Terminal fitting

Abstract

To provide a terminal fitting which can improve strength against external force such as an impact.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 1 has a square cylindrical box part 51 into which a tab part 100 of a mating terminal is inserted. The box part 51 is formed such that a top plate 51e, a first side plate 51b, a bottom plate 51a, and a second side plate 51c are continuously provided in a circumferential direction, and that the top plate 51e and the second side plate 51c approximates to each other in a posture where an angle θ formed between them may be a right angle. The box part 51 has an upright piece 57 which protrudes from a second side edge part 51p of the second side plate 51c to the outside of the box part 51. The top plate 51e has a hole part 51k which allows the upright piece 57 to penetrate therethrough. The hole part 51k is formed at a position away from the second side plate 51c in a width direction which is perpendicular to both a protrusion direction of the upright piece 57 and an axial direction of the box part 51. An intermediate part 57a of the upright piece 57 has a bent shape which sandwiches a portion of the top plate 51e in a direction along the protrusion direction, while allowing a portion of the intermediate part 57a to penetrate through the hole part 51k.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, for example, many connectors including terminal fittings have been used in vehicles such as automobiles. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a female terminal when assuming a connection between a male connector including a male terminal, which is one of the terminal fittings, and a female connector including a female terminal, which is the other of the terminal fittings. The female terminal has a square cylindrical box portion into which a tab portion of the male terminal is inserted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-46175 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the female terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1, the box portion is formed by bending a punched metal plate material. Therefore, when the female terminal receives an external force such as an impact, depending on the direction of the external force, the structure of the box portion may collapse, and a part of the box portion may be deformed or damaged.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the conventional art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal fitting having improved strength against external forces such as impacts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a terminal fitting having a square tubular box portion into which a tab portion of a mating terminal is inserted, the box portion being formed such that a top plate, a first side plate, a bottom plate and a second side plate are continuous in the circumferential direction and the top plate and the second side plate are adjacent to each other and form a right angle with each other, the box portion has an upright piece protruding outward from the side edge of the second side plate, the top plate has a hole portion through which the upright piece passes, the hole portion is formed at a position spaced from the second side plate in a width direction perpendicular to both the protruding direction of the upright piece and the axial direction of the box portion, and a middle portion of the upright piece has a bent shape that sandwiches a part of the top plate in a direction along the protruding direction while part of the middle portion passes through the hole portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal fitting having improved strength against external forces such as impacts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial development view of a terminal fitting according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a terminal fitting according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the terminal fitting according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second stabilizer in the terminal fitting according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 13 is an enlarged view showing a side surface of an upright piece that constitutes the second stabilizer. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a terminal fitting according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting 1 according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a partial development view of the terminal fitting 1. Fig. 2 mainly shows a portion relating to a box portion 51 included in the terminal fitting 1, and also shows a surface that becomes the inside of the box portion 51 when the box portion 51 is assembled into a product form. Here, the product form of the terminal fitting 1 refers to the terminal fitting 1 being in the state shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the terminal fitting 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the terminal fitting 1.

[0011] The terminal fitting 1 is a so-called female terminal that connects a tab portion 100 (see FIG. 4) that is a part of a male terminal. For example, in a structure for connecting a male connector and a female connector, the male terminal may be provided on the male connector, and the female terminal may be provided on the female connector. The terminal fitting 1 is formed by punching out a conductive metal plate material into a predetermined shape and subjecting the plate material to bending or other processing. The terminal fitting 1 is generally rod-shaped with the Z direction as its extension direction, and has a box portion 51, a conductor crimping portion 52, and a coating crimping portion 53 that are aligned integrally along the Z direction.

[0012] The tab portion 100 is inserted into the box portion 51. The shape of the box portion 51 is a square tube with the Z direction as the axial direction, the X direction as the width direction, and the Y direction as the height direction, and the outer periphery of the cross section is rectangular. The box portion 51 has, for example, a bottom plate 51a, a first side plate 51b, a second side plate 51c, an elastic contact piece 51d, and a top plate 51e.

