Female terminal and terminal unit

Abstract

To provide a female terminal which can cope with a higher current while preventing an increase in size of the female terminal, and which can also reduce a deformation risk of a contact spring part at the time of manufacturing.SOLUTION: A female terminal 10 comprises: a body part 20 having a connection part 16 to be conduction-connected to another member and a hollow cylindrical conductor part 18; and a contact formation metal fitting 22 which is conductively assembled to the cylindrical conductor part 18. The cylindrical conductor part 18 has a male terminal insertion port 26 which is opened to one end side. The contact formation metal fitting 22 has: a frame body part 52 which is assembled to an inner surface 36 of wall parts 30, 32, 34, and 35 of the cylindrical conductor part 18; and a contact spring part 54 to be brought into pressure-contact with a male terminal 12 which is held by the frame body part 52 and protrudes to the inner side of the frame body part 52 so as to be inserted from the male terminal insertion port 26. A welding part 80 provided on an outer surface 64 of the frame body part 52 of the contact formation metal fitting 22 and a welded part 38 provided on the inner surface 36 of the wall parts 30, 32, 34, and 35 of the cylindrical conductor part 18 in the body part 20 are welded to each other in an overlapping manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a female terminal and a terminal unit.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes a female terminal formed by press-working a metal flat plate. An electric wire connection portion configured by overlapping a pair of flat plate portions is provided on the base end side of the female terminal, and a male terminal mounting cylinder portion into which a flat tab-shaped male terminal is inserted is provided on the tip end side of the female terminal, and it is provided as a terminal unit composed of the female terminal and the male terminal. The male terminal mounting cylinder portion has a pair of support plate portions having an L shape that protrude from each flat plate portion in the opposite direction to the overlapping direction and then protrude toward the tip end side. Further, the male terminal mounting cylinder portion also has a pair of contact spring portions that are connected in a cantilever shape via semi-circular curved portions to the protruding end portions of the pair of support plate portions and protrude toward the base end side. The pair of contact spring portions are arranged to face each other with a male terminal insertion gap therebetween, and a separate contact pressure applying spring is mounted on the tip end portions of the pair of contact spring portions. By this contact pressure applying spring, contact pressure to the male terminal of the pair of contact spring portions is added, and a stable connection state between the male and female terminals can be maintained.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, since the female terminal of Patent Document 1 is formed by pressing a metal flat plate, the contact spring portion also requires a thickness corresponding to the current capacity. Therefore, when it is necessary to pass a large current, the plate thickness of the contact spring portion also increases. As a result, in order to ensure the followability of the contact spring portion to the male terminal, it is necessary to make the contact spring portion longer, and the female terminal tends to be enlarged. In addition, since the contact spring portion is open to the side, it is likely to come into contact with other members or tools during the manufacturing stage of the female terminal and may be deformed.

[0005] Therefore, a female terminal and a terminal unit are disclosed that can cope with an increase in current while suppressing an increase in the size of the female terminal and can also suppress the risk of deformation during the manufacture of the contact spring portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The female terminal of the present disclosure is a pressed product of a first metal flat plate, and has a main body portion having a connection portion conductively connected to other members and a hollow cylindrical conductor portion, and a pressed product of a second metal flat plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first metal flat plate, and a contact forming fitting assembled to be conductively connected to the cylindrical conductor portion. The cylindrical conductor portion has a male terminal insertion opening that opens toward one end side, and the contact forming fitting has a frame portion assembled to the inner surface of the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion, and a contact spring portion held by the frame portion and protruding inward of the frame portion to be pressed against a male terminal inserted from the male terminal insertion opening. A welded portion provided on the outer surface of the frame portion of the contact forming fitting is overlapped with a welded portion provided on the inner surface of the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion of the main body portion and is welded to each other.

[0007] The terminal unit of the present disclosure is a terminal unit including a female terminal and a male terminal connected to the female terminal, wherein the female terminal is the female terminal described in the present disclosure.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a female terminal and a terminal unit that can cope with an increase in current while suppressing an increase in the size of the female terminal, and can also suppress the risk of deformation during the manufacture of the contact spring portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] <Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The female terminal of the present disclosure is (1) A press-worked product of a first metal plate, comprising a main body having a connection part conductively connected to another member and a hollow cylindrical conductor part, and a press-worked product of a second metal plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first metal plate, the second metal plate being a press-worked product, and a contact forming fitting assembled to the cylindrical conductor part so as to be electrically conductive. The cylindrical conductor part has a male terminal insertion opening that opens toward one end side. The contact forming fitting has a frame part assembled to the inner surface of the wall part of the cylindrical conductor part, and a contact spring part held by the frame part and protruding inward of the frame part to be pressed against a male terminal inserted from the male terminal insertion opening. A welded part provided on the outer surface of the frame part of the contact forming fitting is overlapped with a welded part provided on the inner surface of the wall part of the cylindrical conductor part of the main body part and welded to each other.

[0011] According to the female terminal of the present disclosure, a main body having a connection part with another member and a hollow cylindrical conductor part, and a contact forming fitting assembled to the cylindrical conductor part of the main body so as to be electrically conductive are configured as separate parts. Further, the contact forming fitting is formed using a second metal plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first metal plate forming the main body part. Thereby, when it is necessary to cope with an increase in current, while ensuring the capacitance in the main body part having a large plate thickness dimension, the contact spring part can be provided with a thickness thinner than that of the main body part. Therefore, even when it is necessary to cope with an increase in current, compared with the conventional structure, it is possible to reduce the necessity of increasing the length of the contact spring part in order to obtain the followability of the contact spring part to the male terminal, and it is possible to cope with an increase in current while suppressing the enlargement of the female terminal.

[0012] In addition, the contact forming fitting has a frame part assembled to the inner surface of the wall part of the cylindrical conductor part and a contact spring part pressed against the male terminal, and the contact spring part is formed so as to be held by the frame part and protrude inward of the frame part. Thereby, even when assembling the contact forming fitting to the cylindrical conductor part of the main body part, since the frame part can be held and the assembling work can be performed, the assembling work can be easily performed. Further, since the risk of other members or tools interfering with the contact spring part during the assembling work can be reduced by the frame part, the risk of deformation during the manufacture of the contact spring part can also be suppressed compared with the conventional structure.

[0013] Furthermore, since the welded portion provided on the outer surface of the frame portion of the contact forming fitting is overlapped with the welded portion provided on the inner surface of the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion of the main body portion and welded to each other, even if the main body portion and the contact forming fitting are configured as separate parts, it is possible to suppress an increase in conduction resistance and cope with a large current. In particular, since the welded portion and the welded portion to be welded to each other are provided on the outer surface of the frame portion and the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion assembled by being overlapped therewith, a welding area can be advantageously secured, and it becomes easy to secure conduction stability.

[0014] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable to have a pressing portion that presses the welded portion against the welded portion to be welded. By further providing the pressing portion, the welded portion can be pressed against the welded portion to be welded to improve the adhesion, and the joining property between the main body portion and the contact forming fitting by laser welding or the like can be improved.

[0015] Note that the pressing portion may be integrally configured using the main body portion or the contact forming fitting, or may be configured using an elastic member separate from the main body portion or the contact forming fitting.

[0016] (3) In the above (2), the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion of the main body portion has a first main body wall portion and a second main body wall portion that are opposed to each other in the Z direction orthogonal to the X direction, which is the axial direction of the cylindrical conductor portion. The welded portion to be welded includes a first welded portion and a second welded portion respectively formed by the inner surfaces of the first main body wall portion and the second main body wall portion on the male terminal insertion port side. The frame portion of the contact forming fitting has a first frame wall portion that is overlapped with the first welded portion in the Z direction and a second frame wall portion that is overlapped with the second welded portion in the Z direction. The welded portion includes a first welded portion provided on the first frame wall portion and welded to the first welded portion to be welded, and a second welded portion provided on the second frame wall portion and welded to the second welded portion to be welded. It is preferable that at least one of the first frame wall portion and the second frame wall portion is bent outward in the Z direction to form the pressing portion that can be elastically deformed inward in the Z direction.

[0017] The first welded part and the first part to be welded, and the second welded part and the second part to be welded that are mutually welded to both sides in the Z direction on the male terminal insertion port side in the cylindrical conductor part of the main body part can be arranged. Therefore, the welding operation of the welded part and the part to be welded can be performed near the male terminal insertion port on the opening side of the cylindrical conductor part, and the welding operation becomes easy. Furthermore, since the cylindrical conductor part and the frame body part can be welded and fixed at two locations facing each other in the Z direction, the assembly stability and conduction stability between the main body part and the contact forming fitting can be improved.

[0018] Moreover, by skillfully using a contact forming fitting with a plate thickness thinner than that of the main body part, a pressing part formed by bending outward in the Z direction is provided on at least one of the first frame body wall part and the second frame body wall part. As a result, the pressing part elastically deforms inward in the Z direction, allowing the assembly of the contact forming fitting to the cylindrical conductor part of the main body part, and the elastic restoring force of the pressing part outward in the Z direction can press the first welded part and the second welded part against the first part to be welded and the second part to be welded, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to improve the joining property between the welded part and the part to be welded with a small number of parts, and thus improve the conduction stability of the female terminal.

