Connector pin unfolding device, connector pin unfolding method, and connector pin analysis method

Abstract

A connector pin unfolding apparatus according to the present disclosure is a connector pin unfolding apparatus for unfolding a female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end and a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, the female connector pin configured to form an accommodation space into which a male connector pin is inserted, and includes an unfolding clip configured to be fixed to the first folding section and a fixing clip configured to support the second folding portion, wherein the unfolding clip is configured to unfold the first folding portion as the unfolding clip moves away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION]

[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0174704 filed on December 5, 2023 in the Republic of Korea, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[TECHNICAL FIELD]

[0002] The present disclosure relates to unfolding female connector pin.BACKGROUND ART

[0003] With the technology development and growing demand for electric vehicles and mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is increasing. As opposed to primary batteries that that can only be used once, secondary batteries may be reused through charging. A secondary battery includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. When oxidation of a metal occurs at the positive electrode, electricity is produced by movement of electrons released from the metal.

[0004] A plurality of secondary batteries may form a battery module. When the plurality of secondary batteries forms the battery module, a higher voltage than voltage that can be generated from the individual secondary batteries may be generated. Further, the secondary batteries may be controlled to cause the voltage of each secondary battery to have a predetermined value. A battery management system (BMS) may be used to control the secondary batteries. The secondary battery may be electrically connected to a substrate, and the substrate may be electrically connected to the battery management system, and thus the battery management system may receive information about the voltage of the secondary battery and control the secondary battery to maintain the voltage of the secondary battery within a predetermined range.

[0005] The battery management system may be disposed outside of the battery module. The battery management system may be connected to the battery module with a connector. That is, the battery management system and the battery module may be connected by engagement of a male connector pin having a protrusion shape and a female connector pin having a space for accommodating the male connector pin. More specifically, the female connector pin may have a contact portion that protrudes toward the space, and when the male connector pin contacts the contact portion, the female connector pin and the male connector pin may be electrically connected to each other.

[0006] As the contact portion is configured to contact the male connector pin, it may be necessary to analyze durability. Because the contact portion is provided on the inner side of the female connector pin, in order to analyze the contact portion, it is necessary to unfold the female connector pin to expose the contact portion. In addition to the analysis of the contact portion, it may be necessary to unfold the female connector pin for some other reasons. However, there is no specific apparatus for unfolding the female connector pin, so it is difficult to unfold the female connector pin.SUMMARY TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0007] The present disclosure is designed to solve the above-described problems, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing an apparatus for easily unfolding a female connector pin.

[0008] The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned technical problems, and these and other technical problems will be clearly understood by persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure from the following description.TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0009] A connector pin unfolding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a connector pin unfolding apparatus for unfolding a female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end and a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, the female connector pin configured to form an accommodation space into which a male connector pin is inserted, and includes an unfolding clip configured to be fixed to the first folding section and a fixing clip configured to support the second folding portion, wherein the unfolding clip is configured to unfold the first folding portion as the unfolding clip moves away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion.

[0010] The unfolding clip may include a first unfolding clip bar including a first support portion configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion and a second unfolding clip bar including a second support portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion, and the first unfolding clip bar may be rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis.

[0011] The unfolding clip may include an elastic body located at the unfolding clip rotation axis so as to be elastically biased in a direction in which the first support portion gets closer to the second support portion.

[0012] The first unfolding clip bar may further include a first handle portion located at an opposite side to the first support portion with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis, the second unfolding clip bar may further include a second handle portion located at an opposite side to the second support portion with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis, and the first support portion may make a rotational motion around the unfolding clip rotation axis with respect to the second support portion while the first handle portion rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis to get closer to the second handle portion.

[0013] The first support portion may make a rotational motion to get closer to the second support portion while the first handle portion rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis to get closer to the second handle portion.

[0014] The first support portion may be extended from the unfolding clip rotation axis, a part of the first handle portion adjacent to the unfolding clip rotation axis may be extended in a direction that is different from an extension direction of the first support portion, and the second support portion and the second handle portion may correspond to the first support portion and the first handle portion.

[0015] The first support portion and the second support portion may further include a first blade portion and a second blade portion, each blade portion configured such that a cross-sectional area decreases toward an end.

[0016] The first blade portion and the second blade portion may include a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, each inclined such that it gets closer to the first folding portion toward the end.

[0017] The female connector pin may further include a third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, a fourth folding portion configured to face the third folding portion and a fifth folding portion that forms an opposite end, the fifth folding portion configured to overlap the first folding portion in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the first folding portion before the at least part of the first folding portion moves away from the second folding portion, and the unfolding clip may be configured to unfold the fifth folding portion by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion away from the second folding portion after unfolding the first folding portion.

[0018] The first unfolding clip bar may further include an unfolding protrusion configured to protrude from the first support portion in a direction facing away from the first folding portion.

[0019] A cross section of the unfolding protrusion may be a portion of a circle.

[0020] The unfolding protrusion may be configured to unfold the third folding portion by moving toward the second folding portion while in contact with the third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, after the first folding portion is unfolded.

[0021] The unfolding protrusion may have a larger width than a width of the second folding portion to unfold the third folding portion together with the fourth folding portion extended from an opposite side to the third folding portion with respect to the second folding portion.

[0022] The fixing clip may include a first fixing clip bar including a first fixing portion configured to support an outer surface of the second folding portion and a first fixing clip handle portion located at an opposite side to the first fixing portion with respect to a fixing clip rotation axis and a second fixing clip bar including a second fixing portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the second folding portion and a second fixing clip handle portion located at an opposite side to the second fixing portion with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis, the first fixing clip bar may be rotatably coupled to the second fixing clip bar with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis, and the first fixing portion may make a rotational motion away from the second fixing portion while the first fixing clip handle portion rotates around the fixing clip rotation axis to get closer to the second fixing clip handle portion.

[0023] The connector pin unfolding apparatus may further include a connection body connecting the unfolding clip to the fixing clip, the connection body being deformable.

[0024] A connector pin unfolding method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the steps of preparing a female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end, a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, a third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, a fourth folding portion configured to face the third folding portion, and a fifth folding portion that forms an opposite end, the fifth folding portion configured to overlap the first folding portion in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the first folding portion, and a connector pin unfolding apparatus including an unfolding clip and a fixing clip to unfold the female connector pin, fixing the unfolding clip to the first folding portion, causing the fixing clip to support the second folding portion, and unfolding the first folding portion by moving the unfolding clip away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion.

[0025] The unfolding clip may include a first unfolding clip bar including a first support portion configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion and a second unfolding clip bar including a second support portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion, and the first unfolding clip bar may be rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis.

[0026] The connector pin unfolding method may further include, after the step of unfolding the first folding portion, the step of unfolding the fifth folding portion by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion away from the second folding portion.

[0027] The unfolding clip may further include an unfolding protrusion configured to protrude in a direction facing away from the first folding portion, and the connector pin unfolding method may further include, after the step of unfolding the fifth folding portion, the step of unfolding, by the unfolding protrusion, the third folding portion together with the fourth folding portion extended from an opposite side to the third folding portion with respect to the second folding portion.

[0028] A connector pin analysis method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of preparing a female connector pin configured to form an accommodation space into which a male connector pin is inserted, the female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end, a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, and a contact portion that protrudes toward the accommodation space so as to contact the male connector pin, and a connector pin unfolding apparatus including an unfolding clip and a fixing clip to unfold the female connector pin, fixing the unfolding clip to the first folding portion, causing the fixing clip to support the second folding portion, unfolding the first folding portion by moving the unfolding clip away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion, and analyzing how much a surface plating layer of the contact portion is peeled off after the female connector pin is unfolded.ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0029] The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to the present disclosure may be configured such that as the unfolding clip moves away from the fixing clip, at least part of the first folding portion moves away from the second folding portion to unfold the first folding portion, thereby easily unfolding the female connector pin.

[0030] The effects that may be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned effects, and these and other effects will be clearly understood by persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure from the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a female connector pin and a male connector pin of a connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the female connector pin shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing that a connector pin unfolding apparatus is moved toward the female connector pin shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing that a first blade portion is inserted between a first folding portion and a fifth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first blade portion is inserted between the first folding portion and the fifth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 5, and a second unfolding clip bar is moved toward a first unfolding clip bar. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing that a fixing clip is fixed to a second folding portion before the unfolding clip shown in FIG. 6 unfolds the first folding portion. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 7 is supported by a first unfolding clip bar and a second unfolding clip bar before unfolding the first folding portion. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the unfolding of the first folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the unfolding of the fifth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an unfolding protrusion for unfolding a third folding portion and a fourth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing that the third folding portion and the fourth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 11 are unfolded. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in sufficient detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure to easily carry out the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0033] To clearly describe the present disclosure, an irrelevant description or a detailed description of related known technology that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure is omitted, and in affixing the reference numerals to the elements in each drawing, the identical or similar reference numerals are affixed to the identical or similar elements throughout the specification.

[0034] Additionally, it should be understood that the terms or words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, and rather, should be interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspect of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define the terms appropriately for the best explanation.

[0035] It should be understood that various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used herein are not intended to limit the technical features of the present disclosure to particular embodiments, and include a variety of changes, equivalents or substitutes of the corresponding embodiments.

[0036] In relation to the description of the drawings, for the similar or related elements, the similar reference numerals may be used.

[0037] The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more items unless otherwise indicated by the context.

[0038] Each of phrases such as "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C" and "at least one of A, B or C" as used herein may include any one of the items listed together with the corresponding phrase or all possible combinations of them.

[0039] The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related stated elements or any of the plurality of related stated elements.

