Method for connecting a terminal to a connector and structure of the terminal

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a connection of a connector and a terminal, and in particular to a terminal with a connection arm which is connected to the axle of the cover.

2. The Prior Arts

A conventional way of connection of the terminal 30 and the connector 10 is disclosed in FIGS. 1A and 1B , wherein the connector 10 includes a passage defined in a rear end thereof and two engaging recesses are defined in two ends of the connector 10 . A cover 12 including two positioning rods is connected to the connector 10 by engaging the positioning rods into the engaging recesses so that the cover 12 is pivotable about the positioning rods. Both positioning rods and engaging recesses are located at the inner sides of two ends of the connector 10 and therefore not visible in the figures. A plurality of engaging teeth 12 a is defined in an underside of the cover 12 . A space is defined between the passage and the engaging recesses so that a flatcable can be inserted into the space and the cover 12 is then closed to let the line contact ends be in contact with the terminal contact ends.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the cover 12 includes an axle 12 b which passes through the engaging teeth 12 a . The two positioning rods are formed at the two ends of the axle 12 b . When the terminal 30 extends through the passage, a connection arm 30 b of the terminal 30 is engaged with the axle 12 b of the cover 12 by means of a notch 30 d as shown in FIG. 3A . The cover 12 is then pivoted to its open position as shown in FIG. 3B and a flatcable 40 is inserted into the space as shown in FIG. 3C . As shown in FIG. 3D , the cover 12 is then pivoted downward to its close position and the contact arm 30 a of the terminal 30 is deformed slightly and the flatcable 40 is clamped between the cover 12 and the contact arm 30 a.

A connector includes a passage defined in a rear end thereof and a cover is pivotably connected to the connector. The cover includes a plurality of engaging teeth defined in an underside thereof and an axle passing through the engaging teeth. A terminal has a base from which a contact arm and a connection arm extend. The contact arm has a terminal contact end at a distal end thereof and the connection arm has a connection portion projecting from a distal end thereof. A notch is defined in the connection portion. A sharp plate extends from a top side of the connection arm. The terminal extends through the passage of the connector and the axle of the cover is engaged with the notch of the connection arm and the sharp plate is securely in contact with the inside of the passage of the connector.

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a conventional connector with a cover;

FIG. 1B shows that the cover is pivoted to its open position relative to the connector in FIG. 1A ;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II—II for showing a conventional terminal inserted into the connector;

FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view to show that the conventional terminal is inserted into the connector;

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view to show that the cover is pivoted and the axle is slightly disengaged from the conventional terminal;

FIG. 3C shows that the axle is removed from the conventional terminal when the cover is pivoted to its close position;

FIG. 3D shows that the axle is completely disengaged from the conventional terminal when the cover is closed;

FIG. 4 shows the terminal of the present invention, and

FIGS. 5A to 5E show the five steps that that the terminal of the present invention is inserted into the connector, and the axle is engaged with the notches of the arms of the terminal of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 4 , the terminal 50 of the present invention is a metal plate and has a base from which a contact arm 50 a and a connection arm 50 b extend. The contact arm 50 a has a terminal contact end 50 f at a distal end thereof and the connection arm 50 b has a connection portion 50 c projecting from a distal end of a top thereof and a notch 50 d is defined in the connection portion 50 c . A sharp plate 50 e extends from a top side of the connection arm 50 b.

The connector 10 cooperated with the terminal 50 includes a passage defined in a rear end thereof and two engaging recesses are defined in two ends of the connector 10 . A cover 12 has two positioning rods on two ends thereof and the positioning rods are engaged with the engaging recesses. A plurality of engaging teeth 12 a are defined in an underside of the cover 12 and an axle 12 b is located between the engaging teeth 12 a . A space is defined between the passage and the engaging recesses of the connector 10 .

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , when the terminal 50 extends through the passage of the connector 10 , the connection portion 50 c is pushed downward so that the terminal 50 can be easily inserted into the passage of the connector 10 because the passage is narrower than the span of the contact arm 50 a and the connection arm 50 b . The cover 12 is then pivotably connected to the connector 10 by engaging the positioning rods of the cover 12 with the engaging recesses of the connector 10 . The connection arm 50 b is pushed upward when contacting the axle 12 b and the axle 12 b is then engaged with the notch 50 d as shown in FIG. 5B . The sharp plate 50 e is in contact with an inside of the passage of the connector 10 so as to prevent the terminal 50 from being disengaged from the passage by the movement of the axle 12 b of the cover 12 .

As shown in FIGS. 5C to 5E , the cover 12 pivoted upward to its open position and a flatcable 40 is inserted into the space. The cover 12 is then pivoted downward to its close position and the flatcable 40 is clamped between the cover 12 and the contact arm 50 a . The flatcable 40 has line contact ends which are in contact with the terminal contact end 50 f of the terminal 50 . During the pivotal actions of the cover 12 , the connection arm 50 b is positioned by the sharp plate 50 e and the axle 12 b is engaged with the notch 50 d of the connection portion 50 c so that the cover 12 is well positioned.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.