Terminal fitting

Abstract

To provide a terminal fitting capable of protecting an elastic contact part without increasing the number of components.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 10 comprises: a square tube-shaped box part 10A having an insertion port 10J into which a mating fitting 50 is inserted; an elastic contact part 10D that is exposed at the outer surface of the box part 10A and is capable of elastic deformation; and a cover part 10F that is integrally formed with the box part 10A and covers the elastic contact part 10D from outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The female terminal fitting disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a resilient contact piece provided on a side wall of a cylindrical connecting portion, which is resilient to deform inward and outward of the cylindrical connecting portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-25988 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the structure of Patent Document 1, the resilient contact pieces are exposed to the outside of the cylindrical connection portion, and therefore the structure of Patent Document 1 requires a structure in which the resilient contact pieces are covered with a separate part.

[0005] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure has been completed in light of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a terminal fitting that can protect a resilient contact portion without increasing the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure is a square cylindrical box portion having an insertion opening for inserting a mating terminal; an elastic contact portion exposed on an outer surface of the box portion and capable of elastic deformation; a cover portion formed integrally with the box portion and covering the elastic contact portion from the outside; Equipped with. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to protect the elastic contact portion without increasing the number of parts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the terminal fitting as viewed from above. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting with a part of the box portion cut away. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a mating terminal is inserted into the terminal fitting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) a square cylindrical box portion having an insertion opening for inserting a mating terminal; an elastic contact portion exposed on an outer surface of the box portion and capable of elastic deformation; a cover portion formed integrally with the box portion and covering the elastic contact portion from the outside; A terminal fitting comprising:

[0010] In the terminal fitting (1), the cover portion is formed integrally with the box portion, so that it is possible to cover the elastic contact portion without increasing the number of parts.

[0011] (2) A folded portion is provided that is folded outward from an opening edge portion of the insertion port, the folded portion has a guide surface that guides the mating terminal into the insertion opening, The terminal fitting according to (1), wherein the cover portion is connected to the folded portion.

[0012] (2) The folded portion of the terminal fitting has both the function of guiding the mating terminal and the function of supporting the cover portion, thereby simplifying the structure of the terminal fitting compared to when these functions are provided separately.

[0013] (3) The terminal fitting described in (2), wherein the opening edge portion is connected to an inclined portion having a guide surface that extends forward in the opening direction of the insertion opening beyond the guide surface and guides the mating terminal into the insertion opening.

[0014] (3) The inclined portion of the terminal fitting makes it easier to insert the mating terminal into the insertion opening.

[0015] (4) The cover portion is connected to the pair of folded portions, The terminal fitting according to (3), wherein the inclined portion is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the pair of folded portions.

[0016] (4) The terminal fitting has an inclined portion having a guide surface that extends further forward in the opening direction than the folded portion, sandwiched between a pair of folded portions, so that the mating terminal is not guided unevenly into the insertion port, but rather is guided in a balanced manner.

[0017] (5) The elastic contact portion is elastically deformable outwardly of the box portion, The terminal fitting according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein an allowable space is formed between the cover portion and the outer surface.

[0018] (5) The terminal fitting can be provided with an allowable space so that the elastic deformation of the elastic contact portion toward the outside of the box portion is not hindered.

[0019] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of a connector 1 having a terminal fitting 10 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. In the drawings, "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "right side", and "left side" are represented by "F", "B", "U", "D", "R", and "L", respectively. Note that the directional references are defined for convenience, and do not necessarily coincide with the directions when the connector 1 including the terminal fitting 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like. For example, the up-down direction is not limited to the direction of gravity.

[0020] 1, the connector 1 is capable of connecting a mating terminal 50 of a mating connector (not shown) to a terminal fitting 10 accommodated in a housing 30. The connector 1 has a pair of terminal fittings 10 and a housing 30. The connector 1 is attached to a circuit board S.

[0021] [Circuit board configuration] The circuit board S is in the shape of a flat plate. Electronic components (not shown) are mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the circuit board S. A pair of through holes H are formed penetrating the circuit board S in the plate thickness direction. A conductive portion L is provided on the lower surface of the circuit board S so as to surround the through holes H. A connection portion 10H of a terminal fitting 10 that is inserted into the through holes H and protrudes from the lower surface of the circuit board S is connected and fixed to the conductive portion L by soldering.

