Terminal

Abstract

To provide a terminal capable of securing proper conduction performance.SOLUTION: A terminal 10 comprises a terminal connection part 12 which is electrically connected to a mating terminal 20, and the terminal connection part 12 has a cylinder part 13 into which the mating terminal 20 is inserted, a conductive spring 14 which is formed integrally with the cylinder part 13, supported in an elastically deformable state inside the cylinder part 13, and electrically connected to the mating terminal 20 inserted into the cylinder part 13, and a contact load spring 16 which is formed as a different body from the cylinder part 13 and also held in an elastically deformable state inside the cylinder part 13, and comes into contact with the conductive spring 14 to press the conductive spring 14 against the mating terminal 20 inserted into the cylinder part 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As automotive electrical control technology and electrification advance, connectors are increasingly used in automobiles, and the currents flowing through these connectors to terminals and electrical wires are becoming increasingly large. Therefore, especially in the automotive industry, terminal connections must be earthquake-resistant. Furthermore, because large currents are generally transmitted through the contact points (where the female terminals meet the male terminals), good electrical contact between the contact points on the female terminals and the male terminals is even more essential.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal (female terminal) that includes a terminal box made of a SUS material and a spring portion that is formed integrally with the terminal box. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-179987 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, the terminal described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is electrically connected to the mating terminal (male tab) by bringing the spring portion (conductive spring) into contact with the mating terminal. However, if a material with high conductivity is used as the constituent material of the conductive spring, the spring characteristics will decrease, and if a material with high spring characteristics is used, the conductivity will decrease, so the conductivity at the joint between the terminals tends to decrease.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal that can ensure appropriate conduction performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the terminal of the present invention comprises a terminal connection portion electrically connected to a counterpart terminal, and the terminal connection portion is characterized by having: a tubular portion into which the counterpart terminal is inserted; a conductive spring formed integrally with the tubular portion, supported inside the tubular portion so as to be elastically deformable, and electrically connected to the counterpart terminal inserted inside the tubular portion; and a contact load spring formed separately from the tubular portion, held inside the tubular portion so as to be elastically deformable, and contacting the conductive spring to press the conductive spring against the counterpart terminal inserted inside the tubular portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The terminal according to the present invention has an effect of ensuring appropriate electrical conduction performance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a connector to which a terminal according to the first embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a contact load spring applied to the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the contact load spring shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a development view showing a schematic configuration of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of a connector to which the terminal according to the first embodiment is applied. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a contact load spring applied to a terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the assembly of a connector to which the terminal according to the second embodiment is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0011] [First embodiment] A connector 1 to which a terminal 10 shown in FIG. 1 is applied is used, for example, in a wire harness used in a vehicle or the like, and electrically connects various devices by being electrically connected to a mating connector 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the connector 1 includes a housing H and a terminal 10. The housing H is formed of an insulating synthetic resin material and accommodates and holds the terminal 10 therein. The terminal 10 is formed of a conductive metal material, and a conductive spring 14 formed integrally with a tubular portion 13 is electrically connected to a mating terminal 20 of a mating connector 2 inserted into the tubular portion 13. The terminal 10 of this embodiment includes a contact load spring 16 formed separately from the tubular portion 13 and provided inside the tubular portion 13. The contact load spring 16 presses the conductive spring 14 against the mating terminal 20, thereby ensuring proper electrical conductivity. Hereinafter, each component of the terminal 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0012] The terminal 10 is a female terminal. The mating terminal 20 electrically connected to the terminal 10 is a tab-shaped male terminal formed in a flat plate shape (see FIG. 10).

[0013] In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction will be referred to as the "length direction X," the second direction will be referred to as the "width direction Y," and the third direction will be referred to as the "height direction Z." Here, the length direction X, width direction Y, and height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. The length direction X typically corresponds to the extension direction of the terminal 10, the length direction of the tubular portion 13, the insertion direction of the mating terminal 20 into the tubular portion 13, etc. The width direction Y typically corresponds to the width direction of the terminal 10, the width direction of the tubular portion 13, etc. The height direction Z corresponds to the height direction (thickness direction) of the terminal 10, the height direction (thickness direction) of the tubular portion 13, etc.

