Female terminal and main terminal body

Abstract

To provide a female terminal that maintains an appropriate contact interface gap for receiving a corresponding male terminal.SOLUTION: There is a terminal spring on a female terminal that integrates a spacer member 300 to a terminal base under a terminal spring 112, and the spacer member is integrally, continuously or unitarily connected to the terminal spring as a single component. The female terminal to which the terminal spring including the spacer member is bonded includes a pair of terminal bases each having a contact region, a transition region, and a terminal (wire) region. The contact region and the transition region of a first terminal base and a second terminal base are substantially enclosed in the terminal spring. The spacer member effectively maintains an accurate gap for receiving the corresponding male terminal therein via an interface gap between front ends of the contact regions of the first terminal base and the second terminal base via another gap between the transition regions of the first terminal base and the second terminal base.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 403,640, filed September 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] At its most basic level, an electrical terminal contains at least two elements: a male terminal and a female terminal. Together, the male and female terminals form a terminal system, with the components intended to remain in contact with each other during operation of the terminal system.

[0003] A terminal system is best thought of as the design or construction of an electrical joint that allows electrical energy to flow unimpeded while minimizing loss. This loss of electrical energy through the terminal system is measured as a voltage drop (i.e., a decrease in voltage or potential) and can manifest as heat. Such terminal system designs can be adapted to an almost infinite number of designs and configurations. Despite this myriad of terminal system designs and possible configurations, they often share some common elements or characteristics. These common elements or characteristics include the minimum number of two elements or element pairs that make up the terminal system, and such element pairs are defined as joints. Each pair of elements or joints consists of one male and one female. These elements are made of highly conductive metals (e.g., copper or aluminum coated with silver, gold, nickel, or tin).

[0004] Additionally, terminal systems are designed or manufactured to be serviceable so that their elements can be mated (or coupled) and unmated (or separated). The design or construction of terminal systems often relies on the elastic properties of the material (i.e., metal) of the female element to allow mating or separation with the male element. Terminal systems are typically attached to the end of a cable or wire. Once attached, the terminal system has an area for attachment to the cable or wire by mechanical crimping, welding, soldering, brazing, etc. Most, if not all, terminal systems are designed or constructed with a "housing" of non-conductive material to handle and insulate at least another nearby conductive element.

[0005] Finally, terminal systems that accommodate other terminals include, for example, wall outlets, USB connectors, headphone jacks, Ethernet RJ45 connectors, plugs on the end of cords that are intended to "plug into" wired telephone lines, etc.

[0006] 1-3, each conventional terminal is illustrated as including a terminal base and a terminal spring. In FIG. 1, for example, the conventional terminal includes a terminal base 1 and a terminal spring member 7. The terminal base 1 includes a rear portion 3 and a front portion 5, and the front portion 5 of the terminal base 1 is housed inside the terminal spring member 7. The rear portion 3 of the terminal base 1 allows a cable or wire (not shown) to be crimped, while the tip 9 of the front portion 5 of the terminal base 1 allows, for example, a device terminal (not shown) to be resiliently received therein.

[0007] 2 includes a terminal base 21 and a terminal spring 27. The terminal base 21 includes a rear portion 23 and a front portion 25, and the front portion 25 of the terminal base 21 is housed inside the terminal spring 27. The rear portion 23 of the terminal base 21 allows a cable or wire (not shown) to be crimped, while a tip 29 of the front portion 25 of the terminal base 21 allows a device terminal (not shown) to be resiliently received therein.

[0008] 3 includes a terminal base 31 and a terminal spring 37. The terminal base 31 includes a rear portion 33 and a front portion 35, and the front portion 35 of the terminal base 31 is housed inside the terminal spring 37. The rear portion 33 of the terminal base 31 allows a cable or wire (not shown) to be crimped, while a tip 39 of the front portion 35 of the terminal base 31 allows a device terminal (not shown) to be resiliently received therein.

