Patent Description:
In the related art, there is a conductive terminal adapted to be electrically connected with a conductor in a clamping manner. The conductive terminal typically comprises two pairs of elastic cantilevers, each pair of which are adapted to clamp one conductor such as a wire.

In the related art, in order to clamp the conductor reliably, the elastic cantilevers will be elastically deformed when the conductor is clamped between the pair of elastic cantilevers. However, in the related art, when the conductor is clamped between the pair of elastic cantilevers, free ends of the elastic cantilevers are always in a suspended state, i.e., the elastic cantilevers each are always used as a cantilever beam, which causes the elastic cantilevers to be easily plastically deformed when a diameter of the clamped conductor is excessively large or the conductive terminal vibrates. Once the elastic cantilevers are plastically deformed, an electrical contact between the conductive terminal and the conductor will be unreliable or even ineffective.

<CIT> discloses an insulation displacement connector or terminal that is comprised of inner and outer beams forming a slot. A coined area of a common portion between the inner and outer beams forces the inner beams toward each other and improvesslot tolerance and spring force.

<CIT> shows a clamping contact with a fork, having a first and second outer leg between which first and second inner legs are arranged, forming a clamping zone between each other.

A conductive terminal according to the invention has been made to overcome or alleviate at least one aspect of the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a conductive terminal comprising a body, and a pair of first elastic cantilevers adapted to clamp a first conductor. The pair of first elastic cantilevers are connected to the body and accommodated within a first accommodation chamber formed in the body. Each first elastic cantilever or the body is formed with a first elastic support structure, by which a free end of each first elastic cantilever is elastically supported on an inner wall of the first accommodation chamber when the first conductor is clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the first elastic support structure comprises a first protrusion formed on the inner wall of the first accommodation chamber and a first through hole formed in the body. The first through hole is located near the first protrusion so that the first protrusion is deformable elastically under compression. The free end of each first elastic cantilever is elastically supported on the first protrusion when the first conductor is clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the conductive terminal further comprises a pair of second elastic cantilevers adapted to clamp a second conductor. The pair of second elastic cantilevers are connected to the body and accommodated within a second accommodation chamber formed in the body. The second conductor has a diameter less than that of the first conductor so that a free end of each second elastic cantilever is not in contact with an inner wall of the second accommodation chamber when the second conductor is clamped between the pair of elastic cantilevers.

According to further another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the first elastic support structure comprises a first hook portion formed on the free end of each first elastic cantilever. The free end of each first elastic cantilever is elastically supported on the inner wall of the first accommodation chamber by the first hook portion when the first conductor is clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the inner wall of the first accommodation chamber is formed with a first arc protrusion facing end surfaces of the free ends of the pair of first elastic cantilevers.

According to still another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the conductive terminal further comprises a pair of second elastic cantilevers adapted to clamp a second conductor. The pair of second elastic cantilevers are connected to the body and accommodated within a second accommodation chamber formed in the body. Each second elastic cantilevers or the body is formed with a second elastic support structure, by which a free end of each second elastic cantilever is elastically supported on an inner wall of the second accommodation chamber when the second conductor is clamped between the pair of second elastic cantilevers.

According to further another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the second elastic support structure comprises a second hook portion formed on the free end of each second elastic cantilever. The free end of the second elastic cantilever is elastically supported on the inner wall of the second accommodation chamber by the second hook portion when the second conductor is clamped between the pair of second elastic cantilevers.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the inner wall of the second accommodation chamber is formed with a second arc protrusion facing end surfaces of the free ends of the pair of second elastic cantilevers.

According to still another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the conductive terminal is a single metal contact formed by punching a single metal sheet or by a molding process.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the first pair of elastic cantilevers and the pair of second elastic cantilevers are identical to each other and symmetrically arranged on the conductive terminal.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provide a connector comprising an insulation body and the above conductive terminal accommodated within the insulation body.

