be
adapted to receive a variety of male terminal shapes including
spade terminals as well as round and square post or pin terminals.
When a male terminal is received in the contact space, an
interference fit with the contact portions results in displacement
of the contact portions due to twisting or torsion in the arms and
due to cantilever action of the contact portions. As a result a
reliable, intimate electrical contact is achieved. The terminal is
provided with a wire gripping portion at least partly generally
coplanar with the planar portion of the terminal for attachment of
the terminal to a stripped end portion of a wire conductor.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a connector including a terminal having a female contact
structure. The terminal includes conductor gripping means for
fastening the terminal to a conductor such as either a wire
conductor or a conductor of a flexible circuit. An insulating
housing includes a cavity for containing the terminal and a first
passage in the housing leads from the cavity to permit insertion of
the terminal into the cavity after attachment of the terminal with
a conductor. A second passage leads from the cavity to receive a
male contact engaged with the terminal.
The invention together with the above and other objects and
advantages may be best understood from the following detailed
description of embodiments of the invention shown in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top view of a terminal embodying features of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the terminal of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the terminal taken along the line
3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the terminal of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the terminal of FIG. 1 illustrating the
terminal after attachment to a wire conductor;
FIG. 6 is a top view of a terminal comprising an alternative
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the terminal of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a top view of a terminal comprising another alternative
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a side view of the terminal of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a top view of a terminal comprising another alternative
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a side view of the terminal of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a connector embodying features of
the invention and illustrating the connector prior to assembly with
an electrical device;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the connector of
FIG. 12 after assembly, and taken along the line 13--13 of FIG.
12;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a connector comprising an
alternative embodiment of the invention and illustrating the
connector prior to assembly with an electrical device;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the connector of FIG. 14
illustrating the connector after assembly and taken along the line
15--15 of FIG. 14; and
FIG. 16 is a side view partly in section illustrating another use
of terminals of the present invention.
With reference now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1-5 there is
illustrated a terminal generally designated by the reference
numeral 20 and embodying features of the present invention. The
terminal 20 in general includes a wire gripping portion designated
as a whole by the reference numeral 22 for attaching the terminal
20 to a wire conductor such as the conductor 24 illustrated in FIG.
5, as well as a female contact structure designated as a whole by
the reference numeral 26 for engagement with a projecting male
terminal. Among the advantages of the terminal 20 are its extremely
small size and good electrical conduction characteristics made
possible by the contact structure 26.
The terminal 20 preferably comprises a unitary metal body which may
be formed in an automatic operation from sheet stock by means of
suitable sequential press operations. The terminal 20 is of
generally rectangular shape and includes a generally flat or planar
body portion 28 surrounded throughout most of its periphery by a
continuous relatively narrow lip 30. The flat portion 28 and lip 30
cooperate to provide a generally dish-shaped body configuration
having substantial strength and resistance to bending or twisting
even though relatively thin metal is used.
In order to provide for a very low profile of the terminal 20, the
wire gripping portion 22 extends laterally or directly to the side
from the planar portion 28, and preferably at least part of the
wire gripping portion 22 is generally coplanar with the planar
portion 28. Prior to attachment to a wire, the wire gripping
portion as illustrated best in FIG. 4 is generally U-shaped and
includes a base or bight portion 32 comprising a continuation of
the planar portion 28. Adjacent the planar portion 28, the base
portion 32 forms a neck section 34. A first pair of gripping
flanges 36 and 38 extend from the base 32 and are spaced from the
neck section 34 by a pair of notches 40. Flanges 36 and 38 as
illustrated in FIG. 5 are crimped around the exposed end portion of
the wire conductor 24.
Spaced outwardly from the first pair of flanges is a second pair of
gripping flanges 42 and 44 separated from the first pair of flanges
by notches 46. Preferably flanges 42 and 44 are somewhat larger
than flanges 36 and 38 and serve upon crimping to grasp an
insulated portion of the wire conductor 24. Since the wire gripping
portion 22 is in part coplanar with the portion 30 of the terminal
and extends laterally from the terminal, as can be seen in FIG. 5
the overall vertical height of the terminal 20 after attachment to
a wire is extremely small.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, the terminal 20 is
provided with the contact structure 26. More specifically, the flat
portion 28 of the terminal 20 is provided with three slots or
apertures 48, 50 and 52 serving to define two elongated narrow
spaced arms 54 and 56. The arms are integral at each end with the
body of the terminal 20.
