Connection

Abstract

A terminal (1, 1A, 1B) comprises a terminal connection unit (2) into which a counterpart terminal (50) is inserted. The terminal connection unit (2) comprises an inner peripheral wall (5) having a slot (12) and an insertion space (13), folded units (6, 6B) that are folded and bent outward in the radial direction, and outer peripheral walls (7) that are elastically deformable. The inner peripheral wall (5) contains through-holes (15, 16) that penetrate in the radial direction. The outer peripheral walls (7) comprise outer peripheral wall contacts (21, 21A, 21B, 22, 22A, 22B) that protrude through the through-holes (15, 16) into the insertion space (13). In an in-use state, the outer peripheral wall contacts (21, 21A, 21B, 22, 22A, 22B) come into contact with the counterpart terminal (50) and press the counterpart terminal (50) due to elastic deformation of the outer peripheral walls (7).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] Some terminals include a terminal body having a cylindrical shape into which an electrical contactor is inserted, and an elastic contact element housed in the terminal body, having a cylindrical shape, and exerting contact pressure on the electrical contactor (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-195439).

[0003] Meanwhile, some conventional terminals consist of the terminal body and the elastic contact element, so there is room for improvement in reducing the number of parts. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a connector which enables a reduction in the number of parts.

[0005] To achieve the above object, a terminal according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a terminal connecting unit formed in a tubular shape in an axial direction, a counterpart terminal is inserted into the terminal connecting unit from one opening to another opening, the terminal connecting unit being electrically connected to the counterpart terminal, the terminal connecting unit comprising: an inner peripheral wall having the tubular shape and including a slit formed in the axial direction and an insertion space communicated with the outside through the slit, the counterpart terminal being inserted into the insertion space from the one opening;a folded unit formed at each of the side ends of the slit in a circumferential direction around an axis of the inner peripheral wall, the folded unit being folded and bent outward in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction;and an outer peripheral wall extending in the circumferential direction along the inner peripheral wall from the folded unit, wherein the outer peripheral wall is formed in an elastically deformable manner to be separated from the inner peripheral wall with the folded unit as a fulcrum, wherein the inner peripheral wall has at least one through-hole penetrating the inner peripheral wall in the radial direction, the outer peripheral wall has at least one outer peripheral wall contact formed to protrude into the insertion space through the through-hole, and the outer peripheral wall contact, in an insertion state in which the counterpart terminal has been inserted into the terminal connecting unit, comes into contact with the counterpart terminal and presses the counterpart terminal due to elastic deformation of the outer peripheral wall.

[0006] The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal according to an embodiment; Fig. Fig. 2 is a view showing the terminal according to this embodiment in the axial direction; Fig. 3 is a view showing a terminal connecting unit of the terminal according to the embodiment, viewed from below; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow AA of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal according to a first variant of the embodiment; Fig. 6 is a view showing the terminal according to the first embodiment viewed in the axial direction; Fig. 7 is a view showing a terminal connecting unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment, viewed from below; Fig. 8 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow of the line BB of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a change in the state of the terminal according to the first embodiment; Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal according to a second variant of the embodiment; Fig. 11 is a view showing the terminal according to the second embodiment viewed in the axial direction; Fig. 12 is a view showing a terminal connecting unit of the terminal according to the second embodiment, viewed from below; and Fig. 13 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow of the line CC of Fig. 12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] An embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiment described below does not limit the present invention. In other words, components according to the embodiment described below include components that are easily conceived by those skilled in the art or substantially the same components, and various omissions, substitutions, or changes may be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0008] For the sake of simplicity, the following description assumes that a Fig. 1 to 4 (including Fig. 5 to 13), the X direction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an "axial direction X," the Y direction is a "width direction Y," and the Z direction is a "height direction Z." The axial direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are orthogonal to each other. The axial direction X corresponds to, for example, an extension direction of a terminal, an insertion / removal direction of a counterpart, or the like. Here, one direction of the axial direction X is assumed to be an insertion direction X1 of a counterpart terminal 50, and another direction is a withdrawal direction X2 of the counterpart terminal 50. Furthermore, one direction of the height direction Z is assumed to be a first direction Z1, and another direction is a second direction Z2. Note that the respective directions used in the following description are described as directions in a state where a terminal 1 has been attached to the equipment 51 unless otherwise stated. Embodiment

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view showing the terminal according to the embodiment when viewed in the axial direction. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a terminal connection unit of the terminal according to the embodiment as viewed from the bottom side. Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow AA of Fig. 3.

