TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to electrical connectors or terminals having a receptacle
contact or terminal, and, more specifically, to receptacle contacts made from a stamped
sheet which is folded into the overall shape of the receptacle contact and closed
at a seam that joins two adjacent sides of the receptacle and a method of fabricating
the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Female electrical terminals having a receptacle contact or terminal are widely used
in electronic and electrical applications, namely, in the automotive industry, for
providing the connection to male electrical connectors of electrical equipment, such
as circuit boards.
[0003] Various types and designs of receptacle contacts are commercially available.
[0004] In general, the receptacle contact is provided at the anterior part of the female
electrical terminal that faces the mating male terminal, and has a box configuration
with an inner hollow or cavity into which the male terminal is fitted. A common type
of receptacle contact, also known as spring box contact, comprises one or more resilient
contact arms in the inner side of the receptacle box for contacting the fitted male
terminal. Such resilient arms, also known as spring arms, are deflected towards the
inner wall of the receptacle contact by the fitted blade terminal, thereby producing
a suitable pressure onto the blade terminal that helps to maintain the blade terminal
in place and ensures a good electrical contact with the receptacle box.
[0005] The receptacle contact body is commonly made from a stamped blank or sheet material
with a specific profile and which is bent by several bending operations into its overall
shape. The contacting edges of the bent stamped blank define a seam that is conventionally
closed with either a weld or an interlocking dovetail feature.
[0006] Welding is a simple method for fixing the seam of the box structure but has the disadvantage
that a step of welding must be provided in addition to the bending process. Further,
it has been shown that the vibrations caused by splice welding a cable to which the
electrical terminal is connected may damage the seam welds on terminal spring boxes,
thereby causing terminal function problems.
[0007] Alternative seam closure techniques that do not make use of a welding process have
been proposed.
[0008] For instance, document
DE 19741346 A1 describes a method for closing a spring box structure using only an interlocking
dovetail at the box corner and which is prevented from opening by a locking angle
on the edge of the dovetail feature. The dovetail feature is brought into contact
with the mating face by being deflected outwards during an additional stamping operation
after the box structure has been folded. However, although this method does not require
a welding process, it has the limitations that the seam rigidity is not improved.
Further, the technique requires a substantially square box corner and an additional
stamping operation to activate the edge locking after box folding. It is also only
possible to achieve a small locking angle on the edge of the dovetail feature plus
the dovetail could potentially deflect inwards under stress both creating a low potential
resistance to opening.
[0009] Published patent application
WO 96/13082 describes an electrical contact portion having a box portion about a central axis
and joined together along a seam by a mechanical interlocking portion, the contact
being characterized in that a port is formed in a wall of the box to provide access
by a support member to the interior of the box in order to support the seam at the
interlocking portion during forming. An electrical contact having a contact portion
with a contact arm between forwardly extending walls for receiving and engaging a
mating terminal (not shown), where the contact portion includes a retention shoulder
disposed over a contact arm that is engageable to retain the contact within a connector
housing, characterized in that the retention shoulder is a rear edge of a tab formed
integrally and folded over from one of the sides, a portion of which is partially
separated therefrom along a slit and pressed inward so that the tab is moved closer
to the opposing wall.
[0010] Published patent application
US 2011/0244736 A1 describes a female contact pin configured for use with a compliant pin system includes
opposed contact beams separated by an opening, and spring-biased mating contacts surrounded
by a protective box. The opposed contact beams are configured to be positioned within
a plated thru hole. The opening closes when the opposed contact beams are positioned
within the plated thru hole. The spring-biased mating contacts are configured to receive
and contact a mating post of a male contact pin.
[0011] Another method for closing a cover for attachment to the exterior of an electrical
terminal fitting without a weld process is described in document
EP 0 837 529 B1. The cover is formed by bending a stainless steel stamping into an angular tubular
shape. A right side plate of the cover is formed so as to protrude above an upper
plate. The protruding portion serves as a stabilizer and is provided with a pair of
fitting grooves formed by cutting away into the protruding portion thereof. When the
stamping is bent to the angular tubular shape, inserting members formed on the anterior
and posterior ends of the upper plate are fitted into the corresponding fitting grooves
to improve the stability of the cover.
[0012] A method for fastening co-planar edges without using a welding process is described
in United States Patent No.
7,793,402. This method is intended for fastening a docking casket for printed circuit boards
while eliminating the use of a spot or fillet weld and a resulting burn mark in order
to eliminate touch-up to coat the welded area. In the known method, a dovetailed feature
provided on one of the edges to be fastened is inserted in an interlocking dovetail
feature provided on the other edge, and the mating edges of the interlocked features
are swagged for producing swag contact points and thereby, improving the strength
of the interlocking mechanism. However, although this method provides a fastening
of two edges without the use of a weld, a step for the additional process of swagging
is required.
[0013] Further, since the known method requires the use of a punch of a certain shape, the
punch needs to be precisely oriented with respect to the mating edges of the dovetail
features.
[0014] Therefore, there is a need for receptacle contacts with a closure design and a method
of producing same, that provides closed seams of improved strength, namely against
ultrasonic vibrations, and which does not require or at least minimizes the use of
welding processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention aims at overcoming the disadvantages and shortcomings of the
prior art techniques and an object thereof is to provide a receptacle contact with
a seam closure and a method of making thereof, that provides a seam closure with improved
resistance against stresses in the receptacle contact such as those caused by ultrasonic
vibrations.
[0016] This object is solved by the present according to the independent claims. Advantageous
embodiments of the invention are defined by the dependent claims.
[0017] According to an illustrative example for better understanding the present invention,
it is provided a receptacle contact for an electrical connector, comprising: a seam
along a corner radii of the receptacle contact and which is defined by the junction
of a first contacting edge of a first sidewall of the receptacle contact with a second
contacting edge of a second sidewall of the receptacle contact; first interlocking
means provided in the first contacting edge; and second interlocking means provided
in the second contacting edge wherein the first and the second interlocking means
are adapted to interlock with each other at each side of the seam to fasten the first
and second sidewalls.
[0018] In a further development, the receptacle contact further comprises a third interlocking
means and fourth interlocking means provided on the first and second contacting edges,
respectively, that are adapted to interlock with each other at each side of the seam.
[0019] In a further development, the first and second interlocking means each comprise a
protruding element and a receiving element, respectively, wherein the protruding element
of the first interlocking means has a shape adapted to interlock with the receiving
element of the second interlocking means, and the protruding element of the second
interlocking means has a shape adapted to interlock with the receiving element of
the first interlocking means.
[0020] The protruding elements of the first and second interlocking means may lie in the
planes of the second and the first sidewalls, respectively, when interlocked with
the respective receiving elements.
[0021] The protruding element of the first interlocking means may be provided as a flat
tongue that protrudes away from the first contacting edge, said tongue being enlarged
into a dovetail feature at an anterior side of the protruding element, opposed to
the contacting edge.
[0022] The receiving element of the first interlocking means may be provided as a groove
cut in the first sidewall and which recesses away from the first contacting edge,
the receiving element having a complementary shape that substantially matches the
shape of the corresponding protruding element of the second interlocking means.
[0023] In a further development, the first and second sidewalls are neither co-planar nor
overlapping sidewalls when fastened to each other.
