GB1444579A - Terminals and connectors for interconnecting conductors and male contacts - Google Patents

Abstract

1444579 Terminal MOLEX Inc 6 Nov 1973 [29 Nov 1972] 51511/73 Heading H2E To connect an insulated wire to a blade-like male contact (not shown) a planar sheet-metal terminal 20 carries plate portion 28, rimstiffened at 30, with stamped-out apertures 48, 50, 52 defining resilient arms 54, 56 carrying integral smooth opposing contact-segments 58, 60 turned up over part of their length and fitting with interference on the appropriate male contact. Rim 30 continues 68 to stiffen coplanar tag 22 which is crimped 36, 38 to the conductor and also at 42, 44 to the insulation of a cable. Tang 66 retains the terminal in an insulating holder if one is provided. Alternative designs include lateral instead of longitudinal arms (Figs. 6, 7, not shown), arms widely spaced to mate with a square contact (Figs. 10, 11, not shown), and for a round pin a circular terminal (Figs. 8, 9, not shown) with three circumferential sectional slots defining inner circumferential arms carrying inward facing contact segments round a central hole. In all designs the arms bend and twist slightly on contact entry to maintain pressure. A schematic composite insulating connector housing carrying all four quoted designs of terminal to fit appropriate male contacts is illustrated (Fig. 12, not shown) with a cavity to house each terminal and a passage onto each cavity for lateral insertion of the terminal. A second orthogonal lateral passage may be provided for alternative orientation of any terminal, with change from Fig. 1 design to (Fig. 6) if a blade-like male contact is to be connected. Shoulders are provided in the cavity for engagement with tang 66 in all permitted orientations. A passage enters each cavity to allow access by the male contact. In a further design of connector (Figs. 14, 15, not shown) two terminals of Fig. 1 type are used to connect male blade contacts to conductors of a tape cable; an opening from the face of each cavity remote from the blade entry allows further connection after engagement of the terminal.