Terminal and chain terminal

Abstract

A terminal is provided which prevents a decrease in strength of a terminal body. A terminal (10) includes a terminal body (11) extending in an axial direction and a projecting portion (16) projecting from the terminal body (11) to an outer side in a width direction intersecting the axial direction. The terminal body (11) has a body side surface (12) toward the outer side in the width direction and an electrical connection portion (14) located on a side of the terminal body (11) toward one side in the axial direction. The projecting portion (16) has a recessed portion (24) recessed in the axial direction at an end surface (22) toward the other side in the axial direction. The recessed portion (24) has a side surface portion (26) along the body side surface (12) of the terminal body (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to terminals and chain terminals. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal having a protrusion extending in the axial direction and a protrusion (protrusion tab) extending from the protrusion in the width direction. A connection portion for electrical connection with a counterpart terminal is formed at the top of the protrusion. The protrusion has a straight portion along the width direction on one end face opposite to the side where the connection portion is located. The straight portion of the protrusion is pressed by a jig when the terminal is assembled into a housing. Such a terminal is also disclosed in Patent Document 2.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-140807 (Figure 2)

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-44788 (Figure 5) Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] However, although patent documents 1 and 2 do not specifically show, such as Figure 5 As shown in the reference example, when the terminal 100 has a terminal body 111 and a protrusion 116 extending from the terminal body 111 in the width direction, a machined curved surface is generally formed at the connecting corner (neck) of the terminal body 111 and the protrusion 116. Figure 5 (Indicated by reference numeral R in the accompanying drawings). However, when the terminal 100 is small, the range of the machined surface occupied by one end face 122 of the protrusion 116 becomes relatively large. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly manage the assembly accuracy of the fixture 160 pressing the end face 122 of the protrusion 116 onto the terminal 100.

[0009] To address this, the following structure can be adopted: a recess 72 is formed at the corner where it connects to the protrusion 116 on the side of the terminal body 111 (refer to Patent Document 1). Figure 2 , Figure 3 (Ref. 72) The recess 72 causes the machined surface to recede inward from the terminal body 111. When the machined surface is not on the outer side, the fixture 160 can approach the side of the terminal body 111, thus improving the operability of the fixture. However, when the recess 72 is formed on the side of the terminal body 111, the depth of the recess 72 becomes thinner, and therefore, in the case of a small terminal 100, the strength of the recess 72 in the terminal body 111 may be reduced.

[0010] Therefore, this disclosure aims to provide terminals and chain terminals that prevent a reduction in the strength of the terminal body.

[0011] Solution for solving the problem

[0012] The terminal disclosed herein comprises a terminal body extending in the axial direction and a protrusion extending outward from the terminal body in a width direction intersecting the axial direction. The terminal body has a body side facing outward in the width direction and an electrical connection portion located on one side closer to the axial direction than the protrusion. The protrusion has a recess in the axial direction at one end face facing the other side, and the recess has a side portion along the body side of the terminal body.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] According to this disclosure, a terminal that prevents a reduction in the strength of the terminal body can be provided. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the terminal of Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a 3D view of a chain terminal.

[0017] Figure 3 It is a magnified front view of the part where one end of the protruding portion is pressed by the fixture.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a side view of the terminals mounted on the housing.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a reference diagram used to illustrate existing problem points. Detailed Implementation

[0020] [Description of embodiments of this disclosure]

[0021] First, embodiments of this disclosure will be described and illustrated.

[0022] The terminals disclosed herein,

[0023] (1) A terminal body extending in an axial direction and an extension extending outward from the terminal body in a width direction intersecting the axial direction, the terminal body having a body side facing outward in the width direction and an electrical connection portion located on one side closer to the axial direction than the extension portion, the extension portion having a recess in the axial direction at one end face facing the other side, the recess having a side portion along the body side of the terminal body.

