Terminals and connectors for interconnecting conductors and male contacts

Claim 2

A terminal for interconnecting an insulated wire and a male contact comprising a sheet metal body including a planar portion surrounded at least in part by a rim, at least three apertures in said planar portion defining at least two arms integral at both ends with said body, a contact segment extending laterally from each said arm, said contact segments interfacing to Define a contact receiving region sized to receive the male contact with an interference fit, said contact portions being shorter than said arms to permit the portions of said arms between the contact portions and the ends of said arms to flex in torsion, and a wire gripping structure extending laterally from said planar portion and disposed at least in part generally in the plane of said planar portion, said wire gripping portion including first crimping flange means engageable with a stripped end portion of the wire and second crimping flange means engageable with an insulated portion of the wire.

Claim 3

The terminal claimed in claim 1 including two said arms generally parallel with each other for receiving a male contact with parallel sides.

Claim 4

The terminal claimed in claim 1 including at least three said arms arranged generally on a circle for receiving a circular male contact.

Claim 5

The terminal of claim 1, each said contact portion being integral with one arm and being rounded in shape to present a smooth contact receiving surface.

Claim 6

The terminal of claim 1, said rim extending around the periphery of said planar portion and including portions extending from said planar portion outwardly along opposite edges of said wire gripping portion.

Claim 7

The terminal of claim 5, a resilient locking tab formed in said wire gripping portion in the region between said rib portions.

Claim 8

The terminal of claim 1, a resilient locking tab formed in said wire gripping portion.

Claim 9

A connector for interconnecting a male terminal and a conductor, said connector comprising a sheet metal terminal including a planar portion surrounded at least in part by a rim, at least three apertures in said planar portion defining at least two arms integral at both ends with said body, a contact segment extending laterally from each said arm, said contact segments interfacing to define a contact receiving region sized to receive the male contact with an interference fit, said contact portions being shorter than said arms to permit the portions of said arms between the contact portions and the ends of the arms to flex in torsion, conductor gripping means for fastening the terminal to the conductor, an insulating housing having a cavity therein for containing said terminal, a first passage in said housing extending from said cavity in a first direction to the exterior of the housing for receiving the conductor, said first passage having a cross sectional configuration complementary with the profile of the terminal to permit insertion of the terminal through the first passage into said cavity after fastening of the terminal to the conductor, and a second passage in said housing extending from said cavity in a second direction to the exterior of said housing for receiving the male contact engaged with said terminal.

Claim 10

A connector for interconnecting a male terminal and a conductor, said connector comprising a sheet metal terminal including a planar portion surrounded at least in part by a rim, at least three apertures in said planar portion defining at least two arms integral at both ends with said body, a contact segment extending laterally from each said arm, said contact segments interfacing to define a contact receiving region sized to receive the male contact with an interference fit, said contact portions being shorter than said arms to permit the portions of said arms between the contact portions and the ends of the arms to flex in torsion, conductor gripping means for fastening the terminal to the conductor, an insulating housing having a cavity therein for containing said terminal, a first passage in said housing extending from said cavity in a first direction to the exterior of the housing for receiving the conductor, said first passage having a cross sectional configuration complementary with the profile of the terminal to permit insertion of the terminal through the first passage into said cavity after fastening of the terminal to the conductor, and a second passage in said housing extending from said cavity in a second direction to the exterior of said housing for receiving the male contact engaged with said terminal.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 8, said conductor gripping means including means for attachment to a flexible circuit conductor.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 8, said conductor gripping means including a wire gripping portion disposed at least in part in the plane of said planar portion and including first and second crimping flange means for attachment to a stripped end portion and an insulated portion respectively of an insulated wire.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 10, said cavity and said first passage defining a shoulder, and a resilient locking tab on said terminal engageable with said shoulder upon insertion of the terminal into said cavity.

Claim 14

The connector of claim 8, said second passage extending in said second direction entirely through said housing to permit connections to the male contact at either side of said housing.

Claim 15

The connector of claim 8, said housing including a third passage generally coplanar with said first passage and disposed generally normal thereto extending from said cavity to the exterior of said housing, said third passage having a configuration complementary with the profile of said terminal.