GB2086150A

GB2086150A - Electrical terminals

Info

Publication number: GB2086150A
Application number: GB8033685A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BETTAPARTS Ltd
Current assignee: BETTAPARTS Ltd
Priority date: 1980-10-18
Filing date: 1980-10-18
Publication date: 1982-05-06

Abstract

A brass electrical terminal 1 for connection to an automobile ignition lead 13 comprises an end contacting plate 3 and side contacting members 5 and 7. Projecting substantially perpendicularly from the centre of the plate 3 is a spike 9 which may have a screw thread. In use, the spike 9 is inserted into the central conducting medium 15 of the lead 13, so that the plate 3 abuts the end of the lead. The side contacting members 5 and 7 are then manually bent into contact with the outer longitudinal surface of the lead. A spike 11 on the inner surface of the side contacting member 7 serves to retain the terminal 1 on the lead 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical terminals The present invention relates to electrical terminals particularly for use with automobile ignition leads.

Previously it has been necessary when fitting the metal terminals onto the ends of automobile ignition leads to use a crimp tool or similar implement to secure the terminal to the lead. This may be inconvenient as the motorist may not be in possession of a suitable tool.

According to the present invention there is provided a metal terminal for connection to the end of an automobile ignition lead comprising a first surface in use substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lead, one or more second surfaces substantially in use parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lead, a member projecting substantially perpendicularly from said first contacting surface of said terminal, so as to be capable of insertion into the central conducting medium of said ignition lead, and means for manually securing said terminal onto said ignition lead.

Preferably said locking means is a projection from one or more of said longitudinal contacting surfaces of said terminal or comprises a helical screw thread on said projection for insertion into the conducting medium of said ignition lead.

Preferably said terminal is made of a metal that may be relatively easily bent by hand, more preferably said terminal is made of brass.

Preferably said terminal is made from a single metal -pressing which may then be bent into the desired configuration.

An example of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a terminal in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows the terminal of Figure 1 in position at the end of an automobile ignition lead; Figure 3 is a plan view of the terminal; and Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the terminal of the present invention.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3 a terminal 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises first lateral contacting plate 3 and substantially longitudinal contacting plates 5 and 7. The area of surface 3 is substantially that of the cross-section area of the ignition lead 1 3 to which terminal 1 is to be fitted. Surfaces 5 and 7 are diametrically opposite one another and are connected to the periphery of contacting surface 3.

Projecting substantially from the centre of contacting plate 3 is member 9. This is a pointed spike which, in use, is inserted into the conducting medium 1 5 in the central region of ignition lead 13. The terminal is shown in position at the end of ignition lead 13 in Figure 2.

Although a good electrical contact between the conducting medium 1 5 of ignition lead 13 and surface plate 3 of the terminal is now possible it is desirable to secure terminal 1 to ignition lead 13.

This is done by means of spike 11 projecting substantially perpendicularly from plate 7. After terminal 1 has been placed in position at the end of ignition lead 13, pressure is applied to plates 5 and 7 in the direction indicated by arrows 1 9 and 21. As the terminal is made of brass, this may easily be done by hand. The pressure indicated by arrow 1 9 forces plate 7 into contact with the insulating exterior surface of ignition lead 1 3 and thereby forces spike 11 into the insulating surface of ignition lead 13. This having been done the terminal 1 is substantially secured to cable 13.If however, when removing cable 13 from, for instance, the distributor cap of an automobile, the terminal 1 should become disengaged from cable 13 and remain in the distributor cap socket as sometimes happens with conventional terminals then it may simply be eased out using a screwdriver or other suitable implement and refitted to ignition cable 1 3.

An alternative embodiment of a terminal in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 4. This second embodiment comprises contacting surface 25 and substantially longitudinally contacting plates 27 and 29.

However from the central region of contacting surface 25 projects helically threaded screw member 33. In this embodiment the screw member 33 is a screw inserted through a central hole in surface 25 with the head 35 of screw 33 being securely soldered to surface 25.

In use, screw 33 is inserted into the conducting medium of the ignition lead by rotating the terminal 23 in the relevant direction about the longitudinal axis of screw 33. When the full length of screw 33 has been inserted into the conducting medium of the ignition lead, the helical threading 31 ensures that the terminal 23 is securely attached to the ignition lead. In this embodiment there is no need to further bend the surfaces 27 and 29 into contact with the external insulating surface of the ignition lead unless one or both of surfaces 27 and 29 are equipped with members such as spike 11 in the embodiment of Figure 1.

It will be appreciated that the relative dimensions of terminals in accordance with the present invention will depend upon the sizes of the cables to which they are to be fitted and also upon the current that they will be expected to transmit.

Similarly the materials used may differ from the brass utilised in both the described embodiments as any suitable metallic or conducting material may be used.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 can be pressed from a sheet of metal and the spike members 9 and 11 can be struck up from the surface of the sheet leaving corresponding cut out portions 10 and 1 2.

