Sheet metal part with improved connection tab geometry
AssigneesTE Connectivity India Private Limited, TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
InventorsVolker Seipel, Erik Glombitza, Jens Nickel, Sowmya Shivananda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector unit and having an electrical connector and a connection tab connected to the electrical connector or connecting the electrical connector to a carrier-strip when a carrier strip is included in the electrical connector unit. The connector tab has a weakened shear resistance zone, so when the connection tab is sheared to separate it from the electrical connector or to separate the electrical connector and the carrier-strip, a reduced shearing force is required to shear the connection tab.
Claims17
An electrical connector unit comprising:
- an electrical connector;
- and
- a connection tab:
- (a) connected to the electrical connector, and
- (b) having a weakened shear resistance zone that breaks and causes separation of the electrical connector and the connection tab when a shear force is applied to the weakened shear resistance zone of the connection tab, the weakened shear resistance zone having a recess extending into the electrical connector.
An electrical connector unit comprising:
- an electrical connector;
- a carrier-strip;
- and
- a connection tab:
- (a) connecting the electrical connector and the carrier-strip, and
- (b) having a weakened shear resistance zone that breaks and causes separation of the electrical connector and the carrier-strip when a shear force is applied to the weakened shear resistance zone of the connection tab, the weakened shear resistance zone having a recess extending into the electrical connector and the carrier-strip.
An electrical connector unit comprising:
- an electrical connector oriented along a connector direction, and
- a connection tab:
- (a) connected to the electrical connector and,
- (b) having:
- (1) a cross-section area oriented essentially perpendicular to the connector direction, and
- (2) a weakened zone in which the shear resistance of the connection tab is reduced compared to an unprocessed connection tab of the same construction type and size not having the weakened zone, the weakened zone having a recess extending into the electrical connector.
An electrical connector unit comprising:
- an electrical connector oriented along a connector direction;
- a carrier strip;
- and
- a connection tab:
- (a) connecting the electrical connector and the carrier-strip, and
- (b) having:
- (1) cross-section area oriented essentially perpendicular to the connector direction, and
- (2) a weakened zone in which the shear resistance of the connection tab is reduced compared to an unprocessed connection tab of the same construction type and size not having the weakened zone, the weakened zone having a recess extending into the electrical connector.
A method of producing an electrical connector including the steps of:
- providing an electrical connector unit having:
- (a) an electrical connector, and
- (b) a connection tab:
- (1) connected to the electrical connector, and
- (2) having a weakened shear resistance zone that breaks and causes separation of the electrical connector and the connection tab when a shear force is applied to the weakened shear resistance zone of the connection tab, the weakened shear resistance zone having a recess extending into the electrical connector;
- and
- shearing the electrical connector unit at the weakened shear resistance zone of the connection tab to separate the electrical connector and the connection tab.
A method of producing an electrical connector including the steps of:
- providing an electrical connector unit having:
- (a) an electrical connector,
- (b) a carrier-strip, and
- (c) a connection tab:
- (1) connecting the electrical connector and the carrier-strip, and
- (2) having a weakened shear resistance zone that breaks and causes separation of the electrical connector and the carrier-strip when a shear force is applied to the weakened shear resistance zone of the connection tab, the weakened shear resistance zone having a recess extending into the electrical connector;
- and
- shearing the electrical connector unit at the weakened shear resistance zone of the connection tab to separate the electrical connector and the carrier-strip.
A method of producing an electrical connector including the steps of:
- providing an electrical connector unit having:
- (a) an electrical connector, and
- (b) a connection tab connected to the electrical connector, and
- reducing the material strength of the connection tab in a selected zone of the connection tab by forming a recess in the connection tab extending into the electrical connector;
- shearing the electrical connector unit at the weakened shear resistance zone of the connection tab having the reduced material strength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.