[0010] The connector 1 is attached, for example, to the device 51 located in a vehicle, as shown in Fig. 1, and is connected to the counterpart terminal 50, so that terminal 1 electrically connects the counterpart terminal 50 to the device 51. The counterpart terminal 50 is columnar and consists of a conductive metal part.

[0011] The terminal 1, for example, is made of a conductive metal material that is integrally molded. For example, various types of processing such as punching, pressing, or folding are performed on a single metal plate in accordance with molds corresponding to respective units, such as a terminal connection unit 2, a device attachment unit 3, or a coupler 4, to form the terminal 1. Therefore, the respective units are three-dimensionally and integrally formed. In the terminal 1, the terminal connection unit 2, the coupler 4, and the device attachment unit 3 are coupled to each other in this order from a side in the withdrawal direction X2 to a side in the insertion direction X1 in the axial direction X.

[0012] The terminal connection unit 2 is cylindrically shaped in the axial direction X as shown in Fig. 1. The mating terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal connection unit 2 from one opening 10 to another opening 11, and the terminal connection unit 2 is electrically connected to the mating terminal 50. The terminal connection unit 2 consists of an inner peripheral wall 5, two folded units 6, and two outer peripheral walls 7.

[0013] The inner peripheral wall 5 is cylindrically shaped in the axial direction X and is connected to each of the outer peripheral walls 7 via each of the folded units 6, as shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. The inner peripheral wall 5 includes a slot 12, an insertion space 13, four through holes 15, 15, 16, and 16, and four inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18, and 18.

[0014] The slit 12 is a gap formed linearly in the axial direction X of the terminal connection unit 2. The slit 12 is formed by a pair of folded units 6 circumferentially opposed around an axis XO of the inner peripheral wall 5. The slit 12 is formed to penetrate from one opening 10 to the other opening 11 of the inner peripheral wall 5 and to communicate the insertion space 13 with an external space.

[0015] The insertion space 13 is a portion formed by the inner peripheral wall 5, which communicates with the outside via the slot 12 and into which the counterpart terminal 50 is inserted from one opening 10. The insertion space 13 is formed between a pair of openings 10 and 11 opposite each other in the axial direction X.

[0016] The through holes 15, 15, 16 and 16 are through holes penetrating the inner peripheral wall 5 in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction X, as shown in the Fig. 1 to 3. The two through holes 15 and 15 are formed on one side in the removal direction X2, and the two through holes 16 and 16 are formed on one side in the insertion direction X1. All four through holes 15, 15, 16, and 16 are rectangular in shape when viewed in the height direction Z.

[0017] Each of the inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18, and 18 is a portion formed to protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5 toward the insertion space 13, and comes into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in an insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 has been inserted into the terminal connecting unit 2. The two inner peripheral wall contacts 17 and 17 are provided on one side in the withdrawal direction X2 of the inner peripheral wall 5 and formed in positions symmetrical in the width direction Y, with the axis XO as the center axis when viewed in the height direction Z. The two inner peripheral wall contacts 18 and 18 are provided on one side in the insertion direction X1 of the inner peripheral wall 5 and formed in positions symmetrical in the width direction Y, with the axis XO as the center axis when viewed in the height direction Z.