[0040] The terms such as "first", "second" and so on may be simply used to distinguish the corresponding element from the corresponding other embodiment, and are not intended to limit the corresponding elements in another aspect (for example, importance or order).

[0041] When a certain (for example, first) element is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another (for example, second) element with or without the term "functionally" or "through communication", the element may be connected to the other element directly (for example, wiredly), wirelessly or through a third element.

[0042] The term "comprise", "include" or "have" indicates the presence of the stated features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination of them, and does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination of them.

[0043] When an element is referred to as "being connected to", "being coupled to", "being supported by" or "contacting" another element, this includes not only direct connection, coupling, support or contact of the elements but also indirect connection, coupling, support or contact through a third element.

[0044] When an element is referred to as being located "on" another element, the element can contact the other element and intervening elements may be present.

[0045] Meanwhile, the terms "up-down direction", "lower", and "front-rear direction" as used herein are defined on the basis of the drawings, and the shape and location of each element is not limited by these terms.

[0046] Hereinafter, the embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.First embodiment

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module BM according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a female connector pin FCP and a male connector pin MCP of a connector C pin shown in FIG. 1.

[0048] The connector C pin according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0049] A secondary battery (not shown) may be provided to produce electricity. A plurality of secondary batteries may form the battery module BM. The plurality of secondary batteries included in the battery module BM may be connected in series to generate voltage having a higher value than voltage generated from one secondary battery. Accordingly, the battery module BM may generate voltage required for a device that requires electricity.

[0050] Each secondary battery may preferably have a predetermined voltage while it produces electricity. To this end, a battery management system (not shown) may be used to control the secondary batteries to maintain the voltage of each secondary battery within a predetermined range. However, the battery management system is not a component of the battery module BM and may be disposed outside of the battery module BM, so it may be necessary to electrically connect the battery management system to the battery module BM. To this end, the connector C pin may be used. More specifically, each of the plurality of secondary batteries may be electrically connected to a substrate, and the substrate and the battery management system may be electrically connected by the connector C pin, so the secondary batteries and the battery management system may be electrically connected to each other. The battery management system may receive an electrical signal of the secondary battery through the connector C pin, and control the secondary battery to ensure that the secondary battery has a predetermined range of voltages based on the received electrical signal.

[0051] In this instance, the connector C pin may be separated into a part including the female connector pin FCP and a part including the male connector pin MCP as shown in FIG. 2. When moving or assembling the battery module BM, the connector C pin separated into two parts may make it easy to move and / or assemble the battery module BM. The male connector pin MCP may include a protrusion, and the female connector pin FCP may have an accommodation space 100S for accommodating the protrusion of the male connector pin MCP. The female connector pin FCP may include a contact portion 110 that protrudes toward the accommodation space 100S on the inner side, and when the contact portion 110 contacts the protrusion of the male connector pin MCP, the female connector pin FCP and the male connector pin MCP may be electrically connected to each other.

[0052] Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show the female connector pin FCP is fixed to the battery module BM and the male connector pin MCP connected to the battery management system is moved to be connected to the female connector pin FCP, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the male connector pin MCP may be fixed to the battery module BM and the component that is directly connected to the battery management system may be the female connector pin FCP.

[0053] For reference, the female connector pin FCP may be extended in a direction, and the accommodation space 100S may be formed inside the female connector pin FCP along the extension direction of the female connector pin FCP. The female connector pin FCP may have a predetermined cross section and be extended in the extension direction. For example, the cross section of the female connector pin FCP may be quadrilateral in shape. In this case, the female connector pin FCP may be formed by folding. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the cross section of the female connector pin FCP may be circular in shape. In this case, the female connector pin FCP may be formed by bending. For reference, folding may be the concept including bending, and bending may be understood as an example of folding. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, end portions of the female connector pin FCP may overlap in a direction perpendicular to the length direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the end portions of the female connector pins FCP may be connected in contact with each other.

[0054] As the contact portion 110 of the female connector pin FCP is configured to contact the male connector pin MCP, high durability may be required to perform the function of the connector C pin for a long time. Accordingly, study may be conducted to increase the durability of the contact portion 110. To increase the durability of the contact portion 110, it is necessary to analyze the durability of the contact portion 110. In this instance, as the contact portion 110 may be located on the inner side of the female connector pin FCP, it is necessary to unfold the female connector pin FCP.

[0055] Tweezers have been used to unfold the female connector pin FCP. However, when unfolding the female connector pin FCP by this method, it is a difficult and time-consuming method. The present disclosure aims to solve this problem. Hereinafter, the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in further detail.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing that the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA is moved toward the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing that a first blade portion 211a is inserted between a first folding portion 101 and a fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first blade portion 211a is inserted between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 5, and a second unfolding clip bar 200b is moved toward a first unfolding clip bar 200a. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing that a fixing clip FC is fixed to a second folding portion 102 before an unfolding clip UC shown in FIG. 6 unfolds the first folding portion 101. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first folding portion 101 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 7 is supported by the second unfolding clip bar 200b and the second unfolding clip bar 200b before unfolding the first folding portion 101. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the unfolding of the first folding portion 101 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the unfolding of the fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an unfolding protrusion 230 for unfolding a third folding portion 103 and a fourth folding portion 104 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing that the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 11 are unfolded.

[0057] A method for unfolding the female connector pin FCP according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 12. It will be understood that the female connector pin FCP is unfolded in an order of FIGS. 3 to 12.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 3, the female connector pin FCP may be formed by folding. The female connector pin FCP may be configured to form the accommodation space 100S into which the male connector pin MCP may be inserted. More specifically, the female connector pin FCP may include the first folding portion 101 that forms one end, the second folding portion 102 configured to face the first folding portion 101, the third folding portion 103 connecting the first folding portion 101 to the second folding portion 102, the fourth folding portion 104 configured to face the third folding portion 103 and / or the fifth folding portion 105 that forms the other end and overlaps the first folding portion 101 in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the first folding portion 101. In other words, the female connector pin FCP may be connected in an order of the first folding portion 101 - the third folding portion 103 - the second folding portion 102 - the fourth folding portion 104 - the fifth folding portion 105. In this instance, the first folding portion 101 may be located at the outer side than the fifth folding portion 105. The contact portion 110 may be located on the fifth folding portion 105. However, this is only an example, and the contact portion 110 may be located at any of the second folding portion 102 to the fourth folding portion 104. Further, the contact portion 110 may be located on an area of the first folding portion 101 that does not overlap the fifth folding portion 105.

[0059] Additionally, the first folding portion 101 may contact the fifth folding portion 105. The end portion of the first folding portion 101 may not extend beyond the fourth folding portion 104.

[0060] First, the structural feature of the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA for unfolding the female connector pin FCP will be described.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 4, the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may be configured to unfold the female connector pin FCP. The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may include the unfolding clip UC configured to be fixed to the first folding portion 101. The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may include the fixing clip FC configured to support the second folding portion 102.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 5, a part of the unfolding clip UC may be accommodated between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, and as shown in FIG. 9, as the unfolding clip UC moves away from the fixing clip FC, at least part of the first folding portion 101 may move away from the second folding portion 102, to unfold the first folding portion 101. For reference, because each of the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 forms each of the end portions of the female connector pin FCP, it may be necessary to first unfold any one of the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. In this instance, because the first folding portion 101 may be located at the outer side than the fifth folding portion 105, the first folding portion 101 may be unfolded earlier than the fifth folding portion 105.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, the unfolding clip UC may include the first unfolding clip bar 200a including a first support portion 210a configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion 101, and the unfolding clip UC may include the second unfolding clip bar 200b including a second support portion 210b configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion 101. In this instance, the first unfolding clip bar 200a may be rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar 200b with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. The unfolding clip UC may have a similar structure to scissors. The unfolding clip UC may support the first folding portion 101 by various methods, and it may be understood that one of the methods, a method in which the first unfolding clip bar 200a and the second unfolding clip bar 200b support the opposite sides of the first folding portion 101, respectively, is introduced as the first embodiment.

[0064] The first unfolding clip bar 200a may further include a first handle portion 220a located at the opposite side to the first support portion 210a with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. The second unfolding clip bar 200b may further include a second handle portion 220b located at the opposite side to the second support portion 210b with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. Depicting the unfolding clip UC as scissors as described above, the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b may be the component corresponding to a handle of the scissors that can be gripped, and the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may be the component corresponding to a cutting part of the scissors. As the first handle portion 220a, the second handle portion 220b, the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b are formed, the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may be moved by the movement of the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b. As shown in FIG. 6, because the second support portion 210b is difficult to directly move when it is located between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, the second support portion 210b may be moved by manipulating the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b located at the outer side of the female connector pin FCP.

[0065] The first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may have a length corresponding to a length of the first folding portion 101 to effectively support the first folding portion 101.

[0066] In other words, the first support portion 210a may be extended from the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. A part of the first handle portion 220a adjacent to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L may be extended in a direction that is different from the extension direction of the first support portion 210a. The second support portion 210b and the second handle portion 220b may correspond to the first support portion 210a and the second handle portion 220b. Accordingly, the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b may be located at the opposite side to the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L.

[0067] That is, the first support portion 210a may make a rotational motion around the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L with respect to the second support portion 210b while the first handle portion 220a rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L to get closer to the second handle portion 220b.

[0068] Further, the first support portion 210a may make a rotational motion to get closer to the second support portion 210b while the first handle portion 220a rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L to get closer to the second handle portion 220b.

[0069] The first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may further include the first blade portion 211a and a second blade portion 211b configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, the second support portion 210b needs to move with widening of the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, so the second blade portion 211b may be formed at an end portion of the second support portion 210b located in a direction facing the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. On the basis of FIG. 5, the second blade portion 211b may be located at the lower side of the second unfolding clip bar 200b.

