(19)
(11) EP 0 313 253 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
23.05.1990 Bulletin 1990/21

(43) Date of publication A2:
26.04.1989 Bulletin 1989/17

(21) Application number: 88309497.1

(22) Date of filing: 11.10.1988
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4: H01R 13/11
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IT SE

(30) Priority: 19.10.1987 US 110225

(71) Applicant: INTERLOCK CORPORATION
Westland Michigan 48185 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Mobley, Dewey Floyd
    Lake Orion Michigan 48035 (US)
  • Peterson, Robert George, Sr.
    Canton Michigan 48187 (US)
  • Mergless, James Edward
    Canton Michigan 48187 (US)

(74) Representative: Williams, Trevor John (GB) et al
J.A. Kemp & Co. 14 South Square, Gray's Inn
GB-London WC1R 5EU
GB-London WC1R 5EU (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Tab receptacle with fixed beam contacts


    (57) The tab receptacle terminal fabricated by bending a single sheet of metal comprising a rectangular receptacle box having a closed continuous wall forming an end opening through which a male tab terminal is inserted so as to make contact with a receptacle box. The receptacle box includes a bottom, a top, and sides. Fixed beams formed in the top extend toward the bottom for engagement with one side of the male tab terminal. The fixed beams lie parallel to the axis of male tab terminal insertion. A cantilever supported movable beam member is formed between the top and the bottom by a portion of the sheet of metal folded into the interior of the box for contact with the other side of the male tab terminal. The movable beam member includes a front end portion located adjacent to the end opening, a middle portion, and a rear portion attached to the box. The rear portion of the movable beam is bent upward toward the top of the box, the middle portion is bent substantially parallel to the bottom, and the beam has a first transverse raised ridge protruding toward the fixed beams in the top at the transition between the rear portion and the middle portion. This first ridge is positioned to make contact with the male tab terminal engaged with the fixed beams in the top. The front end portion of the movable beam is bent toward the bottom and has a second transverse raised ridge at the transition between the middle and the front end portion. The second ridge is also positioned to make contact with the inserted male tab terminal engaged with the fixed beams in the top. The bottom has an integral flap at the end opening which is bent toward and into the opening at an acute angle so as to overlap and limit motion of the movable beam as the male tab is inserted thus making the movable beam fixed when the male tab terminal is inserted within the box. This provides fixed beam contact between the ridges on the movable beam on the underside of the male tab terminal and between the fixed beams in the top and the opposite side of the male tab terminal.







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