Female terminal

Abstract

To disclose a female terminal capable of prolonging a life by suppressing deterioration of a resistance value even when multiple insertion and removal are assumed.SOLUTION: A female contact 10 includes a male-contact mounting part 16 having a male-contact insertion gap 15 into which a male contact 12 is inserted, contact-point spring parts 18a, 18b disposed in the male-contact mounting part 16, and opposite surfaces 20a, 20b of the contact-point spring parts 18a, 18b to the male-contact insertion gap 15. A plurality of projecting contacts 22a, 22b are provided separately from each other, and in the thickness direction of the male-terminal insertion gap 15, the projecting tip of at least one projecting contacts 20b is positioned inside the projecting tip of the other projecting contacts 20a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[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 for electrical connection, and the female terminal and male terminal are used as a terminal unit. The male terminal mounting portion has a pair of support plate portions arranged opposite each other across a gap, and a pair of contact spring portions connected in a cantilevered manner to one end of the pair of support plate portions that define the male terminal insertion opening and protruding toward the other end. The pair of contact spring portions are arranged opposite each other across the male terminal insertion gap, and a separate clip spring is attached to each free end of the pair of contact spring portions to bias the free ends toward each other. The clip spring applies contact pressure to the convex contacts of the pair of contact spring portions against the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion portion, maintaining a stable connection between the male and female terminals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-83287 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the female terminal of Patent Document 1, since there is one convex contact for each contact spring portion, when used in an environment where multiple insertions and removals are expected, the plating on the convex contact is likely to peel off relatively early, which could result in a deterioration in resistance value and lead to the need to replace the female terminal sooner.

[0005] Therefore, a female terminal is disclosed that can suppress deterioration of resistance value and extend the lifespan even when multiple insertions and removals are expected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The female terminal of the present disclosure comprises a male terminal mounting portion having a male terminal insertion gap into which a male terminal is inserted, a contact spring portion arranged in the male terminal mounting portion, and a plurality of convex contacts spaced apart from one another on the surface of the contact spring portion facing the male terminal insertion gap, wherein the protruding tip of at least one of the convex contacts is positioned inward in the thickness direction of the male terminal insertion gap relative to the protruding tips of the other convex contacts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a female terminal that can suppress deterioration in resistance value and extend the lifespan even when multiple insertions and removals are expected. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a female terminal according to a first embodiment in a state where the female terminal is not connected to a male terminal. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the female terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the female terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of the IV-IV cross section in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is an exploded perspective view of the female terminal shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a clip spring is being attached to a contact spring portion in the female terminal shown in FIG. 1, and corresponds to the cross section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a perspective view showing a clip spring that constitutes the female terminal shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8]Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which a male terminal is inserted into the female terminal shown in Figure 1, and shows the state in which the male terminal is in contact with a convex contact whose protruding tip is located more inward than the others in the male terminal insertion gap. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which the male terminal has been repeatedly inserted and removed from the female terminal shown in FIG. 8 many times, showing the state in which multiple convex contacts and the male terminal are in contact with each other. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a female terminal according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the solid line shows the state before the male terminal is inserted, and the two-dot chain line shows the state in which the male terminal is in contact with a convex contact whose protruding tip is located more inward than the others in the male terminal insertion gap. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which the male terminal has been repeatedly inserted and removed from the female terminal shown in Figure 10, where the solid lines show the state in which the male terminal is in contact with multiple convex contacts, and the dotted line shows the state in which the male terminal is not in contact with a convex contact whose protruding tip was positioned more inward than the others in the initial state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <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 comprises: (1) A male terminal mounting portion having a male terminal insertion gap into which a male terminal is inserted, a contact spring portion arranged on the male terminal mounting portion, and a plurality of convex contacts spaced apart from one another on the surface of the contact spring portion facing the male terminal insertion gap, wherein the protruding tip of at least one of the convex contacts is positioned inward in the thickness direction of the male terminal insertion gap relative to the protruding tips of the other convex contacts.