[0024] According to the above structure, the connecting part can be connected to a circuit board or other connecting object by pressing one end face of the protruding part with a jig. Because one end face of the protruding part has a recess, and the recess has a side portion along the main side of the terminal body, no machined curved surface is formed at the junction of the main side of the terminal body and one end face of the protruding part. Therefore, the jig can press the protruding part in a state that allows it to contact the main side of the terminal body. As a result, the assembly of the jig to the terminal becomes easier, and the assembly stability of the terminal relative to the connecting object can be improved. Moreover, because no recess is formed on the main side of the terminal body, the width dimension of the terminal body is not reduced due to the recess, thus preventing a decrease in the strength of the terminal body.

[0025] (2) Preferably, one end face of the protrusion has a straight face along the width direction at the outer end of the portion other than the recess in the width direction.

[0026] Based on the above structure, the straight face of the protruding part can be pressed with a jig, thus further improving the assemblability of the terminal relative to the connected object.

[0027] (3) Preferably, the recess has a beveled portion on the opposite side of the side portion in the width direction, and the beveled portion tilts away from the side portion as it moves toward the other side in the axial direction.

[0028] Based on the above structure, a recess can be formed with good precision in the protrusion.

[0029] (4) A chain terminal, which is formed by arranging and connecting the terminals described in any one of (1) to (3) above in the width direction, wherein a thin wall portion thinner than the protrusion is formed between the respective protrusions of the terminals adjacent in the width direction, and the terminals adjacent in the width direction are connected to each other by the thin wall portion.

[0030] According to the above structure, by cutting the thin-walled portion formed between adjacent terminals in the width direction, each terminal can be separated to obtain each individual terminal. The amount of thin-walled portion can be reduced by decreasing the cutting width, thus enabling the production of smaller terminals and further ensuring the planarity of the terminals.

[0031] (5) Preferably, the thin-walled portion is formed in such a way that it extends along the entire length of the axial direction of the protrusion.

[0032] Based on the above structure, the cutting part can be cut along the entire axial length of the protruding part, so the machinability is excellent.

[0033] [Details of the embodiments of this disclosure]

[0034] Specific examples of this disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to these examples, but rather, as shown by the claims, includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0035] <Implementation Method 1>

[0036] In Embodiment 1 of this disclosure, the terminal 10 passes through... Figure 2 The chain terminal 50 shown is obtained by cutting. The chain terminal 50 is obtained by punching a metal plate. For example... Figure 4 As shown, terminal 10 is connected to circuit board 90, which is the object of connection, in a state where it is mounted on housing 81 of connector 80.

[0037] Furthermore, in the following explanation, the up-down direction corresponds to the up-down direction in each figure. The left-right direction corresponds to... Figure 3 The left and right directions. The front and back directions are... Figure 3 The paper thickness direction is equivalent to Figure 4 The left and right directions. In this specification, the up and down direction is synonymous with the axial direction (the length direction of terminal 10), and the left and right direction is synonymous with the width direction.

[0038] (terminal)

[0039] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, terminal 10 has a terminal body 11 extending in the vertical direction. Terminal body 11 has a pair of body side surfaces 12 facing the left and right directions. The body side surfaces 12 are the plate thickness portions of terminal body 11 and are arranged along the vertical direction. The body side surfaces 12 are located on the front surface 13 and rear surface 17 of terminal body 11 (see reference). Figure 4 The front surface 13 and rear surface 17 of the terminal body 11 are arranged along the vertical and horizontal directions to form the plate surface of the terminal body 11.

[0040] The terminal body 11 has a connecting portion 14 at its lower end. The connecting portion 14 is shaped to be elastically deformable in the left and right direction and has a pair of beam portions 15 that bulge out to the left and right sides in a curved manner. Each beam portion 15 is in elastic contact with the inner surface of the connecting hole 91 of the circuit board 90 and is electrically connected to the conductive portion (not shown) formed in the connecting hole 91.

[0041] Terminal 10 has a pair of protrusions 16 extending from the terminal body 11 to the left and right sides, located above the connection portion 14.