[0070] The first blade portion 211a and the second blade portion 211b may include a first inclined surface 211Aa and a second inclined surface 211Ab, each inclined such that it gets closer to the first folding portion 101 toward the end portion. The first inclined surface 211Aa and the second inclined surface 211Ab may be an example of a method for forming the first blade portion 211a and the second blade portion 211b.

[0071] The fixing clip FC may include a first fixing clip bar 300a and a second fixing clip bar 300b rotatably coupled to the first fixing clip bar 300a with respect to a fixing clip rotation axis 300L. In this instance, the first fixing clip bar 300a may include a first fixing portion 310a configured to support an outer surface of the second folding portion 102, and the first fixing clip bar 300a may include a first fixing clip handle portion 320a located at the opposite side to the first fixing portion 310a with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis 300L. The second fixing clip bar 300b may include a second fixing portion 310b configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the second folding portion 102, and the second fixing clip bar 300b may include a second fixing clip handle portion 320b located at the opposite side to the second fixing portion 310b with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis 300L. The first fixing portion 310a may be configured to make a rotational motion away from the second fixing portion 310b while the first fixing clip handle portion 320a rotates around the fixing clip rotation axis 300L to get closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b. The fixing clip FC may have a working principle similar to that of a clothespin.

[0072] The fixing clip FC may be shorter than the unfolding clip UC. Because the unfolding clip UC is required to apply force across the entire first folding portion 101, the unfolding clip UC needs to have a length corresponding to the length of the first folding portion 101 to evenly apply pressure to the entire first folding portion 101, while because the fixing clip FC is only fixed to the second folding portion 102, the fixing clip FC having even a small length can perform its function. Further, when the fixing clip FC is short, the distance to which the fixing clip FC moves in order to fix is short, thereby reducing the time required to fix the fixing clip FC to the second folding portion 102.

[0073] The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may further include a connection body 400 that connects the unfolding clip UC to the fixing clip FC and can be deformed. The length of the connection body 400 may be changed. As shown in FIG. 4, the distance between the fixing clip FC and the unfolding clip UC may correspond to the width of the female connector pin FCP. Because the width of the female connector pin FCP may be different for each device, the distance between the fixing clip FC and the unfolding clip UC may be adjusted through length changes of the connection body 400. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, while the unfolding clip UC moves away from the fixing clip FC, the connection body 400 may be deformed and the length may be increased.

[0074] The connection body 400 may be divided into two components and the length may be increased or decreased by the same principle as rail movement.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 6, the unfolding clip UC may include an elastic body 240 located at the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L so as to be elastically biased in a direction in which the first support portion 210a gets closer to the second support portion 210b. By the elastic body 240, the unfolding clip UC may support the first folding portion 101 even when no force is applied to the unfolding clip UC. Further, as described below, the elastic body 240 may be helpful when the unfolding clip UC strongly grasps the first folding portion 101.

[0076] The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may include the unfolding protrusion 230. More preferably, the first unfolding clip bar 200a may further include the unfolding protrusion 230 configured to protrude from the first support portion 210a in a direction facing away from the first folding portion 101. Because the first unfolding clip bar 200a is configured to support the outer surface of the first folding portion 101, the unfolding protrusion 230 may not interrupt the function of the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUAeven if the unfolding protrusion 230 is formed. As shown in FIG. 11, the unfolding protrusion 230 may unfold the female connector pin FCP by applying pressure to the female connector pin FCP as described below.

[0077] The cross section of the unfolding protrusion 230 may be a portion of a circle. Accordingly, it may be possible to reduce the likelihood that the female connector pin FCP will be damaged while the unfolding protrusion 230 applies pressure to the female connector pin FCP. Further, when the unfolding protrusion 230 has a shape of a portion of a sphere, the unfolding protrusion 230 may move to a location for unfolding the female connector pin FCP even during rough location alignment with the female connector pin FCP.

[0078] As described below, the unfolding protrusion 230 may be configured to unfold the third folding portion 103 by moving toward the second folding portion 102 while in contact with the third folding portion 103 connecting the first folding portion 101 to the second folding portion 102 after the first folding portion 101 is unfolded. More specifically, the unfolding protrusion 230 may have a larger width than the width of the second folding portion 102 to unfold the third folding portion 103 together with the fourth folding portion 104 extended from the opposite side to the third folding portion 103 with respect to the second folding portion 102. A further description will be provided below.

[0079] Hereinafter, the process in which the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA unfolds the female connector pin FCP will be described.

[0080] First, the unfolding clip UC may support the first folding portion 101.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 4, the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may be moved toward the female connector pin FCP. In this instance, the length of the connection body 400 may be adjusted so that the unfolding clip UC may be located corresponding to the first folding portion 101 and the fixing clip FC may be located corresponding to the second folding portion 102.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 5, the second blade portion 211b may be moved between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. In this instance, because the blade portion has a sharp tip, it may be easy to insert between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. The contact of the second blade portion 211b with the first blade portion 211a may interrupt the movement of the second blade portion 211b between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, and thus a user may move the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b away from each other so that the first blade portion 211a may be far apart from the second blade portion 211b. In this instance, the elastic body 240 may apply an elastic force in the direction in which the first unfolding clip bar 200a and the second unfolding clip bar 200b get closer to each other, and thus the user may apply a force that is large enough to defeat the elastic force.

[0083] After the second support portion 210b is moved between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 by the second blade portion 211b, the first handle portion 220a may make a rotational motion toward the second handle portion 220b, and the first support portion 210a may be moved toward the outer surface of the first folding portion 101. Accordingly, the first support portion 210a may support the inner surface of the first folding portion 101, and the second support portion 210b may support the outer surface of the first folding portion 101. In this process, the user may apply force to the first handle portion 220a in the direction toward the second handle portion 220b, but even when the user does not apply any force, the first handle portion 220a may get closer to the second handle portion 220b and the first support portion 210a may get closer to the second support portion 210b by the elastic force of the elastic body 240.

[0084] Although FIG. 6 shows that the length of the second support portion 210b is shorter than the length of the first folding portion 101, the length of the second support portion 210b may be longer than the length of the first folding portion 101.

[0085] After the first folding portion 101 is supported by the unfolding clip UC through the above process, the fixing clip FC may be fixed to the second folding portion 102. However, the fixing clip FC is fixed to the second folding portion 102 merely because the second folding portion 102 is located at the opposite side to the first folding portion 101 which is easy to fix, but the fixing clip FC may be fixed to any part of the female connector pin FCP other than the second folding portion 102. For the convenience of description, the following description is made under the assumption that the fixing clip FC is fixed to the second folding portion 102.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 7, when pressure is applied to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b toward the first fixing clip handle portion 320a, the first fixing portion 310a may be moved in a direction away from the second fixing portion 310b. When the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b are far apart from each other, the fixing clip FC may be moved such that the second folding portion 102 may be accommodated in the space between the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b. In this instance, the elastic body 240 of the fixing clip FC still applies the elastic force in the direction in which the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b get closer to each other, so while the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b are located at the second folding portion 102, the user may apply pressure to the first fixing clip handle portion 320a to move the first fixing clip handle portion 320a closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b.

[0087] When the second folding portion 102 is located between the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b, the user may remove the force applied to the first fixing clip handle portion 320a and the second fixing clip handle portion 320b to cause the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b to get closer to each other. By the elastic force of the elastic body 240, the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b may tightly grasp the second folding portion 102, and accordingly, the fixing clip FC may be fixed to the second folding portion 102.

[0088] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, pressure may be applied to the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b of the unfolding clip UC in the direction in which they get closer to each other to cause the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b to tightly grasp the first folding portion 101. In other words, the first folding portion 101 may be supported by the unfolding clip UC.

[0089] For reference, the connection structure of the unfolding clip UC may be different from the connection structure of the fixing clip FC because the unfolding clip UC is configured to apply force to strongly support the first folding portion 101. It may be easier to apply force by causing the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b to get closer to each other than moving them apart. On the other hand, because it is necessary to apply force to move the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b apart from each other while the fixing clip FC is moved to be fixed to the second folding portion 102 at the initial time, the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b may be configured to move away from each other as the first fixing clip handle portion 320a and the second fixing clip handle portion 320b that are easy to apply force are moved in the direction in which they get closer to each other.

[0090] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the unfolding clip UC may be moved in the direction away from the fixing clip FC so that at least part of the first folding portion 101 may be moved away from the second folding portion 102. The first folding portion 101 may be folded in a different direction from the third folding portion 103. The first folding portion 101 and the third folding portion 103 may have the same extension direction through the following process, and at the current step, to ease the subsequent process, the extension direction of the first folding portion 101 may be different from that of the third folding portion 103.

[0091] After the unfolding of the first folding portion 101 is completed, the unfolding of the fifth folding portion 105 may be performed.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 10, after unfolding the first folding portion 101, the unfolding clip UC may be configured to unfold the fifth folding portion 105 by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion 105 away from the second folding portion 102. The fixing clip FC may still be fixed to the second folding portion 102 like the previous step. Only the unfolding clip UC may be separated from the first folding portion 101 and moved to support the fifth folding portion 105. Moving the fifth folding portion 105 by the unfolding clip UC may be similar to the case with the first folding portion 101. The fifth folding portion 105 may be also moved to the outside of the accommodation space 100S so that it may be extended from the fourth folding portion 104 in a direction that is different from the extension direction of the fourth folding portion 104.

[0093] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 11, when the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP are unfolded to some extent, the second folding portion 102 may be placed in contact with the bottom surface. The unfolding protrusion 230 may be located in contact with the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104. A plurality of unfolding protrusions 230 may be located in contact with the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 in the length direction of the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104, respectively. In this case, the first unfolding clip bar 200a may be located facing the second folding portion 102.

