Terminal

Abstract

To provide a terminal that improves the reliability of electrical connection to a connection target.SOLUTION: A terminal 1 includes a resilient contact piece 4 that is formed to bent toward a connection object S and electrically connects to the connection object by electrical contact with the connection object. The resilient contact piece includes a continuous portion main body 41 formed extending in a predetermined direction X and widthwise continuous portions 42R, 42L that are continuous in a width direction Y of the continuous portion main body, and is bent at folds A1, A2 in a predetermined direction at the boundary position between the continuous portion main body and the widthwise continuous portion, such that the continuous portion main body and the widthwise continuous portion are configured to overlap each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A wide variety of electronic devices are installed in automobiles, and wire harnesses are arranged to transmit power, control signals, etc. to the electronic devices. The wire harnesses include a plurality of electric wires and connectors.

[0003] As an example of a connector that constitutes such a wire harness, a board connector is known that includes a housing that is installed on a board and terminals that are supported by the housing and electrically connected to the conductor pattern on the board (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] The terminal of the board connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a rectangular cylindrical terminal body into which the tab portion of the male terminal is inserted, and a board connection portion that extends diagonally downward and rearward from the rear end of the terminal body and is solder-connected (mounted on the board) to a conductor pattern on the board. The board connection portion includes a first leg portion that bends from the rear end of the terminal body and extends diagonally downward and rearward, a connecting portion formed at the end of the first leg and extending in the width direction, and a second leg portion that is continuous with the connecting portion, bends in a U-shape, extends diagonally downward and rearward, and has a contact portion that elastically contacts the conductor pattern on the board.

[0005] In such conventional board connectors, the terminals are provided with a connecting portion and a second leg that is bent in a U-shape and extends diagonally downward and rearward, thereby increasing the rigidity of the board connection portion and increasing the contact strength of the contact portion of the second leg with the board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-182383 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] There is a demand for multipolarized and miniaturized terminals for board connectors. One possible method for miniaturizing terminals is to reduce the thickness of the plate that constitutes the terminal. While the terminals of conventional board connectors have a connecting portion that increases the contact strength of the contact portion with the board, the contact portion is made of a single plate material. However, when the contact portion elastically contacts the board, there is a concern that the stress acting on the contact portion may reach the plastic region. When the contact portion is mounted on the board in a plastically deformed state, the housing expands due to heat from the soldering equipment, causing the contact portion to separate from the board, resulting in soldering defects. In other words, the terminals of conventional board connectors have low electrical connection reliability with the board (the connection target).

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal that improves the reliability of electrical connection to a connection object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problem and achieve the object, the invention described in claim 1 is a terminal that is electrically connected to a connection object, and has an elastic contact piece that is bent toward the connection object and electrically connects to the connection object by elastically contacting the connection object, and the elastic contact piece has a continuous portion main body that is formed extending in a predetermined direction, and a widthwise continuous portion that is continuous in the width direction of the continuous portion main body, and is bent at the boundary position between the continuous portion main body and the widthwise continuous portion with the predetermined direction as a fold, so that the continuous portion main body and the widthwise continuous portion are configured to overlap each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, it is possible to improve the reliability of electrical connection to the connection object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal as seen from another angle. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the terminal. [Figure 4] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating a procedure for manufacturing the terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A female terminal 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing terminal 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of terminal 1 viewed from a different angle. Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of terminal 1. Figure 4 is a view for explaining a procedure for manufacturing terminal 1.

[0013] The terminal 1 is formed by punching and bending a metal plate, and is supported by a housing (not shown) to form a connector.

[0014] 1 and 2, the terminal 1 comprises a rectangular cylindrical electrical contact portion 2 into which the tab portion of a male terminal (not shown) is inserted, an intermediate portion 3, and a board connection portion 4 that is soldered to a board S (a connection target, shown in FIG. 1). The terminal 1 is provided with the electrical contact portion 2, intermediate portion 3, and board connection portion 4 arranged continuously in the axial direction X of the electrical contact portion 2 in this order.

[0015] In this embodiment, the axial direction of the electrical contact portion 2 is the X direction, and the two directions perpendicular to the X direction are the Y direction and the Z direction, respectively. Hereinafter, the X direction will be referred to as the "longitudinal direction X (predetermined direction) or front-rear direction X," and one of the X directions (the side of the electrical contact portion 2 in FIG. 1) may be referred to as the "front X1," and the other (the side of the board connection portion 4 in FIG. 1) may be referred to as the "rear X2." Furthermore, the Y direction will be referred to as the "width direction Y or left-right direction Y," and the Z direction will be referred to as the "up-down direction Z," and one of the Z directions may be referred to as the "upper Z1" and the other as the "lower Z2."

[0016] 1 and 2, the electrical contact portion 2 includes a first bottom wall 21, a pair of first side walls 22L, 22R rising from both end edges of the first bottom wall 21 in the width direction Y, a top wall 23 continuing from one 22R of the pair of first side walls 22L, 22R and facing the first bottom wall 21, and an overlapping wall 24 continuing from the other 22L of the pair of first side walls 22L, 22R and overlapping the top wall 23. A portion of the overlapping wall 24 is folded up to provide a locking portion 25 for locking a housing (not shown).