[0019] (4) In the above (3), it is preferable that the connection part of the main body part is provided on the first main body wall part side, and the pressing part of the contact forming fitting is provided on the second frame body wall part and not provided on the first frame body wall part. According to this aspect, by providing the pressing part on the second frame body wall part and not on the first frame body wall part, a welding part on the first frame body wall part can be ensured in a wide area and welded to the first part to be welded on the first main body wall part. That is, a wide area of the welded part and the part to be welded can be ensured and joined on the first main body wall part side where the current conduction path to the connection part is shorter than that of the second main body wall part. As a result, while improving the adhesion between the welded part and the part to be welded by the pressing part, the main body part and the contact forming fitting can be joined in a wide area near the connection part, and the conduction stability of the female terminal can be more efficiently improved.

[0020] (5) In any one of (1) to (4) above, the contact forming fitting is inserted from the male terminal insertion port on the one end side of the cylindrical conductor portion toward the other end side and assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion. The frame portion of the contact forming fitting has a contact edge portion that is overlapped with the end face on the male terminal insertion port side of the cylindrical conductor portion. The insertion end of the contact forming fitting into the cylindrical conductor portion is defined by the contact of the contact edge portion with the end face. This is preferable. Since the contact forming fitting is inserted from the male terminal insertion port of the cylindrical conductor portion toward the other end side and assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion, the assembling workability is good. Moreover, by overlapping and contacting the contact edge portion of the contact forming fitting with the end face on the male terminal insertion port side of the cylindrical conductor portion, the insertion end of the contact forming fitting into the cylindrical conductor portion is defined, so that the assembling work can be performed more easily.

[0021] (6) In any one of (1) to (5) above, the cylindrical conductor portion has a rectangular cylindrical shape having a pair of side walls and an upper wall and a lower wall connected by the pair of side walls. The frame portion of the contact forming fitting has a pair of side portions that are overlapped with the respective pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion, and an upper portion and a lower portion that are overlapped with the upper wall and the lower wall of the cylindrical conductor portion, respectively, and has a rectangular frame shape. By partially raising at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame portion inward, a cantilever-shaped contact spring portion is preferably formed.

[0022] Since the cylindrical conductor portion is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and the contact forming fitting is formed in a rectangular frame shape, their rigidity can be advantageously ensured. Moreover, since a cantilever-shaped contact spring portion is formed by partially raising at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame portion of the contact forming fitting inward, the contact spring portion can be easily manufactured with good yield. Further, by adjusting the raising length inward of the upper portion or the lower portion, the spring rigidity and the deflection amount of the contact spring portion can be easily set to desired values, and it is excellent in manufacturability.

[0023] More preferably, both the upper and lower portions are partially cut and raised inward, and a pair of upper and lower contact spring portions are formed to face each other. Thereby, the pair of upper and lower contact spring portions can be brought into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal, and the connection stability between the male and female terminals can be improved.

[0024] (7) In the above (6), the contact forming fitting is inserted from the male terminal insertion port on the one end side of the cylindrical conductor portion toward the other end side and assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion. One of the pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion and one of the pair of side portions of the frame portion each have a locking hole, and the other of the pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion and the other of the pair of side portions of the frame portion each have a locking claw that fits into the locking hole. When the locking claw is elastically deformed, insertion of the contact forming fitting toward the other end side is allowed, and when the locking claw elastically returns and fits into the locking hole, the contact forming fitting is held in the assembled state to the cylindrical conductor portion, which is preferable.

[0025] By effectively using the pair of side walls and the pair of side portions arranged opposite to each other, a locking hole and a locking claw for holding the contact forming fitting in the assembled state to the cylindrical conductor portion can be provided. Thereby, the assembly stability of the contact forming fitting and the cylindrical conductor portion can be maintained without increasing the size of the female terminal. Note that the locking hole and the locking claw may be fitted so as to prevent movement of the contact forming fitting into the male terminal insertion port, may be fitted so as to define the insertion end toward the other end side of the contact forming fitting, or may be formed in a plurality including both of them.

[0026] (8) In the above (6) or (7), the contact forming fitting has a rear opening at the other end side of the cylindrical conductor portion. The contact spring portion includes a first contact spring portion and a second contact spring portion. The upper portion and the lower portion of the frame portion have a pair of upper and lower first contact spring portions and second contact spring portions that project inward toward the other end side while being held by the frame portion at the one end side and extend in a cantilever shape. A contact pressure applying spring is further provided, which is arranged to sandwich the protruding end portions of the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion and has a size that allows the rear opening to be inserted therethrough. With the press-fitting of the male terminal between the opposing surfaces of the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion, the contact pressure applying spring biases the respective protruding end portions in a direction approaching each other, and the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion are pressed against the male terminal. This is preferable.

[0027] The contact pressure applying spring biases the protruding end portions of the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion in a direction approaching each other. The first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion are pressed against the male terminal inserted between them with a high contact pressure. Thereby, while advantageously reducing the size of the female terminal, it is possible to advantageously ensure the contact pressure between the male and female terminals while ensuring the flexibility and followability of the contact spring portion. Further, since the contact pressure applying spring has a size that allows it to pass through the rear opening of the contact forming fitting, the contact pressure applying spring can be arranged from the front side in the protruding direction with respect to the protruding end portions of the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion by passing through the rear opening. As a result, compared with the conventional structure that could only be assembled from the side, which is the direction orthogonal to the protruding direction of the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion, the assemblability of the female terminal is improved.

[0028] The terminal unit of the present disclosure is (9) A terminal unit including a female terminal and a male terminal connected to the female terminal, wherein the female terminal is the female terminal according to any one of (1) to (8) above. In the terminal unit of the present disclosure, since the female terminal is configured in the manner according to any one of (1) to (8) above, it is possible to provide a terminal unit that can achieve the same effects as those obtained by any one of (1) to (8) above.

[0029] <Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> Specific examples of the female terminal and the terminal unit of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, and is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0030] <Embodiment 1> Hereinafter, the female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure and the terminal unit 14 including the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 connected to the female terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. The female terminal 10 is a terminal that connects between a member on the power supply side such as a battery and a member on the load side such as a motor. Then, when the female terminal 10 provided on one of the power supply side and the load side and the male terminal 12 provided on the other of the power supply side and the load side come into contact with each other to be in a conductive state, power is supplied from a power supply such as a battery to a load such as a motor. Note that the female terminal 10 can be arranged in an arbitrary orientation. Hereinafter, the upper direction refers to the upper direction in FIG. 3, the lower direction refers to the lower direction in FIG. 3, the front direction refers to the left direction in FIG. 2, the rear direction refers to the right direction in FIG. 2, the left direction refers to the upper direction in FIG. 2, and the right direction refers to the lower direction in FIG. 2. Also, for a plurality of identical members, only some members may be labeled with reference numerals, and reference numerals may be omitted for other members.

[0031] <Female Terminal 10> The female terminal 10 includes a main body portion 20 having a connection portion 16 that is conductively connected to another member (for example, a member on the power supply side such as a battery) and a hollow cylindrical conductor portion 18. The main body portion 20 is a pressed product of a first metal flat plate (not shown). The female terminal 10 also includes a contact forming fitting 22 that is assembled to be electrically conductive with the cylindrical conductor portion 18. The contact forming fitting 22 is a pressed product of a second metal flat plate (not shown) that is thinner than the first metal flat plate. For clarity, in the following FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the contact forming fitting 22 is shown by a dashed line. Also, in FIG. 2, in addition to the contact forming fitting 22, the male terminal 12 and a clip spring 124 (described later) as a contact pressure applying spring are also shown by dashed lines.

[0032] <Male terminal 12> The male terminal 12 is a tab terminal having a plate shape as a whole. The male terminal 12 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, has a predetermined width dimension (left-right dimension) and a thickness dimension (up-down dimension), and extends substantially straight in the front-rear direction. In Embodiment 1, the male terminal 12 has a horizontally long shape in which the width dimension is larger than the thickness dimension. In the male terminal 12, the end portion (rear end portion) on the front side in the insertion direction into the female terminal 10 has a tapered shape. The male terminal 12 has conductivity and is formed of a metal with low electrical resistance such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. For example, a bolt insertion hole is provided in the proximal end portion (front end portion) of the male terminal 12, and the male terminal 12 is fixed to another member (for example, a member on the load side such as a motor) by a bolt (not shown). Alternatively, when no bolt insertion hole is provided, an electric wire or the like on the load side is fixed to the proximal end portion of the male terminal 12 by crimping or the like.

[0033] <Connection portion 16> The connecting portion 16 is generally plate-shaped. When the female terminal 10 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connecting portion 16 extends in the front-rear direction as a whole and has a substantially rectangular shape in a side view (viewed in the left-right direction) where the front-rear dimension is larger than the vertical dimension. A bolt insertion hole 24 penetrating in the plate thickness direction (left-right direction) is formed at the rear end portion of the connecting portion 16. For example, the female terminal 10 can be fixed to another member (for example, a member on the power supply side such as a battery) by a bolt (not shown) inserted into the bolt insertion hole 24. For example, a terminal of an electric wire (not shown), a bus bar, or the like can be connected to the connecting portion 16 as another member.