[0009] As described above, the conventional terminals illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 use terminal spring members 7, 27, and 37 in combination with terminal bases 1, 21, and 31, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the front portions 5, 25, and 35 of each terminal base 1, 21, and 31 have pairs of front portions 5a / 5b, 25a / 25b, and 35a / 35b, respectively. The pairs of front portions 5a / 5b, 25a / 25b, and 35a / 35b of the terminal bases 1, 21, and 31 of the terminals illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are intended to accommodate male terminals (or mating terminals) (not shown), and male terminals must be accommodated therein. However, in the conventional terminals illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, there is no guarantee that the gaps between the pairs of front portions 5a / 5b, 25a / 25b, and 35a / 35b will be maintained. Therefore, there is no guarantee that a male terminal to be accommodated therebetween will be completely accommodated therein. It is important that the male terminals received in the front portions 5a / 5b, 25a / 25b, 35a / 35b of the terminal base 1, 21, 31 move completely toward a specific point (e.g., a point at the transition portion 6, 26, 36) between the front portion 5, 25, 35 and the rear portion 3, 23, 33 of each terminal base 1, 21, 31 to ensure that the male terminals make contact with, for example, a cable or wire received or crimped in the rear portion 3, 23, 33 of the terminal base 1, 21, 31. In other words, the necessary spacing between the front portions 5a / 5b, 25a / 25b, 35a / 35b of the terminal base 1, 21, 31 must be maintained, which cannot be guaranteed with the conventional terminals of Figures 1-3, and this spacing is essential to allow the male terminal received therein to move completely toward a specific point in the transition portion 6, 26, 36 and make contact with the cable or wire received in the rear portion 3, 23, 33 of the terminal base 1, 21, 31.

[0010] In the conventional terminal illustrated in FIG. 1, forward stop members 7a / 7b of terminal spring 7 prevent terminal base 1 from advancing too far forward. Also shown in FIG. 1 is rear window 8, which functions as a rear stop. In the conventional terminal illustrated in FIG. 2, locking members 27a / 27b of spring member 27 lock spring member 27 to terminal base 21. However, the inclusion of the above-described forward stop members 7a / 7b (in the conventional terminal of FIG. 1) or locking members 27a / 27b (in the conventional terminal of FIG. 2) requires that forward stop members 7a / 7b or locking members 27a / 27b have an additional stamping process in the blank state, which is an undesirable and inefficient additional step in the manufacture of the conventional terminals of FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 and 2, the front stop members 7a / 7b and the locking members 27a / 27b need to be bent (e.g., by 90 degrees) to fasten the respective front portions 5a / 5b of the terminal base 1 or lock the respective front portions 25a / 25b of the terminal base 2. The required configuration or structural arrangement for these front stop members 7a / 7b or locking members 27a / 27b requires extending adjacent portions of the respective front portions 5a / 5b of the terminal base 1, 21, which leads to the disadvantage of increased waste material during the manufacture of the conventional terminals of FIGS.

