terminal unit

Abstract

The present disclosure aims to easily adapt to a shape change of a connection object. A terminal unit (1) includes a terminal member (10) having a connection portion (10A) in which a bolt insertion hole (10C) is formed, and a holding body (50) having a main body portion (50A) fitted to the connection portion (10A), and a rotation stopping portion (50B) protruding from the main body portion (50A) to stop rotation of the terminal member (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal unit. BACKGROUND

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a noise filter-embedded connector having a ground terminal fixed to a vehicle body panel by a bolt. In the noise filter-embedded connector, a locking piece portion provided to the ground terminal is inserted into a groove portion formed in the vehicle body panel. Thereby, the ground terminal can be prevented from rotating with the bolt when the bolt is screwed in, and can be fixed to the vehicle body panel. A technique of preventing the terminal from rotating is also known as the techniques disclosed in Patent Literatures 2 and 3.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-154396

[0006] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-208172

[0007] Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-324068 SUMMARY

[0008] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0009] In a case where the position of the groove portion is changed in the vehicle body panel, the fastening unit, the fastening counterpart member, or the like, the position of the locking piece portion must also be changed to correspond to the position of the groove portion. In such a case, a mold of the ground terminal that makes the position of the locking piece portion correspond to the position of the groove portion must be newly made, and thus the cost increases.

[0010] The terminal unit of the present disclosure is completed based on the above-described situation, and is intended to easily adapt to a change in a connection position.

[0011] SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0012] The terminal unit of the present disclosure includes a terminal member and a holding body,

[0013] The terminal member has a connection portion in which a bolt insertion hole is formed,

[0014] The holding body has a main body portion fitted to the connection portion, and a rotation stopping portion protruding from the main body portion to stop rotation of the terminal member.

[0015] EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0016] According to the present disclosure, a change in a shape of a connection object can be more easily adapted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal unit of Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the connection portion.

[0019] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the holding body.

[0020] Figure 4 is a side view showing a state in which the inclined holding body is disposed in front of the terminal member.

[0021] Figure 5 is a side view showing a state in which the holding body approaches the connection portion from the front.

[0022] Figure 6 is a side view showing a state in which the holding body is fitted to the connection portion.

[0023] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holding body is fitted to the connection portion.

[0024] Figure 8 is a side view showing a state in which the rotation stopping portion is inserted into the receiving hole and the terminal unit is brought into contact with the ground surface of the panel.

[0025] Figure 9 is a side view cross-sectional view of Figure 7

[0026] Figure 10 is a side view showing a state in which the bolt is screwed in.

[0027] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the rotation stopping portion in another embodiment.

[0028] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the rotation stopping portion in another embodiment.

[0029] Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the rotation stopping portion in another embodiment.

[0030] Figure 14 is a side view showing a case in which the partner-side fastening member is an actuator in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] [Explanation of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure]

[0032] First, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained.

[0033] The terminal unit of the present disclosure,

[0034] ​(1) A terminal member having a connection portion in which a bolt insertion hole is formed, and a holding body having a main body portion fitted to the connection portion, and a rotation stopping portion protruding from the main body portion to stop rotation of the terminal member. According to this structure, since the main body portion of the holding body is fitted to the connection portion of the terminal member, a mold for the sub member is not newly made, the position of the rotation stopping portion of the holding body is formed to fit the connection object to which the connection portion is connected, and the change of the connection position can be easily adapted.

[0035] (2) Preferably, a contact surface for obtaining electrical connection is provided on the lower surface of the connection portion, and the main body portion surrounds the outer peripheral portion of the connection portion on the outer side than the contact surface. According to this structure, the holding body does not interfere with the contact of the contact surface of the connection portion and the connection object, so the conduction performance of the terminal member and the connection object is not damaged.

[0036] (3) Preferably, a recess is formed on the outer peripheral side of the contact surface in the outer peripheral edge portion of the connection portion, and the holding body has a first pressing portion which is fitted to the recess. According to this structure, the holding body can be held to the terminal member by the first pressing portion.