[0034] <Cylindrical conductor portion 18> The cylindrical conductor portion 18 is generally cylindrical and open at both sides in the front-rear direction. It has a male terminal insertion port 26 that opens toward one end side (front end side) in the length direction of the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and a rear opening window 28 that opens toward the other end side (rear end side) in the length direction. In Embodiment 1, the cylindrical conductor portion 18 has a substantially horizontally long rectangular cylindrical shape. Specifically, the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion 18 includes a lower wall 30 as a first main body wall portion arranged to face in the Z direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the X direction (front-rear direction) which is the axial direction of the cylindrical conductor portion 18, an upper wall 32 as a second main body wall portion, and left and right side walls 34 and 35 as a pair of side walls. In other words, the cylindrical conductor portion 18 has a rectangular cylindrical shape having left and right side walls 34, 35, an upper wall 32 connected by these left and right side walls 34, 35, and a lower wall 30.

[0035] And, by making the left-right dimension of the upper wall 32 and the lower wall 30 larger than the vertical dimension of the left and right side walls 34, 35, the cylindrical conductor portion 18 has a substantially horizontally long rectangular cylindrical shape. Each wall portion (lower wall 30, upper wall 32, and left and right side walls 34, 35) constituting the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is generally rectangular plate-shaped. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the above-described connecting portion 16 is provided on the side of the lower wall 30 which is the first main body wall portion, and the connecting portion 16 is integrally formed with the lower wall 30 and extends rearward from the lower wall 30.

[0036] <Welded portion 38> That is, the inner surfaces 36 of the respective wall portions (lower wall 30, upper wall 32, and left and right side walls 34, 35) in the cylindrical conductor portion 18 are composed of a lower inner surface 36a which is the inner surface of the lower wall 30, an upper inner surface 36b which is the inner surface of the upper wall 32, a left inner surface 36c which is the inner surface of the left side wall 34, and a right inner surface 36d which is the inner surface of the right side wall 35. And as will be described later, the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the contact forming fitting 22 are such that a welded portion 80 provided on the outer surface 64 of the frame portion 52 in the contact forming fitting 22 is overlapped with a welded portion 38 provided on the inner surface 36 of each wall portion in the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and welded to each other.

[0037] In Embodiment 1, the welded portion 38 includes a first welded portion 38a and a second welded portion 38b which are constituted by the inner surfaces 36 (front portions of the lower inner surface 36a and the upper inner surface 36b) on the male terminal insertion port 26 side of the lower wall 30 which is the first main body wall portion and the upper wall 32 which is the second main body wall portion. In the overlapping portion of the welded portion 80 and the welded portion 38 in Embodiment 1, a welding region R (lower welding region LR (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4) and upper welding region UR (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5)) where a laser is irradiated and actually welded as will be described later has a predetermined longitudinal dimension and lateral dimension. That is, the first welded portion 38a and the second welded portion 38b are each constituted by a part of the front portions of the lower inner surface 36a and the upper inner surface 36b. Specifically, the first welded portion 38a is constituted over substantially the entire length in the width direction at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the front portion of the lower inner surface 36a. Also, the second welded portion 38b is constituted at the central portion in the width direction at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the front portion of the upper inner surface 36b.

[0038] In Embodiment 1, a fitting convex portion 40 protruding toward the right side wall 35 is provided at the middle portion in the front-rear direction at the right end portion of the upper wall 32, and a fitting concave portion 42 opening toward the upper wall 32 is provided at the middle portion in the front-rear direction at the upper end portion of the right side wall 35. Further, a pair of caulking pieces 44, 44 that protrude upward and are bent leftward to be overlapped with and caulked to the upper wall 32 are provided at both ends in the front-rear direction at the upper end portion of the right side wall 35. Thereby, when the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is formed by subjecting the first metal flat plate to press working or the like, for example, while fitting the fitting convex portion 40 of the upper wall 32 into the fitting concave portion 42 of the right side wall 35, the caulking pieces 44 at both ends in the front-rear direction are bent leftward and overlapped with the upper wall 32, so that the upper wall 32 and the right side wall 35 can be prevented from being unintentionally separated during the formation of the cylindrical conductor portion 18.

[0039] Further, lock holes 46 penetrating the left and right side walls 34, 35 in the thickness direction (left-right direction) are formed at the middle portions in the front-rear direction of the left and right side walls 34, 35. Each lock hole 46 is substantially rectangular in a side view (left-right direction view) and has front-rear direction dimensions and vertical direction dimensions of a predetermined size. And the end face 47 on the male terminal insertion port 26 side in the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is substantially rectangular annular in a front-rear direction view, but abutting portions 48 protruding forward compared to the front end portions of the lower wall 30 and the upper wall 32 are provided at the front end portions of the left and right side walls 34, 35. Thereby, at the time of connection between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12, each abutting portion 48 comes into contact with a housing (not shown) that holds the male terminal 12.

[0040] <Main body portion 20> Although illustration is omitted, the state of the first metal flat plate before pressing is, for example, such that each wall portion (lower wall 30, upper wall 32, left and right side walls 34, 35, and connecting portion 16) constituting the main body portion 20 extends in a planar shape. And, bending portions 50 are provided between the upper wall 32 and the left side wall 34, between the left side wall 34 and the lower wall 30, and between the lower wall 30 and the right side wall 35, respectively. By bending each bending portion 50 and fitting the upper wall 32 and the right side wall 35 as described above and performing caulking fixation, a cylindrical conductor portion 18 is configured in the front portion of the main body portion 20. The metal material constituting the main body portion 20 is not limited, but a metal having excellent conductivity can be adopted, and for example, pure copper can be adopted.

[0041] <Contact forming fitting 22> The contact forming fitting 22 has a frame portion 52 that is assembled to the inner surface 36 of the wall portions (lower wall 30, upper wall 32, and left and right side walls 34, 35) of the cylindrical conductor portion 18. Further, the contact forming fitting 22 has a contact spring portion 54 that is held by the frame portion 52 and is pressed against a male terminal 12 that protrudes inward of the frame portion 52 and is inserted from the male terminal insertion port 26.

[0042] <Frame portion 52> Fig. 9 shows the contact forming fitting 22 in a single-piece state before being assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 18. As shown in Fig. 9 and the like, the frame portion 52 of the contact forming fitting 22 is generally in a rectangular frame shape. That is, the frame portion 52 has a left side portion 56 and a right side portion 58 as a pair of side portions that are respectively overlapped with the left and right side walls 34, 35 in the cylindrical conductor portion 18, an upper portion 60 that is overlapped with the upper wall 32, and a lower portion 62 that is overlapped with the lower wall 30. Therefore, the outer surface 64 of the frame portion 52 is configured to include a lower outer surface 64a that is the outer surface of the lower portion 62, an upper outer surface 64b that is the outer surface of the upper portion 60, a left outer surface 64c that is the outer surface of the left side portion 56, and a right outer surface 64d that is the outer surface of the right side portion 58. And, the left side portion 56 and the right side portion 58 are respectively connected by the upper portion 60 and the lower portion 62. Thereby, the frame portion 52 is open on both sides in the front-rear direction, and a front opening 66 and a rear opening 68 are provided.

[0043] In the front-rear direction intermediate portions of these upper part 60 and lower part 62, substantially rectangular through-window portions 70 penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction) are respectively formed, and each through-window portion 70 is formed over the entire left-right length of the upper part 60 and the lower part 62. As a result, the upper part 60 and the lower part 62 are divided on both the front and rear sides by each through-window portion 70, and the upper part 60 and the lower part 62 are each configured to include a front connection portion 72 connecting the left and right side portions 56, 58 at the front portion and a rear connection portion 74 connecting them at the rear portion. In other words, the left side portion 56 and the right side portion 58 are connected by the respective front connection portions 72 in the upper part 60 and the lower part 62 at the front portion, and are connected by the respective rear connection portions 74 in the upper part 60 and the lower part 62 at the rear portion.

[0044] In Embodiment 1, in the frame body portion 52, a first frame body wall portion 76 that is superposed on the aforementioned first welded portion 38a in the Z direction (vertical direction) is constituted by the front connection portion 72 in the lower part 62, and a second frame body wall portion 78 that is superposed on the aforementioned second welded portion 38b in the Z direction (vertical direction) is constituted by the front connection portion 72 in the upper part 60.

[0045] <Welded portion 80> Here, on the outer surface 64 of the frame body portion 52, a welded portion 80 that is superposed on the aforementioned welded portion 38 in the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and welded to each other is provided. In Embodiment 1, the welded portion 80 includes a first welded portion 80a provided on the aforementioned first frame body wall portion 76 and welded to the first welded portion 38a, and a second welded portion 80b provided on the aforementioned second frame body wall portion 78 and welded to the second welded portion 38b. That is, the first welded portion 80a and the second welded portion 80b are respectively constituted by a part of the front portion of the lower outer surface 64a constituting the outer surface of the first frame body wall portion 76 and a part of the front portion of the upper outer surface 64b constituting the outer surface of the second frame body wall portion 78. Specifically, the first welded portion 80a is formed over substantially the entire width direction at the front-rear direction intermediate portion of the front portion of the lower outer surface 64a. Also, the second welded portion 80b is formed at the central portion in the width direction at the front-rear direction intermediate portion of the front portion of the upper outer surface 64b.

[0046] Note that the welding method between each welding part 80 (the first and second welding parts 80a and 80b) and each welded part 38 (the first and second welded parts 38a and 38b) is not limited, but in Embodiment 1, it is welded by laser welding.