[0017] 1 and 2, the intermediate portion 3 includes a second bottom wall 31 that is continuous with the first bottom wall 21 of the electrical contact portion 2 at the rear side X2, and a pair of second side walls 32L, 32R that are continuous with the pair of first side walls 22L, 22R of the electrical contact portion 2. The second bottom wall 31 is provided on the same plane as the first bottom wall 21 of the electrical contact portion 2. The pair of second side walls 32L, 32R are formed by bending at both end edges of the second bottom wall 31 in the width direction Y and extending upward Z1, and their height dimension (dimension in the up-down direction Z) is formed to decrease toward the rear side X2.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the board connection portion 4 has a third continuous portion 41 (continuous portion main body) that continues to the rear X2 of the second bottom wall 31 of the intermediate portion 3, and a pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L (a pair of widthwise continuous portions) that continue to both sides of the third continuous portion 41 in the width direction Y, and is composed of a band plate member 4B (shown in Figure 4) that is folded at the boundary positions between the third continuous portion 41 and each of the fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L in the longitudinal direction X (predetermined direction) as a first fold A1 (fold) and a second fold A2 (fold), and is configured so that the third continuous portion 41 and each of the fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L overlap each other. As shown in Figure 3, this strip plate member 4B has the third continuous portion 41 and each of the fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L overlapping each other, with the tip surfaces of each of the fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L facing each other at the center P in the width direction Y of the third continuous portion 41.

[0019] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the board connection portion 4 is configured to include a board connection portion main body 43 that is bent in the width direction Y of the band plate member 4B at fold line A3 and extends diagonally downward and rearward X2, a contact portion 44 that is continuous with the rearward X2 of the board connection portion main body 43 and is bent in the width direction Y of the band plate member 4B at fold line A4 so as to be able to face and contact the upper surface of the board S, and a folded-up portion 45 that is continuous with the rearward X2 of the contact portion 44 and is bent in the width direction Y of the band plate member 4B at fold line A5 so as to extend upward Z1.

[0020] Next, a procedure for manufacturing such a terminal 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the procedure for manufacturing the terminal 1, and shows how a strip plate member 4B, which is part of the punched section 40 and is formed by bending a portion 4A constituting the board connection section 4, is manufactured.

[0021] First, a metal plate is punched to form a punched portion 40 including the portion 4A. The punched portion 40 is formed by moving a punching die (not shown) in the thickness direction of the metal plate. In the punched portion 40, a portion that will become the contact surface 44a with the substrate S is plated. The punched portion 40 is then bent to form the three-dimensional electrical contact portion 2 and intermediate portion 3, and as shown in FIG. 4, the first fold A1 and the second fold A2 are bent to form the strip member 4B. In this process, the tip surfaces of the fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L are arranged opposite each other at the center P in the width direction Y of the third continuous portion 41.

[0022] Thereafter, the band plate member 4B is bent at the third fold A3, the fourth fold A4, and the fifth fold A5 to form the board connection portion main body 43, the contact portion 44, and the folded-up portion 45, as shown in Fig. 2. In this manner, the board connection portion 4 is formed.

[0023] Here, in the process of manufacturing the terminal 1, when the metal plate is punched with a punching die, burrs may occur on the edge on the side facing the movement direction of the punched portion 40. However, even if burrs are generated, for example, on the edges of the pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L due to punching, the edge of each fourth continuous portion 42R, 42L including the burrs is located on the upper surface of the third continuous portion 41 opposite the substrate S in the finished form, so the adhesive strength of the contact portion 44 to the substrate S is not impaired. In this way, the manufacture of the terminal 1 is completed. The terminal 1 is then supported by a housing to form a connector.

[0024] Next, when mounting a connector including such terminals 1 on a substrate S, cream-like lead-free solder (hereinafter referred to as solder) is applied to the connection points between the circuit pattern of the substrate S and the terminals 1. Alternatively, the solder may be screen-printed on the substrate S.

[0025] After this, the connector is placed in a predetermined position on the board S. As a result, the contact surface 44a of the board connection portion 4 of the terminal 1 elastically contacts the portion of the board S where the solder has been applied. In this state, the board S is placed in a reflow furnace, which serves as soldering equipment. The board S is heated in the reflow furnace, and the solder melts. In this way, the circuit pattern of the board S and the contact portion 44 of the board connection portion 4 of the terminal 1 are made to fit together via the solder.

[0026] Here, when the board S is placed in a reflow furnace, the housing may expand due to heating. This may move the terminal 1 away from the board S, raising concerns that the contact portion 44 of the board connection portion 4 may become separated from the board S. However, in the board connection portion 4 of this embodiment, the third continuous portion 41 and the pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L are configured to overlap each other, thereby increasing the overall rigidity of the board connection portion 4 and allowing the board connection portion 4 to elastically contact a predetermined position on the board S with sufficient elasticity. Therefore, even if the housing expands, the elastic force of the board connection portion 4 keeps the contact portion 44 of the board connection portion 4 in elastic contact with a predetermined position on the board S.