[0042] The protrusion 16 is formed into a rectangular plate shape, having a front surface 18 and a rear surface 19 (see reference). Figure 4The front surface 18 and rear surface 19 of the protrusion 16 are arranged along the vertical and horizontal directions to form the plate surface of the protrusion 16. The front surface 18 and rear surface 19 of the protrusion 16 are continuous with the front surface 13 and rear surface 17 of the terminal body 11 without any steps.

[0043] The left and right end faces 21 (the right end face of the right-side protrusion 16 and the left end face of the left-side protrusion 16), the upper end face (hereinafter referred to as end face 22) of the protrusion 16, and the lower end face 23 of the protrusion 16 are arranged along the front-back direction (the thickness direction of the protrusion 16). The left and right end faces 21 of the protrusion 16 are faces facing to the left and right sides and are arranged along the up-down direction. The lower end face 23 of the protrusion 16 is a face facing downwards and forms a curved surface shape that is bent to connect with the connecting part 14.

[0044] One end face 22 of the protrusion 16 is an upward-facing face, and has a recess 24 at the inner end in the width direction on the side of the terminal body 11, and a straight face 25 at the outer end in the width direction on the side away from the terminal body 11.

[0045] The recess 24 is formed as a U-shaped cross-section that is recessed downwards at one end face 22 of the protrusion 16. The recess 24 is formed in a shape that removes the entire thickness of the protrusion 16 in the front-to-back direction. Specifically, as... Figure 3 As shown, the recess 24 has: a side portion 26 along the main body side 12 of the terminal body 11; a beveled portion 27 opposite to the side portion 26 in the width direction of the side portion 26; and a bottom portion 28 that connects the side portion 26 and the beveled portion 27 in a curved shape at the lower end.

[0046] The side portion 26 is arranged to extend vertically along the side portion 12 of the main body. The inclined portion 27 is arranged to slope away from the side portion 26 as it moves upward from the bottom portion 28. The radius of curvature of the bottom portion 28 is sufficiently smaller than the radius of curvature of the curved surface shape of the lower end face 23 of the protrusion 16.

[0047] A straight facet 25 is positioned along the left-right direction on one end face 22 of the protrusion 16, and is formed to be sufficiently longer in the left-right direction than the width of the upper opening of the recess 24. The straight facets 25 are positioned at the same height in each protrusion 16.

[0048] (Chain terminal)

[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, the chain terminal 50 is constructed by connecting multiple terminals 10 in the left-right direction. Figure 2 Only two terminals 10 are shown in the diagram; terminals connected in the same arrangement on both sides of the two terminals 10 are omitted.

[0050] The chain terminal 50 has a thin-walled portion 51 that is thinner than the protrusion 16 in the front-back direction between the protrusions 16 of adjacent terminals 10 in the left-right direction. The adjacent terminals 10 in the left-right direction are connected to each other by the thin-walled portion 51. The protrusions 16 of each terminal 10 and the thin-walled portion 51 are connected in a strip shape in the left-right direction together with the corresponding portion of the terminal body 11, thereby forming the carrier 52 of the chain terminal 50.

[0051] A square-shaped groove 53 is formed on the front and rear surfaces of the carrier 52. The groove 53 extends in the vertical direction and opens on the upper and lower end surfaces of the carrier 52. A thin-walled portion 51 is formed in the carrier 52 between the front and rear opposing grooves 53.

[0052] Terminal 10 is formed by cutting off a thin-walled portion 51 from the carrier 52. The left and right end faces 21 of the protrusion 16 become cut surfaces exposed by the cutting off of the thin-walled portion 51. The vertical dimension of the thin-walled portion 51 is the same as the vertical dimension of the protrusion 16. The thickness of the thin-walled portion 51 in the front-back direction is half the thickness of the protrusion 16 in the front-back direction, and is the same as the width of the thin-walled portion 51 in the left-right direction. In other words, the cutting width when cutting the carrier 52 corresponds to the thickness of the thin-walled portion 51 in the front-back direction. Therefore, compared to cutting the portion corresponding to the protrusion 16, the cutting width can be reduced by decreasing the thin-walled portion 51, which is suitable for smaller terminals 10. Furthermore, because the thin-walled portion 51 is cut off, the cutting force is difficult to transmit to the protrusion 16, preventing deformation of the protrusion 16.