[0037] (4) Preferably, the main body portion is in a U shape which surrounds the left and right end portions to the front end portion of the connection portion when viewed from above. According to this structure, the main body portion can be fitted to the connection portion in a manner of being inserted from the front, so the first pressing portion can be easily fitted to the recess.

[0038] (5) Preferably, the holding body has a second pressing portion which is erected between the left and right end portions of the main body portion, and the connection portion can be held between the second pressing portion and the first pressing portion. According to this structure, the holding body can be more favorably held to the terminal member by holding the connection portion between the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion. Further, since the second pressing portion is erected between the left and right end portions of the main body portion, the main body portion can be made difficult to be deformed.

[0039] (6) Preferably, the second pressing portion is disposed on the opposite side of the first pressing portion across the bolt insertion hole. According to this structure, since the head portion of the bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole is surrounded by the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion, the second pressing portion is restricted from moving in a direction of being separated from the connection portion by the head portion of the bolt, and the main body portion can be made difficult to be separated from the connection portion.

[0040] (7) Preferably, one of the holding body and the connection portion has a pair of convex engaging portions on both edge portions in the left and right directions, and the other has a pair of concave engaging recesses into which the engaging portions are fitted. According to this structure, the main body portion can be more surely prevented from being separated from the connection portion.

[0041] [Embodiment 1]

[0042] Hereinafter, referring to Figures 1 to 9Embodiment 1 in which the present disclosure is embodied is described. The terminal unit 1 of this Embodiment 1 is a terminal unit for fixing a terminal part 10 in a surface contact state with respect to a ground surface 21 of an opposite side fastening member 20 and electrically conductively connecting, the opposite side fastening member 20 being a connection object such as a vehicle body of a vehicle. Further, in this Embodiment 1, the left side in FIG. 1 is defined as the front side, and the right side is defined as the rear side with respect to the front-rear direction. The upward direction shown in FIG. 1 is defined as the upward direction, and the downward direction is defined as the downward direction with respect to the up-down direction. The inner side in FIG. 1 is defined as the right side, and the outer side is defined as the left side with respect to the left-right direction. Further, the up-down direction of the terminal part 10, the opposite side fastening member 20, the bolt 51, the nut 24, the panel 22, and the holding body 50 is opposite to that of the vehicle body 30. Figure 1 Figure 1 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 7 Figure 1

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal unit 1 of this Embodiment has a terminal part 10 and a holding body 50 made of synthetic resin. Figure 1

[0044] [About the opposite side fastening member]

[0045] The opposite side fastening member 20 has a flat plate-shaped panel 22 composed of a metal material, and a metal nut 24 electrically conductively fixed to the lower surface (back surface) of the panel 22 by welding or the like. The upper surface of the panel 22 is a ground surface 21 for electrically conductively connecting with the terminal part 10. The opposite side fastening member 20 in Embodiment 1 is a member that assumes grounding of the assembled parts (Earth).

[0046] A pair of receiving holes 23 are formed in the panel 22 so as to penetrate in the plate thickness direction of the panel 22. The opening shapes of these receiving holes 23 are formed in a square shape long in the front-rear direction. The receiving holes 23 have both a positioning function for determining the horizontal direction position of the terminal part 10 in the upper surface of the panel 22 and a rotation prevention function for preventing the terminal part 10 from turning together when the bolt 51 is tightened.

[0047] The nut 24 is disposed between the pair of receiving holes 23. A through hole 25 is formed in the panel 22, and the through hole 25 is disposed in a coaxial manner with the threaded hole 24A formed in the nut 24.

[0048] [About the terminal part]

[0049] The terminal part 10 is a terminal part formed by performing bending processing or the like on a metal sheet material punched into a predetermined shape. The terminal part 10 is constituted by forming a flat plate-shaped connection portion 10A and an open tubular wire connection portion 10B in one body.

