Female terminal and terminal unit

Abstract

To provide a female terminal capable of stabilizing a contact load of the female terminal to a male terminal by reducing the risk of desorption of a clip spring from a contact spring part without increasing the number of components.SOLUTION: A female terminal 10 includes a male terminal mounting part 16 and the male terminal mounting part 16 comprises: a male terminal insertion port 18; a pair of contact spring parts 22 disposed oppositely; and a clip spring 26 which energizes free ends 24 of the pair of contact spring parts 22 in a direction in which the free ends approach each other. In the pair of contact spring parts 22, a pair of contact parts 44 is formed while being extruded and deformed in the approach direction, and the pair of contact spring parts 22 is closest to each other in the contact parts 44. Each of the contact parts 44 includes a projected face 48, which protrudes to an inner face side of each contact spring part 22, and an engage recess 50 which is opened in a recessed shape at an outer face side of each contact spring part 22. A pair of holding plate parts 86 of the clip spring 26 includes a pair of inrush parts 96 fitted into the engage recesses 50 of the pair of contact parts 44.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 to which a flat tab-shaped male terminal is connected. The female terminal has a male terminal mounting portion into which the male terminal is inserted and conductively connected, and is used as a terminal unit composed of the female terminal and the male terminal. The male terminal mounting portion has a pair of support plate portions arranged to face each other with a gap therebetween, and a pair of contact spring portions each connected in a cantilever shape to one end side of the pair of support plate portions partitioning the male terminal insertion port and protruding toward the other end side. The pair of contact spring portions are arranged to face each other with a male terminal insertion gap therebetween, and a separate clip spring that biases the free ends of the pair of contact spring portions toward each other in the approaching direction is mounted on each free end of the pair of contact spring portions. Due to this clip spring, contact pressure of the pair of contact spring portions against the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion portion 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] In the female terminal of Patent Document 1, engaging convex portions provided at free end portions of a pair of contact spring portions are arranged in through holes formed in a connecting plate portion of a clip spring, whereby displacement in the width direction of the contact spring portion of the clip spring is blocked. However, with the combination of the engaging convex portions and the through holes, displacement in the mounting direction of the clip spring to the contact spring portion, which is the protruding direction of the contact spring portion, cannot be blocked. Therefore, due to deformation of the pair of contact spring portions during insertion and removal of the male terminal, vibration during vehicle mounting, etc., there was also a risk that the clip spring would be displaced in the mounting direction to the contact spring portion and become detached from the contact spring portion. On the other hand, although it was conceivable to additionally assemble another member for preventing detachment of the clip spring from the contact spring portion, since this would involve an increase in the number of parts, it was difficult to say that this was a preferable measure.

[0005] Furthermore, the clip spring presses the entire width direction of the portion where the contact portions (contacts) of the pair of contact spring portions with the male terminal are provided. Therefore, when the male terminal rotates and tilts, there was also a possibility that the portion where contact pressure is applied by the clip spring would shift from the contact portion, and the contact load of the female terminal with the male terminal would change.

[0006] Therefore, a female terminal and a terminal unit are disclosed that can reduce the risk of detachment of the clip spring from the contact spring portion without increasing the number of parts, and can stabilize the contact load of the female terminal with the male terminal.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The female terminal of the present disclosure includes a male terminal mounting portion into which a male terminal is inserted and conductively connected. The male terminal mounting portion includes a male terminal insertion port provided on one end side, and a pair of contact spring portions that are respectively connected to the one end side in a cantilever beam shape, project toward the other end side, and are disposed opposite to each other with a male terminal insertion gap therebetween. It also includes a connecting plate portion and a pair of clamping plate portions that project from both side edges of the connecting plate portion in a direction approaching each other. The free ends of each of the pair of contact spring portions are mounted between the pair of clamping plate portions. When the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap, it has a clip spring that biases the free ends toward each other in the approaching direction. On the free end side of each of the pair of contact spring portions, a pair of contact portions that contact the male terminal are formed by being extruded and deformed in the approaching direction. The pair of contact spring portions are closest to each other at each of the contact portions. Each of the contact portions has a convex surface that projects toward the inner surface side of the pair of contact spring portions in the approaching direction, and an engaging recess that opens in a concave shape on the outer surface side of the pair of contact spring portions in the approaching direction. The pair of clamping plate portions of the clip spring each project on the overlapping surface to the free end, and have a pair of protruding portions that respectively fit into the engaging recesses of the pair of contact portions.

[0008] The terminal unit of the present disclosure is a terminal unit including a female terminal and a male terminal connected to the female terminal, and the female terminal is the female terminal according to the present disclosure.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the risk of detachment of the clip spring from the contact spring portion without increasing the number of parts, and to stabilize the contact load of the female terminal with the male terminal, thereby providing a female terminal and a terminal unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] <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) It includes a male terminal mounting portion into which a male terminal is inserted and conductively connected. The male terminal mounting portion includes a male terminal insertion port provided on one end side, a pair of contact spring portions that are connected in a cantilever shape on the one end side and protrude toward the other end side, and are arranged opposite to each other with a male terminal insertion gap therebetween, a connecting plate portion, and a pair of clamping plate portions that protrude from both side edges of the connecting plate portion in a direction approaching each other. The free ends of each of the pair of contact spring portions are sandwiched and mounted between the pair of clamping plate portions. When the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap, it has a clip spring that biases the free ends toward each other in the approaching direction. On the free end side of each of the pair of contact spring portions, a pair of contact portions that contact the male terminal are formed by being extruded and deformed in the approaching direction. The pair of contact spring portions are closest to each other at each of the contact portions. Each of the contact portions has a convex surface that protrudes on the inner surface side of the pair of contact spring portions in the approaching direction, and an engaging recess that opens in a concave shape on the outer surface side of the pair of contact spring portions in the approaching direction. The pair of clamping plate portions of the clip spring are respectively provided with a pair of protruding portions that protrude on the overlapping surface to the free ends and fit into the engaging recesses of the pair of contact portions.

[0012] According to the female terminal of the present disclosure, the contact portions, which are the portions closest to each other in the pair of contact spring portions, are respectively provided on the free end side. Further, a pair of protruding portions provided on the pair of clamping plate portions of the clip spring that sandwiches the free ends of the pair of contact spring portions fit into the engaging recesses of the pair of contact portions respectively. Thereby, even if the clip spring is displaced in the mounting direction to the contact spring portion or in the width direction of the clip spring due to the deformation of the pair of contact spring portions during the insertion and removal of the male terminal or the vibration during vehicle mounting, etc., the protruding portions of the clip spring engage with the engaging recesses of the contact spring portion, so that the detachment of the clip spring from the contact spring portion can be suppressed or prevented. Moreover, since there is no need to additionally assemble other members other than the contact spring portion and the clip spring, the risk of detachment of the clip spring from the contact spring portion can be reduced without increasing the number of parts.

[0013] In addition, at the engaging concave portion of the contact portion, which is the portion closest to each other in the pair of contact spring portions, the protruding portion of the clamping plate portion of the clip spring fits into the engaging concave portion, thereby constructing a structure that can surely apply the contact pressure due to the elastic restoring force of the clip spring to the contact portions (contact points) on both sides in the plate thickness direction of the male terminal. Therefore, even if the male terminal is inclined, the contact points between the contact spring portion and the clip spring are difficult to shift, and the contact load of the female terminal on the male terminal can be stabilized.

[0014] Note that the shapes of the contact portion provided on the contact spring portion and the protruding portion provided on the clip spring can be any shapes as long as they fit into each other. For example, the shape of the protruding portion may correspond to the shape of the engaging concave portion of the contact portion, or may be a non-corresponding shape.

[0015] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the surface of the protruding portion that fits into the engaging concave portion has a similar shape smaller than the inner surface of the engaging concave portion of the contact portion. Since the surface of the protruding portion has a similar shape smaller than the inner surface of the engaging concave portion of the contact portion, the protruding portion can fit into the engaging concave portion over a wide area, and even when the male terminal is inclined, it is possible to maintain a state of abutting against any part of the surface of the protruding portion and the inner surface of the engaging concave portion. Thereby, even if the male terminal is inclined, the contact pressure by the clip spring can be stably applied to the contact portion of the contact spring portion, and further stabilization of the contact load of the female terminal on the male terminal can be achieved.

[0016] (3) In the above (2), it is preferable that both the surface of the protruding portion and the inner surface of the engaging concave portion are spherical crown shapes. Since both the surface of the protruding portion and the inner surface of the engaging concave portion are spherical crown shapes, it is possible to advantageously ensure the followability of the contact state between the protruding portion and the engaging concave portion with respect to the inclination of the male terminal in various directions, and further stabilization of the contact load of the female terminal on the male terminal can be achieved.

