Molex Corporation

Yves Lepottier

Robert M Fuerst

Dwaraganathan Bhagyanathan Sathianathan

Russell J Watt

Harry N Etters

Xin Wang

Vijy Koshy

Eric Hepler

Gregory E Avery

Robert J Flowers

Bradley M Dick

David A Pfaffinger

Kevin L Putnam

Deepak Patil

Dwaraganathan Bhagyanathan-Sathlanathan

Dwaraganathan Bhagynathan Sathianathan

A female receptacle terminal () for an electrical connector is disclosed. The female receptacle terminal includes a receptacle having an opening () to receive a male blade terminal () in an insertion direction (M). A resilient contact beam () extends from a top part of the receptacle towards an opposed bottom part. At least one contact surface () is provided on at least one of the resilient contact beam and the bottom part and has a contact bump () curved in the insertion direction and a width direction to engage the male blade terminal at a linear contact interface, and a guide portion () being linear in the width direction and parallel to the bottom part in a plane perpendicular to the width direction to engage the male blade terminal at a point contact interface. Also disclosed is a male blade terminal, an electrical connector and a method of forming an electrical connection.

Anti-wear female receptacle terminal

In some embodiments, an electrical terminal includes a contact formed and a hood surrounding the contact. The contact and hood have cooperating retention features for securing the contact to the hood, and the hood provides strengthening features for improving the mechanical properties of the contact. The electrical terminal is mounted in a connector assembly. The electrical terminal has features which prevent or minimize damage to a seal of the connector assembly.

Electrical terminal and connector assembly

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material having a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that are spaced apart from the flexible contact beam that provide increased normal force to the flexible contact beam upon engagement of the flexible contact beam with the stiffening beam.

Terminal fitting

Connector terminal

In some embodiments, an electrical terminal includes a contact formed of a first material having a tensile strength, and a hood surrounding the contact, the hood formed of a second material having a tensile strength. The tensile strength of the second material is greater than the tensile strength of the first material. The contact and hood have cooperating retention features for securing the contact to the hood, and the hood provides strengthening features for improving the mechanical properties of the contact. The electrical terminal is mounted in a connector assembly. The electrical terminal has features which prevent or minimize damage to a seal of the connector assembly.

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material that can have a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that engage the flexible contact beam providing increased normal force to the flexible contact beam.

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a hood. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and stiffening beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The hood is formed from a second material having a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The hood includes a rib having tapered ends and a locking beam that engages a housing to secure the terminal. The locking beam further includes a stop having a rounded end.

Terminal fitting with hood

An electrical terminal fitting includes a body and a covering. The body is formed from a first material and includes a connection section and a contacting section with the contacting section having a flexible contact beam and an opposing stationary beam for receiving a male pin of a mating terminal. The covering is formed from a second material that can have a higher tensile strength than the first material and is secured to the body. The covering includes a stiffening beam and a support beam that engages the flexible contact beam providing increased normal force to the flexible contact beam.

A lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a first housing mounting a plurality of first terminals. A mating assist lever is pivotally movably mounted on the first connector for movement in a pivotal operating stroke between a pre-mated position at one end of the stroke and a fully mated position at an opposite end of the stroke. A second connector includes a second housing mateable with the first housing of the first connector. A coupling is provided between the mating assist lever and the second connector, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to pivotal movement of the lever between its pre-mated and mated positions. Interengaging interference surfaces are provided at spaced locations between the first and second housings of the first and second connectors, respectively. The interference surfaces are engageable when the mating assist lever is at an intermediate point between the opposite ends of its operating stroke. Thereby, the housings are overstrained during an end portion of the operating stroke as the lever reaches its fully mated position.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Yves Lepottier