[0094] When the unfolding protrusion 230 is aligned as described above, the unfolding protrusion 230 may be moved toward the second folding portion 102. As the unfolding protrusion 230 is moved, the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 may be moved to the outside of the accommodation space 100S. On the basis of FIG. 11, the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 may be moved to the left and right, respectively.

[0095] Subsequently, the female connector pin FCP may be unfolded by applying impact between the first folding portion 101 and the second folding portion 102 and / or between the second folding portion 102 and the third folding portion 103 and / or between the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 and / or between the fourth folding portion 104 and the fifth folding portion 105 by using the unfolding protrusion 230.

[0096] As a result, the female connector pin FCP may be unfolded such that the contact portion 110 may be exposed, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0097] After the female connector pin FCP is unfolded, analysis may be conducted to determine how much a surface plating layer of the contact portion 110 is peeled off. The analysis method of the contact portion 110 may include, for example, SEM, EDS, FIB, etc.

[0098] Hereinafter, different embodiment(s) from the first embodiment will be described. The description shared with the first embodiment is omitted and the other embodiment(s) will be described based on difference(s). That is, it is obvious that when a certain description not mentioned in the other embodiments is necessary, the description of the first embodiment may make up for the description.Second embodiment

[0099] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100] The unfolding clip UC according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

[0101] The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the blade portion of the unfolding clip UC is formed at a different location from the location at which the blade portion of the first embodiment is formed.

[0102] The first unfolding clip bar 200a may include a first sub-blade portion 211d-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The first sub-blade portion 211d-1 may be configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end portion. The second unfolding clip bar 200b may include a second sub-blade portion 211c-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The second sub-blade portion 211c-1 may be configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end portion. The first unfolding clip bar 200a needs to move down with widening of the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, but may also need to move forward with widening of the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. The first blade portion 211a may be configured to move the first unfolding clip bar 200a down, and the first sub-blade portion 211d-1 may be configured to move the first unfolding clip bar 200a forward.Third embodiment

[0103] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0104] The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

[0105] The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the unfolding clip UC and the fixing clip FC operate in a manner opposite to the first embodiment.

[0106] As the first handle portion 220a-2 is closer to the second handle portion 220b-2, the first support portion 210a-2 may be far apart from the second support portion 210b-2. As the first fixing clip handle portion 320a-2 is closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b-2, the first fixing portion 310a-2 may be closer to the second fixing portion 310b-2. In this structure, the user may enhance the fixing force of the fixing clip FC.Fourth embodiment

[0107] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0108] The unfolding protrusion 230-3 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

[0109] The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the shape of the unfolding protrusion 230-3 is different.

[0110] The unfolding protrusion 230-3 of the fourth embodiment may be triangular in cross section. The base of the triangle may be located at the first support portion 210a, and the vertex opposite the base may face the second folding portion 102. Each side of the unfolding protrusion 230-3 may contact each of the third folding portion 103 and / or the fourth folding portion 104, and by applying pressure to the unfolding protrusion 230, the third folding portion 103 and / or the fourth folding portion 104 may be unfolded.Fifth embodiment

[0111] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0112] The unfolding protrusion 230-4 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 16.

[0113] The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the unfolding protrusion 230-4 is configured to apply pressure to only one of the third folding portion 103 or the fourth folding portion 104.

[0114] Therefore, it is not necessary for the width of the unfolding protrusion 230-4 of the fifth embodiment to be greater than the distance between the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104.Sixth embodiment

[0115] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0116] The fixing clip FC according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 17.

[0117] The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the length of the fixing clip FC is different.

[0118] The length of the fixing clip FC may correspond to the length of the unfolding clip UC. Accordingly, the fixing clip FC may be stably fixed to the second folding portion 102. In other words, the lengths of the first fixing portion 310a-5 and the second fixing portion 310b-5 may correspond to the lengths of the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b.

[0119] Unless expressly stated otherwise, the disclosed embodiments may be combined with other embodiments. Alternatively, in combining an embodiment with other embodiment, any combination of embodiments may be made unless expressly limited. It should be understood that such a combination of embodiments is disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0120] Although the present disclosure has been hereinabove described with regard to a limited number of embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the present disclosure may be embodied in different forms by persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure within the technical aspect of the present disclosure and the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.[List of Reference Numerals]

[0121] BM: Battery module C: Connector MCP: Male connector pin FCP: Female connector pin 100S: Accommodation space 101: First folding portion 102: Second folding portion 103: Third folding portion 104: Fourth folding portion 105: Fifth folding portion 110: Contact portion CUA: Connector pin unfolding apparatus UC: Unfolding clip 200a: First unfolding clip bar 200b: Second unfolding clip bar 210a: First support portion 210b: Second support portion 211a: First blade portion 211b: Second blade portion 211c-1: Second sub-blade portion 211d-1: First sub-blade portion 211Aa: First inclined surface 211Ab: Second inclined surface 220a: First handle portion 220b: Second handle portion 200L: Unfolding clip rotation axis 230: Unfolding protrusion 240: Elastic body FC: Fixing clip 300a: First fixing clip bar 300b: Second fixing clip bar 310a: First fixing portion 310b: Second fixing portion 320a: First fixing clip handle portion 320b: Second fixing clip handle portion 300L: Fixing clip rotation axis 400: Connection body

Examples

first embodiment

[0047]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module BM according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a female connector pin FCP and a male connector pin MCP of a connector C pin shown in FIG. 1.

[0048]The connector C pin according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0049]A secondary battery (not shown) may be provided to produce electricity. A plurality of secondary batteries may form the battery module BM. The plurality of secondary batteries included in the battery module BM may be connected in series to generate voltage having a higher value than voltage generated from one secondary battery. Accordingly, the battery module BM may generate voltage required for a device that requires electricity.

[0050]Each secondary battery may preferably have a predetermined voltage while it produces electricity. To this end, a battery management system (not shown) may be used to co...

second embodiment

[0099]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100]The unfolding clip UC according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

[0101]The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the blade portion of the unfolding clip UC is formed at a different location from the location at which the blade portion of the first embodiment is formed.

[0102]The first unfolding clip bar 200a may include a first sub-blade portion 211d-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The first sub-blade portion 211d-1 may be configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end portion. The second unfolding clip bar 200b may include a second sub-blade portion 211c-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The second sub-blade portion 211c-1 may be configured such that the...

third embodiment

[0103]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0104]The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

[0105]The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the unfolding clip UC and the fixing clip FC operate in a manner opposite to the first embodiment.

[0106]As the first handle portion 220a-2 is closer to the second handle portion 220b-2, the first support portion 210a-2 may be far apart from the second support portion 210b-2. As the first fixing clip handle portion 320a-2 is closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b-2, the first fixing portion 310a-2 may be closer to the second fixing portion 310b-2. In this structure, the user may enhance the fixing force of the fixing clip FC.

TECHNICAL FIELD [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION]

[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0174704 filed on December 5, 2023 in the Republic of Korea, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[TECHNICAL FIELD]

[0002] The present disclosure relates to unfolding female connector pin.BACKGROUND ART

[0003] With the technology development and growing demand for electric vehicles and mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is increasing. As opposed to primary batteries that that can only be used once, secondary batteries may be reused through charging. A secondary battery includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. When oxidation of a metal occurs at the positive electrode, electricity is produced by movement of electrons released from the metal.

[0004] A plurality of secondary batteries may form a battery module. When the plurality of secondary batteries forms the battery module, a higher voltage than voltage that can be generated from the individual secondary batteries may be generated. Further, the secondary batteries may be controlled to cause the voltage of each secondary battery to have a predetermined value. A battery management system (BMS) may be used to control the secondary batteries. The secondary battery may be electrically connected to a substrate, and the substrate may be electrically connected to the battery management system, and thus the battery management system may receive information about the voltage of the secondary battery and control the secondary battery to maintain the voltage of the secondary battery within a predetermined range.

[0005] The battery management system may be disposed outside of the battery module. The battery management system may be connected to the battery module with a connector. That is, the battery management system and the battery module may be connected by engagement of a male connector pin having a protrusion shape and a female connector pin having a space for accommodating the male connector pin. More specifically, the female connector pin may have a contact portion that protrudes toward the space, and when the male connector pin contacts the contact portion, the female connector pin and the male connector pin may be electrically connected to each other.

[0006] As the contact portion is configured to contact the male connector pin, it may be necessary to analyze durability. Because the contact portion is provided on the inner side of the female connector pin, in order to analyze the contact portion, it is necessary to unfold the female connector pin to expose the contact portion. In addition to the analysis of the contact portion, it may be necessary to unfold the female connector pin for some other reasons. However, there is no specific apparatus for unfolding the female connector pin, so it is difficult to unfold the female connector pin.SUMMARY TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0007] The present disclosure is designed to solve the above-described problems, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing an apparatus for easily unfolding a female connector pin.

[0008] The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned technical problems, and these and other technical problems will be clearly understood by persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure from the following description.TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0009] A connector pin unfolding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a connector pin unfolding apparatus for unfolding a female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end and a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, the female connector pin configured to form an accommodation space into which a male connector pin is inserted, and includes an unfolding clip configured to be fixed to the first folding section and a fixing clip configured to support the second folding portion, wherein the unfolding clip is configured to unfold the first folding portion as the unfolding clip moves away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion.

[0010] The unfolding clip may include a first unfolding clip bar including a first support portion configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion and a second unfolding clip bar including a second support portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion, and the first unfolding clip bar may be rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis.

[0011] The unfolding clip may include an elastic body located at the unfolding clip rotation axis so as to be elastically biased in a direction in which the first support portion gets closer to the second support portion.