[0050] ​​​​​​​​The connecting portion 10A is a strip-shaped plate extending in the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the connecting portion 10A is a flat contact surface 10H that contacts the ground surface 21 of the opposite-side fastening member 20 and obtains an electrical connection with the opposite-side fastening member 20 (see reference). Figure 2 At the front end of the connecting portion 10A, a circular bolt insertion hole 10C is formed through the plate thickness direction. At the left and right edges of the connecting portion 10A, behind the bolt insertion hole 10C, a square and concave locking recess 10D is formed facing the center in the left and right directions. The locking recess 10D is formed by cutting a full-thickness cut across the connecting portion 10A in the plate thickness direction. An upwardly recessed recess 10E is formed on the lower side of the front edge (outer peripheral edge) of the connecting portion 10A (see reference). Figure 2 The recess 10E is formed on the outer periphery of the front end edge of the connecting part 10A in such a way that it continuously surrounds the left, front, and right sides of the bolt insertion hole 10C (see reference). Figure 2 In other words, the recess 10E is formed on the outer periphery of the contact surface 10H.

[0051] The wire connection portion 10B consists of a wire spool portion 10F and an insulating spool portion 10G located behind the wire spool portion 10F. The conductor 61 is exposed in the front end of the wire spool portion 10F where the insulation covering 60 is removed, allowing it to be conductively fixed. The insulating spool portion 10G contains the area in the front end of the wire spool portion 10G where the insulation covering 60 is not removed.

[0052] [Regarding body maintenance]

[0053] The retainer 50 has a main body 50A, a pair of anti-rotation portions 50B, a first pressing portion 50C, a second pressing portion 50D, and a pair of locking portions 50E. The main body 50A is U-shaped when viewed from above and is configured to surround the left and right ends to the front end of the connecting portion 10A.

[0054] like Figure 3 As shown, a pair of anti-rotation portions 50B are provided protruding downwards from the lower surfaces of the left and right sides of the main body 50A. The lower end of each anti-rotation portion 50B is inclined downwards toward the center in the front-rear direction. The inner surfaces of the pair of anti-rotation portions 50B in the left-right direction are parallel to each other. These anti-rotation portions 50B are configured to clamp the bolt insertion holes 10C in the left-right direction when the retainer 50 is assembled to the connecting portion 10A (see reference). Figure 7 ).

[0055] The first pressing part 50C extends inward from the lower side of the inner surface of the main body part 50A. Viewed from above, the first pressing part 50C is U-shaped. The rear ends of each of the left and right sides of the first pressing part 50C are aligned with the rear ends of each of the pair of anti-rotation parts 50B. The first pressing part 50C engages with the recess 10E and is positioned opposite to the downward-facing surface 10J of the recess 10E (see reference).Figure 6 ).

[0056] The second pressing part 50D extends in the left-right direction, protruding upward from the upper surface of each of the left and right sides of the main body 50A, and is positioned between the rear ends of the left and right ends of the main body 50A (see reference). Figure 1 The second pressing part 50D and the upper surface of the connecting part 10A are arranged opposite each other in contact (see reference). Figure 6 The second pressing part 50D is positioned on the opposite side of the first pressing part 50C, across the bolt insertion hole 10C (see reference). Figure 9 ).

[0057] A pair of locking portions 50E are convex and are continuously disposed on the inner surfaces of the main body 50A in the left-right direction and the lower surface of the second pressing portion 50D. These locking portions 50E are disposed on both edges of the main body 50A in the left-right direction. These locking portions 50E protrude from the inner surfaces of the main body 50A in the left-right direction toward the center in the left-right direction. The rear surfaces of these locking portions 50E are inclined forward toward the inner surfaces in the left-right direction. The front surfaces of these locking portions 50E are orthogonal to the front-back direction. These locking portions 50E engage and lock with locking recesses 10D formed at both ends of the terminal part 10 in the left-right direction (see reference). Figure 6 , 7 ).

[0058] [Assembly of retainer and terminal components]

[0059] An example of the assembly of the retainer 50 and the terminal part 10 will be described. First, the position of the retainer 50 is adjusted so that the second pressing part 50D is rearward and above the main body part 50A.