[0011] 1 and 2, if the terminal spring members 7, 27 were not provided with the front stop members 7a / 7b or the locking members 27a / 27, there would be no guarantee that the gap between the front portions 5a / 5b, 25a / 25b of the terminal bases 1, 21 could be maintained, and the gap tolerance could vary (i.e., the gap tolerance could be too large or too small). This is exemplified in the conventional terminal shown in FIG. 3, in which no such front stop member or locking member is provided by the spring member 37 for the front portions 35a / 35b of the terminal base 31. Therefore, in the conventional terminal of FIG. 3, the necessary gap (and its necessary tolerance) between the front portions 35a / 35b of the terminal base 31 to fully accommodate the male terminal therein may not be ensured, even though it is essential for the reasons described above. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The invention described and claimed herein embodies the integration of a secondary spacer member or structure into the underlying base terminal and a spring on the female terminal to help maintain the proper contact interface gap width for receiving a corresponding male terminal therein, providing a significantly improved female terminal that can be manufactured more efficiently and effectively at reduced manufacturing costs than other conventional terminals and conventional terminal manufacturing methods. The female terminal of the present invention, which overcomes the problems and drawbacks of the conventional terminals described above, includes a terminal base and a terminal spring, the terminal spring having a spacer member or structure. The terminal base includes a first terminal base portion and a second terminal base portion. The first terminal base portion and the second terminal base portion are joined together to form the fully assembled terminal base. Each of the first terminal base portion and the second terminal base portion includes a contact region, a transition region, and a termination (wire) region, and is preferably made of copper. The contact areas of the first and second base portions of the female terminal of the present invention provide a spring function, and a spacer member or structure between the transition regions of the first and second base portions maintains the spring function when the male terminal is secured therebetween, maintaining a precise gap between the contact areas and transition regions of the first and second terminal base portions, respectively. The spacer member or structure allows the female terminal to maintain a consistent and proper contact interface gap with the corresponding male terminal at the contact areas of the first and second base portions, eliminating the need for tabs, as described above with respect to conventional terminals. The present invention further reduces the manufacturing cost of female terminals by allowing more terminals to be manufactured from a given length of stock. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional female terminal having a terminal spring and a terminal base held within the terminal spring. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional female terminal having a terminal spring and a terminal base held within the terminal spring. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another conventional female terminal having a terminal spring and a terminal base enclosed within the terminal spring. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fully assembled female terminal of the present invention showing a pair of first and second terminal bases with terminal springs therein surrounding the contact and transition regions of the first and second terminal bases, and further showing a spacer member or structure positioned between the transition regions of the first and second base portions. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of first and second terminal bases, one positioned on top of the other, showing the contact regions, transition regions, and terminal (wire) regions of the first and second base portions, respectively, and the inner surface of the first terminal base facing the inner surface of the second terminal base. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a first terminal base showing a contact region, a transition region, and a terminal (wire) region, the contact region having a plurality of first flexible fingers extending from the transition region. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a second terminal base showing the contact area, transition area, and terminal (wire) area, where the contact area has a plurality of second flexible finger members, and the first terminal base and the second terminal base are structurally identical. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a terminal spring having symmetrical top and bottom sections with spacer members or structures attached to each of its sides. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pair of first and second terminal bases, as in FIG. 5, with the inner surface of the first terminal base facing the inner surface of the second terminal base, further illustrating openings or open spaces on each side, shown as rectangular dashed lines representing locations for accommodating spacer members or structures. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fully assembled female terminal of the present invention, as in FIG. 1, showing a spacer member or structure disposed on the terminal spring, the spacer member or structure forming one of the opposing sides of the rear portion of the terminal spring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fully assembled female terminal (generally designated 100) of the present invention. The female terminal 100 includes a pair of first and second terminal bases 102, 104, each equipped with a terminal spring 112. As described in more detail below, the first terminal base 120 includes a contact zone 106, a transition zone 108, and a terminal (wire) region 110. Similarly, the second terminal base 104 includes a contact zone 116, a transition zone 118, and a terminal (wire) region 120. The first and second terminal bases 102, 104 are structurally identical. In other words, during assembly of the female terminal 100, the second terminal base 104 is an "inverted" version of the first terminal base 102. At least the contact area 106 and transition area 108 of the first terminal base 102 and the contact area 116 and transition area 118 of the second terminal base 104 are partially enclosed within the terminal spring 112. The terminal spring 112 includes a front portion 112a and a rear portion 112b, as generally illustrated in FIG.

[0015] Each of the first terminal base 102 and the second terminal base 104 is preferably made of a highly conductive metal (such as copper or aluminum), with its surface coated with, for example, silver, gold, nickel, or tin. As described above, the first terminal base 102 and the second terminal base 104 are structurally identical, with the second terminal base 104 being an "inverted" version of the first terminal base 102. As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the first terminal base 102 is mounted on the second terminal base 104. Because the first terminal base 102 and the second terminal base 104 have the same structural arrangement, more terminals can be manufactured from a given length of stock, making the manufacture of the female terminal 100 more efficient and thus reducing the manufacturing cost of the female terminal 100 of the present invention. The first terminal base 102 or the second terminal base 104 is preferably, but not limited to, an integral, continuous, or single part.

[0016] As will be explained in more detail below, spacer members or structures 300 are joined, connected or integral with the rear portions 112b of the terminal springs 112 and form respective sides of the rear portions 112b of the terminal springs 112.