Each arm 54 and 56 is provided with a central contact portion 58
and 60 respectively. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the contact
portions 58 and 60 project from the arms 54 and 56 toward one
another in interfacing relation to provide a contact receiving
space designated by the reference numeral 62. The contact portions
58 and 60 may be located and dimensioned to accommodate many types
of male contact structures with an interference fit. As illustrated
in FIGS. 1-5, the distance between the contact portions is selected
to be smaller than the corresponding dimension of a male spade or
blade type terminal. Thus, upon entry of a contact blade, there
exists an interference fit between the blade and contact portions
58 and 60. In order to facilitate both insertion and withdrawal of
a terminal blade and in order to permit insertion of the terminal
blade from either direction relative to the terminal 20, the
contact portions are curved or rounded to present smooth curved
surfaces 64 interfacing in the contact space 62.
As best seen in FIG. 1, the contact portions 58 and 60 are shorter
in length than the arms 54 and 56 and are located substantially in
the center of the arms 54 and 56. Thus, the arms 54 and 56 include
end portions of relatively narrow width extending between the
contact portions and the main body of the terminal 20. Upon
insertion of a male blade terminal with an interference fit between
the contact portions 58 and 60, the arms 54 and 56 twist as a
torsional stress is placed upon the arms. Moreover, to some degree
the contact portions 58 and 60 serve as short cantilever beams
placed in bending stress by insertion of a male contact. The
overall effect of the torsional stress and the bending stress in
the arms 54 and 56 and in the contact portions 58 and 60 is to
provide a firm resilient biasing of the smooth curved surfaces 64
intimately against the male contact. In this manner there is
provided a reliable low resistance electrical connection between
the contact portions 58 and 60 and the surfaces of an inserted
terminal. Moreover, this reliable electrical connection is
maintained even after many insertions and withdrawals of a male
contact.
It has been found that close production tolerances are not
necessary since the contact design affords substantial variation in
contact spacing while still providing good electrical contact. In
addition, twisting and/or skewing of an inserted contact in the
terminal 20 does not interfere with the electrical connection. The
contact structure 26 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 also has an
important advantage in that it requires extremely little vertical
space.
In order to facilitate incorportion of the terminal 20 into an
electrical connector such as the electrical connector described
below in connection with FIGS. 12 and 13, the terminal is provided
with a resilient locking tab 66. Preferably tab 66 is formed by
striking out a portion of the terminal in the neck section 34. The
tab 66 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 slopes upwardly and rearwardly
at an angle from the plane of the flat portion 28. The resiliency
of the tab is such that it can be depressed when the terminal 20 is
inserted into a housing as discussed hereinafter. In order to
strengthen the region of the neck 34 containing the tab 66, the lip
32 surrounding the planar portion 30 of the terminal includes
integral extensions 68 disposed along the edges of the neck 34.
The female contact structure can be adapted to cooperate with male
terminals of various types. In order to illustrate a few of the
many arrangements made possible by the invention, terminals
comprising alternative embodiments of the invention are described
with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, FIGS. 8 and 9, and FIGS. 10 and
11.
First referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a terminal
generally designated as 70 and comprising one alternative
embodiment of the invention. Terminal 70 is similar in many
respects to terminal 20 described above and is also adapted to be
used with a spade or blade type male terminal. Similar reference
numerals are used to designate identical portions of the terminals
70 and 20.
Terminal 70 differs from terminal 20 in that the wire gripping
portion 22 of the terminal 70 extends in a direction generally
normal to rather than parallel to the major cross sectional axis of
the contact receiving space 62. In some arrangements, depending
upon space requirements and terminal configurations, terminal 70
may be more convenient to use than terminal 20.
With reference now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated another
terminal generally designated by the reference numeral 72
comprising yet another alternative embodiment of the invention.
Terminal 72 is similar in many respects to the terminal 20
described above, and is adapted to be used with a pin or post
terminal having a circular cross section rather than with a blade
or spade type contact. In general, the terminal 72 includes a
female contact structure generally designated as 74 as well as a
wire gripping portion. Since the wire gripping portion of the
terminals 20 and 72 are similar, each is designated by the
reference numeral 22 and similar reference numerals are used to
identify the identical portions thereof.
