Terminal fitting

Abstract

To provide a terminal fitting that can protect an exposed conductor exposed from a coating.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 10 includes a connection member 11 having a contact portion 22, into which an exposed conductor 83 exposed from a coating 82 of an electric wire 81 is inserted, and a slide member 12 attached to the connection member 11 so as to be slidable between a spaced position where the exposed conductor 83 is separated from the contact portion 22 and a connected position where the exposed conductor 83 contacts the contact portion 22. The slide member 12 includes covering portions 25, 26 that cover the exposed conductor 83 within a stroke range in which the slide member 12 slides from the spaced position to the connected position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal fitting. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal fitting including a connection member called a terminal body and a slide member attached to the connection member. The terminal fitting is accommodated in a housing. An exposed conductor (core wire) exposed from the coating at the end of an electric wire is inserted into the connection member. The slide member is slidable relative to the connection member between a spaced position where the exposed conductor is separated from a contact portion (contact surface) of the connection member and a connection position where the exposed conductor is in contact with the contact portion.

[0003] To explain an example of the operation of connecting the terminal fitting and the electric wire, the terminal fitting is first accommodated in the housing, and a jig is placed on the rear surface of the housing. In this state, the exposed conductor of the electric wire is inserted from the slide member into the connection member while being guided by a guide portion formed on the jig. Next, the jig is removed, and the slide member is pushed from the separated position to the connection position. This makes the exposed conductor of the electric wire available for contact with the contact portion of the connection member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-145208 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, when the exposed conductor is inserted into the connection member using a jig having a guide portion, a part of the exposed conductor remains exposed behind the housing after the jig is removed, which raises the concern that a foreign object may interfere with the exposed conductor and cause damage, etc.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a terminal fitting capable of protecting an exposed conductor exposed from a coating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The terminal fitting disclosed herein is a terminal fitting connected to an exposed conductor exposed from the coating at the end of an electric wire, and comprises a connection member into which the exposed conductor is inserted and having a contact portion, and a slide member attached to the connection member so as to be slidable between a spaced position where the exposed conductor is spaced from the contact portion and a connection position where the exposed conductor contacts the contact portion, and the slide member has a covering portion that covers the exposed conductor within a stroke range as it slides from the spaced position to the connection position. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a terminal fitting capable of protecting an exposed conductor exposed from a coating. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting according to a first embodiment, showing a state in which a sliding member is placed at a connection position relative to a connecting member. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal fitting of the first embodiment, showing a state in which a sliding member is placed at a connection position relative to a connection member. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting of the first embodiment, showing a state in which the sliding member is disposed at a spaced position relative to the connecting member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connecting member in the terminal fitting of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connecting member in the terminal fitting of the first embodiment, seen from a different direction than that in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a slide member in the terminal fitting of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the sliding member in the terminal fitting of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the terminal fitting of the first embodiment is accommodated in a housing and an electric wire is inserted into the terminal fitting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The terminal fitting of the present disclosure is (1) A terminal fitting connected to an exposed conductor exposed from the insulation at the end of an electric wire, comprising: a connection member into which the exposed conductor is inserted and having a contact portion; and a slide member attached to the connection member so as to be slidable between a spaced position where the exposed conductor is spaced from the contact portion and a connection position where the exposed conductor is in contact with the contact portion, the slide member having a covering portion that covers the exposed conductor within a stroke range as it slides from the spaced position to the connection position.

[0011] Since the cover portion covers the exposed conductor within the stroke range in which the slide member slides from the separated position to the connected position, the exposed conductor can be prevented from interfering with foreign objects and the exposed conductor can be kept protected.

[0012] (2) In the terminal fitting described above in (1), it is preferable that the cover portion has a cylindrical shape capable of covering the entire periphery of the exposed conductor.

[0013] Since the cylindrical covering portion can cover the entire circumference of the exposed conductor, it is possible to more reliably prevent the exposed conductor from interfering with foreign objects.

[0014] (3) In the terminal fitting described in (1) or (2) above, it is preferable that the connection member has a connection piece extending inward of the slide member, the contact portion is formed midway in the extension direction of the connection piece, the connection piece has a pressing portion at a tip side in the extension direction, and the slide member has a first pressing portion that presses the contact portion against the exposed conductor at the connection position and a second pressing portion that presses the pressing portion against the coating at the connection position.

[0015] When the sliding member reaches the connection position, the first pressing portion presses the contact portion against the exposed conductor, electrically connecting the connection member to the electric wire, and the second pressing portion presses the retaining portion, mechanically connecting the connection member to the electric wire. This increases the holding force with which the connection member holds the electric wire.

[0016] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention 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.

