Terminal structure of female connector

The terminal has two clamping pieces and two positioning pieces extended from an upper section and a middle section of the terminal, respectively. The width of the clamping pieces is exactly one half of that of the positioning pieces. In addition, a first positioning piece is U-shaped with two aims while a second positioning piece has a single arm whose shape fits the gap between the arms of the first positioning piece. As such, the terminals to be produced from a sheet of metal could be compactly arranged together. For a same sheet of metal, twice as many terminals of the present invention could be produced as the conventionally structured terminals.

(A) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to connectors, and more particularly to a novel structure of the terminals of a female connector which effectively reduces the material wasted during the manufacturing process.

(B) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

FIG. 6shows how a number of terminals A1commonly found in a female connector are manufactured. As illustrated, each terminal A1has clamping pieces A11and positioning pieces A12extended from an upper section and a middle section of the terminal A1, respectively. The clamping pieces A11are those that clamps the terminals of a male connector plugged into the female connector. The positioning pieces A12are to securely and reliably hold the terminal A1.

As illustrated, the terminals A1are punched from a sheet of metal. Due to the presence of the positioning pieces A12between adjacent terminals A1, quite some material is wasted in the process, thereby increasing production cost and reducing competitiveness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel structure of the terminals of a female connector which is taught herein which effectively reduces the material wasted during the manufacturing process and doubles the production rate.

A terminal according to the present invention has two clamping pieces and two positioning pieces extended from an upper section and a middle section of the terminal, respectively. The width of the clamping pieces is exactly one half of that of the positioning pieces. In addition, a first positioning piece is U-shaped with two arms while a second positioning piece has a single arm whose shape fits the gap between the arms of the first positioning piece.

As such, the terminals to be produced from a sheet of metal could be compactly aligned together. For a sheet of metal, twice as many terminals of the present invention could be produced than the conventionally structured terminals. Therefore, the waste of material is significantly reduced and the production rate is effectively doubled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, terminals1according to an embodiment of the present invention are arranged at equal spacing in the body of a female connector2. Each terminal1, from top to bottom, has an upper section, a middle section, and a leg. The legs10of the terminals1are exposed from a bottom side of the connector2so that the connector2could be soldered to a circuit board (not shown). The legs10could have a pointed or leveled bottom tip.

As further shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, two clamping pieces11are extended from two lateral sides of the upper section of the terminal1, respectively. The connections between the clamping pieces11and the upper section of the terminal1are cut along a line111, respectively, so that the clamping pieces11and the upper section are separated but remain partially connected. The clamping pieces11are then bended towards a front side of the terminal1until they are substantially perpendicular to the terminal1. As such, the clamping pieces11and the upper section of the terminal1form a U-shaped cross section. The sections of the clamping pieces11that are separated from the terminal1are further bended towards each other so that the U-shaped cross section has a large opening112at a top end and is gradually reduced downwards. In other words, the distance between the clamping pieces11is gradually reduced from top to bottom. Bottom ends113of the clamping pieces11are slightly bended again so that they are substantially parallel to each other and form a significantly smaller opening. As such, the clamping pieces11of the terminal1are capable of sustaining a great number of plugging and unplugging of male terminals without losing their resilience.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, two positioning pieces11are extended from two lateral sides of the middle section of the terminal1, respectively. The positioning pieces12are also bended towards the front side of the terminal1until they are substantially perpendicular to the terminal1. A first positioning piece12is U-shaped with two arms121while a second positioning piece12has a single arm122. Please note that the width of the first and second positioning pieces12is identical and is exactly twice of that of the clamping pieces11. Please note that the shape of the arm122matches the gap between the arms121.

As such, as shown inFIG. 5, the terminals1to be produced from a sheet of metal could be compactly arranged together, as the second positioning piece12's arm122of a terminal1fits directly between the two arms121of the first positioning piece12of an adjacent terminal1. For a sheet of metal, twice as many terminals1of the present invention could therefore be produced as the conventionally structured terminals. Therefore, the waste of material is significantly reduced and the production rate is effectively doubled.