[0017] (4) In any one of the above (1) to (3), on the overlapping surface of each of the clamping plate portions of the clip spring to the free end portion, an attracting convex portion extending in a tapered shape from the intrusion portion toward the tip side of the clamping plate portion is protrudingly provided, which is preferable. The clamping plate portion of the clip spring has an attracting convex portion extending in a tapered shape from the intrusion portion toward the tip side. Thereby, when attaching the clamping plate portion of the clip spring to each free end portion of the pair of contact springs, first, the attracting convex portion of the clamping plate portion contacts the engaging concave portion, and by the guiding action of the attracting convex portion, the intrusion portion can be stably fitted into the engaging concave portion of the contact spring portion. As a result, it is possible to advantageously suppress or prevent the occurrence of a poor assembly in which the intrusion portion of the clip spring and the engaging concave portion of the contact spring portion are not fitted together.

[0018] (5) In any one of the above (1) to (4), each of the contact spring portions penetrates through the central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in the protruding direction, and is divided into a first tongue piece and a second tongue piece that can be independently displaced from each other by a spring portion side slit opening on the protruding end surface. Each of the clamping plate portions of the clip spring penetrates through the central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in the protruding direction, and is divided into a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece that can be independently displaced from each other by a clip side slit opening on the protruding end surface. A pair of the first tongue pieces arranged opposite to each other sandwich the male terminal therebetween and are clamped by the pair of the first clamping pieces, and the engaging concave portion of the contact portion provided on each of the first tongue pieces and the intrusion portion provided on each of the first clamping pieces are fitted together. A pair of the second tongue pieces arranged opposite to each other sandwich the male terminal therebetween and are clamped by the pair of the second clamping pieces, and the engaging concave portion of the contact portion provided on each of the second tongue pieces and the intrusion portion provided on each of the second clamping pieces are fitted together, which is preferable.

[0019] Each contact spring part is divided into a first tongue piece and a second tongue piece that can be displaced independently of each other by the spring part side slit, and each clamping plate part is divided into a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece that can be displaced independently of each other by the clip side slit. Then, a pair of first tongue pieces facing each other with the male terminal sandwiched therebetween can be clamped by a pair of first clamping pieces, and a pair of second tongue pieces facing each other with the male terminal sandwiched therebetween can be clamped by a pair of second clamping pieces. As a result, the followability of the contact spring part and the clamping plate part with respect to the displacement of the male terminal is improved, and the first tongue piece and the second tongue piece can be advantageously held in a pressed contact state corresponding to the rotational displacement of the male terminal. In addition, the engaging recess of the contact part of the first tongue piece and the protruding part of the first clamping piece are fitted together, and the engaging recess of the contact part of the second tongue piece and the protruding part of the second clamping piece are fitted together. Thereby, while ensuring the connection stability between the male and female terminals, further stabilization of the contact load of the female terminal on the male terminal can also be achieved.

[0020] (6) In any one of (1) to (5) above, a pressed product of a first metal flat plate, having a main body part having a connection part conductively connected to another member and a hollow cylindrical conductor part, 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 inserted and assembled into the cylindrical conductor part, wherein the male terminal mounting part is constituted by including the cylindrical conductor part and the contact forming fitting, the cylindrical conductor part 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 male terminal insertion port is provided on one end side, the frame part of the contact forming fitting has a rectangular frame shape having a pair of side parts overlapped with each of the pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor part, and an upper part and a lower part overlapped with each of the upper wall and the lower wall of the cylindrical conductor part, the upper part and the lower part of the frame part have the pair of contact spring parts held by the frame part at the one end side and protruding inward toward the other end side and extending in a cantilever shape, and by connecting the upper part and the lower part of the frame part to the upper wall and the lower wall, the pair of contact spring parts are respectively connected in a cantilever shape to the one end side of the male terminal mounting part, and it is preferable that the clip spring is mounted on the free ends of the pair of contact spring parts.

[0021] A main body portion having a connection portion with other members and a hollow cylindrical conductor portion, and a contact forming fitting that is assembled to be electrically connected to the cylindrical conductor portion of the main body portion are configured as separate components. Further, the contact forming fitting is formed using a second metal flat plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first metal flat plate forming the main body portion. Thereby, when it is necessary to cope with an increase in current, while securing the capacitance in the main body portion having a large plate thickness dimension, the contact spring portion can be provided with a plate thickness thinner than that of the main body portion. 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 portion in order to obtain followability to the male terminal of the contact spring portion, and it is possible to cope with an increase in current while suppressing an increase in size of the female terminal. Further, since the cylindrical conductor portion is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and the contact forming fitting is formed in a rectangular frame shape, it is possible to advantageously secure their rigidity. Moreover, by partially raising the upper and lower portions of the frame portion of the contact forming fitting toward the inside of the frame portion, a pair of cantilever beam-shaped contact spring portions are provided, so that the contact spring portions can be easily manufactured with good yield.

[0022] And by connecting the upper and lower portions of the frame portion of the contact forming fitting to the upper wall and the lower wall of the cylindrical conductor portion, respectively, a pair of contact spring portions can be supported in a cantilever beam shape on the upper wall and the lower wall, so that the rigidity of the pair of contact spring portions can also be stably secured.

[0023] The terminal unit of the present disclosure is (7) 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 (6) 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 (6) above, it is possible to provide a terminal unit that can exhibit the same operational effects as those obtained by any one of (1) to (6) above.

[0024] <Details of the Embodiment 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, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0025] <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 11. 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 any orientation. Hereinafter, the upper side refers to the upper side in FIG. 3, the lower side refers to the lower side in FIG. 3, the front side refers to the left side in FIG. 2, the rear side refers to the right side in FIG. 2, the left side refers to the upper side in FIG. 2, and the right side refers to the lower side 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.

[0026] <Female terminal 10> The female terminal 10 includes a male terminal mounting portion 16 into which the male terminal 12 is inserted and conductively connected. This male terminal mounting portion 16 has a male terminal insertion port 18 provided on one end side (front side), and is connected in a cantilever beam shape on one end side (the male terminal insertion port 18 side) respectively, protruding toward the other end side (rear side, which is the side of a rear opening window 116 described later), and a pair of contact spring portions 22, 22 (a first contact spring portion 22a and a second contact spring portion 22b) disposed opposite to each other with a male terminal insertion gap 20 therebetween. Further, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 20, the male terminal mounting portion 16 has a clip spring 26 that biases the free ends 24, 24 of the respective contact spring portions 22a, 22b toward each other in the approaching direction. In Embodiment 1, the male terminal mounting portion 16 includes a hollow cylindrical conductor portion 28 and a contact forming metal fitting 30 having the respective contact spring portions 22, and the male terminal mounting portion 16 is configured by inserting and assembling the contact forming metal fitting 30 into the cylindrical conductor portion 28. For clarity, in the following FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the contact forming metal fitting 30 is shown by a dashed line. Also, in FIG. 2, in addition to the contact forming metal fitting 30, the male terminal 12 and the clip spring 26 are also shown by dashed lines.

[0027] <male terminal 12> The male terminal 12 is a tab terminal having a plate-like shape as a whole. The male terminal 12 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, has a predetermined width direction dimension (left-right direction dimension) and a thickness direction dimension (up-down direction 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 direction dimension is larger than the thickness direction 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, copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. For example, a bolt insertion hole is provided in the base 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 base end portion of the male terminal 12 by crimping or the like.

[0028] <Contact formation fitting 30> As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, etc., the contact formation fitting 30 has a frame portion 32 that is assembled to the inner surface of the wall portion (the upper wall 118, the lower wall 120, and the left and right side walls 122, 124 described later) of the cylindrical conductor portion 28. Further, the contact formation fitting 30 has the above-described respective contact spring portions 22a, 22b that are held by the frame portion 32, project inward of the frame portion 32, and are pressed against the male terminal 12 inserted from the male terminal insertion port 18.

[0029] <Contact spring portion 22 (first contact spring portion 22a and second contact spring portion 22b)> The first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b are held in a cantilever shape at the front end portion of the frame portion 32 and project rearward. Therefore, the rear end portions of these first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b are the above-described free end portions 24, respectively. Note that these first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b are arranged to face each other in the vertical direction with the male terminal insertion gap 20 therebetween, with the first contact spring portion 22a on the upper side and the second contact spring portion 22b on the lower side.