[0024] In a further development, the first and second sidewalls are substantially orthogonal
to each other when fastened to each other.
[0025] According to a further development, the receptacle contact is made from a foldable
stamped blank, and the first and second sidewalls are formed by bending two sides
of the stamped blank so as to bring the first and second contacting edges into contact
with each other.
[0026] The third interlocking means may have a protruding element and a receiving element
with shapes that are defined by the profile of the first contacting edge as a mirrored
image of the first interlocking means.
[0027] According to a further illustrative example, the receptacle contact is a spring box
terminal.
[0028] In a further development, the receptacle contact has an opening on a rear side adapted
to receive an anterior member of a female electrical terminal and an opposed opening
on a front side adapted to receive a male electrical connector so as to establish
an electrical connection between the female electrical terminal and the male electrical
terminal.
[0029] A further illustrative example also provides a method of making a receptacle contact
from a foldable stamped blank, the method comprising; providing an upper face plate
in the stamped blank with a free edge along a longitudinal direction (X) that defines
a first contacting edge of a first sidewall, the free edge of the upper face plate
having a profile that defines a first interlocking means in the first contacting edge;
providing a lower face plate in the stamped blank with a free edge along the longitudinal
direction (X) that defines a second contacting edge of a second sidewall, the free
edge of the lower face plate having a profile that defines a second interlocking means
in the second contacting edge; bending the stamped blank in a direction transverse
to the longitudinal direction (X) of the first and second contacting edges so as to
bring the first and second contacting edges into contact with each other, wherein
the junction of the first and second contacting edges defines a seam along a corner
radii of the receptacle contact; and interlocking the first and second interlocking
means with each other so as to fasten the first and second sidewalls; wherein the
first and the second interlocking means are adapted to interlock with each other at
each side of the seam.
[0030] In a further development, the profiles of the first and the second interlocking means
each define protruding elements and receiving elements in the first and second contacting
edges, respectively, wherein the protruding element and the receiving element of the
first interlocking means are adapted to be interlocked with the receiving element
and the protruding element of the second interlocking means, respectively, each protruding
element having a flat tongue that extends from the respective contacting edge and
having a dovetail feature at an anterior end; the method further comprising: inserting
the flat tongue of the first interlocking means in the corresponding receiving element
of the second interlocking means by a given depth such that the dovetail feature protrudes
from the receiving element in the second sidewall; and bending the dovetail feature
towards the second sidewall so as to fit the dovetail feature in the receiving element
of the second interlocking means.
[0031] According to a further development, the method further comprises: inserting the flat
tongue of the protruding element of the second interlocking means in the corresponding
receiving element of the first interlocking means by a given depth such that the dovetail
feature of the protruding element protrudes from the receiving element in the first
sidewall; and bending the dovetail feature towards the first sidewall so as to fit
the dovetail feature in the receiving element of the first interlocking means.
[0032] Hence, according to the present invention, the seam closure of the receptacle contact
is located along a corner radius of the receptacle contact.
[0033] Further, the contacting edges defining the seam have a profile with interlocking
dovetail type features that are defined on both flat adjacent walls at each side of
the seam. As the dovetail features on each side of the seam provides robust retention
in each X, Y and Z planes, this allows either eliminating a seam weld or, if a seam
weld is used, providing increased resistance against ultrasonic stresses by having
the seam weld located on the more rigid corner geometry.
[0034] The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification
for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention. The drawings are not
to be construed as limiting the invention to only the illustrated and described examples
of how the invention can be made and used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0035] Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more
particular description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle contact for use in an electrical connector
according to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed from a front side
and showing a top face and a left sidewall of the receptacle contact;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1 when viewed from the front
side and showing the top face and a right sidewall of the receptacle contact;
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1, when viewed from a rear
side of the receptacle contact, opposed to the front side, and showing the top face
and the right sidewall of the receptacle contact;
Fig. 4 is a multi-view of the receptacle contact shown in Figs. 1 to 3 showing: a top view
(image on the centre), a side view of the left sidewall (image on the left of the
top view) and a side view of the right sidewall (image on the right of the top view)
of the receptacle contact;
Fig. 5 is a multi-view of the receptacle shown in Figs. 1 to 3 showing (from the left to
the right of Fig. 5): a side view of the left sidewall, a front view, and a section
view when viewed from the right side of the receptacle contact;
Fig. 6 shows a bottom view of the receptacle contact shown in Figs. 1 to 3;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a stamped blank from which the receptacle contact of Figs.
1 to 3 is formed and showing an inner side of the stamped blank over which spring
contact arms are bended;
Fig. 8 is a multi-view of the stamped blank of Fig. 7 showing (from left to right and from
top to bottom of Fig. 7): a side view when viewed from the front side, a top view
of the inner side of the stamped blank with the bended spring contact arms, a side
view when viewed from the rear side, and a side view when viewed from a contacting
edge of the stamped blank;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the receptacle shown in Figs. 1 to 3 fitted to a conventional
female electrical terminal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Advantageous embodiments of a receptacle contact with a closure design according
to the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0037] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle contact according to an embodiment
of the present invention for use in an electrical connector.
[0038] The receptacle contact 100 has a box structure with an inner, hollowed core 110 that
extends in a longitudinal direction X between an opening provided on a rear side 120
of the receptacle contact 100 for receiving an anterior member 210 of an electrical
connector, such as a female electrical terminal 200 (see Fig. 9), and an opening in
a front side 125, opposed to the rear side 120, and through which it is inserted a
blade of a male terminal (not shown). The receptacle contact 100 is preferably made
from a metallic sheet in order to electrically couple the male terminal to the female
electrical terminal 200.
[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle contact 100 has a substantially rectangular
cross-section defined by a base face 130 and a top face 135, which are disposed parallel
to each other, and by a left sidewall 140 and a right sidewall 145, which are arranged
substantially orthogonal to the base and top faces 130, 135. The rectangular cross-section
is suitable for use with blade terminals. However, the closure design of the present
invention may also be applied to receptacle structures for fitting other types of
terminals, such as pin terminals, and having a different overall shape, such as a
polygonal or a circular cross-section.
[0040] As will be described later, the receptacle contact 100 is made from a stamped blank
300 that is folded along certain bending edges in several bending operations into
the overall shape of the receptacle contact 100. The final shape of the folded stamped
blank 300 is fixed by fastening the free edges of two adjacent sidewalls of the receptacle
contact 100, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, that are brought into contact
with each other in the bending process. The junction of these adjacent sidewalls,
which in the illustrated embodiment correspond to the top face 135 and the left sidewall
140 of the receptacle contact 100, define a seam 150 that is located along the closing
corner radii of the receptacle contact 100 and that extends along a closing edge of
the receptacle contact 100 in the longitudinal direction X. The location of the seam
150 along the corner radii of the receptacle box 100, more specifically at the midpoint
of the corner radii, allows increasing the rigidity of the seam 150 along its entire
length, in contrast to closure designs in which a seam is provided on a sidewall of
the box.
[0041] In the present embodiment, the top face 135 and the left sidewall 140 are substantially
orthogonal, therefore, defining a box corner radii of substantially 90º, and are fastened
to each other by interlocking features provided along the seam 150 as will be described
later. These interlocking features prevent any relative displacement of the fastened
walls in the three X, Y and Z orthogonal directions.
