Electrical terminal having wire-receiving slot formed from two plate-like members

Claim 2

A sheet metal electrical terminal of the type comprising a shank portion having first and second plate-like members in side-by-side aligned relationship, the plate-like members having opposed first and second major internal surfaces, the shank portion having a free end, an inner end, and first and second side edges extending from the free end to the inner end, the shank portion having a wire-receiving and contacting section which extends from the free end to an intermediate location which is between the free end and the inner end, the opposed first and second internal surfaces being spaced apart in the wire-receiving and contacting section whereby a wire-receiving slot is provided between the first and second opposed internal surface, the slot extending from the free end towards the intermediate location, the terminal being characterized in that: the terminal comprises first and second substantially similar flat sheet metal parts, the first and second sheet metal parts being the first and second plate-like members respectively, the opposed first and second major internal surfaces being substantially against each other in a connecting zone, the connecting zone being between the intermediate location and the inner end of the shank portion, and the first and second sheet metal parts are secured to each other in the connecting zone.

Claim 3

A sheet metal electrical terminal as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the first and second sheet metal parts are secured to each other in the connecting zone by welding.

Claim 4

A sheet metal electrical terminal as set forth in either of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the plate-like members are coined to reduced thicknesses in the wire-receiving and contacting sections.

Claim 5

A sheet metal electrical terminal as set forth in either of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that at least one contact terminal arm extends from the inner end of the shank portion.

Claim 6

A sheet metal electrical terminal as set forth in either of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the first and second plate-like members have first and second contact terminal arms extending therefrom at the inner end of the shank portion.

Claim 7

A sheet metal electrical connecting device having contacting means for making contact with a wire, the device being of the type having a free end and an inner end portion which is spaced from the free end, a wire receiving slot extending inwardly from the free end towards the inner end portion, the slot having an entrance portion which has a width which is greater than the wire and a contact portion which has a width which is less than the thickness of the wire, the entrance portion extending from the free end to an intermediate location which is between the free end and the inner end portion, the contact portion extending from the intermediate location towards the inner end portion whereby upon movement of the wire laterally of its axis and into the slot, electrical contact will be established in the contact portion, the connecting device being characterized in that: the connecting device comprises a pair of plate members which are in side by side parallel aligned relationship, the plate members having oppositely facing external major surfaces and opposed parallel internal major surfaces, each of the plate members having side edges extending from the free end to the inner end portion, the side edges extending substantially normally of the opposed parallel internal surfaces, the plate members being spaced apart in the zone which extends from the free end to the inner end portion and being secured to each other at the inner end portion, the wire-receiving slot being the space between the opposed parallel internal surfaces, at least one of the internal surfaces having thereon a ridge which projects towards the other internal surface and which extends from the intermediate location towards the inner end portion, the ridge defining the contact portion of the slot.

Claim 8

A sheet metal electrical connecting device having contacting means for making contact with a wire, the device being of the type having a free end and an inner end portion which is spaced from the free end, a wire receiving slot extending inwardly from the free end towards the inner end portion, the slot having an entrance portion which has a width which is greater than the wire and a contact portion which has a width which is less than the thickness of the wire, the entrance portion extending from the free end to an intermediate location which is between the free end and the inner end portion, the contact portion extending from the intermediate location towards the inner end portion whereby upon movement of the wire laterally of its axis and into the slot, electrical contact will be established in the contact portion, the connecting device being characterized in that: the connecting device comprises a pair of plate members which are in side by side parallel aligned relationship, the plate members having oppositely facing external major surfaces and opposed parallel internal major surfaces, each of the plate members having side edges extending from the free end to the inner end portion, the side edges extending substantially normally of the opposed parallel internal surfaces, the plate members being spaced apart in the zone which extends from the free end to the inner end portion and being secured to each other at the inner end portion, the wire-receiving slot being the space between the opposed parallel internal surfaces, at least one of the internal surfaces having thereon a ridge which projects towards the other internal surface and which extends from the intermediate location towards the inner end portion, the ridge defining the contact portion of the slot.

Claim 9

A sheet metal connecting device as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that each of the opposed parallel internal surfaces has a ridge thereon, the ridges being in mutually opposed aligned relationship.

Claim 10

A sheet metal connecting device as set forth in claim 7 characterized in that the opposed parallel internal surfaces are coined surfaces, the ridges having been produced by coining operations.

Claim 11

A sheet metal connecting device as set forth in claim 8 characterized in that the plate members are secured to each other by welding.