[0030] Also, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, etc., these first contact spring portion 22a and second contact spring portion 22b extend in a direction of gradually approaching each other toward the rear before the insertion of the male terminal 12. As a result, the male terminal insertion gap 20 has an opening dimension (the vertical opposing distance between the respective contact spring portions 22a, 22b) that gradually decreases from the male terminal insertion port 18 on the front end side toward the rear. In Embodiment 1, chamfered curved surfaces 34 that gradually incline upward and inward toward the rear are formed on the vertical outer surfaces at the respective free end portions 24, and as will be described later, the clip spring 26 can be easily assembled to the respective free end portions 24 of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b.

[0031] Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, each contact spring portion 22a, 22b extends in the protruding direction (from the front to the rear) by penetrating the central portion in the width direction (left - right direction) in the plate thickness direction (substantially up - down direction) and opening to the protruding end face (rear end face) 36 through spring - portion - side slits 38, and is divided into a first tongue piece 40 and a second tongue piece 42 that can be displaced independently of each other. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the left - hand portions of each contact spring portion 22a, 22b are the first tongue pieces 40, 40 respectively, and the right - hand portions of each contact spring portion 22a, 22b are the second tongue pieces 42, 42 respectively. Thereby, the first tongue pieces 40, 40 in each contact spring portion 22a, 22b face each other in the up - down direction, and the second tongue pieces 42, 42 in each contact spring portion 22a, 22b face each other in the up - down direction.

[0032] <Contact portion 44 (first contact portion 44a and second contact portion 44b)> And in each of the first and second tongue pieces 40, 42 of each contact spring portion 22a, 22b, a pair of contact portions 44, 44 (first contact portion 44a and second contact portion 44b) that contact the male terminal 12 when the male terminal 12 is inserted are provided on the inner surface in the facing direction on the free - end portion 24 side. That is, these first and second contact portions 44a, 44b protrude inward in the up - down direction, which is the approaching direction of each free - end portion 24 biased by the clip spring 26. In Embodiment 1, in the first and second tongue pieces 40, 42 of the first contact spring portion 22a, the first contact portions 44a, 44a are provided on the facing surface (lower surface) to the second contact spring portion 22b respectively, and in the first and second tongue pieces 40, 42 of the second contact spring portion 22b, the second contact portions 44b, 44b are provided on the facing surface (upper surface) to the first contact spring portion 22a respectively.

[0033] In particular, as also shown in FIG. 6, in the state before the insertion of the male terminal 12 into the female terminal 10, each first contact portion 44a and each second contact portion 44b are in contact with each other or are slightly separated and face each other in the vertical direction, and the contact spring portions 22a and 22b are closest to each other at the contact portions 44a and 44b. The minimum opposing distance in the vertical direction between each first contact portion 44a and each second contact portion 44b is smaller than the thickness dimension (vertical direction dimension) of the male terminal 12. As a result, when the male terminal 12 is inserted from the male terminal insertion port 18 into the male terminal insertion gap 20, each first contact portion 44a and each second contact portion 44b contact the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, and the first and second tongue pieces 40 and 42 are pushed and expanded outward in the vertical direction. As a result, the male terminal 12 is press-fitted between each first contact portion 44a and each second contact portion 44b in the male terminal insertion gap 20.

[0034] In Embodiment 1, in each first tongue piece 40 and each second tongue piece 42 of the first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b, a bent portion 46 is provided at each protruding tip portion, and at the formation position of each bent portion 46, each of the first contact portions 44a and each of the second contact portions 44b are provided. These first and second contact portions 44a and 44b are formed in a curved arc shape in the longitudinal section shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, have a predetermined left-right direction dimension at the central portion in the left-right direction of each first tongue piece 40 and each second tongue piece 42, and are provided so as to straddle both sides in the front-rear direction with the bent portion 46 interposed therebetween in each first tongue piece 40 and each second tongue piece 42.

[0035] Particularly, in Embodiment 1, as will be described later, a contact forming fitting 30 having first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b is formed by pressing a single metal flat plate (second metal flat plate) not shown in the drawings. That is, each of the first and second contact portions 44a and 44b is formed by extruding and deforming the protruding tip portions of the first and second tongue pieces 40 and 42 in a direction approaching each other. Therefore, each of the first and second contact portions 44a and 44b has a convex surface 48 protruding toward the inner side (the inner side in the vertical direction) in the approaching direction of each of the first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b, and an engaging recess 50 opening in a concave shape on the outer side (the outer side in the vertical direction) in the approaching direction of each of the first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b.

[0036] And the inner surface 52 of each engaging recess 50 is formed in a spherical crown shape, and has a substantially constant radius of curvature r1 in a cross-sectional view as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIGS. 6 and 7, in the engaging recess 50 provided in the second tongue piece 42 in the first contact spring portion 22a, a virtual circle C1 extending along the inner surface 52 is shown by a two-dot chain line, and the center P1 and radius r1 of this circle C1 are shown. Even in the engaging recess 50 provided in the first tongue piece 40 in the first contact spring portion 22a and in each engaging recess 50 provided in the first and second tongue pieces 40 and 42 in the second contact spring portion 22b, when virtual circles C1 extending along the respective inner surfaces 52 are assumed, each of the circles C1 has a substantially constant radius r1.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, these engaging recesses 50 have a predetermined front-rear dimension, and have a front-rear dimension larger than that of each intrusion portion 96 that enters each engaging recess 50 as will be described later. Thereby, due to the deformation of each of the first and second contact springs 22a and 22b outward in the opposing direction accompanying the insertion of the male terminal 12, each intrusion portion 96 is displaceable in the front-rear direction within each engaging recess 50.

[0038] <Frame portion 32> As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, etc., the frame portion 32 of the contact forming fitting 30 is generally in the shape of a rectangular frame. That is, the frame portion 32 has a left side portion 54 and a right side portion 56 as a pair of side portions that are respectively overlapped on the left and right side walls 122 and 124 described later in the cylindrical conductor portion 28, an upper portion 58 that is overlapped on the upper wall 118, and a lower portion 60 that is overlapped on the lower wall 120. And the left side portion 54 and the right side portion 56 are connected by the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 respectively. Thereby, the frame portion 32 is open on both sides in the front-rear direction, and a front opening 62 and a rear opening 64 are provided.

[0039] In the middle portions in the front-rear direction of these upper portion 58 and lower portion 60, substantially rectangular through-window portions 66 penetrating in the thickness direction (up-down direction) are respectively formed, and each through-window portion 66 is formed over the entire length in the left-right direction of the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60. Thereby, the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 are divided on both the front and rear sides by the respective through-window portions 66, and the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 are each configured to include a front connection portion 68 that connects the left and right side portions 54, 56 at the front portion and a rear connection portion 70 that connects them at the rear portion. In other words, the left side portion 54 and the right side portion 56 are connected by the respective front connection portions 68 in the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 at the front portion, and are connected by the respective rear connection portions 70 in the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 at the rear portion.

[0040] In Embodiment 1, the first contact spring portion 22a, which is the upper contact spring portion 22, extends rearward in a cantilever beam shape from the rear end of the front connection portion 68 in the upper portion 58, and the second contact spring portion 22b, which is the lower contact spring portion 22, extends rearward in a cantilever beam shape from the rear end of the front connection portion 68 in the lower portion 60. That is, the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b are held by the respective front connection portions 68 in the frame body portion 32 on the front side, which is one end side, and project inward toward the rear side, which is the other end side, and extend in a cantilever beam 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 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b, and the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b are each elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the connection portions with the respective front connection portions 68 at the front ends as the bases.

[0041] Each spring portion side slit 38 provided in each contact spring portion 22a, 22b is formed with a length dimension (front-rear direction dimension) longer than those of the first and second tongue pieces 40, 42, and the front end portion of each spring portion side slit 38 reaches the middle portion in the front-rear direction in each front connection portion 68.

[0042] Such a contact forming fitting 30 is inserted from the male terminal insertion port 18, which is one end side of the cylindrical conductor portion 28, toward the other end side (the rear opening window 116 described later) and is assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 28. The contact forming fitting 30 has a contact edge portion 72 that is overlapped with the front end face 126, which is the end face on the male terminal insertion port 18 side in the cylindrical conductor portion 28 described later. This contact edge portion 72 is formed over substantially the entire length in the left-right direction in each front connection portion 68 in the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60. Each contact edge portion 72 is configured to extend outward in the vertical direction from the front end portion in each of the above-described front connection portions 68. When the contact forming fitting 30 is assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 28, each contact edge portion 72 contacts both sides in the vertical direction on the front end face 126 on the male terminal insertion port 18 side in the cylindrical conductor portion 28, so that the insertion end of the contact forming fitting 30 into the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is defined.

