Terminal-equipped conductor

Abstract

To provide a terminal-equipped conductor that can ensure an amount of deflection of a terminal fitting while suppressing increase in a length of a deflection region of the terminal fitting, and can suppress increase in a size and a length of the terminal-equipped conductor.SOLUTION: A terminal-equipped conductor 10 includes a terminal fitting 20 having a plurality of flexible pieces 18 and a conductor 22 connected to the terminal fitting 20. The terminal fitting 20 includes a connecting portion 30 in which base ends of the plurality of flexible pieces 18 are connected to each other, a mating terminal connection portion 14 in which tip ends of the plurality of flexible pieces 18, which are free ends, are arranged opposite each other across a terminal press-fitting gap 16, a conductor connection portion 32 in which an end part of the conductor 22 is connected to an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of flexible pieces 18, and the conductor connection portion 32 is provided such that the plurality of flexible pieces 18 is bent and deformed in a direction opposite to a facing direction with the connecting portion 30 as a fulcrum, allowing the mating terminal 12 to be pressed into the mating terminal connection portion 14, and the conductor connection portion 32 is provided extending beyond the connecting portion 30 toward the tip side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to terminated conductors. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electric wire with terminal (conductor) that is connected to an end of a conductor such as an electric wire and has a mating terminal connection part that is connected to a mating terminal. A terminal fitting constituting the electric wire with terminal has an electric wire connection part to which the end of the electric wire is connected at the base end, and a mating terminal connection part is provided at a tip end side of the electric wire connection part. The mating terminal connection part has a resilient contact piece, and is electrically connected to the mating terminal by being pressed into contact with the mating terminal pressed into the mating terminal connection part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-163250 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in recent years, with the increasing current of in-vehicle devices, the thickness of the terminal fittings has to be increased to reduce electrical resistance. When the thickness of the terminal fittings is increased, the flexibility of the elastic contact pieces decreases and they become more susceptible to settling. Therefore, in order to prevent settling of the elastic contact pieces, it is necessary to increase the length of the elastic contact pieces to improve their flexibility, which results in larger and longer terminal fittings and terminal-attached electric wires.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention discloses a conductor with terminal that can ensure the amount of bending of the terminal while suppressing an increase in the length of the bending region of the terminal, and can suppress an increase in the size and length of the conductor with terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The conductor with terminal of the present disclosure comprises a terminal fitting having a plurality of flexible pieces, and a conductor connected to the terminal fitting, wherein the terminal fitting includes a connecting portion formed by interconnecting the base ends of the plurality of flexible pieces, a mating terminal connection portion formed by arranging the tip sides of the plurality of flexible pieces, which are free ends, facing each other across a terminal press-fitting gap, and a conductor connection portion in which an end of the conductor is connected to the outer surface of at least one of the plurality of flexible pieces, wherein the plurality of flexible pieces are flexibly deformed in the direction opposite to the opposing direction, with the connecting portion as a fulcrum, to allow the mating terminal to be pressed into the mating terminal connection portion, and the conductor connection portion is provided extending beyond the connecting portion toward the tip side. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to ensure the amount of bending of the terminal fitting while suppressing an increase in the length of the bending region of the terminal fitting, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the size and length of the conductor with terminal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal-equipped conductor according to a first embodiment in a connected state with a mating terminal. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the terminal-attached conductor shown in FIG. 1 in a connected state with a mating terminal. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the terminal-fitted conductor shown in FIG. 1 in a connected state with a mating terminal, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the terminal-fitted conductor shown in FIG. 1 in a state where it is not connected to a mating terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal conductor shown in FIG. 5 and corresponds to FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the terminal conductor shown in FIG. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a terminal fitting constituting the terminal-attached conductor shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the terminal fitting shown in FIG. 8 in an expanded state. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a spring member constituting the conductor with terminal shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure> First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The terminal-equipped conductor of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A terminal fitting having a plurality of flexible pieces and a conductor connected to the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting including a connecting portion formed by interconnecting the base ends of the plurality of flexible pieces, a mating terminal connection portion formed by arranging the tip sides of the plurality of flexible pieces, which are free ends, facing each other across a terminal press-fitting gap, and a conductor connection portion in which an end of the conductor is connected to an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of flexible pieces, the plurality of flexible pieces being flexibly deformed in a direction opposite to the facing direction with the connecting portion as a fulcrum to allow the mating terminal to be pressed into the mating terminal connection portion, and the conductor connection portion is provided extending beyond the connecting portion toward the tip side.

[0010] According to the conductor with terminal of the present disclosure, in the terminal fitting, the tip side of the connecting portion where the base ends of the multiple flexible pieces are connected to each other is a free end, and the tip sides of the multiple flexible pieces are arranged opposite to each other with a gap between them to form a mating terminal connection portion. Each flexible piece can be flexibly deformed in the opposite direction to the facing direction with the connecting portion as a fulcrum. A conductor connection portion to which an end of a conductor is connected is provided on the outer surface of at least one flexible piece. Since the conductor connection portion is provided extending toward the tip side from the connecting portion, the conductor connection portion and the flexible deformation region of the flexible piece can overlap. This makes it possible to ensure the amount of bending of the terminal fitting while suppressing the lengthening of the bending region of the terminal fitting, and to suppress the size and lengthening of the conductor with terminal. In particular, when the plate thickness of the flexible piece of the terminal fitting increases with an increase in current, it is necessary to ensure the length of the flexible piece to prevent the flexible piece from sagging. In such a case, the structure of the present disclosure can ensure the bending area of ​​the bending piece while preventing the overall terminal fitting from becoming too long, and by shortening the current path, it is also possible to reduce the conduction resistance of the terminal conductor itself.

[0011] The conductor to be connected to the terminal fitting may be an electric wire having a metal core wire coated with insulation, a bus bar, or the like.

[0012] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the multiple flexible pieces include a strip-shaped first flexible piece and a strip-shaped second flexible piece arranged to face the first flexible piece in the plate thickness direction, the base end edge portions of the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece are connected to each other to form the connecting portion, and the tip end sides of the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece are arranged to face each other in the plate thickness direction across the terminal press-fitting gap to form the mating terminal connecting portion. Since the terminal fitting is formed by connecting the base end edge portions of the strip-shaped first and second flexible pieces arranged to face each other in the plate thickness direction to form the connecting portion, it is possible to provide a terminal-equipped conductor in which a conductor is connected to a portion of a flexible piece that can be flexibly deformed with a simple structure.

[0013] (3) In the above (2), it is preferable that the first and second flexible pieces are formed by bending both ends of a strip-shaped flat metal plate in the thickness direction so as to approach each other, and the bent portions are used as the connecting portions. The terminal fitting can be formed simply by bending both ends of a strip-shaped flat metal plate in the thickness direction so as to approach each other. This makes it possible to easily manufacture the terminal fitting of the present disclosure. In particular, since the first and second flexible pieces are formed from a single flat metal plate, it is also possible to advantageously reduce the conductive resistance of the terminal fitting.

[0014] (4) In the above (2) or (3), it is preferable that the base end side of the first flexible piece is overlapped with the base end side of the second flexible piece, the portions other than the connecting portion are separable from each other, and the terminal of the conductor is welded to the outer surface of the base end side of the first flexible piece. The terminal of the conductor is welded to the outer surface of the base end side of the first flexible piece overlapped with the base end side of the second flexible piece. This makes it possible to stably perform the welding process when welding the terminal of the conductor to the outer surface of the base end side of the first flexible piece by any welding technique such as ultrasonic welding. Moreover, the base end sides of the overlapping first and second flexible pieces are maintained in a state in which they can be separated from each other by performing the welding process while adjusting the heat input such that the base end side of the first flexible piece is not diffusion-bonded to the base end side of the second flexible piece. This makes it possible to provide a terminal-attached conductor in which the conductor connection portion of the present disclosure and the flexible region of the flexible piece overlap, while ensuring excellent manufacturability and connection stability between the terminal fitting and the conductor.