[0013] The top plate 51e, the first side plate 51b, the bottom plate 51a, and the second side plate 51c are continuous in the circumferential direction based on the axial direction when the box part 51 is assembled into the product form. The first side plate 51b rises in the height direction from one end of the width direction of the bottom plate 51a. The second side plate 51c rises in the height direction from the other end of the width direction of the bottom plate 51a. The first side plate 51b and the second side plate 51c face each other in the X direction. The top plate 51e is bent from the upper end of the first side plate 51b toward the second side plate 51c, and faces the bottom plate 51a in the Y direction. At this time, a part of the first side edge 51n of the top plate 51e engages with a part of the second side edge 51p of the second side plate 51c, and the top plate 51e and the second side plate 51c approach each other in a position where the angle θ (see FIG. 6) they form is a right angle.

[0014] One axial end of the box portion 51 is an insertion opening 51f for inserting the tab portion 100. The other axial end of the box portion 51 is a continuous end 51g that is continuous with one end of the conductor crimping portion 52, and includes a locking surface 51h as an edge of the top plate 51e.

[0015] The elastic contact piece 51d is provided on the inner surface 51i of the bottom plate 51a and elastically contacts the tab portion 100 inserted into the box portion 51 for electrical connection. The elastic contact piece 51d is a cantilever beam with the continuous end 51g side as a fixed end and the insertion opening portion 51f side as a free end. The free end has a mountain shape that protrudes toward the top plate 51e side. In this embodiment, the elastic contact piece 51d is continuous with the second side edge portion 51p via the connecting piece 51m in the vicinity of the fixed end on the continuous end 51g side. Furthermore, the bottom plate 51a has a bead portion 51j that is raised so as to contact the lower surface portion of the elastic contact piece 51d at a position on the inner surface 51i facing between the fixed end and the free end of the elastic contact piece 51d.

[0016] The top plate 51e also has a lance hole 55. When the terminal fitting 1 is accommodated in a correct position in a cavity provided in a female housing (not shown), the lance hole 55 engages with a part of a lance provided in the female housing. The lance hole 55 is formed in the top plate 51e so as to penetrate from the inside to the outside of the box portion 51 along the Y direction.

[0017] The first side plate 51b has a first stabilizer 56 protruding from the upper end 51q outward from the box portion 51. As shown in FIG. 2, the first stabilizer 56 has a shape cut and raised to match the position of the lance hole 55 formed in the top plate 51e. When the terminal fitting 1 is accommodated in the cavity, the first stabilizer 56 slides along a guide groove that is provided in advance along the Z direction at a predetermined position on the inner wall of the cavity. The first stabilizer 56 is guided by the guide groove, so that the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 1 is regulated and the terminal fitting 1 is smoothly accommodated in the cavity. When the terminal fitting 1 is to be inserted into the cavity in a posture different from the predetermined insertion posture, the first stabilizer 56 does not pass through the default guide groove, thereby preventing further insertion.

[0018] Furthermore, the second side plate 51c has an upright piece 57 that protrudes from the second side edge portion 51p to the outside of the box portion 51. Additionally, the top plate 51e has a hole 51k through which the upright piece 57 passes.

[0019] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second stabilizer 57b formed by the standing piece 57. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing a side surface of the standing piece 57.

[0020] When the box portion 51 is assembled into the product form, the hole 51k is formed at a position spaced apart from the second side plate 51c in the width direction perpendicular to both the protruding direction of the standing piece 57 and the axial direction of the box portion 51. Referring to Fig. 6, the direction in which the standing piece 57 protrudes outward from the second side edge 51p of the box portion 51 is the Y direction. Since the axial direction of the box portion 51 is the Z direction, the width direction here is the X direction. In this case, the hole 51k is formed at a position spaced apart from the second side plate 51c by a distance L along the X direction.