1. A metal electrical terminal for connection to an end of an automobile ignition lead, said terminal comprising a first substantially flat

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electrical terminals The present invention relates to electrical terminals particularly for use with automobile ignition leads. Previously it has been necessary when fitting the metal terminals onto the ends of automobile ignition leads to use a crimp tool or similar implement to secure the terminal to the lead. This may be inconvenient as the motorist may not be in possession of a suitable tool. According to the present invention there is provided a metal terminal for connection to the end of an automobile ignition lead comprising a first surface in use substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lead, one or more second surfaces substantially in use parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lead, a member projecting substantially perpendicularly from said first contacting surface of said terminal, so as to be capable of insertion into the central conducting medium of said ignition lead, and means for manually securing said terminal onto said ignition lead. Preferably said locking means is a projection from one or more of said longitudinal contacting surfaces of said terminal or comprises a helical screw thread on said projection for insertion into the conducting medium of said ignition lead. Preferably said terminal is made of a metal that may be relatively easily bent by hand, more preferably said terminal is made of brass. Preferably said terminal is made from a single metal -pressing which may then be bent into the desired configuration. An example of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a terminal in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows the terminal of Figure 1 in position at the end of an automobile ignition lead; Figure 3 is a plan view of the terminal; and Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the terminal of the present invention. Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3 a terminal 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises first lateral contacting plate 3 and substantially longitudinal contacting plates 5 and 7. The area of surface 3 is substantially that of the cross-section area of the ignition lead 1 3 to which terminal 1 is to be fitted. Surfaces 5 and 7 are diametrically opposite one another and are connected to the periphery of contacting surface 3. Projecting substantially from the centre of contacting plate 3 is member 9. This is a pointed spike which, in use, is inserted into the conducting medium 1 5 in the central region of ignition lead 13. The terminal is shown in position at the end of ignition lead 13 in Figure 2. Although a good electrical contact between the conducting medium 1 5 of ignition lead 13 and surface plate 3 of the terminal is now possible it is desirable to secure terminal 1 to ignition lead 13. This is done by means of spike 11 projecting substantially perpendicularly from plate 7. After terminal 1 has been placed in position at the end of ignition lead 13, pressure is applied to plates 5 and 7 in the direction indicated by arrows 1 9 and 21. As the terminal is made of brass, this may easily be done by hand. The pressure indicated by arrow 1 9 forces plate 7 into contact with the insulating exterior surface of ignition lead 1 3 and thereby forces spike 11 into the insulating surface of ignition lead 13. This having been done the terminal 1 is substantially secured to cable 13.If however, when removing cable 13 from, for instance, the distributor cap of an automobile, the terminal 1 should become disengaged from cable 13 and remain in the distributor cap socket as sometimes happens with conventional terminals then it may simply be eased out using a screwdriver or other suitable implement and refitted to ignition cable 1 3. An alternative embodiment of a terminal in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 4. This second embodiment comprises contacting surface 25 and substantially longitudinally contacting plates 27 and 29. However from the central region of contacting surface 25 projects helically threaded screw member 33. In this embodiment the screw member 33 is a screw inserted through a central hole in surface 25 with the head 35 of screw 33 being securely soldered to surface 25. In use, screw 33 is inserted into the conducting medium of the ignition lead by rotating the terminal 23 in the relevant direction about the longitudinal axis of screw 33. When the full length of screw 33 has been inserted into the conducting medium of the ignition lead, the helical threading 31 ensures that the terminal 23 is securely attached to the ignition lead. In this embodiment there is no need to further bend the surfaces 27 and 29 into contact with the external insulating surface of the ignition lead unless one or both of surfaces 27 and 29 are equipped with members such as spike 11 in the embodiment of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that the relative dimensions of terminals in accordance with the present invention will depend upon the sizes of the cables to which they are to be fitted and also upon the current that they will be expected to transmit. Similarly the materials used may differ from the brass utilised in both the described embodiments as any suitable metallic or conducting material may be used. As can be seen from Figure 3, the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 can be pressed from a sheet of metal and the spike members 9 and 11 can be struck up from the surface of the sheet leaving corresponding cut out portions 10 and 1 2. CLAIMS

1. A metal electrical terminal for connection to an end of an automobile ignition lead, said terminal comprising a first substantially flat portion, there being a projection extending substantially perpendicularly from the first portion, such that, in use, the projection is capable of being inserted into the central conducting medium of said ignition lead whilst the first portion lies abutting the end surface of the lead, the terminal further including one or more elongate portions extending substantially perpendicularly from said first portion such that, in use, the or each of said elongate portions contact the electrically conducting surface of a socket into which the terminal is inserted, and there being provided manually operable means for securing said terminal to said lead.

2. A terminal according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a gripping member projecting from the surface of one or more of said elongate members, said surface being a surface contacting the outer longitudinal surface of said lead.

3. A terminal according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprise a helical screw thread on said projection extending from said first portion.

4. A terminal according to any of the preceding claims wherein said terminal is made by a single pressing process.

5. A terminal according to any of the preceding claims wherein said terminal is formed of a metal which may relatively easily be bent by hand.

6. A terminal according to claim 5 wherein said metal is brass.

7. A terminal according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

8. A metal electrical terminal for connection to an end of an automobile ignition lead substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A metal electrical terminal for connection to an end of an automobile ignition lead substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.