Electromagnetic shield for an electrical terminal with integral spring contact arms

A process for manufacturing an electromagnetic terminal shield, comprising the steps of:

• forming a terminal shield preform from a planar sheet of metal having a plurality of elongate projections extending from one end of the terminal shield preform;
• folding the plurality of elongate projections toward the terminal shield preform to form a plurality of cantilevered spring arms;
• and
• joining distal edges of the terminal preform to form a shield body having a connector opening configured to receive a corresponding mating terminal shield and a cable opening configured to receive a wire cable, wherein the plurality of cantilevered spring arms is integrally formed with the shield body having fixed ends attached to the connector opening and free ends disposed within a shield cavity defined by the shield body, wherein each spring arm in the plurality of cantilevered spring arms has a free end that is in contact with an inner surface of the shield body within the shield cavity, wherein the plurality of cantilevered spring arms includes a first spring arm, a second spring arm generally parallel to the first spring arm, and a third spring arm generally parallel to the second spring arm and wherein the free ends of the first, second and third spring arms are interconnected by a cross bar that is in contact with the inner surface of the shield body within the shield cavity.

An electromagnetic terminal shield manufactured by a process, comprising the steps of:

• forming a terminal shield preform from a planar sheet of metal having a plurality of elongate projections extending from one end of the terminal shield preform;
• folding the plurality of elongate projections toward the terminal shield preform to form a plurality of cantilevered spring arms;
• and
• joining distal edges of the terminal preform to form a shield body having a connector opening configured to receive a corresponding mating terminal shield and a cable opening configured to receive a wire cable, wherein the plurality of cantilevered spring arms is integrally formed with the shield body having fixed ends attached to the connector opening and free ends disposed within a shield cavity defined by the shield body, wherein each spring arm in the plurality of cantilevered spring arms has a free end that is in contact with an inner surface of the shield body within the shield cavity, wherein the plurality of cantilevered spring arms includes a first spring arm, a second spring arm generally parallel to the first spring arm, and a third spring arm generally parallel to the second spring arm and wherein the free ends of the first, second and third spring arms are interconnected by a cross bar that is in contact with the inner surface of the shield body within the shield cavity.