(19)
(11) EP 0 727 843 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
15.04.1998 Bulletin 1998/16

(43) Date of publication A2:
21.08.1996 Bulletin 1996/34

(21) Application number: 96101034.5

(22) Date of filing: 25.01.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: H01R 13/18
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 17.02.1995 GB 9503155
20.10.1995 GB 9521578

(71) Applicant: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Hotea, Gheorghe
    D-64347 Griesheim (DE)
  • Van de Burgt, Guido G.M.P.
    D-64331 Weiterstadt (DE)
  • Glaser, Stefan E.
    D-64646 Heppenheim (DE)
  • Lehner, Antonio
    D-65207 Wiesbaden (DE)
  • Ripper, Hartmut
    D-64283 Darmstadt (DE)

(74) Representative: Heinz-Schäfer, Marion 
AMP International Enterprises Limited Ampèrestrasse 3
9323 Steinach (SG)
9323 Steinach (SG) (CH)

   


(54) Asymmetric electrical receptacle terminal


(57) A receptacle terminal (2) comprises an inner contact body (4) and an outer spring body (6) positioned over a contact section (10) of the inner spring body. The inner contact body comprises contact arms (24) extending from a base wall and opposed contact arms (34) extending along a top wall, the contact arms (24,34) being supported by side wall support beams (40,42). The upper contact arm (34) acts as a reference contact for positioning of the terminal with respect to complementary mating tabs. The lower contact has a reversely folded contact section (28) separated from the upper contact by a gap (G) at the tab receiving end to provide a tab insertion guide and an arcuate contact surface (30). The bend of the contact section (28) can be varied easily to adjust the gap G between opposing contacts for mating with tabs of different thicknesses, without varying any other dimensions of the terminal.






Search report