In the foregoing various exemplary embodiments according to the disclosure, each elastic cantilever or the body of the conductive terminal is formed with an elastic support structure. Thus, when the conductor is clamped between the pair of elastic cantilevers, the free end of each elastic cantilever may be elastically supported on the body by the elastic support structure, so that the pair of elastic cantilevers are changed into the simple supported beam structure from the cantilever beam structure, thereby effectively reducing the risk of plastic deformation of the elastic cantilevers.

Other objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and may give a comprehensive understanding of the disclosure.

The above and other features of the disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The technical solution of the disclosure will be described hereinafter in further detail with reference to the following embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar parts. The description of the embodiments of the disclosure hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the general inventive concept of the disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation on the disclosure.

In addition, in the following detailed description, for the sake of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may also be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are illustrated schematically in order to simplify the drawing.

According to a general technical concept of the disclosure, there is provided a conductive terminal comprising a body, and a pair of first elastic cantilevers adapted to clamp a first conductor. The pair of the first elastic cantilevers are connected to the body and accommodated within a first accommodation chamber formed in the body. Each first elastic cantilever or the body is formed with a first elastic support structure, by which a free end of each first elastic cantilever is elastically supported on an inner wall of the first accommodation chamber when the first conductor is clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers.

<FIG> show a conductive terminal and a connector according to a first embodiment of the invention. <FIG> shows an illustrative perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the disclosure; <FIG> shows an illustrative view of a conductive terminal <NUM> of the connector of <FIG> in which a first conductor <NUM> to be clamped is not shown; and <FIG> shows an illustrative view of the conductive terminal <NUM> of the connector of <FIG> in which the clamped first conductor <NUM> is shown.

As shown in <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly comprises an insulation body <NUM> and a conductive terminal <NUM> accommodated within the insulation body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> and a pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> adapted to clamp the first conductor <NUM>. The pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the body <NUM> and accommodated within a first accommodation chamber <NUM> formed in the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, each first elastic cantilever <NUM> or the body <NUM> is formed with a first elastic support structure 101a, 101b, by which a free end 110a of each first elastic cantilever <NUM> is elastically supported on an inner wall of the first accommodation chamber <NUM> when the first conductor <NUM> is pressed and clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the first elastic support structure 101a, 101b comprises a first protrusion 101a formed on the inner wall of the first accommodation chamber <NUM> and a first through hole 101b formed in the body <NUM>. The first through hole 101b is located near the first protrusion 101a so that the first protrusion 101a is elastically deformable under compression.