[0015] (5) In any one of (2) to (4) above, it is preferable that the tip side of each of the first and second flexible pieces has a first contact plate portion and a second contact plate portion constituting the mating terminal connection portion, and is provided with a spring member which urges the first contact plate portion and the second contact plate portion in a direction toward each other, and that when the mating terminal is pressed into the mating terminal connection portion, the first contact plate portion and the second contact plate portion are displaced in a direction away from each other against the urging force of the spring member, so that the mating terminal is pressed into the mating terminal connection portion up to a press-in end position, and that at the press-in end position, the first contact plate portion and the second contact plate portion are pressed against the mating terminal by the elastic restoring force of the first and second flexible pieces and the elastic restoring force of the spring member.

[0016] The first and second contact plate portions provided at the distal ends of the first and second flexible pieces are biased by the spring member in a direction approaching each other. Therefore, the first and second contact plate portions can be brought into contact with the mating terminal with a high contact pressure, and the electrical continuity of the terminal-attached electric wire to the mating terminal can be stably maintained. In particular, when the plate thickness of the terminal fitting and the mating terminal increases with an increase in current, the biasing force of the spring member can be used to ensure high contact pressure between the terminal fitting and the mating terminal, which advantageously reduces electrical continuity resistance.

[0017] (6) In the above (5), the mating terminal is plate-shaped and has a pair of inclined portions on both sides in a plate width direction intersecting a press-fitting direction into the mating terminal connection portion, the pair of inclined portions inclining toward the first contact plate portion which is one side in a plate thickness direction of the mating terminal, the first contact plate portion facing the one side surface in the plate thickness direction of the mating terminal and having a pair of first inclined side edge portions each inclined along the pair of inclined portions of the mating terminal, each of the first inclined side edge portions being provided with a first contact portion protruding toward the terminal press-fit gap, the second contact plate portion facing the other side surface in the plate thickness direction of the mating terminal and having a pair of second inclined side edge portions each inclined along the pair of inclined portions of the mating terminal, each of the second inclined side edge portions being provided with a second contact portion protruding toward the terminal press-fit gap, and the spring member is It is preferable that the connector has a first spring member arranged on one side of the plate width direction and urging the first inclined side edge portion and the second inclined side edge portion located on the one side in the plate width direction in a direction toward each other, and a second spring member arranged on the other side of the plate width direction and urging the first inclined side edge portion and the second inclined side edge portion located on the other side in the plate width direction in a direction toward each other, wherein the first spring member presses the first contact portion of the first inclined side edge portion and the second contact portion of the second inclined side edge portion located on the one side in the plate width direction against the inclined portion of the mating terminal pressed between them, and the second spring member presses the first contact portion of the first inclined side edge portion and the second contact portion of the second inclined side edge portion located on the other side in the plate width direction against the inclined portion of the mating terminal pressed between them.

[0018] In a structure in which a mating terminal pressed in between is sandwiched between a first contact plate portion and a second contact plate portion arranged opposite each other with a terminal press-fitting gap therebetween, the mating terminal has a pair of inclined portions inclined to one side in the plate thickness direction of the mating terminal on both sides in the plate width direction of the plate-shaped mating terminal, which is a direction intersecting the press-fitting direction. Similarly, in a terminal-attached conductor of the present disclosure, the first contact plate portion faces a surface on one side in the plate thickness direction of the mating terminal and has a pair of first inclined side edge portions (first contact portions) that respectively incline along the pair of inclined portions of the mating terminal, and the second contact plate portion faces a surface on the other side in the plate thickness direction of the mating terminal and has a pair of second inclined side edge portions (second contact portions) that respectively incline along the pair of inclined portions of the mating terminal. Furthermore, the first contact portion of the first inclined side edge portion and the second contact portion of the second inclined side edge portion located on one side of the mating terminal in the plate width direction are pressed by the first spring member against the inclined portion of the mating terminal press-fitted between them, and the first contact portion of the first inclined side edge portion and the second contact portion of the second inclined side edge portion located on the other side of the mating terminal in the plate width direction are pressed by the second spring member against the inclined portion of the mating terminal press-fitted between them. As a result, when an external force is applied in the plate width direction of the mating terminal, the inclined portions of the mating terminal are pressed against the first contact portion of the first inclined side edge portion and the second contact portion of the second inclined side edge portion, which are similarly inclined, on both sides of the mating terminal in the plate width direction, generating a component force (a reaction force from the first contact portion and the second contact portion) directed inward in the plate width direction. As a result, the force preventing displacement of the mating terminal against an external force acting outward in the plate width direction of the mating terminal can be increased, and displacement of the mating terminal in the plate width direction relative to the terminal fitting of the present disclosure can be suppressed.

[0019] In addition, the inclined portion of the mating terminal is sandwiched between the first inclined side edge portion and the second inclined side edge portion of the terminal fitting of the present disclosure, which are inclined in the same manner, on both sides in the plate width direction of the mating terminal, and a contact pressure can be applied from both sides in the plate thickness direction of the inclined portion of the mating terminal by the separate spring members (the first spring member and the second spring member). As a result, the state in which the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the terminal fitting of the present disclosure are pressed against the inclined portions of the mating terminal can be maintained with a stable contact pressure, and the displacement suppression performance of the mating terminal against an external force in the plate width direction can be further improved, and the suppression of micro-sliding friction between the terminals can be advantageously realized. Furthermore, since the first inclined side edge portion and the second inclined side edge portion on which the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the terminal fitting are provided are inclined along the inclined portion of the mating terminal, it is possible to ensure a large contact area between the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the terminal fitting and the mating terminal, and it is also possible to reduce the conductive resistance between the terminals.

[0020] Here, with regard to the pair of first inclined side edges and the pair of second inclined side edges, "respectively inclined along the pair of inclined portions of the mating terminal" means that the first inclined side edges and the second inclined side edges are inclined so as to be inclined along the inclined portions of the mating terminal, and the inclined portions of the mating terminal and the first / second inclined side edges do not necessarily have to be parallel. For example, the inclination angle of the first / second inclined side edges may differ from the inclination angle of the inclined portions of the mating terminal by about 0 to 10 degrees.

[0021] In addition, the contact portions (first and second contact portions) of the terminal fitting with respect to the mating terminal are distributed on a pair of inclined side edges and pressed against the mating terminal by separate spring members, so that the necessary pressing force can be stably applied to each of the distributed contact portions while making each spring member small in size. In particular, since the first and second spring members are not interposed between the mating terminal and the first and second contact portions of the terminal fitting, the contact resistance between the mating terminal and the terminal fitting can be further advantageously reduced.

[0022] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Specific examples of the terminal-equipped conductor of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0023] <Embodiment 1> A conductor with terminal 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 10. In the first embodiment, the terminal constituting the conductor with terminal 10 is a female terminal, and the mating terminal 12 is a male terminal, and the female terminal (conductor with terminal 10) has a mating terminal connection portion 14. The mating terminal connection portion 14 has a terminal press-fit gap 16, and the mating terminal 12 is inserted into the terminal press-fit gap 16 in a press-fit state and contacts each other, so that the female terminal (conductor with terminal 10) and the mating terminal 12 are electrically connected. The conductor with terminal 10 can be arranged in any direction, but in the following description, the upper side refers to the upper side in Fig. 3, the lower side refers to the lower side in Fig. 3, the left side refers to the upper side in Fig. 2, the right side refers to the lower side in Fig. 2, the front side refers to the left side in Fig. 2, and the rear side refers to the right side in Fig. 2. In addition, for multiple identical members, only some of the members may be labeled with reference numerals, and the reference numerals may be omitted for the other members.