[0042] The external surface of the receptacle contact 100 may be provided with additional
features for fixing and/or orienting the receptacle contact 100 with respect to a
plastic housing of the mated male terminal (not shown). As shown in Fig. 1, the box
receptacle is provided with a locking latch 160 in the top face 135 of the receptacle
contact 100. When the receptacle contact 100 is inserted in the housing, the locking
latch 160 is pressed against the receptacle contact 100 and then re-opens to a locking
position when the receptacle contact 100 is completely fitted so as to prevent its
accidental removal. The locking latch 160 may be provided as a cut-way tab that is
bended away from the top face 135. A similar locking latch 160 may also be provided
on the base face 130 of the receptacle contact 100 (see Fig. 6).
[0043] One or more orienting ribs 162, 164 may be provided in the top face 135 and/or in
the base face 130 for orientating the receptacle contact 100 in the housing of the
male connector.
[0044] Crimping tabs 166 to 168 may also be provided in the lateral sidewalls 140, 145 of
the receptacle contact 100, at an intermediate distance between the front side 125
and rear side 120, for providing an additional fixation of the receptacle contact
100 to the female electrical terminal 200 (see Fig. 9).
[0045] As shown in Figs. 1 - 3, two pairs of resilient contact elements 170 and 175 may
be provided on the inner side 110 of the base face 130 and the top face 135, respectively,
of the receptacle contact 100 for griping the blade of the male electrical connector
(not shown) and establishing a good electrical contact therewith.
[0046] Referring to the section view of the receptacle contact 100 shown in Fig. 5, the
resilient contact elements 170 and 175 may be formed in a conventional fashion as
contact arms protruding from the base and top faces 130, 135 of the receptacle contact
100 and which are reversibly bended on a bending section 178 at the front side of
the receptacle contact 100 so as to extend inwards over the inner side 110 of the
respective base and top faces 130, 135. The bending section 178 and the shape of the
resilient contact arms 170, 175 are selected so as to produce a suitable spring force
against the fitted blade of the male terminal when the resilient contact arms 170,
175 are deflected towards the respective inner walls of the receptacle contact 100.
[0047] The length and shape of the resilient contact arms 170, 175 as well as their separation
from the inner sides of the base face 130 and the top face 135, respectively, of the
receptacle contact 100 may be selected so as to allow the anterior member 210 of the
female electrical terminal 200 to be contacted by the resilient contact arms 170,
175 (see Fig. 9).
[0048] Preferably, the resilient contact arms 170, 175 are provided on both top and base
faces 135, 130 of the receptacle contact 100. However, other configurations may be
envisaged in which the resilient contact elements are provided in any of the inner
walls of the receptacle contact 100. The number, shape and length of the resilient
contact elements are also not limited to the illustrated example. Namely, the receptacle
contact 100 may comprise a single resilient contact element or more than those illustrated
in Figs. 1 - 3.
[0049] As mentioned above, the receptacle contact 100 may be made from a foldable, stamped
blank that is folded by a sequence of folding operations into its final overall shape.
[0050] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a stamped blank 300 from which the receptacle contact
of Figs. 1 to 3 is formed and showing the side of the stamped blank that faces the
inner side 110 of receptacle contact walls.
[0051] The stamped blank 300 is made from a metal sheet, preferably, stainless steel or
a copper alloy, having a cut profile that defines the receptacle shape as well as
the interlocking features for fastening the seam 150.
[0052] Fig. 8 shows multi-views of the stamped blank shown in Fig. 7. From the left to the
right, and from the top to the bottom, Fig. 8 shows a side view of the stamped blank
300 when viewed from the front side 125 of the receptacle contact 100, a top view
showing the walls of the receptacle contact 100 from its inner side 110, a side view
of the stamped blanked 300 when viewed from the rear side 120 of the receptacle contact
100, and a side view of the stamped blank 300 when viewed from a contacting edge of
the seam 150.
[0053] Referring to the top view in Fig. 8, and starting from the upper side of the drawing
downwards, the stamped blank 300 has an upper face plate 310, which defines the left
sidewall 140 of the receptacle contact 100 with respect to its front side 125, an
intermediate face plate 320 defining the base face 130 of the receptacle contact 100,
another intermediate face plate 330 that defines the right sidewall 145 of the receptacle
contact 100, and a lower face plate 340 that defines the top face 135 of the receptacle
contact 100.
[0054] The free edge 350 of the upper face plate 310 and the free edge 360 of the lower
face plate 340 along the longitudinal direction (X) define contacting edges that are
brought into contact with each other during the folding process of the stamped blank
300. The contacting edges 350 and 360 have a straight profile along a certain length
in the longitudinal direction X that defines a straight seam 150 along the closing
corner of the receptacle contact 100, which is interrupted by cut interlocking features
as will be described below.
[0055] The seam closure design according to the present invention will now be described
with reference to Fig. 8. As shown in the top view of Fig. 8, the contacting edges
350 and 360 of the upper and lower face plates 310 and 340 of the stamped blank 300
are each provided with interlocking features defined by cutting the contacting edge
profile and which are adapted to be interlocked with matching interlocking features
provided at corresponding positions in the opposed contacting edge for closing the
seam 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower face plates 310 and 340
correspond to the first and second sidewalls of the receptacle contact 100, respectively,
which are to be fastened together.
[0056] Referring to Fig. 8, first interlocking means 370 are provided in the contacting
edge 350 of the upper face plate 310 at a given distance from the transversal edge
355 at the receptacle front side 125. The first interlocking means 370 comprises a
protruding element 372 that is immediately followed by an adjacent, receiving element
374. The protruding element 372 is provided as a flat protrusion that extends away
from the contacting edge 350 in the plane of the upper face plate 310 along a direction
(Y) transverse to the longitudinal direction (X). The protruding element 372 is to
be inserted in a receiving element 382 provided at a corresponding position in the
contacting edge 360 of the lower face plate 340 and having a complementary, shape
that matches the shape of the protruding element 372. As shown in Fig. 8, the protruding
element 372 in the upper contacting edge 350 has a flat lobe 376 with rounded edges
that is connected to the contacting edge 350 by a neck or tongue 378 of substantially
parallel edges. The width of the tongue 378 in the longitudinal direction (X) is smaller
than the diameter of the rounded lobe 376, one of the tongue edges being recessed
with respect to the lobe 376 for defining an interlocking dovetail feature that blocks
relative displacements in the Y direction.
[0057] The shape of the receiving element 374 of the first interlocking means 370 is adapted
to fit a protruding element 384 provided at a corresponding position in the contacting
edge 360 of the lower face plate 340. As shown in Fig. 8, the receiving element 374
of the first interlocking means 370 is a recession or groove that is cut in the upper
face plate 310 and which recesses in the transverse direction (Y) away from the straight
profile of the contacting edge 350, and therefore, from the corner formed by the upper
and lower contacting edges 350 and 360 when joined together.
[0058] In order to improve the interlocking effect, the protruding element 372 and the receiving
element 374 of the first interlocking means 370 may be defined side by side along
the longitudinal direction (X), one of the parallel edges of the protruding element
tongue 378 being an extension of a parallel edge of the receiving element 374. However,
an alternative configuration is also envisaged, in which the receiving element 374
and the protruding element 372 are separated by a non-zero distance along the longitudinal
direction X.