[0017] 5, when the terminal bases are fully assembled, or when the pair of first and second terminal bases 102, 104 are assembled together (i.e., when the first terminal base 102 is placed or rested on the second terminal base 104, or vice versa), the contact region 106, transition region 108, and terminal (wire) region 110 of the first terminal base 102 directly face the contact region 116, transition region 118, and terminal (wire) region 120, respectively, of the second terminal. The fully assembled terminal bases form a gap 130 extending from gap 130a (between the contact regions 106, 116 of the first and second base terminals 102, 104, respectively) through gap 130b (between the transition regions 108, 118 of the first and second base terminals 102, 104, respectively).

[0018] More specifically, when the terminal bases are fully assembled, as illustrated in Figure 5, the inner surface or interior 140 of the first terminal base 102 (see Figures 6A and 6B) directly faces the inner surface or interior 150 of the second terminal base 104 (see Figures 6A and 6B) such that the contact region 106 of the first terminal base 102 directly faces the contact region 116 of the second terminal base 104, the transition region 108 of the first terminal base 102 directly faces the transition region 118 of the second terminal base 104, and the terminal (wire) region 110 of the first terminal base 102 directly abuts the terminal (wire) region 120 of the second terminal base 104. Figure 6B clearly shows that a portion 160 of the transition region 118 extends at least at an angle (or at different angles) toward the terminal (wire) region 120 of the second terminal base 104. Thus, the extended surfaces of terminal (wire) regions 120 differ from the extended surfaces of the corresponding transition regions 118 and contact regions 116. Because second terminal base 104 (as shown in FIG. 6B ) is structurally identical to first terminal base 102 (as shown in FIG. 6A ), and second terminal base 104 is an “inverted” version of first terminal base 102, similar portions 160 exist between transition region 108 and terminal (wire) region 110 of first terminal base 102 in FIG. 6A , as described above in connection with second terminal base 104. At least a portion of angled portions 160 on each of first terminal base 102 and second terminal base 104 is the forward-most point where first terminal base 102 contacts second terminal base 104.

[0019] 6A , the contact area 106 of the first terminal base 102 includes a plurality of finger members 170 extending from adjacent transition areas 108, the plurality of finger members 170 having respective ends 175 extending at an angle and in a direction toward an outer surface 190 of the first terminal base 102. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 6B , the contact area 116 of the second terminal base 104 includes a plurality of finger members 180 extending from adjacent transition areas 108, the plurality of finger members 180 having respective ends 185 extending at an angle and in a direction toward an outer surface 200 of the second terminal base 104.

[0020] 7, the terminal spring 112 includes a spacer member or structure 300, as described above in connection with FIG. 4, attached to, bonded to, connected to, or integral with the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112, constituting each side of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. The terminal spring 112 has an upper portion 210 and a lower portion 220 that are symmetrical in shape, and the terminal spring 112 has a spacer member or structure 300 attached to, bonded to, connected to, or integral with each side of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. The upper portion 210 and the lower portion 220 of the front portion 112a of the terminal spring 112 each include a pair of upper finger members 250 extending from the upper portion 210 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112 and a pair of lower finger members 260 extending from the lower portion 220 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. Preferably, a pair of upper finger members 250 extending from an upper portion 210 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112 and a pair of lower finger members 260 extending from a lower portion 220 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112 extend toward each other, but the extension directions of the pair of upper finger members 250 and the pair of lower finger members 260 are not limited thereto, and they may each extend from the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112 along substantially the same plane as the plane in which the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112 extends. Furthermore, the terminal spring 112 is preferably, but not limited to, an integral, continuous, or single piece.

[0021] Between the pair of upper and lower finger members 250, 260 on the front portion 112a of the terminal spring 112 is a gap 270 that extends from the front portion 112a through the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. As described above in connection with FIG. 4 and below in connection with FIG. 9, the gap 270 that extends from the front portion 112a through the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112 substantially accommodates, at least in part or in its entirety, the contact region 106 and the transition region 108 of the first terminal base 102 and the contact region 116 and the transition region 118 of the second terminal base 104 therein.

