Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/02—Contact members
  • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
  • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
  • H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
  • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
  • H01R12/51—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures
  • H01R12/55—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures characterised by the terminals
  • H01R12/58—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures characterised by the terminals terminals for insertion into holes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a female electrical terminal which improves the pressure exerted on a male terminal while providing a supported interface to consistently establish an effective electrical contact.
• a printed circuit board (PCB) provides an array of circuit traces on a substantially rigid substrate. The PCB provides a base for interconnecting and mounting various discrete electronic components, integrated circuits, and connectors.
• Conventional female terminals are commonly provided at the surface of a PCB to establish electrical contact with an electronic component having a male connector.
• the female terminal is commonly attached to the PCB through a plurality of extending legs which provide electrical contact between the connector and the circuit traces of the printed circuit board.
• Existing female terminals are generally formed having opposing contact surfaces which serve for receiving the corresponding male terminal.
• the contact surfaces which retain the male connector are unsupported cantilever structures which are configured to interface with the male connector in a specific orientation.
• common female terminals do not establish significant retention force and fail to retain the male terminal.
• the present invention overcomes the problems encountered with conventional connectors by providing a female terminal which improves the contact zone and the pressure exerted on a male terminal.
• the present invention further provides an interface area to repetitively receive the male terminal and consistently establish direct electrical contact.
• the present invention provides an improved female terminal for attachment to a PCB through a plurality of extending legs.
• the connector body has a major lateral base which extend upwards from the legs and is folded over upon itself to establish a 180 degree fold or elbow to define a contact surface.
• the contact surfaces extend into the interior of the body and are supported by an embossing formed into the terminal body. The embossing therefore prevent undesirable distortion and provide additional electrical contact area for the contact surfaces which receive, retain, and establish the corresponding electrical contact with an inserted male terminal.
• the opposite portion includes appropriate stops, which impede the male terminal from surpassing a certain depth and interfering with the circuit traces of the printed circuit board.
• the connector body further defines a minor lateral base which include the stops an observation slots to allow visual confirmation of the correct insertion of the male terminal.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved female terminal of the present invention
• Figure 2 is an elevation front view of the improved female terminal along the major lateral base
• Figure 3 is an elevation lateral view of the improved female terminal (10) along the minor lateral base.
• Figure 1 illustrates an improved female terminal 10 according to the present invention.
• the terminal 10 is preferably formed as a one-piece connector body 20 having a major lateral base 12 and a minor lateral base 13.
• the lower portion 11 of the major lateral base 12 includes a plurality of legs 15 to connect the terminal 10 with a circuit trace of a printed circuit board 22 while the upper portion 21 defines an open end for receipt of a male connector (not shown).
• the connector body 20 further includes embossing 14 in each of the major lateral bases 12 and an observation slot 19 in each of the minor lateral bases 13.
• the terminal 10 is preferably formed as a box-like structure having contact surfaces 16A extending into the interior of the connector body 20.
• the contact surfaces 16A are preferably formed by folding the major lateral base 12 along a 180 degree elbow 16 (figure 3).
• the upper portion 21 of the major lateral bases 12 extend along elbowed surfaces 16 which converge one towards the other and into the interior of the connector body 20 to define the contact surfaces 16A and create an interface area contact zone for receipt of a male connector (not shown).
• the major lateral bases 12 include embossing 14.
• the embossing 14 are preferably integrally formed in the major lateral bases 12 and support contact surfaces 16A.
• the contact surfaces 16A are folded at the elbow 16 to form a substantially curvalinear plane which meets the embossing 14 (figure 3).
• the embossing 14 therefore provide support and additional electrical contact area for the contact surfaces 16A to receive, retain, and establish the corresponding electrical contact with an inserted male terminal.
• deformation caused by the repetitively insertion of a male contact is minimized.
• the embossing 14 are integrally formed with the terminal 10 and are in direct contact the contact surfaces 16A effective electrical contact is maintained after insertion of the male connector.
• the contact surfaces 16A deflect against the embossing 14 and electrical contact is continually assured.
• the minor lateral base 13 further includes observation slots 19 which allows the visual observation of the contact panes 16A during insertion of the male terminal.

Landscapes

• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8301747

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (6)

Citations (6)

• 1997
  • 1997-10-30 ES ES9702796U patent/ES1038628Y/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1998
  • 1998-10-28 WO PCT/US1998/022937 patent/WO1999023723A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (7)

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