[0014] Also, Figure 9 shows the terminal 10 in an unfolded state, in which a separately formed contact load spring 16 is placed on top of the integrally formed tubular portion 13 and conductive spring 14.

[0015] The terminal 10 is formed by shaping a sheet metal made of a conductive metal by various processes such as punching, pressing, and bending, so that each part is integrally formed three-dimensionally. When the terminal 10 is accommodated in the cavity H1 of the housing H, it is supported inside the housing H by being locked by a lance H11 formed in the cavity H1 (see FIG. 10). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the terminal 10 of this embodiment includes an electrical connection portion 11 and a terminal connection portion 12 formed continuously with the electrical connection portion 11.

[0016] [Electrical connection] The electrical connection portion 11 is a portion that is electrically connected to a conductive electric wire W (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrical connection portion 11 of this embodiment has a substantially U-shaped planar shape when viewed from the extending direction (length direction X) of the terminal 10. Note that the electric wire W referred to here is an insulated electric wire in which a conductive core wire is covered with an insulating cover, and the end of the electric wire W has the insulating cover removed to expose the core wire. Therefore, the electrical connection portion 11 is electrically connected to the electric wire W by joining the exposed core wire by various joining methods such as welding.

[0017] [Terminal connection part] The terminal connection portion 12 is a portion that is electrically connected to the mating terminal 20. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the terminal connection portion 12 of this embodiment has a tubular portion 13, a conductive spring 14, a convex portion 15 (corresponding to a "first convex portion"), and a contact load spring 16.

[0018] In this embodiment, the electrical connection part 11, the cylindrical part 13, and the conductive spring 14 are integrally formed by bending a single metal plate (metal plate M shown in FIG. 9). Here, the metal plates constituting the electrical connection part 11, the cylindrical part 13, and the conductive spring 14 are made of a material with high conductivity, such as copper or a copper alloy.

[0019] In addition, in this embodiment, the contact load spring 16 is formed of a metal plate different from the metal plates constituting the electrical connection portion 11, the cylindrical portion 13, and the conductive spring 14. Here, the metal plate constituting the contact load spring 16 is made of a material with high spring properties such as stainless steel.

[0020] The cylindrical portion 13 is a portion into which the mating terminal 20 is inserted. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the cylindrical portion 13 is formed along the extending direction (lengthwise direction X) of the terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical portion 13 includes a bottom wall portion 131 formed continuously with the electrical connection portion 11, a pair of side wall portions 132, and an upper wall portion 133, and is formed by bending a single sheet metal (sheet metal M shown in FIG. 9) so that its front shape when viewed from the lengthwise direction X is substantially rectangular. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 13 of this embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape and includes a terminal accommodating portion 13S as an internal space and a pair of openings 134 that open in the lengthwise direction X.

[0021] The bottom wall portion 131 and the upper wall portion 133 are wall portions whose thickness direction is the height direction Z, and are arranged at an interval along the height direction Z. Therefore, the bottom wall portion 131 and the upper wall portion 133 are positioned opposite each other.

[0022] The pair of side wall portions 132 are wall portions whose thickness direction is the width direction Y, and are arranged at an interval along the width direction Y. Therefore, the pair of side wall portions 132 are positioned opposite to each other.

[0023] The terminal accommodating portion 13S is a portion defined by a bottom wall portion 131, a pair of side wall portions 132, and an upper wall portion 133, and the opening portion 134 is a portion defined by an end portion of the bottom wall portion 131, an end portion of the pair of side wall portions 132, and an end portion of the upper wall portion 133. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the opening portions 134 are formed at an end portion on the base end side (electrical connection portion 11 side) and an end portion on the tip end side (terminal side of the terminal 10) of the tubular portion 13. Therefore, the terminal 10 of this embodiment can accommodate a mating terminal 20 in the terminal accommodating portion 13S by inserting the mating terminal 20 from the opening portion 134 on the tip end side.