[0059] In the present embodiment, the shape of the receiving element 374 of the first interlocking
means 370 substantially follows the shape obtained by a mirror reflection of the protruding
element 372 in a plane along the Y direction, followed by a mirror reflection in a
plane along the X direction.
[0060] The receiving element 382 and protruding element 384 provided at corresponding positions
in the contacting edge 360 of the lower face plate 340 form a second interlocking
means 380 of the lower face plate 340 and are defined with substantially a complementary
shape that matches the shape of the protruding element 372 and receiving element 374
of the first interlocking means 370, respectively.
[0061] In addition, a third interlocking means 390 may be provided on the contacting edge
350 of the upper face plate 310, close to the transversal edge 365 at the rear side
120 of the receptacle contact 100 for interlocking with a matching, fourth interlocking
means 395 provided at a corresponding position in the contacting edge 360 of the lower
face plate 340. Preferably, the third interlocking means 390 is defined with an edge
profile that is essentially a mirrored image of the first interlocking means 370 in
a plane along the transverse direction (Y). Thus, similarly to the first interlocking
means 370, the third interlocking means 390 comprises a protruding element 392 and
a receiving element 394, which are to be interlocked with a matching receiving element
396 and a protruding element 398 of the fourth interlocking means 395, respectively.
[0062] The bending process of the stamped blank 300 will now be described with reference
to Fig. 8, in which the bending edges are indicated by dashed lines. After the resilient
contact arms 170, 175 have been reversely bent over the inner side of the respective
base and top faces 130 and 135 in the stamped blank 300, the upper face plate 310
and the intermediate face plate 330 are bent upwards with respect to the inner side
of the base plate 320 so as to form upright left and right sidewalls 140 and 145,
respectively, that are substantially orthogonal to the base 130 of the receptacle
contact 100. The lower face plate 340 is then bent with respect to the right sidewall
145 by approximately 90º so as to form the top face 135 of the receptacle contact
100.
[0063] In this bending step, the free contacting edges 350, 360 of the upper and lower face
plates 310 and 340 are brought into contact with each other. The interlocking means
on the respective contacting edges are then interlocked, thereby fastening the left
sidewall 140 and the top face 135 of the receptacle contact 100. As shown in Figs.
1 to 3, the upper and lower face places 310 and 340 do not overlap each other after
the bending process, but only contact with each other along the seam 150.
[0064] The following interlocking process is then performed for fastening the contacting
edges 350 and 360. When the contacting edge 350 of the upper face plate 310 (left
sidewall 140) and the contacting edge 360 of the lower face plate 340 (top face 135
of the receptacle contact 100) are brought into contact, the flat protruding element
384 of the interlocking means 380 in the top face 135, which are initially in the
same plane, is partially inserted through the corresponding receiving element 374
of the interlocking means 370 provided in the upper face plate 310 (left sidewall
140) of the receptacle contact 100 by exerting a light pressure in the Z direction
(see Fig. 1), which is transverse to the plane of the top face 135.
[0065] This causes the protruding element 384 to be inserted in the receiving element 374
over a depth that corresponds essentially to the thickness of the protruding element
384, which is the thickness of the stamped blank 300, and without bending the protruding
element 384. At this stage, part of the tongue 386 and the lobe 388 of the protruding
element 384 protrude away from the left sidewall 140 in a direction parallel to the
top face 135 of the receptacle contact 100. These protruding parts are then bended
towards the left sidewall 140 by substantially 90º so as to be fitted in the matching
receiving elements 374 in the left sidewall 140 with respect to the left sidewall
140.
[0066] Therefore, the protruding element 384 of the second interlocking means 380 is interlocked
with the receiving element 374 in the plane of the left sidewall 140, at the other
side of the seam 150, thereby blocking a relative displacement of the top face 135
in the Z and X directions.
[0067] The protruding element 372 of the first interlocking means 370 provided in the left
sidewall 140 is then fitted in the corresponding receiving element 382 of the second
interlocking means 380 provided on the top face 135 of the receptacle contact 100
in a similar way as described above for the protruding element 384. The protruding
element 372 of the first interlocking means 370 becomes then locked in the top face
135 of the receptacle contact 100 that is on the other side of the closed seam 150,
thereby blocking displacements of the left sidewall 140 in the Y and X directions.
[0068] As a consequence, the combination of the first and second interlocking means 370
and 380 allows fastening adjacent walls of the receptacle contact 100 along the seam
150 with a closure design that prevents a relative displacement of the fastened walls
in all three orthogonal directions X, Y, and Z and without the need of a welding process.
[0069] Similarly to the interlocking process described above, the third and fourth interlocking
means 390 and 395 provided at the upper and lower contacting edges 350 and 360, respectively,
are also interlocked at each side of the seam 150.
[0070] As shown in Fig. 1, the contacting edges 350 and 360 may be slightly bended so as
to form a rounded corner. The seam 150 is then located at the midpoint of the corner
radii.
[0071] As will be immediately realized by those skilled in the art, the exact sequence of
bending and/or interlocking steps for arriving at the folded, interlocked shape of
the receptacle contact 100 may be different from the sequence described above. Namely,
the interlocking features 372, 384, 392, 396 may be bended prior to bending the faces
of the stamped blank 300.
[0072] In the illustrated embodiment, the first to fourth interlocking means have protruding
elements and receiving elements with a similar shape. However, interlocking dovetail
features of other shapes may be envisaged. In particular, since the first and third
interlocking means defined on the same contacting edge are independent from each other,
they may be provided with interlocking dovetails features of different shapes as long
as corresponding mating interlocking means are provided on the other contacting edge.
[0073] Furthermore, the number of interlocking means provided along the contacting edges
is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and additional interlocking means similar
to the first and/or second interlocking means described above may be provided along
the longitudinal length of the receptacle contact 100 in order to reinforce the strength
of the seam closure, particularly, in the case of receptacle contacts of a considerable
longitudinal length.
[0074] Figure 9 shows the receptacle contact of Figs. 1 - 3 fitted to the anterior member
210 of a conventional female electrical terminal 200, which is to be mated with a
pin or blade contact of a male electrical terminal (not shown).
[0075] The dimensions of the receptacle contact 100 are selected so as to substantially
match the dimensions of the anterior member 210 and/or of the blade of the mating
male terminal.
[0076] Namely, the length of the receptacle contact 100 in the longitudinal direction X,
transverse to the rear side 120 and the front side 125, depends on the length of the
anterior member 210 to be covered. In the illustrated example, the receptacle contact
100 partially covers the anterior member 210.
[0077] The anterior member 210 of the female electrical terminal 200 is formed by two parallel
blades 240 and 250 that extend from the body of the female electrical terminal 200
and between which the blade of the mating male terminal is to be mated. Crimping sections
220, 225 are provided on a posterior part of the terminal body for crimping an end
of an electrical wire or cable (not shown). A conventional carrier strip 230 is provided
at the posterior end of the terminal body for facilitating the termination of the
female electrical terminal 200 and which can be removed once the female electrical
terminal 200 is terminated. However, as immediately recognized by a person skilled
in the art, the receptacle contact of the present invention may be modified in order
to fit to other types of female electrical terminals.
