Connection terminal

Abstract

To provide a connection terminal capable of improving conductivity detection accuracy.SOLUTION: A connection terminal 1 comprises a connection part 5 having an insertion frontage 15 into which a mating terminal 105 is to be inserted. Therein, the connection part 5: has a flat plate part 7, and a pair of elastic parts 9 and 9 with both width-direction end parts of the flat plate part 7 being bent toward the flat plate part 7; and is arranged, on a periphery of the insertion frontage 15, with abutting parts 11, which are electrically connected to the connection part 5 and which each have a width larger than a thickness of the flat plate part 7 and a thickness of the elastic part 9 in a frontal view of the insertion frontage 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a known connection terminal has a connection portion having an insertion opening into which a mating terminal is inserted (see Patent Document 1). In this connection terminal, the connection portion has a flat portion and a pair of elastic portions formed by bending both widthwise ends of the flat portion toward the flat portion. In such a connection terminal, when a mating terminal is inserted into the insertion opening of the connection portion, the mating terminal is brought into contact with the flat portion and the tips of the pair of elastic portions by the biasing force of the pair of elastic portions so as to be sandwiched between the flat portion and the tips of the pair of elastic portions. The contact between the mating terminal and the connection portion electrically connects the connection terminal and the mating terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-82060 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the connection terminal as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a conduction pin of a continuity detection device is brought into contact with the end face of the connection part on the insertion opening side to detect whether the connection terminal is conductive. However, the contact part, which is the end face on the insertion opening side of the connection part on which the conduction pin comes into contact, only has the thickness of the flat part and the elastic part, and therefore there is insufficient contact area with the conduction pin, which can cause poor contact and reduce the accuracy of continuity detection of the connection terminal.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connection terminal that can improve the accuracy of continuity detection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connection terminal of this embodiment has a connection portion having an insertion opening into which a mating terminal is inserted, and the connection portion has a flat portion and a pair of elastic portions whose both widthwise ends of the flat portion are bent toward the flat portion, and abutment portions are arranged around the insertion opening which are electrically connected to the connection portion and have a width wider than the thickness of the flat portion and the elastic portion when viewed from the front of the insertion opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connection terminal that can improve the accuracy of continuity detection. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the connection terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector to which a connection terminal according to the present embodiment is applied and a mating connector. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector to which a connection terminal according to the present embodiment is applied and a mating connector when they are fitted together. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view of the connection terminal according to the embodiment when the connection terminal is accommodated in the housing and a conductive pin is inserted therein; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The connection terminal according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the connection terminal 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a connector 101 that electrically connects a plurality of electrical components (not shown), such as between a power source and a device, or between devices. The connector 101 has, for example, a plurality of connection terminals 1 electrically connected to the respective electrical components. The connector 101 is capable of mating with a mating connector 103 that has mating terminals 105 that electrically connect the plurality of connection terminals 1. By mating the connector 101 with the mating connector 103, the plurality of connection terminals 1 are electrically connected via the mating terminals 105, and the plurality of electrical components are electrically connected.

[0011] 2 and 3, mating connector 103 has a plurality (five in this example) of tab-shaped mating terminals 105 insert-molded into mating housing 107 made of insulating material such as synthetic resin. At least two of the plurality of mating terminals 105 are electrically connected inside mating housing 107. Note that the plurality of mating terminals 105 may have dummy terminals inside mating housing 107 that are not electrically connected to other mating terminals 105.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the connector 101 includes a housing 109 and a connection terminal 1. The housing 109 has a housing 109 and a connection terminal 1. As shown in FIGS.

[0013] The housing 109 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. A plurality of (here, five) terminal accommodating chambers 111 are provided inside the housing 109. Each terminal accommodating chamber 111 has openings on both sides in the longitudinal direction. The opening on one side of the terminal accommodating chamber 111 is an insertion opening through which the connection terminal 1 can be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 111. The opening on the other side of the terminal accommodating chamber 111 is a connection opening through which the mating terminal 105 can be inserted. The periphery of the connection opening is formed with a tapered surface that guides the mating terminal 105 into the terminal accommodating chamber 111. A locking lance 113 that engages with the connection terminal 1 is provided inside the terminal accommodating chamber 111 in an elastically deformable manner. By engaging with the connection terminal 1, the locking lance 113 prevents the connection terminal 1 from slipping out of the insertion opening and holds the connection terminal 1 in the housing 109.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the connection terminal 1 includes an electric wire connection portion 3 and a connection portion 5.

