Power port terminal

Claim 2

A female-type power port terminal for connecting to a male lug of a wide range of lengths and cross-sectional dimensions, comprising: a contact receiving portion having a web and a plurality of fingers that are unitary with said web, said fingers being arranged to form an axially extending socket that is aligned about a reference axis, each of said fingers having a free end that is distal from said web, said free ends being unconnected to each other except through said web, each of said fingers further having a bend therein proximate said free end, said bends together defining a contact surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a male plug that is inserted into said socket, said contact surface being the most constricted point along said reference axis in said terminal; and a mounting portion that is unitary with and extends longitudinally from said contact receiving portion and is formed together with said contact receiving portion from a single blank of conductive material, said mounting portion comprising a hood region that is curved about said reference axis by substantially 270 degrees to define a space that is coextensive and aligned with said socket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug to pass into said space, said mounting portion further comprising a plurality of mounting legs thereon for mounting the terminal on a substrate; whereby said terminal, as a result of said unconnected free ends, is constructed to accept male plugs within a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions, and, as a result of said open space defined by said hood portion, is constructed to accept a male plug of a wide range of lengths.

Claim 3

The power port terminal of claim 1 wherein the mounting legs extend generally perpendicularly to the reference axis.

Claim 4

The power port terminal of claim 1 wherein the mounting legs extend generally parallel to the reference axis.

Claim 5

The power port terminal of claim 3 wherein at least one of the beams has a latch tab thereon.

Claim 6

The power port terminal of claim 3 wherein at least two of the beams has a latch tab thereon.

Claim 7

The power port terminal of claim 2 wherein at least one of the beams has a latch tab thereon.

Claim 8

The power port terminal of claim 2 wherein at least two of the beams has a latch tab thereon.

Claim 9

The power port terminal of claim 1 wherein at least one of the beams has a latch tab thereon.

Claim 10

The power port terminal of claim 1 wherein at least two of the beams has a latch tab thereon.

Claim 11

A female-type power port terminal for connecting to a male lug of a wide range of lengths and cross-sectional dimensions, comprising: a contact receiving portion having a web and a plurality of fingers that are unitary with said web, said fingers being arranged to form an axially extending socket that is aligned about a reference axis, each of said fingers having a free end that is distal from said web, said free ends being unconnected to each other except through said web, each of said fingers further having a bend therein proximate said free end, said bends together defining a contact surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a male plug that is inserted into said socket, said contact surface being the most constricted point along said reference axis in said terminal; and a mounting portion that is unitary with and extends longitudinally from said contact receiving portion and is formed together with said contact receiving portion from a single blank of conductive material, said mounting portion comprising a hood region that is curved about said reference axis to define a space that is coextensive and aligned with said socket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug to pass into said space, said mounting portion further comprising at least three mounting legs thereon form mounting the terminal on a substrate, said mounting legs each extending downwardly a substantial distance below said contact receiving portion; whereby said terminal, as a result of said unconnected free ends, is constructed to accept male plugs within a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions, and, as a result of said open space defined by said hood portion, is constructed to accept a male plug of a wide range of lengths.

Claim 12

A female-type power port terminal for connecting to a male lug of a wide range of lengths and cross-sectional dimensions, comprising: a contact receiving portion having a web and a plurality of fingers that are unitary with said web, said fingers being arranged to form an axially extending socket that is aligned about a reference axis, each of said fingers having a free end that is distal from said web, said free ends being unconnected to each other except through said web, each of said fingers further having a bend therein proximate said free end, said bends together defining a contact surface that is constructed and arranged to contact a male plug that is inserted into said socket, said contact surface being the most constricted point along said reference axis in said terminal; and a mounting portion that is unitary with and extends longitudinally from said contact receiving portion and is formed together with said contact receiving portion from a single blank of conductive material, said mounting portion comprising a hood region that is curved about said reference axis to define a space that is coextensive and aligned with said socket, said hood region being open at least to permit a plug to pass into said space, said mounting portion further comprising at least three mounting legs thereon form mounting the terminal on a substrate, said mounting legs each extending downwardly a substantial distance below said contact receiving portion; whereby said terminal, as a result of said unconnected free ends, is constructed to accept male plugs within a wide range of cross-sectional dimensions, and, as a result of said open space defined by said hood portion, is constructed to accept a male plug of a wide range of lengths.