[0012] The first unfolding clip bar may further include a first handle portion located at an opposite side to the first support portion with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis, the second unfolding clip bar may further include a second handle portion located at an opposite side to the second support portion with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis, and the first support portion may make a rotational motion around the unfolding clip rotation axis with respect to the second support portion while the first handle portion rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis to get closer to the second handle portion.

[0013] The first support portion may make a rotational motion to get closer to the second support portion while the first handle portion rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis to get closer to the second handle portion.

[0014] The first support portion may be extended from the unfolding clip rotation axis, a part of the first handle portion adjacent to the unfolding clip rotation axis may be extended in a direction that is different from an extension direction of the first support portion, and the second support portion and the second handle portion may correspond to the first support portion and the first handle portion.

[0015] The first support portion and the second support portion may further include a first blade portion and a second blade portion, each blade portion configured such that a cross-sectional area decreases toward an end.

[0016] The first blade portion and the second blade portion may include a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, each inclined such that it gets closer to the first folding portion toward the end.

[0017] The female connector pin may further include a third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, a fourth folding portion configured to face the third folding portion and a fifth folding portion that forms an opposite end, the fifth folding portion configured to overlap the first folding portion in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the first folding portion before the at least part of the first folding portion moves away from the second folding portion, and the unfolding clip may be configured to unfold the fifth folding portion by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion away from the second folding portion after unfolding the first folding portion.

[0018] The first unfolding clip bar may further include an unfolding protrusion configured to protrude from the first support portion in a direction facing away from the first folding portion.

[0019] A cross section of the unfolding protrusion may be a portion of a circle.

[0020] The unfolding protrusion may be configured to unfold the third folding portion by moving toward the second folding portion while in contact with the third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, after the first folding portion is unfolded.

[0021] The unfolding protrusion may have a larger width than a width of the second folding portion to unfold the third folding portion together with the fourth folding portion extended from an opposite side to the third folding portion with respect to the second folding portion.

[0022] The fixing clip may include a first fixing clip bar including a first fixing portion configured to support an outer surface of the second folding portion and a first fixing clip handle portion located at an opposite side to the first fixing portion with respect to a fixing clip rotation axis and a second fixing clip bar including a second fixing portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the second folding portion and a second fixing clip handle portion located at an opposite side to the second fixing portion with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis, the first fixing clip bar may be rotatably coupled to the second fixing clip bar with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis, and the first fixing portion may make a rotational motion away from the second fixing portion while the first fixing clip handle portion rotates around the fixing clip rotation axis to get closer to the second fixing clip handle portion.

[0023] The connector pin unfolding apparatus may further include a connection body connecting the unfolding clip to the fixing clip, the connection body being deformable.

[0024] A connector pin unfolding method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the steps of preparing a female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end, a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, a third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, a fourth folding portion configured to face the third folding portion, and a fifth folding portion that forms an opposite end, the fifth folding portion configured to overlap the first folding portion in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the first folding portion, and a connector pin unfolding apparatus including an unfolding clip and a fixing clip to unfold the female connector pin, fixing the unfolding clip to the first folding portion, causing the fixing clip to support the second folding portion, and unfolding the first folding portion by moving the unfolding clip away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion.

[0025] The unfolding clip may include a first unfolding clip bar including a first support portion configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion and a second unfolding clip bar including a second support portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion, and the first unfolding clip bar may be rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis.

[0026] The connector pin unfolding method may further include, after the step of unfolding the first folding portion, the step of unfolding the fifth folding portion by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion away from the second folding portion.

[0027] The unfolding clip may further include an unfolding protrusion configured to protrude in a direction facing away from the first folding portion, and the connector pin unfolding method may further include, after the step of unfolding the fifth folding portion, the step of unfolding, by the unfolding protrusion, the third folding portion together with the fourth folding portion extended from an opposite side to the third folding portion with respect to the second folding portion.

[0028] A connector pin analysis method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of preparing a female connector pin configured to form an accommodation space into which a male connector pin is inserted, the female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end, a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, and a contact portion that protrudes toward the accommodation space so as to contact the male connector pin, and a connector pin unfolding apparatus including an unfolding clip and a fixing clip to unfold the female connector pin, fixing the unfolding clip to the first folding portion, causing the fixing clip to support the second folding portion, unfolding the first folding portion by moving the unfolding clip away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion, and analyzing how much a surface plating layer of the contact portion is peeled off after the female connector pin is unfolded.ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0029] The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to the present disclosure may be configured such that as the unfolding clip moves away from the fixing clip, at least part of the first folding portion moves away from the second folding portion to unfold the first folding portion, thereby easily unfolding the female connector pin.

[0030] The effects that may be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned effects, and these and other effects will be clearly understood by persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure from the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a female connector pin and a male connector pin of a connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the female connector pin shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing that a connector pin unfolding apparatus is moved toward the female connector pin shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing that a first blade portion is inserted between a first folding portion and a fifth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first blade portion is inserted between the first folding portion and the fifth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 5, and a second unfolding clip bar is moved toward a first unfolding clip bar. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing that a fixing clip is fixed to a second folding portion before the unfolding clip shown in FIG. 6 unfolds the first folding portion. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 7 is supported by a first unfolding clip bar and a second unfolding clip bar before unfolding the first folding portion. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the unfolding of the first folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the unfolding of the fifth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an unfolding protrusion for unfolding a third folding portion and a fourth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing that the third folding portion and the fourth folding portion of the female connector pin shown in FIG. 11 are unfolded. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a female connector pin and a connector pin unfolding apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in sufficient detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure to easily carry out the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0033] To clearly describe the present disclosure, an irrelevant description or a detailed description of related known technology that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure is omitted, and in affixing the reference numerals to the elements in each drawing, the identical or similar reference numerals are affixed to the identical or similar elements throughout the specification.

[0034] Additionally, it should be understood that the terms or words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, and rather, should be interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspect of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define the terms appropriately for the best explanation.

[0035] It should be understood that various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used herein are not intended to limit the technical features of the present disclosure to particular embodiments, and include a variety of changes, equivalents or substitutes of the corresponding embodiments.

[0036] In relation to the description of the drawings, for the similar or related elements, the similar reference numerals may be used.

[0037] The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more items unless otherwise indicated by the context.

[0038] Each of phrases such as "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C" and "at least one of A, B or C" as used herein may include any one of the items listed together with the corresponding phrase or all possible combinations of them.

[0039] The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related stated elements or any of the plurality of related stated elements.

[0040] The terms such as "first", "second" and so on may be simply used to distinguish the corresponding element from the corresponding other embodiment, and are not intended to limit the corresponding elements in another aspect (for example, importance or order).

[0041] When a certain (for example, first) element is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another (for example, second) element with or without the term "functionally" or "through communication", the element may be connected to the other element directly (for example, wiredly), wirelessly or through a third element.

[0042] The term "comprise", "include" or "have" indicates the presence of the stated features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination of them, and does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination of them.

[0043] When an element is referred to as "being connected to", "being coupled to", "being supported by" or "contacting" another element, this includes not only direct connection, coupling, support or contact of the elements but also indirect connection, coupling, support or contact through a third element.

[0044] When an element is referred to as being located "on" another element, the element can contact the other element and intervening elements may be present.

[0045] Meanwhile, the terms "up-down direction", "lower", and "front-rear direction" as used herein are defined on the basis of the drawings, and the shape and location of each element is not limited by these terms.

[0046] Hereinafter, the embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.First embodiment

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module BM according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a female connector pin FCP and a male connector pin MCP of a connector C pin shown in FIG. 1.

[0048] The connector C pin according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0049] A secondary battery (not shown) may be provided to produce electricity. A plurality of secondary batteries may form the battery module BM. The plurality of secondary batteries included in the battery module BM may be connected in series to generate voltage having a higher value than voltage generated from one secondary battery. Accordingly, the battery module BM may generate voltage required for a device that requires electricity.

[0050] Each secondary battery may preferably have a predetermined voltage while it produces electricity. To this end, a battery management system (not shown) may be used to control the secondary batteries to maintain the voltage of each secondary battery within a predetermined range. However, the battery management system is not a component of the battery module BM and may be disposed outside of the battery module BM, so it may be necessary to electrically connect the battery management system to the battery module BM. To this end, the connector C pin may be used. More specifically, each of the plurality of secondary batteries may be electrically connected to a substrate, and the substrate and the battery management system may be electrically connected by the connector C pin, so the secondary batteries and the battery management system may be electrically connected to each other. The battery management system may receive an electrical signal of the secondary battery through the connector C pin, and control the secondary battery to ensure that the secondary battery has a predetermined range of voltages based on the received electrical signal.

[0051] In this instance, the connector C pin may be separated into a part including the female connector pin FCP and a part including the male connector pin MCP as shown in FIG. 2. When moving or assembling the battery module BM, the connector C pin separated into two parts may make it easy to move and / or assemble the battery module BM. The male connector pin MCP may include a protrusion, and the female connector pin FCP may have an accommodation space 100S for accommodating the protrusion of the male connector pin MCP. The female connector pin FCP may include a contact portion 110 that protrudes toward the accommodation space 100S on the inner side, and when the contact portion 110 contacts the protrusion of the male connector pin MCP, the female connector pin FCP and the male connector pin MCP may be electrically connected to each other.

[0052] Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show the female connector pin FCP is fixed to the battery module BM and the male connector pin MCP connected to the battery management system is moved to be connected to the female connector pin FCP, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the male connector pin MCP may be fixed to the battery module BM and the component that is directly connected to the battery management system may be the female connector pin FCP.

