Contact terminal assembled from at least two parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10230190-B2
Application number	US-201815954859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2018
Priority date	Apr 19, 2017
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A contact terminal is assembled from parts including a base part and a sleeve. The base part has a plurality of contact tongues aligned along a mating axis and configured to contact a male connector pin by contact surfaces on the plurality of contact tongues. The sleeve is configured to be arranged at least partially over the base part, the sleeve having a spring element. The spring element is configured to contact the plurality of contact tongues on a side opposite to the contact surfaces side. The spring element comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a flexible support structure therebetween. The first arm and the second arm protrude from the sleeve along the mating axis inside the sleeve. The flexible support structure undulates from the first arm to the second arm.

First claim

I claim:

1. A contact terminal, comprising:
a base part having a plurality of contact tongues aligned along a mating axis and configured to contact a male connector pin by contact surfaces on the plurality of contact tongues; and
a sleeve configured to be arranged at least partially over the base part, said sleeve having a spring element, wherein the spring element is configured to contact the plurality of contact tongues on a backside opposite to the contact surfaces side, wherein the spring element comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a flexible support structure therebetween, wherein the first arm and the second arm protrude from the sleeve along the mating axis inside the sleeve, and wherein the flexible support structure is undulating between the first arm to the second arm.

2. The contact terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has a rectangular cross-section and wherein the flexible support structure extends perpendicular to the mating axis.

3. The contact terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has a round cross-section and the flexible support structure at least partly surrounds the plurality of contact tongues.

4. The contact terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support structure is arranged parallel to an inner surface of the sleeve inside the sleeve.

5. The contact terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the spring element are integrally formed from sheet-metal.

6. The contact terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support structure extends in a zigzag shape perpendicular to the mating axis.

7. The contact terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the zigzag shape is defined by a plurality of straight strips, wherein the plurality of straight strips are arranged lateral to each other and angled to the mating axis, and wherein the plurality of straight strips are connected at their straight strip ends.

8. The contact terminal according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of straight strips is deformed between the straight strip ends towards the plurality of contact tongues and wherein the plurality of straight strips define a plurality of support areas for the plurality of contact tongues.

9. The contact terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support structure extends in a rectangular wave shape.

10. The contact terminal according to claim 9 , wherein the rectangular wave shape is defined by a plurality of straight strips, wherein a first set of straight strips is arranged lateral to each other and along the mating axis, wherein a second set of straight strips is arranged lateral to each other and perpendicular to the mating axis, and wherein the plurality of straight strips are connected at their straight strip ends.

11. The contact terminal according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of straight strips of the first set of straight strips is deformed between the straight strip ends towards the plurality of contact tongues and wherein the plurality of straight strips define a plurality of support areas for the plurality of contact tongues.

12. The contact terminal according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of straight strips are deformed by kinking the plurality of straight strips and wherein the plurality of straight strips define edge shaped support areas.

13. The contact terminal according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of support areas are arranged along a transversal axis perpendicular to the mating axis, whereby each single support area is in communication with a single contact tongue.

14. The contact terminal according to claim 13 , wherein the straight strip ends are arranged along the transversal axis and perpendicular to the mating axis.

15. The contact terminal according to claim 14 , wherein the straight strip ends are in communication with an inner surface of the sleeve.

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Llc

Inventors

• Frimmersdorf Gregor

Classifications

• H01R13/15 Primary

  Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure · CPC title

• H01R13/40

  Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members · CPC title

• H01R13/245 Primary

  by stamped-out resilient contact arm · CPC title

• H01R43/16

  for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending · CPC title

• H01R13/18 Primary

  with the spring member surrounding the socket · CPC title