[0043] Note that the method of fixing the contact forming fitting 30 to the cylindrical conductor portion 28 (main body portion 112 described later) is not limited, but in Embodiment 1, each contact edge portion 72 is overlapped with the front end surface 126, and these overlapping surfaces are welded to each other. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the overlapping surfaces of each contact edge portion 72 and the front end surface 126 are welded by laser welding.

[0044] By inserting and fixing the contact forming fitting 30 to the cylindrical conductor portion 28 in this way, the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 of the frame body portion 32 are connected to the upper wall 118 and the lower wall 120 (described later) of the cylindrical conductor portion 28, respectively. Therefore, the first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b, which extend in a cantilever shape rearward from each front connection portion 68 at the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 of the contact forming fitting 30, are connected in a cantilever shape to one end side (male terminal insertion port 18 side) of the male terminal mounting portion 16 formed by inserting the contact forming fitting 30 into the cylindrical conductor portion 28.

[0045] Furthermore, substantially rectangular through holes 74 penetrating the left and right side portions 54 and 56 of the contact forming fitting 30 in the thickness direction are formed in the front portions of the left and right side portions 54 and 56, and locking claws 76 protruding forward are provided in the rear portions of the inner peripheral surfaces of the respective through holes 74. Spaces (gaps) are provided on three sides (both sides in the vertical direction and the front) around each locking claw 76, and each locking claw 76 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, etc., in the assembled state of the contact forming fitting 30, each locking claw 76 protrudes in a direction that gradually inclines outward in the left-right direction as it faces forward.

[0046] And the contact forming fitting 30 having the above-described structure is formed by subjecting a second metal flat plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first metal flat plate constituting the main body portion 112 described later to pressing or the like. The metal material of the second metal flat plate constituting the contact forming fitting 30 is not limited, but a metal having conductivity and spring properties can be adopted, and for example, a copper alloy can be adopted. In the first embodiment, as also shown in FIG. 9, when the second metal flat plate is bent to form the contact forming fitting 30, the portions that are abutted against each other are provided at the left side portion 54. That is, at the left end portions of the front connection portion 68 and the rear connection portion 70 in the upper portion 58, a first left side portion 78a extending downward is provided, and at the left end portions of the front connection portion 68 and the rear connection portion 70 in the lower portion 60, a second left side portion 78b extending upward is provided. The left side portion 54 is constituted by the first left side portion 78a and the second left side portion 78b being abutted against each other in the vertical direction.

[0047] In particular, in the first embodiment, an engaging convex portion 80 protruding upward is provided at the upper end of the second left side portion 78b, and an engaging concave portion 82 opening downward is provided at the lower end of the first left side portion 78a. Thereby, when forming the contact forming fitting 30, for example, by hitting the engaging convex portion 80 from the outside and fitting it into the engaging concave portion 82, the left side portion 54 is constituted, and it can be prevented that the first left side portion 78a and the second left side portion 78b are unintentionally separated.

[0048] Although illustration is omitted, the state of the second metal plate before pressing is such that each wall portion (left side portion 54, right side portion 56, upper portion 58, and lower portion 60) constituting the contact forming fitting 30 extends in a planar manner. In Embodiment 1, each of the first contact spring portions 22a and each of the second contact spring portions 22b are configured by partially raising the wall portions constituting the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60. That is, in the second metal plate before pressing, each of the first contact spring portions 22a and each of the second contact spring portions 22b are raised from the wall portions constituting, for example, the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 to one side in the thickness direction. When the second metal plate is bent to form the contact forming fitting 30, each of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b protrude inward of the frame portion 32.

[0049] Similarly, each locking claw 76 is configured by partially raising the wall portions constituting the left side portion 54 (first left side portion 78a and second left side portion 78b) and the right side portion 56. That is, in the second metal plate before pressing, each locking claw 76 is raised from the wall portions constituting, for example, the left side portion 54 and the right side portion 56 to the other side in the thickness direction. When forming the contact forming fitting 30, it protrudes outward in the left - right direction in the contact forming fitting 30. Note that each of the first contact spring portions 22a, each of the second contact spring portions 22b, and each locking claw 76 may be bent so as to protrude inward of the frame portion 32 or outward in the left - right direction after the contact forming fitting 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0050] <Clip spring 26> As described above, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 20, the female terminal 10 has a clip spring 26 that biases the free ends 24, 24 of the respective contact spring portions 22a, 22b toward each other in the approaching direction (inward in the vertical direction). Specifically, the clip spring 26 is disposed so as to sandwich each free end 24 of each contact spring portion 22a, 22b. When the male terminal 12 is press-fitted into the female terminal 10, the clip spring 26 biases the free ends 24 of the first contact spring portion 22a and the free ends 24 of the second contact spring portion 22b toward each other. In Embodiment 1, the clip spring 26 is inserted into the contact forming fitting 30 from the rear opening 64 in the contact forming fitting 30, and in a rear view (viewed in the front-rear direction), the clip spring 26 is formed to have a size that can pass through the rear opening 64. Further, the contact forming fitting 30 with the clip spring 26 assembled is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 28 from the male terminal insertion port 18 in the cylindrical conductor portion 28, and the clip spring 26 and the contact forming fitting 30 are formed to have a size that can pass through the male terminal insertion port 18 in a front view (viewed in the front-rear direction).

[0051] More specifically, as also shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the clip spring 26 has a rectangular flat plate-shaped connecting plate portion 84 and a pair of sandwiching plate portions 86, 86 that project from both side edges of the connecting plate portion 84 in a direction approaching each other. By sandwiching each free end 24 of each contact spring portion 22a, 22b between the sandwiching plate portions 86, the clip spring 26 is attached to each free end 24 of each contact spring portion 22a, 22b. The connecting plate portion 84 and each sandwiching plate portion 86 are each substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped. The clip spring 26 having such a shape can be formed by, for example, performing press working on a single metal flat plate. In a state where the clip spring 26 is attached to each contact spring portion 22a, 22b, each sandwiching plate portion 86 projects forward from both vertical side edges of the connecting plate portion 84 and is inclined in a direction approaching each other (inward in the vertical direction).

[0052] In Embodiment 1, each clamping plate portion 86 penetrates through the central portion in the width direction (left - right direction) in the plate thickness direction (substantially up - down direction) and extends in the protruding direction (the direction from the rear to the front), and is divided into a first clamping piece 92 and a second clamping piece 94 that can be displaced independently of each other by a clip - side slit 90 that opens to the protruding end face (front end face) 88. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the left - hand portions of each clamping plate portion 86 are respectively the first clamping pieces 92, 92, and the right - hand portions of each clamping plate portion 86 are respectively the second clamping pieces 94, 94. As a result, the first clamping pieces 92, 92 in each clamping plate portion 86 face each other in the up - down direction, and the second clamping pieces 94, 94 in each clamping plate portion 86 face each other in the up - down direction. These first and second clamping pieces 92, 94 are elastically deformable in the up - down direction with the connection portion to the connecting plate portion 84 as a base point.

[0053] Here, each clamping plate portion 86 of the clip spring 26 has a pair of intrusion portions 96, 96 that protrude inward in the up - down direction so as to fit respectively into the engagement recesses 50 of the first and second contact portions 44a, 44b on the inner surface in the up - down direction, which is the overlapping surface with respect to the free ends 24 of the respective contact spring portions 22a, 22b. In Embodiment 1, each of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b is divided into a first tongue piece 40 and a second tongue piece 42 by each spring - side slit 38, and each clamping plate portion 86 is divided into a first clamping piece 92 and a second clamping piece 94 by a clip - side slit 90. As a result, in Embodiment 1, the intrusion portions 96 are provided on the first and second clamping pieces 92, 94 in each clamping plate portion 86, and a total of four intrusion portions 96 are provided in the clip spring 26.

[0054] In particular, in Embodiment 1, the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 that fits into each engagement recess 50 has a similar shape smaller than the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 at each of the first and second contact portions 44a, 44b. That is, the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 has a spherical cap shape and has a substantially constant radius of curvature r2 in a cross-sectional view as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIGS. 6 and 7, in the intrusion portion 96 provided on the second clamping piece 94 of the upper clamping plate portion 86, a virtual circle C2 extending along the surface 98 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the center P2 and radius r2 of this circle C2 are shown. Even in the intrusion portion 96 provided on the first clamping piece 92 of the upper clamping plate portion 86 and in the intrusion portions 96 provided on the first and second clamping pieces 92, 94 of the lower clamping plate portion 86, when a virtual circle C2 extending along each surface 98 is assumed, each circle C2 has a substantially constant radius r2.