[0047] <Pressing part 82> The female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1 has a pressing part 82 that presses the welding part 80 against the welded part 38. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the pressing part 82 is provided at the front connection part 72 in the upper part 60 that constitutes the second frame body wall part 78. Also, this pressing part 82 is not provided at the front connection part 72 in the lower part 62 that constitutes the first frame body wall part 76.

[0048] Specifically, a pair of slits 84, 84 that are separated from each other in the left - right direction are provided at the center part in the left - right direction of the second frame body wall part 78. Each slit 84 extends rearward from the front end part of the second frame body wall part 78, is formed over the entire length of the second frame body wall part 78 in the front - rear direction, and the extending end part of each slit 84 reaches the contact spring part 54 located behind the second frame body wall part 78. The space between these slits 84 in the left - right direction is the pressing part 82, and this pressing part 82 is elastically deformable in the thickness direction (up - down direction). In the single - part state before assembly shown in FIG. 9, the pressing part 82 is bent or inclined in a direction that becomes outward (upward) toward the front compared to other parts (parts outside the left - right direction of each slit 84) in the second frame body wall part 78. Note that the pressing part 82 before elastic deformation is shown by a two - dotted chain line in FIG. 6.

[0049] When such a pressing portion 82 inserts the contact forming fitting 22 provided on the second frame body wall portion 78 into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and overlaps the inner surface 36 of each of the wall portions 30, 32, 34, 35 in the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the outer surface 64 of the frame body portion 52 in the contact forming fitting 22, the pressing portion 82 is elastically deformed inward (downward) by the front portion of the upper wall 32. As a result, the outer surface 64 (the front portion of the upper outer surface 64b) of the second frame body wall portion 78 comes into contact with the front portion of the inner surface 36 (the upper inner surface 36b) of the upper wall 32 over substantially the entire surface. Further, along with the downward elastic deformation of the pressing portion 82, an elastic restoring force (biasing force) upward is generated in the pressing portion 82, and the pressing portion 82 is pressed against the front portion of the upper inner surface 36b. Thereby, the pressing portion 82 can be made to contact the upper inner surface 36b more reliably.

[0050] In particular, by inserting the contact forming fitting 22 into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 while bringing the first frame body wall portion 76 into contact with the inner surface 36 (the lower inner surface 36a) of the lower wall 30, even if there is a gap, for example, between the second frame body wall portion 78 and the front portion of the upper inner surface 36b, the pressing portion 82 and the upper inner surface 36b can be brought into contact. As a result, the outer surfaces 64 (the respective front portions of the lower outer surface 64a and the upper outer surface 64b) of the first and second frame body wall portions 76, 78 and the front portions of the inner surfaces 36 (the lower inner surface 36a and the upper inner surface 36b) of the lower wall 30 and the upper wall 32 can be stably brought into contact with each other on both sides in the vertical direction.

[0051] And the above-described first welding portion 80a is provided on the first frame body wall portion 76 that can contact the lower inner surface 36a, and the above-described second welding portion 80b is provided on the pressing portion 82 of the second frame body wall portion 78 that can contact the upper inner surface 36b. As shown in FIG. 5, the second welding portion 80b is formed over the entire length in the width direction at the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the pressing portion 82.

[0052] <Contact edge portion 85> In Embodiment 1, the contact forming fitting 22 is inserted from the male terminal insertion port 26, which is one end side of the cylindrical conductor portion 18, toward the rear opening window 28, which is the other end side, and is assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 18. The contact forming fitting 22 has a contact edge portion 85 that is overlapped with the end face 47 on the male terminal insertion port 26 side of the cylindrical conductor portion 18. This contact edge portion 85 is formed over substantially the entire length in the left - right direction in the front connection portion 72 (first frame body wall portion 76) in the lower portion 62, and is formed at both left - right end portions (portions outside the left - right direction from each slit 84) in the front connection portion 72 (second frame body wall portion 78) in the upper portion 60. Each contact edge portion 85 is configured to extend outward in the vertical direction from the front end portion of the first and second frame body wall portions 76, 78. When the contact forming fitting 22 is assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 18, each contact edge portion 85 contacts both the upper and lower sides of the end face 47 on the male terminal insertion port 26 side of the cylindrical conductor portion 18, so that the insertion end of the contact forming fitting 22 into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is defined.

[0053] <Locking claw 88> Furthermore, in the front portions of the left and right side portions 56, 58 of the contact forming fitting 22, substantially rectangular through - holes 86 that penetrate the side portions 56, 58 in the thickness direction are formed, and locking claws 88 that protrude forward are provided at the rear portions of the inner peripheral surfaces of the respective through - holes 86. Spaces (gaps) are provided on three sides (both upper and lower sides and the front side) around each locking claw 88, and each locking claw 88 is elastically deformable in the left - right direction. As shown in FIG. 9 and the like, in the assembled state of the contact forming fitting 22, each locking claw 88 protrudes in a direction that gradually inclines outward in the left - right direction as it faces forward.

[0054] <Contact spring portion 54> In Embodiment 1, the contact spring portion 54 includes a first contact spring portion 96 that protrudes inward from the lower portion (lower part 62) of the frame portion 52 toward the inside of the frame portion 52, and a second contact spring portion 98 that protrudes inward from the upper portion (upper part 60) of the frame portion 52 toward the inside of the frame portion 52. Specifically, in each of the lower part 62 and the upper part 60, the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98 extend rearward in a cantilever shape from the rear ends of the respective front connection portions 72 (the first frame wall portion 76 and the second frame wall portion 78) inside each through window portion 70. That is, the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98 are held by the respective front connection portions 72 in the frame portion 52 on the front side which is one end side, and protrude inward toward the rear side which is the other end side and extend in a cantilever shape. As a result, spaces (gaps) are provided on three sides (both sides in the left-right direction and the rear) around the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98, and the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98 are elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the connection portions with the respective front connection portions 72 at the front ends as the bases.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, in the assembled state of the contact forming fitting 22, the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98 are inclined in the direction of approaching each other (inward in the vertical direction) as they go rearward. As a result, the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98 are provided as a pair in the vertical direction and face each other in the vertical direction. The first contact spring portion 96 has a first contact 100 to the male terminal 12 on the facing surface (upper surface) to the second contact spring portion 98, and the second contact spring portion 98 has a second contact 102 to the male terminal 12 on the facing surface (lower surface) to the first contact spring portion 96.

[0056] In Embodiment 1, in the state before the male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10, the protruding end portions 104, 104 of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98 are relatively close to each other, and the first contact 100 and the second contact 102 are in contact with each other or are slightly separated and face each other in the vertical direction. In particular, in Embodiment 1, on the outer surfaces in the vertical direction of each protruding end portion 104, a chamfered curved surface 106 that gradually inclines upward and inward toward the rear is formed. As will be described later, the clip spring 124 is easily assembled to each protruding end portion 104 of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98.

[0057] Further, bending portions 108 are provided at the protruding tip portions of the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98, and the first contact 100 and the second contact 102 are provided at the formation positions of the respective bending portions 108. These first contact 100 and second contact 102 are formed in a curved arc shape in the longitudinal section shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, have a predetermined left - right dimension at the central portion in the left - right direction of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98, and are provided so as to straddle both sides in the front - rear direction with the bending portion 108 interposed therebetween in the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98. Such first and second contacts 100, 102 are formed in an oval shape in a plan view (projection in the vertical direction) in which the dimension in the front - rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the male terminal 12, is larger than the dimension in the left - right direction. Thereby, even when the male terminal 12 inserted into the female terminal 10 swings and displaces in the vertical direction, the contact area between the first and second contacts 100, 102 and the male terminal 12 can be stably ensured. In Embodiment 1, the first and second contacts 100, 102 are formed by performing press - working on the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98, respectively. Concave portions 110 are formed at positions corresponding to the first and second contacts 100, 102 on the outer side in the facing direction (outer side in the vertical direction) of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98.

[0058] And in Embodiment 1, in the front connection part 72 (the first frame body wall part 76) in the lower part 62, first contact spring parts 96, 96 are provided at a plurality of positions (two positions) spaced apart from each other in the plate width direction (left - right direction) of the male terminal 12. Also, in the front connection part 72 (the second frame body wall part 78) in the upper part 60, second contact spring parts 98, 98 are provided at a plurality of positions (two positions) spaced apart from each other in the plate width direction of the male terminal 12. That is, by providing slits 112, 114 extending over substantially the entire length in the front - rear direction at the center in the left - right direction of a substantially rectangular portion extending rearward from each front connection part 72, the pair of first contact spring parts 96, 96 are provided spaced apart from each other in the left - right direction, and the pair of second contact spring parts 98, 98 are provided spaced apart from each other in the left - right direction.

[0059] In addition, in Embodiment 1, the lower slit 112 constituting the pair of first contact spring parts 96, 96 is formed with a length dimension (front - rear direction dimension) slightly longer than the length dimension (front - rear direction dimension) of each first contact spring part 96, and the front end part of the slit 112 slightly reaches the front connection part 72 (the first frame body wall part 76) in the lower part 62. Also, the upper slit 114 constituting the pair of second contact spring parts 98, 98 is formed with a length dimension (front - rear direction dimension) substantially equal to the length dimension (front - rear direction dimension) of each second contact spring part 98, and the front end part of the slit 114 does not reach the front connection part 72 (the second frame body wall part 78, particularly the pressing part 82) in the upper part 60.