[0078] By providing the seam closure of the receptacle contact along a corner radii of the
receptacle contact 100, and interlocking dovetail type features on both sides of the
seam 150, at each of the adjacent sidewalls, a robust retention of the fastened sidewalls
is provided in all three orthogonal directions X, Y and Z, which allows for eliminating
a welding step of a seam, or, if a seam weld is used, to improve the resistance of
the seam weld against ultrasonic vibrations.
[0079] Further technical advantages of the closure technique of the present invention are
as follows.
[0080] First, the receptacle seam closure is resistant to cable ultrasonic splice weld vibrations.
In particular, the robust profiled dovetail retention in the three directions X, Y
and Z makes possible to eliminate seam welding. Furthermore, there is a potential
to keep the weld by locating the seam in lower stress area.
[0081] Secondly, the seam location at the mid point of the box corner radii allows increasing
the rigidity of the seam 150 along its entire length, in contrast to closure designs
in which the seam 150 is provided on one of the box faces.
[0082] Thirdly, the presence of the dovetail features on both adjacent flat surfaces of
the receptacle contact 100 enables any size of the box corner radii, as opposed to
the technique of
DE 19741346 A1 in which the dovetail locking design is only possible on a substantially square corner.
[0083] Further, in contrast to
DE 19741346 A1, which requires a small locking angle to be formed on the dovetail edge, which limits
potential resistance to opening, the interlocking dovetail features 372, 374, 382,
384 of the present invention are profiled shapes on the box faces, thereby enabling
a robust dovetail form.
[0084] Further, since the interlocking dovetail features of the present invention are interlinked
during the folding operation, it is not required to provide additional fastening steps
such as welding or swaging for improving the interlocking strength. For instance,
the technique of
DE 19741346 A1 requires an additional stamping operation to open the dovetail and engage the locking
edge with the mating face.
[0085] Furthermore, the interlocking mechanism of the present invention requires a significant
force for causing catastrophic rupture of the interlocked features. In contrast thereto,
in the technique of
DE 19741346 A1 the dovetail feature can be potentially deflected inwards under comparatively much
lower forces.
[0086] Although the above embodiments were described with reference to a receptacle contact
that is to be fitted in the anterior part of an electrical contact, and most particularly
to a spring box receptacle, the principles of the closure design of the present invention
may be conveniently applied to other receptacle structures than those illustrated
in Figs 1 to 3.
[0087] For instance, the rear and front sides of the receptacle contact may have a different
relative orientation than illustrated in the present drawings. Further, although the
surface area of the top and base faces 135, 130 of the receptacle contact 100 shown
in Figs. 1 to 3 is larger than the surface area of the left and right sidewalls 140,145,
the principles of the present invention may be applied to receptacle contacts having
other relative dimensions. Namely, the surface of the top and base faces may be smaller
or substantially the same as the surface of the left and right sidewalls. In addition,
the closure design of the present invention may be applied to electrical connectors
having a receptacle contact that is an integral part of the connector body.
[0088] The closure design of the present invention can also be applied for receptacle boxes
intended for other applications, such as protection covers, in which at least two
adjacent walls are fastened by a seam located along the corner radii of the receptacle.
[0089] The closure design of the present invention may also be applied in receptacle contacts
or boxes having closing seams in more than one receptacle corner. In particular, although
the closing seam 150 was described above as being located along the edge defined by
the junction of the top face 135 with the left sidewall 140 of the receptacle contact
100, other configurations of the receptacle contact and of the corresponding stamped
blank may be envisaged in which one or more closing seams are provided at the edges
defined by the top face with the right sidewall and/or at the edges defined by the
base face and the left and/or right sidewalls of the receptacle contact.
[0090] Finally, the description of the receptacle contact 100 in terms of top/base faces
and left/right sidewalls was done for simplicity purposes only, and should not be
construed as being limitative in terms of the orientation of the receptacle contact
100 itself, namely, with respect to the electrical terminals with which the receptacle
contact is to be mated.
REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST
Reference Numeral |
Description |
100 |
Receptacle contact |
110 |
hollowed core, inner side of receptacle contact |
120 |
rear side |
125 |
front side |
130 |
base face |
135 |
top face |
140 |
left sidewall |
145 |
right sidewall |
150 |
Seam |
160 |
locking latch |
162, 164 |
orienting ribs |
166 to 168 |
crimping tabs |
170, 175 |
resilient contact arms |
178 |
bending section |
200 |
female electrical terminal |
210 |
anterior member |
220, 225 |
crimping sections |
230 |
carrier strip |
240, 245 |
parallel blades |
300 |
stamped blank |
310 |
upper face plate, left sidewall |
320 |
intermediate face plate, base face |
330 |
intermediate face plate, right sidewall |
340 |
lower face plate, top face |
350 |
free edge of upper face plate |
355 |
transversal edge of stamped blank at front side |
360 |
free edge of lower face plate |
365 |
transversal edge of stamped blank at rear side |
370 |
first interlocking means |
372 |
protruding element of first interlocking means |
374 |
receiving element of first interlocking means |
376 |
lobe of protruding element |
378 |
tongue of protruding element |
380 |
second interlocking means |
382 |
receiving element of second interlocking means |
384 |
protruding element of second interlocking means |
386 |
tongue of protruding element 384 |
388 |
lobe of protruding element 384 |
390 |
third interlocking means |
392 |
protruding element of third interlocking means |
394 |
receiving element of third interlocking means |
395 |
fourth interlocking means |
396 |
protruding element of fourth interlocking means |
398 |
receiving element of fourth interlocking means |
1. A receptacle contact for an electrical connector, comprising:
a seam (150) defined by the junction of a first contacting edge (350) of a first sidewall
(140, 310) of the receptacle contact with a second contacting edge (360) of a second
sidewall (135, 340) of the receptacle contact;
first interlocking means (370) provided in the first contacting edge (350); and
second interlocking means (380) provided in the second contacting edge (360);
wherein the first and the second interlocking means (370, 380) are adapted to interlock
with each other at each side of the seam (150) to fasten the first and second sidewalls
characterized in that
the seam (150) is located along a corner radii of the receptacle contact, and
the first interlocking means (370) has interlocking features adapted to interlock
with respective interlocking features of the second interlocking means (380) at both
the first and second sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls being neither co-planar
nor overlapping sidewalls when fastened to each other.
2. A receptacle contact according to claim 1, further comprising:
third interlocking means (390) and fourth interlocking means (395) provided on the
first and second contacting edges, respectively;
wherein the third and the fourth interlocking means are adapted to interlock with
each other at each side of the seam (150).
3. A receptacle contact according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:
the interlocking features of the first and second interlocking means (370, 380) each
comprise a protruding element and a receiving element, respectively,
the protruding element (372) of the first interlocking means (370) has a shape adapted
to interlock with the receiving element (382) of the second interlocking means (380),
and
the protruding element (384) of the second interlocking means (380) has a shape adapted
to interlock with the receiving element (374) of the first interlocking means (370).
4. A receptacle contact according to claim 3, wherein:
the protruding elements of the first and second interlocking means (380) lie in the
planes of the second and the first sidewalls, respectively, when interlocked with
the respective receiving elements.
5. A receptacle contact according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein:
the protruding element (372) of the first interlocking means (370) is a flat tongue
(378) that protrudes away from the first contacting edge (350), said tongue (378)
being enlarged into a dovetail feature (376) at an anterior side of the protruding
element (372), opposed to the contacting edge (350).