[0024] <Conductor with terminal 10> The conductor with terminal 10 includes a terminal fitting 20 having a plurality of flexible pieces 18, and a conductor 22 connected to the terminal fitting 20. In the first embodiment, the plurality of flexible pieces 18 include a strip-shaped first flexible piece 18a and a strip-shaped second flexible piece 18b arranged opposite the first flexible piece 18a in the plate thickness direction (e.g., the up-down direction).

[0025] <Other terminal 12> The mating terminal 12 connected to the terminal-fitted conductor 10 is generally plate-shaped as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, and is formed, for example, by using a flat metal fitting (not shown). This flat metal fitting is generally generally rectangular, has a given plate width and thickness, and extends straight. The end of the mating terminal 12 on the tip side (rear side) in the press-fitting direction of the terminal-fitted conductor 10 into the terminal press-fitting gap 16 is tapered. The mating terminal 12 is conductive, and is formed of a metal with low electrical resistance, such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

[0026] Then, by bending and inclining both end portions in the plate width direction (left and right direction) of the flat metal fitting toward one side (upward) in the plate thickness direction, a pair of inclined portions 24, 24 is provided at both end portions in the plate width direction of the mating terminal 12. That is, in the mating terminal 12, a pair of inclined portions 24, 24 is provided on both sides in the plate width direction, which is a direction intersecting the press-fitting direction (direction from front to rear) into the terminal press-fitting gap 16, which is a direction perpendicular to the press-fitting direction in the first embodiment. A flat central flat portion 26 is provided in a central portion in the plate width direction of the mating terminal 12 located between the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 in the plate width direction. The pair of inclined portions 24, 24 may be provided over the entire length of the mating terminal 12 in the length direction, or may be provided only at the tip portion in the press-fitting direction of the mating terminal 12 that is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting gap 16. In embodiment 1, the plate thickness dimension of the mating terminal 12 is approximately constant, and the thickness dimensions of the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 and the central flat portion 26 are each A (see Figure 3), but the thickness dimensions of the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 and the central flat portion 26 may be different from each other.

[0027] The inclination angle of the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 with respect to the central flat portion 26 is θ1 (see FIG. 3). Note that in the first embodiment, in the mating terminal 12, the inclination angle of the inclined portion 24 on one side (right side) in the plate width direction with respect to the central flat portion 26 and the inclination angle of the inclined portion 24 on the other side (left side) in the plate width direction with respect to the central flat portion 26 are equal (θ1), but the inclination angles on both the left and right sides may be different from each other.

[0028] The inclination angle θ1 of the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 with respect to the central flat portion 26 is not limited, but is preferably, for example, 5° to 45°, more preferably 10° to 30°. By setting the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined portions 24 to 5° or more, it is possible to suppress the outward displacement of the mating terminal 12 in the plate width direction even when an external force is input to the mating terminal 12 in the plate width direction. By setting the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined portions 24 to 45° or less, it is possible to suppress the vertical dimension of the mating terminal 12, and therefore the terminal-equipped conductor 10 connected to the mating terminal 12, in a small size.

[0029] In the mating terminal 12, the shape of the base end side (front side) in the press-fitting direction is not limited, but in the first embodiment, a through hole 28 is formed extending straight and penetrating in the plate thickness direction, and the mating terminal 12 is fixed by being conductively connected to a terminal part of an equipment (not shown) by a fastening bolt (not shown) that is inserted through the through hole 28. Note that the base end side in the press-fitting direction of the mating terminal 12 may adopt any shape that matches the shape of a terminal part of an equipment, a connector, or a conductor such as an electric wire that is conductively connected thereto.

[0030] <Terminal metal fitting 20> As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the terminal fitting 20 has a connecting portion 30 formed by connecting the base end sides (rear sides) of the multiple flexible pieces 18 (first flexible piece 18a and second flexible piece 18b) to each other. The terminal fitting 20 also has a mating terminal connecting portion 14 formed by arranging the tip sides (front sides) of the multiple flexible pieces 18 (first flexible piece 18a and second flexible piece 18b) which are free ends facing each other across the terminal press-fitting gap 16. The terminal fitting 20 further has a conductor connecting portion 32 to which an end of a conductor 22 is connected on at least one outer surface of the multiple flexible pieces 18 (first flexible piece 18a and second flexible piece 18b). In the first embodiment, the conductor connecting portion 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape on the outer surface (upper surface) on the base end side of the first flexible piece 18a.

[0031] The conductor 22 connected to the terminal fitting 20 is not limited, but in the first embodiment, the conductor 22 is made of a coated electric wire. That is, the conductor 22 is made by covering the periphery of a core wire 34 with an insulating coating 36 made of synthetic resin, and at the end of the conductor 22, the insulating coating 36 is peeled off to expose the core wire 34. This exposed core wire 34 is fixed to the conductor connection part 32 of the terminal fitting 20 by fusion (welding) or the like, so that the conductor 22 (coated electric wire) is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 20. In the first embodiment, the core wire 34 and the conductor connection part 32 of the conductor 22 are fixed by ultrasonic welding.

[0032] In particular, in the first embodiment, the amount of heat input by ultrasonic welding is set to be relatively small, and the amount of heat input is set such that a first rear end portion 46, which will be described later and which constitutes the conductor connecting portion 32, and a second rear end portion 54 which is overlapped with the first rear end portion 46 are not fixed to each other by ultrasonic welding. This allows the conductor connecting portion 32 and the core wire 34 to be fixed to each other while preventing the first rear end portion 46 and the second rear end portion 54 from being fixed to each other. As a result, as will be described later, the conductor connecting portion 32 (first rear end portion 46) to which the conductor 22 is fixed and the second rear end portion 54 are capable of being displaced in directions away from each other.

[0033] In the first embodiment, the terminal fitting 20 is formed by bending a strip-shaped flat metal plate 38 in the thickness direction as shown in FIG. 9. That is, the first flexible piece 18a is formed by one end 40 in the length direction of the flat metal plate 38, and the second flexible piece 18b is formed by the other end 42 in the length direction. The bent portion of the flat metal plate 38 forms a connecting portion 30 that connects the base end sides (rear sides) of the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b to each other. In the first embodiment, the connecting portion 30 that connects the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b is formed at the end edge portions on the base end sides of the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b. As a result, the strip-shaped first flexible piece 18a and the strip-shaped second flexible piece 18b are arranged to face each other in the thickness direction (up-down direction).

[0034] 4 and 9, at one end 40 in the longitudinal direction of the metal flat plate 38 constituting the first flexible piece 18a, a portion on the outer side in the longitudinal direction (first contact plate portion 44) constituting the tip side of the first flexible piece 18a after bending and a portion on the inner side in the longitudinal direction (first rear end portion 46) on the connecting portion 30 side constituting the base end side of the first flexible piece 18a are connected by a connecting portion 48 extending in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) of the metal flat plate 38. As a result, in the first flexible piece 18a, the first contact plate portion 44 and the first rear end portion 46 are positioned at different vertical positions, and as shown in FIG. 8, when the metal flat plate 38 is in a bent state, the first contact plate portion 44 is located above the first rear end portion 46. 2 and other figures, at one longitudinal end side 40 of the metal flat plate 38, notches 50, 50 extending inward in the width direction are provided on both widthwise (left-right) sides of the longitudinal middle portion, and a connection portion 48 is formed between the widthwise portions of these notches 50, 50. By bending the connection portion 48 vertically, the vertical positions of the first contact plate portion 44 and the first rear end portion 46 are made to differ.