[0010] According to the female terminal of the present disclosure, multiple convex contacts are provided on the surface of the contact spring portion facing the male terminal insertion gap. The protruding tip of at least one convex contact is located inward relative to the protruding tips of the other convex contacts in the thickness direction of the male terminal insertion gap. As a result, at the initial stage of use, at least one convex contact whose protruding tip is located more inward contacts a male terminal inserted into the male terminal insertion gap. However, the other convex contacts, whose protruding tips are located further outward, do not contact the male terminal or exert less contact pressure. After repeated insertion and removal of the female and male terminals, as sliding friction between the female and male terminals causes wear of at least one convex contact, the difference in height between the other convex contacts is absorbed, and the next most inward convex contact comes into contact with the male terminal. As a result, even if at least one convex contact whose protruding tip is located furthest inward initially wears, other convex contacts with less wear or no wear will also come into contact, thereby advantageously preventing or suppressing deterioration in resistance due to plating peeling of the convex contacts. As a result, according to the female terminal of the present disclosure, even when multiple insertions and removals are expected, deterioration of the resistance value can be suppressed and the lifespan can be extended.

[0011] The number of the multiple convex contacts is not limited as long as they include at least two convex contacts whose protruding tips are positioned differently in the thickness direction of the male terminal insertion gap. For example, there may be one or more convex contacts other than the at least one convex contact positioned further inward. If there are multiple other convex contacts, the positions of their protruding tips may be stepped or may be the same. Furthermore, in the initial state, there may be two or more convex contacts whose protruding tips are positioned more inward than the other convex contacts and are positioned at the same protruding position relative to each other in the thickness direction of the male terminal insertion gap.

[0012] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the contact spring portion extends in the insertion direction of the male terminal into the male terminal mounting portion, and the plurality of convex contacts are arranged side by side in the insertion direction. Since the plurality of convex contacts with protruding tips at different positions are arranged side by side in the insertion direction, when the convex contact with the protruding tip located in the innermost position becomes worn, the convex contact located next inward can be brought into more stable contact with the male terminal.

[0013] (3) In the above (1) or (2), it is preferable that the connector further comprises a male terminal insertion opening provided at one end of the male terminal mounting portion, a pair of contact spring portions connected to the one end in a cantilevered manner and protruding toward the other end and arranged opposite each other across a male terminal insertion gap, a connecting plate portion and a pair of clamping plate portions protruding toward each other from both side edges of the connecting plate portion, and a clip spring attached with free ends of the pair of contact spring portions positioned between the pair of clamping plate portions and urging the free ends toward each other when the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap. When a male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap, the urging force of the clip spring attached to the free ends is applied to the pair of contact spring portions arranged opposite each other across the male terminal insertion gap, thereby ensuring stable contact pressure between the male and female terminals. With this type of structure, repeated insertion and removal will accelerate the sliding wear of the convex contacts of each contact spring portion, but because there are multiple convex contacts with protruding tips at different positions, the life of the female terminal can be extended even when it is biased by a clip spring.

[0014] (4) In the above (3), it is preferable that the other end portions of the pair of contact spring portions extend parallel to each other across the male terminal insertion gap, and that the protruding end faces of the free ends contact the connecting plate portion of the clip spring. Since the other end portions of the pair of contact spring portions extend parallel to each other across the male terminal insertion gap, it is easy to manage the initial gap between the multiple convex contact portions. Moreover, the protruding end faces of the free ends can be in surface contact with the connecting plate portion of the clip spring, making it possible to stably determine the insertion end position of the clip spring relative to the pair of contact spring portions.

[0015] (5) In any one of (1) to (4) above, it is preferable that the surface plating of the other convex contacts is maintained and the surface plating of at least one of the convex contacts is peeled off. When the surface plating of a convex contact peels off due to wear, the protruding tip of the convex contact that retains its surface plating that is not yet worn or has only minor wear is positioned inward of the worn convex contact. As a result, the convex contact that is not yet worn or has only minor wear comes into contact with the male terminal instead of the worn convex contact, thereby suppressing an increase in electrical resistance and maintaining a stable electrical conduction state for a long period of time.

