# US 10,770,817 B2 · Terminal module

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,770,817 B2
- Document ID: US10770817B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/478,296
- Filed: 2018-01-15
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-18
- Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Akio Kimura; Kyohei Ida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770817B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/22: Contacts for co-operating by abutting
- H01R 13/2421: {using coil springs}
- H01R 13/33: Contact members made of resilient wire
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A terminal module includes an electrical contact having a body (30) configured to face a butting portion (82) on a mating terminal, oriented such that a coil axis (P) is parallel to the body (30) of the electrical contact member and configured to be sandwiched between the mating terminal and the electrical contact (20) to be tilted toward the coil axis (P) when the mating terminal and the electrical contact (20) approach. At least one of a facing surface (31) on the body (30) of the electrical contact (20) on which the obliquely wound coil spring (60) slides and a contact surface (81) on the butting portion (82) of the mating terminal on which the obliquely wound coil spring (60) slides is formed into an uneven surface for increasing frictional resistance during sliding.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A terminal module, comprising:
an electrical contact including a body having a facing surface facing a butting portion provided on a mating terminal; and
an obliquely wound coil spring coiled by winding a conductive wire material a plurality of times, all turns of the conductive wire material being inclined in the same direction with respect to a coil axis, the obliquely wound coil spring being oriented such that the coil axis is parallel to the body of the electrical contact, the obliquely wound coil spring being sandwiched between the mating terminal and the electrical contact by the conductive wire material being deformed to tilt in one direction toward the coil axis when the mating terminal and the electrical contact approach so that the facing surface contacts a first outer surface of the spring and the contact surface contacts a second outer surface of the spring that is opposite the first outer surface; wherein
at least one of the facing surface on the body of the electrical contact on which the obliquely wound coil spring slides and a contact surface on the butting portion of the mating terminal on which the obliquely wound coil spring slides is formed into an uneven surface for increasing frictional resistance during sliding.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The terminal module of claim 1, wherein both the facing surface and the contact surface are formed into uneven surfaces.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The terminal module of claim 2, further comprising a holder configured to hold the electrical contact member and the obliquely wound coil spring, the mating terminal being insertable into the holder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The terminal module of claim 1, wherein the facing surface and the contact surface are planar.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The terminal module of claim 1, wherein the facing surface and the contact surface are parallel to each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The terminal module of claim 1, wherein the facing surface and the contact surface are externally tangent to the spring.