[0053] For reference, the female connector pin FCP may be extended in a direction, and the accommodation space 100S may be formed inside the female connector pin FCP along the extension direction of the female connector pin FCP. The female connector pin FCP may have a predetermined cross section and be extended in the extension direction. For example, the cross section of the female connector pin FCP may be quadrilateral in shape. In this case, the female connector pin FCP may be formed by folding. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the cross section of the female connector pin FCP may be circular in shape. In this case, the female connector pin FCP may be formed by bending. For reference, folding may be the concept including bending, and bending may be understood as an example of folding. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, end portions of the female connector pin FCP may overlap in a direction perpendicular to the length direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the end portions of the female connector pins FCP may be connected in contact with each other.

[0054] As the contact portion 110 of the female connector pin FCP is configured to contact the male connector pin MCP, high durability may be required to perform the function of the connector C pin for a long time. Accordingly, study may be conducted to increase the durability of the contact portion 110. To increase the durability of the contact portion 110, it is necessary to analyze the durability of the contact portion 110. In this instance, as the contact portion 110 may be located on the inner side of the female connector pin FCP, it is necessary to unfold the female connector pin FCP.

[0055] Tweezers have been used to unfold the female connector pin FCP. However, when unfolding the female connector pin FCP by this method, it is a difficult and time-consuming method. The present disclosure aims to solve this problem. Hereinafter, the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in further detail.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing that the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA is moved toward the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing that a first blade portion 211a is inserted between a first folding portion 101 and a fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first blade portion 211a is inserted between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 5, and a second unfolding clip bar 200b is moved toward a first unfolding clip bar 200a. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing that a fixing clip FC is fixed to a second folding portion 102 before an unfolding clip UC shown in FIG. 6 unfolds the first folding portion 101. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing that the first folding portion 101 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 7 is supported by the second unfolding clip bar 200b and the second unfolding clip bar 200b before unfolding the first folding portion 101. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the unfolding of the first folding portion 101 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the unfolding of the fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an unfolding protrusion 230 for unfolding a third folding portion 103 and a fourth folding portion 104 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing that the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 of the female connector pin FCP shown in FIG. 11 are unfolded.

[0057] A method for unfolding the female connector pin FCP according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 12. It will be understood that the female connector pin FCP is unfolded in an order of FIGS. 3 to 12.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 3, the female connector pin FCP may be formed by folding. The female connector pin FCP may be configured to form the accommodation space 100S into which the male connector pin MCP may be inserted. More specifically, the female connector pin FCP may include the first folding portion 101 that forms one end, the second folding portion 102 configured to face the first folding portion 101, the third folding portion 103 connecting the first folding portion 101 to the second folding portion 102, the fourth folding portion 104 configured to face the third folding portion 103 and / or the fifth folding portion 105 that forms the other end and overlaps the first folding portion 101 in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the first folding portion 101. In other words, the female connector pin FCP may be connected in an order of the first folding portion 101 - the third folding portion 103 - the second folding portion 102 - the fourth folding portion 104 - the fifth folding portion 105. In this instance, the first folding portion 101 may be located at the outer side than the fifth folding portion 105. The contact portion 110 may be located on the fifth folding portion 105. However, this is only an example, and the contact portion 110 may be located at any of the second folding portion 102 to the fourth folding portion 104. Further, the contact portion 110 may be located on an area of the first folding portion 101 that does not overlap the fifth folding portion 105.

[0059] Additionally, the first folding portion 101 may contact the fifth folding portion 105. The end portion of the first folding portion 101 may not extend beyond the fourth folding portion 104.

[0060] First, the structural feature of the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA for unfolding the female connector pin FCP will be described.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 4, the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may be configured to unfold the female connector pin FCP. The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may include the unfolding clip UC configured to be fixed to the first folding portion 101. The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may include the fixing clip FC configured to support the second folding portion 102.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 5, a part of the unfolding clip UC may be accommodated between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, and as shown in FIG. 9, as the unfolding clip UC moves away from the fixing clip FC, at least part of the first folding portion 101 may move away from the second folding portion 102, to unfold the first folding portion 101. For reference, because each of the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 forms each of the end portions of the female connector pin FCP, it may be necessary to first unfold any one of the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. In this instance, because the first folding portion 101 may be located at the outer side than the fifth folding portion 105, the first folding portion 101 may be unfolded earlier than the fifth folding portion 105.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, the unfolding clip UC may include the first unfolding clip bar 200a including a first support portion 210a configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion 101, and the unfolding clip UC may include the second unfolding clip bar 200b including a second support portion 210b configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion 101. In this instance, the first unfolding clip bar 200a may be rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar 200b with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. The unfolding clip UC may have a similar structure to scissors. The unfolding clip UC may support the first folding portion 101 by various methods, and it may be understood that one of the methods, a method in which the first unfolding clip bar 200a and the second unfolding clip bar 200b support the opposite sides of the first folding portion 101, respectively, is introduced as the first embodiment.

[0064] The first unfolding clip bar 200a may further include a first handle portion 220a located at the opposite side to the first support portion 210a with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. The second unfolding clip bar 200b may further include a second handle portion 220b located at the opposite side to the second support portion 210b with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. Depicting the unfolding clip UC as scissors as described above, the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b may be the component corresponding to a handle of the scissors that can be gripped, and the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may be the component corresponding to a cutting part of the scissors. As the first handle portion 220a, the second handle portion 220b, the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b are formed, the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may be moved by the movement of the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b. As shown in FIG. 6, because the second support portion 210b is difficult to directly move when it is located between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, the second support portion 210b may be moved by manipulating the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b located at the outer side of the female connector pin FCP.

[0065] The first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may have a length corresponding to a length of the first folding portion 101 to effectively support the first folding portion 101.

[0066] In other words, the first support portion 210a may be extended from the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L. A part of the first handle portion 220a adjacent to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L may be extended in a direction that is different from the extension direction of the first support portion 210a. The second support portion 210b and the second handle portion 220b may correspond to the first support portion 210a and the second handle portion 220b. Accordingly, the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b may be located at the opposite side to the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L.

[0067] That is, the first support portion 210a may make a rotational motion around the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L with respect to the second support portion 210b while the first handle portion 220a rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L to get closer to the second handle portion 220b.

[0068] Further, the first support portion 210a may make a rotational motion to get closer to the second support portion 210b while the first handle portion 220a rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L to get closer to the second handle portion 220b.

[0069] The first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b may further include the first blade portion 211a and a second blade portion 211b configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, the second support portion 210b needs to move with widening of the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, so the second blade portion 211b may be formed at an end portion of the second support portion 210b located in a direction facing the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. On the basis of FIG. 5, the second blade portion 211b may be located at the lower side of the second unfolding clip bar 200b.

[0070] The first blade portion 211a and the second blade portion 211b may include a first inclined surface 211Aa and a second inclined surface 211Ab, each inclined such that it gets closer to the first folding portion 101 toward the end portion. The first inclined surface 211Aa and the second inclined surface 211Ab may be an example of a method for forming the first blade portion 211a and the second blade portion 211b.

[0071] The fixing clip FC may include a first fixing clip bar 300a and a second fixing clip bar 300b rotatably coupled to the first fixing clip bar 300a with respect to a fixing clip rotation axis 300L. In this instance, the first fixing clip bar 300a may include a first fixing portion 310a configured to support an outer surface of the second folding portion 102, and the first fixing clip bar 300a may include a first fixing clip handle portion 320a located at the opposite side to the first fixing portion 310a with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis 300L. The second fixing clip bar 300b may include a second fixing portion 310b configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the second folding portion 102, and the second fixing clip bar 300b may include a second fixing clip handle portion 320b located at the opposite side to the second fixing portion 310b with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis 300L. The first fixing portion 310a may be configured to make a rotational motion away from the second fixing portion 310b while the first fixing clip handle portion 320a rotates around the fixing clip rotation axis 300L to get closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b. The fixing clip FC may have a working principle similar to that of a clothespin.

[0072] The fixing clip FC may be shorter than the unfolding clip UC. Because the unfolding clip UC is required to apply force across the entire first folding portion 101, the unfolding clip UC needs to have a length corresponding to the length of the first folding portion 101 to evenly apply pressure to the entire first folding portion 101, while because the fixing clip FC is only fixed to the second folding portion 102, the fixing clip FC having even a small length can perform its function. Further, when the fixing clip FC is short, the distance to which the fixing clip FC moves in order to fix is short, thereby reducing the time required to fix the fixing clip FC to the second folding portion 102.

[0073] The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may further include a connection body 400 that connects the unfolding clip UC to the fixing clip FC and can be deformed. The length of the connection body 400 may be changed. As shown in FIG. 4, the distance between the fixing clip FC and the unfolding clip UC may correspond to the width of the female connector pin FCP. Because the width of the female connector pin FCP may be different for each device, the distance between the fixing clip FC and the unfolding clip UC may be adjusted through length changes of the connection body 400. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, while the unfolding clip UC moves away from the fixing clip FC, the connection body 400 may be deformed and the length may be increased.

[0074] The connection body 400 may be divided into two components and the length may be increased or decreased by the same principle as rail movement.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 6, the unfolding clip UC may include an elastic body 240 located at the unfolding clip rotation axis 200L so as to be elastically biased in a direction in which the first support portion 210a gets closer to the second support portion 210b. By the elastic body 240, the unfolding clip UC may support the first folding portion 101 even when no force is applied to the unfolding clip UC. Further, as described below, the elastic body 240 may be helpful when the unfolding clip UC strongly grasps the first folding portion 101.

[0076] The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may include the unfolding protrusion 230. More preferably, the first unfolding clip bar 200a may further include the unfolding protrusion 230 configured to protrude from the first support portion 210a in a direction facing away from the first folding portion 101. Because the first unfolding clip bar 200a is configured to support the outer surface of the first folding portion 101, the unfolding protrusion 230 may not interrupt the function of the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUAeven if the unfolding protrusion 230 is formed. As shown in FIG. 11, the unfolding protrusion 230 may unfold the female connector pin FCP by applying pressure to the female connector pin FCP as described below.