[0016] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Specific examples of the female terminal of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note 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 of the claims.

[0017] <Embodiment 1> A female terminal 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure and a terminal unit 14 including the female terminal 10 and a male terminal 12 connected to the female terminal 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. The female terminal 10 is a terminal that connects a power source, such as a battery, to a load, such as a motor. The female terminal 10, which is provided on one side of the power source or the load, and the male terminal 12, which is provided on the other side of the power source or the load, are in contact with each other to establish electrical continuity, thereby supplying power from a power source, such as a battery, to a load, such as a motor. While the female terminal 10 can be oriented in any direction, in the following description, the upper side will be referred to as the upper side in FIG. 3, the lower side as the lower side in FIG. 3, the front side as the left side in FIG. 2, the rear side as the right side in FIG. 2, the left side as the upper side in FIG. 2, and the right side as the lower side in FIG. 2. In addition, when multiple identical components are illustrated, only some of the components will be designated by reference numerals, and the reference numerals for the other components will be omitted.

[0018] <Female terminal 10> The female terminal 10 comprises a male terminal mounting portion 16 having a male terminal insertion gap 15 into which the male terminal 12 is inserted, a contact spring portion 18 arranged in the male terminal mounting portion 16, and a plurality of convex contacts 22 spaced apart from one another and protruding from a surface 20 of the contact spring portion 18 facing the male terminal insertion gap 15. In particular, the female terminal 10 of the first embodiment has a clip spring 38 attached to a female terminal main body 24 formed by bending a single metal plate as described below, and the male terminal mounting portion 16 is constituted by including the contact spring portion 18 and the clip spring 38 formed in the front portion of the female terminal main body 24.

[0019] <Male terminal 12> The male terminal 12 is a tab terminal having an overall plate shape. The male terminal 12 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, a predetermined width dimension (left-right dimension) and thickness dimension (up-down dimension), and extends substantially straight in the front-rear direction. In the first embodiment, the male terminal 12 has a horizontally elongated shape in which the width dimension is greater than the thickness dimension. The front end portion (rear end portion) of the male terminal 12 in the insertion direction into the female terminal 10 is tapered. The male terminal 12 is conductive and is formed from a metal with low electrical resistance, such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. A bolt insertion hole, for example, is formed in the base end portion (front end portion) of the male terminal 12, and the male terminal 12 is fixed to another member (e.g., a load-side member such as a motor) with a bolt (not shown). Alternatively, if no bolt insertion hole is formed, a load-side electric wire or the like is fixed to the base end portion of the male terminal 12 by crimping, welding, or the like.

[0020] <Male terminal mounting part 16> The male terminal mounting portion 16 has a male terminal insertion opening 26 provided at one end (front end), and a pair of contact spring portions 18, 18 (first contact spring portion 18a and second contact spring portion 18b) connected to the one end in a cantilevered manner, protruding toward the other end (rear end), and arranged opposite each other across a male terminal insertion gap 15. In the first embodiment, the male terminal mounting portion 16 has a pair of support plate portions 32, 32 (upper support plate portion 32a and lower support plate portion 32b) arranged opposite each other across a gap 30, and the support plate portions 32a, 32b are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction across the gap 30.

[0021] Each support plate portion 32a, 32b extends in the front-to-rear direction, and defines the male terminal insertion opening 26 by including one end (front end) of each support plate portion 32a, 32b. In other words, the male terminal insertion opening 26 and the male terminal insertion gap 15 are formed in the front portion of the gap 30 between each support plate portion 32a, 32b. The contact spring portions 18a, 18b are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction across the male terminal insertion gap 15, with the upper side being the first contact spring portion 18a and the lower side being the second contact spring portion 18b. A rear opening 70 (described later) serving as a clip spring insertion opening is provided at the other end (rear end) of the female terminal body 24 that constitutes the male terminal mounting portion 16, and the male terminal insertion opening 26 and the rear opening 70 are arranged opposite each other in the front-to-rear direction.