[0018] All the inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18 and 18 are convexly shaped such that a cross section seen in the axial direction X is curved to widen from the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5 toward the introduction space 13, as shown in Fig. 4. The inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18, and 18 are shaped to have, for example, an approximately semicircular cross-sectional shape, as viewed in the axial direction X. All of the inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18, and 18 come into point contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in the insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 has been inserted into the terminal connection unit 2.

[0019] The folded units 6 are sections formed at the slotted side ends 14 in the circumferential direction around the axis XO of the inner peripheral wall 5 and folded and bent outward in the radial direction. In the example shown, the folded units 6 according to the present embodiment have a slight internal clearance, but are bent such that the inner peripheral wall 5 and the outer peripheral walls 7 overlap each other in the radial direction.

[0020] The outer peripheral walls 7 are elastically deformable portions configured to extend circumferentially along the inner peripheral wall 5 from the respective folded units 6 and to be separated from the inner peripheral wall 5 with the respective folded units 6 as the pivot point. The outer peripheral walls 7 face the inner peripheral wall 5 in the radial direction and are located radially outward. The outer peripheral walls 7 include outer peripheral wall bodies 20 and four outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22, and 22.

[0021] The outer peripheral wall body 20 is formed along the inner peripheral wall 5 in the circumferential direction of the folded unit 6 and is shaped to cover a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5.

[0022] The outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22, and 22 are portions provided on the inner peripheral wall 5 and formed to protrude into the insertion space 13 through the through holes 15, 15, 16, and 16, which are opposite to each other in the radial direction, and to come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in the insertion state in which it has been inserted into the terminal connecting unit 2. Each of the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22, and 22 is formed to protrude from one end 20a in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall body 20. The two outer peripheral wall contacts 21 and 21 are provided on one side in the withdrawal direction X2 of the outer peripheral walls 7 and formed in positions symmetrical in the width direction Y, with the axis X0 as the central axis when viewed in the height direction Z.The two outer peripheral wall contacts 22 and 22 are provided on one side in the insertion direction X1 of the outer peripheral walls 7 and formed in positions symmetrical in the width direction Y, with the axis XO as the center axis when viewed in the height direction Z.

[0023] All the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22 and 22 are formed in a convex shape or an inverted U-shape such that a cross-sectional shape, when viewed in the axial direction X, is curved to expand toward the introduction space 13, as shown in Fig. 4. The outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22, and 22 come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 and press the counterpart terminal 50 due to the elastic deformation of the outer peripheral walls 7 in the insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal connecting unit 2. All of the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22, and 22 come into line contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in the axial direction X in the insertion state described above.

[0024] When viewed in the axial direction X, in a state without inserting the counterpart terminal 50 into the terminal connecting unit 2, portions of the outer peripheral wall contacts 21 and 21 are inserted into the through holes 15 and 15, and portions that come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5 to one side of the insertion space 13. When viewed in the axial direction X, in the above-described non-insertion state, portions of the outer peripheral wall contacts 22 and 22 are inserted into the through holes 16 and 16, and portions that come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5 to one side of the insertion space 13.

[0025] The device fixing unit 3 is a section that fixes the connector 1 to the device 51. The device fixing unit 3 has a flat rectangular shape and includes several through holes into which a fixing element, such as a screw, is inserted.

[0026] The coupler 4 is a portion connecting the device mounting unit 3 and the inner peripheral wall 5.

[0027] As described above, the terminal 1 according to the present embodiment includes the terminal connection unit 2 into which the counterpart terminal 50 is inserted and which is electrically connected to the counterpart terminal 50. The terminal connection unit 2 includes the inner peripheral wall 5 having a tubular shape and the slit 12 formed in the axial direction X, the insertion space 13 into which the counterpart terminal 50 is inserted, the folded units 6 folded and bent outward in the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction X, and the outer peripheral walls 7 formed in an elastically deformable manner to be separated from the inner peripheral wall 5 with the folded units 6 as the fulcrum. The inner peripheral wall 5 includes the through holes 15 and 16 penetrating in the radial direction.The outer peripheral walls 7 contain the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, which protrude through the through holes 15 and 16 into the insertion space 13. In the use state, the outer wall contacts 21 come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 and press the counterpart terminal 50 due to the elastic deformation of the outer peripheral walls 7.