[0027] Thereafter, the substrate S is removed from the reflow furnace. The solder hardens, and the terminals 1 are electrically connected to the circuit pattern of the substrate S. In this way, the mounting of the connector including the terminals 1 onto the substrate S is completed.

[0028] According to the embodiment described above, in the board connecting portion 4 (resilient contact piece), the third continuous portion 41 (continuous portion main body) and the pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L (pair of widthwise continuous portions) are configured to overlap each other, thereby increasing the overall rigidity of the board connecting portion 4 and allowing it to be mounted on the board S in a state of sufficient elasticity. As a result, even if the housing expands due to heat from the soldering equipment during the process of mounting the connector including the terminal 1 on the board S, the terminal 1 and the board S will be connected via solder with the contact surface 44a of the board connecting portion 4 remaining in contact with the board S, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection of the terminal 1 to the board S.

[0029] Furthermore, in the board connecting portion 4 (elastic contact piece), the third continuous portion 41 (continuous portion main body) and the pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L (pair of widthwise continuous portions) are configured to overlap each other, so that even if the thickness of the metal plate material that constitutes the terminal 1 is reduced, the rigidity of the board connecting portion 4 is ensured, and the terminal 1 is mounted on the board S in a state of sufficient elasticity. As a result, the terminal 1 can be made smaller by reducing the thickness of the metal plate material that constitutes the terminal 1 while ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection to the board S.

[0030] Furthermore, a pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L (widthwise continuous portions) are provided on both sides of the third continuous portion 41 in the width direction Y, and the pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L are bent at folds A1, A2 in the longitudinal direction X (predetermined direction) at the boundary with the third continuous portion 41 so that their tip surfaces face each other, and the third continuous portion 41 and each fourth continuous portion 42R, 42L are configured to overlap each other. This allows the board connecting portion 4 (resilient contact piece) to have a uniform configuration in the width direction Y, and increases the overall rigidity of the board connecting portion 4, enabling it to be mounted on the board S in a sufficiently resilient state. Furthermore, if the terminal 1 is manufactured using a punching process, for example, burrs generated on the edges of each fourth continuous portion 42R, 42L will be located on the upper surface, opposite the contact surface 44a, of the third continuous portion 41, thereby improving the adhesive strength of the contact portion 44 to the board S.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, and the following modifications are also included in the present invention.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the board connecting portion 4 (resilient contact piece) is configured such that a pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L (widthwise continuous portions) are provided on both sides of the third continuous portion 41 (continuous portion main body) in the width direction Y, and the pair of fourth continuous portions 42R, 42L are bent and overlapped with the third continuous portion 41, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a modified example of the terminal 1, the resilient contact piece may be configured such that a widthwise continuous portion is provided continuous with one side of the third continuous portion 41 (continuous portion main body) in the width direction Y, and the widthwise continuous portion is bent and overlapped with the third continuous portion 41. In the modified example of the terminal 1, when burrs generated during punching strike the board S, the fixing strength to the board S is somewhat lower than in the terminal 1 of the above embodiment, but the overlapping configuration of the third continuous portion 41 and the widthwise continuous portion provides the same effect as in the above embodiment.

[0033] In addition, in the above embodiment, the substrate S is used as an example of an object to be connected to the terminal 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. The object to be connected does not have to be the substrate S, and may be a metal terminal or the like, as long as the resilient contact piece makes elastic contact and is electrically connected.

[0034] Although the best configurations and methods for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed above, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described mainly with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. Therefore, the above-disclosed descriptions limiting the shape, material, etc. are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, descriptions using names of components that are free from some or all of the limitations on shape, material, etc. are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 terminal 4. Board connection part (elastic contact piece) 41 Third continuous section (main body of continuous section) 42R, 42L: A pair of fourth continuous sections (a pair of widthwise continuous sections) A1 First fold (fold) A2 2nd fold (fold) S board (connection target) X Longitudinal direction (prescribed direction) Y width direction

Claims

1. A terminal electrically connected to a connection target, a resilient contact piece formed to be bent toward the connection object and resiliently contacting the connection object to be electrically connected to the connection object; The elastic contact piece has a continuous portion main body formed to extend in a predetermined direction, and a widthwise continuous portion that continues in the width direction of the continuous portion main body, and is bent at the boundary between the continuous portion main body and the widthwise continuous portion along a fold in the predetermined direction, so that the continuous portion main body and the widthwise continuous portion are configured to overlap each other.

2. The widthwise continuous portion is provided in pair on both sides of the widthwise direction of the continuous portion main body, The terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of widthwise continuous portions are bent at the boundary position with the continuous portion main body along the predetermined direction, and the continuous portion main body and each of the widthwise continuous portions are configured to overlap each other.

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