[0024] 2 and 3, the cylindrical portion 13 includes a spring holding hole 135. The spring holding hole 135 is a portion into which one portion (fixing portion 165) of the contact load spring 16 described later is inserted to hold the contact load spring 16. The spring holding hole 135 is a substantially rectangular hole portion formed in a corner portion between the bottom wall portion 131 and the side wall portion 132 of the cylindrical portion 13, and is provided in a pair with an interval in the width direction Y. The spring holding hole 135 is formed to a size that allows the second fixing portion 165b of the fixing portion 165 of the contact load spring 16 described later to be inserted. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 13 of this embodiment supports the contact load spring 16 arranged inside at two points via the spring holding hole 135, thereby enabling the contact load spring 16 to be supported in an appropriate posture.

[0025] The conductive spring 14 is a part that is electrically connected to the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13. As shown in FIG. 5, the conductive spring 14 is formed integrally with the tubular portion 13. The conductive spring 14 is formed to protrude from the bottom wall portion 131 of the tubular portion 13, and is formed in a cantilever shape with a base end 14a connected to the bottom wall portion 131 as a fixed end and a tip end 14b as a free end, thereby being configured as a flexible member. The base end 14a of the conductive spring 14 is connected to the tip end of the bottom wall portion 131 (the edge of the opening 134 into which the mating terminal 20 is inserted), and is formed in a cantilever shape from the tip end side toward the base end side (the electrical connection portion 11 side).

[0026] The conductive springs 14 are formed in a straight line (see FIG. 9) and are arranged in the terminal accommodating portion 13S by being bent from the base end portion 14a side toward the inside of the tubular portion 13. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6, four conductive springs 14 are provided, and the conductive springs 14 are arranged at intervals along the width direction Y, which is the extending direction of the bottom wall portion 131. Therefore, the conductive springs 14 of this embodiment are each supported inside the tubular portion 13 so as to be elastically deformable.

[0027] 10 , the conductive spring 14 is provided with a contact point 14c that comes into contact with the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13. The contact point 14c is formed on the tip portion 14b of the conductive spring 14. Therefore, when the mating terminal 20 is inserted into the conductive spring 14 from the opening 134 on the tip side of the tubular portion 13, the tip portion 14b of the conductive spring 14 in this embodiment elastically deforms outward (toward the bottom wall portion 131), thereby inserting the mating terminal 20 into the tubular portion 13. The conductive spring 14 utilizes a reaction force caused by the elastic deformation to come into contact with a main surface 21 (a surface formed along the length direction X and width direction Y and having a larger area than the other surfaces) of the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13, thereby being electrically connected to the mating terminal 20 via the contact point 14c.

[0028] Like the conductive spring 14, the protrusion 15 is a portion that is electrically connected to the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13. The protrusion 15 is formed by stamping, and as shown in FIG. 5 , the protrusion 15 is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall portion 133 by stamping from the outer surface side of the upper wall portion 133. As shown in FIG. 5 , the protrusion 15 is positioned opposite the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 131 in the height direction Z, and is positioned opposite the conductive spring 14 that is provided on the inner surface side of the bottom wall portion 131. Therefore, when the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13 is pressed against the protrusion 15, the protrusion 15 of this embodiment comes into contact with the main surface 22 (the surface opposite to the main surface 21) of the mating terminal 20, thereby being electrically connected to the mating terminal 20 (see FIG. 10 ). In addition, the conductive spring 14 and the protrusion 15 of this embodiment can clamp the mating terminal 20 from the height direction Z by coming into contact with the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13 (see Figure 10).

[0029] 4 and 5, two protrusions 15 are provided along each of the length direction X and width direction Y, which are the extending directions of the upper wall portion 133, for a total of four protrusions 15. Therefore, the protrusions 15 of this embodiment can contact the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13 at four points, thereby further suppressing movement of the mating terminal 20 inside the tubular portion 13 (particularly movement in the height direction Z).

[0030] 10, the protrusions 15 are provided in pairs spaced apart from each other on both sides of the position of the contact point 14c of the conductive spring 14 with the counterpart terminal 20 in the length direction X, which is the insertion direction of the counterpart terminal 20 into the tubular portion 13. Therefore, the conductive spring 14 and the protrusions 15 of this embodiment can stably sandwich the counterpart terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13 from the height direction Z.