[0055] And as described above, the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 has a similar shape smaller than the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50, and since each intrusion portion 96 fits into each engagement recess 50, the radius of curvature r2 of the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 is made smaller than the radius of curvature r1 of the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50. In Embodiment 1, the radius of curvature r2 of the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 is made slightly smaller than the radius of curvature r1 of the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50, and the centers P1, P2 of the virtual circles C1, C2 are also in substantially the same position. That is, although each intrusion portion 96 fits into each engagement recess 50 in a relatively wide area, the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 are overlapped at one point each. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in a state before the male terminal 12 is inserted into each male terminal insertion gap 20, the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 are overlapped and in contact with each other at point Q1.

[0056] Incidentally, as will be described later, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into each male terminal insertion gap 20 between the first and second contact portions 44a and 44b, the first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b are pushed and expanded outward in the vertical direction by the male terminal 12. Along with the outward deformation of the first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b in the vertical direction, each intrusion portion 96 fitted in each engagement recess 50 is displaced forward along the inner surface 52 in each engagement recess 50. As a result, the clip spring 26 is displaced forward compared to before the insertion of the male terminal 12, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 are overlapped and contacted at one point (point Q2 in FIGS. 3 and 4). When the male terminal 12 is inserted, the dot-like overlapping portion (point Q2) between the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 is at a position corresponding to the first and second contact portions 44a and 44b that are in contact with the male terminal 12 in a point contact manner, and the biasing force by the clip spring 26 is applied to the male terminal 12 in a point contact manner via the first and second contact portions 44a and 44b, respectively.

[0057] In the first embodiment, as described above, the clip spring 26 is formed by performing press working on a single metal flat plate, and each intrusion portion 96 that protrudes inward in the vertical direction is formed by extruding and deforming the first and second sandwiching pieces 92 and 94. That is, a recess 100 that opens outward in the vertical direction is formed at a position corresponding to each intrusion portion 96 on the outer surface in the vertical direction of each of the first and second sandwiching pieces 92 and 94.

[0058] In addition, a bent portion 102 is formed in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94, and each of the above-described intrusion portions 96 is formed at each bent portion 102 in each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94. And since the bent portion 102 is provided in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94, the protruding tip portions including the respective protruding end faces 88 in each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94 extend outward in the vertical direction from each bent portion 102. Therefore, the opposing distances between the first clamping pieces 92, 92 and the second clamping pieces 94, 94 that oppose each other in the vertical direction are minimized at the bent portions 102 provided in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction. The gap between these bent portions 102 that oppose each other in the vertical direction is an insertion port 104 for inserting and assembling the free ends 24 of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b (the first and second tongue pieces 40, 42).

[0059] Here, in each clamping plate portion 86, on the inner surface in the vertical direction that serves as the overlapping surface with respect to the free end 24 in each of the contact spring portions 22a and 22b, an attracting convex portion 106 that extends in a tapered shape from each intrusion portion 96 toward the tip side of the clamping plate portion 86 is formed. Specifically, in each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94, an attracting convex portion 106 that protrudes inward in the vertical direction is formed on the tip side (front side) in the protruding direction from each bent portion 102, and the attracting convex portion 106 has a tapered shape in which the dimension in the width direction (left-right direction) gradually decreases as it goes forward. In Embodiment 1, each attracting convex portion 106 is continuously formed in the front-rear direction with respect to each intrusion portion 96. In short, in each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94, the intrusion portions 96 and the attracting convex portions 106 are formed across each bent portion 102, the intrusion portions 96 are provided behind each bent portion 102, and the attracting convex portions 106 are formed in front of each bent portion 102.

[0060] Note that, as described above, since the clip spring 26 is formed by subjecting a single metal flat plate to pressing, each attracting convex portion 106 is formed to protrude inward in the vertical direction by extruding and deforming each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94. Therefore, recesses 108 that open outward in the vertical direction are formed at positions corresponding to the attracting convex portions 106 on the outer surfaces in the vertical direction of each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94. And on the outer surfaces in the vertical direction of each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94, each recess 100 for forming each intrusion portion 96 and each recess 108 for forming each attracting convex portion 106 are smoothly continuous.

[0061] And on the inner surfaces in the vertical direction of each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94, each intrusion portion 96 and each attracting convex portion 106 are smoothly continuous in the front-rear direction, but the curvatures of the intrusion portions 96 and the attracting convex portions 106 are made different at their connection portions. In the longitudinal section shown in FIG. 6, the radius of curvature of the inner surface in the vertical direction of each attracting convex portion 106 is smaller than the radius of curvature r2 of the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96. In Embodiment 1, at the inner surfaces in the vertical direction of each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94, the connection portions between each intrusion portion 96 and each attracting convex portion 106 protrude most inward in the vertical direction. Therefore, at these connection portions facing each other in the vertical direction, each insertion port 104 between the first clamping pieces 92, 92 and the second clamping pieces 94, 94 described above is formed.

[0062] When the first and second contact spring parts 22a and 22b are inserted into the respective insertion ports 104, since the connection part between each intrusion part 96 and each attracting convex part 106 is superposed on the inner surface 52 of each engagement concave part 50, a dot-like superposed part Q1 with the inner surface 52 is formed at the connection part between each intrusion part 96 and each attracting convex part 106. Then, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into each male terminal insertion gap 20, as described above, the clip spring 26 moves forward within the contact forming fitting 30, and each intrusion part 96 is displaced forward within each engagement concave part 50. As a result, a part behind the connection part between each intrusion part 96 and each attracting convex part 106 comes into contact with the inner surface 52 of each engagement concave part 50, and a dot-like superposed part Q2 with the inner surface 52 is formed on the surface 98 of each intrusion part 96.

[0063] In Embodiment 1, the opening dimension (vertical dimension) of each insertion port 104 before elastic deformation of each clamping plate part 86 of the clip spring 26 is slightly smaller than the separation distance (vertical dimension) between the outer surfaces at the free ends 24 of each first contact spring part 22a and each second contact spring part 22b. Although illustration is omitted, before the clip spring 26 is assembled, the free ends 24 of each first and second contact spring parts 22a and 22b extend straight backward, for example, and are in a mutually parallel state. The above-described clip spring 26 is inserted into the contact forming fitting 30 from the rear opening 64 of the contact forming fitting 30, and each clamping plate part 86 is assembled so as to sandwich the free ends 24 of each first and second contact spring parts 22a and 22b that extend parallel to each other.

[0064] When assembling the clip spring 26 as described above to the contact forming fitting 30, the clip spring 26 is inserted through the rear opening 64 of the contact forming fitting 30, and the free ends 24 of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b and the insertion ports 104 of the clip spring 26 are opposed in the front-rear direction. Then, by bringing the free ends 24 and the clip spring 26 closer in the front-rear direction, the curved surfaces 34 provided at the protruding ends (rear ends) of the free ends 24 and the guiding convex portions 106 provided at the protruding ends (front ends) of the clamping plate portions 86 come into contact with each other. Due to the cooperative action of these, the free ends 24 are guided between the insertion ports 104, and the free ends 24 are elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction. Thereafter, by sliding the clip spring 26 forward with respect to the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b, the intrusion portions 96 of the clamping plate portions 86 enter into the engagement recesses 50 of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b, and the intrusion portions 96 are locked to the engagement recesses 50. Thereby, the clip spring 26 is assembled to the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b (contact forming fitting 30).

[0065] In such an assembled state of the clip spring 26 to the contact forming fitting 30, the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b are pressed inward in the opposing direction by the clamping plate portions 86 of the clip spring 26 as compared with the state before assembly, and are slightly inclined in a direction of gradually approaching as the free ends 24 move rearward, for example. Therefore, an elastic restoring force acting outward in the vertical direction in the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b acts on the clamping plate portions 86. Thereby, the locked state of the intrusion portions 96 to the engagement recesses 50 is maintained, and the clip spring 26 is prevented from falling off from the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b. Note that the insertion operation of the free ends 24 of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b into the insertion ports 104 of the clip spring 26 can be ended, for example, when an operator feels by touch that the intrusion portions 96 have entered into the engagement recesses 50 and the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b have elastically restored and deformed.