[0035] Similarly, at the other end 42 in the length direction of the metal flat plate 38 constituting the second flexible piece 18b, a portion (second contact plate portion 52) on the outer side in the length direction constituting the tip side of the second flexible piece 18b after bending and a portion (second rear end portion 54) on the inner side in the length direction on the connecting portion 30 side constituting the base end side of the second flexible piece 18b are connected by a connection portion 56. In the second flexible piece 18b, the connection portion 56 extends substantially flat from the second rear end portion 54, and the second contact plate portion 52 and the second rear end portion 54 are positioned substantially equal in the up-down direction. Also, at the other end 42 in the length direction of the metal flat plate 38, notches 58, 58 extending inward in the width direction are provided on both sides in the width direction (left-right direction) of the intermediate portion in the length direction, and the connection portion 56 is formed between the notches 58, 58 in the width direction.

[0036] 8, in the state where the metal flat plate 38 is bent, the first rear end portion 46 and the second rear end portion 54 are overlapped with each other, and the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 are arranged to be spaced apart in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) and face each other. As a result, the terminal press-fit gap 16 is formed by the gap between the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 in the vertical direction, and the mating terminal connection portion 14 is formed by including the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52. In addition, at the overlapped first rear end portion 46 and the second rear end portion 54, the core wire 34 of the conductor 22 is overlapped and fixed on the first rear end portion 46, so that the conductor connection portion 32 is formed by the upper surface of the first rear end portion 46. In the first embodiment, substantially the entire upper surface of the first rear end portion 46 is the conductor connection portion 32. Therefore, in the terminal-fitted conductor 10, the conductor connecting portion 32 is provided so as to extend further toward the tip side (forward) than the coupling portion 30.

[0037] <First flexible piece 18a and second flexible piece 18b> As described above, the belt-shaped first flexible piece 18a is formed by one longitudinal end side 40 of a belt-shaped flat metal plate 38, and the first contact plate portion 44 constituting the mating terminal connection portion 14 is formed on the tip side of the first flexible piece 18a. The belt-shaped second flexible piece 18b is formed by the other longitudinal end side 42 of the flat metal plate 38, and the second contact plate portion 52 constituting the mating terminal connection portion 14 is formed on the tip side of the second flexible piece 18b.

[0038] <First contact plate part 44> The first contact plate portion 44 faces one surface (upper surface) of the mating terminal 12 in the plate thickness direction, and has a pair of first inclined side edges 60, 60 that are inclined along the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 of the mating terminal 12. In other words, the first contact plate portion 44 has a pair of first inclined side edges 60, 60 at both ends in the plate width direction (left and right direction) that are bent and inclined toward one side (upper side) in the plate thickness direction with respect to the center portion in the plate width direction. The center portion in the plate width direction of the first contact plate portion 44, which is located between the pair of first inclined side edges 60, 60 in the plate width direction, is a first flat portion 62 that faces the center flat portion 26 of the mating terminal 12 and spreads flat along the center flat portion 26. The tip portion of the inner surface of the first contact plate portion 44 has an guiding surface 63 that gradually moves away from the second contact plate portion 52 that faces the tip portion in the up and down direction over approximately the entire length in the left and right direction.

[0039] Each first inclined side edge 60 is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ2 (see FIG. 3) with respect to the first flat portion 62. In the first embodiment, in the first contact plate portion 44, the inclination angle of the first inclined side edge 60 on one side (right side) in the plate width direction with respect to the first flat portion 62 and the inclination angle of the first inclined side edge 60 on the other side (left side) in the plate width direction with respect to the first flat portion 62 are equal to each other (θ2), but the inclination angles on both the left and right sides may be different from each other.

[0040] Further, the inner surface (lower surface) of each first inclined side edge 60 is provided with a first contact portion 64 that protrudes toward the terminal press-fitting gap 16 located below. Each of these first contact portions 64 protrudes in the plate thickness direction of each first inclined side edge 60, and protrudes at an angle with respect to the up-down direction, which is the plate thickness direction of the first flat portion 62. As shown in FIG. 9, each of the first contact portions 64 has a substantially rectangular (particularly substantially square) outer shape, and the protruding tip surface is curved in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, so that the central portion of the protruding tip surface protrudes the most. In the first embodiment, each of the first contact portions 64 is provided in the central portion of each of the first inclined side edges 60 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In the outer surface (upper surface) of each of the first inclined side edges 60, a recess 66 that opens upward is formed at a position corresponding to each of the first contact portions 64, and each of the first contact portions 64 is formed by performing press working on the first contact plate portion 44.

[0041] Furthermore, a through hole 68 penetrating the first flat portion 62 in the thickness direction (up-down direction) is formed in the central portion in the front-rear direction of the first flat portion 62. In the first embodiment, two through holes 68, 68 are provided spaced apart from each other in the central portion in the front-rear direction of the first flat portion 62, and each through hole 68 is formed to have a substantially rectangular cross section.

[0042] <Second contact plate part 52> The second contact plate portion 52 faces the other surface (lower surface) of the mating terminal 12 in the plate thickness direction, and has a pair of second inclined side edges 70, 70 that are inclined along the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 of the mating terminal 12. In other words, the second contact plate portion 52 has a pair of second inclined side edges 70, 70 that are bent and inclined toward one side (upper side) in the plate thickness direction with respect to the central portion in the plate width direction at both ends in the plate width direction (left and right direction). The central portion in the plate width direction of the second contact plate portion 52, which is located between the pair of second inclined side edges 70, 70 in the plate width direction, is a second flat portion 72 that faces the central flat portion 26 of the mating terminal 12 and spreads flat along the central flat portion 26. The tip portion of the inner surface of the second contact plate portion 52 has an guiding surface 74 that gradually moves away from the first contact plate portion 44 that faces the tip portion in the up and down direction over the entire length in the left and right direction.

[0043] Each second inclined side edge 70 is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ3 (see FIG. 3) with respect to the second flat portion 72. In the first embodiment, in the second contact plate portion 52, the inclination angle of the second inclined side edge 70 on one side (right side) in the plate width direction with respect to the second flat portion 72 and the inclination angle of the second inclined side edge 70 on the other side (left side) in the plate width direction with respect to the second flat portion 72 are equal to each other (θ3), but the inclination angles on both the left and right sides may be different from each other.

[0044] The inclination angle θ2 of each first inclined side edge 60 with respect to the first flat portion 62 is preferably the same as the inclination angle θ1 of each inclined portion 24 of the mating terminal 12 with respect to the central flat portion 26, or if different, the difference in angle is within 10°. This makes it possible to suppress rattling of the mating terminal 12 in the terminal press-fitting gap 16 when the mating terminal 12 is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting gap 16 and to stably secure the contact area between the mating terminal 12 and the first contact portion 64. Similarly, the inclination angle θ3 of each second inclined side edge 70 with respect to the second flat portion 72 is preferably the same as the inclination angle θ1 of each inclined portion 24 of the mating terminal 12 with respect to the central flat portion 26, or if different, the difference in angle is within 10°. This makes it possible to suppress rattling of the mating terminal 12 within the terminal press-fit gap 16 when the mating terminal 12 is press-fitted into the terminal press-fit gap 16, thereby ensuring a stable contact area between the mating terminal 12 and the second contact portion 76 described later.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the inclination angle θ2 of each first inclined side edge 60 relative to the first flat portion 62 and the inclination angle θ3 of each second inclined side edge 70 relative to the second flat portion 72 are substantially equal. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the first inclined side edge 60 and the second inclined side edge 70 on the left extend substantially parallel to each other, and the first inclined side edge 60 and the second inclined side edge 70 on the right extend substantially parallel to each other.