[0021] Meanwhile, the standing piece 57 is further bent to form an intermediate portion 57a. The intermediate portion 57a ​​has a bent shape that sandwiches a part of the top plate 51e in a direction along the Y direction, which is the protruding direction of the standing piece 57, while a part of the intermediate portion 57a ​​is inserted through the hole portion 51k. For example, the specific shape of the intermediate portion 57a ​​is a substantially U-shape when viewed in the Z direction, including a first side portion 57c that is bent in the X direction from the second side edge portion 51p, a bottom portion 57d that rises in the Y direction from the first side portion 57c, and a second side portion 57e that is bent in the opposite direction to the X direction from the bottom portion 57d. In this case, the first side portion 57c and the second side portion 57e sandwich a part of the top plate 51e. Then, a tip portion 57f rises from the end of the second side portion 57e so as to be aligned with the second side edge portion 51p in the Y direction. In order to provide such an intermediate portion 57a, the standing piece 57 has a long plate shape before bending as shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the standing piece 57 is formed by cutting out a part of the connecting piece 51m.

[0022] Here, the opening shape of hole 51k through which upright piece 57 penetrates is a shape that conforms to the cross-sectional shape of upright piece 57. In this embodiment, the opening shape of hole 51k and the cross-sectional shape of upright piece 57 are both elongated rectangles. In addition, in a state in which part of intermediate portion 57a ​​penetrates hole 51k, it is desirable that the gap between intermediate portion 57a ​​and the edge of hole 51k is as small as possible.

[0023] 5, a part of the upright piece 57 that penetrates the hole 51k and protrudes outward beyond the top plate 51e is a second stabilizer 57b that functions similarly to the first stabilizer 56. That is, in this embodiment, the box portion 51 has two stabilizers that each have a main plane parallel to the YZ plane, are spaced apart from each other in the X direction, and both protrude along the Y direction. This allows the terminal fitting 1 to be more smoothly accommodated in the cavity according to a predefined insertion direction.

[0024] The conductor crimping portion 52 and the covering crimping portion 53 connect electric wires (not shown) whose conductor portions are covered with insulating covering portions. The conductor crimping portion 52 has a pair of crimping pieces and is crimped to the conductor portions of the electric wires. The covering crimping portion 53 has a pair of crimping pieces and is crimped to the covering portion of the electric wires.

[0025] Next, the function and effect of the terminal fitting 1 will be described.

[0026] The terminal fitting 1 has a square cylindrical box portion 51 into which the tab portion 100 of the mating terminal is inserted. The box portion 51 is formed such that a top plate 51e, a first side plate 51b, a bottom plate 51a, and a second side plate 51c are continuous in the circumferential direction, and the top plate 51e and the second side plate 51c are adjacent to each other in a position where the angle θ between them is a right angle. The box portion 51 has an upright piece 57 that protrudes outward from the box portion 51 from a second side edge portion 51p of the second side plate 51c. The top plate 51e has a hole portion 51k through which the upright piece 57 penetrates. The hole portion 51k is formed at a position spaced from the second side plate 51c in the width direction perpendicular to both the protruding direction of the upright piece 57 and the axial direction of the box portion 51. The middle portion 57a ​​of the standing piece 57 has a bent shape that sandwiches a part of the top plate 51e in the direction along the protruding direction while a part of the middle portion 57a ​​passes through the hole portion 51k.

[0027] Here, in the above example, the protruding direction of the standing piece 57 corresponds to the Y direction, the axial direction of the box portion 51 corresponds to the Z direction, and the width direction perpendicular to both the protruding direction of the standing piece 57 and the axial direction of the box portion 51 corresponds to the X direction.

[0028] First, in the terminal fitting 1, the box part 51 has a basic configuration in which the top plate 51e, the first side plate 51b, the bottom plate 51a, and the second side plate 51c are continuous in the circumferential direction, and are bent so that the top plate 51e and the second side plate 51c are close to each other. In addition, a part of the standing piece 57 formed on the second side plate 51c penetrates the hole 51k formed in the top plate 51e. Therefore, even if the top plate 51e is to be displaced relative to the second side plate 51c along the axial direction of the box part 51, the standing piece 57 prevents the hole 51k from being displaced by the top plate 51e, so that the top plate 51e is unlikely to be displaced. Therefore, according to the terminal fitting 1, even if an external force such as an impact is applied, deformation or damage of the box part 51, especially along the axial direction, can be prevented.