[0017] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment includes a connecting member 11 and a sliding member 12 which are separate from each other. The connecting member 11 and the sliding member 12 are both formed by punching a conductive metal plate and then bending the same. In the following description, the front-rear direction refers to the side where the connecting member 11 is located relative to the sliding member 12. The up-down direction refers to the up-down direction in each drawing except Fig. 5 and Fig. 8.

[0018] (Connection parts) As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the connection member 11 has a cylindrical, for example, rectangular, connection body 13 and a pair of connection pieces 14, 15 extending rearward from the connection body 13. The connection body 13 extends in the front-rear direction and is open on both the front and rear sides. In the case of the first embodiment, the connection body 13 is configured such that the vertical dimension is larger than the horizontal dimension. The connection member 11 has a locking portion 16 protruding upward from the upper wall 13A of the connection body 13. The locking portion 16 is locked in a locking hole 91 (see Fig. 8) of the housing 90, and the terminal fitting 10 is accommodated in the housing 90. Note that the housing 90 shown in Fig. 8 is illustrated without a cover member that covers the terminal fitting 10 from above.

[0019] The connecting member 11 has a mating contact portion (not shown) inside the connecting body 13. The mating contact portion is connected to a tab of a mating terminal fitting (not shown). The tab is inserted into the connecting member 11 from the front of the connecting member 11, and is connected to the connecting member 11 by coming into contact with the mating contact portion.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the connection pieces 14, 15 is in the form of a strip extending continuously backward from the rear end of each of the upper wall 13A and the lower wall 13B of the connection body 13. Each of the connection pieces 14, 15 is elastically deformable in a direction (up-down direction, inward-outward direction) in which it approaches or moves away from each other with the rear end of each of the upper wall 13A and the lower wall 13B of the connection body 13 as a fulcrum. Each of the connection pieces 14, 15 has a curved surface portion 21 between the middle of the front-rear direction and the rear end, and the curved surface portion 21 increases the vertical separation distance of the rear end. Each of the connection pieces 14, 15 has contact portions 22 in the middle of the front-rear direction that face each other in the vertical direction. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the contact portions 22 is formed on the inner surface of a thick portion formed in the middle of the front-rear direction of each of the connection pieces 14, 15. The thick portion of each of the connection pieces 14, 15 can be formed, for example, by stacking the plate material that constitutes each of the connection pieces 14, 15. The thick portion may have a recess formed on its inner surface, and as shown in FIG. 4, the contact portion 22 may include a recess.

[0021] Each of the connection pieces 14, 15 has, at its rear end, pressing portions 23 that face each other in the up-down direction. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each pressing portion 23 is formed on the inner surface of a thick portion formed at the rear end of each of the connection pieces 14, 15. The thick portion of each of the connection pieces 14, 15 can be formed, for example, by stacking the plate materials that make up each of the connection pieces 14, 15. A recess may be formed on the inner surface of this thick portion, and as shown in Figure 4, the pressing portion 23 may include a recess.

[0022] 4 and 5, the connection member 11 has a pair of position restriction portions 24 on both the left and right side walls 13C of the connection body 13. Each position restriction portion 24 is claw-shaped and formed by cutting and raising outward a portion of the rear end side of the side wall 13C.

[0023] (Slide member) As shown in FIG. 6, the slide member 12 has cylindrical, for example, rectangular cylindrical cover parts 25, 26 as a whole. In the case of the first embodiment, the cover parts 25, 26 are configured such that the vertical dimension is larger than the horizontal dimension. The cover parts 25, 26 extend in the front-rear direction and are open on both the front and rear sides. As shown in FIG. 2, the front-rear length of the cover parts 25, 26 is longer than the front-rear length of each of the connection pieces 14, 15. With each of the connection pieces 14, 15 of the connection member 11 inserted, the slide member 12 is slidable (slidable) between a separated position (see FIG. 3) and a connected position (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) with respect to the connection member 11. When the slide member 12 is in the connected position, the connection member 11 is electrically and mechanically connected to the electric wire 81.

[0024] 2, the electric wire 81 is, for example, a coated electric wire, and at the front end portion, the coating 82 is stripped off to expose a conductor 83 consisting of a core wire or the like. Hereinafter, the conductor exposed at the front end portion of the electric wire 81 is referred to as an exposed conductor 83.

