Patent ID: 6478636
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A female terminal fitting comprising an elongate box-like body of sheet metal having a generally uniform thickness, the body having an open end adapted to receive a male tab of a male terminal fitting in a fitting direction, the body further having a resilient contacting member extending in the fitting direction, the resilient contacting member being bent resiliently when in contact with the male tab, the female fitting further comprising bending regulating members part sheared from said body and underlying said contacting member to provide firm support and prevent excessive bending thereof, wherein said bending regulating members comprise proximal and distal bending regulating members formed from two or more adjacent walls of said body and disposed in juxtaposition in the fitting direction, wherein the proximal bending regulating member is part sheared from at least one sidewall and bent inward along a bend line that is generally parallel to the fitting direction, and wherein the proximal bending regulating member projects substantially orthogonally from the at least one sidewall of the body, the at least one sidewall being substantially perpendicular to the contacting member, to define a planar face that extends substantially in the fitting section a first distance and away from the sidewall from which the face projects a second distance, each distance being substantially greater than the thickness of the sheet metal for contact with a proximal portion of the contacting member, and wherein a distal portion of the distal bending regulating member projects and extends substantially orthogonally from a base wall of the body.