[0015] The electric wire connection portion 3 has a covering fixing portion consisting of a pair of crimping pieces and a core wire crimping portion consisting of a pair of crimping pieces. The covering fixing portion and the core wire crimping portion are formed as a single member that is continuous with each other via a bottom wall. The covering fixing portion has a pair of crimping pieces that are crimped onto the outer periphery of the insulating covering of an electric wire (not shown) at the end portion of the electric wire electrically connected to an electric component, thereby fixing the connection terminal 1 and the electric wire. The core wire crimping portion has a pair of crimping pieces that are crimped onto the core wire exposed from the insulating covering at the end portion of the electric wire, thereby electrically connecting the connection terminal 1 and the electric wire.

[0016] The connecting portion 5 includes a flat plate portion 7 , a pair of elastic portions 9 , 9 , and a contact portion 11 .

[0017] The flat plate portion 7 is formed in a flat plate shape so as to have a plane extending parallel to the mating terminal 105. One end of the flat plate portion 7 in the length direction is formed by a single member that is continuous with the bottom wall of the wire connection portion 3.

[0018] The pair of elastic portions 9, 9 are formed by bending both widthwise ends of the flat plate portion 7 in a curved shape toward the flat plate portion 7. The pair of elastic portions 9, 9 are provided so as to be elastically deformable, with the connecting portion with the flat plate portion 7 as a base end and the tip facing the flat plate portion 7 as a free end. The tip of the pair of elastic portions 9, 9 forms a contact portion 13 that comes into contact with a mating terminal 105. The contact portion 13 is disposed spaced apart from the flat plate portion 7 when the elastic portion 9 is in a free state.

[0019] An insertion opening 15 into which a mating terminal 105 of the connection part 5 is inserted is formed between the contact parts 13, 13 of the pair of elastic parts 9, 9 and the flat part 7. The insertion opening 15 side of the connection part 5 is arranged at the connection opening of the terminal accommodating chamber 111 when the connection terminal 1 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 111. When the connector 101 and the mating connector 103 are mated, the mating terminal 105 is inserted into the insertion opening 15 of the connection part 5 through the connection opening. The mating terminal 105 inserted into the insertion opening 15 is brought into contact with the flat part 7 and the contact parts 13 by the biasing force of the pair of elastic parts 9, 9 so as to be sandwiched between them, and is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.

[0020] In order to detect whether or not such connection terminal 1 is electrically connected to an electric wire, a conduction pin 115 of a conduction detection device (not shown) is inserted into the connection opening while the connection terminal 1 is accommodated in the housing 109. The conduction pin 115 inserted into the connection opening abuts against the end surface of the connection portion 5 on the insertion opening 15 side. In conventional connection terminals, the conduction pin 115 abuts against the end surface of the flat portion 7. However, when the conduction pin 115 abuts against the end surface of the flat portion 7, the contact area is limited to the thickness (plate thickness) of the flat portion 7, which can cause poor contact and reduce the accuracy of the continuity detection of the connection terminal.

[0021] Therefore, the connecting portion 5 has abutment portions 11 electrically connected to the connecting portion 5, arranged around the insertion opening 15 on the insertion opening 15 side. The abutment portions 11 have a width wider than the thickness (plate thickness) of the flat plate portion 7 and the elastic portion 9 in a front view of the insertion opening 15. A plurality of abutment portions 11 (two in this example) are provided so as to be located on each of the pair of elastic portions 9. The abutment portions 11 are formed from a single member continuous with the elastic portion 9, and are arranged above the insertion opening 15 by bending an end portion toward the contact portion 13. By forming the abutment portions 11 from a single member continuous with the elastic portion 9, the number of parts does not increase and the abutment portions 11 can be provided without using joining means such as welding. The abutment portions 11 are arranged within a projection plane formed by the flat plate portion 7 and the pair of elastic portions 9 (within an inner range partitioned by the flat plate portion 7 and the pair of elastic portions 9) in a front view of the insertion opening 15. Therefore, the contact portion 11 does not protrude outward from the connecting portion 5, and the connecting terminal 1 does not become large.

