Tab receptacle terminal

Claim 1

An electrical tab receptacle terminal adapted to be inserted in an insulating housing having a terminal receiving passageway therein open to the rear of the housing which has a forward stop at the front of the housing and a wall providing an intermediately located internal abutment shoulder, said terminal being of unitary sheet metal construction and comprising: a box-like main body portion of elongate form having an entry end for reception of a blade terminal; said body portion having four side members arranged with first and second side members in opposed relation and with third and fourth side members in opposed relation; each of the first and second side members including an extension bent back inside the body portion from said entry end to form a cantilever spring contact member extending from a bight back into the interior of the body portion; said contact members being convergent to engage each other adjacent the free ends thereof to define a guide for insertion of a blade tab therebetween; and a spring retention tang struck from said first side member and extending generally lengthwise thereof; said tang having a forward end portion connected to the first side member and a free inclined rear portion extending rearwardly and outwardly with respect to the first side member for engagement with said abutment shoulder when the body portion is disposed in said passageway; the forward end portion of said tang being inwardly bowed to define a projection adjacent the contact member of the first side member; said projection being engageable by the contact member of the first side member upon flexing of the latter contact member toward the first side member responsive to insertion of a blade tab between the contact members to thereby bias the rear portion of the tang outwardly with respect to the first side member.