Like the terminal 20, the terminal 72 is preferably formed in a
series of automatic press operations from a unitary sheet metal
blank and includes a generally flat or planar body portion 76
surrounded by a continuous lip 77 giving the terminal 72 a rigid
and strong dish-shaped body configuration. The flat portion 76 of
the terminal 72 is provided with generally arcuate slots or
apertures 78, 79 and 80 defining elongated narrow spaced arms 81,
82 and 84 each provided with generally spaced arms 81, 82 and 84
each provided with a central contact portion 86, 88 and 90. The
contact portions 86, 88 and 90 interface and provide a generally
circular contact receiving space designated by the reference
numeral 92. This space is somewhat smaller than the corresponding
dimension of a pin or post with which the terminal 72 is used in
order to provide an interference fit. In order to facilitate both
insertion and withdrawal of a male terminal and to permit insertion
from either direction, the contact portions 86, 88 and 90 are
curved or rounded to present smooth curved surfaces 94 interfacing
in contact space 92.
As appears best in FIG. 8, the contact portions 86, 88 and 90 are
shorter than the arms 81, 82 and 84. Upon insertion of a pin or
post terminal with an interference fit between the contact
portions, the arms twist as a torsional stress is applied.
Moreover, to some degree the contact portions serve as cantilever
beams placed in bending stress by insertion of a terminal. The
result of the combined torsional and bending stress is a firm
resilient biasing of the contact surfaces 94 intimately against an
inserted terminal, even after multiple insertions and
withdrawals.
With reference now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is illustrated yet
another embodiment of the present invention in the form of a
terminal generally designated as 96. In many respects the terminal
96 is similar to the terminal 20 described above, and it is
intended for use with a pin or post terminal having a square cross
section. The terminal 96 includes a female contact structure
generally designated by the reference numeral 98. The terminal 96
also includes a wire gripping portion identical to the wire
gripping portion 22 of the terminal 20, and similar reference
numerals are used for identical parts thereof.
Like the terminal 20, the terminal 96 is preferably formed in a
series of automatic press operations from a unitary sheet metal
blank and includes a generally flat or planar body portion 100
surrounded by a continuous lip 102 strengthening the terminal 96
and giving it a generally dish-shaped body configuration. The
terminal 96 is generally square in outline and is complementary in
shape to a square pin or post contact.
The contact structure 98 of the terminal 96 comprises one type of
female contact structure which can be adapted for use with
terminals of the present invention. The flat portion 100 of the
terminal 96 is provided with slots or apertures 104, 106 and 108
defining a pair of elongated narrow spaced arms 110 and 112 each
provided with a central contact portion 114 and 116. The contact
portions 114 and 116 face toward one another and provide a contact
receiving space designated by the reference number 118. This space
is somewhat smaller in width than the dimension of the sides of a
square pin or post terminal in order to provide an interference
fit. In order to facilitate both insertion and withdrawal of a male
contact and to permit insertion from either direction, the contact
portions are curved or rounded to present smooth curved surfaces
120 interfacing in the contact space 118.
As appears best in FIG. 10, the contact portions 114 and 116 are
shorter than the arms 110 and 112. Upon insertion of a male contact
with an interference fit between the contact portions 114 and 116,
the arms twist as a torsional stress is applied. Moreover, to some
degree the contact portions serve as cantilever beams placed in
bending stress by the insertion of a contact. The result of the
combined torsional and bending stress is a firm resilient biasing
of the contact surfaces 120 intimately against an inserted contact,
even after multiple insertions and withdrawals.
Terminals constructed in accordance with the features of the
present invention such as the terminals 20, 70, 72 and 96 described
in detail above can be used to interconnect wires with any type of
electrical device having projecting male terminals. One example of
the many uses to which the terminals can be put appears in FIG. 16
wherein there is illustrated an electrical device in the form of a
printed circuit board 122. The board 122 includes an insulating
layer 124 carrying a plurality of conductive layers 126, 128 and
130.
In order to establish an electrical connection between the
conductive layer 126 and a wire 132, a circular pin or post type
male terminal 134 is received in an opening in the board 122, as by
press fitting, staking or the like. An electrical connection is
established between the terminal 134 and the conductive layer 126,
for example by soldering. The wire gripping portion 22 of a
terminal 72 is attached by crimping to the wire 132, and the
terminal 72 is engaged with the post 134 with the contact structure
74 establishing an electrical contact with the post.