[0022] [Terminal metal fitting configuration] The terminal fitting 10 is formed by pressing a conductive metal plate or the like. The terminal fitting 10 is a so-called female terminal fitting. The pair of terminal fittings 10 have the same shape and are different only in the position in which they are arranged. Therefore, the terminal fittings 10 will be described with reference to one of the terminal fittings 10. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the terminal fitting 10 has a box portion 10A, a plurality of folded portions 10B, a plurality of inclined portions 10C, a plurality of elastic contact portions 10D, a plurality of protrusions 10E, a plurality of cover portions 10F, a spring portion 10G, and a connection portion 10H.

[0023] The box part 10A has a rectangular cylindrical shape, its axis is oriented in the vertical direction, and its upper and lower ends are open (see FIG. 4). The upper end of the box part 10A is an insertion opening 10J into which the mating terminal 50 is inserted (see FIGS. 3 and 4). That is, the box part 10A has the insertion opening 10J into which the mating terminal 50 is inserted.

[0024] Two folded portions 10B are provided on each of a pair of opposing walls among the four walls constituting the box portion 10A (see Figs. 2 and 4). Each folded portion 10B is connected to the opening edge (the opening edge at the upper end) of the insertion opening 10J and is formed by folding back from the opening edge in an outward direction. Each folded portion 10B is curved in an arc (see Fig. 4). Of the outer surface of each folded portion 10B exposed upward, the portion that is connected to the opening edge of the insertion opening 10J and faces inward in the left-right direction is a guide surface 10K that guides the mating terminal 50 into the insertion opening 10J.

[0025] The inclined portions 10C are formed one by one on the wall portion of the box portion 10A where the folded portion 10B is provided (see Figs. 2 and 4). Specifically, on one wall portion, the inclined portion 10C is arranged so as to be sandwiched between two folded portions 10B. Each inclined portion 10C is connected to the opening edge portion (the opening edge portion at the upper end) of the insertion opening 10J and extends outward in the left-right direction and upwardly inclined (see Fig. 4). Each inclined portion 10C has a guide surface 10L that extends upward (forward in the opening direction of the insertion opening 10J) beyond the guide surface 10K of the folded portion 10B and expands outward in the left-right direction. The inclined portion 10C protrudes forward in the opening direction of the insertion opening 10J beyond the folded portion 10B.

[0026] The elastic contact portions 10D are formed in threes on the wall portion of the box portion 10A where the folded portion 10B is provided. Each elastic contact portion 10D is a part of the wall portion, and is formed by cutting and raising the wall portion so as to protrude inward from the wall portion. Each elastic contact portion 10D is formed to extend upward in a cantilever shape (see Figs. 3 and 4). In other words, each elastic contact portion 10D is elongated in the insertion direction of the mating terminal 50 into the box portion 10A. The elastic contact portion 10D can be elastically deformed inward and outward of the box portion 10A with the lower end as a base point. Each elastic contact portion 10D is arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the box portion 10A. Each elastic contact portion 10D is formed to be inclined so as to protrude inward from the wall portion of the box portion 10A (see Fig. 1). The tip portion (upper end portion) of each elastic contact portion 10D is inclined outward in the left-right direction and upward (see Fig. 1).

[0027] The protrusions 10E are formed in the wall of the box part 10A where the elastic contact parts 10D are arranged, so as to protrude inward, two at a time. Each protrusion 10E is a part of the wall, and is formed by hammering the wall. The lower end of each protrusion 10E is formed to be flush with the upper edge of the opening 10P that opens along the upper end of the elastic contact part 10D (see FIG. 3). That is, the protrusions 10E are formed on the edge of the opening 10P, facing the edge of the opening 10P formed by cutting and raising the elastic contact part 10D. In other words, the protrusions 10E are arranged in a position closer to the insertion opening 10J than the elastic contact parts 10D on the wall of the box part 10A. The protrusions 10E are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the box part 10A. The protrusions 10E are formed to protrude inward from the wall of the box part 10A (see FIG. 2). The upper part of each protrusion 10E is inclined downward toward the opposing wall (see FIG. 1). When the box portion 10A is viewed from above, each protrusion 10E is disposed between adjacent elastic contact portions 10D (see FIG. 2). The distance between the protrusions 10E facing each other in the left-right direction is greater than the distance between the elastic contact portions 10D facing each other in the left-right direction (see FIG. 2).

[0028] The cover portion 10F is in the shape of a flat plate and is arranged to cover the elastic contact portion 10D from the outside (see FIG. 4). Specifically, the cover portion 10F is formed in one of the walls constituting the box portion 10A, extending downward so as to be connected to the pair of folded-back portions 10B (see FIG. 4). The lower portion of the cover portion 10F is bent downward so as to be parallel to the outer surface of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 4). The lower end of the cover portion 10F is located lower than the lower end of the elastic contact portion 10D (see FIG. 3). The upper portion of the cover portion 10F is spaced from the outer surface of the wall portion of the box portion 10A, forming an allowable space K (see FIG. 1).

