Patent ID: 6217356
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical terminal comprising:a body having first and second connecting portions;said first connecting portion being adapted to mate with a pin terminal and including two beams extending substantially parallel to one another from an edge of said body and defining a terminal-receiving slot therebetween;each beam having a primary contact surface inwardly of a leading end thereof and at least one of said beams includes a secondary contact surface proximate said leading end, said contact surfaces extending substantially orthogonally into said terminal-receiving slot, said primary and secondary contact surfaces on said at least one beam being spaced both vertically and horizontally from each other, said corresponding primary contact surfaces of the two beams being substantially opposed to each other;whereby, upon inserting a pin terminal into said terminal-receiving slot, said at least one secondary contact surface engages said pin terminal at at least one first location thereon and upon further insertion said pin terminal engages said primary contact surfaces at second locations thereon, said second locations being spaced at least horizontally from said at least one first location on said pin terminal, said secondary contact surface and first location defining an electrical arc arresting region thereby preventing deleterious electrical arcing between said pin terminal at said second locations and said primary contact surfaces on said beams.