High cycle terminal with protected failsafe contact
US6264509A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 10, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R13/113
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A spring contact for a female wire harness terminal, the spring contact having a sacrificial ramp which a mating terminal wipes on insertion. The sacrificial ramp includes an aperture below which a failsafe contact connected to a spring portion of the ramp rests until the mating terminal nears full insertion, at which point the spring portion forces the failsafe contact upwardly through the aperture into electrical engagement with the mated terminal. The ramp bears the brunt of the sacrificial wiping; the failsafe contact remains out of wiping contact with the mating terminal until a point at or near the end of terminal insertion, thereby preserving the mating conductive portions of the failsafe leg and the mating terminal from sacrificial wear. This protected, end-of-insertion failsafe connection allows the female spring contact to maintain good electrical connection with the mating terminal over many cycles in high cycle applications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.