[0060] As a result, for example, compared with the case where the lower slit 112 is provided over substantially the entire length in the front-rear direction of the first frame body wall portion 76, it is possible to secure the area of the portion that can be used as the first welding portion 80a in the first frame body wall portion 76. Thus, even when the irradiation position of the laser is shifted rearward to some extent, the first welding portion 80a and the first welded portion 38a can be stably welded. Similarly, by making the upper slit 114 not reach the pressing portion 82, it is possible to secure the area of the portion that can be used as the second welding portion 80b in the pressing portion 82. Thus, even when the irradiation position of the laser is shifted rearward to some extent, the second welding portion 80b and the second welded portion 38b can be stably welded. Further, since the length dimensions of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98 can be changed according to the length dimensions of these slits 112, 114, the spring characteristics of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98 can be set to a desired mode by adjusting the length dimensions of the slits 112, 114.

[0061] Furthermore, engaging protrusions 116 that protrude outward in the vertical direction and are on the side of each clamping plate portion 128 of the clip spring 124, which will be described later, are provided on each of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98. In Embodiment 1, the engaging protrusions 116 are provided on each of the first contact spring portions 96 and the second contact spring portions 98, and a total of four engaging protrusions 116 are provided on the contact forming fitting 22. Each engaging protrusion 116 is formed with a predetermined protruding dimension outward in the left-right direction at both side edges of each of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98, that is, at the rear end portions (each protruding end portion 104) of each of the first contact spring portions 96 and the second contact spring portions 98. These engaging protrusions 116 are each substantially rectangular in a side view (left-right direction view).

[0062] And the contact forming fitting 22 having the structure as described above is formed by subjecting the second metal flat plate, which is thinner in plate thickness than the first metal flat plate as described above, to pressing or the like. The metal material of the second metal flat plate constituting the contact forming fitting 22 is not limited, but a metal having conductivity and spring property can be adopted, and for example, a copper alloy can be adopted. In Embodiment 1, as also shown in FIG. 9, when the second metal flat plate is bent to form the contact forming fitting 22, the portions that are abutted against each other are provided at the left side portion 56. That is, at the left end portions of the front connection portion 72 and the rear connection portion 74 in the lower portion 62, a first left side portion 118a extending upward is provided, and at the left end portions of the front connection portion 72 and the rear connection portion 74 in the upper portion 60, a second left side portion 118b extending downward is provided. The left side portion 56 is constituted by the first left side portion 118a and the second left side portion 118b being abutted against each other in the vertical direction.

[0063] In particular, in Embodiment 1, an engaging convex portion 120 protruding upward is provided at the upper end of the first left side portion 118a, and an engaging concave portion 122 opening downward is provided at the lower end of the second left side portion 118b. Thereby, when forming the contact forming fitting 22, for example, by hitting the engaging convex portion 120 from the outside and fitting it into the engaging concave portion 122, the left side portion 56 is constituted, and it can be prevented that the first left side portion 118a and the second left side portion 118b are unintentionally separated.

[0064] Although illustration is omitted, in the state of the second metal plate before pressing, for example, each wall portion (left side portion 56, right side portion 58, upper portion 60, and lower portion 62) constituting the contact forming fitting 22 extends in a planar manner. In Embodiment 1, each of the first contact spring portions 96 and each of the second contact spring portions 98 are configured by partially raising the wall portions constituting the lower portion 62 and the upper portion 60. That is, in the second metal plate before pressing, each of the first contact spring portions 96 and each of the second contact spring portions 98 are raised from the wall portions constituting, for example, the lower portion 62 and the upper portion 60 to one side in the thickness direction. When the second metal plate is bent to form the contact forming fitting 22, each of the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98 protrude inward of the frame portion 52.

[0065] Similarly, each locking claw 88 is configured by partially raising the wall portions constituting the left side portion 56 (first left side portion 118a and second left side portion 118b) and the right side portion 58. That is, in the second metal plate before pressing, each locking claw 88 is raised from the wall portions constituting, for example, the left side portion 56 and the right side portion 58 to the other side in the thickness direction. When the contact forming fitting 22 is formed, it protrudes outward in the left - right direction in the contact forming fitting 22. Note that each of the first contact spring portions 96, each of the second contact spring portions 98, and each locking claw 88 may be bent so as to protrude inward of the frame portion 52 or outward in the left - right direction after the contact forming fitting 22 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0066] <Contact pressure - applying spring (clip spring 124)> The female terminal 10 includes a clip spring 124 as a pressure-applying spring that is arranged to sandwich the protruding end portions 104 of the respective first contact spring portions 96 and the respective second contact spring portions 98. When the male terminal 12 is press-fitted into the female terminal 10, the clip spring 124 biases the protruding end portion 104 of each first contact spring portion 96 and the protruding end portion 104 of each second contact spring portion 98 in a direction approaching each other. In Embodiment 1, the clip spring 124 is inserted into the tubular conductor portion 18 from the male terminal insertion port 26 in the tubular conductor portion 18, and in a front view (viewed in the front-rear direction), the clip spring 124 is formed to have a size that can pass through the male terminal insertion port 26. Further, since the clip spring 124 is inserted into the contact forming fitting 22 from the rear and is disposed inside the contact forming fitting 22, in a front view (viewed in the front-rear direction), it is formed to have a size that can pass through the rear opening 68 in the contact forming fitting 22.

[0067] Specifically, as also shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the clip spring 124 has a rectangular flat plate-shaped connecting plate portion 126 and a pair of rectangular flat plate-shaped clamping plate portions 128, 128 that protrude from both side edges (upper and lower side edges) of the connecting plate portion 126 in a direction approaching each other (inward in the up-down direction). In Embodiment 1, at each of the upper and lower sides of the connecting plate portion 126, a plurality (two) of spaced-apart clamping plate portions 128, 128 are provided by providing slits 127 extending in the front-rear direction at the center in the left-right direction, which is the plate width direction of the male terminal 12, and a total of four clamping plate portions 128 are provided in the clip spring 124. That is, another pair of clamping plate portions 128, 128 that face each other in the up-down direction are provided at positions spaced apart in the left-right direction via the respective slits 127. Each of these clamping plate portions 128 is elastically deformable in the up-down direction with the connection portion to the connecting plate portion 126 as a base point.

[0068] Note that the lateral dimension of each clamping plate portion 128 is made larger than the lateral dimension of each recess 110 provided outward in the vertical direction of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98. Further, a bent portion 130 is provided at an intermediate portion in the length direction of each clamping plate portion 128. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10 and the bent portion 130 in each clamping plate portion 128 abuts on the formation position of each recess 110 in each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98, both end portions in the lateral direction of each clamping plate portion 128 abut on portions outward in the lateral direction from each recess 110 in each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98.

[0069] And since the bent portion 130 is provided at the intermediate portion in the length direction of each clamping plate portion 128, the protruding tip portions of each clamping plate portion 128 extend in directions away from each other from the bent portion 130. Therefore, the opposing distance between the opposing clamping plate portions 128 in the vertical direction is minimized at the bent portion 130 provided at the intermediate portion in the length direction. The gap between these bent portions 130 is an insertion port 132 for inserting and assembling the protruding end portions 104 of each of the first and second contact spring portions 96 and 98.

[0070] The opening dimension (vertical dimension) of each insertion port 132 before elastic deformation of each clamping plate portion 128 in the clip spring 124 may be equal to the separation distance (vertical dimension) between the outer surfaces of the protruding end portions 104 of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98, or may be slightly larger or smaller. Such a clip spring 124 is inserted into the contact forming fitting 22 from the rear opening 68 of the contact forming fitting 22 and assembled such that each clamping plate portion 128 sandwiches the protruding end portions 104 of each of the first and second contact spring portions 96 and 98. Further, in Embodiment 1, at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of each clamping plate portion 128, a notch-shaped engaged portion 134 that opens outward in the lateral direction and penetrates in the thickness direction of each clamping plate portion 128 is formed, and each engaged portion 134 is engageable with each engaging protrusion 116 in the contact forming fitting 22.

[0071] When assembling the clip spring 124 as described above to the contact forming fitting 22, the clip spring 124 is inserted from the rear opening 68 of the contact forming fitting 22, and the protruding ends 104 of the first contact spring portions 96 and the second contact spring portions 98 do not contact the bending portions 130 that are located most inward in the vertical direction in each clamping plate portion 128, or while the bending portions 130 are pushed outward in the vertical direction by the protruding ends 104 of the first contact spring portions 96 and the second contact spring portions 98, the protruding ends 104 of the first contact spring portions 96 and the second contact spring portions 98 are inserted into the insertion openings 132.

[0072] Also, by approaching the clip spring 124 from the rear with respect to the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98, the engaging protrusions 116 provided on the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98 contact both left and right end portions at the front end of each clamping plate portion 128. Then, by moving the clip spring 124 forward with respect to the contact forming fitting 22, each clamping plate portion 128 is elastically deformed inward in the left - right direction by the engaging protrusions 116, and further forward movement of the clip spring 124 is allowed. In the clip spring 124 that has moved forward, when the engaging protrusions 116 enter the engaged portions 134, each clamping plate portion 128 elastically returns to its original shape, and the clip spring 124 is assembled in a state of being positioned in the front - rear direction with respect to the contact forming fitting 22. Therefore, the insertion end position of the clip spring 124 inward of the contact forming fitting 22 is defined by the engaging protrusions 116 provided on the first and second contact spring portions 96, 98 entering the engaged portions 134 provided on each clamping plate portion 128 and the engaging protrusions 116 contacting the rear inner surface of each engaged portion 134, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 and the like.