[0029] The spring portion 10G is formed to be continuous with the lower edge of one of the pair of walls of the box portion 10A on which the elastic contact portion 10D is formed. The spring portion 10G is formed in a band shape and extends in an S-shape away from the opposing wall of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 4). Specifically, the spring portion 10G has two bent portions 10M (see FIG. 4). When the box portion 10A is viewed from above, the spring portion 10G is disposed outside the box portion 10A (see FIG. 2). A pair of locking pieces 10N are formed at the lower end of the spring portion 10G so as to protrude in the width direction.

[0030] The connection portion 10H is formed to be connected to the lower end edge of the spring portion 10G and extend downward (see FIG. 4). The connection portion 10H is formed by folding back so as to overlap in the plate thickness direction (see FIGS. 2 and 4). When the box portion 10A is viewed from above, the connection portion 10H and the spring portion 10G are located outside the box portion 10A (see FIG. 2).

[0031] [Housing configuration] The housing 30 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 30 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape extending in the vertical direction. The housing 30 has a partition wall 30A. The partition wall 30A is arranged so as to divide the space inside the housing 30 into a left side and a right side. A terminal fitting 10 is arranged in each of the left and right spaces inside the housing 30 divided by the partition wall 30A. These spaces are accommodation spaces A that accommodate the terminal fittings 10. An insertion hole 30B is formed in the upper end of the housing 30 corresponding to each accommodation space A.

[0032] A pair of protrusions 30C are formed in the lower part of the housing 30 so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction so that the storage space A expands outward in the left-right direction. A pair of locking grooves 30D are formed in each of the protrusions 30C. In one of the protrusions 30C, the pair of locking grooves 30D are formed so as to extend upward from the lower end of each of a pair of walls whose plate thickness direction faces a direction intersecting the left-right direction and the up-down direction. Only one of the pair of locking grooves 30D is shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] [An example of assembling terminal fittings to a housing] As shown in Fig. 1, the terminal fittings 10 are adjusted so that the connection portions 10H are lower than the box portion 10A, and the terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in the accommodation spaces A from below the housing 30. At this time, the terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in the accommodation spaces A with the connection portions 10H of the terminal fittings 10 facing away from each other. Then, the locking pieces 10N are press-fitted into the locking grooves 30D of the housing 30 from below. In this way, the assembly of the housing 30 and the terminal fittings 10 is completed, and the connector 1 is completed. The insertion hole 30B of the housing 30 is formed to face the insertion opening 10J, which is one opening of the box portion 10A.

[0034] In the completed connector 1, the terminal fittings 10 are disposed spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing 30. That is, the terminal fittings 10 are in a non-contact state, not touching the housing 30, except for the locking pieces 10N. Therefore, the box portion 10A of the terminal fittings 10 can swing left and right, with the end of the spring portion 10G connected to the locking pieces 10N as a base point, within a range that does not contact the inner surface of the housing 30 (see FIG. 1).

[0035] [An example of assembling a connector to a circuit board] The connecting portion 10H of the terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the through hole H of the circuit board S. At this time, the connecting portion 10H is inserted into the through hole H from the upper surface side of the circuit board S. Then, while keeping the lower end surface of the housing 30 in contact with the upper surface of the circuit board S, the connecting portion 10H is connected and fixed to the conductive portion L of the circuit board S using solder. In this manner, the connector 1 is assembled to the circuit board S (see FIG. 1).

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the mating terminal 50 is inserted from above into the insertion opening 10J of the terminal fitting 10. First, the mating terminal 50 contacts the guide surface 10L of the inclined portion 10C. Next, the mating terminal 50 contacts the guide surface 10K of the folded portion 10B. Thus, the mating terminal 50 is guided to the insertion opening 10J by the guide surface 10L, and is guided to the insertion opening 10J by the guide surface 10K. After that, the mating terminal 50 inserted into the insertion opening 10J contacts each elastic contact portion 10D while being guided by the protrusion 10E. Then, each elastic contact portion 10D is pressed by the mating terminal 50 and elastically deformed toward the allowable space K formed outside the box portion 10A. If the mating terminal 50 is inserted into the box portion 10A at an angle, the elastic contact portion 10D may enter the allowable space K. In such a case, the cover portion 10F protects the elastically deformed elastic contact portion 10D and prevents the elastic contact portion 10D from bending excessively.