[0046] The second contact portions 76 are provided on the inner surface (upper surface) of each second inclined side edge portion 70, protruding toward the terminal press-fitting gap 16 located above. These second contact portions 76 protrude in the plate thickness direction of each second inclined side edge portion 70, and protrude at an angle with respect to the up-down direction which is the plate thickness direction of the second flat portion 72. The second contact portions 76 have an approximately rectangular (particularly approximately square) outer shape like the first contact portions 64, and the protruding tip surface is curved in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, so that the central portion of the protruding tip surface protrudes the most. In the first embodiment, each second contact portion 76 is provided at two locations separated in the front-rear direction which is the press-fitting direction of the mating terminal 12 in the central portion in the left-right direction of each second inclined side edge portion 70, and a total of four second contact portions 76 are provided in the second contact plate portion 52.

[0047] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the second contact portions 76 are provided at different positions in the front-rear direction, which is the press-fit direction of the mating terminal 12, relative to the first contact portions 64. In particular, in the first embodiment, the first contact portions 64 are provided between the second contact portions 76 in the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides of the first and second flexible pieces 18a, 18b. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the first contact portions 64 and the second contact portions 76 are provided at substantially equal positions in the left-right direction on both the left and right sides of the first and second flexible pieces 18a, 18b. That is, the first contact portions 64 and the second contact portions 76 face each other in the plate thickness direction of the first inclined side edge portion 60 and the second inclined side edge portion 70 in the projection in the press-fit direction of the mating terminal 12 (in other words, in the state of FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 showing the cross section).

[0048] In the projection of the mating terminal 12 in the press-fitting direction, before the mating terminal 12 is press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting gap 16, as shown in Fig. 6, the separation distance B between the top of the first contact portion 64 and the top of the second contact portion 76 in the opposing direction is B (see Fig. 6). The separation distance B between the top of the first contact portion 64 and the top of the second contact portion 76 is smaller than the plate thickness dimension A of the mating terminal 12, so that the mating terminal 12 can be press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting gap 16.

[0049] Further, on the outer surface (lower surface) of each second inclined side edge portion 70, a recess 78 opening downward is formed at a position corresponding to each second contact portion 76, and each second contact portion 76 is formed by pressing the second contact plate portion 52. Furthermore, a through hole 80 is formed in the center portion in the front-rear direction of the second flat portion 72, penetrating the second flat portion 72 in the thickness direction (up-down direction). In the first embodiment, the through hole 80 is formed in the center portion in the front-rear direction of the second flat portion 72, with a substantially rectangular cross section.

[0050] <Spring member 82> The terminal-attached conductor 10 includes a spring member 82 that biases the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 in a direction that brings them closer to each other. The spring member 82 is disposed on one side (right side) of the left-right direction, which is the plate width direction of the mating terminal 12, and has a first spring member 82a that biases the first inclined side edge portion 60 and the second inclined side edge portion 70 located on the one side (right side) of the left-right direction in a direction that brings them closer to each other. The spring member 82 is disposed on the other side (left side) of the left-right direction, which is the plate width direction of the mating terminal 12, and has a second spring member 82b that biases the first inclined side edge portion 60 and the second inclined side edge portion 70 located on the other side (left side) of the left-right direction in a direction that brings them closer to each other. In the first embodiment, the first spring member 82a and the second spring member 82b have the same shape and are used in a state in which they are reversed left and right. Therefore, in the following description, the first spring member 82a will be described with reference to FIG. 10 and the like, and the second spring member 82b will be given the same reference numerals as the first spring member 82a in the drawings, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] <First spring member 82a (second spring member 82b)> The first spring member 82a is configured by a leaf spring clip having a first plate portion 84 overlapped on the outer surface (upper surface) of the first inclined side edge portion 60, a second plate portion 86 overlapped on the outer surface (lower surface) of the second inclined side edge portion 70, and a connecting plate portion 88 connecting the first plate portion 84 and the second plate portion 86. The first spring member 82a is formed, for example, from a metal that can be pressed, and the first spring member 82a can be formed by bending a metal plate into a predetermined shape, etc.

[0052] The first plate portion 84 and the second plate portion 86 respectively extend from the upper end and the lower end of the connecting plate portion 88 to one side in the plate thickness direction of the connecting plate portion 88, and the first plate portion 84 and the second plate portion 86 face each other in the up-down direction at a predetermined distance. The first plate portion 84 and the second plate portion 86 are elastically deformable in directions moving away from or toward each other, with the connection portion with the connecting plate portion 88 as a base point.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 10 and other figures, the first plate portion 84 is in the shape of a substantially rectangular flat plate. A first protruding portion 90 is provided in the middle of the first plate portion 84 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and extends continuously in the width direction of the first plate portion 84 (i.e., the front-rear direction which is the press-fit direction of the mating terminal 12) with an arc-shaped cross section that is protruding toward the second plate portion 86 facing the first plate portion 84 in the vertical direction. In the first embodiment, the first protruding portion 90 is provided over the entire width direction of the first plate portion 84. In the first embodiment, the first protruding portion 90 is formed by pressing, and a recessed portion 92 that opens upward is formed at a position on the upper surface of the first plate portion 84 corresponding to the first protruding portion 90. Furthermore, by forming the first protrusion 90 into a shape that extends linearly with an arc-shaped cross section, when the first plate portion 84 is superimposed on the outer surface of the first inclined side edge portion 60, the top of the first protrusion 90 comes into linear contact with the outer surface of the first inclined side edge portion 60, thereby concentrating the urging force on the first inclined side edge portion 60. Note that two locking claws 94, 94 that protrude toward the opposing second plate portion 86 and the terminal press-fitting gap 16 side (lower side) are provided at a distance from each other in the front-rear direction in the central portion in the front-rear direction at the protruding tip portion of the first plate portion 84.

[0054] Similarly, the second plate portion 86 is in the shape of a substantially rectangular flat plate, and a second protrusion 96 protruding inward (upward) in the opposing direction to the first plate portion 84 is provided at a substantially central portion of the second plate portion 86. In the first embodiment, the second protrusion 96 is semispherical and formed by press working. As a result, a recess 98 (see FIG. 3) that opens downward is formed at a position corresponding to the second protrusion 96 on the lower surface of the second plate portion 86. Since the second protrusion 96 is semispherical, when the second plate portion 86 is placed on the outer surface of the second inclined side edge portion 70, the top of the second protrusion 96 comes into contact with the outer surface of the second inclined side edge portion 70 in a point-like manner, and the urging force on the second inclined side edge portion 70 is concentrated. In addition, a locking claw 100 that protrudes toward the opposing first plate portion 84 and the terminal press-fitting gap 16 side (upward) is provided at the central portion in the front-rear direction at the protruding tip of the second plate portion 86. In the first embodiment, the locking claw 100 of the second plate portion 86 is provided between the locking claws 94, 94 of the first plate portion 84 in the front-rear direction.