[0028] In the terminal 1, when the counterpart terminal 50 is inserted into the insertion space 13 from the opening 10 of the terminal connecting unit 2, an outer peripheral surface of the counterpart terminal 50 abuts the inner peripheral wall contacts 17 and 17 and the outer peripheral wall contacts 21 and 21. Then, when the counterpart terminal 50 has been moved in the insertion direction X1, the counterpart terminal 50 presses the inner peripheral wall contacts 17 and 17, each of the inner peripheral walls 5 elastically deforms outward in the radial direction together with each of the outer peripheral walls 7 by using a portion opposite to the slit 12 in the radial direction as a fulcrum, and the slit 12 becomes relatively wider in the radial direction.At the same time, the counterpart terminal 50 presses the outer peripheral wall contacts 21 and 21, and each of the outer peripheral walls 7 elastically deforms outward in the radial direction with the folded units 6 as the fulcrum. Then, when a distal end of the counterpart terminal 50 has been moved to one side of the opening 11, the inner peripheral wall contacts 18 and 18 and the outer peripheral wall contacts 22 and 22 come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the counterpart terminal 50. When the counterpart terminal 50 is fully inserted into the terminal 2, the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22, and 22 press the counterpart terminal 50 due to the elastic force of each of the outer peripheral walls 7, and the inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18, and 18 press the counterpart terminal 50 due to the elastic force of each of the inner peripheral walls 5, and thus the counterpart terminal 50 is held by the terminal 1.At this time, the counterpart terminal 50 is made conductive by the contact of the outer peripheral surface of the counterpart terminal 50 with the inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18 and 18 and the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22 and 22 with the terminal 1, and the counterpart terminal 50 is electrically connected to the terminal 1.

[0029] Furthermore, in a state where the counterpart terminal 50 has been fully inserted into the terminal connection unit 2, in a case where an axis of the counterpart terminal 50 deviates in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction X, the terminal 1 causes the counterpart terminal 50 to return to an original position due to the elastic force of each of the inner peripheral walls 5 and the elastic force of each of the outer peripheral walls 7. In this way, the terminal 1 can easily prevent deviation of the axis of the counterpart terminal 50.

[0030] In the terminal 1, the above-described configuration enables a terminal body to be provided with the function of an elastic contact member compared with a conventional terminal, so that it is sufficient to use only the terminal body, the elastic contact member can be omitted, and a reduction in the number of parts of the terminal can be achieved.

[0031] Furthermore, in the terminal 1 according to the present embodiment, the inner peripheral wall 5 is connected to the outer peripheral walls 7 via the folded units 6, so that even if the thickness of the terminal 1 is smaller than that of a conventional terminal, a certain volume of the entire terminal can be secured and an increase in the wiring resistance can be made less likely.

[0032] Furthermore, in the terminal 1 according to the present embodiment, the terminal connecting unit 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape to correspond to the columnar or cylindrical-shaped counterpart terminal 50. Furthermore, the inner peripheral wall 5 includes four inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18, and 18 that protrude toward the insertion space 13, are formed in positions opposite to the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22, and 22 in the radial direction across the axis XO in the axial direction X, and come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in the above-described use state. Therefore, in the terminal 1, the outer peripheral wall contacts 21, 21, 22 and 22 and the inner peripheral wall contacts 17, 17, 18 and 18 can come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 from both sides in the radial direction, and pressure equalization can be ensured between the contacts facing each other in the radial direction. First variant

[0033] In the following, a terminal 1A according to a first variant of the embodiment will be described with reference to the Fig. 5 to 9 described. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the first variant of the embodiment. Fig. 6 is a view showing the terminal according to the first embodiment in the axial direction. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a terminal connecting unit of the terminal according to the first variation of the embodiment, viewed from below. Fig. 8 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow of line BB of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view showing a state change of the terminal according to the first variant of the embodiment.