[0037] Next, the effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0038] The terminal fitting 10 comprises a square cylindrical box portion 10A having an insertion opening 10J for inserting a mating terminal 50, an elastically deformable elastic contact portion 10D exposed on the outer surface of the box portion 10A, and a cover portion 10F formed integrally with the box portion 10A and covering the elastic contact portion 10D from the outside. With this configuration, since the cover portion 10F is formed integrally with the box portion 10A, it is possible to cover the elastic contact portion 10D without increasing the number of parts.

[0039] The terminal fitting 10 has a folded portion 10B folded back outward from the opening edge of the insertion opening 10J. The folded portion 10B has a guide surface 10K that guides the mating terminal 50 into the insertion opening 10J. The covering portion 10F is continuous with the folded portion 10B. With this configuration, the folded portion 10B has both the function of guiding the mating terminal 50 and the function of supporting the covering portion 10F, so that the structure of the terminal fitting 10 can be simplified compared to when these functions are provided separately.

[0040] An inclined portion 10C having a guide surface 10L that extends forward in the opening direction of the insertion opening 10J beyond the guide surface 10K and guides the mating terminal 50 into the insertion opening 10J is continuous with the opening edge of the insertion opening 10J. According to this configuration, the inclined portion 10C makes it easier to insert the mating terminal 50 into the insertion opening 10J.

[0041] The cover portion 10F is continuous with the pair of folded portions 10B. The inclined portion 10C is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the pair of folded portions 10B. With this configuration, the pair of folded portions 10B sandwich the inclined portion 10C having the guide surface 10L extending forward in the opening direction beyond the folded portions 10B, so that the mating terminal 50 can be guided in a balanced manner without being unevenly guided into the insertion opening 10J.

[0042] The elastic contact portion 10D is elastically deformable outward from the box portion 10A, and an allowable space K is formed between the cover portion 10F and the outer surface of the box portion 10A. With this configuration, the allowable space K can be prevented from hindering the elastic deformation of the elastic contact portion 10D outward from the box portion 10A.

[0043] [Other embodiments] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0044] The number of folded parts, inclined parts, elastic contact parts, protrusions, and bent parts of the spring part are not limited to those in the above embodiment. Also, the folded parts, inclined parts, elastic contact parts, and protrusions may be provided on only one wall part.

[0045] Unlike the above embodiment, the present invention may be applied to a terminal fitting connected to an end of an electric wire.

[0046] Unlike the above embodiment, the spring portion may be bent in a Z-shape or a crank shape.

[0047] Unlike the above embodiment, the cover portion may be continuous with a portion of the terminal fitting that is not the folded-back portion.

[0048] Unlike the above embodiment, a configuration without the inclined portion may be used.

[0049] Unlike the above embodiment, the covering portion may be connected to one or three or more folded portions.

[0050] The inclined portion may be disposed adjacent to one of the folded portions.

[0051] Unlike the above embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which no allowable space is formed between the cover portion and the outer surface of the box portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1: Connector 10: Terminal fitting 10A: Hakobe 10B: Folded part 10C: Inclined part 10D: Elastic contact part 10E: Projection 10F: Covering section 10G: Spring part 10H: Connection part 10J: Insertion port 10K: Guideway 10L: Induction surface 10M: Bent part 10N: Locking piece 10P: Opening 30: Housing 30A: Partition wall 30B: Through hole 30C:Protrusion 30D: Locking groove 50: Terminal of the other side A: Storage space H:Through hole K: Allowable space L: Conductive part S: Circuit board

Claims

1. a square cylindrical box portion having an insertion opening for inserting a mating terminal; an elastic contact portion exposed on an outer surface of the box portion and capable of elastic deformation; a cover portion formed integrally with the box portion and covering the elastic contact portion from the outside; A terminal fitting comprising:

2. A folded portion is provided which is folded outward from an opening edge portion of the insertion port, the folded portion has a guide surface that guides the mating terminal into the insertion opening, The terminal fitting according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion is continuous with the folded portion.

3. The terminal fitting according to claim 2 , wherein the opening edge is connected to an inclined portion having a guide surface that extends forward in an opening direction of the insertion opening beyond the guide surface and guides the mating terminal into the insertion opening.

4. The cover portion is connected to the pair of folded portions, The terminal fitting according to claim 3 , wherein the inclined portion is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the pair of the folded portions.

5. the elastic contact portion is elastically deformable outwardly of the box portion, The terminal fitting according to claim 1 , wherein an allowable space is formed between the cover portion and the outer surface.

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