US 2026/0302673 A1 · ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SYSTEM WITH A MALE TERMINAL ASSEMBLY HAVING A COMPRESSION LIMITING MEANS

Abstract

An electrical connector system is disclosed having a male connector assembly and a female connector assembly. The male connector assembly includes a male housing assembly and a male terminal assembly having a male terminal, a spring member with at least one contact arm with a significantly bent configuration and an openable jacket that encloses a substantial extent of the male terminal and the spring member. The male terminal assembly also includes a compression limiting means that prevents an external force from overly deforming the contact arm inward. Preventing excessive depression of the contact arm is desirable because it can damage the contact arm and/or the spring member. The female connector assembly includes a female housing assembly designed to receive a female terminal assembly as well as an extent of the male terminal assembly in a connected state during operation of the electrical connector system.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An electrical connector assembly for use in a power distribution assembly, the connector assembly comprising:

a male connector assembly including a male terminal assembly comprising,
a male terminal body with a receptacle and at least one contact arm having a bent portion that defines a contact arm apex;
a spring member with at least one spring arm configured to underlie the at least one contact arm. the at least one spring arm comprising at least one compression tab extending therefrom, the at least one compression tab being configured to limit excessive compression of the at least one contact arm by an external force to prevent damage to the male terminal body;
and
an openable jacket;
wherein in a fully assembled state, (i) the spring member is positioned in the receptacle of the male terminal body and the at least one spring arm underlies the at least one contact arm, and (ii) a majority of the male terminal body and the spring member reside within the openable jacket.

3 more elements

An electrical connector assembly for use in a power distribution assembly, the connector assembly comprising:

a male connector assembly including a male terminal assembly comprising:
a male terminal body with receptacle, a base portion and a contact arm extending from the base portion;
a spring member including:
(i) at least one spring arm that underlies the contact armand that has a frontal portion with an over compression extent, and (ii) at least one compression tab extending laterally from a portion of the spring member;
wherein in a fully assembled state, (i) the spring member is positioned in the receptacle of the male terminal body and the at least one spring arm underlies the contact arm, (ii) when an external force is applied to the contact arm, both the contact arm and the at least one spring arm are inwardly compressed, and (iii) when additional external force is applied to the contact arm, further inward compression of the at least one spring arm is constrained by the at least one compression tab of the spring member, thereby preventing over-compression of the male terminal assembly.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical connector system with a male terminal assembly having a compression limiting means

Life of this patent

Electrical connector system with a male terminal assembly having a compression limiting means

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30