[0022] The abutting portion 11 is disposed in the connection opening of the terminal accommodating chamber 111 when the connection terminal 1 is accommodated in the housing 109. When the abutting portion 11 is disposed on the connection opening side, the abutting portion 11 abuts against the inner surface of the housing 109 (terminal accommodating chamber 111). The abutment between the abutting portion 11 and the inner surface of the housing 109 suppresses rattle between the housing 109 and the connection terminal 1 in the insertion direction of the connection terminal 1 into the housing 109. The abutting portion 11 abuts against the conductive pin 115 inserted through the connection opening. At this time, the abutting portion 11 has a width greater than the thickness (plate thickness) of the flat plate portion 7 and the elastic portion 9, ensuring a sufficient contact area with the conductive pin 115. This prevents poor contact of the conductive pin 115 and improves the accuracy of continuity detection of the connection terminal 1. In addition, a conventional continuity detection device can be used, eliminating the need for high costs.

[0023] Such a connection terminal 1 includes a connection portion 5 having an insertion opening 15 into which a mating terminal 105 is inserted. The connection portion 5 also includes a flat plate portion 7 and a pair of elastic portions 9, 9 formed by bending both widthwise ends of the flat plate portion 7 toward the flat plate portion 7. Arranged around the insertion opening 15 are contact portions 11 that are electrically connected to the connection portion 5 and have a width greater than the thickness of the flat plate portion 7 and the elastic portion 9 when viewed from the front of the insertion opening 15.

[0024] The abutting portion 11 has a width greater than the thickness of the flat plate portion 7 and the elastic portion 9, so that it is possible to ensure a sufficient contact area with the conductive pin 115. This prevents poor contact between the abutting portion 11 and the conductive pin 115, and improves the accuracy of detecting the continuity of the connection terminal 1.

[0025] Therefore, with such a connection terminal 1, the accuracy of continuity detection can be improved.

[0026] The contact portion 11 is formed of a single member that is continuous with at least one of the flat plate portion 7 and the elastic portion 9.

[0027] Therefore, the number of parts does not increase, and the contact portion 11 can be provided without using joining means such as welding.

[0028] Moreover, the contact portion 11 is disposed within a projection plane formed by the flat plate portion 7 and the pair of elastic portions 9, 9 when the insertion opening 15 is viewed from the front.

[0029] Therefore, the contact portion 11 does not protrude outward from the connecting portion 5, and the connecting terminal 1 does not become large.

[0030] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0031] For example, the abutment portion is formed of a single member that is continuous with the elastic portion, but this is not limiting, and the abutment portion may be formed of a single member that is continuous with the flat portion. In this case, the abutment portion can be formed by bending the longitudinal end of the flat portion so that it is positioned below the insertion opening. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 Connection terminal 5 Connection 7 Flat plate part 9 Elastic part 11 Contact part 15 Insertion width 105 Mating terminal

Claims

1. a connecting portion having an insertion opening into which a mating terminal is inserted, the connecting portion has a flat plate portion and a pair of elastic portions formed by bending both end portions of the flat plate portion in a width direction toward the flat plate portion, A connection terminal is disposed around the insertion opening, and has an abutment portion electrically connected to the connection portion and having a width greater than the thickness of the flat portion and the elastic portion when viewed from the front of the insertion opening.

2. 2. The connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is formed of a single member that is continuous with at least one of the flat plate portion and the elastic portion.

3. The connection terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the abutting portion is disposed within a projection plane formed by the flat plate portion and the pair of elastic portions when viewed from the front of the insertion opening.

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