[0029] In the terminal fitting 1, the hole 51k is formed at a position spaced apart from the second side plate 51c in the width direction perpendicular to both the protruding direction of the standing piece 57 and the axial direction of the box part 51. The middle part 57a of the standing piece 57 has a bent shape that sandwiches a part of the top plate 51e in a direction along the protruding direction while a part of the middle part 57a penetrates the hole 51k. Therefore, even if the top plate 51e of the box part 51 is opened relative to the second side plate 51c along the protruding direction of the standing piece 57, the displacement of the hole 51k is suppressed by the standing piece 57, so that so-called box opening is suppressed. Therefore, according to the terminal fitting 1, even if an external force such as an impact is applied, deformation or damage of the box part 51, especially along the protruding direction, can be suppressed.

[0030] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a terminal fitting 1 having improved strength against external forces such as impacts.

[0031] In addition, in the terminal fitting 1, a portion of the upright piece 57 that penetrates the hole portion 51k and protrudes outward beyond the top plate 51e may be a stabilizer that prevents reverse insertion when the terminal fitting 1 is accommodated in a cavity of a connector housing.

[0032] In the above example, the stabilizer corresponds to the second stabilizer 57b.

[0033] According to this terminal fitting 1, the portion of the box portion 51 that functions as a stabilizer can be given a structure that improves strength against external forces such as impact, as described above, which is advantageous in simplifying the shape of the terminal fitting 1 or reducing the cost, etc.

[0034] Furthermore, in the terminal fitting 1, the box portion 51 may have a resilient contact piece 51d that is overlapped by bending on the inner surface 51i of the bottom plate 51a and resilient contacts with the inserted tab portion 100. The resilient contact piece 51d may be continuous with the second side edge portion 51p via a connecting piece 51m. The standing piece 57 may be formed by cutting out a part of the connecting piece 51m.

[0035] According to this terminal fitting 1, a part of the connecting piece 51m can be used as the upright piece 57, which is advantageous in terms of simplifying the shape of the terminal fitting 1 and reducing costs.

[0036] In the above description, the box part 51 has a shape including the bottom plate 51a, the first side plate 51b, the second side plate 51c, the elastic contact piece 51d, and the top plate 51e. However, the shape of the box part 51 is merely an example, and the box part 51 may have, for example, further plate parts.

[0037] Although one embodiment has been described above, the embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Terminal fitting 51 Hakobe 51a Bottom plate 51b 1st side plate 51c 2nd side plate 51d Elastic contact piece 51e Top plate 51i Inside 51k hole 51m connecting piece 51p 2nd side edge 57 Standing piece 57a Middle part 57b Second stabilizer 100 Tab section

Claims

1. A terminal fitting having a square cylindrical box portion into which a tab portion of a mating terminal is inserted, The box portion is formed such that a top plate, a first side plate, a bottom plate, and a second side plate are continuous in a circumferential direction, and the top plate and the second side plate are adjacent to each other and form a right angle with each other, The box portion has an upright piece that protrudes outward from a side edge of the second side plate, The top plate has a hole through which the upright piece passes, the hole is formed at a position spaced apart from the second side plate in a width direction perpendicular to both a protruding direction of the upright piece and an axial direction of the box portion, The terminal fitting has an intermediate portion of the upright piece having a bent shape that sandwiches a portion of the top plate in a direction along the protruding direction while a portion of the intermediate portion passes through the hole.

2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the upright piece that passes through the hole and protrudes outward beyond the top plate is a stabilizer that prevents reverse insertion when the terminal fitting is accommodated in a cavity of a connector housing.

3. the box portion has an elastic contact piece that is folded over the inner surface of the bottom plate and elastically contacts the inserted tab portion, the elastic contact piece is continuous with the side edge portion of the second side plate via a connecting piece, The terminal fitting according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upright piece is formed by cutting out a part of the connecting piece.

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