Patent ID: 6126495
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A plug-in contact element fabricated from a sheet metal stamping for receiving a post-like plug-in contact pin having four sides including a first pair of sides arranged opposite each other, and a second pair of sides arranged opposite each other to provide a square cross section, said plug-in contact element (1) comprising:a basic contact element (3) provided with a rear connecting region (4), a central base region (5) and a front contact region (6) linked together one behind another in a one piece construction along a longitudinal axis (2), said basic contact element (3) being constructed as a flat spring element;said base region (5) having a base bottom wall (7), two base side walls (17) and a base top wall (25) to provide a box shaped configuration;said front contact region (6) including contact spring arms (38, 37) connected to said base top and base bottom walls (25, 7) respectively, said contact spring arms (38, 37) extending forward from said base top and base bottom walls (25, 7), inner flat sides of said contact spring arms (38, 37) being disposed opposite each other for contacting the first pair of sides of the plug-in contact pin;sleeve means for protecting said contact spring arms (38, 37), said sleeve means including a rectangular sleeve (50) having a sleeve bottom wall (53), sleeve side walls (54, 55) and a sleeve top wall (56) arranged around said base region (5) and said contact region (6) so that said contact spring arms (38, 37) are protectively disposed within said sleeve (50);a polarization plate (70) extending outwardly from said sleeve top wall (56) for polarization of said basic contact element (3);a latching spring arm (72) projecting outwardly from said sleeve top wall (56) for latching said basic contact element (3);said base bottom wall (7) and said sleeve bottom wall (53) on one side, and said base top wall (25) and said sleeve top wall (56) on an opposite side being arranged to receive the first pair of sides of the plug-in contact pin therebetween;spring means for providing a contact force between said contact spring arms (37, 38) and the plug-in contact pin, said spring means including said sleeve (50) being constructed as a box cantilever spring having first and second cantilever spring arms (60, 77) disposed in loading contact with outer surfaces of said contact spring arms (37, 38), said first cantilever spring arm (60) being cut free of said sleeve bottom wall (53), said second cantilever spring arm (77) being attached to an additional spring arm attachment tab (73) disposed under said sleeve top wall (56), said latching spring arm (72) being disposed above said second cantilever spring arm (77); andsaid first and second cantilever spring arms (60, 77) extending forward in a longitudinal direction of said plug-in contact element (1) toward a plug-in opening (51) of said sleeve (50).