[0066] <Body portion 112> The female terminal 10 includes a connection portion 110 that is conductively connected to another member (for example, a member on the power supply side such as a battery) and a body portion 112 having the aforementioned hollow cylindrical conductor portion 28. The body portion 112 is a pressed product of a first metal flat plate (not shown). Although not shown in the drawings, the state of the first metal flat plate before pressing is such that each wall portion constituting the body portion 112 (the upper wall 118, the lower wall 120, the left and right side walls 122, 124, and the connection portion 110 that will constitute the cylindrical conductor portion 28) extends in a planar shape. Then, by bending the first metal flat plate into a predetermined shape, the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is formed in the front portion of the body portion 112. The metal material constituting the body portion 112 is not limited, but a metal with excellent conductivity can be adopted, and for example, pure copper can be adopted.

[0067] <Connection portion 110> The connection portion 110 is generally plate-shaped. In the state where the female terminal 10 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connection portion 110 extends in the front-rear direction as a whole and has a substantially rectangular shape in which the front-rear dimension is larger than the vertical dimension in a side view (left-right direction view). A bolt insertion hole 114 penetrating in the plate thickness direction (left-right direction) is formed at the rear end portion of the connection portion 110. 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 through the bolt insertion hole 114. For example, a terminal of an electric wire (not shown), a bus bar, or the like can be connected to the connection portion 110 as another member.

[0068] <Cylindrical conductor portion 28> The cylindrical conductor portion 28 is generally substantially cylindrical and open on both sides in the front-rear direction. It has the aforementioned male terminal insertion port 18 that opens toward one end side (front end side) in the length direction of the cylindrical conductor portion 28, and a rear opening window 116 that opens toward the other end side (rear end side) in the length direction. In Embodiment 1, the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is formed as a substantially horizontally long rectangular cylinder. Specifically, the wall portion of the cylindrical conductor portion 28 has an upper wall 118 and a lower wall 120 that are oppositely arranged in the vertical direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, which is the axial direction of the cylindrical conductor portion 28, and a left side wall 122 and a right side wall 124 as a pair of side walls. In other words, the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is formed as a rectangular cylinder having left and right side walls 122, 124 and an upper wall 118 and a lower wall 120 connected by these left and right side walls 122, 124.

[0069] And, by making the left-right dimension of the upper wall 118 and the lower wall 120 larger than the up-down dimension of the left and right side walls 122, 124, the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is formed as a substantially horizontally long rectangular cylinder shape. Each wall portion (upper wall 118, lower wall 120, and left and right side walls 122, 124) constituting the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is substantially rectangular plate-shaped. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the above-described connection portion 110 is provided on the lower wall 120 side, and the connection portion 110 is integrally formed with the lower wall 120 and extends rearward from the lower wall 120. In Embodiment 1, a welded portion is formed at each front end face 126, which is the end face on the male terminal insertion port 18 side of the upper wall 118 and the lower wall 120, and the welded portion constituted by each contact edge portion 72 of the contact forming fitting 30 is welded.

[0070] Further, bending portions 128 are respectively provided between the upper wall 118 and the left side wall 122, between the left side wall 122 and the lower wall 120, and between the lower wall 120 and the right side wall 124. Further, a fitting convex portion 130 protruding toward the right side wall 124 is provided at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction at the right end portion of the upper wall 118, and a fitting concave portion 132 opening toward the upper wall 118 is provided at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction at the upper end portion of the right side wall 124. And, at both ends in the front-rear direction at the upper end portion of the right side wall 124, a pair of caulking pieces 134, 134 that protrude upward and are bent leftward so as to be overlapped with and caulked to the upper wall 118 are provided. Thereby, when the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is formed by subjecting the first metal flat plate to press working or the like, for example, each bending portion 128 is bent, the fitting convex portion 130 of the upper wall 118 is fitted into the fitting concave portion 132 of the right side wall 124, and each caulking piece 134 at both front and rear ends is bent leftward and overlapped with the upper wall 118. As a result, the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is formed in the front portion of the main body portion 112, and it can be prevented that the upper wall 118 and the right side wall 124 are unintentionally separated in the cylindrical conductor portion 28.

[0071] Further, lock holes 136 penetrating the left and right side walls 122, 124 in the thickness direction (left-right direction) are formed at intermediate portions in the front-rear direction of the left and right side walls 122, 124. Each lock hole 136 is substantially rectangular in a side view (left-right direction view) and has a front-rear dimension and an up-down dimension of a predetermined size. And, at the front end portions of the left and right side walls 122, 124 in the cylindrical conductor portion 28, abutting portions 138 protruding forward from the upper wall 118 and the lower wall 120 are provided. Thereby, when the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 are connected, each abutting portion 138 abuts against a housing (not shown) that holds the male terminal 12.

[0072] <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.

[0073] First, prepare the first metal flat plate that constitutes the main body portion 112, bend each bent portion 128, fit the fitting convex portion 130 into the fitting concave portion 132, and bend and caulking-fix each caulking piece 134. Thereby, the main body portion 112 having the cylindrical conductor portion 28 and the connection portion 110 is formed. Also, prepare the second metal flat plate that constitutes the contact forming fitting 30, bend it into the shape shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and fit the engaging convex portion 80 of the second left side portion 118b into the engaging concave portion 82 of the first left side portion 118a. Thereby, the contact forming fitting 30 having the frame portion 32 and the contact spring portion 22 (the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b) is formed. Similarly, prepare the metal flat plate that constitutes the clip spring 26, and form the clip spring 26 by bending it into a predetermined shape.

[0074] After that, as shown in FIG. 8, the contact forming fitting 30 and the clip spring 26 are arranged to face each other in the front-rear direction, and the clip spring 26 is assembled into the contact forming fitting 30 through the rear opening 64 of the contact forming fitting 30. The method of assembling the clip spring 26 to the contact forming fitting 30 is as described above. In the state where the clip spring 26 is assembled to the contact forming fitting 30, each intrusion portion 96 of the clip spring 26 is fitted into each engaging concave portion 50 in each of the first and second contact spring portions 22a, 22b. The assembly of the contact forming fitting 30 and the clip spring 26 is arranged to face the male terminal insertion port 18 in the cylindrical conductor portion 28 in the front-rear direction, and the assembly is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 28 from the male terminal insertion port 18 toward the rear opening window 116. Thereby, each locking claw 76 of the contact forming fitting 30 abuts against the front end portions of the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 122, 124, and each locking claw 76 is elastically deformed inward in the left-right direction. Thereby, further insertion of the assembly into the cylindrical conductor portion 28 is allowed, and the assembly is inserted and assembled into the cylindrical conductor portion 28 while each locking claw 76 is in contact with the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 122, 124.

[0075] The insertion end into the inside of the cylindrical conductor portion 28 in the above-described assembled body is defined by abutting edges 72 protruding outward in the vertical direction from the respective front connection portions 68 in the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60 and abutting against both sides in the vertical direction of the front end face 126 of the cylindrical conductor portion 28. Further, in a state where the above-described assembled body is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 28 up to the insertion end, the respective locking claws 76 of the contact forming fitting 30 enter the respective locking holes 136 in the cylindrical conductor portion 28, and the respective locking claws 76 are elastically restored and deformed. Then, the elastically restored respective locking claws 76 are fitted into the respective locking holes 136, and by abutting against the front inner surfaces of the respective locking holes 136, displacement in the extraction direction (front direction) from the cylindrical conductor portion 28 in the above-described assembled body is blocked, and the contact forming fitting 30 is held in a state of being assembled to the cylindrical conductor portion 28. Thereafter, the overlapping surfaces of these respective abutting edges 72 and the front end face 126 are welded by laser welding to fix the cylindrical conductor portion 28 and the contact forming fitting 30 to each other. Thereby, the female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1 is completed.

[0076] <Assembly of 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.

[0077] First, the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 assembled as described above are opposed to each other in the front-rear direction. Thereafter, the male terminal 12 is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical conductor portion 28 through the male terminal insertion port 18 and press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap 20 which is the space between the opposing surfaces of the respective first and second contact portions 44a, 44b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the respective first contact portions 48a of the first contact spring portions 22a and the respective second contact portions 48b of the second contact spring portions 22b abut against the lower surface and the upper surface of the male terminal 12, respectively, and the first contact spring portions 22a and the second contact spring portions 22b are pushed apart in a direction away from each other.