[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the spacer member or structure 300 preferably includes an upper member 302, a lower member 304, a front member 306, and a rear member 308, each extending from a central member 310. While the central member 310 is shown as a generally flat member, its configuration, shape, and overall structural arrangement are not limited thereto. As further shown in FIG. 7 , the upper member 302 of the spacer member or structure 300 is preferably integrally, continuously, or unitarily connected to one side of the upper portion 210 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. As also shown in FIG. 7 , the lower member 304 of the spacer member or structure 300 is preferably integrally, continuously, or unitarily connected to the other side of the lower portion 220 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. Additionally, the spacer member or structure 300 may be integrated onto the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112 or may be integrally, continuously, or unitarily attached, joined, or connected thereto, but this structural arrangement is not limited thereto. That is, the spacer member or structure 300 of the terminal spring 112 may be welded, brazed, etc., onto the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112.

[0023] The function or structural arrangement of the front and rear members 306, 308 extending from the central member 310 of the spacer or structure 300 will be described in more detail in conjunction with Figures 8 and 9. As more particularly described above in conjunction with Figure 5, when the terminal bases are fully assembled, the inner surface or interior 140 (see Figure 6A) of the first terminal base 102 directly faces the inner surface or interior 150 (see Figure 6B) of the second terminal base 104, such that the contact region 106 of the first terminal base 102 directly faces the contact region 116 of the second terminal base 104, the transition region 108 of the first terminal base 102 directly faces the transition region 118 of the second terminal base 104, and the terminal (wire) region 110 of the first terminal base 102 directly abuts the terminal (wire) region 120 of the second terminal base 104. The fully assembled terminal bases form a gap 130 extending from gap 130a (between the contact regions 106, 116 of the first and second base terminals 102, 14, respectively) through gap 130b (between the transition regions 108, 118 of the first and second base terminals 102, 104, respectively). The gap between the transition regions 108, 118 of the first and second terminal bases 102, 204 includes a side opening A on each side thereof (as shown by the dashed rectangular lines in FIG. 8 ). The side openings A are located on opposite sides of the gap 130b formed between the transition regions 108, 118 of the first and second terminal bases 102, 104. Each side opening A accommodates a spacer member or structure 300, as illustrated in FIG. 9 . As shown in the schematic block box 400 of FIG. 9, the corresponding male terminal 400 enters gaps 130a and 130b of the gap 130 between the contact areas 106, 116 and transition areas 108, 118 of the first terminal base 102 and the second terminal base 104 and moves toward a distal point or line, generally referenced by reference character B, of the transition areas 108, 118 of the first terminal base 102 and the second terminal base 104.

[0024] As further shown in Figure 9, gaps 130a and 130b (see also Figures 5 and 8) forming gap 130 between contact areas 106, 116 and transition areas 108, 118 of first and second terminal bases 102, 104 accommodate a corresponding male terminal 400 (shown in schematic block form in Figure 9) which first enters (as indicated by the arrow in Figure 9) into gap 130a between the set of fingers 170 of contact area 106 of first terminal base 102 and the set of fingers 180 of contact area 116 of second terminal base 104. Male terminal 400 then moves through gap 130b between transition areas 108, 118 of first and second terminal bases 102, 104, with male terminal 400 moving at a distal point or line B of transition areas 108, 118 of first and second terminal bases 102, 104, as described above in connection with Figure 8.

[0025] As can be seen in Figure 8, the openings A (on each side of the gap 130b formed between the transition regions 108, 118 of the first and second terminal bases 102, 104) do not have tabs (e.g., bent at 90°) as in the conventional terminals described above in Figures 1 and 2; otherwise, the highly conductive transition regions 108, 118 of the first and second terminal bases 102, 104 would have to be blank-punched to be sufficiently wide at the openings A, which would result in an undesirable increase in manufacturing waste. That is, avoiding the use of tabs in these openings A reduces the manufacturing cost of the female terminal 100 of the present invention. However, the absence of such tabs (as in the conventional terminal described above in connection with Figure 3) does not provide the support necessary to maintain the required gap to receive a corresponding male terminal and to ensure that such gap does not become unevenly large or small.

