US 11,757,225 B2
Electrical terminal
Charles S. Nelson, Fenton, MI (US); Gopinath Reddy Penamalli, Karnataka (IN); and Kathryn M. McCauley, Durand, MI (US)
Assigned to DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED, St. Michael (BB)
Filed by DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED, St. Michael (BB)
Filed on Mar. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/198,496.
Prior Publication US 2022/0294148 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. H01R 13/24 (2006.01); H01R 13/432 (2006.01); H01R 13/533 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/432 (2013.01) [H01R 13/2435 (2013.01); H01R 13/2442 (2013.01); H01R 13/533 (2013.01); H01R 2201/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical terminal of unitary construction configured to terminate an electrical conductor and provide electrical connection between said electrical conductor and a mating terminal and also being configured to be received along a longitudinal axis within a cavity of a connector body which is electrically insulative, said electrical terminal comprising:
a central spine extending along said longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end and extending along a lateral axis, which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, from a first edge to a second edge;
an attachment portion at said first end of said central spine which is configured to provide fixation to, and electrical communication with, said electrical conductor;
a contact portion which extends from said second end of said central spine and cantilevers over said central spine such that said contact portion is spaced apart from said central spine in a direction along a vertical axis which is perpendicular to both said longitudinal axis and said lateral axis, wherein said contact portion is configured to mate with said mating terminal within said connector body; and
a locking tab which extends from one of said first edge and said second edge, said locking tab having a locking tab attachment end which is fixed to said one of said first edge and said second edge and which extends toward, and is aligned with, said contact portion in a direction parallel to said vertical axis, said locking tab also having a free end which flares outward beyond said contact portion, said locking tab being resilient and compliant, thereby allowing said locking tab to flex along said lateral axis as said electrical terminal is being inserted into said cavity along said longitudinal axis in a first direction and to rebound when said electrical terminal is fully inserted into said cavity, thereby preventing said electrical terminal from being removed from said cavity along said longitudinal axis in a second direction which is opposed to said first direction.