Terminals for electrical connectors
View Patent ↗A female terminal for an electrical connector may generally include a socket with an opening for receiving a male terminal, a first pair of contacts, a second pair of contacts, a pair of crimping members, and positioning tabs. The socket may be defined by a pair of opposing sidewalls, a top, and a bottom, at least in examples where the socket is generally rectangular. The first and second pairs of contacts may be disposed along the pair of opposing sidewalls, projecting at least partially into the socket configured to contact and exert substantially the same normal force on a male terminal that is inserted into the socket. The pair of crimping members can be utilized to secure a wire to the female terminal, and the positioning tabs may be utilized to secure the female terminal within the electrical connector.
1. A terminal for an electrical connector, the terminal comprising:
a left sidewall, a right sidewall opposing the left sidewall, a bottom wall, and a top wall opposing the bottom wall, wherein the left sidewall, the right sidewall, the bottom wall, and the top wall form a socket with an opening for receiving a male terminal, the socket being disposed along a distal end of the terminal;
a first pair of contacts, wherein a first one of the first pair of contacts is disposed along the left sidewall and provides a first contact surface along the left sidewall and a second one of the first pair of contacts is disposed along the right sidewall and provides a second contact surface along the right sidewall; and
a second pair of contacts, wherein a first one of the second pair of contacts is disposed along the left sidewall and provides a third contact surface along the left sidewall and a second one of the second pair of contacts is disposed the right sidewall and provides a fourth contact surface is disposed along the right sidewall;
wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth contact surfaces are configured to apply a normal force to a male terminal that is receivable by the socket, with the normal force to be applied by each of the first, second, third, and fourth contact surfaces being substantially the same, and wherein the first pair of contacts is positioned in front of the second pair of contacts in an insertion direction of the male terminal.
2. A terminal of claim 1 , further comprising at least one crimping member opposite the distal end, the crimping member for securing at least one of an insulation of a wire or an internal conductor of the wire.
3. A terminal of claim 1 , wherein a first slit in the top wall separates a left portion and a right portion of the top wall, wherein a second slit in the bottom wall separates a left portion and a right portion of the bottom wall, the first and second slits permitting the left sidewall, the left portion of the top wall, and the left portion of the bottom wall to resiliently flex away from the right sidewall, the right portion of the top wall, and the right portion of the bottom wall.
4. A terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of positioning tabs disposed along the left and right sidewalls, the pair of positioning tabs being resilient and projecting outwards from the left and right sidewalls, wherein the pair of positioning tabs are configured to snap into corresponding recesses of the electrical connector to secure the terminal within the electrical connector.
5. A terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a locating feature disposed along the bottom wall, the locating feature configured to contact a shoulder in the electrical connector to locate the terminal within the electrical connector.
6. A terminal of claim 1 , wherein at least some parts of the first and second pairs of contacts project into the socket, the at least some parts of the first and second pairs of contacts configured to be displaced when the male terminal is inserted into the socket.
7. A terminal of claim 1 , wherein the normal force applied by each of the first, second, third, and fourth contacts surfaces is between approximately 200 to 400 grams.
8. A terminal of claim 1 , wherein the second pair of contacts are disposed along portions of the left and right sidewalls that extend between the top wall and the bottom wall, the second pair of contacts being adjacent to the opening of the socket.
9. A terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth contact surfaces have surface areas that are substantially the same.
10. A female terminal for an electrical connector, the female terminal configured to receive a male terminal so as to electrically couple the male and female terminals, the female terminal comprising:
a socket with an opening for receiving the male terminal, the socket being generally quadrilateral and defined by a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, wherein a first slit in the top wall separates a left portion and a right portion of the top wall, wherein a second slit in the bottom wall separates a left portion and a right portion of the bottom wall, the first and second slits permitting the left sidewall, the left portion of the top wall, and the left portion of the bottom wall to flex away from the right sidewall, the right portion of the top wall, and the right portion of the bottom wall;
a first pair of contacts, wherein a first one of the first pair of contacts is disposed along the left sidewall and provides a first contact surface along the left sidewall and a second one of the first pair of contacts is disposed along the right sidewall and provides a second contact surface along the right sidewall; and
a second pair of contacts, wherein a first one of the second pair of contacts is disposed along the left sidewall and provides a third contact surface along the left sidewall and a second one of the second pair of contacts is disposed the right sidewall and provides a fourth contact surface is disposed along the right sidewall;
wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth contact surfaces are configured to apply a normal force to the male terminal that is receivable by the socket, with the normal force applied by each of the first, second, third, and fourth contact surfaces being substantially the same, and wherein the first pair of contacts is positioned in front of the second pair of contacts in an insertion direction of the male terminal.
11. A terminal of claim 10 , further comprising at least one crimping member configured to secure a wire to the terminal.
12. A terminal of claim 10 , further comprising a pair of positioning tabs disposed along the left and right sidewalls, the pair of positioning tabs being resilient and projecting outwards from the left and right sidewalls, wherein the pair of positioning tabs are configured to snap into corresponding recesses of the electrical connector to secure the terminal within the electrical connector.
13. A terminal of claim 11 , wherein at least some parts of the first and second pairs of contacts project into the socket, the at least some parts of the first and second pairs of contacts configured to be displaced when the male terminal is inserted into the socket.
14. A terminal of claim 11 , wherein the second pair of contacts are disposed along portions of the left and right sidewalls that extend between the top wall and the bottom wall, the second pair of contacts being adjacent to the opening of the socket.