[0060] Next, the retainer 50 is assembled to the connecting portion 10A from the front. Specifically, the retainer 50 is positioned such that the rear side of the main body 50A is raised higher than the front side, and is brought close to the connecting portion 10A from the front. At this time, as Figure 4 As shown, the first pressing part 50C is positioned below the downward surface 10J of the recess 10E of the connecting part 10A, and the pair of locking parts 50E are positioned above the upper surface of the connecting part 10A, so that the retaining body 50 approaches the connecting part 10A from the front. At this time, the retaining body 50 approaches the connecting part 10A in such a way that it passes through the area surrounded by the main body part 50A and the second pressing part 50D.

[0061] And, as Figure 5As shown, the first pressing portion 50C is disposed below the downward face 10J of the recess 10E of the connecting portion 10A, and the pair of locking portions 50E is disposed above the pair of locking recesses 10D. Also, the posture of the holding body 50 is changed in such a manner that the posture of the main body portion 50A becomes parallel to the front-rear direction. At this time, the first pressing portion 50C is fitted in contact with the downward face 10J of the recess 10E of the connecting portion 10A from below, and the pair of locking portions 50E is fitted in the pair of locking recesses 10D from above. Accordingly, the second pressing portion 50D sandwiches the connecting portion 10A between the first pressing portion 50C. That is, the connecting portion 10A is sandwiched by the second pressing portion 50D and the first pressing portion 50C from one side and the other side in the plate thickness direction.

[0062] Thus, as shown in Figure 6 , the main body portion 50A is fitted to the connecting portion 10A, the assembly of the holding body 50 and the terminal member 10 is completed, and the terminal unit 1 is completed. At this time, the main body portion 50A becomes in a state of surrounding the outer peripheral portion of the connecting portion 10A on the outside of the contact face 10H (see Figure 7 ).

[0063] [Assembly of terminal unit to partner-side fastening member]

[0064] Next, an example of the assembly of the terminal unit 1 to the partner-side fastening member 20 will be described. First, the terminal unit 1 is disposed on the ground face 21 of the panel 22. At this time, the rotation-preventing portion 50B of the holding body 50 is inserted in each of the pair of receiving holes 23 from above (see Figure 8 ), and the contact face 10H of the connecting portion 10A is brought into contact with the ground face 21 in a state in which the bolt insertion hole 10C and the through hole 25 are coaxially communicated (see Figure 9 ). The rotation-preventing portion 50B prevents the rotation of the terminal member 10 by being inserted in the receiving hole 23.

[0065] Next, the bolt 51 with the washer 52 inserted therein is inserted in the bolt insertion hole 10C of the connecting portion 10A from above. Also, the bolt 51 is screwed into the nut 24, and then the bolt 51 is tightened using a tool (see Figure 10 ). Thus, the assembly of the terminal unit 1 to the partner-side fastening member 20 is completed.

[0066] Next, the effects of the embodiment 1 will be described.

[0067] The terminal unit 1 of the present disclosure is provided with a terminal member 10 and a holding body 50. The terminal member 10 has a connection portion 10A in which a bolt insertion hole 10C is formed. The holding body 50 has a main body portion 50A that is fitted to the connection portion 10A, and a rotation stopping portion 50B that protrudes from the main body portion 50A to stop the rotation of the terminal member 10. According to this structure, since the main body portion 50A of the holding body 50 is fitted to the connection portion 10A of the terminal member 10, the mold of the terminal member 10 is not remade, the position of the rotation stopping portion 50B of the holding body 50 is formed in cooperation with the counterpart fastening member 20 (connection object) to which the connection portion 10A is connected, and the change in the contact position of the terminal member 10 and the counterpart fastening member 20 can be easily accommodated.

[0068] A contact surface 10H for obtaining an electrical connection is provided on the lower surface of the connection portion 10A of the terminal unit 1 of the present disclosure, and the main body portion 50A surrounds the outer peripheral portion of the connection portion 10A on the outside of the contact surface 10H. According to this structure, the holding body 50 does not interfere with the contact of the contact surface 10H of the connection portion 10A and the counterpart fastening member 20, and thus the conduction performance of the terminal member 10 and the counterpart fastening member 20 is not damaged.

