US 2003/0224668 A1 · Terminal fitting

Abstract

A terminal fitting (10) has a forwardly open tube (11) for receiving a male tab (T). An inner resilient contact piece (16; 22) has a base end (16A; 22A) unitary with a first wall of the tube (11) and an outer resilient contact piece (15; 21) has a base end (15A; 21A) unitary with a second wall of the tube (11). The respective base ends (15A, 21A; 16A, 22A) are in face-to-face contact, but a clearance (17; 23) is defined between the resilient contact pieces (16, 22; 15, 21) forward of the base ends (15A, 21A; 16A, 22A) prior to insertion of the male tab (T) into the tube (11). A male tab (T) can be inserted into the tube (11) and gradually closes the clearance (17; 23) from the rear end toward the front end. Thus, the support for resilient deformation shifts and stress concentrations are avoided.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A terminal fitting (10) with a plurality of resilient contact pieces (15, 16;

21, 22) placed substantially one over another and extending in forward and backward directions while having base ends (15A, 16A;
21A, 22A) thereof held substantially in close contact with each other, wherein:
when a male tab (T) is unconnected, a clearance (17;
23) is defined between at least part of the resilient contact pieces (15, 16;
21, 22), and
in the process of connecting the male tab (T) thereby pressing the contact portion (16D) by the male tab (T) being connected, a closed contact area between the resilient contact pieces (15, 16;
21, 22) defining the clearance (17;
23) therebetween is extended from the base ends (15A, 16A;
21A, 22A) toward the extending ends of the resilient contact pieces (15, 16;
21, 22).

7 more elements

A terminal fitting (10) having opposite front and rear ends, portions of the terminal fitting (10) substantially adjacent the front end defining a tube (11) open at the front end for receiving a male tab (T), an inner resilient contact piece (16;

22) having a base end (16A;
22A) unitary with a first wall of the tube (11) and an extending end (16C;
22D) cantilevered inwardly into said tube (11), portions of the inner resilient contact piece (16;
22) between the base end (16A;
22A) and the extending end (16C;
22D) defining an inwardly convex curve for contacting the male tab (T), and an outer resilient contact piece (15;
21) having a base end (15A;
21A) unitary with a second wall of the tube (11) and in face-to-face contact with the base end (16A;
22A) of the inner resilient contact piece (16;
22), the outer resilient contact piece (15;
21) further having an extending end (15 B;
21C), portions of the outer resilient contact piece (15;
21) between the base end (15A;
21A) and the extending end (15B;
21C) defining an inwardly concave curve such that a clearance (17;
23) is defined between the outer and inner resilient contact pieces (16, 22;
15, 21) prior to insertion of the male tab (T) into the tube (11).

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Terminal fitting

Life of this patent

Terminal fitting

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16