[0077] The cross section of the unfolding protrusion 230 may be a portion of a circle. Accordingly, it may be possible to reduce the likelihood that the female connector pin FCP will be damaged while the unfolding protrusion 230 applies pressure to the female connector pin FCP. Further, when the unfolding protrusion 230 has a shape of a portion of a sphere, the unfolding protrusion 230 may move to a location for unfolding the female connector pin FCP even during rough location alignment with the female connector pin FCP.

[0078] As described below, the unfolding protrusion 230 may be configured to unfold the third folding portion 103 by moving toward the second folding portion 102 while in contact with the third folding portion 103 connecting the first folding portion 101 to the second folding portion 102 after the first folding portion 101 is unfolded. More specifically, the unfolding protrusion 230 may have a larger width than the width of the second folding portion 102 to unfold the third folding portion 103 together with the fourth folding portion 104 extended from the opposite side to the third folding portion 103 with respect to the second folding portion 102. A further description will be provided below.

[0079] Hereinafter, the process in which the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA unfolds the female connector pin FCP will be described.

[0080] First, the unfolding clip UC may support the first folding portion 101.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 4, the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA may be moved toward the female connector pin FCP. In this instance, the length of the connection body 400 may be adjusted so that the unfolding clip UC may be located corresponding to the first folding portion 101 and the fixing clip FC may be located corresponding to the second folding portion 102.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 5, the second blade portion 211b may be moved between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. In this instance, because the blade portion has a sharp tip, it may be easy to insert between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. The contact of the second blade portion 211b with the first blade portion 211a may interrupt the movement of the second blade portion 211b between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, and thus a user may move the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b away from each other so that the first blade portion 211a may be far apart from the second blade portion 211b. In this instance, the elastic body 240 may apply an elastic force in the direction in which the first unfolding clip bar 200a and the second unfolding clip bar 200b get closer to each other, and thus the user may apply a force that is large enough to defeat the elastic force.

[0083] After the second support portion 210b is moved between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 by the second blade portion 211b, the first handle portion 220a may make a rotational motion toward the second handle portion 220b, and the first support portion 210a may be moved toward the outer surface of the first folding portion 101. Accordingly, the first support portion 210a may support the inner surface of the first folding portion 101, and the second support portion 210b may support the outer surface of the first folding portion 101. In this process, the user may apply force to the first handle portion 220a in the direction toward the second handle portion 220b, but even when the user does not apply any force, the first handle portion 220a may get closer to the second handle portion 220b and the first support portion 210a may get closer to the second support portion 210b by the elastic force of the elastic body 240.

[0084] Although FIG. 6 shows that the length of the second support portion 210b is shorter than the length of the first folding portion 101, the length of the second support portion 210b may be longer than the length of the first folding portion 101.

[0085] After the first folding portion 101 is supported by the unfolding clip UC through the above process, the fixing clip FC may be fixed to the second folding portion 102. However, the fixing clip FC is fixed to the second folding portion 102 merely because the second folding portion 102 is located at the opposite side to the first folding portion 101 which is easy to fix, but the fixing clip FC may be fixed to any part of the female connector pin FCP other than the second folding portion 102. For the convenience of description, the following description is made under the assumption that the fixing clip FC is fixed to the second folding portion 102.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 7, when pressure is applied to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b toward the first fixing clip handle portion 320a, the first fixing portion 310a may be moved in a direction away from the second fixing portion 310b. When the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b are far apart from each other, the fixing clip FC may be moved such that the second folding portion 102 may be accommodated in the space between the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b. In this instance, the elastic body 240 of the fixing clip FC still applies the elastic force in the direction in which the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b get closer to each other, so while the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b are located at the second folding portion 102, the user may apply pressure to the first fixing clip handle portion 320a to move the first fixing clip handle portion 320a closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b.

[0087] When the second folding portion 102 is located between the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b, the user may remove the force applied to the first fixing clip handle portion 320a and the second fixing clip handle portion 320b to cause the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b to get closer to each other. By the elastic force of the elastic body 240, the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b may tightly grasp the second folding portion 102, and accordingly, the fixing clip FC may be fixed to the second folding portion 102.

[0088] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, pressure may be applied to the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b of the unfolding clip UC in the direction in which they get closer to each other to cause the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b to tightly grasp the first folding portion 101. In other words, the first folding portion 101 may be supported by the unfolding clip UC.

[0089] For reference, the connection structure of the unfolding clip UC may be different from the connection structure of the fixing clip FC because the unfolding clip UC is configured to apply force to strongly support the first folding portion 101. It may be easier to apply force by causing the first handle portion 220a and the second handle portion 220b to get closer to each other than moving them apart. On the other hand, because it is necessary to apply force to move the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b apart from each other while the fixing clip FC is moved to be fixed to the second folding portion 102 at the initial time, the first fixing portion 310a and the second fixing portion 310b may be configured to move away from each other as the first fixing clip handle portion 320a and the second fixing clip handle portion 320b that are easy to apply force are moved in the direction in which they get closer to each other.

[0090] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the unfolding clip UC may be moved in the direction away from the fixing clip FC so that at least part of the first folding portion 101 may be moved away from the second folding portion 102. The first folding portion 101 may be folded in a different direction from the third folding portion 103. The first folding portion 101 and the third folding portion 103 may have the same extension direction through the following process, and at the current step, to ease the subsequent process, the extension direction of the first folding portion 101 may be different from that of the third folding portion 103.

[0091] After the unfolding of the first folding portion 101 is completed, the unfolding of the fifth folding portion 105 may be performed.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 10, after unfolding the first folding portion 101, the unfolding clip UC may be configured to unfold the fifth folding portion 105 by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion 105 away from the second folding portion 102. The fixing clip FC may still be fixed to the second folding portion 102 like the previous step. Only the unfolding clip UC may be separated from the first folding portion 101 and moved to support the fifth folding portion 105. Moving the fifth folding portion 105 by the unfolding clip UC may be similar to the case with the first folding portion 101. The fifth folding portion 105 may be also moved to the outside of the accommodation space 100S so that it may be extended from the fourth folding portion 104 in a direction that is different from the extension direction of the fourth folding portion 104.

[0093] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 11, when the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105 of the female connector pin FCP are unfolded to some extent, the second folding portion 102 may be placed in contact with the bottom surface. The unfolding protrusion 230 may be located in contact with the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104. A plurality of unfolding protrusions 230 may be located in contact with the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 in the length direction of the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104, respectively. In this case, the first unfolding clip bar 200a may be located facing the second folding portion 102.

[0094] When the unfolding protrusion 230 is aligned as described above, the unfolding protrusion 230 may be moved toward the second folding portion 102. As the unfolding protrusion 230 is moved, the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 may be moved to the outside of the accommodation space 100S. On the basis of FIG. 11, the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 may be moved to the left and right, respectively.

[0095] Subsequently, the female connector pin FCP may be unfolded by applying impact between the first folding portion 101 and the second folding portion 102 and / or between the second folding portion 102 and the third folding portion 103 and / or between the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104 and / or between the fourth folding portion 104 and the fifth folding portion 105 by using the unfolding protrusion 230.

[0096] As a result, the female connector pin FCP may be unfolded such that the contact portion 110 may be exposed, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0097] After the female connector pin FCP is unfolded, analysis may be conducted to determine how much a surface plating layer of the contact portion 110 is peeled off. The analysis method of the contact portion 110 may include, for example, SEM, EDS, FIB, etc.

[0098] Hereinafter, different embodiment(s) from the first embodiment will be described. The description shared with the first embodiment is omitted and the other embodiment(s) will be described based on difference(s). That is, it is obvious that when a certain description not mentioned in the other embodiments is necessary, the description of the first embodiment may make up for the description.Second embodiment

[0099] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100] The unfolding clip UC according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

[0101] The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the blade portion of the unfolding clip UC is formed at a different location from the location at which the blade portion of the first embodiment is formed.

[0102] The first unfolding clip bar 200a may include a first sub-blade portion 211d-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The first sub-blade portion 211d-1 may be configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end portion. The second unfolding clip bar 200b may include a second sub-blade portion 211c-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The second sub-blade portion 211c-1 may be configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end portion. The first unfolding clip bar 200a needs to move down with widening of the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105, but may also need to move forward with widening of the gap between the first folding portion 101 and the fifth folding portion 105. The first blade portion 211a may be configured to move the first unfolding clip bar 200a down, and the first sub-blade portion 211d-1 may be configured to move the first unfolding clip bar 200a forward.Third embodiment

[0103] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0104] The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

[0105] The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the unfolding clip UC and the fixing clip FC operate in a manner opposite to the first embodiment.

[0106] As the first handle portion 220a-2 is closer to the second handle portion 220b-2, the first support portion 210a-2 may be far apart from the second support portion 210b-2. As the first fixing clip handle portion 320a-2 is closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b-2, the first fixing portion 310a-2 may be closer to the second fixing portion 310b-2. In this structure, the user may enhance the fixing force of the fixing clip FC.Fourth embodiment

[0107] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0108] The unfolding protrusion 230-3 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

[0109] The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the shape of the unfolding protrusion 230-3 is different.

[0110] The unfolding protrusion 230-3 of the fourth embodiment may be triangular in cross section. The base of the triangle may be located at the first support portion 210a, and the vertex opposite the base may face the second folding portion 102. Each side of the unfolding protrusion 230-3 may contact each of the third folding portion 103 and / or the fourth folding portion 104, and by applying pressure to the unfolding protrusion 230, the third folding portion 103 and / or the fourth folding portion 104 may be unfolded.Fifth embodiment

[0111] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0112] The unfolding protrusion 230-4 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 16.

