IP Library Granted Patent US 7,556,541
Granted Patent B2
US 7,556,541 · App. 11/888,795 · Granted Jul 7, 2009

Electrical terminal with high conductivity core

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,556,541
App. No.
11/888,795
Granted
Jul 7, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical terminal including a first member and a second member. The first member has a front end configured to receive a mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to an electrical conductor. The first member is adapted to contact a first side of the mating contact. The second member is located, at least partially, in the first member. The second member is made from a material which is more conductive than material of the first member. The second member includes a front end configured to electrically contact an opposite second side of the mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to the electrical conductor.

Claims (32)

1. An electrical terminal comprising:

a first member having a front end configured to receive a mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to an electrical conductor, wherein the first member is adapted to contact a first side of the mating contact; and

a second member located, at least partially, in the first member, wherein the second member comprises a material which is more conductive than material of the first member, and wherein the second member comprises a front end configured to electrically contact an opposite second side of the mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to the electrical conductor,

wherein the second member has a bottom side located substantially entirely against a surface of the first member.

2. An electrical terminal as in claim 1 wherein the front end of the first member comprises a cage.

3. An electrical terminal as in claim 1 wherein the rear end of the first member comprises crimp tabs.

4. An electrical terminal as in claim 1 wherein the front end of the first member comprises a spring to bias the mating contact in a direction towards the front end of the second member.

5. An electrical terminal as in claim 1 wherein the second member is substantially straight with a conductor receiving channel at the rear end of the second member.

6. An electrical terminal comprising:

a first member having a front end configured to receive a mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to an electrical conductor, wherein the first member is adapted to contact a first side of the mating contact; and

a second member located, at least partially, in the first member, wherein the second member comprises a material which is more conductive than material of the first member, and wherein the second member comprises a front end configured to electrically contact an opposite second side of the mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to the electrical conductor,

wherein the second member is substantially straight with a top side contact rail and lateral side mounting tabs on the front end of the second member.

7. An electrical terminal as in claim 1 wherein the second member is substantially straight.

8. An electrical terminal as in claim 1 wherein the first member is comprised of stainless steel and the second member is comprised of copper.

9. An electrical terminal as in claim 1 wherein the front end of the first member comprises a cage, and wherein the rear end of the first member comprises crimp tabs.

10. An electrical terminal as in claim 9 wherein the front end of the first member comprises a spring to bias the mating contact in a direction towards the front end of the second member.

11. An electrical terminal as in claim 10 wherein the second member is substantially straight with a conductor receiving channel at the rear end of the second member.

12. An electrical terminal as in claim 11 wherein the second member comprises a top side contact rail and lateral side mounting tabs on the front end of the second member.

13. A method of assembling an electrical terminal comprising:

providing a first member having a front end configured to receive a mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to an electrical conductor, wherein the first member is adapted to contact a first side of the mating contact;

providing a second member having a front end configured to electrically contact an opposite second side of the mating contact and a rear end configured to attach to the electrical conductor; and

inserting the second member into the first member, wherein the second member is located in a general nested position in the first member along a substantially entire length of the second member.

14. An electrical terminal as in claim 12 wherein the second member comprises copper.

15. An electrical terminal comprising:

a first member comprising a front end forming a cage for receiving a male contact, and a rear end having a conductor receiving area with tabs configured to be crimped onto a conductor; and

a second member connected to the first member in a general nested position along a substantially entire length of the second member, wherein the second member comprises a front end located in the cage and a rear end located in the conductor receiving area, wherein the front end of the second member comprises a first contact area for contacting the male contact received in the cage and the rear end of the second member comprises a second contact area for contacting the conductor crimped against the second contact area by the tabs.

16. An electrical terminal as in claim 15 wherein the front end of the first member comprises a spring to bias the male contact in a direction towards the front end of the second member.

17. An electrical terminal as in claim 15 wherein the second member is substantially straight and wherein the first contact area comprises a conductor receiving channel at the rear end of the second member.

18. An electrical terminal as in claim 15 wherein the second member is substantially straight with a top side contact rail and lateral side mounting tabs on the front end of the second member.

19. An electrical terminal as in claim 15 wherein the second member is substantially straight and has a bottom side located substantially entirely against a surface of the first member.

20. An electrical terminal as in claim 15 wherein the first and second members are comprised of different materials having different electrical conductivity.

21. A method as in claim 13 wherein providing the second member comprises forming the second member from a flat stock material in a front end to rear end series with other second members in a strip, wherein the second member is substantially straight.

Assignments (11)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2024
From: APTIV MANUFACTURING MANAGEMENT SERVICES S.À R.L.
To: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 066551/0219 →
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Feb 11, 2024
From: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES (2) S.À R.L.
Reel/Frame 066746/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 11, 2024
From: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES (2) S.À R.L.
To: APTIV MANUFACTURING MANAGEMENT SERVICES S.À R.L.
Reel/Frame 066566/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2018
From: DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS LUXEMBOURG SARL
To: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047589/0181 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT; REEL/FRAME: 030302/O763; CORRECTED ASSIGNEE Recorded May 3, 2013
From: FCI AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING SAS
To: DELPHI INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS LUXEMBOURG, S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 030353/0183 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2013
From: FCI AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING SAS
To: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES OPERATIONS LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 030302/0763 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 26956/0814 Recorded Nov 29, 2012
From: BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED
To: FCI AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING SAS
Reel/Frame 029377/0664 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 23, 2011
From: FCI AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING SAS
To: BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 026956/0814 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2011
From: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: FCI AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING
Reel/Frame 026940/0702 →
CONVERSION TO LLC Recorded Mar 14, 2011
From: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 025957/0432 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2007
From: TYLER, ADAM P.
To: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 019695/0095 →