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US 2003/0190846 A1Published application
Folding blade electrical terminal
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorLarry J. Costa
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorLarry J. Costa
Estimating the term…
The folding blade terminal of the present invention includes a planar base and elongated terminal blade that are operatively connected through an upward projection fold feature and terminal blade angle hinge feature. In use, the folding blade terminal facilitates point-of-use final terminal forming and integral mechanical pull testing while producing a uniform solder fillet around the perimeter of the terminal base, eliminating the risk of stress points caused by irregular solder fillets. Alternate embodiments of the invention provide a terminal lock disposed at the opposite end of the terminal to prevent the unintentional removal of a box terminal from the terminal blade. Another embodiment of the invention provides a double folding blade terminal. Each of the embodiments of the present invention can be formed to have particular profile heights as required.
A folding blade electrical terminal for connection with a work surface, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Connections between conductors of different materials; Connections between or with aluminium or steel-core aluminium conductors: soldered or…
Ohmic-resistance heating: heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows,…
Contact members: pins or blades for co-operation with sockets
Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications: for vehicles
Term end not estimated
1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to blade-style electrical terminals and more particularly to a folding blade electrical terminal that facilitates final terminal folding and integral mechanical pull testing while providing a uniform solder fillet when mechanically connected to a work surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art blade terminal having a U-shaped footprint after the same has been soldered to a work surface;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art inline blade terminal after the same has been soldered to a work surface;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folding blade terminal of the present invention;
FIG. 1 depicts a prior art U-shaped blade terminal 500 having a base 502 comprising a center section 504 and a pair of elongated feet 506 and 508 extending outward from center exterior section 504. A pre-clad solder layer (not shown) is applied to the lower surface of base 502 prior to forming the U-shaped blade terminal 500. The terminal blade 510 is formed by displacing the material between the symmetrical feet 506 and 508. Accordingly, the terminal blade 510 has a portion of the pre-clad solder layer, which was applied to the base 502, disposed along part of its lower surface. In different embodiments, prior art U-shaped terminal 500 may have a reinforcing rib detail (not shown) adjacent the center exterior section 504 and the lower portion of the upper surface of terminal blade 510 to prevent the terminal blade 510 from being deflected.
During a soldering operation, the pre-clad solder layer on the bottom of base 502 and terminal blade 510 flows to the work surface on which the terminal is being connected. This forms a solder fillet 512 adjacent the center interior section 504 between the terminal blade 510 and the symmetrical feet 506 and 508. FIG. 1 illustrates that the solder fillet 512 will typically be much larger than the solder fillet 514 that is formed adjacent the perimeter of the remaining portions of base 502. The lack of uniformity between the solder fillets creates an unacceptable stress point on the work surface, which increases the likelihood of a fracture in the work surface beneath the point of connection.
If the terminal blade 510 is deflected after soldering during a pull strength test or a final assembly positioning of a box terminal, the higher solder fillet 512 will fracture where it is soldered to the work surface. This fracture will be visible from the exterior of glass work surfaces, which is not acceptable in the industry.