[0034] The terminal 1A according to the first variant differs from the above-described terminal 1 in that a portion of the shape of an outer peripheral wall 7A in a terminal connection unit 2A is different. The terminal 1A is formed by the terminal connection unit 2A, the coupler 4, and the device fixing unit 3, as shown in Fig. 5 shown.

[0035] The terminal connection unit 2A consists of the inner peripheral wall 5, the folded units 6 and the outer peripheral walls 7A.

[0036] The outer peripheral walls 7A include outer peripheral wall bodies 20A, four outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A and 22A and extension units 23A.

[0037] The outer peripheral wall body 20A is formed along the inner peripheral wall 5 in the circumferential direction of the folded unit 6 and is shaped to cover a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5.

[0038] The outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A are formed to protrude through the through holes 15, 15, 16, and 16 into the insertion space 13 and to come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in an insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 has been inserted into the terminal connecting unit 2A. The two outer peripheral wall contacts 21A and 21A are provided on one side in the removal direction X2 of the outer peripheral walls 7A and formed in positions that are symmetrical in the width direction Y with the axis XO as the central axis when viewed in the height direction Z. The two outer peripheral wall contacts 22A and 22A are provided on one side in the insertion direction X1 of the outer peripheral walls 7A and formed in positions that are symmetrical in the width direction Y with the axis XO as the central axis when viewed in the height direction Z.

[0039] All outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A and 22A are shaped such that a cross section seen in the axial direction X is bent toward the introduction space 13, as shown in Fig. 8. The outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 and press the counterpart terminal 50 due to the elastic deformation of the outer peripheral walls 7A in the insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal connecting unit 2A. All of the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A come into line contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in the axial direction X in the insertion state described above.

[0040] In the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A and 21A, in a non-insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 has not been inserted into the terminal connecting unit 2A, as viewed in the axial direction X, ends that come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 are inserted into the through holes 15 and 15, and portions of the ends protrude as contacts from the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5 to one side of the insertion space 13. In the outer peripheral wall contacts 22A and 22A, as viewed in the axial direction X, in the above-described non-insertion state, ends that come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 are inserted into the through holes 16 and 16, and portions of the ends protrude as contacts from the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5 to one side of the insertion space 13.

[0041] The extension units 23A are portions extending from the outer peripheral wall bodies 20A to one side in the circumferential direction and extending from the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A along the inner peripheral wall 5 to a side opposite to one side of the slotted side ends 14 in the circumferential direction. Each of the extension units 23A includes through holes 24 and 25 for each of the outer peripheral walls 7A, as shown in Fig. 7. The through holes 24, 24, 25 and 25 correspond to the so-called punched holes for forming the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A and 22A.

[0042] The extension unit 23A has a clearance S in the radial direction between the extension unit 23A and the inner peripheral wall 5. In other words, the outer peripheral walls 7A are provided on a side opposite to a side of the folded units 6 in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral walls 7A, and form the clearance S between the outer peripheral walls 7A and the inner peripheral wall 5. When the counterpart terminal 50 has been inserted into the terminal connection unit 2A to deviate in a first direction Z1 (toward a side of the slit 12), a width L of the slit 12 increases to a width L1, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 9. Increasing the width of the slot 12 causes the inner peripheral wall 5 to deform outward in the radial direction, but the distance S exists between the inner peripheral wall 5 and the outer peripheral walls 7A, including the extension units 23A, so that the outer peripheral walls 7A do not deform in conjunction with the inner peripheral wall 5, and the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A move to one side of the introduction space 13.

[0043] As described above, the terminal 1A according to the first variant has an advantageous effect similar to an advantageous effect of the terminal 1 according to the embodiment described above.