[0113] The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the unfolding protrusion 230-4 is configured to apply pressure to only one of the third folding portion 103 or the fourth folding portion 104.

[0114] Therefore, it is not necessary for the width of the unfolding protrusion 230-4 of the fifth embodiment to be greater than the distance between the third folding portion 103 and the fourth folding portion 104.Sixth embodiment

[0115] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0116] The fixing clip FC according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 17.

[0117] The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the length of the fixing clip FC is different.

[0118] The length of the fixing clip FC may correspond to the length of the unfolding clip UC. Accordingly, the fixing clip FC may be stably fixed to the second folding portion 102. In other words, the lengths of the first fixing portion 310a-5 and the second fixing portion 310b-5 may correspond to the lengths of the first support portion 210a and the second support portion 210b.

[0119] Unless expressly stated otherwise, the disclosed embodiments may be combined with other embodiments. Alternatively, in combining an embodiment with other embodiment, any combination of embodiments may be made unless expressly limited. It should be understood that such a combination of embodiments is disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0120] Although the present disclosure has been hereinabove described with regard to a limited number of embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the present disclosure may be embodied in different forms by persons having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure within the technical aspect of the present disclosure and the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.[List of Reference Numerals]

[0121] BM: Battery module C: Connector MCP: Male connector pin FCP: Female connector pin 100S: Accommodation space 101: First folding portion 102: Second folding portion 103: Third folding portion 104: Fourth folding portion 105: Fifth folding portion 110: Contact portion CUA: Connector pin unfolding apparatus UC: Unfolding clip 200a: First unfolding clip bar 200b: Second unfolding clip bar 210a: First support portion 210b: Second support portion 211a: First blade portion 211b: Second blade portion 211c-1: Second sub-blade portion 211d-1: First sub-blade portion 211Aa: First inclined surface 211Ab: Second inclined surface 220a: First handle portion 220b: Second handle portion 200L: Unfolding clip rotation axis 230: Unfolding protrusion 240: Elastic body FC: Fixing clip 300a: First fixing clip bar 300b: Second fixing clip bar 310a: First fixing portion 310b: Second fixing portion 320a: First fixing clip handle portion 320b: Second fixing clip handle portion 300L: Fixing clip rotation axis 400: Connection body

Examples

first embodiment

[0047]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module BM according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a female connector pin FCP and a male connector pin MCP of a connector C pin shown in FIG. 1.

[0048]The connector C pin according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0049]A secondary battery (not shown) may be provided to produce electricity. A plurality of secondary batteries may form the battery module BM. The plurality of secondary batteries included in the battery module BM may be connected in series to generate voltage having a higher value than voltage generated from one secondary battery. Accordingly, the battery module BM may generate voltage required for a device that requires electricity.

[0050]Each secondary battery may preferably have a predetermined voltage while it produces electricity. To this end, a battery management system (not shown) may be used to co...

second embodiment

[0099]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100]The unfolding clip UC according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

[0101]The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the blade portion of the unfolding clip UC is formed at a different location from the location at which the blade portion of the first embodiment is formed.

[0102]The first unfolding clip bar 200a may include a first sub-blade portion 211d-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The first sub-blade portion 211d-1 may be configured such that the cross-sectional area decreases toward the end portion. The second unfolding clip bar 200b may include a second sub-blade portion 211c-1 at the end portion in the extension direction. The second sub-blade portion 211c-1 may be configured such that the...

third embodiment

[0103]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector pin FCP and the connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0104]The connector pin unfolding apparatus CUA according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

[0105]The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the unfolding clip UC and the fixing clip FC operate in a manner opposite to the first embodiment.

[0106]As the first handle portion 220a-2 is closer to the second handle portion 220b-2, the first support portion 210a-2 may be far apart from the second support portion 210b-2. As the first fixing clip handle portion 320a-2 is closer to the second fixing clip handle portion 320b-2, the first fixing portion 310a-2 may be closer to the second fixing portion 310b-2. In this structure, the user may enhance the fixing force of the fixing clip FC.

Claims

1. A connector pin unfolding apparatus for unfolding a female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end and a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, the female connector pin configured to form an accommodation space into which a male connector pin is inserted, the connector pin unfolding apparatus comprising: an unfolding clip configured to be fixed to the first folding section; and a fixing clip configured to support the second folding portion, wherein the unfolding clip is configured to unfold the first folding portion as the unfolding clip moves away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion.

2. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unfolding clip includes: a first unfolding clip bar including a first support portion configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion; and a second unfolding clip bar including a second support portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion, and wherein the first unfolding clip bar is rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis.

3. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the unfolding clip includes an elastic body located at the unfolding clip rotation axis so as to be elastically biased in a direction in which the first support portion gets closer to the second support portion.

4. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first unfolding clip bar further includes a first handle portion located at an opposite side to the first support portion with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis, wherein the second unfolding clip bar further includes a second handle portion located at an opposite side to the second support portion with respect to the unfolding clip rotation axis, and wherein the first support portion makes a rotational motion around the unfolding clip rotation axis with respect to the second support portion while the first handle portion rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis to get closer to the second handle portion.

5. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first support portion makes a rotational motion to get closer to the second support portion while the first handle portion rotates around the unfolding clip rotation axis to get closer to the second handle portion.

6. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first support portion is extended from the unfolding clip rotation axis, wherein a part of the first handle portion adjacent to the unfolding clip rotation axis is extended in a direction that is different from an extension direction of the first support portion, and wherein the second support portion and the second handle portion correspond to the first support portion and the first handle portion.

7. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first support portion and the second support portion further include a first blade portion and a second blade portion, each blade portion configured such that a cross-sectional area decreases toward an end.

8. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first blade portion and the second blade portion include a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, each inclined such that it gets closer to the first folding portion toward the end.

9. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the female connector pin further includes: a third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion; a fourth folding portion configured to face the third folding portion; and a fifth folding portion that forms the other end, the fifth folding portion configured to overlap the first folding portion in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the first folding portion before the at least part of the first folding portion moves away from the second folding portion, and wherein the unfolding clip is configured to unfold the fifth folding portion by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion away from the second folding portion after unfolding the first folding portion.

10. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first unfolding clip bar further includes an unfolding protrusion configured to protrude from the first support portion in a direction facing away from the first folding portion.

11. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a cross section of the unfolding protrusion is a portion of a circle.

12. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the unfolding protrusion is configured to unfold the third folding portion by moving toward the second folding portion while in contact with the third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, after the first folding portion is unfolded.

13. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the unfolding protrusion has a larger width than a width of the second folding portion to unfold the third folding portion together with the fourth folding portion extended from an opposite side to the third folding portion with respect to the second folding portion.

14. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing clip includes: a first fixing clip bar including a first fixing portion configured to support an outer surface of the second folding portion and a first fixing clip handle portion located at an opposite side to the first fixing portion with respect to a fixing clip rotation axis; and a second fixing clip bar including a second fixing portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the second folding portion and a second fixing clip handle portion located at an opposite side to the second fixing portion with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis, wherein the first fixing clip bar is rotatably coupled to the second fixing clip bar with respect to the fixing clip rotation axis, and wherein the first fixing portion makes a rotational motion away from the second fixing portion while the first fixing clip handle portion rotates around the fixing clip rotation axis to get closer to the second fixing clip handle portion.

15. The connector pin unfolding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a connection body connecting the unfolding clip to the fixing clip, the connection body being deformable.

16. A connector pin unfolding method comprising the steps of: preparing a female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end, a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, a third folding portion connecting the first folding portion to the second folding portion, a fourth folding portion configured to face the third folding portion, and a fifth folding portion that forms the other end, the fifth folding portion configured to overlap the first folding portion in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the first folding portion, and a connector pin unfolding apparatus including an unfolding clip and a fixing clip to unfold the female connector pin; fixing the unfolding clip to the first folding portion; causing the fixing clip to support the second folding portion; and unfolding the first folding portion by moving the unfolding clip away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion.

17. The connector pin unfolding device according to claim 16, wherein the unfolding clip includes: a first unfolding clip bar including a first support portion configured to support an outer surface of the first folding portion; and a second unfolding clip bar including a second support portion configured to support an inner surface opposite to the outer surface of the first folding portion, and wherein the first unfolding clip bar is rotatably coupled to the second unfolding clip bar with respect to an unfolding clip rotation axis.

18. The connector pin unfolding method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of: after the step of unfolding the first folding portion, unfolding the fifth folding portion by moving at least part of the fifth folding portion away from the second folding portion.

19. The connector pin unfolding method according to claim 16, wherein the unfolding clip further includes an unfolding protrusion configured to protrude in a direction facing away from the first folding portion, and wherein the connector pin unfolding method further comprises, after the step of unfolding the fifth folding portion, the step of unfolding, by the unfolding protrusion, the third folding portion together with the fourth folding portion extended from an opposite side to the third folding portion with respect to the second folding portion.

20. A connector pin analysis method comprising the steps of: preparing a female connector pin configured to form an accommodation space into which a male connector pin is inserted, the female connector pin including a first folding portion that forms an end, a second folding portion configured to face the first folding portion, and a contact portion that protrudes toward the accommodation space so as to contact the male connector pin, and a connector pin unfolding apparatus including an unfolding clip and a fixing clip to unfold the female connector pin; fixing the unfolding clip to the first folding portion; causing the fixing clip to support the second folding portion; unfolding the first folding portion by moving the unfolding clip away from the fixing clip to move at least part of the first folding portion away from the second folding portion; and analyzing how much a surface plating layer of the contact portion is peeled off after the female connector pin is unfolded.

Images