# US 8,147,256 B2 · Electrical connector and terminal thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,147,256 B2 - Document ID: US8147256B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/930,582 - Filed: 2011-01-11 - Published: 2011-10-20 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-20 - Assignees: Lotes Co., Ltd - Inventors: Zuofeng Jin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8147256B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/2442: {with a single cantilevered beam} - H01R 12/52: connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures - H01R 12/714: {with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit} - H01R 13/41: by frictional grip in grommet, panel or base - H01R 12/57: surface mounting terminals - H01R 12/716: {Coupling device provided on the PCB} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electrical connector and a terminal are disclosed. The terminal, comprising: a base having an upper end and a lower end; a flexible arm extending upward from the upper end of the base; a retaining portion extending upward from the upper end of the base, wherein a first predetermined distance is between the flexible arm and the retaining portion; a pair of holding legs, each one comprising: a transition arm extending downward from the lower end of the base and a welding portion extending downward from the transition arm; wherein a second predetermined distance is between two transition arms, two welding portions are co-planner and inclined to the base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A terminal, received in a receiving slot of an insulating housing, comprising: a base having an upper end and a lower end; a flexible arm extending upward from the upper end of the base; a retaining portion extending upward from the upper end of the base, wherein a first predetermined distance is between the flexible arm and the retaining portion; a pair of holding legs, each holding leg comprising: a transition arm extending obliquely and downward from the lower end of the base and a welding portion extending downward from the transition arm at a slanting angle; wherein a second predetermined distance is defined between the two transition arms, wherein the pair of welding portions are co-planner and inclined toward the base; wherein the pair of welding portions form a retaining space therebetween to retain a solder ball; and wherein each of the welding portions is respectively formed with a substantially arc-shaped inner edge, wherein the inner edges between the two welding portions of the holding legs define a claw structure to retain the solder ball with the insulating housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The terminal of claim 1, wherein the transition arms extend from the base at a first angle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The terminal of claim 2, wherein a block portion is disposed between the transition arm and the welding portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The terminal of claim 3, wherein the blocking portion protrudes from the holding leg. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the welding portion comprises a hook. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The terminal of claim 1, wherein the welding portion further comprises a shoulder concaved from an outer edge thereof adjacent to the base, wherein the shoulder is protruded beyond an outer edge of the transition arm to be blocked against a bottom surface of the insulating housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The terminal of claim 1, wherein the flexible arm comprises a bending portion and a contact arm, the bending portion extends aslant upward to form the contact arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The terminal of claim 7, wherein the bending portion and the holding leg are disposed at the same side of the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The terminal of claim 2, wherein the first angle is an obtuse angle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The terminal of claim 9, the welding portions of the holding leg are coplanar, wherein the angle between the plane of the welding portion and the plane of the transition arm is smaller than the first angle. ### Claim 11 An electrical connector, comprising: an insulating housing having a plurality of receiving slots, wherein the receiving slots are disposed in a staggered configuration; a plurality of terminals, received in the receiving slots correspondingly, and each of the terminals comprising: a base having an upper end and a lower end; a flexible arm extending upward from the upper end of the base; and a retaining portion extending upward from the upper end of the base, wherein a first predetermined distance is between the flexible arm and the retaining portion; and a pair of holding legs, each holding leg comprising: a transition arm extending obliquely and downward from the lower end of the base; and a welding portion extending downward from the transition arm at a slanting angle with respect to the transition arm; wherein a second predetermined distance is defined between the two transition arms, wherein the free end of the flexible arm of the terminal in a row is situated between two adjacent flexible arms of the corresponding terminals in a front adjacent row; wherein the pair of welding portions form a retaining space therebetween to retain a solder ball; and wherein the insulating housing protrudes a plurality of protrusion portions from a bottom surface thereof adjacent to the receiving slots correspondingly and faces toward the welding portions correspondingly, wherein each one of the protrusion portions and each two welding portions define a secure holding structure to hold firmly the solder ball there between. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein a flange extends from the top surface of the insulating housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the free end of the flexible arm of the terminal in a row is situated right above the retaining portion of the corresponding terminal in a front adjacent row. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the receiving slot is funnel-shaped, and formed with an upper opening and a lower opening, wherein the upper opening is larger than the lower opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the insulating housing protrudes a plurality of protrusion portions from a bottom surface thereof adjacent to the receiving slots correspondingly and faces toward the welding portions correspondingly, wherein each one of the protrusion portions and each two welding portions define a secure holding structure to hold firmly the solder ball therebetween. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The electrical connecter of claim 11, wherein the transition arms extend from the base at a first angle, the welding portions of the holding leg are coplanar, wherein the angle between the plane of the welding portions and the plane of the transition arm is smaller than the first angle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein each of the protrusion portions is formed with a concave surface facing the receiving slot to define a secure holding structure between the welding portion and the protrusion portion, whereby the solder ball is therefore held firmly between the protrusion portion and the welding portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein each free end of the two welding portions protrudes a hook toward to each other, the hooks and the protrusion portions hold the solder ball corporately therebetween to avoid from dropping after installation.