Abstract:
A contact terminal, comprising a flat portion, a first bent portion extending from the flat portion, and defining an opening structure therein; a second bent portion extending from the first bent portion; and a contact engaging portion extending from the second bent portion, and including a downward tab extending into the opening structure of the first bend portion when depressed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a contact terminal and, more particularly, to a contact terminal used in an electric connector for reducing the touch between a contact engaging portion and a first bent portion of the contact terminal. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    T.W. Patent Application No. 089205720 discloses a terminal structure for using in a battery connector and which has a base portion. The base portion comprises a first bent portion and a second bent portion extending in opposite direction from the first bent portion. The terminal structure further comprises a mounting portion extending from an end portion of the first bent portion and a contact engaging portion extending from a free end of the second bent portion. The contact engaging portion includes a downward tab toward the base portion. 
         [0005]    However, in practical use, a battery exerts a normal force to the contact engaging portion and because of the design of the downward tab of the contact engaging portion extending toward the base portion, the battery will inflict an excess force between the downward tab of the contact engaging portion and the base portion. Therefore, the downward tab of the contact engaging portion and the base portion tend to twist under pressure and maybe can reduce the life span. 
         [0006]    Hence, an improved electric connector is desired to overcome above problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a contact terminal in order to reduce probability about an alteration of shape by pressure or stress. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve above-mentioned object, a contact terminal, comprising a flat portion, a first bent portion extending from the flat portion, and defining an opening structure therein; a second bent portion extending from the first bent portion; and a contact engaging portion extending from the second bent portion, and including a downward tab extending into the opening structure of the first bend portion when depressed. And in this invention, the first bent portion devises the opening structure for allowing downward tab of the contact engaging portion extending through in order to reduce probability about an alteration of shape by pressure or stress and increase lifespan of the contact terminal. 
         [0009]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of contact terminal in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front assembled perspective view of an electric connector in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a contact terminal  2  of the present invention used in an electric connector  10  is similar with the prior art and connects between an electronic component (not shown) and a circuit board (not shown). 
         [0015]    The electric connector  10  comprises an insulative housing  3  and a plurality of contact terminals  2 . 
         [0016]    The insulative housing  3  comprises a mounting surface  31  which is positioned proximate to the circuit board, a mating interface  32  for supporting the electronic component and a rear surface  33  connecting the mounting surface  31  and the mating interface  32 . The insulative housing  3  defines a plurality of terminal channels  34  extending from the rear surface  33  and through the mounting surface  31  and the mating interface  32 . The terminal channel  34  defines a plurality of mounting grooves  341  adjacent to the mounting surface  31 , a protrusion  342  extending along horizontal direction from the opening (not shown) of the mating interface  32 , and a vertical portion  343  opposite to the rear surface  33 . 
         [0017]    Each contact terminal  2  is respectively received in the corresponding terminal channels  34 . The contact terminal  2  comprises a body portion  21 , a contact engaging portion  22  extending from one end of the body portion  21  and a mounting portion  23  extending from the other end of the body portion  21 . 
         [0018]    The body portion  21  has a first flat portion  211 , a first bent portion  212  extending downwardly from one end of the first flat portion  211 , a second flat portion  213  connecting with the other end of the first bent portion  212  and opposite to the first flat portion  211  in some distance, and a second bent portion  214  extending upwardly from the other end of the first flat portion  211 . The first and second opposite flat portions  211 ,  213  are forming a receiving space (not shown). The connecting corner of the first flat portion  211  and the first bent portion  212  define a first opening  215  so as to make the terminal part of the contact engaging portion  22  inserting. Similarly, The connecting corner of the first bent portion  212  and the second flat portion  213  define a second opening  216  having the same width with the first opening  215 . The first opening  215  and the second opening  216  respectively extend along the first bent portion  212  and communication with each other, and further form a opening structure  217  to provide the terminal part of the contact engaging portion  22  inserting. With this design, the opening structure  217  must have proper width for the terminal part of the contact engaging portion  22  inserting and have proper depth for receiving terminal part of the contact engaging portion  22  in said receiving space. 
         [0019]    The contact engaging portion  22  has a first arm  221  and a second arm  222 , the second arm  222  integrally upwardly extends from the other end of the second bent portion  214  first and then bent a sharp with a generally “Λ” shape extends laterally integrally to form the first arm  221 , and the extends direction of the first arm  221  toward to the first opening  215 . A contact point  223  is located between the first arm  221  and the second arm  222 , preferably at the point of the generally “Λ” shape. 
         [0020]    The mounting portion  23  connecting with the other end of the second flat portion  213  comprises a pair of fixing portions  231  extending respectively along horizontal direction from the ends of the side of the second flat portion  213  and a soldering portion  232  extending downwardly from the second flat portion  213  and between the fixing portions  231 . The connecting portions of the fixing portions  231  and the second flat portion  213  respectively define a support chip  233  toward the first flat portion  211 . The soldering portion  232  and the mounting surface  31  of the insulative housing  3  are approximately in a same plane. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in assembly, the contact terminal  2  can be inserted into the corresponding terminal channels  34  of the insulative housing  3  from the rear surface  33  of the insulative housing  3 . When the contact terminal  2  is inserted into the corresponding terminal channels  34  of the insulative housing  3  from the rear surface  33  of the insulative housing  3 , the second flat portion  213  and the fixing portions  231  received in the mounting grooves  341  for making the contact terminal  2  firmly; the protrusion  342  of the housing  3  controls the distance of the first flat portion  211  and the second flat portion  213  for having a proper depth in receiving space; the first arm  221  having a touch with the vertical portion  343  for gliding along the vertical portion  343 . Without doubt, the soldering portion  232  of the contact terminal  2  locates the solder by its outside surface. 
         [0022]    During use, the contact engaging portion  22  of the contact terminal  2  inclines toward the body portion  21  after a battery (not shown) is assembled to the connector  10 . And in this invention, the body portion  21  devises the first opening  215  for allowing the first arm  221  of the contact engaging portion  22  extending through in order to reduce probability about an alteration of shape by pressure or stress and increase lifespan of the contact terminal  2 . 
         [0023]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the various changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.