In order to establish an electrical connection between a wire 136
and the conductive layer 128, a square post or pin type male
terminal 138 is received in the board 122 and is electrically
connected to the conductive layer 128. The wire gripping portion 22
of a terminal 96 is attached to the wire 136, and the terminal 96
is engaged with the terminal 138 so that the contact structure 98
establishes an electrical connection with the post 138.
Electrical connections are established between the conductive layer
130 and wires 140, 142, and 144 through the use of terminals 20 and
70 and a blade or spade type male terminal 146 mounted on the board
122 and electrically connected to the conductive layer 130. More
specifically, the wire gripping portions 22 of a pair of terminals
20 are attached to the wires 140 and 142. The terminals 20 are
engaged with the blade terminal 146, and the contact structures 26
thereof establish electrical connections to the blade terminal.
Similarly, the wire gripping portion 22 of a terminal 70 is
attached to the wire 144, and the terminal 70 is mounted on the
blade terminal 146 so that its contact structure 26 establishes an
electrical connection.
The convenience in use and versatility of the terminals provided in
accordance with the present invention is well illustrated in FIG.
16. The terminals are adapted to be used with projecting male
terminals of many configurations. In addition, as appears best in
the connections made to the terminal 146, the extremely compact
size and low profile of the terminals permits many connections to
be made to a single projecting male terminal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
terminals such as the terminals 20, 70, 72 and 96 can be associated
with an insulating housing in order to provide a novel electrical
connector for making connections with projecting male terminals.
Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 12 and 13, there is
illustrated a connector generally designated by the reference
numeral 148 constructed in accordance with principles of the
present invention. The connector 148 serves to establish electrical
connections between projecting male terminals 150, 152, 154 and 156
of an electrical device 158 and wire conductors 160, 162, 164 and
166. The device 158 illustrated in block form is intended to
represent any type of electrical device such as a control device, a
switching device, or the like.
Although in view of the preceding discussion it will be apparent
that connections to the male terminals of the device 158 may be
made with terminals of the present invention directly without the
use of an insulating housing, in some instances the use of an
insulating housing provides certain advantages. For example, in
some installations where a shock hazard or a fire hazard or the
like is present, it is desirable to avoid the existence of exposed
conductive circuit elements. In addition, in some environments
where the terminals might be subjected to vibration, impacts or
other external forces, it is desirable to protect the terminals
from becoming dislodged or damaged.
The connector 148 illustrated as one typical arrangement includes
an insulating housing 168 together with a terminal 20, a terminal
70, a terminal 72, and a terminal 96. The housing 168 includes an
arrangement of internal cavities and passageways for receiving the
terminals 20, 70, 72 and 96 in covered and protected regions
therein. After insertion of the terminals into the housing 168, the
housing is adapted to be engaged against a surface 170 of the
device 200 from which the male terminals 150, 152, 154 and 156
project. Passages are provided in the insulating housing 168 to
permit the projecting male terminals to engage the terminals of the
connector 148.
Referring now to FIG. 13, the structure of the insulating housing
168 is illustrated in more detail. The housing is provided with a
cavity 172 for receiving the terminal 20 which is secured to the
wire 160 by crimping of its wire gripping portion 22. A passage 174
extends from the cavity 172 in a generally horizontal direction as
illustrated to a side wall 176 of the housing 168.
As best appears in FIG. 12, the passage 174 has a configuration
similar in shape and slightly larger than the end profile of the
terminal 20 after attachment to the wire 160. Thus it is possible
to inset the terminal 20 into the passage 174 and thence into the
cavity 172. After insertion, the wire 160 extends outwardly through
the passage 174.
In order to retain the terminal 20 in position in the housing 210
after insertion, there is provided a locking shoulder 178
associated with the cavity 172 and passage 174. As the terminal 20
is inserted through the passage 174, the resilient locking tab 66
engages the top of the passage 174 and is resiliently depressed
downwardly toward the surface of the neck section 34. As soon as
the tab 66 clears the shoulder 178, the tab snaps away from the
neck 34 and lockingly engages the shoulder 178 to prevent
inadvertent withdrawal of the terminal 20 from the recess 172.