[0022] Furthermore, the male terminal mounting portion 16 is equipped with a clip spring 38 having a connecting plate portion 34 and a pair of clamping plate portions 36, 36 that protrude in directions approaching each other from both side edges of the connecting plate portion 34. This clip spring 38 is attached with the free end portions 40 (i.e., rear end portions) of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b disposed between the pair of clamping plate portions 36, 36, and as shown in Figures 1 to 6, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, the clip spring 38 urges the contact spring portions 24a, 24b in directions approaching each other.

[0023] <Contact spring portion 18 (first contact spring portion 18a and second contact spring portion 18b)> A curved portion 42 is provided at the front end of each of the support plate portions 32a, 32b. That is, the first contact spring portion 18a is connected to the front end of the upper support plate portion 32a via the curved portion 42 in a cantilevered manner, protruding toward the rear end, and the second contact spring portion 18b is connected to the front end of the lower support plate portion 32b via the curved portion 42 in a cantilevered manner, protruding toward the rear end. Therefore, these contact spring portions 18a, 18b extend in the front-to-rear direction (particularly, from the front to the rear), which is the insertion direction of the male terminal 12 into the male terminal mounting portion 16. The rear ends of these first contact spring portion 18a and second contact spring portion 18b each serve as the free end portion 40 described above. In addition, the first contact spring portion 18a and the second contact spring portion 18b face each other in the vertical direction, and the space between the first contact spring portion 18a and the second contact spring portion 18b in the vertical direction is the male terminal insertion gap 15 into which the male terminal 12 is inserted.

[0024] That is, the lower surface of the first contact spring portion 18a and the upper surface of the second contact spring portion 18b are opposing surfaces 20, 20 facing the male terminal insertion gap 15. In particular, the lower surface of the first contact spring portion 18a is the first opposing surface 20a facing the upper surface of the male terminal 12, and the upper surface of the second contact spring portion 18b is the second opposing surface 20b facing the lower surface of the male terminal 12. The male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15 from the front. That is, a male terminal insertion opening 26 is defined by including the front end sides of each support plate portion 32a, 32b.

[0025] In the first embodiment, each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b penetrates a central portion in the width direction (left-right direction) in the plate thickness direction (approximately the up-down direction) and extends in a protruding direction (direction from front to rear), and is divided into a first tongue 48 and a second tongue 50 that can be displaced independently of each other by a spring portion-side slit 46 that opens in a protruding end face (rear end face) 44. In particular, in the first embodiment, the left portions of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b are respectively first tongues 48, 48, and the right portions of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b are respectively second tongues 50, 50. As a result, the first tongues 48, 48 of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b face each other in the up-down direction, and the second tongues 50, 50 of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b face each other in the up-down direction. In addition, the spring portion side slit 46 is provided over the entire length (front-to-back direction) of each contact spring portion 18a, 18b, and extends slightly beyond the curved portion 42 provided at the front end of each contact spring portion 18a, 18b to the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b.

[0026] <Convex contacts 22 (front convex contacts 22a and rear convex contacts 22b)> As described above, the surfaces 20a, 20b of each contact spring portion 18a, 18b facing the male terminal 12 are provided with a plurality of convex contacts 22 spaced apart from each other and protruding inward in the facing direction. In the first embodiment, each contact spring portion 18a, 18b is divided into a first tongue 48 and a second tongue 50, and a front convex contact 22a and a rear convex contact 22b spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction are provided on the inner surfaces of each first tongue 48 and each second tongue 50 in the facing direction (up-down direction). In other words, on each first tongue 48 and each second tongue 50, the plurality of convex contacts 22 (front convex contact 22a and rear convex contact 22b) are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the male terminal 12.

[0027] Therefore, the male terminal mounting portion 16 of the first embodiment is provided with four front convex contacts 22a and four rear convex contacts 22b, for a total of eight convex contacts 22. All four front convex contacts 22a are formed to be the same size, and all four rear convex contacts 22b are formed to be the same size. Each front convex contact 22a and each rear convex contact 22b protrudes inward in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the male terminal 12, within the male terminal insertion gap 15.

