Electrical socket terminal

Abstract: An electrical contact (2) is shown including a front contact section (4) and a wire terminating section (6). An outer spring (10) surrounds the front mating contact portion (4) and includes a base wall (52), side walls (54) and top wall portions (58, 60) including tabs (62, 64) which form a central polarizing rib as well as retain the outer spring portion (10) together. The contact (2) also includes an integral wire terminating slot section (30) formed from side walls (34) of the inner contact (8) and include a wire terminating slot (32) at for receiving the wire of a suppression device.

Description: This invention relates to an electrical socket which is matable with a pin, according to the preamble of claim 1. An electrical terminal comprising a mating contact portion and a wire terminating rear section is known from EP-A-0492086. The terminal has an outer spring in surrounding relation to said mating contact section, said outer spring being box shaped including a base wall, two side walls and top wall portions folded over to form an longitudinal seam. Said top wall portions are in abutting relation and fixed to each other. There is shown in EP-A-0352966, a socket for mating with an electrical pin, where the socket has contact arms for contact with a pin, and an outer spring portion surrounding the contact, where the outer spring portion carries a polarizing rib, as well as a locking lance. The polarizing rib which is located on the outer spring portion is formed as an extension of one of the outside side walls, and therefore the polarizing rib is asymmetrical relative to a terminal receiving cavity. The locking lance is formed from the top wall which projects transversely into the upstanding wall. It is sometimes necessary to provide asymmetrical polarization of the terminal within a connector housing. This asymmetrical polarization can lead to more compact packaging of a plurality of such electrical terminals. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a contact structure where the overall profile of the electrical terminal is more compact, increasing the density of the electrical system. The object of the invention is accomplished by providing an electrical terminal comprising a mating contact portion and a wire terminating rear section, and an outer spring in surrounding relation to the mating contact section, said outer spring is box shaped including a base wall, two side walls and top wall portions folded over to form a longitudinal seam, the top wall portions including at least one upstanding tab extending from each seam in abutting relation and fixed to each other thereby forming a central polarizing feature. It is advantageous to provide locking lances which are struck from the outer spring portion of a socket contact where redundant locking lances are provided. The preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing Figures, whereby; Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled electrical contact; Figure 2 is a top view of the terminal shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view similar to that of Figure 1 without the outer spring attached; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through lines 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through lines 5-5 of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through lines 6-6 of Figure 1. With reference first to Figure 1, an electrical terminal is shown generally at 2 including a front contacting section 4 and a wire terminating section 6. As shown best in Figure 3, the inner contact section is shown as a box shaped receptacle 8 having an overlying outer spring 10 (Figure 1) in surrounding relationship. As shown best in Figure 3, the inner terminal includes a lower base section 12 which runs the substantial length of the terminal having a hinge section at 13 which carries the wire connection section 6. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the wire connecting section 6 is shown as an insulation displacement type slot, although a wire terminating section such as an F-crimp or similar connection could also be incorporated. Two side walls 14 and 16 upstand from the base portion 12, as best shown in Figure 5. As also shown in Figure 5, a top wall portion 18 extends from the side wall portion 16 and is bent at a right angle relative to the side wall portion to form a substantially closed box. Each of the wall portions 12, and 14-18 extend forwardly and are constricted at 20 to form contact sections 22-28 respectively. As shown in Figure 3, a wire receiving slot section is shown at 30 which is profiled to receive a suppression device in the slot 32. This section 30 is profiled by upstanding wall sections 34 and 36 (Figure 6) extending upwardly integral with respective wall sections 14 and 16. This section 30 also includes top cover portions 38 and 40, extending from respective extended wall portions 34 and 36 as best shown in Figures 2 and 6. Along the front edges 42 and 44 of respective wall portions 34 and 36 are located lead-in openings 48 for the slots 32. With respect now to Figures 1 and 2, the outer spring 10 will be described in greater detail. The outer spring 10 comprises a lower base portion at 52 which lies substantially adjacent to lower base 12 of the inner contact portion and has side wall portions 54 and 56 which lie substantially adjacent to respective side wall portions 14 and 16 of the inner contact. The outer spring member 10 further includes top wall portions 58 and 60 (Figure 2) adjacent to the front end of the terminal which are folded over to lie substantially adjacent to the top wall portion 18 of the inner contact. These top wall cover portions 58 and 60 include integral tabs 62 and 64 which extend from longitudinal seams 66 and 68, respectively. These tab portions 62 and 64 extend upwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 4 and are either welded or soldered together to fix the top wall portions 58 and 60 to hold them in a closed condition. The outer spring member 10 further includes rear top wall portions 70 and 72 which further include upstanding tab portions at 74 and 76. The top wall sections 78 and 80 which are intermediate the top wall portions 58, 70; 60 and 72 respectively are separated from the side walls at 77 and along a rear edge at 79 thereby forming two discrete rearwardly facing locking lances, as best shown in Figures 2 and 5. As best shown in Figure 5, the tab portions 62 and 64 define a central polarizing rib where the locking lances 78 and 80 are positioned on opposite sides of the rib. The outer spring is also held to the contact member by way of tab portions 90 and 92 being clinched to the side walls 14 and 16 over an edge 94 formed in an opening 96 (Figure 3).

Claims: An electrical terminal 82) comprising a mating contact portion (4) and a wire terminating rear section (6), and an outer spring (10) in surrounding relation to said mating contact section (4), said outer spring (10) being box shaped including a base wall (52), two sidewalls (54) and top wall portions (58,60;70,72) folded over to form a longitudinal seam (66,68), characterized in that said top wall portions (58,60;72,72) include at least one upstanding tab (62,64;74,76) extending from each seam (66,68) in abutting relation and fixed to each other, thereby forming a central polarizing rib. The terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said top wall portions (58, 60) are formed towards a front end of said outer spring (10) and at the rear end of said outer spring, each top wall portion (70, 72) includes further upstanding tab portions (74, 76) folded against each other forming a rear polarizing rib. The terminal of either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the top wall portions (58, 60) are separated along a side edge (77) and rear edge (79), to form two discrete locking lances (78, 80) having a longitudinal seam (66, 68) therebetween. The terminal according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said top wall portions (58, 60) on said outer spring are soldered or welded together. The terminal according to claim 4 characterized in that the upstanding tabs (62,64) formed towards the front end of said outer spring (10) and/or the further upstanding tab portions (74,76) at the rear end of said outer spring (10) are soldered or welded together.

Inventors: HOTEA GHEORGHE, HOTEA, GHEORGHE
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13