[0055] The first spring member 82a and the second spring member 82b having such a shape are assembled from the right and left sides, respectively, to the terminal fitting 20 bent as shown in Fig. 8. That is, the locking claws 94 of each first plate portion 84 are engaged with the through holes 68 of the first flat portion 62, and the locking claws 100 of each second plate portion 86 are engaged with the through holes 80 of the second flat portion 72, thereby assembling the first and second spring members 82a, 82b to the terminal fitting 20. Then, in a state in which the first and second spring members 82a, 82b are assembled to the terminal fitting 20, the first convex portion 90 of each first plate portion 84 abuts against the outer surface (upper surface) of the first inclined side edge portion 60, and the second convex portion 96 of each second plate portion 86 abuts against the outer surface (lower surface) of the second inclined side edge portion 70.

[0056] In the first embodiment, when the terminal fitting 20 is bent as shown in Fig. 8, the separation distance B between the first contact portion 64 and the second contact portion 76 in the opposing direction is maintained even when the first and second spring members 82a, 82b are assembled to the terminal fitting 20. Note that, before the first and second spring members 82a, 82b are assembled to the terminal fitting 20, the separation distance B between the first contact portion 64 and the second contact portion 76 in the opposing direction may be greater than B. In other words, by assembling the first and second spring members 82a, 82b to the terminal fitting 20, the first and second spring members 82a, 82b may urge the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 in a direction toward each other, so that the separation distance between the first contact portion 64 and the second contact portion 76 in the opposing direction becomes B.

[0057] In addition, in a state in which the first and second spring members 82a, 82b are assembled to the terminal fitting 20, the separation distance between the first contact portion 64 and the second contact portion 76 in the opposing direction is set to B, which is smaller than the plate thickness dimension A of the mating terminal 12, so that the mating terminal 12 is press-fitted into the terminal press-fit gap 16. That is, by inserting the mating terminal 12 into the mating terminal connection portion 14 (terminal press-fit gap 16), the separation distance between the first contact portion 64 and the second contact portion 76 in the opposing direction is expanded to A, which is the same as the plate thickness dimension of the mating terminal 12. As a result, the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 are displaced in the direction away from each other against the biasing force of the spring member 82 (the first spring member 82a and the second spring member 82b), and the mating terminal 12 is allowed to be press-fitted into the terminal press-fit gap 16. 4, the mating terminal 12 is pressed into the mating terminal connection portion 14 up to the press-fit end position. This press-fit end position may be determined, for example, by the tip of the mating terminal 12 abutting against the connection portion 48 located at the rear side of the terminal press-fit gap 16 in the press-fitting direction, or may be determined by a housing (not shown) or the like that holds the mating terminal 12 abutting against the tip portion (front end portion) of the terminal fitting 20.

[0058] Further, due to the displacement of the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 in the direction in which they move away from each other, the first plate portions 84 and the second plate portions 86 of the first and second spring members 82a, 82b are pushed apart in the direction in which they move away from each other. Then, in a state in which the mating terminal 12 is in the press-fit end position as shown in Fig. 4, the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 are pressed against the mating terminal 12 by the elastic restoring force of the first contact plate portion 44 (first deflection piece 18a) and the second contact plate portion 52 (second deflection piece 18b) in the direction in which they approach each other, and the elastic restoring force of the first plate portions 84 and the second plate portions 86 of the first and second spring members 82a, 82b in the direction in which they approach each other.

[0059] In the first embodiment, the spring member 82 is composed of a first spring member 82a and a second spring member 82b on the left and right. Therefore, the first spring member 82a presses the first contact portion 64 of the first inclined side edge portion 60 and the second contact portion 76 of the second inclined side edge portion 70 located on one side (right side) in the plate width direction against the right inclined portion 24 of the mating terminal 12 press-fitted therebetween. The second spring member 82b presses the first contact portion 64 of the first inclined side edge portion 60 and the second contact portion 76 of the second inclined side edge portion 70 located on the other side (left side) in the plate width direction against the left inclined portion 24 of the mating terminal 12 press-fitted therebetween.

[0060] <Assembly process of the terminal-attached conductor 10> Next, a specific example of the assembly process of the conductor with terminal 10 will be described. Note that the assembly process of the conductor with terminal 10 is not limited to the following description.

[0061] First, the metal blank constituting the terminal fitting 20 is subjected to pressing or the like to form a metal flat plate 38 as shown in Fig. 9. Next, the central portion in the longitudinal direction of this metal flat plate 38 is folded to form the connecting portion 30, and both ends, i.e., one longitudinal end side 40 constituting the first flexible piece 18a and the other longitudinal end side 42 constituting the second flexible piece 18b, are brought close to each other. As a result, the terminal fitting 20 is brought into a folded state as shown in Fig. 8.

[0062] 7, the first spring member 82a and the second spring member 82b are assembled to the terminal fitting 20 from the left and right, and the core wire 34 at the end of the conductor 22 is fixed to the conductor connecting portion 32 of the terminal fitting 20. In the first embodiment, as described above, the core wire 34 is welded to the conductor connecting portion 32 by ultrasonic welding, so that the first rear end portion 46 and the second rear end portion 54 overlapped in the vertical direction are not fixed to each other. As a result, the conductor with terminal 10 of the first embodiment is completed.

[0063] The mating terminal 12 is press-fitted into the terminal press-fit gap 16 of the terminal-attached conductor 10 assembled as described above from the opening on the tip side. At this time, as described above, the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are flexibly deformed (elastically deformed) in the direction opposite to the opposing direction (outward in the up-down direction), allowing the mating terminal 12 to be press-fitted into the mating terminal connection part 14 (terminal press-fit gap 16). In particular, the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are connected at the connecting part 30 at the edge part on the base end side (rear side), and the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are not connected at other places. Therefore, when the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are flexibly deformed, the tip side (front side) is deformed so as to expand with the connecting part 30 as a fulcrum. As a result, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, a gap 102 is formed between the first rear end portion 46 and the second rear end portion 54, which were overlapped in the vertical direction before the mating terminal 12 was pressed in, by pressing the mating terminal 12 into the mating terminal 12.

[0064] According to the conductor with terminal 10 of the first embodiment, the conductor connection part 32 to which the end of the conductor 22 is connected is provided extending toward the tip side with respect to the connecting part 30 connecting the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b. As a result, the conductor connection part does not extend toward the base end side (rear side) from the connecting part between the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece, and the size of the terminal fitting 20 and the conductor with terminal 10 can be reduced. In addition, in the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b, the distance from the first contact plate part 44 and the second contact plate part 52 that contact the mating terminal 12 to the conductor connection part 32 can be shortened, so that the current path is shortened and the conductive resistance is reduced. As a result, it is possible to provide a connection structure between a male terminal (mating terminal 12) and a female terminal (conductor with terminal 10) that is more suitable for a large current.

[0065] The base end edge portions of the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are mutually connected to form the connecting portion 30, and the tip ends (first contact plate portion 44 and second contact plate portion 52) of the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are disposed opposite each other in the plate thickness direction across the terminal press-fitting gap 16 to form the mating terminal connection portion 14. In this way, by providing the connecting portion 30 at the base end edge portions of the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b, it is possible to make substantially the entire terminal fitting 20 a region capable of bending and deforming, and it is possible to stably press the mating terminal 12 into the terminal press-fitting gap 16 while miniaturizing the terminal fitting 20.

[0066] By bending a strip-shaped flat metal plate 38, the connecting portion 30 is formed by the bent portion, and the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are respectively formed by one end side 40 and the other end side 42 in the longitudinal direction of the flat metal plate 38. This makes it possible to easily manufacture the terminal fitting 20, and in turn the terminal-equipped conductor 10, without connecting the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b by, for example, welding. In addition, since the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are formed by a single flat metal plate 38, the conductive resistance is also reduced.