[0044] Furthermore, in the terminal 1A according to the first variant, the outer peripheral walls 7A have the clearance S between the outer peripheral walls 7A and the inner peripheral wall 5, and therefore the outer peripheral walls 7A in conjunction with the inner peripheral wall 5 do not warp radially outward, and the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A move to one side of the insertion space 13. Therefore, for example, in the terminal 1A, even if the counterpart terminal 50 was inserted in an axial deviation state of deviation in the first direction Z1 (to one side of the slit 12), the trackability of the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A relative to the counterpart terminal 50 can be secured.

[0045] Furthermore, in the terminal 1A according to the first variant, the outer peripheral walls 7A include the extension units 23A extending from the outer peripheral wall contacts 21A, 21A, 22A, and 22A along the inner peripheral wall 5 toward a side opposite to a side of the slotted side ends 14 in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the extending units 23A in the terminal 1A enlarge a surface area of ​​the terminal 1A, the heat capacity of the terminal 1A can be increased, and a temperature rise of the terminal 1A at the time of carrying a current can be avoided. Second variant

[0046] In the following, a connection 1B according to a second embodiment is described with reference to the Fig. 10 to 13 described. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the second variant of the embodiment. Fig. 11 is a view showing the terminal according to the second variant of the embodiment in the axial direction. Fig. 12 is a view showing a terminal connecting unit of the terminal according to the second variation of the embodiment, viewed from below. Fig. 13 is a sectional view in an arrow direction of line CC of Fig. 12.

[0047] The connector 1B according to the second variant differs from the above-described connector 1 in that an inner diameter of a folded unit 6B and a portion of the shape of an outer peripheral wall 7B in a connector connecting unit 2B are different. The connector 1B consists of the connector connecting unit 2B, the coupler 4, and the device fixing unit 3, as shown in Fig. 10 shown.

[0048] The terminal connection unit 2B consists of the inner peripheral wall 5, folded units 6B and outer peripheral walls 7B.

[0049] The folded units 6B are sections formed at the slotted side ends 14 in the circumferential direction around the axis XO of the inner peripheral wall 5, extend radially inward, and are then folded and bent radially outward. In other words, the folded units 6B have an inner diameter relatively larger than an inner diameter of the above-described folded units 6 and have a large inner pitch T.

[0050] The outer peripheral walls 7B include outer peripheral wall bodies 20B and four outer peripheral wall contacts 21B, 21B, 22B and 22B.

[0051] The outer peripheral wall bodies 20B are formed along the inner peripheral wall 5 in the circumferential direction by the folded units 6B and are shaped to cover a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 5.

[0052] The outer peripheral wall contacts 21B, 21B, 22B, and 22B are formed to protrude into the insertion space 13 through the through holes 15, 15, 16, and 16, and to come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 in an insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 has been inserted into the terminal connection unit 2B. The two outer peripheral wall contacts 21B and 21B are provided on one side in the removal direction X2 of the outer peripheral walls 7B and formed in positions that are symmetrical in the width direction Y with the axis XO as the central axis when viewed in the height direction Z. The two outer peripheral wall contacts 22B and 22B are provided on one side in the insertion direction X1 of the outer peripheral walls 7B and formed in positions that are symmetrical in the width direction Y with the axis XO as the central axis when viewed in the height direction Z.

[0053] All outer peripheral wall contacts 21B, 21B, 22B and 22B are shaped such that a cross section seen in the axial direction X is bent toward the introduction space 13, as shown in Fig. 13. The outer peripheral wall contacts 21B, 21B, 22B, and 22B come into contact with the counterpart terminal 50 and press the counterpart terminal 50 due to the elastic deformation of the outer peripheral walls 7B in the insertion state in which the counterpart terminal 50 has been inserted into the terminal connection unit 2B. All of the outer peripheral wall contacts 21B, 21B, 22B, and 22B according to the second variant are formed to have a contact surface with the counterpart terminal 50 that is a hemispherical surface (or a curved surface), as shown in FIGS. Fig.10 to 13. Accordingly, in the above-described use state, the outer peripheral wall contacts 21B, 21B, 22B, and 22B come into point contact with the counterpart terminal 50 without coming into line contact in the axial direction X, unlike the above-described embodiment and the first variant.