6. A receptacle contact according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein:
the receiving element (374) of the first interlocking means (370) is a groove cut
in the first sidewall (140, 310) and which recesses away from the first contacting
edge (350), and
the receiving element (374) has a complementary shape that substantially matches the
shape of the corresponding protruding element (384) of the second interlocking means
(380).
7. A receptacle contact according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:
the first and second sidewalls are substantially orthogonal to each other when fastened
to each other.
8. A receptacle contact according to any one claims 1 to 7, wherein:
the receptacle contact is made from a foldable stamped blank (300), and
the first and second sidewalls are formed by bending two sides of the stamped blank
(300) so as to bring the first and second contacting edges (350, 360) into contact
with each other.
9. A receptacle contact according to claim 2, wherein the third interlocking means (390)
has a protruding element (392) and a receiving element (394) with shapes that are
defined by the profile of the first contacting edge (350) as a mirrored image of the
first interlocking means (370).
10. A receptacle contact according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receptacle
contact is a spring box terminal (100).
11. A receptacle contact according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the receptacle
contact has an opening on a rear side (120) adapted to receive an anterior member
(210) of a female electrical terminal (200) and an opposed opening on a front side
(125) adapted to receive a male electrical connector so as to establish an electrical
connection between the female electrical terminal (200) and the male electrical connector.
12. A method of making a receptacle contact from a foldable stamped blank, comprising:
providing an upper face plate (310) in the stamped blank (300) with a free edge along
a longitudinal direction (X) that defines a first contacting edge (350) of a first
sidewall (140, 310), the free edge of the upper face plate (310) having a profile
that defines a first interlocking means (370) in the first contacting edge (350);
providing a lower face plate (340) in the stamped blank (300) with a free edge along
the longitudinal direction (X) that defines a second contacting edge (360) of a second
sidewall (135, 340), the free edge of the lower face plate (340) having a profile
that defines a second interlocking means (380) in the second contacting edge (360);
bending the stamped blank (300) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction
(X) of the first and second contacting edges (350, 360) so as to bring the first and
second contacting edges (350, 360) into contact with each other, wherein the junction
of the first and second contacting edges (350, 360) defines a seam (150) along a corner
radii of the receptacle contact; and
interlocking the first and second interlocking means (370, 380) with each other so
as to fasten the first and second sidewalls;
wherein the first and the second interlocking means (370, 380) are adapted to interlock
with each other at each side of the seam (150), the first interlocking means (370)
having interlocking features adapted to interlock with respective interlocking features
of the second interlocking means (380) at both the first and second sidewalls, the
first and second sidewalls being neither co-planar nor overlapping sidewalls when
fastened to each other.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the profiles of the first and the second interlocking
means (370, 380) each define protruding elements (372, 384) and receiving elements
(374, 382) in the first and second contacting edges (350, 360), respectively, wherein
the protruding element (372) and the receiving element (382) of the first interlocking
means (370) are adapted to be interlocked with the receiving element (382) and the
protruding element (384) of the second interlocking means (380), respectively, each
protruding element (372, 384) having a flat tongue (378) that extends from the respective
contacting edge (350, 360) and having a dovetail feature (376, 388) at an anterior
end;
the method further comprising:
inserting the flat tongue (378) of the first interlocking means (370) in the corresponding
receiving element (382) of the second interlocking means (380) by a given depth such
that the dovetail feature (376) protrudes from the receiving element (383) in the
second sidewall (135, 340); and
bending the dovetail feature (376) towards the second sidewall (135, 340) so as to
fit the dovetail feature in the receiving element (382) of the second interlocking
means (380).
14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:
inserting the flat tongue (386) of the protruding element (384) of the second interlocking
means (380) in the corresponding receiving element (374) of the first interlocking
means (370) by a given depth such that the dovetail feature (388) of the protruding
element (384) protrudes from the receiving element (374) in the first sidewall (140,
310); and
bending the dovetail feature (388) towards the first sidewall (140, 310) so as to
fit the dovetail feature (388) in the receiving element (374) of the first interlocking
means (370).
1. Buchsenkontakt für einen elektrischen Verbinder, der aufweist:
eine Naht (150), die durch die Verbindung eines ersten Kontaktrandes (350) einer ersten
Seitenwand (140, 310) des Buchsenkontaktes mit einem zweiten Kontaktrand (360) einer
zweiten Seitenwand (135, 340) des Buchsenkontaktes definiert wird;
ein erstes Verriegelungsmittel (370), das im ersten Kontaktrand (350) vorhanden ist;
und
ein zweites Verriegelungsmittel (380), das im zweiten Kontaktrand (360) vorhanden
ist;
wobei das erste und das zweite Verriegelungsmittel (370, 380) ausgebildet sind, um
sich miteinander an jeder Seite der Naht (150) zu verriegeln, um die erste und die
zweite Seitenwand zu befestigen;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Naht (150) längs eines Eckenradius des Buchsenkontaktes angeordnet ist, und
das erste Verriegelungsmittel (370) Verriegelungsmerkmale aufweist, die ausgebildet
sind, um sich mit den jeweiligen Verriegelungsmerkmalen des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels
(380) an sowohl der ersten als auch der zweiten Seitenwand zu verriegeln, wobei die
erste und die zweite Seitenwand weder koplanare noch sich überdeckende Seitenwände
sind, wenn sie miteinander befestigt sind.
2. Buchsenkontakt nach Anspruch 1, der außerdem aufweist:
ein drittes Verriegelungsmittel (390) und ein viertes Verriegelungsmittel (395), die
jeweils am ersten und zweiten Kontaktrand vorhanden sind;
wobei das dritte und das vierte Verriegelungsmittel ausgebildet sind, um sich miteinander
auf jeder Seite der Naht (150) zu verriegeln.
3. Buchsenkontakt nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, bei dem:
die Verriegelungsmerkmale des ersten und des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels (370, 380)
jeweils ein vorstehendes Element und ein Aufnahmeelement aufweisen,
das vorstehende Element (372) des ersten Verriegelungsmittels (370) eine Form aufweist,
die ausgebildet ist, um sich mit dem Aufnahmeelement (382) des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels
(380) zu verriegeln, und
das vorstehende Element (384) des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels (380) eine Form aufweist,
die ausgebildet ist, um sich mit dem Aufnahmeelement (374) des ersten Verriegelungsmittels
(370) zu verriegeln.
4. Buchsenkontakt nach Anspruch 3, bei dem:
das vorstehende Element des ersten und des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels (380) jeweils
in den Ebenen der zweiten und der ersten Seitenwand liegen, wenn sie mit den jeweiligen
Aufnahmeelementen verriegelt sind.
5. Buchsenkontakt nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 4, bei dem:
das vorstehende Element (372) des ersten Verriegelungsmittels (370) ein flacher Ansatz
(378) ist, der vom ersten Kontaktrand (350) weg vorsteht, wobei der Ansatz (378) zu
einem Schwalbenschwanzmerkmal (376) auf einer vorderen Seite des vorstehenden Elementes
(372), gegenüberliegend dem Kontaktrand (350), erweitert ist.