[0073] <Assembly of Female Terminal 10> Hereinafter, a specific example of a method for assembling the female terminal 10 will be described. Note that the assembling method of the female terminal 10 is not limited to the mode described below.

[0074] First, prepare the first metal flat plate that constitutes the main body portion 20, bend each bent portion 50, insert the fitting convex portion 40 into the fitting concave portion 42, and bend each caulking piece 44 to perform caulking and fixation. Thereby, the main body portion 20 having the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the connection portion 16 is formed. Also, prepare the second metal flat plate that constitutes the contact forming fitting 22, bend it into the shape shown in FIG. 9, and insert the engaging convex portion 120 of the first left side portion 118a into the engaging concave portion 122 of the second left side portion 118b. Thereby, the contact forming fitting 22 having the frame body portion 52 and the contact spring portions 54 (each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98) is formed.

[0075] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the contact forming fitting 22 and the clip spring 124 are arranged to face each other in the front-rear direction, and the clip spring 124 is assembled into the contact forming fitting 22 through the rear opening 68 of the contact forming fitting 22. The method of assembling the clip spring 124 to the contact forming fitting 22 is as described above. The assembled body of the contact forming fitting 22 and the clip spring 124 is arranged to face the male terminal insertion port 26 in the cylindrical conductor portion 18 in the front-rear direction, and the assembled body is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 from the male terminal insertion port 26 toward the rear opening window 28. Thereby, the pressing portion 82 in the contact forming fitting 22 abuts against the front end portion of the inner surface 36 (upper inner surface 36b) of the upper wall 32, and the pressing portion 82 is elastically deformed downward. Also, each locking claw 88 in the contact forming fitting 22 abuts against the front end portions of the inner surfaces 36 (left inner surface 36c and right inner surface 36d) of the left and right side walls 34, 35, and each locking claw 88 is elastically deformed inward in the left-right direction. Thereby, further insertion of the assembled body into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is allowed, and while the pressing portion 82 is made to abut against the upper inner surface 36b and each locking claw 88 is made to abut against the left and right inner surfaces 36c, 36d, the assembled body is inserted into and assembled in the cylindrical conductor portion 18.

[0076] The insertion end of the cylindrical conductor portion 18 into the above-described assembled body is defined by the respective contact edges 85 protruding outward in the vertical direction from the first and second frame body wall portions 76 and 78 and contacting the end face 47 on the male terminal insertion port 26 side of the cylindrical conductor portion 18. Further, in a state where the above-described assembled body is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 up to the insertion end, each locking claw 88 of the contact forming fitting 22 enters each locking hole 46 in the cylindrical conductor portion 18, and each locking claw 88 elastically returns and deforms. Then, each elastically returned locking claw 88 is fitted into each locking hole 46, and each of these locking claws 88 contacts the front inner surface of each locking hole 46, thereby preventing displacement of the above-described assembled body in the extraction direction (frontward) from the cylindrical conductor portion 18, and the contact forming fitting 22 is held in a state of being assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 18.

[0077] Further, in a state where the above-described assembled body is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 up to the insertion end, the outer surface 64 (front portion of the lower outer surface 64a) of the first frame body wall portion 76 is overlapped with the front portion of the inner surface 36 (lower inner surface 36a) of the lower wall 30, and the outer surface 64 (front portion of the upper outer surface 64b), particularly the outer surface of the pressing portion 82, of the second frame body wall portion 78 is overlapped with the front portion of the inner surface 36 (upper inner surface 36b) of the upper wall 32. Then, these overlapping surfaces are welded and fixed by laser welding. That is, the first welded portion 80a provided on the first frame body wall portion 76 and the first welded portion 38a provided on the front portion of the lower wall 30 are welded to form the lower welding region LR. Also, the second welded portion 80b provided on the second frame body wall portion 78 and the second welded portion 38b provided on the front portion of the upper wall 32 are welded to form the upper welding region UR. Thereby, the above-described assembled body is welded and fixed in a state of being inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 18, and the female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1 is completed. Note that the order of welding in the lower welding region LR and the upper welding region UR is not limited.

[0078] <Assembly of the terminal unit 14> Hereinafter, a specific example of a method for assembling a terminal unit 14 in a state where a male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1 and the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 are connected will be described.

[0079] First, the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 assembled as described above are opposed to each other in the front-rear direction. Then, the male terminal 12 is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical conductor portion 18 through the male terminal insertion port 26, and is press-fitted between the opposing surfaces of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 at each first contact 100 and each second contact 102. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, each first contact 100 in each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact 102 in each second contact spring portion 98 abut against the lower surface and the upper surface of the male terminal 12, respectively, and the first contact spring portions 96 and the second contact spring portions 98 are pushed and expanded in a direction away from each other.

[0080] Then, each bent portion 108 in each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 pushed and expanded outward in the vertical direction abuts against each bent portion 130 in the clip spring 124 from the inside in the vertical direction, and each clamping plate portion 128 is elastically deformed outward in the vertical direction. Due to the elastic restoring force of each of these clamping plate portions 128, each protruding end portion 104 of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 is clamped by each clamping plate portion 128, and each protruding end portion 104 of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 is biased in a direction approaching each other. As a result, each first contact 100 and each second contact 102 are press-connected to the lower surface and the upper surface of the male terminal 12 press-fitted between the opposing surfaces of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98. As a result, the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10 are electrically connected, and the terminal unit 14 in a state where the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 are connected is completed.

[0081] That is, after the male terminal 12 is inserted, the vertical distance A (see FIG. 3) at each bent portion 108 of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 that are press-connected to the male terminal 12 from both the upper and lower sides is made larger than the vertical dimension B (see FIG. 6) of each bent portion 108 before the insertion of the male terminal 12. As a result, with the insertion of the male terminal 12, not only each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 but also each clamping plate portion 128 of the clip spring 124 are pushed and expanded outward in the vertical direction, and by the elastic restoring force not only of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 but also of each clamping plate portion 128, each first contact 100 and each second contact 102 are press-connected to the lower surface and the upper surface of the male terminal 12.

[0082] In particular, in Embodiment 1, a pair of first contact spring portions 96, 96 and a pair of second contact spring portions 98, 98 that are separated from each other in the left-right direction are provided, and at both the upper and lower sides of the clip spring 124, a pair of clamping plate portions 128, 128 that are separated from each other in the left-right direction are provided. Thereby, on both sides in the left-right direction, the clamping plate portions 128, 128 on both the upper and lower sides clamp the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98, and the first contact 100 and the second contact 102 are press-connected to the male terminal 12.

[0083] According to the female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1, the contact forming fitting 22 having each first contact 100 and each second contact 102 is provided as a separate body from the main body portion 20 having the cylindrical conductor portion 18, and the contact forming fitting 22 is assembled into the cylindrical conductor portion 18. Thereby, compared with the case of forming contacts by bending a metal flat plate as in the conventional structure, the member (contact forming fitting 22) constituting the contacts can be formed from a second metal flat plate having a relatively small plate thickness, and miniaturization of the female terminal 10 can be achieved. Further, since the main body portion 20 having the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is formed by bending a first metal flat plate having a relatively large plate thickness, it can also cope with a large current, and both improvement of the current-carrying capacity and avoidance of enlargement of the terminal can be achieved.

[0084] In particular, the contact forming fitting 22 includes a frame body portion 52 and contact spring portions 54 (each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98), and each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 protrude inwardly of the frame body portion 52. Thereby, when assembling the contact forming fitting 22 to the cylindrical conductor portion 18, the possibility of unintentionally contacting the first contact spring portions 96 or the second contact spring portions 98 when gripping the contact forming fitting 22 is reduced, and the problem that the first contact spring portions 96 or the second contact spring portions 98 are deformed during the assembly of the contact forming fitting 22 and the cylindrical conductor portion 18 can be avoided.

[0085] The cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the contact forming fitting 22 are fixed by welding each welding portion 80 (first welding portion 80a and second welding portion 80b) provided on the contact forming fitting 22 and each welded portion 38 (first welded portion 38a and second welded portion 38b) provided on the cylindrical conductor portion 18. These welding portions 80 are provided on the outer surface 64 of the frame body portion 52 in the contact forming fitting 22, and each welded portion 38 is provided on the inner surface 36 of each of the wall portions 30, 32, 34, 35 in the cylindrical conductor portion 18. Therefore, in each of the welding portions 80 and the welded portions 38, a sufficient area can be ensured, and the effects of improving the fixing strength and, consequently, the conduction stability can be exerted.

[0086] The female terminal 10 has a pressing portion 82 that presses the welding portion 80 against the welded portion 38. In Embodiment 1, the pressing portion 82 is configured at the central portion in the left - right direction of the second frame body wall portion 78 where the second welding portion 80b is provided. By this pressing portion 82, the second welding portion 80b can be made to contact the second welded portion 38b more reliably, and these weldings can be realized stably.

[0087] The welded portion 80 is composed of a first welded portion 80a and a second welded portion 80b, and the welded portion 38 is composed of a first welded portion 38a and a second welded portion 38b. The first welded portion 80a and the first welded portion 38a are provided below, which is one direction of the Z direction (vertical direction), and the second welded portion 80b and the second welded portion 38b are provided above, which is the other direction of the Z direction (vertical direction). Thereby, the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the contact forming fitting 22 can be welded on both sides in the vertical direction, and further improvement in fixing strength and conduction stability can be achieved.

