Electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a housing (2) made of an insulative material and a terminal (3) made by bending a metal sheet in its thicknesswise direction and molded together with the housing (2). The terminal (3) has a contact portion (8A) indented from a surface on which a mating terminal (25) slides in its longitudinal direction. The indented contact portion (8A) is made of a curved surface that extends from both side edges (11) of the terminal toward its bottom center.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connector and a mating connector before plugging;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a terminal for use in the connector;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a contact portion of the terminal;

FIG. 5(A) is a front elevational view of the contact portion of the terminal;

FIG. 5(B) is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 5(A);

FIG. 5(C) is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 5(A);

FIG. 6(A) is a front elevational view of a contact portion according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6(B) is a sectional view taken along B-B of FIG. 6(A);

FIG. 6(C) is a sectional view taken along C-C of FIG. 6(A); and

FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view of a conventional connector and a mating connector.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising: a housing made of an insulative material;a terminal made by bending a metal strip in its thicknesswise direction and molded together with said housing for support;a contact portion indented in said terminal so as to provide a curved surface that extends from its side edges to its bottom center, deepening gradually.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said indented contact portion is made such that tangents to said side edges and a tangent to said bottom share a common circle having a diameter that is greater than a distance between said side edges.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein said indented contact portion made of an arc of said common circle in its widthwise direction.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said indented contact portion has a sloped end face in its longitudinal direction, said sloped end face having a distance that increases from said side edge to said bottom center.

5. The electrical connector according claim 1, wherein said indented contact portion has a stepped end face in its longitudinal direction.