6. Buchsenkontakt nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 5, bei dem:
das Aufnahmeelement (374) des ersten Verriegelungsmittels (370) eine Nut ist, die
in die erste Seitenwand (140, 310) geschnitten ist, und die vom ersten Kontaktrand
(350) weg vertieft angeordnet ist, und
das Aufnahmeelement (374) eine komplementäre Form aufweist, damit es im Wesentlichen
zur Form des entsprechenden vorstehenden Elementes (384) des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels
(380) passt.
7. Buchsenkontakt nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, bei dem:
die erste und die zweite Seitenwand im Wesentlichen orthogonal zueinander sind, wenn
sie miteinander befestigt sind.
8. Buchsenkontakt nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, bei dem:
der Buchsenkontakt aus einem faltbaren, gestanzten Rohling (300) hergestellt wird,
und
die erste und die zweite Seitenwand durch Biegen von zwei Seiten des gestanzten Rohlings
(300) gebildet werden, um so den ersten und zweiten Kontaktrand (350, 360) miteinander
in Kontakt zu bringen.
9. Buchsenkontakt nach Anspruch 2, bei dem das dritte Verriegelungsmittel (390) ein vorstehendes
Element (392) und ein Aufnahmeelement (394) mit Formen aufweist, die durch das Profil
des ersten Kontaktrandes (350) als Spiegelbild des ersten Verriegelungsmittels (370)
definiert werden.
10. Buchsenkontakt nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, bei dem der Buchsenkontakt eine Federkastenklemme
(100) ist.
11. Buchsenkontakt nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, bei dem der Buchsenkontakt eine
Öffnung auf einer hinteren Seite (120), die ausgebildet ist, um ein vorderes Element
(210) einer elektrischen Buchsenklemme (200) aufzunehmen, und eine gegenüberliegende
Öffnung auf einer vorderen Seite (125) aufweist, die ausgebildet ist, um einen elektrischen
Steckverbinder aufzunehmen, um so eine elektrische Verbindung zwischen der elektrischen
Buchsenklemme (200) und dem elektrischen Steckverbinder herzustellen.
12. Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Buchsenkontaktes aus einem faltbaren, gestanzten Rohling,
das die folgenden Schritte aufweist:
Bereitstellen einer oberen Frontplatte (310) im gestanzten Rohling (300) mit einem
freien Rand entlang einer Längsrichtung (X), die einen ersten Kontaktrand (350) einer
ersten Seitenwand (140, 310) definiert, wobei der freie Rand der oberen Frontplatte
(310) ein Profil aufweist, das ein erstes Verriegelungsmittel (370) im ersten Kontaktrand
(350) definiert;
Bereitstellen einer unteren Frontplatte (340) im gestanzten Rohling (300) mit einem
freien Rand entlang einer Längsrichtung (X), die einen zweiten Kontaktrand (360) einer
zweiten Seitenwand (135, 340) definiert, wobei der freie Rand der unteren Frontplatte
(340) ein Profil aufweist, das ein zweites Verriegelungsmittel (380) im zweiten Kontaktrand
(360) definiert;
Biegen des gestanzten Rohlings (300) in einer Richtung quer zur Längsrichtung (X)
des ersten und zweiten Kontaktrandes (350, 360), um so den ersten und zweiten Kontaktrand
(350, 360) miteinander in Kontakt zu bringen, wobei die Verbindung des ersten und
zweiten Kontaktrandes (350, 360) eine Naht (150) längs eines Eckenradius des Buchsenkontaktes
definiert; und
Verriegeln des ersten und des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels (370, 380) miteinander,
um so die erste und die zweite Seitenwand zu befestigen,
wobei das erste und das zweite Verriegelungsmittel (370, 380) ausgebildet sind, um
sich an jeder Seite der Naht (150) miteinander zu verriegeln, wobei das erste Verriegelungsmittel
(370) Verriegelungsmerkmale aufweist, die ausgebildet sind, um sich mit den entsprechenden
Verriegelungsmerkmalen des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels (380) an sowohl der ersten
als auch der zweiten Seitenwand zu verriegeln, wobei die erste und die zweite Seitenwand
weder koplanare noch sich überdeckende Seitenwände sind, wenn sie miteinander befestigt
sind.
13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, bei dem die Profile des ersten und des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels
(370, 380) jeweils vorstehende Elemente (372, 384) und Aufnahmeelemente (374, 382)
im jeweils ersten und zweiten Kontaktrand (350, 360) definieren, wobei das vorstehende
Element (372) und das Aufnahmeelement (382) des ersten Verriegelungsmittels (370)
ausgebildet sind, um mit jeweils dem Aufnahmeelement (382) und dem vorstehenden Element
(384) des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels (380) verriegelt zu werden, wobei ein jedes
vorstehende Element (372, 384) einen flachen Ansatz (378) aufweist, der sich vom jeweiligen
Kontaktrand (350, 360) erstreckt und ein Schwalbenschwanzmerkmal (376, 388) an einem
vorderen Ende aufweist;
wobei das Verfahren außerdem die folgenden Schritte aufweist:
Einsetzen des flachen Ansatzes (378) des ersten Verriegelungsmittels (370) im entsprechenden
Aufnahmeelement (382) des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels (380) bis zu einer vorgegebenen
Tiefe, so dass das Schwalbenschwanzmerkmal (376) aus dem Aufnahmeelement (382) in
der zweiten Seitenwand (135, 340) vorsteht; und
Biegen des Schwalbenschwanzmerkmals (376) in Richtung der zweiten Seitenwand (135,
340), um so das Schwalbenschwanzmerkmal im Aufnahmeelement (382) des zweiten Verriegelungsmittels
(380) anzubringen.
14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, das außerdem die folgenden Schritte aufweist:
Einsetzen des flachen Ansatzes (386) des vorstehenden Elementes (384) des zweiten
Verriegelungsmittels (380) im entsprechenden Aufnahmeelement (374) des ersten Verriegelungsmittels
(370) bis zu einer vorgegebenen Tiefe, so dass das Schwalbenschwanzmerkmal (388) des
vorstehenden Elementes (384) aus dem Aufnahmeelement (374) in der ersten Seitenwand
(140, 310) vorsteht; und
Biegen des Schwalbenschwanzmerkmals (388) in Richtung der ersten Seitenwand (140,
310), um so das Schwalbenschwanzmerkmal (388) im Aufnahmeelement (374) des ersten
Verriegelungsmittels (370) anzubringen.
1. Contact de prise pour un connecteur électrique, comprenant :
un joint (150) défini par la jonction d'un premier bord de contact (350) d'une première
paroi latérale (140, 310) du contact de prise avec un deuxième bord de contact (360)
d'une deuxième paroi latérale (135, 340) du contact de prise ;
un premier moyen de verrouillage (370), agencé dans le premier bord de contact (350)
; et
un deuxième moyen de verrouillage (380), agencé dans le deuxième bord de contact (360)
;
dans lequel les premier et deuxième moyens de verrouillage (370), 380) sont adaptés
pour être verrouillés mutuellement au niveau de chaque côté du joint (150) pour fixer
les première et deuxième parois latérales ;
caractérisé en ce que
le joint (150) est agencé le long des rayons d'un coin du contact de prise ; et
le premier moyen de verrouillage (370) comporte des structures de verrouillage adaptées
pour un verrouillage avec des structures de verrouillage respectives du deuxième moyen
de verrouillage (380) au niveau des première et deuxième parois latérales, les première
et deuxième parois latérales n'étant ni des parois latérales coplanaires ni des parois
latérales à chevauchement lors de leur assemblage.