[0088] Further, a pressing portion 82 formed by bending a part of the second frame wall portion 78 outward in the Z direction (upward) is provided on the second frame wall portion 78 of the contact forming fitting 22. Since the contact forming fitting 22 is formed of a relatively thin second metal flat plate, elastic deformation is likely to occur in the pressing portion 82, and the effect of pressing the second welded portion 80b against the second welded portion 38b by the pressing portion 82 can be stably exerted.

[0089] The connecting portion 16 of the main body portion 20 is provided on the side of the lower wall 30 which is the first main body wall portion, and the pressing portion 82 is provided on the second frame wall portion 78 and is not provided on the first frame wall portion 76. That is, in order to provide the pressing portion 82 as in the first embodiment, slits 84 are required on both the left and right sides of the pressing portion 82, but since such slits 84 are not provided on the first frame wall portion 76, the first welded portion 80a provided on the first frame wall portion 76 can be provided over substantially the entire length in the width direction (left and right direction) of the first frame wall portion 76. And on the side of the first frame wall portion 76 with such a large welding area, that is, on the lower wall 30 side, a connecting portion 16 for conducting connection to other members (for example, members on the power supply side such as a battery) is provided. Therefore, the current conduction path from the portion (lower welding region LR) where the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the contact forming fitting 22 are welded over a wide area to the connecting portion 16 can be shortened, and the conduction performance between other members and the female terminal 10, and thus between the power supply side member and the load side member can be improved.

[0090] The frame portion 52 of the contact forming fitting 22 has a contact edge portion 85 that is overlapped with the end face 47 on the male terminal insertion port 26 side in the cylindrical conductor portion 18, and the insertion end of the contact forming fitting 22 into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is defined by the contact of the contact edge portion 85 with the end face 47. In Embodiment 1, contact edge portions 85 that protrude outward in the vertical direction are provided on the first and second frame wall portions 76 and 78 of the frame portion 52, and with such a simple structure, the backward displacement of the contact forming fitting 22 with respect to the cylindrical conductor portion 18 can be restricted.

[0091] The cylindrical conductor portion 18 is a rectangular cylinder having left and right side walls 34 and 35, an upper wall 32, and a lower wall 30, and the frame portion 52 of the contact forming fitting 22 is a rectangular frame having left and right side portions 56 and 58, an upper portion 60, and a lower portion 62. Since both the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the contact forming fitting 22 have a rectangular outer shape in this way, displacement (rattling, etc.) of the contact forming fitting 22 within the cylindrical conductor portion 18 can be suppressed. Further, since each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 in the contact forming fitting 22 are formed by partially raising the lower portion 62 and the upper portion 60 respectively, when forming the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion, it is not necessary to adopt another member separate from the frame portion, and the contact forming fitting 22 can be formed with a good yield.

[0092] The left and right side walls 34, 35 of the cylindrical conductor portion 18 each have a locking hole 46, and the left and right side portions 56, 58 of the contact forming fitting 22 each have a locking claw 88. When the contact forming fitting 22 is assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 18, each locking claw 88 is fitted into each locking hole 46. That is, the contact of each of the above-mentioned abutting edge portions 85 with the end face 47 restricts the displacement of the contact forming fitting 22 in the insertion direction of the cylindrical conductor portion 18, and the displacement of the contact forming fitting 22 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is restricted by the fitting of each of the locking claws 88 and each locking hole 46. As a result, the contact forming fitting 22 and the cylindrical conductor portion 18 can be positioned in the front-rear direction. As a result, the first welded portion 80a and the first welded portion 38a, and the second welded portion 80b and the second welded portion 38b can be stably overlapped, and welding on these overlapping surfaces can be performed more reliably.

[0093] The female terminal 10 has a clip spring 124 as a contact pressure applying spring that is arranged to sandwich the protruding end portions 104 of the respective first contact spring portions 96 and the respective second contact spring portions 98. In Embodiment 1, after the clip spring 124 is assembled to the contact forming fitting 22, these assemblies are inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 from the front through the male terminal insertion port 26. That is, in the conventional structure, the clip spring was assembled from the side with the opening widened, whereas in the female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1, the clip spring 124 can be assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 18 integrally with the contact forming fitting 22 without widening the clip spring 124, so that the workability when assembling the clip spring 124 is improved.

[0094] In Embodiment 1, a clip spring 124 was adopted as a contact pressure applying spring that applies contact pressure to each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 when the male terminal 12 is inserted. Thereby, by inserting each protruding end portion 104 of each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98 into the insertion port 132 in the clip spring 124, the clip spring 124 can be assembled to each first contact spring portion 96 and each second contact spring portion 98. In particular, in Embodiment 1, a pair of first contact spring portions 96, 96 are provided so as to be separated from each other in the left - right direction via a slit 112, and a pair of second contact spring portions 98, 98 are provided so as to be separated from each other in the left - right direction via a slit 114. Further, in the clip spring 124, on each of the upper and lower sides of the connecting plate portion 126, two clamping plate portions 128 are provided so as to be separated from each other in the left - right direction via each slit 127. Thereby, on each of the left and right sides separately, the upper and lower clamping plate portions 128 can apply contact pressure to the first contact spring portion 96 and the second contact spring portion 98. As a result, even when, for example, after the male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10, the male terminal 12 rotates and displaces around a central axis extending in the front - rear direction, problems such as insufficient contact pressure being exerted on either the left or the right can be avoided.

[0095] <Modification Example> As described above, as a specific example of the present disclosure, Embodiment 1 has been described in detail. However, the present disclosure is not limited by this specific description. Modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope that can achieve the object of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. For example, modification examples of the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0096] (1) In the above-described embodiment, the male terminal 12 is a flat tab-shaped terminal, and the cylindrical conductor portion 18 and the contact forming fitting 22 are each substantially horizontally long rectangular shapes, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. For example, when the male terminal is a cylindrical pin terminal, the cylindrical conductor portion and the contact forming fitting may each be a cylindrical shape. Similarly, when the male terminal is a vertically long terminal, the cylindrical conductor portion and the contact forming fitting may each be substantially vertically long rectangular shapes, and in that case, the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion constituting the contact spring portion may be provided on each of a pair of side portions of the contact forming fitting.

[0097] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the first and second welding portions 80a, 80b are provided at the front connection portions 72 of the lower portion 62 and the upper portion 60 of the contact forming fitting 22, and the first and second welded portions 38a, 38b are provided at the front portions of the lower wall 30 and the upper wall 32 of the cylindrical conductor portion 18, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The welding region between the cylindrical conductor portion and the contact forming fitting may be provided at the overlapping portions of the left and right side portions of the contact forming fitting and the left and right side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion, instead of or in addition to the above-described portions, or may be provided at the overlapping portion of the rear opening side of the cylindrical conductor portion and the contact forming fitting. Further, in addition to the overlapping portion of the outer surface of these frame portions and the inner surface of the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion, the overlapping portion of the contact edge portion of the frame portion and the end surface on the male terminal insertion port side of the cylindrical conductor portion may be welded.

[0098] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the contact forming fitting 22 is inserted from the front male terminal insertion port 26 side in the cylindrical conductor portion 18, but it may be inserted from the rear rear opening window side. Further, when the contact forming fitting is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion from the rear, the contact edge portion provided on the frame portion of the contact forming fitting may be provided at the peripheral edge portion of the rear opening, and the locking claw provided on the contact forming fitting may be in a mode of protruding from the front to the rear. Note that these contact edge portions, locking claws, and locking holes are not essential for the female terminal according to the present disclosure.

[0099] (4) In the above-described embodiment, after the clip spring 124 was assembled to the contact forming fitting 22, these assembled bodies were inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 from the male terminal insertion port 26 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. That is, for example, a contact pressure applying spring (for example, a clip spring) may be inserted into the contact forming fitting from the rear through the rear opening window in the cylindrical conductor portion and the rear opening in the contact forming fitting after the contact forming fitting is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion. Note that the contact forming fitting and the contact pressure applying spring (for example, a clip spring) are not limited to the mode fixed by the engagement between each engaging protrusion 116 and each engaged portion 134 as in the above-described embodiment, and a member for preventing the rearward dropout of the contact pressure applying spring inserted into the contact forming fitting from the rear may be assembled to the contact forming fitting or the cylindrical conductor portion.

[0100] (5) In the above-described embodiment, the pressing portion 82 in the contact forming fitting 22 was provided on the second frame body wall portion 78 and not provided on the first frame body wall portion 76. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. That is, for example, the pressing portion may be provided not only on the second frame body wall portion but also on the first frame body wall portion. Alternatively, the pressing portion may not be provided on the second frame body wall portion either, and may be welded to the inner surfaces of the lower wall and the upper wall of the cylindrical conductor portion over substantially the entire length in the width direction on both the first and second frame body wall portions. In these cases, since the contact forming fitting has a substantially vertically symmetric shape, the contact forming fitting can be assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion without distinguishing between the upper and lower sides.

[0101] Alternatively, the pressing portion may be provided at the front portion of the side portion in the frame body portion, or may be provided on the rear wall portion (the rear connection portion of the lower or upper portion or the rear portion of the side portion) in the frame body portion. In any of the above cases, it is preferable that a welding portion to be welded to the welded portion is provided in the pressing portion. Note that the pressing portion is not essential in the female terminal according to the present disclosure. Further, even when the pressing portion is provided, it is not limited to the mode of protruding outward from the contact forming fitting as in the above-described embodiment.

