Female electrical terminal

US5810627A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Molex, LLC · US

Inventors

• Frederick J. Gierut · Tinley Park, US
• Stephen A. Colleran · Lisle, US
• Russell L. Mackowiak · Wheaton, US
• Paul Christopher Berg · Batavia, US
• Harry N. Etters · Downers Grove, US
• John O. Higgins, Jr. · Berwyn, US
• Theo Poll
• Alexander Popa · Waldbronn, DE
• Kevin C. Benes · Willowbrook, US
• Frank L. Geoghegan · Hinsdale, US
• David R. Kalal · Wheaton, US
• Scott P. Marceau · Naperville, US
• Robert Olson · Schaumburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 4, 1996
• Grant date: Sep 22, 1998
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01R13/114
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A female electrical terminal has a contact end and a terminating end. The contact end includes a pair of opposing walls for receiving a male terminal therebetween. A flexible element is disposed in the contact end for pressing against the male terminal. The flexible element includes a mounting section with spaced wall portions juxtaposed inside the opposing walls of the contact end. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the opposing walls and the spaced wall portions of the mounting section of the flexible element. An abutment is provided in the contact end to prevent inward collapsing of the spaced wall portions and, thereby, to maintain the latches in interengagement.