After insertion of the terminal 20 into the cavity 172, the
connector housing 168 can be engaged against the surface 170 of the
device 158. The housing 168 is provided with another passage 180
extending in what is illustrated as the vertical direction, and
thus normal to the passage 174. The passage 180 is generally
similar in shape to the projecting male blade or spade type
terminal 150, and intersects the cavity 172 in the region of the
contact structure 26 of the terminal 20. Thus, when the housing 168
is moved toward the surface 170, the male terminal 150 extends into
the passage 180 and engages the terminal 20.
Although the cavities for receiving the terminals 70, 72 and 96 are
not illustrated and although the passages associated therewith are
illustrated only in part in FIG. 12, it will be understood that
such passages and cavities may be similar to the cavity 172 and the
passage 174 and 180 illustrated in FIG. 13. The configuration of
each passage 174 and cavity 172 is such as to slidingly receive the
corresponding terminal 70, 72 or 96, and each such passage and
cavity is provided with a locking shoulder 178 for engagement by
the locking tab 66 of the terminal. Moreover, each such cavity 172
is provided with a passage 180 for receiving the corresponding male
terminal 152, 154 and 156 for making an electrical connection with
the terminal 70, 72 or 96.
Added versatility is achieved in accordance with the invention
through the use of alternate passages for the insertion of
terminals into the connector housing 168. For example, with
reference to the terminal 72 illustrated in FIG. 12, there is
provided not only the passage 174, but also an alternate passage
174A extending in the same plane but transverse thereto. Except for
its orientation, the passage 174A is similar to the passage 174,
and as a result the terminal 72 can be inserted into its
corresponding internal cavity 172 in either of two directions. A
similar alternate passage 174A is provided for the terminal 96 as
can also be seen in FIG. 12.
Similar alternate passages although not illustrated may be provided
for the terminals 20 and 70 so that, for example, a terminal 70 may
be used to make a connection to the terminal 150 through a passage
174A, or alternatively a terminal 20 may be inserted into the
housing 168 in another direction to make a connection to the
terminal 152.
Another connector generally designated as 182 and comprising an
alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14
and 15. This connector is adapted to establish electrical
connections between a pair of projecting male terminals 184 and 186
associated with an electrical device 188, and a pair of conductors
190 and 192 of a flexible circuit or cable 194.
In general, the connector 182 includes an insulating connector
housing 196 and a pair of terminals 198 adapted to be attached to
the conductors 190 and 192 and to be engaged by the projecting male
terminals 184 and 186. Each of the terminals 198 includes a
conductor engaging structure (not shown) and a female contact
structure 200 for engagement with the projecting male terminals 184
and 186. Although the terminals 198 are not illustrated in detail
herein, reference may be had to my copending application Ser. No.
272,441, filed July 17, 1972 for a complete description of the
structure, use, and operation of the terminals 198.
As illustrated in FIG. 15, the housing 196 of the connector 182 is
provided with an internal cavity 202 for receiving each of the
terminals 198. A passage 204 extends laterally from the cavity 202
to a side wall 206 of the housing 196, and after attachment of the
terminal 198 to the circuit conductor 190, the terminal can be
inserted through the passage 204 and into the cavity 202.
After the terminal 198 is received in the cavity 202, the housing
196 is moved into engagement with a surface 208 of the device 188
from which the terminals 184 and 186 extend. The housing 196 is
provided with transverse passages 210 for reception of the
terminals 184 and 186, and these passages 210 intersect the cavity
202 in the region occupied by the contact structure 200 of the
terminals 198. A locking method to hold the terminal in the housing
may also be incorporated.
Due to the low profile of the terminals of the connectors of the
present invention, it is possible if desired to make multiple
connections to projecting male terminals of electrical devices.
This is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, where it may be noted that
the passages 210 extend through the entire width of the insulating
housing 196. Thus, the male terminals 184 and 186 are accessible at
the side of the housing 196 opposite the device 188. Other
connectors, for example a slip on terminal member 212, may be used
to make a connection to a projecting male terminal such as the
terminal 184.
Although the invention has been described with reference to details
of the illustrated embodiments, it should be understood that the
invention is not limited to such details, but rather is defined by
the scope of the following claims.
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