[0031] The contact load spring 16 is a member formed separately from the tubular portion 13, and is a member that comes into contact with the conductive spring 14 to increase the contact force of the conductive spring 14 with the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the contact load spring 16 of this embodiment has a base portion 161, a spring portion 162, a deformation restriction portion 163, a temporary fixing portion 164, and a fixing portion 165.

[0032] The base 161 is a base portion of the contact load spring 16. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the base 161 is formed in a flat plate shape in which the height direction Z is the plate thickness direction, and the planar shape when viewed from the plate thickness direction is formed in a substantially rectangular shape.

[0033] The spring portion 162 is a portion that comes into contact with the conductive spring 14. The spring portion 162 is formed integrally with the base portion 161. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the spring portion 162 is formed to protrude from one end of the base portion 161 in the longitudinal direction X, and is formed in a cantilever shape with a base end 162a connected to the base portion 161 as a fixed end and a tip end 162b as a free end, thereby being configured as a flexible member. The spring portion 162 is formed in a cantilever shape from the base end side (the electrical connection portion 11 side) toward the tip side (the terminal side of the terminal 10, the opening 134 side into which the mating terminal 20 is inserted).

[0034] In addition, the spring portion 162 is bent starting from the base end portion 162a side, so that it overlaps with the base portion 161 when viewed from the height direction Z, and as shown in Figure 5, the base portion 161 is fixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 131 of the tubular portion 13, so that it is held inside the tubular portion 13 in an elastically deformable manner.

[0035] Furthermore, the tip portion 162b of the spring portion 162 comes into contact with the back side of the contact point 14c of the conductive spring 14 (see FIGS. 5 and 10). Therefore, in the terminal 10 of this embodiment, when the mating terminal 20 is inserted through the opening 134 on the tip side of the tubular portion 13, the conductive spring 14 elastically deforms outward (toward the bottom wall portion 131), and the conductive spring 14 presses the tip portion 162b of the spring portion 162 of the contact load spring 16, causing the spring portion 162 to also elastically deform outward (toward the bottom wall portion 131). Then, the spring portion 162 of the contact load spring 16 uses the reaction force associated with the elastic deformation to push the conductive spring 14 inward, thereby pressing the conductive spring 14 against the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13.

[0036] The deformation restricting portion 163 is a portion that restricts the amount of elastic deformation of the spring portion 162. The deformation restricting portion 163 is formed integrally with the base portion 161. As shown in FIG. 7, the deformation restricting portion 163 is a piece portion whose thickness direction is the width direction Y, and is provided in a pair with a gap between them along the width direction Y. The deformation restricting portion 163 is formed by cutting and raising, and is formed so as to rise from the base portion 161. Therefore, a hole 163h is formed between the pair of deformation restricting portions 163.

[0037] 8, the deformation restricting portion 163 is formed so that its planar shape when viewed from the plate thickness direction is substantially trapezoidal, and its height (length in the height direction Z) increases from the tip end 162b side of the spring portion 162 toward the tip end 162b side. Therefore, in the deformation restricting portion 163 of this embodiment, when the spring portion 162 elastically deforms toward the outside (toward the bottom wall portion 131), the tip end side 162a of the spring portion 162 abuts on the inclined surface of the deformation restricting portion 163, thereby preventing the spring portion 162 from being displaced more than a predetermined amount of displacement, that is, preventing the spring portion 162 from bending too far outward.

[0038] The temporary fixing portion 164 is a portion that temporarily fixes the base portion 161 to the tubular portion 13. As shown in FIG. 7, the temporary fixing portion 164 is a substantially circular hole portion formed in the base portion 161, and is provided in a pair at an interval along the width direction Y. The temporary fixing portion 164 is also provided at the other end of the base portion 161 in the longitudinal direction X (the end opposite the end where the spring portion 162 is formed to protrude). When the contact load spring 16 is placed on a metal plate (metal plate M shown in FIG. 9) on which the tubular portion 13 and the conductive spring 14 are integrally formed, a temporary fixing protrusion formed on the inner surface of the tubular portion 13 is inserted into the temporary fixing portion 164, thereby temporarily fixing the position of the contact load spring 16 relative to the tubular portion 13. Note that, in the contact load spring 16 of this embodiment, for example, the tip of the temporary fixing protrusion protruding from the hole of the fixing portion 164 is crushed by press processing, thereby more reliably suppressing misalignment relative to the tubular portion 13.