[0028] Here, before the male terminal 12 is mounted in the male terminal mounting portion 16, the positions of the protruding tips of the front convex contacts 22a and the rear convex contacts 22b within the male terminal mounting portion 16 (male terminal insertion gap 15) are different in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the male terminal insertion gap 15. In the first embodiment, as also shown in Fig. 4, the position of the protruding tip of each rear convex contact 22b is located inward in the vertical direction compared to each front convex contact 22a. In other words, since the front convex contacts 22a and the rear convex contacts 22b are provided on both sides in the vertical direction, the minimum facing distance B in the vertical direction of each rear convex contact 22b (see Fig. 4) is smaller than the minimum facing distance A in the vertical direction of each front convex contact 22a (see Fig. 4).

[0029] More specifically, in the first embodiment, a bent portion 52 is provided in the longitudinal (front-rear) middle portion of each of the first tongues 48 and second tongues 50 of the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b. At the positions where each bent portion 52 is formed, the front convex contacts 22a are provided so as to sandwich the bent portion 52 on both sides in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, in each of the first tongues 48 and second tongues 50, the rear convex contacts 22b are provided rearward of the front convex contacts 22a at a predetermined distance. Each of the front convex contacts 22a and each of the rear convex contacts 22b is formed in a curved arc shape in the longitudinal cross section shown in FIG. 4 and the like, and has a predetermined left-right dimension at the left-right central portion of each of the first tongues 48 and second tongues 50.

[0030] Each of these front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b has an oval shape in which the dimension in the front-to-rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the male terminal 12, is larger than the dimension in the left-to-right direction in a plan view (up-down projection). This ensures a stable contact area between each of the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b and the male terminal 12, even when the male terminal 12 inserted into the female terminal 10 pivots and displaces in the up-down direction. In the first embodiment, the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b and the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b (i.e., the female terminal body 24) are formed by pressing a single metal flat plate, as will be described later. A front recess 54a and a rear recess 54b are formed on the outer side of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 in the opposing direction (outer side in the up-down direction) at positions corresponding to each of the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b, respectively.

[0031] Furthermore, each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 has a distal end extension 56 at its other end (rear end) that extends from the corresponding rear convex contact 22b toward the corresponding free end 40, which is the protruding tip. That is, the distal end extensions 56 of the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b face each other in the up-down direction. In the first embodiment, as also shown in FIG. 4, before the male terminal 12 is inserted, the distal end extensions 56 of the first and second tongues 48, 50 extend in the front-rear direction, so that the distal end extensions 56 extend parallel to each other across the male terminal insertion gap 15. Therefore, in each of the distal end extensions 56, specifically from the rear end of each rear convex contact 22b to the corresponding free end 40, the separation distance C (see FIG. 4) between the inner surfaces in the opposing direction is substantially constant.

[0032] In particular, before the male terminal 12 is inserted, each free end 40 (each tip extension 56) extends in the front-to-rear direction, causing each protruding end face 44 of each of the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50 to expand in a direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. As will be described later, each of these protruding end faces 44 is disposed opposite the connecting plate portion 34 of the clip spring 38, which expands in the same direction, and in the first embodiment, substantially the entire surface of each protruding end face 44 abuts against the connecting plate portion 34.

[0033] In each contact spring portion 18a, 18b, each front convex contact 22a and each rear convex contact 22b protrudes inward in the opposing direction, so that the minimum opposing distance A in the vertical direction at each front convex contact 22a and the minimum opposing distance B in the vertical direction at each rear convex contact 22b are smaller than the vertical separation distance C at each tip extension portion 56. As a result, in embodiment 1, the separation distance on the inner surfaces in the opposing direction at male terminal insertion gap 15 formed between each contact spring portion 18a, 18b is largest at male terminal insertion opening 26, which is the front end, and gradually decreases from male terminal insertion opening 26 to the rear. The separation distance between the inner surfaces of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b in the opposing direction in the male terminal insertion gap 15 is set to a minimum separation distance A at the formation position of each rear convex contact 22b, a larger separation distance B at the formation position of each front convex contact 22a forward of each rear convex contact 22b, and an even larger separation distance C at each tip extension portion 56.

