Electroacoustic transducer having a slotted terminal structure for connection to a flexible wire, and an assembly of the same

A miniature electroacoustic transducer for use in an assembly comprising the miniature electroacoustic transducer and a flexible electrical wire, wherein:

• the flexible electrical wire is terminated by an electrically conductive connecting element including:
• a shoulder having a first width dimension extending in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the orientation of an end of the flexible electrical wire proximate to the connecting element;
• and
• the miniature electroacoustic transducer comprises an electrically conducting, externally accessible terminal configured to mechanically and electrically engage the connecting element, the externally accessible terminal comprising:
• a back fixed to the miniature electroacoustic transducer;
• and
• a first leg and a second leg each biased toward the back, the first and second legs defining a slot structure of the externally accessible terminal,
• wherein each of the first and second legs are adapted to engage the shoulder of the connecting element while the flexible wire is oriented substantially perpendicular to the back,
• and wherein the first and second legs extend at least generally in a plane of the wall of the miniature electroacoustic transducer such that the connecting element is received into the slot structure of the terminal from a direction substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the end of the flexible electrical wire proximate to the connecting element.

A slot structure for use in an assembly comprising a miniature electroacoustic transducer and a flexible electrical wire, wherein:

• the flexible electrical wire is terminated by an electrically conductive connecting element including:
• a shoulder having a first width dimension extending in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the orientation of an end of the flexible electrical wire proximate to the connecting element;
• and
• the miniature electroacoustic transducer comprises an electrically conducting, externally accessible terminal configured to mechanically and electrically engage the connecting element, the externally accessible terminal comprising:
• a back fixed to the miniature electroacoustic transducer;
• and
• a first leg and a second leg each biased toward the back, the first and second legs defining the slot structure of the externally accessible terminal,
• wherein each of the first and second legs are adapted to engage the shoulder of the connecting element while the flexible wire is oriented substantially perpendicular to the back,
• and wherein the first and second legs extend at least generally in a plane of the wall of the miniature electroacoustic transducer such that the connecting element is received into the slot structure of the terminal from a direction substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the end of the flexible electrical wire proximate to the connecting element.

A miniature electroacoustic transducer, comprising:

• a housing;
• transducer elements within the housing;
• an electrically conducting terminal externally accessible on the housing and electrically coupled to at least one of the transducer elements, the terminal having a slot structure formed therein, the slot structure being configured to mechanically and electrically engage an electrically conductive shoulder of a connecting element terminating an end of a flexible electrical wire, the shoulder having a first width dimension extending in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the orientation of an end of the flexible electrical wire proximate to the connecting element,
• the slot structure comprising:
• a first leg and a second leg each biased toward a back of the terminal, the first and second legs defining the slot structure of the externally accessible terminal
• wherein each of the first and second legs are adapted to engage the shoulder of the connecting element while the flexible wire is oriented substantially perpendicular to the back,
• and wherein the first and second legs extend at least generally in a plane such that the connecting element is received into the slot structure of the terminal from a direction substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the end of the flexible electrical wire proximate to the connecting element.