[0069] A recess 10E is formed on the outer periphery side of the contact surface 10H in the outer peripheral edge portion of the connection portion 10A of the terminal unit 1 of the present disclosure, and the holding body 50 has a first pressing portion 50C that is fitted to the recess 10E. According to this structure, the holding body 50 can be held to the terminal member 10 by the first pressing portion 50C.

[0070] The main body portion 50A of the terminal unit 1 of the present disclosure is in a U shape that surrounds the left and right end portions to the front end portion of the connection portion 10A when viewed from above. According to this structure, the main body portion 50A can be fitted to the connection portion 10A in a manner of being inserted from the front, and thus the first pressing portion 50C can be easily fitted to the recess 10E.

[0071] The holding body 50 of the terminal unit 1 of the present disclosure has a second pressing portion 50D that is erected between the left and right end portions of the main body portion 50A and can sandwich the connection portion 10A between the second pressing portion 50D and the first pressing portion 50C. According to this structure, the holding body 50 can be more securely held to the terminal member 10 by sandwiching the connection portion 10A by the first pressing portion 50C and the second pressing portion 50D. Further, since the second pressing portion 50D is erected between the left and right end portions of the main body portion 50A, the main body portion 50A can be made difficult to deform.

[0072] The second pressing portion 50D of the terminal unit 1 disclosed herein is disposed on the opposite side of the first pressing portion 50C, across the bolt insertion hole 10C. According to this structure, the head of the bolt 51 inserted into the bolt insertion hole 10C is surrounded by the first pressing portion 50C and the second pressing portion 50D, so the second pressing portion 50D is restricted by the head of the bolt 51 from moving in the direction of the retainer 50 disengaging from the connecting portion 10A, making it difficult for the main body 50A to disengage from the connecting portion 10A.

[0073] In the terminal unit 1 of this disclosure, the retaining body 50 has a pair of convex locking portions 50E on its two edges in the left and right directions, and the connecting portion 10A has locking portions 50E on its two edges in the left and right directions that are locked by locking recesses 10D. According to this structure, the main body 50A can be more reliably prevented from disengaging from the connecting portion 10A.

[0074] <Other Implementation Methods>

[0075] This disclosure is not limited to Embodiment 1 as described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is illustrated by the claims. The invention includes all modifications equivalent to and within the scope of the claims, as well as the embodiments described below.

[0076] (1) Unlike embodiment 1, a pair of convex locking portions may be provided at the left and right ends of the connecting portion, and a pair of concave locking recesses may be provided at the left and right ends of the main body portion, where the locking portions are inserted and locked. That is, it is sufficient that one of the main body portion and the connecting portion has a pair of convex locking portions at its left and right ends, and the other has a pair of concave locking recesses at its left and right ends, where the locking portions are inserted and locked. In addition, the number of locking portions and locking recesses may be one or more.

[0077] (2) Unlike embodiment 1, the anti-rotation portion of the retainer may contact the outer peripheral surface of the nut welded to the upper surface (installation surface) of the panel. Alternatively, the anti-rotation portion may contact the outer peripheral surface of the head of the double-ended bolt welded to the upper surface of the panel. With this structure, the process of forming a receiving hole in the panel can be omitted.

[0078] (3) Unlike embodiment 1, the connecting part behind the locking recess can be bent in the direction of standing up from the panel.

[0079] (4) The structure of the anti-rotation part of the retainer can also differ from that in Embodiment 1. For example, as... Figure 11 As shown, the anti-rotation portion 150B can also be provided to protrude downward from the lower surface of one side of the main body portion 50A in the left-right direction. Further, as... Figure 12 As shown, the anti-rotation part 250B can also be provided such that it exits from the bolt insertion hole 10C of the connecting part 10A. Additionally, as...Figure 13 As shown, a pair of the rotation stopping portions 350B can also be provided near the front end portion of the main body portion 50A. In addition, the number of the rotation stopping portions can be three or more. In any case, the rotation stopping portions are formed in accordance with the connection position of the terminal member and the connection object.