[0039] The fixing portion 165 is a portion that fixes the base portion 161 to the tubular portion 13. The fixing portion 165 is formed integrally with the base portion 161. As shown in FIG. 7, the fixing portion 165 is a piece portion whose thickness direction is the height direction Z, and is formed to protrude from an end portion of the base portion 161 in the width direction Y. The fixing portions 165 are provided in pairs with a gap between them along the width direction Y. Each fixing portion 165 is composed of a first fixing portion 165a that protrudes from the base portion 161 along the width direction Y, and a second fixing portion 165b that protrudes further along the width direction Y from the first fixing portion 165a, and has a substantially T-shaped planar shape when viewed from the thickness direction.

[0040] The first fixing portion 165a is a portion that suppresses movement of the contact load spring 16 in the width direction Y. The first fixing portion 165a is formed continuously with the base portion 161, and has a substantially rectangular planar shape when viewed from the plate thickness direction. Therefore, the first fixing portion 165a of this embodiment can suppress movement of the contact load spring 16 in the width direction Y inside the cylindrical portion 13 by bringing the end face E extending along the length direction X into contact with the inner surface of the side wall portion 132 of the cylindrical portion 13 (see FIG. 6).

[0041] The second fixing portion 165b is a portion that suppresses movement of the contact load spring 16 in the height direction Z. The second fixing portion 165b is formed continuously with the first fixing portion 165a, and has a substantially rectangular planar shape when viewed from the plate thickness direction. The second fixing portion 165b is smaller than the first fixing portion 165a, so that the fixing portion 165 is tapered from the base end side toward the tip end side. The second fixing portion 165b is formed to a size that can be inserted into the spring holding hole 135 formed in the side wall portion 132 of the tubular portion 13. When the contact load spring 16 is placed on the sheet metal M shown in FIG. 9 and then bent to form the terminal shape shown in FIG. 2, the second fixing portion 165b is inserted into the spring holding hole 135 and fitted therein. Therefore, the second fixing portion 165b of this embodiment can prevent the contact load spring 16 from moving in the height direction Z inside the tubular portion 13 by contacting the main surface F (a surface formed along the length direction X and width direction Y and having a larger area than the other surfaces) with the edge of the spring retaining hole 135 of the tubular portion 13.

[0042] The terminal 10 described above includes a terminal connection portion 12 electrically connected to the counterpart terminal 20, and the terminal connection portion 12 includes a tubular portion 13 into which the counterpart terminal 20 is inserted, a conductive spring 14 formed integrally with the tubular portion 13, supported inside the tubular portion 13 so as to be elastically deformable, and electrically connected to the counterpart terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13, and a contact load spring 16 formed separately from the tubular portion 13, held inside the tubular portion 13 so as to be elastically deformable, and contacts the conductive spring 14 to press the conductive spring 14 against the counterpart terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13.

[0043] According to this configuration, the terminal 10 can increase the contact load of the conductive spring 14 with respect to the mating terminal 20 by pressing the conductive spring 14 against the mating terminal 20 with the contact load spring 16. Furthermore, in the terminal 10, the conductive spring 14 that contacts the mating terminal 20 and the contact load spring 16 that contacts the conductive spring 14 are formed separately, so that the conductive spring 14 and the contact load spring 16 can be made of different materials. Therefore, the conductive spring 14, which requires conductivity, can be made of a material with high conductivity (i.e., a material with low spring characteristics), and the contact load spring 16, which requires a force to press the conductive spring 14 against the mating terminal 20, can be made of a material with high spring characteristics (i.e., a material with low conductivity). Therefore, the terminal 10 of this embodiment can ensure proper conductivity to the mating terminal 20 and improve connection reliability by pressing the conductive spring 14 against the mating terminal 20 with the contact load spring 16, which has high spring characteristics. Also, by having only the conductive spring 14, which has high conductivity, come into contact with the mating terminal 20, the terminal 10 can suppress heat generation during current flow.