[0053] (Connector)

[0054] Connector 80 is a board connector mounted on circuit board 90, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the device includes multiple terminals 10 and a housing 81 made of synthetic resin. The terminals 10 are bent midway along their length, forming an L-shape overall. The horizontal portion of the terminal 10 is configured to penetrate the inner wall 82 of the housing 81 and protrude into the cover portion 83. The vertical portion of the terminal 10 is exposed on the outer side of the housing 81, allowing the connecting portion 14 located at the lower end to be inserted into the connecting hole 91 of the circuit board 90 to be connected.

[0055] (Connection method of terminals relative to the connected object)

[0056] When the connection portion 14 of terminal 10 is inserted into the connection hole 91 of circuit board 90, as Figure 3As shown, the fixture 60 abuts against one end face 22 of the protrusion 16. The fixture 60 has a pressing surface 61 and an opposing surface 62. The pressing surface 61 contacts one end face 22 of the protrusion 16, and the opposing surface 62 is orthogonal to the pressing surface 61 and faces the main body side 12 of the terminal body 11. The pressing surface 61 is arranged along the left-right direction. The opposing surface 62 is arranged along the up-down direction. The terminal body 11 is arranged to be sandwiched between the pair of opposing surfaces 62 in the left-right direction.

[0057] With the lower end of the terminal body 11 shallowly inserted into the connection hole 91, the terminal 10 is subjected to a pressing force applied from the pressing surface 61 of the fixture 60 to one end face 22 of the protrusion 16, causing the connecting portion 14 to shift downwards due to elastic deformation. When the pressing action of the fixture 60 stops, the shift of the terminal 10 also stops, and the connecting portion 14 is inserted into the connection hole 91 at the correct depth and electrically connected to the conductive part.

[0058] However, in this embodiment 1, a recess 24 is provided on one end face 22 of the protrusion 16, and the side face 26 of the recess 24 is formed to be recessed downward along the main body side face 12 of the terminal body 11. Therefore, a machined curved surface is not formed at the corner where one end face 22 of the protrusion 16 and the main body side face 12 of the terminal body 11 are connected (see reference). Figure 5 Therefore, the opposing surface 62 of the fixture 60 can approach a position where it can contact the main body side 12 of the terminal body 11, and the pressing surface 61 of the fixture 60 contacts the vertical surface 25 along the left-right direction, enabling a proper downward pressing of the terminal 10. As a result, the assembly of the fixture 60 to the terminal 10 does not need to be strictly managed, and the adjustment of the fixture 60 becomes easier. In addition, the assembly stability of the terminal 10 relative to the circuit board 90 can be improved.

[0059] In particular, in this embodiment 1, the recess 24 is provided on the protrusion 16, and the width dimension of the terminal body 11 is not reduced due to the recess 24. Therefore, the strength of the terminal body 11 can be prevented from being reduced.

[0060] In addition, the pressing surface 61 of the jig 60 contacts the straight surface 25 of the protrusion 16 along the left-right direction, and the terminal 10 is moved downward to connect with the circuit board 90. Therefore, the pressing force of the jig 60 can be directly transmitted to the terminal 10, which can further improve the assemblability of the terminal 10.

[0061] Furthermore, the recess 24 has a beveled portion 27 that slopes away from the side portion 26 as it moves upward, so that even a small terminal 10 can have the recess 24 formed with good precision in the protrusion 16.

[0062] [Other embodiments of this disclosure]

[0063] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative in all respects, and not restrictive.

[0064] In the case of Embodiment 1 described above, the side portion of the recess is formed in a straight line along the axial direction. However, as another embodiment, the side portion of the recess may also be formed in a curved line.