[0025] In the case of the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, a flat wiring member 80 can be used in which a plurality of electric wires 81 are fixed in parallel to an insulating sheet portion 84 made of nonwoven fabric or the like. With such a wiring member 80, it is possible to insert the plurality of electric wires 81 into the corresponding terminal fittings 10 all at once by moving the sheet portion 84.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 6, the cover parts 25, 26 have a first cover part 25 arranged on the front side and a second cover part 26 arranged on the rear side. The second cover part 26 is formed to be slightly larger than the first cover part 25. The first cover part 25 is formed into a rectangular tube shape by an upper wall 25A, a lower wall 25B, and left and right side walls 25C. The second cover part 26 is also formed into a rectangular tube shape by an upper wall 26A, a lower wall 26B, and left and right side walls 26C.

[0027] The second cover portion 26 has inclined reduced diameter portions 28 at the front ends of the upper wall 26A, the lower wall 26B, and the left and right side walls 26C, which narrow forward and are connected to the upper wall 25A, the lower wall 25B, and the left and right side walls 25C of the first cover portion 25, respectively.

[0028] The first cover portion 25 has an engagement portion 29 protruding from a position near the front end of the upper wall 25A. The engagement portion 29 is formed, for example, by cutting out a part of the upper wall 25A of the first cover portion 25. The engagement portion 29 is pressed by a jig (not shown) when the slide member 12 is slid.

[0029] The covering parts 25, 26 have a front-rear pair of connection position receiving parts 31 and a front-rear pair of spaced position receiving parts 32 on both the left and right side walls 25C of the first covering part 25. Each spaced position receiving part 32 is provided with a rectangular opening shape penetrating the front end side of the side wall 25C of the first covering part 25. Each connection position receiving part 31 is provided with a rectangular opening shape penetrating the side wall 25C of the first covering part 25 rearward of each spaced position receiving part 32 at the front-rear intermediate side, similar to each spaced position receiving part 32.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 3, the slide member 12 is shallowly fitted into the connecting member 11, and each position restricting portion 24 of the connecting member 11 elastically fits into each spaced position receiving portion 32, thereby holding the slide member 12 in a state where its movement to the spaced position relative to the connecting member 11 is restricted. As shown in Fig. 1, the slide member 12 is deeply fitted into the connecting member 11, and each position restricting portion 24 of the connecting member 11 elastically fits into each connected position receiving portion 31, thereby holding the slide member 12 in a state where its movement to the connected position relative to the connecting member 11 is restricted.

[0031] 2 and 7, the covering parts 25, 26 have a pair of mutually opposing first pressing parts 33 on each of the upper wall 25A and the lower wall 25B of the first covering part 25. The first pressing part 33 of the upper wall 25A can be formed by bending the lower upper wall 25A downward, and has a lower surface extending in the front-rear direction. The first pressing part 33 of the lower wall 25B can be formed by bending the lower wall 25B upward, and has an upper surface extending in the front-rear direction.

[0032] 2 and 7, the covering parts 25, 26 have a pair of mutually opposing second pressing parts 35 on each of the upper wall 26A and the lower wall 26B of the second covering part 26. The second pressing part 35 of the upper wall 26A can be formed by bending the lower upper wall 26A downward, and has a lower surface extending in the front-rear direction. The second pressing part 35 of the lower wall 26B can be formed by bending the lower wall 26B upward, and has an upper surface extending in the front-rear direction.

[0033] (Function of terminal fittings) The terminal fitting 10 is accommodated in the housing 90 in advance. At this time, the slide member 12 is held in the spaced position relative to the connection member 11 by the engagement between the position restricting portions 24 and the spaced position receiving portions 32 (see FIG. 3). In this state, the exposed conductor 83 of the electric wire 81 is inserted into the terminal fitting 10. The exposed conductor 83 is inserted into the second cover portion 26 from the rear of the second cover portion 26, and is disposed from the second cover portion 26 to the first cover portion 25. When the slide member 12 is in the spaced position, the connection pieces 14, 15 are disposed away from the exposed conductor 83. The exposed conductor 83 is covered and protected by the cover portions 25, 26 of the slide member 12 and the connection member 11.

[0034] In this state, a jig (not shown) is applied to the engaging portion 29, and the engaging portion 29 is pressed forward by the jig. This releases the engagement between each position restricting portion 24 and each spaced position receiving portion 32, and the sliding member 12 advances relative to the connecting member 11 to the connecting position.

[0035] When the slide member 12 reaches the connection position, the first pressing portions 33 slide over the front and rear intermediate portions of the connection pieces 14, 15 to press the contact portions 22 of the connection pieces 14, 15 inward. The contact portions 22 of the connection pieces 14, 15 are pressed by the first pressing portions 33 to approach each other, and come into strong contact with the exposed conductor 83 to sandwich the exposed conductor 83 from above and below (see FIG. 2). Also, when the slide member 12 reaches the connection position, the second pressing portions 35 slide over the rear end portions (front end portions) of the connection pieces 14, 15 to press the holding portions 23 of the connection pieces 14, 15 inward. The holding portions 23 of the connection pieces 14, 15 are pressed by the second pressing portions 35 to approach each other, and come into strong contact with the front end portions of the coating 82 of the electric wire 81 to sandwich the coating 82 from above and below. In this manner, the exposed conductor 83 and the coating 82 of the electric wire 81 are sandwiched between the connection pieces 14 and 15, whereby the terminal fitting 10 is electrically and mechanically connected to the electric wire 81.