2. Contact de prise selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre :
un troisième moyen de verrouillage (390) et un quatrième moyen de verrouillage (395),
agencés respectivement sur les premier et deuxième bords de contact ;
dans lequel les troisième et quatrième moyens de verrouillage sont adaptés pour être
verrouillés l'un avec l'autre au niveau de chaque côté du joint (150).
3. Contact de prise selon les revendications 1 ou 2, dans lequel :
les structures de verrouillage des premier et deuxième moyens de verrouillage (370,
380) comprennent chacune respectivement un élément en saillie et un élément de réception
;
l'élément en saillie (372) du premier moyen de verrouillage (370) ayant une forme
adaptée pour un verrouillage avec l'élément de réception (382) du deuxième moyen de
verrouillage (380) ; et
l'élément en saillie (384) du deuxième moyen de verrouillage (380) ayant une forme
adaptées pour un verrouillage avec l'élément de réception (374) du premier moyen de
verrouillage (370).
4. Contact de prise selon la revendication 3, dans lequel :
les éléments en saillie des premier et deuxième moyens de verrouillage (380) se situent
respectivement dans les plans des deuxième et première parois latérales, lors de leur
verrouillage avec les éléments de réception respectifs.
5. Contact de prise selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 4, dans lequel :
l'élément en saillie (372) du premier moyen de verrouillage (370) est une languette
plate (378) débordant à l'écart du premier bord de contact (350), ladite languette
(378) étant élargie dans une structure en queue d'aronde (376) au niveau d'un côté
antérieur de l'élément en saillie (372) opposé au bord de contact (350).
6. Contact de prise selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 5, dans lequel :
l'élément de réception (374) du premier moyen de verrouillage (370) est une rainure
découpée dans la première paroi latérale (140, 310), évidée à l'écart du premier bord
de contact (350) ; et
l'élément de réception (374) a une forme complémentaire, adaptée essentiellement à
la forme de l'élément en saillie correspondant (384) du deuxième moyen de verrouillage
(380).
7. Contact de prise selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel :
les première et deuxième parois latérales sont essentiellement orthogonales l'une
à l'autre lors de leur assemblage.
8. Contact de prise selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel :
le contact de prise est formé à partir d'un flan (300) estampé pliable ; et
les première et deuxième parois latérales sont formées en pliant deux côtés du flan
(300) estampé de sorte à mettre les premier et deuxième bords de contact (350, 360)
en contact l'un avec l'autre.
9. Contact de prise selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le troisième moyen de verrouillage
(390) comporte un élément en saillie (392) et un élément de réception (394), ayant
des formes définies par le profil du premier bord de contact (350), sous forme d'une
image symétrique du premier moyen de verrouillage (370).
10. Contact de prise selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel le contact
de prise est une borne de boîte de ressort (100).
11. Contact de prise selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel le
contact de prise comporte une ouverture sur un côté arrière (120), adaptée pour recevoir
un élément antérieur (210) d'une borne électrique femelle (200), et une ouverture
opposée sur un côté avant (125), adaptée pour recevoir un connecteur électrique mâle,
de sorte à établir une connexion électrique entre la borne électrique femelle (200)
et le connecteur électrique mâle.
12. Procédé de fabrication d'un contact d prise à partir d'un flan estampé pliable, comprenant
les étapes ci-dessous :
fournir une plaque de face supérieure (310) dans le flan (300) estampé, avec un bord
libre le long d'une direction longitudinale (X), définissant un premier bord de contact
(350) d'une première paroi latérale (140, 310), le bord libre de la plaque de face
supérieure (310) ayant un profil définissant un premier moyen de verrouillage (370)
dans le premier bord de contact (350) ;
fournir une plaque de face inférieure (340) dans le flan estampé (300), avec un bord
libre le long de la direction longitudinale (X) définissant un deuxième bord de contact
(360) d'une deuxième paroi latérale (135, 340), le bord libre de la plaque de face
inférieure (340) ayant un profil définissant un deuxième moyen de verrouillage (380)
dans le deuxième bord de contact (360) ;
pliage du flan (300) estampé dans une direction transversale à la direction longitudinale
(X) des premier et deuxième bords de contact (350, 360), de sorte à mettre les premier
et deuxième bords de contact (350, 360) en contact l'un avec l'autre, la jonction
des premier et deuxième bords de contact (350, 360) définissant un joint (150) le
long des rayons d'un coin du contact de prise ; et
verrouillage mutuel des premier et deuxième moyens de verrouillage (370, 380), de
sorte à fixer les première et deuxième parois latérales ;
dans lequel les premier et deuxième moyens de verrouillage (370, 380) sont adaptés
pour être verrouillés mutuellement au niveau de chaque côté du joint (150), le premier
moyen de verrouillage (370) comportant des structures de verrouillage adaptées pour
être verrouillées avec des structures de verrouillage respectives du deuxième moyen
de verrouillage (380) au niveau des première et deuxième parois latérales, les première
et deuxième parois latérales n'étant ni des parois latérales coplanaires ni des parois
latérales à chevauchement lors de leur assemblage.
13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel les profils des premier et deuxième
moyens de verrouillage (370, 380) définissent chacun respectivement des éléments en
saillie (372, 384) et des éléments de réception (374, 382) dans les premier et deuxième
bords de contact (350, 360), dans lequel l'élément en saillie (372) et l'élément de
réception (382) du premier moyen de verrouillage (370) sont adaptés respectivement
pour être verrouillés avec l'élément de réception (382) et l'élément en saillie (384)
du deuxième moyen de verrouillage (380), chaque élément en saillie (372, 384) comportant
une languette plate (378) s'étendant à partir du bord de contact respectif (350, 360)
et comportant une structure en queue d'aronde (376, 388) au niveau d'une extrémité
antérieure ;
le procédé comprenant en outre les étapes ci-dessous :
insertion de la languette plate (378) du premier moyen de verrouillage (370) dans
l'élément de réception respectif (382) du deuxième moyen de verrouillage (380) à une
profondeur définie, de sorte que la structure en queue d'aronde (376) déborde de l'élément
de réception (382) dans la deuxième paroi latérale (135, 340) ; et
pliage de la structure en queue d'aronde (376) vers la deuxième paroi latérale (135,
340), de sorte à ajuster la structure en queue d'aronde dans l'élément de réception
(382) du deuxième moyen de verrouillage (380).
14. Procédé selon la revendication 13, comprenant en outre les étapes ci-dessous :
insertion de la languette plate (386) de l'élément en saillie (384) du deuxième moyen
de verrouillage (380) dans l'élément de réception correspondant (374) du premier moyen
de verrouillage (370) à une profondeur définie, de sorte que la structure en queue
d'aronde (388) de l'élément en saillie (384) déborde de l'élément de réception (374)
dans la première paroi latérale (140, 310) ; et
pliage de la structure en queue d'aronde (388) vers la première paroi latérale (140,
310), de sorte à ajuster la structure en queue d'aronde (388) dans l'élément de réception
(374) du premier moyen de verrouillage (370).