[0067] A first rear end portion 46, which is the base end side of the first flexible piece 18a, and a second rear end portion 54, which is the base end side of the second flexible piece 18b, are overlapped so as to be separable from each other, and an end (core wire 34) of the conductor 22 is welded to the outer surface (upper surface) of the base end side (first rear end portion 46) of the first flexible piece 18a. By adopting a welding method such as ultrasonic welding, which has a small amount of heat input, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to manufacture the conductor with terminal 10 by welding the conductor 22 (core wire 34) to the conductor connecting portion 32 in a state in which the terminal fitting 20 is bent as shown in Fig. 8, and therefore it is possible to improve manufacturing efficiency.

[0068] The terminal-equipped conductor 10 includes a spring member 82 (first spring member 82a and second spring member 82b) that biases the first contact plate portion 44, which is the tip side of the first flexible piece 18a, and the second contact plate portion 52, which is the tip side of the second flexible piece 18b, in a direction in which they approach each other. This allows the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 to be pressed against the mating terminal 12 by utilizing the biasing force of the spring member 82, and the conductive state between the terminal-equipped conductor 10 and the mating terminal 12 can be stably maintained.

[0069] In particular, the mating terminal 12 has a pair of inclined portions 24, 24 on both sides in the plate width direction (left-right direction), and the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 have a pair of first inclined side edges 60, 60 and a pair of second inclined side edges 70, 70 corresponding thereto. Each of the first inclined side edges 60 has a first contact portion 64 that contacts the mating terminal 12 press-fitted into the terminal press-fit gap 16, and each of the second inclined side edges 70 has a second contact portion 76 that contacts the mating terminal 12 press-fitted into the terminal press-fit gap 16. Each of the first contact portion 64 and each of the second contact portions 76 protrudes in the plate thickness direction at each of the inclined portions 24.

[0070] That is, since the pressing force F1 (see FIG. 3) by each of the first contact portions 64 and the pressing force F2 (see FIG. 3) by each of the second contact portions 76 act in the same direction as the plate thickness direction of each of the inclined portions 24, each of the inclined portions 24 is stably clamped by each of the first and second contact portions 64, 76, and the male terminal (the mating terminal 12) and the female terminal (the conductor with terminal 10) can be more reliably conducted. In particular, in the first embodiment, the direction in which the pressing force F1 by each of the first contact portions 64 acts and the direction in which the pressing force F2 by each of the second contact portions 76 acts are not opposed to each other in the plate thickness direction of each of the inclined portions 24, and specifically, the pressing force F1 by each of the first contact portions 64 acts on both left-right end portions of each of the inclined portions 24, while the pressing force F2 by each of the second contact portions 76 acts on a portion inward in the left-right direction from the portion on which the pressing force F1 acts. This prevents the pressing forces F1, F2 from both the top and bottom from acting on the same position on each inclined portion 24. As a result, each inclined portion 24 of the mating terminal 12 spreads the gap between each first contact portion 64 and each second contact portion 76 at a plurality of positions, thereby reducing the insertion resistance.

[0071] 3, the pressing force F1 by each first contact portion 64 acts as a downward component force F1a and an outward component force F1b in the left-right direction, and the pressing force F2 by each second contact portion 76 acts as an upward component force F2a and an inward component force F2b in the left-right direction. Here, even if an external force from one side to the other (e.g., from right to left) in the left-right direction is applied to the mating terminal 12, the displacement of the mating terminal 12 due to the external force input by the component force in the opposite direction (e.g., the component force F1b from left to right) or the inward component force F2b in the left-right direction is suppressed. In particular, since the downward component force F1a by each first contact portion 64 and the upward component force F2a by each second contact portion 76 are opposed to each other in the up-down direction, the displacement of the mating terminal 12 in the up-down direction is also more reliably suppressed. As a result, displacement of the mating terminal 12 relative to the terminal-equipped conductor 10 is suppressed, and the conductive state between the mating terminal 12 and the terminal-equipped conductor 10 can be stably maintained.

[0072] The spring member 82 that applies these pressing forces F1, F2 is divided into a first spring member 82a disposed on the right and a second spring member 82b disposed on the left. This allows the pressing forces F1, F2 on the right to be obtained by the first spring member 82a, and the pressing forces F1, F2 on the left to be obtained by the second spring member 82b. Therefore, while achieving a reduction in size of the spring member 82 (the first spring member 82a and the second spring member 82b), it is possible to obtain the pressing forces F1, F2 acting in different directions separately on the left and right.

[0073] 4, the first contact portions 64 and the second contact portions 76 are formed at different positions in the front-to-rear direction, so that the mating terminal 12 is clamped by the first contact portions 64 and the second contact portions 76 at three different positions in the front-to-rear direction. This makes it possible to effectively prevent the mating terminal 12 from being displaced by swinging in the up-down direction within the terminal press-fitting gap 16.

[0074] The first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b are only connected by the connecting portion 30 at the rear end, and when the mating terminal 12 is pressed into the terminal press-fitting gap 16, the first flexible piece 18a (particularly the first contact plate portion 44) and the second flexible piece 18b (particularly the second contact plate portion 52) are inclined in a direction intersecting with each other. Here, each of the first contact portions 64 and each of the second contact portions 76 has a substantially square protruding tip surface, and each of the central portions is shaped to protrude most. This allows each of the first contact portions 64 and each of the second contact portions 76 to stably contact the mating terminal 12 even when the mating terminal 12 and the first contact plate portion 44 and / or the second contact plate portion 52 are inclined. Furthermore, by making the protruding tip surfaces of each first contact portion 64 and each second contact portion 76 into the above-mentioned shape, even if the mating terminal 12 oscillates and displaces within the terminal press-fit gap 16, the contact state between the mating terminal 12 and each first contact portion 64 and each second contact portion 76 can be stably maintained.

[0075] <Modification> Although the first embodiment has been described above as a specific example of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to this specific description. Modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope of achieving the object of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. For example, the following modified examples of the embodiment are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0076] (1) In the above embodiment, a covered electric wire is used as the conductor 22, but this is merely an example. The conductor may be, for example, a bus bar, and an end of the bus bar may be fixed to a conductor connection portion of the terminal fitting. The bus bar may be insulated at required locations other than the end fixed to the conductor connection portion.

[0077] (2) In the above embodiment, the metal plate 38 is bent to form the connecting portion 30 and the first and second flexible pieces 18a, 18b, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, the first and second flexible pieces formed as separate bodies may be fixed to each other at their base ends by welding or the like. In this case, the connecting portion does not need to be provided at the edge portions on the base ends of the first and second flexible pieces, and the connecting portion may be provided at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the edge portions on the base ends toward the tip end side. In the above embodiment, the terminal-equipped conductor 10 includes two flexible pieces 18 (the first flexible piece 18a and the second flexible piece 18b), but the number of flexible pieces may be more than one, and may be three or more. For example, the first flexible piece 18a in the above embodiment may be divided into two in the left-right direction to provide three flexible pieces, and in such a case, the terminal of the conductor may be connected to at least one of the three flexible pieces.