[0036] While the slide member 12 moves from the separated position to the connected position and when the slide member 12 is in the connected position, the exposed conductors 83 remain covered and protected by the covering portions 25, 26 of the slide member 12.

[0037] As described above, according to this embodiment 1, the covering portions 25, 26 cover the exposed conductor 83 within the stroke range in which the slide member 12 slides from the separated position to the connected position, thereby preventing the exposed conductor 83 from interfering with foreign objects and keeping the exposed conductor 83 protected.

[0038] Furthermore, since the cover portions 25 and 26 have a cylindrical shape capable of covering the entire circumference of the exposed conductor 83, the exposed conductor 83 can be more reliably prevented from interfering with foreign matter.

[0039] Moreover, the connection member 11 has a contact portion 22 midway in the extension direction of the connection pieces 14, 15, and a pressing portion 23 at the tip side (rear end side) in the extension direction of the connection pieces 14, 15. The slide member 12 has a first pressing portion 33 that presses the contact portion 22 against the exposed conductor 83 at the connection position, and a second pressing portion 35 that presses the pressing portion 23 against the coating 82 at the connection position. Therefore, when the slide member 12 reaches the connection position, the first pressing portion 33 presses the contact portion 22 against the exposed conductor 83, and the connection member 11 is electrically connected to the electric wire 81, and in addition, the second pressing portion 35 presses the pressing portion 23, and the connection member 11 is mechanically connected to the electric wire 81. Therefore, the holding force with which the connection member 11 holds the electric wire 81 can be increased.

[0040] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The above-described first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the covering portion is formed to cover the entire circumference of the exposed conductor. In contrast, in other embodiments, the covering portion may have an opening shape that does not cover a part of the exposed conductor as long as interference between the exposed conductor and a foreign object can be avoided. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the contact portion and the pressing portion are formed on a common (same) connecting piece. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the contact portion and the pressing portion may be formed on different connecting pieces. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the electric wire is provided in a wiring member fixed to the sheet part. In contrast, in the case of other embodiments, the electric wire may be configured as a linear covered electric wire without being fixed to the sheet part. In the first embodiment, the pressing portion is set to contact the coating at the same time as the contact portion is set to contact the exposed conductor. In contrast, in other embodiments, the pressing portion may be set to contact the coating after the contact portion is set to contact the exposed conductor. Alternatively, the pressing portion may be set to contact the coating after the contact portion is set to contact the exposed conductor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10...Terminal fitting 11...Connecting member 12...Slide member 13…Connection body 13A…Top wall of connection body 13B…Original bottom wall of connection 13C…Side wall of connection body 14…Upper connection piece 15…Lower connection piece 16…Latching part 21...Curved surface part 22…Contact part 23…Pressing part 24...Position regulation section 25…First cover part (cover part) 25A…Top wall of the first cover 25B…Lower wall of first cover 25C…Side wall of first cover 26...Second cover part (cover part) 26A…Upper wall of second cover 26B…Bottom wall of second cover 26C…Side wall of second cover 28...Reduced diameter part 29...Engagement part 31…Connection position receiving part 32...Separation position receiving part 33…First pressing part 35…Second pressing part 80...Wiring material 81...Electric wire 82…Covering 83…Conductor 84…Seat section 90…Housing 91...Latching hole

Claims

1. A terminal fitting connected to an exposed conductor exposed from a coating at an end portion of an electric wire, a connection member into which the exposed conductor is inserted and having a contact portion; a slide member attached to the connection member so as to be slidable between a spaced position in which the exposed conductor is separated from the contact portion and a connection position in which the exposed conductor is in contact with the contact portion, The slide member has a cover portion that covers the exposed conductor within a stroke range in which the slide member slides from the separated position to the connected position.

2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion has a cylindrical shape capable of covering an entire periphery of the exposed conductor.

3. The connecting member has a connecting piece extending to the inside of the slide member, The contact portion is formed midway in the extension direction of the connection piece, The connection piece has a pressing portion on a tip side in the extension direction, 3. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the slide member has a first pressing portion that presses the contact portion against the exposed conductor at the connection position, and a second pressing portion that presses the holding portion against the coating at the connection position.

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