# US 11,909,138 B2 · Terminal assembly including flat surface formed and aligned for achieving flat contact with mating tab

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- Number: US 11,909,138 B2
- Document ID: US11909138B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/681,184
- Filed: 2022-02-25
- Published: 2022-09-15
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-10
- Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Inventors: Keishi Kitamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909138B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/111: {co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section}
- H01R 4/185: {combined with a U-shaped insulation-receiving portion}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A terminal includes a male terminal and a female terminal to be connected to each other. The male terminal includes a tab having a circular cross-section. The female terminal includes a body portion having a connecting space S formed inside, the tab being arranged in the connecting space S. The body portion includes a resiliently deformable resilient contact piece and a pair of receiving portions. The resilient contact piece has a variable connection surface arranged toward a center SO of the connecting space S when viewed from a connecting direction. The pair of receiving portions are arranged on a side opposite to the resilient contact piece across the connection space S and have a pair of flat fixed connection surfaces inclined to spread toward the variable connection surface. An opening angle of the pair of fixed connection surfaces is constant in the connecting direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A terminal assembly, comprising:
a male terminal including a tab having a circular cross-section; and
a female terminal connected to the male terminal with each other and including a body portion having a connecting space formed therein,
wherein:
the body portion of the female terminal includes a resiliently deformable resilient contact piece and a pair of receiving portions,
the resilient contact piece has a variable connection surface arranged toward a center of the connecting space when viewed from a connecting direction of the male terminal to the female terminal,
a distance between the variable connection surface and the center of the connection space is variable due to deflection and deformation of the resilient contact piece,
the pair of receiving portions are arranged on a side opposite to the resilient contact piece across the connection space and have a pair of flat fixed connection surfaces inclined to spread toward the variable connection surface when viewed from a connecting direction of the male terminal to the female terminal,
distances between the pair of fixed connection surfaces and the center of the connection space are constant,
an opening angle of the pair of fixed connection surfaces is constant in the connecting direction, and
the male terminal is held in the connection space by bringing the tab into contact with the variable connection surface and the pair of fixed connection surfaces when the tab is arranged in the connecting space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the body portion is in the form of a rectangular tube having four walls, and
the receiving portion is formed by inclining a corner portion connecting two adjacent ones of the walls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The terminal assembly of claim 2, wherein the corner portion connecting the two adjacent ones of the walls includes angular portions protruding outward on both sides in the connecting direction across the receiving portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The terminal assembly of claim 3, wherein the corner portion includes a linking portion inclined from the angular portion arranged on a front side in the connecting direction to the receiving portion.