Electrical plug having a flexible terminal retention feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9853396-B1
Application number	US-201615369006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2016
Priority date	Dec 5, 2016
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

An electrical plug includes a first, second, and third plug terminal, and a terminal retainer configured to secure the first, second, and third plug terminals within the electrical plug. The first, second, and third plug terminal are attached to a first, second, and third electrical wire respectively. The terminal retainer defines a flexible structure in which the first plug terminal is secured, thereby allowing the first plug terminal to move independently of the second and third plug terminals. The flexible structure may be in the form of a cantilever beam, wherein the first plug terminal is secured in a location proximate a free end of the cantilever beam. The terminal retainer consists of a single piece of injection molded plastic. The electrical plug may be part of an electrical vehicle battery charger.

First claim

I claim:

1. An electrical plug, comprising:
a first plug terminal, a second plug terminal, and third plug terminal; and
a terminal retainer configured to secure the first, second, and third plug terminals within the electrical plug, said terminal retainer defining a flexible structure in which the first plug terminal is secured, thereby allowing the first plug terminal to move independently of the second and third plug terminals.

2. The electrical plug according to claim 1 , wherein the first plug terminal has a round cross section and the second and third plug terminals have a rectangular cross section and wherein the second and third plug terminals are aligned on a first lateral axis and the first plug terminal is aligned on a second lateral axis.

3. The electrical plug according to claim 2 , wherein the flexible structure is in the form of a cantilever beam and wherein the first plug terminal is secured in a location proximate a free end of the cantilever beam.

4. The electrical plug according to claim 2 , wherein the first plug terminal defines a circumferential flange.

5. The electrical plug according to claim 2 , wherein the electrical plug is configured to conform to NEMA 5-15P standards.

6. The electrical plug according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal retainer consists of a single piece of injection molded plastic.

7. The electrical plug according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing in which the terminal retainer is disposed.

8. The electrical plug according to claim 7 , wherein the housing is formed of a polymeric material and is over-molded the terminal retainer.

9. The electrical plug according to claim 7 , further comprising a first, second, and third electrical wire interconnected with the first, second, and third plug terminals respectively.

10. The electrical plug according to claim 9 , wherein the electrical plug is interconnected with an electric vehicle battery charger.

11. The electrical plug according to claim 9 , wherein a portal is defined in the housing configured to allow the first, second, and third electrical wires to exit the housing and wherein said portal is located closer to the first plug terminal than the second and third plug terminals.

12. The electrical plug according to claim 11 , wherein the first, second, and third electrical wires to exit the housing along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first plug terminal.

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Inc

Inventors

• Musick Steven A

Classifications

• H01R13/405 Primary

  Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting · CPC title

• H01R13/04

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

• H01R13/6315 Primary

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/562

  Bending-relieving · CPC title

• H01R24/30

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title