[0078] Then, each bent portion 46 of the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b that are pushed and expanded outward in the vertical direction abuts against each bent portion 102 of the clip spring 26 from the inner side in the vertical direction, and each clamping plate portion 86 is elastically deformed outward in the vertical direction. Due to the elastic restoring force of each of these clamping plate portions 86, each free end 24 of the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b is clamped by each clamping plate portion 86, and the free ends 24 of the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b are biased in the direction of approaching each other. As a result, each first contact portion 44a and each second contact portion 44b are pressed against the upper surface and the lower surface of the male terminal 12 that is press-fitted between the opposing surfaces of the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b. 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.

[0079] That is, in the inserted state of the male terminal 12 with respect to the female terminal 10, not only the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b but also each clamping plate portion 86 of the clip spring 26 are pushed and expanded outward in the vertical direction, and not only the elastic restoring force of the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b but also the elastic restoring force of each clamping plate portion 86 causes each first contact portion 44a and each second contact portion 44b to be pressed against the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12.

[0080] In particular, in Embodiment 1, the first and second contact spring portions 22a and 22b are each divided in the left - right direction into respective first tongue pieces 40 and second tongue pieces 42, and each clamping plate portion 86 is divided in the left - right direction into respective first clamping pieces 92 and second clamping pieces 94. Therefore, between a pair of first clamping pieces 92, 92 arranged to face each other in the vertical direction, a pair of first tongue pieces 40, 40 arranged to face each other sandwich the male terminal 12 therebetween and are clamped by the respective first clamping pieces 92, and an engaging recess 50 of the first contact portion 44a provided on each first tongue piece 40 and each intrusion portion 96 provided on each first clamping piece 92 are fitted together. Further, between a pair of second clamping pieces 94, 94 arranged to face each other in the vertical direction, a pair of second tongue pieces 42, 42 arranged to face each other sandwich the male terminal 12 therebetween and are clamped by the respective second clamping pieces 94, and an engaging recess 50 of the second contact portion 44b provided on each second tongue piece 42 and each intrusion portion 96 provided on each second clamping piece 94 are fitted together.

[0081] Also, as described above, in the state before the insertion of the male terminal 12, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each intrusion portion 96 in the clip spring 26 fits into each engaging recess 50 in each contact spring portion 22a and 22b, and the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engaging recess 50 are in contact with each other at one point (point Q1). On the other hand, in the state after the insertion of the male terminal 12, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each intrusion portion 96 moves forward within each engaging recess 50, and the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engaging recess 50 are in contact with each other at one point (point Q2).

[0082] According to the female terminal 10 of Embodiment 1 having the structure as described above, a clip spring 26 that biases the free ends 24 of the contact spring portions 22a and 22b toward each other is employed. When the clip spring 26 is assembled to each of the contact spring portions 22a and 22b, the intrusion portions 96 provided on the respective clamping plate portions 86 of the clip spring 26 are fitted into the engagement recesses 50 provided on each of the contact spring portions 22a and 22b. In particular, by inserting the free ends 24 of the contact spring portions 22a and 22b into the insertion openings 104 of the clip spring 26, the free ends 24 are elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction before insertion, and the elastic restoring force of each free end 24 maintains the state where each intrusion portion 96 is fitted into each engagement recess 50. Thereby, the detachment of the clip spring 26 from each of the contact spring portions 22a and 22b is effectively prevented.

[0083] In particular, in a state where the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 20, since each clamping plate portion 86 is elastically deformed outward in the opposing direction, the elastic restoring force of each of these clamping plate portions 86 further stably maintains the state where each intrusion portion 96 is fitted into each engagement recess 50. Further, since each of the engagement recesses 50 constitutes each of the contact portions 44a and 44b that contact the male terminal 12 in each of the contact spring portions 22a and 22b, the elastic restoring force of each clamping plate portion 86 can be exerted as the contact pressure on the male terminal 12 in each of the contact portions 44a and 44b, thereby improving the conduction stability between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12.

[0084] In Embodiment 1, the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 that fits into each engagement recess 50 has a similar shape that is slightly smaller than the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50. Thereby, a wide area of each intrusion portion 96 can be fitted into each engagement recess 50. For example, when the tip (rear end) of the male terminal 12 swings in the vertical direction in the longitudinal section shown in FIG. 3, or when the male terminal 12 rotates about the central axis in the cross section shown in FIG. 4, the fitting state of each intrusion portion 96 into each engagement recess 50 can be stably maintained.

[0085] In particular, in Embodiment 1, the surface 98 of each insertion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 are both spherical crown-shaped. As a result, the surface 98 of each insertion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 come into point contact, and the contact pressure is not dispersed, so that the elastic restoring force in each clamping plate portion 86 can be stably exerted on the male terminal 12 via the contact portions 44a and 44b. Further, since a wide area of each insertion portion 96 is fitted into each engagement recess 50, even when the above-described rocking displacement or rotational displacement occurs in the male terminal 12, the contact position between the surface 98 of each insertion portion 96 and the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 is not easily displaced, and a stable contact pressure can be exerted on the male terminal 12 at the above-described contact point.

[0086] On the vertical inner surface, which is the overlapping surface of each contact spring portion 22a, 22b to the free end portion 24 in each clamping plate portion 86 of the clip spring 26, there is provided a tapered guiding convex portion 106 that extends in a tapered shape from each insertion portion 96 toward the distal end side of each clamping plate portion 86. As a result, it is easy to insert the free end portions 24 of the contact spring portions 22a, 22b into the insertion opening 104 in the clip spring 26, and thus, it is possible to easily fit the insertion portions 96 in each clamping plate portion 86 into the engagement recesses 50 in each contact spring portion 22a, 22b.

[0087] Each contact spring portions 22a and 22b are divided into a first tongue piece 40 and a second tongue piece 42 by each spring portion side slit 38, and each clamping plate portion 86 is divided into a first clamping piece 92 and a second clamping piece 94 by each clip side slit 90. Thus, even when the male terminal 12 rotates and displaces around the central axis extending in the front-rear direction as described above, the first and second tongue pieces 40 and 42 and the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94 can follow the displacement of the male terminal 12 and deform, further improving the conduction stability between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12. In particular, each engaging recess 50 is provided in each of the first and second tongue pieces 40 and 42, and each intrusion portion 96 is provided in each of the first and second clamping pieces 92 and 94. As a result, the first and second tongue pieces 40 and 42 are stably brought into contact with the male terminal 12 at the first and second contact portions 44a and 44b. Therefore, even when the male terminal 12 rotates and displaces as described above, the conduction state between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 can be stably maintained.

[0088] The main body portion 112 of the female terminal 10 is formed by pressing a first metal flat plate, and the contact forming fitting 30 is formed by pressing a second metal flat plate having a smaller plate thickness than the first metal flat plate. That is, the contact forming fitting 30 having the first and second contact portions 48a and 48b is provided as a separate body from the main body portion 112 having the cylindrical conductor portion 28, and the contact forming fitting 30 is assembled into the cylindrical conductor portion 28. As a result, compared with the case of forming a contact by bending a metal flat plate as in the conventional structure, the member (contact forming fitting 30) constituting the contact can be formed from a second metal flat plate having a relatively small plate thickness, and the female terminal 10 can be miniaturized. In addition, since the main body portion 112 having the cylindrical conductor portion 28 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 an increase in the conduction capacity and avoidance of an increase in the size of the terminal can be achieved.

[0089] Furthermore, the cylindrical conductor portion 28 has a rectangular cylindrical shape having left and right side walls 122, 124, an upper wall 118, and a lower wall 120, and the frame portion 32 of the contact forming fitting 30 has a rectangular frame shape having left and right side portions 54, 56, an upper portion 58, and a lower portion 60. Since both the cylindrical conductor portion 28 and the contact forming fitting 30 have a rectangular outer shape in this way, displacement (such as rattling) of the contact forming fitting 30 within the cylindrical conductor portion 28 can be suppressed. Also, since the first contact spring portion 22a and the second contact spring portion 22b in the contact forming fitting 30 are formed by partially raising the upper portion 58 and the lower portion 60, respectively, when forming the first contact spring portion and the second contact spring portion, it is not necessary to employ another member separate from the frame portion, and the contact forming fitting 30 can be formed with a good yield.

[0090] <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 range 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.

[0091] (1) In the above embodiment, the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50 and the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 are both spherical crown shapes, and the surface 98 of each intrusion portion 96 is slightly smaller than the inner surface 52 of each engagement recess 50. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this aspect. The shapes of the inner surface of the engagement recess and the surface of the intrusion portion are not limited, but it is preferable that they are corresponding shapes to each other. Also, the inner surface of the engagement recess and the surface of the intrusion portion are not limited to a mode of point contact, and may be a mode of linear contact or a mode of surface contact.