As shown in <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the free end 110a of each first elastic cantilever <NUM> is elastically supported on the first protrusion 101a when the first conductor <NUM> is pressed and clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. In this way, each first elastic cantilever <NUM> may be changed into a simple supported beam structure from a cantilever beam structure, thereby effectively reducing the risk of plastic deformation of the first elastic cantilevers.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal <NUM> further comprises a pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> adapted to clamp a second conductor (not shown). The pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the body <NUM> and accommodated within a second accommodation chamber <NUM> formed in the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the second conductor may have a diameter less than that of the first conductor <NUM>. Thus, a free end of each second elastic cantilever <NUM> will not be in contact with an inner wall of the second accommodation chamber <NUM> when the second conductor is clamped between the pair of elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, there is not provided a second elastic support structure, for elastically supporting the free end of the second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, on the conductive terminal <NUM>. The disclosure, however, is not limited to this. It is possible to provide a second elastic support structure, for elastically supporting the free end of the second elastic cantilever <NUM>, on the conductive terminal <NUM>. Further, the second elastic support structure may be similar or identical to the above first elastic support structure.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal <NUM> is a single metal terminal formed by punching a single metal sheet or by a molding process.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the first pair of elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> and the pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> are identical to each other and symmetrically arranged on the conductive terminal <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a conductive connector and a connector according to a second embodiment of the invention. <FIG> shows an illustrative perspective view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the disclosure; <FIG> shows an illustrative view of a conductive terminal <NUM> of the connector of <FIG> in which a first conductor <NUM> to be clamped is not shown; and <FIG> shows an illustrative view of the conductive terminal <NUM> of the connector of <FIG> in which the clamped first conductor <NUM> is shown.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, each first elastic cantilever <NUM> or the body <NUM> is formed with a first elastic support structure, by which a free end of each first elastic cantilever <NUM> is elastically supported on an inner wall of the first accommodation chamber <NUM> when the first conductor <NUM> is pressed and clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the first elastic support structure comprises a first hook portion 210a formed at a free end of each first elastic cantilever <NUM>. The free end of each first elastic cantilever <NUM> is elastically supported on the inner wall of the first accommodation chamber <NUM> through the first hook portion 210a when the first conductor <NUM> is pressed and clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. In this way, each first elastic cantilever <NUM> may be changed into a simple supported beam structure from a cantilever beam structure, thereby effectively reducing the risk of plastic deformation of the first elastic cantilevers.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the inner wall of the first accommodation chamber <NUM> is formed with a first arc protrusion 201a facing end surfaces of the free ends of the pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. In this way, as shown in <FIG>, the first conductor <NUM> abuts against the first arc protrusion 201a when the first conductor <NUM> is pressed and clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to protect the first conductor <NUM> from being scratched and worn by a sharp edge of the inner wall of the first accommodation chamber <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal <NUM> further comprises a pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> adapted to clamp a second conductor (not shown).

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the body <NUM> and accommodated within a second accommodation chamber <NUM> formed in the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, each second elastic cantilever <NUM> or the body <NUM> is formed with a second elastic support structure so that a free end of each second elastic cantilever <NUM> is elastically supported on an inner wall of the second accommodation chamber <NUM> by the second elastic support structure when the second conductor is clamped between the pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the second elastic support structure comprises a second hook portion 220a formed on the free end of each second elastic cantilever <NUM>. The free end of the second elastic cantilever <NUM> is elastically supported on the inner wall of the second accommodation chamber <NUM> by the second hook portion 220a when the second conductor is clamped between the pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. In this way, each second elastic cantilever <NUM> may be changed into a simple supported beam structure from a cantilever beam structure, thereby effectively reducing the risk of plastic deformation of the second elastic cantilevers.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the inner wall of the second accommodation chamber <NUM> is formed with a second arc protrusion 202a facing end surfaces of the free ends of the pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. In this way, the second conductor abuts against the second arc protrusion 202a when the second conductor is pressed and clamped between the pair of second elastic cantilevers <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to protect the second conductor from being scratched and worn by a sharp edge of the inner wall of the second accommodation chamber <NUM>.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrative, and many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various structures described in various embodiments may be freely combined with each other without departing from the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

Although the disclosure have been described hereinbefore in detail with reference to the attached drawings, it should be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments in the attached drawings are intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the disclosure by way of example, and should not be construed as limitation to the disclosure.

Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
A conductive terminal (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>; <NUM>); and
a pair of first elastic cantilevers (<NUM>,<NUM>; <NUM>,<NUM>) adapted to clamp a first conductor (<NUM>), the pair of first elastic cantilevers being connected to the body (<NUM>; <NUM>) and accommodated within a first accommodation chamber (<NUM>; <NUM>) formed in the body (<NUM>; <NUM>),
characterized in that each first elastic cantilever (<NUM>; <NUM>) or the body (<NUM>; <NUM>) is formed with a first elastic support structure (101a, 101b), by which a free end (<NUM>10a) of each first elastic cantilever (<NUM>; <NUM>) is elastically supported on an inner wall of the first accommodation chamber (<NUM>; <NUM>) when the first conductor (<NUM>) is clamped between the pair of first elastic cantilevers (<NUM>,<NUM>; <NUM>,<NUM>).