Patent · US Expired

Electrical terminal for surge protection cartridge

US6814631B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
39References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 2, 2002
Grant dateNov 9, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 2, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R13/6666
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical terminal and a system of the terminal and a housing is disclosed as an example of the present invention. The electrical terminal and the housing have a number of advantages including being sufficiently stiff to prevent arcing and physical damage to the electrical terminal upon being exposed to surge current/voltage. The terminal includes a contact with a base portion from which two spaced apart arms extend outwardly. First portions of the arms are generally parallel to one another. Second portions of the arms converge toward each other and then flare outwardly along third portions of the arms. At the junction of the second and third portions, there is a contact region formed to receive the lead of a surge protection device. The terminal is enclosed in an opening in the electrically insulative housing, the opening being bordered by walls closely adjacent to the first portions of the arms. The spacing of the walls from the arms is about 0.001 inches on each side of the terminal. When the terminal is exposed to a surge current/voltage, the walls stiffen the terminal and prevent arcing and physical damage.

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