[0102] (6) In the above-described embodiment, each first contact spring portion 96 is formed by partially raising the lower portion 62 of the contact forming fitting 22, and each second contact spring portion 98 is formed by partially raising the upper portion 60 of the contact forming fitting 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the first contact spring portion and / or the second contact spring portion may be formed separately from the frame portion of the contact forming fitting and fixedly attached to the metal flat plate constituting the frame portion by welding or the like. Thereafter, the contact forming fitting may be formed by performing pressing on this metal flat plate.

[0103] (7) In the above-described embodiment, each locking hole 46 is provided in the cylindrical conductor portion 18, and each locking claw 88 is provided in the contact forming fitting 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, instead of or in addition to the above-described embodiment, locking claws may be provided on the cylindrical conductor portion, and locking holes may be provided in the contact forming fitting. Further, in the above-described embodiment, each locking claw 88 protrudes in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the contact forming fitting 22 into the cylindrical conductor portion 18 (the direction from the rear to the front), and displacement of the contact forming fitting 22 in a direction opposite to the insertion direction with respect to the cylindrical conductor portion 18 is prevented. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the locking claw may protrude in the same direction as the insertion direction of the contact forming fitting into the cylindrical conductor portion, and displacement of the contact forming fitting in the insertion direction with respect to the cylindrical conductor portion may be prevented. In this case, for example, by inserting the contact forming fitting into the cylindrical conductor portion with the locking claw pushed inward, it is possible to prevent the locking claw from being caught by the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion when the contact forming fitting is inserted.

[0104] (8) In the above-described embodiment, the female terminal 10 includes the clip spring 124 as the contact pressure applying spring. However, the contact pressure applying spring is not essential for the female terminal according to the present disclosure. That is, when the male terminal is inserted, the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion are pushed and expanded outward in the vertical direction, and due to the elastic restoring force of these first contact spring portion and second contact spring portion, the first contact and the second contact in the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion may be pressed against the male terminal. Further, even when a contact pressure applying spring is adopted, it is not necessary to be a clip spring, and a contact pressure applying spring having an arbitrary structure such as a coil spring or an annular elastic body may be adopted.

[0105] (9) In the above-described embodiment, a pair of first contact spring portions 96, 96 are provided at the lower portion 62 of the contact forming metal fitting 22, and a pair of second contact spring portions 98, 98 are provided at the upper portion 60. However, the number of these first contact spring portions and second contact spring portions is not limited. That is, one or more first contact spring portions may be provided at the lower portion of the contact forming metal fitting, and one or more second contact spring portions may be provided at the upper portion of the contact forming metal fitting. Similarly, the number of the upper and lower clamping plate portions of the clip spring is not limited, and one or more of each may be provided. Note that the number of the first contact spring portions and the number of the lower clamping plate portions may be different from each other, and the number of the second contact spring portions and the number of the upper clamping plate portions may be different from each other.

[0106] (10) In the above-described embodiment, the connection portion 16 electrically connected to another member extends rearward from the lower wall 30 of the cylindrical conductor portion 18. However, for example, it may extend rearward from the upper wall or the left and right side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion.

[0107] (11) In the above-described embodiment, the portion that abuts against each other when the second metal flat plate is press-worked to form the contact forming metal fitting 22 is provided at the left side portion 56 of the contact forming metal fitting 22. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this aspect, and the portion that abuts against each other during press working may be set at an arbitrary position of the contact forming metal fitting.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0108] 10 Female terminal 12 Male terminal 14 Terminal unit 16 Connection part 18 Cylindrical conductor part 20 Body part 22 Contact forming fitting 24 Bolt insertion hole 26 Male terminal insertion port 28 Rear opening window 30 Lower wall (first body wall part) 32 Upper wall (second body wall part) 34 Left side wall (side wall) 35 Right side wall (side wall) 36 Inner surface 36a Lower inner surface 36b Upper inner surface 36c Left inner surface 36d Right inner surface 38 Welded part 38a First welded part 38b Second welded part 40 Fitting convex part 42 Fitting concave part 44 Crimping piece 46 Lock hole 47 End face 48 Contact part 50 Bending part 52 Frame part 54 Contact spring part 56 Left side part 58 Right side part 60 Upper part 62 Lower part 64 Outer surface 64a Lower outer surface 64b Upper outer surface 64c Left outer surface 64d Right outer surface 66 Front opening 68 Rear opening 70 Through window part 72 Front connection part 74 Rear connection part 76 First frame wall part 78 Second frame wall part 80 Welding part 80a First welding part 80b Second welding part 82 Pressing part 84 Slit 85 Contact edge part 86 Through hole 88 Lock claw 96 First contact spring part 98 Second contact spring part 100 First contact 102 Second contact 104 Protruding end part 106 Curved surface 108 Bending part 110 Concave part 112,114 Slit 116 Engaging protrusion 118a First left side part 118b Second left side part 120 Engaging convex part 122 Engaging concave part 124 Clip spring (contact pressure applying spring) 126 Connecting plate part 127 Slit 128 Clamping plate part 130 Bending part 132 Insertion opening 134 Engaged part R Welding area LR Lower welding area UR Upper welding area

Claims

1. A pressed product of a first metal plate, comprising a main body portion having a connection portion conductively connected to another member and a hollow cylindrical conductor portion, A pressed product of a second metal plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first metal plate, and a contact forming fitting assembled to be conductively connected to the cylindrical conductor portion, The cylindrical conductor portion has a male terminal insertion opening that opens toward one end side, The contact forming fitting has a frame portion assembled to the inner surface of the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion, and a contact spring portion held by the frame portion and protruding inward of the frame portion to be pressed against a male terminal inserted from the male terminal insertion opening, A female terminal in which a welding portion provided on the outer surface of the frame portion of the contact forming fitting is overlapped with a welded portion provided on the inner surface of the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion of the main body portion and welded to each other.

2. The female terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing portion that presses the welding portion against the welded portion.

3. The wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion of the main body portion has a first main body wall portion and a second main body wall portion that are oppositely arranged in a Z direction orthogonal to an X direction that is the axial direction of the cylindrical conductor portion, The welded portion includes a first welded portion and a second welded portion respectively constituted by the inner surfaces of the first main body wall portion and the second main body wall portion on the male terminal insertion opening side, The frame portion of the contact forming fitting has a first frame wall portion overlapped with the first welded portion in the Z direction and a second frame wall portion overlapped with the second welded portion in the Z direction, The welding portion includes a first welding portion provided on the first frame wall portion and welded to the first welded portion, and a second welding portion provided on the second frame wall portion and welded to the second welded portion, The female terminal according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first frame wall portion and the second frame wall portion is bent outward in the Z direction to form the pressing portion that is elastically deformable inward in the Z direction.

4. The connection portion of the main body portion is provided on the first main body wall portion side, The pressing portion of the contact forming fitting is provided on the second frame wall portion and not provided on the first frame wall portion. The female terminal according to claim 3.

5. The contact forming fitting is inserted from the male terminal insertion opening on the one end side of the cylindrical conductor portion toward the other end side and assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion, The frame portion of the contact forming fitting has a contact edge portion overlapped with the end surface on the male terminal insertion opening side of the cylindrical conductor portion. The female terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the insertion end of the contact forming fitting into the cylindrical conductor portion is defined by the contact of the abutting edge portion with the end face.

6. The cylindrical conductor portion has a rectangular cylindrical shape having a pair of side walls and an upper wall and a lower wall connected by the pair of side walls, The frame portion of the contact forming fitting has a rectangular frame shape having a pair of side portions that are respectively overlapped with the pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion, and an upper portion and a lower portion that are respectively overlapped with the upper wall and the lower wall of the cylindrical conductor portion, The female terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the contact spring portion in the form of a cantilever beam is formed by partially raising at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame portion inward.

7. The contact forming fitting is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion from the male terminal insertion port on the one end side of the cylindrical conductor portion toward the other end side and assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion, One of the pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion and one of the pair of side portions of the frame portion each have a locking hole, The other of the pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion and the other of the pair of side portions of the frame portion each have a locking claw that fits into the locking hole, The female terminal according to claim 6, wherein the insertion of the contact forming fitting toward the other end side is allowed by elastic deformation of the locking claw, and the contact forming fitting is held in the assembled state to the cylindrical conductor portion by elastic return of the locking claw and fitting into the locking hole.

8. The contact forming fitting has a rear opening on the other end side of the cylindrical conductor portion, The contact spring portion includes a first contact spring portion and a second contact spring portion, The upper portion and the lower portion of the frame portion have a pair of upper and lower first contact spring portions and second contact spring portions that protrude inward toward the other end side while being held by the frame portion at the one end side and extend in a cantilever beam shape, The female terminal further includes a contact pressure applying spring that is arranged to sandwich the protruding end portions of the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion and has a size that allows it to pass through the rear opening, The female terminal according to claim 6, wherein with the press-fitting of the male terminal between the opposing surfaces of the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion, the contact pressure applying spring biases the protruding end portions toward each other, and the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion are pressed against the male terminal.

9. A terminal unit including a female terminal and a male terminal connected to the female terminal, The terminal unit, wherein the female terminal is the female terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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