[0092] (2) In the above-described embodiment, each contact spring portion 22a, 22b has each spring portion side slit 38 and is divided into each first tongue piece 40 and each second tongue piece 42, and each clamping plate portion 86, 86 has each clip side slit 90 and is divided into each first clamping piece 92 and each second clamping piece 94. However, it is not limited to this aspect. That is, the spring portion side slit may not be provided in each contact spring portion, and each contact spring portion may be composed of a single rectangular plate. Similarly, the clip side slit may not be provided in each clamping plate portion, and each clamping plate portion may be composed of a single rectangular plate. In such a case, each contact spring portion is provided with one engaging recess, and each clamping plate portion is provided with one protruding portion that fits into each engaging recess.

[0093] Alternatively, two or more spring portion side slits may be provided in each contact spring portion, and each contact spring portion may be composed of three or more tongue pieces, and two or more clip side slits may be provided in each clamping plate portion, and each clamping plate portion may be composed of three or more clamping pieces. In such a case, it is preferable that each tongue piece is provided with an engaging recess and each clamping plate portion is provided with a protruding portion. Also, the number of tongue pieces in the upper and lower contact spring portions may be different from each other, and the number of clamping pieces in the upper and lower clamping plate portions may be different from each other. Note that it is preferable that the number of tongue pieces in the upper contact spring portion matches the number of clamping pieces in the upper clamping plate portion, and similarly, it is preferable that the number of tongue pieces in the lower contact spring portion matches the number of clamping pieces in the lower clamping plate portion.

[0094] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the male terminal 12 is a flat tab-shaped terminal. However, it is not limited to this aspect. For example, the male terminal may be a cylindrical pin terminal. In that case, each contact spring portion constituting the male terminal insertion gap may be cylindrical as a whole.

[0095] (4) In the above-described embodiment, the fixing of the cylindrical conductor portion 28 and the contact forming fitting 30 is achieved not only by welding each contact edge portion 72 and the front end face 126, but also by fitting each lock claw 76 into each lock hole 136. However, it is not limited to this mode. The fixing of the cylindrical conductor portion and the contact forming fitting may be achieved only by welding, or only by uneven fitting such as the fitting of the lock hole and the lock claw. Alternatively, a fixing method other than welding or uneven fitting (for example, fixing with bolts or rivets) may be adopted. When the cylindrical conductor portion and the contact forming fitting are fixed by welding, the welding location is not limited.

[0096] (5) In the above-described embodiment, after the clip spring 26 is assembled to each contact spring portion 22a, 22b of the contact forming fitting 30, the contact forming fitting 30 is inserted into the cylindrical conductor portion 28. However, it is not limited to this mode. That is, after the contact forming fitting is inserted and assembled from the front male terminal insertion port in the cylindrical conductor portion, the clip spring may be inserted from the rear opening window in the rear of the cylindrical conductor portion and assembled to each contact spring portion.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0097] 10 Female terminal 12 Male terminal 14 Terminal unit 16 Male terminal mounting portion 18 Male terminal insertion port 20 Male terminal insertion gap 22 Contact spring portion 22a First contact spring portion 22b Second contact spring portion 24 Free end portion 26 Clip spring 28 Cylindrical conductor portion 30 Contact forming fitting 32 Frame body portion 34 Curved surface 36 Protruding end face 38 Spring portion side slit 40 First tongue piece 42 Second tongue piece 44 Contact portion 44a First contact part 44b Second contact part 46 Bending part 48 Convex surface 50 Engaging concave part 52 Inner surface 54 Left side part 56 Right side part 58 Upper part 60 Lower part 62 Front opening 64 Rear opening 66 Through window part 68 Front connection part 70 Rear connection part 72 Contact edge part 74 Through hole 76 Lock claw 78a First left side part 78b Second left side part 80 Engaging convex part 82 Engaging concave part 84 Connecting plate part 86 Clamping plate part 88 Projecting end face 90 Clip side slit 92 First clamping piece 94 Second clamping piece 96 Insertion part 98 Surface 100 Concave part 102 Bending part 104 Insertion opening 106 Inducing convex part 108 Concave part 110 Connection part 112 Body part 114 Bolt insertion hole 116 Rear opening window 118 Upper wall 120 Lower wall 122 Left side wall 124 Right side wall 126 Front end face 128 Bending part 130 Fitting convex part 132 Fitting concave part 134 Crimping piece 136 Lock hole 138 mating portion C1 A virtual circle extending along the inner surface of the engaging recess C2 A virtual circle extending along the surface of the inserted portion P1 The center of the virtual circle P1 P2 The center of the virtual circle P2 Q1 The dot-like overlapping portion between the inner surface of the engaging recess and the surface of the inserted portion before inserting the male terminal Q2 The dot-like overlapping portion between the inner surface of the engaging recess and the surface of the inserted portion after inserting the male terminal r1 The radius of the virtual circle P1 r2 The radius of the virtual circle P2

Claims

1. including a male terminal mounting portion into which a male terminal is inserted and conductively connected, the male terminal mounting portion includes: a male terminal insertion port provided on one end side; a pair of contact spring portions that are respectively connected to the one end side in a cantilever beam shape, protrude toward the other end side, and are disposed opposite to each other with a male terminal insertion gap therebetween; a connection plate portion and a pair of clamping plate portions that protrude from both side edges of the connection plate portion in a direction approaching each other, and the free ends of the pair of contact spring portions are respectively sandwiched and mounted between the pair of clamping plate portions. When the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap, a clip spring that biases the free ends toward each other in the approaching direction; on the free end side of each of the pair of contact spring portions, a pair of contact portions that contact the male terminal are formed by being extruded and deformed in the approaching direction, and the pair of contact spring portions are closest to each other at each of the contact portions; each of the contact portions has a convex surface that protrudes on the inner surface side in the approaching direction of each of the contact spring portions, and an engaging recess that opens in a concave shape on the outer surface side in the approaching direction of each of the contact spring portions; the pair of clamping plate portions of the clip spring respectively project on the overlapping surface to the free end, and have a pair of protruding portions that respectively fit into the engaging recesses of the pair of contact portions, a female terminal.

2. The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the protruding portion that fits into the engaging recess has a similar shape smaller than the inner surface of the engaging recess of the contact portion.

3. The female terminal according to claim 2, wherein both the surface of the protruding portion and the inner surface of the engaging recess are in a spherical crown shape.

4. The female terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an attracting convex portion that extends in a tapered shape from the protruding portion toward the tip side of the clamping plate portion is provided on the overlapping surface of each of the clamping plate portions of the clip spring to the free end.

5. each of the contact spring portions penetrates through the central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in the protruding direction, and is divided into a first tongue piece and a second tongue piece that can be independently displaced from each other by a spring portion side slit that opens on the protruding end face; each of the clamping plate portions of the clip spring penetrates through the central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in the protruding direction, and is divided into a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece that can be independently displaced from each other by a clip side slit that opens on the protruding end face; A pair of the first tongue pieces disposed opposite to each other between the pair of the first clamping pieces disposed opposite to each other sandwich the male terminal therebetween and are clamped by the pair of the first clamping pieces, and the engaging recesses of the contact portions provided on each of the first tongue pieces and the intrusion portions provided on each of the first clamping pieces are fitted together. A pair of the second tongue pieces disposed opposite to each other between the pair of the second clamping pieces disposed opposite to each other sandwich the male terminal therebetween and are clamped by the pair of the second clamping pieces, and the engaging recesses of the contact portions provided on each of the second tongue pieces and the intrusion portions provided on each of the second clamping pieces are fitted together. The female terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. A pressed product of a first metal flat plate, having 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 flat plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first metal flat plate, and a contact forming fitting inserted and assembled into the cylindrical conductor portion. The male terminal mounting portion is configured to include the cylindrical conductor portion and the contact forming fitting. 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, and a male terminal insertion port is provided on one end side. The frame portion of the contact forming fitting has a rectangular frame shape having a pair of side portions overlapped with the respective pair of side walls of the cylindrical conductor portion, and an upper portion and a lower portion overlapped with the upper wall and the lower wall of the cylindrical conductor portion respectively. The upper portion and the lower portion of the frame portion have the pair of contact spring portions held by the frame portion at the one end side and protruding inward toward the other end side and extending in a cantilever shape. By connecting the upper portion and the lower portion of the frame portion to the upper wall and the lower wall, the pair of contact spring portions are respectively connected in a cantilever shape to the one end side of the male terminal mounting portion. The clip spring is mounted on the free ends of the pair of contact spring portions. The female terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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

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