[0054] As described above, the terminal 1B according to the second variant has an advantageous effect similar to an advantageous effect of the terminal 1 according to the embodiment described above.

[0055] Furthermore, in the terminal 1B according to the second variant, the folded units 6B extend radially inward and are then folded and bent radially outward. Therefore, the terminal 1B can prevent a crack or the like from forming in the folded units 6B at the time of 180° bending, even when a relatively hard metal material (e.g., a copper alloy or the like instead of native copper) is used.

[0056] It should be noted that in the above-described embodiment as well as in the first and second variants, the counterpart terminal 50 is columnar in shape, but is not limited thereto and may also be cylindrical in shape.

[0057] The connector according to the present embodiment has the advantageous effect that a reduction in the number of parts can be achieved. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2018-195439

[0002]

Claims

[1] A terminal (1, 1A, 1B) comprising: a terminal connection unit (2) which is tubular in an axial direction (X), wherein a counterpart terminal (50) is inserted from one opening (10) to another opening (11) in the terminal connection unit (2), wherein the terminal connection unit (2) is electrically connected to the counterpart terminal (50), wherein the connection unit (2) comprises: an inner peripheral wall (5) having the tubular shape and including a slit (12) formed in the axial direction (X) and an insertion space (13) communicating with an outside through the slit (12), wherein the counterpart terminal (50) is inserted into the insertion space (13) from the one opening (10); a folded unit (6, 6B) formed at each of slit side ends (14) in a circumferential direction around an axis of the inner peripheral wall (5), the folded unit (6, 6B) being folded and bent outward in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction (X); and an outer peripheral wall (7) extending in the circumferential direction along the inner peripheral wall (5) of the folded unit (6, 6B), the outer peripheral wall (7) being formed in an elastically deformable manner to be separated from the inner peripheral wall (5) with the folded unit (6, 6B) as a pivot point, the inner peripheral wall (5) comprises at least one through hole (15, 16) penetrating the inner peripheral wall (5) in the radial direction, the outer peripheral wall (7) comprises at least one outer peripheral wall contact (21, 21A, 21B, 22, 22A, 22B) which is designed to protrude through the through hole (15, 16) into the introduction space (13), and the outer peripheral wall contact (21, 21A, 21B, 22, 22A, 22B) reaches in contact with the counterpart terminal (50) and presses the counterpart terminal (50) due to the elastic deformation of the outer peripheral wall (7) in an insertion state in which the counterpart terminal (50) has been inserted into the terminal connection unit (2). [2] The terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to claim 1, wherein the counterpart connection (50) has been formed into a columnar or cylindrical shape, the connection unit (2) is is formed into a cylindrical shape, and the inner peripheral wall (5) at least one inner peripheral wall contact (17, 18) which projects towards the introduction space (13), is formed in a position opposite to the outer peripheral wall contact (21, 21A, 21B, 22, 22A, 22B) in the radial direction transverse to the axis (XO) in the axial direction (X) and comes into contact with the counterpart terminal (50) in the use state. [3] The terminal (1A) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer peripheral wall (7A) is provided on a side opposite to a side of the folded unit (6) in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall (7A), and in the use state forms a gap (S) between the outer peripheral wall (7A) and the inner peripheral wall (5). [4] The terminal (1A) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer peripheral wall (7) an extension unit (23A) extending from the outer peripheral wall contact (21A, 22A) along the inner peripheral wall (5) to a side opposite to a side of the slotted side ends (14) in the circumferential direction. [5] The terminal (1, 1A, 1B) according to claim 1, further comprising: a device mounting unit (3) which is fixedly and electrically connected to the device (51); and a coupler (4) connecting the device mounting unit (3) to the inner peripheral wall (5).

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