[0044] Furthermore, the terminal connection portion 12 of the terminal 10 described above further includes a protrusion 15 formed on the inner surface of the tubular portion 13 and arranged opposite the conductive spring 14 in a height direction Z of the tubular portion 13 that intersects with the insertion direction (length direction X) of the mating terminal 20. The protrusion 15 and the conductive spring 14 sandwich the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13 from the height direction Z of the tubular portion 13. With this configuration, the terminal 10 suppresses movement of the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13 in the height direction Z and suppresses wear at the contact point 14c of the conductive spring 14, thereby allowing the conductive spring 14 to contact the mating terminal 20 in an appropriate state. Therefore, the terminal 10 of this embodiment can ensure appropriate conductivity with the mating terminal 20 and improve connection reliability.

[0045] Furthermore, the protrusions 15 formed on the cylindrical portion 13 of the terminal 10 described above are provided in pairs with a gap between them on both sides of the contact point 14c of the conductive spring 14 with respect to the insertion direction (length direction X) of the mating terminal 20. With this configuration, the terminal 10 can more reliably suppress movement of the mating terminal 20 in the height direction Z by stably sandwiching the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the cylindrical portion 13 between the conductive spring 14 and the protrusions 15. This allows the terminal 10 to more appropriately bring the conductive spring 14 into contact with the mating terminal 20. Therefore, the terminal 10 of this embodiment can ensure more appropriate electrical connection performance with the mating terminal 20 and further improve connection reliability.

[0046] [Second embodiment] Next, a terminal 10A according to a second embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 16 will be described. The terminal 10A differs from the above-described terminal 10 in the configuration of the terminal connection portion 12. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] Specifically, terminal 10A differs from terminal 10 in that tubular portion 13A further has a spring retaining hole 136, and terminal connection portion 12A further has a protrusion 17 (corresponding to the "second protrusion") and a lateral spring 18.

[0048] In this embodiment, the contact load spring 16 and the lateral spring 18 are formed integrally by bending a single piece of metal plate. Here, the metal plate constituting the contact load spring 16 and the lateral spring 18 is made of a material with high spring properties.

[0049] The spring holding holes 136 are portions into which one portion (fixing portion 183) of the side spring 18 described later is partially inserted to hold the side spring 18. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the spring holding holes 136 are substantially rectangular holes formed in corners of the side wall portion 132 on the upper wall portion 133 side, and are provided in pairs spaced apart along the longitudinal direction X. The spring holding holes 136 are also formed to a size that allows the fixing portion 183 of the side spring 18 described later to be inserted. Therefore, the tubular portion 13A of this embodiment holds the contact load spring 16 arranged inside at four points via the spring holding holes 135 and 136, and can support the spring member P (see FIG. 15) in which the contact load spring 16 and the side spring 18 are integrally formed, in a more appropriate posture.

[0050] Furthermore, the spring holding holes 136 are provided in pairs spaced apart on both sides of the position of the spring holding hole 135 in the height direction Z. Therefore, the spring holding holes 135, 136 of this embodiment can support the spring member P (see FIG. 15 ), which is formed integrally with the contact load spring 16 and the lateral spring 18, in a more appropriate posture.

[0051] The protrusion 17 is a portion that can suppress movement of the mating terminal 20 by sandwiching the mating terminal 20 between itself and the side spring 18. The protrusion 17 is formed by hammering, similar to the protrusion 15 described above, and is formed on the inner surface of the side wall 132 by hammering from the outer surface side of the side wall 132, as shown in FIG. 14 . The protrusion 17 is positioned opposite the side spring 18 in the width direction Y. Therefore, when the side spring 18 presses the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A against the protrusion 17 in this embodiment, the protrusion 17 comes into contact with the end surface 23 of the mating terminal 20. The protrusion 17 and the side spring 18 come into contact with the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A, thereby sandwiching the mating terminal 20 from the width direction Y (see FIG. 16 ).