[0078] (3) In the above embodiment, the terminal fitting 20 (conductor connection portion 32) and the conductor 22 (core wire 34) are welded by ultrasonic welding with a relatively small amount of heat input, but the method of connecting the conductor connection portion and the conductor in the terminal fitting is not limited to ultrasonic welding. For example, when welding the conductor connection portion and the conductor, it is possible to weld the conductor connection portion and the conductor by a welding method with a relatively large amount of heat input (e.g., laser welding, resistance welding, etc.) while preventing the first rear end portion and the second rear end portion from being fixed to each other by interposing another member with a relatively high melting point between the first rear end portion of the first flexible piece and the second rear end portion of the second flexible piece. Note that the conductor connection portion and the conductor may be connected and fixed by any connection method other than welding, such as crimping or crimping, as long as they are connected in a mutually conductive state.

[0079] (4) In the above embodiment, the spring members 82 (first spring member 82a and second spring member 82b) that urge the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52 in a direction in which they approach each other are configured by leaf spring clips, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the spring members that urge the first contact plate portion and the second contact plate portion in a direction in which they approach each other may be configured by, for example, a coil spring or an annular rubber elastic body. Note that such spring members are not essential in the terminal-attached conductor according to the present disclosure, and for example, the first and second flexible pieces that are elastically deformed outward in the opposing direction in association with the press-fitting of the mating terminal may be pressed against the mating terminal by their own elastic restoring force.

[0080] (5) In the above embodiment, the pair of inclined portions 24, 24 is provided in the mating terminal 12, and the pair of first inclined side edges 60, 60 and the pair of second inclined side edges 70, 70 are provided in the first contact plate portion 44 and the second contact plate portion 52, respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In the terminal-attached conductor according to the present disclosure, the above-mentioned inclined portion, first inclined side edge, and second inclined side edge are not essential, and for example, the mating terminal may be a flat tab shape having a substantially rectangular cross section, and the mating terminal connection portion (terminal press-fitting gap) may have a corresponding substantially rectangular cross section. Note that even when the inclined portion, first inclined side edge, and second inclined side edge are provided, the magnitudes of the inclination angles θ1, θ2, and θ3 may be different from each other. Also, the central flat portion, the first flat portion, and the second flat portion are not essential, and the inclined portions, the first inclined side edge, and the second inclined side edge on both sides may be directly connected to each other.

[0081] (6) The number, shapes, etc. of the first contact portion and the second contact portion are not limited to the aspects described in the above embodiment. For example, the first contact portion and the second contact portion may both be hemispherical, and one or more may be provided in the press-fitting direction of the mating terminal. In addition, the number, shapes, etc. of the first contact portion and the second contact portion may be different from each other.

[0082] (7) The number and shapes of the first and second protrusions provided on the first and second spring members are not limited. For example, the first and second protrusions may both be hemispherical, and one or more of each may be provided. Alternatively, the first and second protrusions may both have a shape that extends linearly with an arc-shaped cross section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 10 Conductors with terminals 12 Counterpart terminal 14 Counterpart terminal connection part 16 Terminal press-fit gap 18 Flexure 18a First flexible piece 18b Second flexure 20 Terminal fitting 22 Conductor 24 Slope 26 Central flat area 28 Through hole 30 Connecting part 32 Conductor connection 34 core wire 36 Insulation coating 38 Metal flat plate 40 Lengthwise one end 42 Other end of length 44 1st contact plate part 46 First rear end 48 Connection 50 Notch 52 2nd contact plate part 54 Second rear end 56 Connection 58 Notch 60 1st slope side edge 62 1st flat part 63 Inviting Surface 64 First contact part 66 Recess 68 Through hole 70 Second sloped side edge 72 2nd flat part 74 Inviting Surface 76 Second contact part 78 Recess 80 Through Hole 82 Spring material 82a First spring member 82b Second spring member 84 1st plate part 86 2nd plate part 88 Connecting plate part 90 First protrusion 92 Recess 94 Locking claw 96 Second protrusion 98 Recess 100 Locking claw 102 Gap

Claims

1. A terminal fitting having a plurality of flexible pieces; A conductor connected to the terminal fitting, The terminal fitting is a connecting portion formed by connecting base ends of the plurality of flexible pieces to each other; a mating terminal connection portion configured such that the tip sides of the plurality of flexible pieces, which are free ends, are arranged opposite each other with a terminal press-fitting gap therebetween; a conductor connection portion in which an end of the conductor is connected to an outer surface of at least one of the plurality of flexible pieces; The plurality of flexible pieces are flexible-deformed in a direction opposite to the facing direction with the connecting portion as a fulcrum, thereby allowing the mating terminal to be press-fitted into the mating terminal connecting portion, The conductor connection portion is provided extending toward the tip side beyond the coupling portion. Conductors with terminals.

2. the plurality of flexible pieces include a band-shaped first flexible piece and a band-shaped second flexible piece disposed opposite the first flexible piece in a plate thickness direction, the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece have end edges on the base end side connected to each other to form the connecting portion; 2. The terminal-equipped conductor according to claim 1, wherein the tip sides of the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece are arranged opposite each other across the terminal press-fitting gap in the plate thickness direction to form the mating terminal connection portion.

3. 3. The conductor with terminal as described in claim 2, wherein the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece are formed by bending both ends of a strip-shaped metal flat plate in the thickness direction so that they approach each other, with the bent portions being the connecting portions.

4. the base end side of the first flexible piece is overlapped with the base end side of the second flexible piece, and portions other than the connecting portion are separable from each other, The terminal-attached conductor according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the end of the conductor is welded to the outer surface of the base end side of the first flexible piece.

5. the tip side of each of the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece has a first contact plate portion and a second contact plate portion that constitute the mating terminal connection portion, a spring member that biases the first contact plate portion and the second contact plate portion in a direction in which they approach each other, When the mating terminal is press-fitted into the mating terminal connection portion, the first contact plate portion and the second contact plate portion are displaced in directions away from each other against the biasing force of the spring member, and the mating terminal is press-fitted into the mating terminal connection portion up to a press-fit end position, 4. The terminal-equipped conductor as described in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at the press-in end position, the first contact plate portion and the second contact plate portion are pressed against the mating terminal by the elastic restoring force of the first flexible piece and the second flexible piece and the elastic restoring force of the spring member.

6. the mating terminal has a plate shape and has a pair of inclined portions inclined toward the first contact plate portion, which is one side in a plate thickness direction of the mating terminal, on both sides in a plate width direction intersecting a press-fitting direction into the mating terminal connection portion; the first contact plate portion faces the one surface of the mating terminal in the plate thickness direction and has a pair of first inclined side edge portions inclined along the pair of inclined portions of the mating terminal, and a first contact portion protruding toward the terminal press-fitting gap is provided on each of the first inclined side edge portions; the second contact plate portion faces the other surface of the mating terminal in the plate thickness direction and has a pair of second inclined side edge portions inclined along the pair of inclined portions of the mating terminal, and a second contact portion is provided on each of the second inclined side edge portions and protruding toward the terminal press-fitting gap, The spring member includes a first spring member disposed on one side in the plate width direction and biasing the first inclined side edge portion and the second inclined side edge portion located on the one side in the plate width direction in a direction approaching each other, and a second spring member disposed on the other side in the plate width direction and biasing the first inclined side edge portion and the second inclined side edge portion located on the other side in the plate width direction in a direction approaching each other, 6. The terminal-equipped conductor as described in claim 5, wherein the first spring member presses the first contact portion of the first inclined side edge portion and the second contact portion of the second inclined side edge portion located on one side in the plate width direction against the inclined portion of the mating terminal pressed between them, and the second spring member presses the first contact portion of the first inclined side edge portion and the second contact portion of the second inclined side edge portion located on the other side in the plate width direction against the inclined portion of the mating terminal pressed between them.

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