Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
iO46~02
This invention relates to an electrical terminal, and particularly
to an electrical terminal having a portion for force-fit reception in a hole
in a substrate.
In British Patent Specification ~o. 1149332 (7353) there iB dis-
closed an electrical terminal comprising first and second contact portions
joined by an intermediate mounting portion for force-fit reception in a hole
in a substrate, the mounting portion comprising a pair of spaced beam members
one end of each of which is ~oined to the first contact portion and the oth-
er end of each of which is joined to the second contact portion, the beam
members being bowed in opposite senses in a flrst direction perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the terminal thereby resiliently to engage opposite -
wall portions of a hole in a substrate when the mounting portion is received
therein.
This known terminal has the disadvantages that the mounting portion
thereof engages the hole in a substrate in which it is received at only two
spaced locations, and is therefore normally able to move transversely rela- -~
tive to the substrate. ~his disadvantage could be minimised by making the
hole $n the substrate of such dimensions that the hole embraces the mounting
portion of the terminal. However, this requires very accurate dimensioning
of the hole in the substrate, and can also lead to damage of the substrate
' ~ since the mounting portion of the terminal would not resiliently engage the
wall of the hole in the substrate other than in the direction of bowine of
the beam members o~ the mounting portion.
~n ~ According to this invention in an electrical terminal of the type
described above, the beam members are also bowed in the same sense in a sec-
ond direction perpendicular to said first direction and to the longitudinal
axis of the terminal thereby resiliently to engage further opposite wall
portions of the hole in the substrate when the mounting portion is received
10466(~2
therein.
The terminal of the present invention has the advantage that it
resiliently engages the wall of a hole in a substrate in which the mounting
portion is received, in two mutually perpendicular directions, and thus can
be securely received with a minimum of wobble in holes within a relatively
large dimensions tolerance range without fear of damaging the substrate.
The terminal of the present invention is preferably mounted in a
rectangular cross-section hole in a substrate, for example a printed circuit
board or a connector housing, whereby the two pairs of opposite wall por-
tions of the hole engaged by the mounting portion of the terminal are on the
two pairs of opposite walls of the hole.
The terminal of the present invention has the further advantage
that the two beam members of the mounting portiOD function substantially
independently of each other when received in a hole in a substrate and thus
the terminal allows for manufacturing tolerances in the dimensions of the
hole~and of the beam members themselves.
This invention will now be described by way of example with refer-
ence to~the~drawingc, ln whlch~
Figure~l~is a front vlew of a terminal according to~the lnvention;
20~ Flgure~2 1s a #ide elevation of the terminal of Figure l;
Figure 3~ i8 a perspective view of the terminal of Figures l and 2;
Plgure 4;1s~a sectloned perspectlve view of four terminals as
sho~wn~in Figures~l to~3, mounted in individ 1 holes in a substrate;
Figure 5~is a;~front~view of~a second embodiment of terminal accord-
to thè;~lnvention~ and~
Figure~6~1c~a~cide~elevct1on of the terminal of Figure 5.
Referrlng~flrst~to~Flgures 1 to 3, the terminal here shown is
f ~ d~of~reslilent me*al and comprises a first contact portion l, a second
~ 2 -
104~60Z
contact portion 2, and an intermediate mounting portion 3. The form of the
contact portions 1 and 2 is not critical to the present invention save that
one thereof can pass through a hole in which the mounting portion 3 is to be
received, and thus the contact portions 1 and 2 will not be described in any
detail.
The mounting portion 3 comprises a pair of spaced beam members 4
and 5 which are separated by a hole 6. One end of each of the beam members
4 and 5 is connected to the contact portion 1, and the other end of each
thereof is connected to the contact portion 2.
As best seen in Figure 1, the beam members 4 and 5 are bowed in -~
opposite senses, that is awa~ from each other at their centres, in a first
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the terminal.
As best seen in Figure 2, the beam members 4 and 5 are also bowed
in the same sense, that is to the right as seen in Figure 2, in a second
direction perpendicular to the first direction of bowing shown in Figure 1,
and to the longitudinal axis of the terminal.
Referring now to Figure 4 also, this figure shows four of the ter-
minals of Figures 1 to 3 mounted in individual holes 7 in a substrate ô.
As shown, each hole 7 is rectangular in cross-section, and the
mounting portion 3 of a terminal is received therein with the beam portions
4 and 5 re~iliently deformed in both their directions of bowing. The beam
portions 4 and 5 are thus resilientl~ engaged with portions of each wall of
:
the hole 7 and exerts forces against these wall portions as indicated by the
arrows F.
As shown in Figures I and 2, the terminal has a reduced width por-
ion 9 between the contact portion 2 and the unting portion 3, this pro-
~ viding a pair of shoulders 10 which face the mounting portion 3. As shown
s~ in Figure 4, the portion 9 can be twisted through ~0 such that with the
~ - 3 -
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': : . ' '': '' ' . ' - . ' . . . .
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mounting portion 3 received in the hole 7, the shoulders 10 engage a surface
of the substrate 8 to limit longitudinal movement of the terminal in one
direction relative to the substrate 8.
Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the terminal here shown is sim-
ilar to that of Figures 1 to 4, save that the beam portions 4 and 5 are
shaped to give the mounting portion 3 an overall wedge shape as shown in
Figure 5 rather than the uniformly bowed shape of the terminal of Figures 1
to 4, and that there is no reduced width portion corresponding to the por-
tion 9 of the terminal of Figures 1 to 4.
Thus, the terminal of Figures 5 and 6 is not intended to be twist-
ed as is the terminal of Figures 1 to 4, but is intended to be inserted into
a hole in a substrate with the contact part 2 leading, rather than with the ~ .
contact portion 1 leading as is the terminal of Figures 1 to 4.
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