US4932906A — Electrical contact terminal

Claim 1

Independent Claim 165 words

An electrical terminal stamped and formed from a single thickness of metal stock, comprising: a hollow body portion and a contact section extending forwardly therefrom; first and second opposing transition portions coextending rearwardly from respective opposing side sections of said hollow body portion; and a barrel portion including first and second barrel sections extending rearwardly from respective ones of said first and second transition portions, said first barrel section being nested within said second barrel section such that a seam of said first barrel section is essentially diametrically opposed from a seam of said second barrel section and a continuous portion of said second barrel section overlies said seam of said first barrel section, said barrel portion thereby having two thickness of metal therearound; whereby upon crimping said barrel portion to a wire member, said barrel portion simulates a continuous annular body and said first and second transition portions provide for improved transmission of current from said wire and through said terminal without excessive heating.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 165 words

An electrical terminal stamped and formed from a single thickness of metal stock, comprising: a hollow body portion and a contact section extending forwardly therefrom; first and second opposing transition portions coextending rearwardly from respective opposing side sections of said hollow body portion; and a barrel portion including first and second barrel sections extending rearwardly from respective ones of said first and second transition portions, said first barrel section being nested within said second barrel section such that a seam of said first barrel section is essentially diametrically opposed from a seam of said second barrel section and a continuous portion of said second barrel section overlies said seam of said first barrel section, said barrel portion thereby having two thickness of metal therearound; whereby upon crimping said barrel portion to a wire member, said barrel portion simulates a continuous annular body and said first and second transition portions provide for improved transmission of current from said wire and through said terminal without excessive heating.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said body portion has a plurality of contact sections extending forwardly therefrom.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The electrical terminal of claim 2 wherein said plurality of contact sections comprise cantilevered beams.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said hollow body portion has a rectangular cross section.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein said barrel portion is crimped to a wire member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The electrical terminal of claim 5 wherein the center of said crimp is plastically deformed to a position below a horizontal axis of said barrel portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The electrical terminal of claim 1 further including locking means along said seam of said outer barrel section to secure edges of said seam together.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The electrical terminal of claim 1 further including a plurality of serrations on the inner surface of said outer barrel section, said serrations extending axially along said outer barrel section.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The electrical terminal of claim 1 further including a plurality of radially extending serrations on the inner surface of said barrel section.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 188 words

An electrical terminal stamped and formed from a single thickness of metal stock, comprising: a hollow body portion having opposed first and second major side sections and opposed first and second minor side sections; at least one contact member extending forwardly from each of said first and second major side sections; first and second transition portions extending rearwardly from respective said first and second major side sections; and a barrel portion including first and second barrel sections extending rearwardly from respective ones of said first and second transition portions, each of said first and second barrel sections having a seam extending axially therealong, said first barrel section being nested within said second barrel section such that said seam of said first barrel section is essentially diametrically opposite the seam of said second barrel section, said barrel portion thereby having two thickness of metal; whereby upon crimping said barrel portion to a wire member, said barrel portion acts as if it were a continuous annular body and said first and second transition portions provide for improved transmission of current from said wire and through said terminal without excessive heating.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 188 words

An electrical terminal stamped and formed from a single thickness of metal stock, comprising: a hollow body portion having opposed first and second major side sections and opposed first and second minor side sections; at least one contact member extending forwardly from each of said first and second major side sections; first and second transition portions extending rearwardly from respective said first and second major side sections; and a barrel portion including first and second barrel sections extending rearwardly from respective ones of said first and second transition portions, each of said first and second barrel sections having a seam extending axially therealong, said first barrel section being nested within said second barrel section such that said seam of said first barrel section is essentially diametrically opposite the seam of said second barrel section, said barrel portion thereby having two thickness of metal; whereby upon crimping said barrel portion to a wire member, said barrel portion acts as if it were a continuous annular body and said first and second transition portions provide for improved transmission of current from said wire and through said terminal without excessive heating.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The electrical terminal of claim 10 wherein said body portion has a plurality of contact sections extending forwardly therefrom.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The electrical terminal of claim 11 wherein said plurality of contact sections comprise cantilevered beams.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electrical terminal of claim 10 wherein said hollow body portion has a rectangular cross section.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electrical terminal of claim 10 wherein said barrel portion is crimped to a wire member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The electrical terminal of claim 14 wherein the center of said crimp is plastically deformed to a position below a horizontal axis of said barrel portion.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The electrical terminal of claim 10 further including locking means along said seam of said outer barrel section to secure edges of said seam together.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The electrical terminal of claim 10 further including a plurality of serrations on the inner surface of said outer barrel section, said serrations extending axially along said outer barrel section.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electrical terminal of claim 10 further including a plurality of radially extending serrations on the inner surface of said inner barrel section.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 208 words

A method for making an electrical terminal from a single thickness of metal stock comprising the steps of: selecting a metal stock having the desired properties; stamping a terminal blank from said stock, said blank having a forward portion adapted to be formed into at least one contact section, a first intermediate section extending from said forward section and adapted to be formed into a hollow body portion, a second intermediate portion adapted to be formed into first and second transition portions extending rearwardly of said first intermediate section, and first and second rearward portions adapted to be formed into first and second barrel sections extending rearwardly from respective said first and second transition portions; forming said first rearward portion into said first barrel section; partially forming said second rearward portion into a U-shaped member; forming said first intermediate portion into said hollow body portion of said terminal such that said formed first barrel section is nested within the U-shaped member; and forming said U-shaped member into an outer barrel section such that a seam of said first barrel is essentially diametrically opposed from a seam of said second barrel section and a continuous portion of said second barrel section overlies said seam of said first barrel section.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 208 words

A method for making an electrical terminal from a single thickness of metal stock comprising the steps of: selecting a metal stock having the desired properties; stamping a terminal blank from said stock, said blank having a forward portion adapted to be formed into at least one contact section, a first intermediate section extending from said forward section and adapted to be formed into a hollow body portion, a second intermediate portion adapted to be formed into first and second transition portions extending rearwardly of said first intermediate section, and first and second rearward portions adapted to be formed into first and second barrel sections extending rearwardly from respective said first and second transition portions; forming said first rearward portion into said first barrel section; partially forming said second rearward portion into a U-shaped member; forming said first intermediate portion into said hollow body portion of said terminal such that said formed first barrel section is nested within the U-shaped member; and forming said U-shaped member into an outer barrel section such that a seam of said first barrel is essentially diametrically opposed from a seam of said second barrel section and a continuous portion of said second barrel section overlies said seam of said first barrel section.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 19 further providing a plurality of serrations on inner surfaces of said first and second rearward sections.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 68 words

A wire-receiving barrel terminal having an inner barrel and an outer barrel, each barrel having a seam, the seams of said inner and outer barrels being a substantial angular distance from each other and each seam being adjacent a continuous wall section of the other barrel whereby upon crimping the terminal to an end of a wire conductor, no opening occurs through the circumference of the barrel terminal.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 68 words

A wire-receiving barrel terminal having an inner barrel and an outer barrel, each barrel having a seam, the seams of said inner and outer barrels being a substantial angular distance from each other and each seam being adjacent a continuous wall section of the other barrel whereby upon crimping the terminal to an end of a wire conductor, no opening occurs through the circumference of the barrel terminal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-06-11	1993-12-11	1994-06-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-06-11	1997-12-11	1998-06-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-06-11	2001-12-11	2002-06-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical contact terminal

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