[0052] 14, two protrusions 17 are provided along the length direction X, which is the extension direction of the side wall portion 132. Therefore, the protrusions 17 of this embodiment can contact the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A at two points, thereby further suppressing movement of the mating terminal 20 inside the tubular portion 13A (particularly movement in the width direction Y). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16, the protrusions 17 are provided in pairs spaced apart from each other on both sides of the position of the contact point 182c of the side spring 18 with the mating terminal 20 in the width direction Y, which intersects with the insertion direction of the mating terminal 20 into the tubular portion 13A. Therefore, the protrusions 17 and the side springs 18 of this embodiment can stably sandwich the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A from the width direction Y.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 15, the side spring 18 has a base 181, a spring portion 182, and a fixing portion 183. The base 181 is a base portion of the side spring 18. The base 181 is formed separately from the tubular portion 13A and is formed integrally with the base 161. The base 181 is formed in a flat plate shape with the width direction Y being the plate thickness direction, and has a substantially rectangular planar shape when viewed from the plate thickness direction. The base 181 is formed to protrude in the height direction Z from the end of the base 161 in the width direction Y described above.

[0054] The spring portion 182 is a portion that comes into contact with the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13A. The spring portion 182 is formed integrally with the base portion 181. As shown in FIG. 15 , the spring portion 182 is formed by cutting and raising, and is formed so as to rise from the base portion 181. Therefore, a hole 182h is formed on the periphery of the spring portion 182.

[0055] 13 and 15, spring portion 182 is configured as a flexible member by being formed in a cantilever shape with base end portion 182a connected to base portion 181 as a fixed end and tip end portion 182b as a free end. Spring portion 182 is formed in a cantilever shape from the tip end side (the terminal side of terminal 10, the opening 134 side into which counterpart terminal 20 is inserted) toward the base end side (electrical connection portion 11 side). Spring portion 182 is held inside tubular portion 13A in an elastically deformable manner by fixing base portion 181 to the inner surface of side wall portion 132 of tubular portion 13A.

[0056] 16 , the spring portion 182 is provided with a contact point 182c that comes into contact with the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A. The contact point 182c is formed on the tip end 182b of the spring portion 182. Therefore, in the terminal 10A of this embodiment, when the mating terminal 20 is inserted through the opening 134 on the tip side of the tubular portion 13A, the tip end 182b of the spring portion 182 of the lateral spring 18 elastically deforms outward (toward the side wall portion 132 to which the lateral spring 18 is fixed), thereby inserting the mating terminal 20 into the tubular portion 13A. The spring portion 182 of the lateral spring 18 uses a reaction force accompanying the elastic deformation to push back the mating terminal 20A inward, thereby contacting the end face 24 (the surface opposite the end face 23) of the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A and pressing the mating terminal 20 against the protrusion 17.

[0057] The fixing portion 183 is a portion that fixes the base portion 181 to the tubular portion 13A. The fixing portion 183 is formed integrally with the base portion 181. As shown in FIG. 15 , the fixing portion 183 is a piece whose thickness direction is the width direction Y, and is formed to protrude from an end portion of the base portion 181 in the height direction Z. The fixing portion 183 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view when viewed from the thickness direction, and is provided in a pair at an interval along the length direction X. The fixing portion 183 is formed to have a size that allows it to be inserted into the spring holding hole 136 formed in the side wall portion 132 of the tubular portion 13A. Furthermore, the fixing portion 183 is inserted into and fitted into the spring holding hole 136 when the spring member P (see FIG. 15) formed integrally with the contact load spring 16 and the lateral spring 18 is placed on the metal plate on which the tubular portion 13A and the conductive spring 14 are formed integrally, and then bent to form the terminal shape shown in FIG. 11. Therefore, the fixing portion 183 of this embodiment comes into contact with the edge of the spring holding hole 136 of the tubular portion 13A, thereby preventing the spring member P formed integrally with the contact load spring 16 and the lateral spring 18 from moving inside the tubular portion 13A.

[0058] The terminal connection portion 12A of the terminal 10A described above further includes a protrusion 17 provided on the inner surface of the tubular portion 13A, and a side spring 18 formed separately from the tubular portion 13A, elastically deformably held within the tubular portion 13A, and disposed opposite the protrusion 17 in the width direction Y of the tubular portion 13A, which intersects with the insertion direction (length direction X) of the mating terminal 20. The protrusion 17 and the side spring 18 sandwich the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A from the width direction Y of the tubular portion 13A. With this configuration, the terminal 10A suppresses movement of the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A in the width direction Y and suppresses wear at the contact point 14c of the conductive spring 14, thereby ensuring proper contact of the conductive spring 14 with the mating terminal 20. Therefore, the terminal 10A of this embodiment can ensure proper conductivity with the mating terminal 20 and improve connection reliability.

