Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:


Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a contact terminal for a socket.

Background of the invention:
[0002] According to a prior art CN214013213 a durable lithium battery charging and discharging socket connector and conductive terminal thereof is disclosed. The utility model discloses a durable lithium battery charging and discharging socket connector and a conductive terminal thereof, the conductive terminal comprises a main body and a terminal ring, the main body comprises a fixing part, one end of the fixing part integrally extends to form a connecting part, the other end of the fixing part integrally extends to form a plurality of contact pieces, and the terminal ring is arranged on the connecting part. The plurality of contact pieces are arranged at intervals and in a circumferential manner to form a plugging hole, and a through groove communicated with the plugging hole is formed between every two adjacent contact pieces; and the terminal ring is sleeved on the outer side surfaces of the plurality of contact sheets. The conductive terminal is provided with the terminal ring, and the terminal ring is sleeved on the outer side surfaces of the plurality of contact sheets, so that the problem that the plurality of contact sheets of the conductive terminal are dispersed and cannot recover deformation after being plugged for many times is effectively avoided, the elasticity of the contact sheets can be kept for a long time, the contact sheets are in stable and reliable contact with the terminals of the plug connector, and the conductive terminal is more durable; and convenience is brought to use.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0003] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a contact terminal of a socket in different views, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a contact terminal of a socket in different views, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A first view 108 is a section view and a second view 110 is a perspective view. The contact terminal 100 comprises a base 106, and a plurality of flexible members 102 each comprising a fixed end and a free end, each of the flexible members 102 positioned circumferentially and extending from the base 106 in a cylindrical shape. The free end of the plurality of flexible members 102 forms an opening for a mating connector (not shown), characterized in that, at least one indent 118 defined in at least one of said plurality of flexible members 102 in a direction towards and to make contact with the mating connector when inserted. The at least one indent 118 is variably defined along a length of the flexible member 102 in order to achieve a variable mating force to receive a mating connector into the terminal. The indent 118 protrudes inside a hollow space of the cylindrical shape. Further, each of the flexible member 102 are separated by a slit 104. In other words, a cylindrical shape is segmented into required number of flexible members 102 using the slits 104.

[0006] According to the present invention, at least one of the plurality of flexible members 102 with the at least one indent 118 is selected from a group comprising an even number of flexible members 102 and an odd number of flexible members 102. In case of the odd number of flexible members 102, three or more number of flexible members 102 are considered. In an embodiment, the even number of flexible members 102 with the at least one indent 118 comprises at least one pair of flexible members 102 positioned opposite to each other. Being opposite to each other, the at least one pair of the flexible members 102 are either of leaning towards each other, leaning away from each other and parallel to each other.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the even number of flexible members 102 comprises at least two pair of flexible members 102, namely a first pair and a second pair. The at least one indent 118 in the first pair and the second pair are at different length from the base 106. In another embodiment, the indent 118 in the at least one pair of flexible members 102 are defined at a same length from the base 106.

[0008] In the first view 108, the contact terminal 100 with four flexible members 102 are shown. However due to the cross-section view only three are visible with respective indent 118, i.e. a first indent 112, a second indent 114 and a third indent 116. Also, the contact terminal 100 as per the present invention is designable with two, three, four and multiple flexible members 102. In the second view 110, four flexible members 102 of the contact terminal 100 are shown.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flexible members 102 is also referred to as lamella. The contact terminal 100 comprises the at least one indent 118 which is a semi-circular / convex pressed structure, referrable as a contact zone. At least one, i.e. one or more contact zones are formed on the individual flexible member 102 (lamellae) which are positioned circumferentially on the cylindrical body forming a conical hollow structure to receive the mating counterpart. The indent 118 acts to be a first contact for the mating counterpart/pin. All flexible members 102 lean inwards (towards each other) making a narrow entry area for the mating counterpart / pin. The flexible members 102 with the convex structure that forms the contact zone of force application on mating counterpart during insertion which results in the contact normal force between the socket/contact terminal 100 and the mating pin ensuring the continuous contact therebetween. The resulting force deflects the flexible member 102 to spread outward allowing the mating pin to engage with contact terminal 100. Each flexible member 102 functions as cantilever beam with one end fixed at the base 106 and one end free.

[0010] The mating forces are controllable by position of the contact zone on the flexible member 102. The mating forces increase when contact zone moves from the free end to the fixed end. The wide range of mating forces is achievable by the different position of contact zone on different flexible members 102.

[0011] With the varying contact zones with different position on different flexible members 102 in the same contact terminal 100, even number of flexible members 102 are formed on the contact terminal 100. In an embodiment, each flexible member 102 comprises the same position of contact zone as that of the flexible member 102 facing towards it, thus creating a balance of forces on the mating pin avoiding the tilting of pin inside the contact terminal 100. In other embodiment, balance of forces on the mating pin is obtained using odd number of flexible members 102. In yet another embodiment, with different position of contact zone on different flexible member 102, the size and shape of the contact zone on flexible member 102 is controlled in a such a way that the deflection at the free end of all lamellae is constant.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of flexible member 102 lean at a predetermined angle towards each other. Alternatively, the plurality of flexible member 102 lean at a predetermined angle away from each other, where the plurality of flexible member 102 are part of a male type connector and inserted inside a female type mating connector.

[0013] According to the present invention, a socket type electrical contact terminal 100 comprising the variable contact zone/area is disclosed. The variable mating forces is achieved with combination of different positions of contact zones. The variable mating force electrical contact terminals 100 is applied in charging connector for an Electric Vehicle (EV), but not limited to the same. The contact terminal 100 is usable in all different types of electrical connection in different application sectors such as Electric vehicle , domestic/residential, industrial sector and not just limited to the Electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles.

[0014] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A contact terminal (100) for a socket, comprises:
a base (106), and
a plurality of flexible members (102) each comprising a fixed end and a free end, each of said flexible members (102) positioned circumferentially on said base (106) through respective fixed end in a cylindrical shape, and said free end of said plurality of flexible members (102) forms an opening for a mating connector, characterized in that,
at least one indent (118) defined in at least one of said plurality of flexible members (102) in a direction towards and to make contact with said mating connector when inserted, said at least one indent (118) is variably defined along a length of said flexible member (102).

2. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said plurality of flexible members (102) with said at least one indent (118) is selected from a group comprising an even number of flexible members (102) and an odd number of flexible members (102).

3. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said even number of flexible members (102) with said at least one indent (118) comprises at least one pair of flexible members (102) positioned opposite to each other.

4. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said even number of flexible members (102) comprises at least two pair of flexible members (102), namely a first pair and a second pair.

5. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one indent (118) in said first pair and said second pair are at different length from said base (106).

6. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said indent (118) in said at least one pair of flexible members (102) are defined at a same length from said base (106).

7. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plurality of flexible member (102) lean at a predetermined angle towards each other.

8. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plurality of flexible member (102) lean at a predetermined angle away from each other.

9. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of flexible member (102) are inserted inside a female type mating connector.

10. The contact terminal (100) as claimed in claim 1 is applied in at least one of a charging connector for Electric Vehicles (EV), residential/domestic and industrial sector.