[0080] (5) Unlike Embodiment 1, the plurality of first pressing portions can also be in a form in which they are spaced apart from each other and protrude inwardly (in a form of an internal gear) from the main body portion.

[0081] (6) In Embodiment 1, it is assumed that the counterpart fastening member grounds the component, but the counterpart fastening member can also be applied to a power supply, a signal circuit, or the like. For example, as shown in Figure 14 The counterpart fastening member 120 can also be a starter. The counterpart fastening member 120 has a fastening main body portion 120A and a stud bolt 120B. A pair of receiving holes 123 are formed in the fastening main body portion 120A. The opening shapes of these receiving holes 123 are formed in a square shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The pair of receiving holes 123 are formed at positions that sandwich the stud bolt 120B in the left-right direction. The stud bolt 120B protrudes upward from the upper surface of the fastening main body portion 120A. The upper surface of the fastening main body portion 120A is a counterpart contact surface 120C. The stud bolt 120B is integrally linked with the fastening main body portion 120A. The terminal unit 1 has the rotation stopping portion 50B of the holding body 50 inserted from above into each of the pair of receiving holes 123, and the stud bolt 120B is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 10C. The contact surface 10H of the terminal unit 1 is in contact with the counterpart contact surface 120C. A washer 52 is inserted into the stud bolt 120B in a manner in which the terminal unit 1 overlaps from above, and a nut 124 is screwed from above.

[0082] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0083] 1: Terminal unit

[0084] 10: Terminal member

[0085] 10A: Connection portion

[0086] 10B: Wire connection portion

[0087] 10C: Bolt insertion hole

[0088] 10D: Latch recess

[0089] 10E: Recess

[0090] 10F: Wire barrel portion

[0091] 10G: Insulating barrel portion

[0092] 10H: Contact surface

[0093] 10J: Downward surface of recess

[0094] 20, 120: counterpart fastening member

[0095] 21: ground surface

[0096] 22: panel

[0097] 23, 123: receiving hole

[0098] 24: nut

[0099] 24A: threaded hole

[0100] 25: through hole

[0101] 50: holding body

[0102] 50A: body portion

[0103] 50B, 150B, 250B, 350B: rotation-stopping portion

[0104] 50C: first pressing portion

[0105] 50D: second pressing portion

[0106] 50E: locking portion

[0107] 51: bolt

[0108] 60: insulating covering portion

[0109] 61: conductor

[0110] 120A: fastening body portion

[0111] 120B: stud bolt

[0112] 120C: counterpart contact surface

[0113] W: electric wire

Claims

1. A terminal unit comprising terminal parts and a retainer, The terminal component has a connecting portion with a bolt insertion hole. The retainer has: a main body portion fitted to the connecting portion; and an anti-rotation portion protruding from the main body portion to prevent the terminal component from rotating. The lower surface of the connecting part is provided with a contact surface for obtaining electrical connection. The main body is U-shaped when viewed from above, and is configured to surround the left and right ends to the front end of the outer periphery of the connecting portion from outside the contact surface. A recess is formed on the outer peripheral side of the contact surface in the outer peripheral edge of the connecting portion. The recess is formed by recessing upwards from the contact surface in a manner that continuously surrounds the left, front, and right sides of the bolt insertion hole. The retainer has a first pressing part that extends inward from the inner side of the main body and engages with the recess, and is disposed opposite to the downward surface of the recess in contact with it.

2. The terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein, The retainer has a second pressing part, which is positioned between the left and right ends of the main body and can hold the connecting part between the second pressing part and the first pressing part.

3. The terminal unit according to claim 2, wherein, The second pressing part is disposed on the opposite side of the first pressing part, separated by the bolt insertion hole.

4. The terminal unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, One of the retainer and the connecting part has a pair of convex locking parts on its left and right edges, and the other has a pair of concave locking recesses on its left and right edges that are embedded and locked by the locking parts.

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