[0059] Furthermore, the above-described side spring 18 can be formed integrally with the contact load spring 16, and thus can be made of a material with high spring characteristics (i.e., a material with low conductivity). Therefore, the terminal 10A can more reliably suppress movement of the mating terminal 20 inserted into the tubular portion 13A in the height direction Z by pressing the mating terminal 20 against the protrusion 17 with the side spring 18 with high spring characteristics. Therefore, the terminal 10A of this embodiment can ensure appropriate conductivity with the mating terminal 20 and improve connection reliability.

[0060] Furthermore, the protrusions 17 formed on the tubular portion 13A of the terminal 10A described above are provided in pairs spaced apart from each other with respect to the insertion direction (lengthwise direction X) of the mating terminal 20, based on the position of the contact point 182c of the side spring 18 with respect to the mating terminal 20, so that the mating terminal 20 inserted inside the tubular portion 13A can be stably sandwiched between the side spring 18. Therefore, the terminal 10A can more reliably suppress movement of the mating terminal 20 in the width direction Y, thereby allowing the conductive spring 14 to contact the mating terminal 20 in a more appropriate state. Therefore, like the terminal 10 described above, the terminal 10A of this embodiment can ensure more appropriate conductivity with the mating terminal 20 and further improve connection reliability.

[0061] The terminals 10, 10A according to the above-described embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0062] For example, the cylindrical portions 13 and 13A may not be provided with the protrusions 15. Furthermore, the number, shape, and position on the bottom wall portion 131 of the protrusions 15 are not particularly limited.

[0063] Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 13A does not necessarily have to be provided with the protrusions 17. Furthermore, the number, shape, and position on the side wall portion 132 of the protrusions 17 are not particularly limited.

[0064] Moreover, the side spring 18 may be formed separately from the contact load spring 16 .

[0065] Furthermore, the terminals 10, 10A according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10, 10A terminal 12, 12A terminal connection 13, 13A cylinder part 14 Conductive spring 15 Convex part (first convex part) 16 Contact Load Spring 17 Convex part (second convex part) 18 Side spring 20 Counterpart terminal X length direction Y width direction Z height direction

Claims

1. a terminal connection portion electrically connected to a mating terminal, The terminal connection portion is a cylindrical portion into which the mating terminal is inserted; a conductive spring formed integrally with the cylindrical portion, supported inside the cylindrical portion so as to be elastically deformable, and electrically connected to the mating terminal inserted inside the cylindrical portion; a contact load spring that is formed separately from the cylindrical portion, is held inside the cylindrical portion so as to be elastically deformable, and comes into contact with the conductive spring to press the conductive spring against the mating terminal inserted inside the cylindrical portion. Terminal.

2. the terminal connection portion further includes a first protrusion formed on an inner surface of the cylindrical portion and disposed opposite the conductive spring in a height direction of the cylindrical portion that intersects with an insertion direction of the mating terminal, the first protrusion and the conductive spring sandwich the mating terminal inserted into the cylindrical portion from the height direction of the cylindrical portion; The terminal according to claim 1 .

3. The terminal connection portion is a second protrusion provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion; a side spring formed separately from the cylindrical portion, held inside the cylindrical portion so as to be elastically deformable, and disposed opposite the second protrusion in a width direction of the cylindrical portion that intersects with an insertion direction of the mating terminal; the second protrusion and the side spring sandwich the mating terminal inserted into the cylindrical portion from the width direction of the cylindrical portion; The terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The side spring is integrally formed with the contact load spring. The terminal according to claim 3 .

5. a pair of the first protrusions are provided on both sides of the contact point of the conductive spring with respect to the insertion direction, the contact point being spaced apart from each other; The terminal according to claim 2 .

6. The second protrusions are provided as a pair on both sides of the insertion direction, spaced apart from each other, with respect to the position of the contact point of the side spring with the mating terminal as a reference. The terminal according to claim 3 .

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