Rib Cage Terminal

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to electrical connectors. More particularly, it refers to a rib cage terminal for use in connecting to round or square pins.

2. Background Art

The prior art is replete with descriptions of terminals used to contact square or round pins. Many of these terminals are effective for their intended purpose. Examples of the terminals can be found in French Pat No. 960,968 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,758,291, 3,538,340 and 3,763,460. However, the search continues for improved terminals that are effective and low cost.

I have designed a novel low cost female terminal, extremely effective for contacting round or square pins. My terminal has an electrically conducting rib cage mounted on a spine. The rib cage has at least four pair of ribs in the form of curved cantilevered beams, each beam attached at one end to the spine and spaced apart at its other end from a corresponding beam. Each beam is at an acute angle with respect to the spine. The diameter of the rib cage is sufficient to receive round or square pins from other electrical devices. The spine also has mounting tabs at each end extending in a direction away from the rib cage.

The present invention may be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of a six rib cage terminal.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cut away of a connector housing exposing a rib cage terminal with connecting round pins inserted.

FIG. 3[A] is a perspective of the rib cage terminal on a carrier strip after being stamped from flat metal stock and before forming.

FIG. 3[B] is a perspective of the same rib cage terminal as in 3[A] after forming.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a rib cage terminal 10 with pins 12 and 13 inserted. Ribs 14 form an acute angle with regard to the spine 16 of the terminal 10. Mounting tab 18 assists in maintaining the position of the terminal 10 within a housing 28 as seen in FIG. 2. Slots 19 separate the ribs. A rib bridge 20 separates the top of each rib 14. Separate pins 12 and 13 are inserted from each end of the terminal 10. The sloped terminal faces 30 and 32 of the ribs 14 receive the terminal pins 12 and 13 respectively after the pins have passed through the channel 26 in the housing. Chamfered edges 24 in the housing 28 maintain easy entry of the pins 12 and 13. A central opening 22 within the inside space of the rib cage receives the pins 12 and 13. The pins are of such a diameter as to slightly spread the ribs 14 during insertion. The ribs 14 contract after withdrawal of the pins.

As can be seen in FIG. 3B, the ribs 14 are curved from the spine 16 in an upward direction and are spaced apart from the corresponding rib 14 coming from the other side of the spine 16.

The terminals of this invention can be made from metal flat strip stock as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. First, the carrier strip 34 has pilot holes 36 punched therein. Thereafter a stamping press punches out a flat design 38. A forming press turns the ribs 14 so that the configuration shown in FIG. 3B is achieved. The terminal is then removed from the carrier strip and the mounting tabs 18 are formed.

The metal used to form the terminal of this invention can be any one of phosphor-bronze, beryllium-copper, cupro-nickel, other copper alloys, bronze, or other metal commonly used to manufacture terminals.

It is possible to vary the number of ribs 14 in the rib cage. By increasing the number of ribs 14 one increases the total amount of pressure exerted on pins 12 and 13. The minimum number of ribs recommended is four. There is no maximum number except as dictated by cost and the size limitations of the housing.