[0065] In the case of Embodiment 1 described above, the axial direction is set as the vertical direction, which is the direction of gravity. However, as another embodiment, the width direction may also be set as the vertical direction, which is the direction of gravity. Furthermore, the vertical direction is not limited to the strict direction of gravity and may be inclined relative to the direction of gravity within an acceptable range.

[0066] In the case of Embodiment 1 described above, the connecting portion has a shape that can elastically deform. However, as another embodiment, the connecting portion may also be a rigid portion soldered to the circuit board.

[0067] In the case of Embodiment 1 described above, the connecting portion is the part that connects to the conductive portion of the circuit board. However, as another embodiment, the connecting portion may also be the part that is electrically connected to a terminal on the opposite side. In this case, the protruding portion can be assembled into the housing.

[0068] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0069] 10: Terminal

[0070] 11: Terminal body

[0071] 12: Main body side view

[0072] 13: Front surface of the terminal body

[0073] 14: Connecting part

[0074] 15: Beam section

[0075] 16: Protruding part

[0076] 17: Rear surface of the terminal body

[0077] 18: Front surface of the protrusion

[0078] 19: Rear surface of the protrusion

[0079] 21: The left and right end faces of the protruding part

[0080] 22: One end face

[0081] 23: The lower end face of the protruding part

[0082] 24: concave part

[0083] 25: Straight face

[0084] 26: Side profile

[0085] 27: Bevel face

[0086] 28: Bottom surface

[0087] 50: Chain terminal

[0088] 51: Thin-walled section

[0089] 52: Carrier

[0090] 53: Groove

[0091] 60: Jig

[0092] 61: Pressing surface

[0093] 62: Opposite surfaces

[0094] 72: (Shown in the existing reference drawing) Recess

[0095] 80: Connector

[0096] 81: Shell

[0097] 82: Inside the wall

[0098] 83: Cover

[0099] 90: Circuit board

[0100] 91: Connecting hole

[0101] 100: (Shown in the existing reference diagram) Terminal

[0102] 111: (Seen in the existing reference drawing) Terminal body

[0103] 116: (Shown in the existing reference diagram) Protrusion

[0104] 122: (Shown in the existing reference drawing) One end face

[0105] 160: (Shown in the existing reference diagram) Fixture

[0106] R: (shown in the existing reference diagram) Machining surface

Claims

1. A terminal comprising a terminal body extending in an axial direction and a protrusion extending outward from the terminal body in a width direction intersecting the axial direction. The terminal body has a main body side facing outward in the width direction along the axial direction, and a connection portion for electrical connection located on the side of the protrusion closer to the axial direction. The protrusion has a recess at its end face facing the opposite side in the axial direction and at its end located inside the width direction on the side of the terminal body; the recess is recessed towards the axial direction. The recess has a side portion along the side of the main body of the terminal body, and a bottom portion located at one end in the axial direction of the recess and connected to the side portion in a curved shape. The portion of the end face of the protruding part that overlaps with the bottom part in the axial direction on one side is formed into a curved surface shape that is bently connected to the connecting part side. The radius of curvature of the curved surface of the end face of the protrusion facing the axial direction is greater than the radius of curvature of the curved bottom surface of the recess.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein, The end face of the protrusion facing the other side of the axial direction has a straight face along the width direction at the outer end of the portion other than the recess.

3. The terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The recess has a beveled portion on the opposite side of the side portion in the width direction, and the beveled portion tilts away from the side portion as it moves toward the other side in the axial direction.

4. A chain terminal, configured by arranging and connecting the terminals according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in the width direction. A thin-walled portion, thinner than the protrusion, is formed between the respective protrusions of the terminals adjacent along the width direction. The terminals adjacent in the width direction are connected to each other by the thin-walled portion.

5. The chain terminal according to claim 4, wherein, The thin-walled portion is formed in such a way that it extends along the entire length of the axial direction of the protrusion.

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