[0026] In the female terminal 100 of the present invention, the spacer member or structure 300 is joined, connected, or integrated with the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112, and constitutes each side of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8 , the spacer member or structure 300 covers each opposing side of the gap 130b formed between the transition regions 108, 118 of the first terminal base 102 and the second terminal base 104. More specifically, in each opening A covered by the spacer member or structure 300, the upper member 302 of the spacer member or structure 300 is connected to the upper portion 210 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112, while the lower member 304 of the spacer member or structure 300 is connected to the lower portion 220 of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112. The front and rear portions 306, 308 of the spacer member or structure 300 are at least partially received within the opening A and provide support to the sides of the side openings A of the transition regions 108, 118 of the first and second terminal bases 102, 104. With the front and rear portions 306, 308 of the spacer member or structure 300 integrally joined to opposite sides of the side opening A of the rear portion 112b of the terminal spring 112, the terminal spring 112 functions as a suitable spacer. In addition to providing auxiliary force to the terminal spring 112 (including the spacer member or structure 300) against the highly conductive contact regions 106, 116 of the first and second terminal bases 102, 104, the spacer member or structure 300 also maintains the correct gap 130a (between the contact regions 106, 116 of the first and second terminal bases 102, 104) through which the corresponding male terminal 400 initially enters.

[0027] More specifically, the spacer member or structure 300 maintains the precise gap 130a between the end 175 of the set of multiple finger members 170 in the contact area 106 of the first terminal base 102 and the end 185 of the set of multiple finger members 180 in the contact area 116 of the second terminal base 104, into which the corresponding male terminal 400 first enters.

[0028] The integration of the spacer member or structure 300 in the female terminal 100 of the present invention eliminates tabs (as discussed above in the description of the conventional terminals of FIGS. 1 and 2), thereby reducing waste material during the manufacture of the female terminal 100 of the present invention. Additionally, the spacer member or structure 300 in the female terminal 100 of the present invention maintains the proper contact interface gap 130a, unlike the conventional terminals discussed above in connection with FIG. 3.

[0029] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design and configuration changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. a female terminal that substantially maintains an interface gap for receiving a corresponding male terminal, a pair of first and second terminal bases each having a contact region, a transition region, and a terminal (wire) region; a terminal spring that substantially surrounds at least the transition region of the first terminal base and the transition region of the second terminal base, each of the opposing sides of the terminal spring having a terminal spring spacer for maintaining at least a width or dimension of an interface gap between the ends of the first terminal base and the second terminal base; A female terminal, characterized in that the front and rear portions of the terminal spring spacer support the opposing sides of the transition region of the pair of first and second terminal bases.

2. The terminal spring spacer is characterized by being composed of an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and a rear portion; The upper portion of the terminal spring spacer is connected to the upper portion of the rear portion of the terminal spring; 2. The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the terminal spring spacer is connected to the lower portion of the rear portion of the terminal spring.

3. 3. The female terminal according to claim 2, wherein the front and rear portions of the terminal spring spacer are connected to either one of the opposing sides of the transition region of the pair of first and second terminal bases.

4. 3. The female terminal of claim 2, wherein said first terminal base is structurally identical to said second terminal base, said second terminal base being an inverted version of said first terminal base.

5. 5. The female terminal of claim 4, wherein each of the contact regions of the first terminal base and the second terminal base includes a pair of substantially flexible blades extending from the transition regions of the first terminal base and the second terminal base, and wherein ends of each of the substantially flexible blades of the contact regions extend outward, and a terminal spring spacer connected to either one of the opposing ends of the transition regions of the first terminal base and the second terminal base maintains an interface gap between the outwardly extending ends of the first terminal base and the second terminal base.

6. 2. The female terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal springs to which the terminal spring spacers are attached are integrally, continuously, or unitarily connected to one another as a single unit.

7. 7. The female terminal according to claim 6, wherein each of the first terminal base and the second terminal base is made of a material containing copper or aluminum as a main component, and the surface is covered with silver, gold, nickel, or tin.

8. a first member having a terminal end with a flat surface and a transition portion and a contact portion; a second member substantially identical to the first member; a terminal body formed by disposing the first member and the second member from an end surface of the terminal body to an opposite end surface of the terminal body.

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