Splitter terminal and connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016336703-A1
Application number	US-201615146611-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 4, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A connector assembly may include first and second connector bodies and a terminal splitter. The second connector body may matingly engage the first connector body. The terminal splitter may be received in at least one of the first and second connector bodies. The terminal splitter may include a body portion having first and second wires connected thereto and a blade portion extending from the body portion and including a third wire connected thereto.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A connector assembly comprising:
a first connector body; a second connector body matingly engaging the first connector body; and a terminal splitter received in the first and second connector bodies, the terminal splitter including a body portion having first and second wires connected thereto and a blade portion extending from the body portion and having a third wire connected thereto.

2 . The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes an aperture that at least partially receives a flexible tab of the first connector body.

3 . The connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flexible tab includes a ramped surface and a stop surface, wherein a portion of the ramped surface and a portion of the stop surface are received in the aperture, and wherein the stop surface interferes with a surface defining the aperture to restrict removal of the terminal splitter from the first and second connector bodies.

4 . The connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the terminal splitter is a metallic member formed as a unitary body.

5 . The connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein a width of the body portion is at least two times greater than a width of the blade portion.

6 . The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the blade portion extends through the aperture.

7 . The connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the surface of the aperture with which the stop surface interferes is a flat surface extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade portion.

8 . The connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein the blade portion includes a tapered distal end.

9 . The connector assembly of claim 8 , wherein the third wire includes a female receptacle that receives the blade portion.

10 . The connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second wires are welded to the body portion.

11 . An electrical assembly comprising:
a first electrical component including first and second wires; a second electrical component including third and fourth wires; a third electrical component including fifth and sixth wires; and a connector assembly including a first connector body, a second connector body configured to matingly engage the first connector body, and first and second terminal splitters received in at least one of the first and second connector bodies, each of the first and second terminal splitters including a body portion and a blade portion extending from the body portion, the body portion of the first terminal splitter having the first and third wires electrically connected thereto, the blade portion of the first terminal splitter having the fifth wire electrically connected thereto, the body portion of the second terminal splitter having the second and fourth wires electrically connected thereto, the blade portion of the second terminal splitter having the sixth wire electrically connected thereto.

12 . The electrical assembly of claim 11 , wherein a current amperage flowing through the first and second wires is equal to a sum of a first current amperage flowing through the third and fourth wires and a second current amperage flowing through the fifth and sixth wires.

13 . The electrical assembly of claim 12 , wherein the body portion includes an aperture that at least partially receives a flexible tab of the first connector body.

14 . The electrical assembly of claim 13 , wherein the flexible tab includes a ramped surface and a stop surface, wherein a portion of the ramped surface and a portion of the stop surface are received in the aperture, and wherein the stop surface interferes with a surface defining the aperture to restrict removal of the terminal splitters from the first and second connector bodies.

15 . The electrical assembly of claim 14 , wherein a width of the body portion is at least two times greater than a width of the blade portion.

16 . The electrical assembly of claim 15 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the blade portion extends through the aperture.

17 . The electrical assembly of claim 16 , wherein the surface of the aperture with which the stop surface interferes is a flat surface extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade portion.

18 . The electrical assembly of claim 17 , wherein the terminal splitters are metallic members each formed as a unitary body.

19 . The electrical assembly of claim 18 , wherein the blade portion includes a tapered distal end.

20 . The electrical assembly of claim 19 , wherein the third wire includes a female receptacle that receives the blade portion.

Assignees

• Yazaki North America Inc

Inventors

• Ng Jen Vun
• Aoki Eiji
• Bang Hee Jin

Classifications

• H01R13/4223

  comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers · CPC title

• H01R13/10

  Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades · CPC title

• H01R13/426

  Securing by a separate resilient retaining piece supported by base or case, e.g. collar {or metal contact-retention clip} · CPC title

• H01R31/02 Primary

  Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92) · CPC title

• H01R13/04

  Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets · CPC title