Patent · US Expired

Self-stripping terminal for an electrical connector

US4346955A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
7References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 1, 1980
Grant dateAug 31, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 1, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R4/2445
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A self-stripping terminal for an electrical connector has a resilient fork formed of two prongs or limbs which extend towards each other, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the terminal. Defined between the ends of the prongs is an electrical conductor receiving slot formed with flat parallel walls and with a bevel configuration at the opening or mouth of the slot. The limbs are carried on resilient arms whereby the slot can resiliently open over a wide range of sizes to allow the terminal to accommodate a wide range of electrical conductor diameters and to be used repeatedly. The terminal may also include a second fork which is turned towards the first fork and which may be a semi-rigid fork or another resilient fork. In either case, the second fork has a groove for retaining the conductor, thereby to prevent radial disengagement thereof from the fork. The flat and bevel configuration is formed with walls that are parallel to the axis of the conductor received therein. This restrains cutting of the conductor core by sharp edges during insertion of the conductor and subsequent use of the terminal.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.