[0034] In particular, in the first embodiment, the thickness dimension (vertical dimension) D (see FIG. 4) of the male terminal 12 is set to be approximately equal to the separation distance C at each tip extension portion 56, and is set to be greater than the separation distance B at each front convex contact 22a and the separation distance A at each rear convex contact 22b. As a result, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15 through the male terminal insertion opening 26, the front convex contacts 22a first come into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, pushing the first and second tongues 48, 50 outward in the vertical direction, and then the rear convex contacts 22b come into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, further pushing the first and second tongues 48, 50 outward in the vertical direction. In other words, the male terminal 12 is press-fitted between the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b in the male terminal insertion gap 15.

[0035] In each of the first and second tongues 48, 50, the surfaces of the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b that come into contact with the male terminal 12 may be provided with surface plating (not shown). Known plating may be used as the surface plating, with silver plating, for example, being preferred for its excellent conductivity. Furthermore, such surface plating (e.g., silver plating) may be provided not only on the surfaces of the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b, but also over substantially the entire surfaces of the opposing surfaces 20a, 20b of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b.

[0036] Furthermore, by making the separation distance C at the portion rearward of each rear convex contact 22b (each tip extension 56) approximately equal to the thickness dimension D of the male terminal 12, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, the inner surfaces of the portions rearward of each rear convex contact 22b (each tip extension 56) in the male terminal insertion gap 15 in the opposing direction are prevented from coming into contact with the male terminal 12. Therefore, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, as shown in Figures 8 and 9 described below, the male terminal 12 comes into contact with either each rear convex contact 22b or each of the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b. Note that by making the separation distance C at each tip extension 56 larger than the thickness dimension D of the male terminal 12, contact between the inner surfaces of each tip extension 56 in the opposing direction and the male terminal 12 can be more reliably avoided.

[0037] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the first and second tongues 48, 50 of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b have a smaller width at the other end (rear end) that protrudes compared to the other end (front end) that is cantilevered relative to the curved portion 42. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 (described later), in each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, the inner surfaces 58 of the first and second tongues 48, 50 in the opposing direction (left-right direction) are positioned substantially entirely outward in the opposing direction compared to when the first and second tongues 48, 50 extend with a substantially constant width in the front-rear direction (shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). Furthermore, the outer surfaces 60 of the first and second tongues 48, 50 in the opposing direction (left-right direction) are positioned substantially entirely inward in the opposing direction compared to when the first and second tongues 48, 50 extend with a substantially constant width in the front-rear direction. In particular, in the first embodiment, the widthwise dimension of each of the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50 gradually decreases from the curved portion 42 at the front end toward the bent portion 52 provided in the middle portion in the front-rear direction, and the widthwise dimension is substantially constant on the protruding tip side (rear end side) of the bent portion 52. As a result, the widthwise dimension of each of the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50 is smaller at the rear end side than at the front end side.

[0038] At least one of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first tongues 48 and each of the second tongues 50) has an integrally formed engaging portion 62. In the first embodiment, the engaging portions 62 are provided on the outer edge portions of each of the first tongues 48 and each of the second tongues 50, and a total of four engaging portions 62 are provided in the female terminal 10. Each engaging portion 62 protrudes outward in the up-down direction by a predetermined protrusion dimension from both side edges of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, i.e., outward in the left-right direction at the rear end portions of each of the first tongues 48 and each of the second tongues 50, toward the corresponding clamping plate portion 36 of the opposing clip spring 38. Each of these engaging portions 62 is substantially rectangular in side view (left-right view).

[0039] In particular, in the first embodiment, each of the engaging portions 62 is provided a predetermined distance forward of the rear end (free end 40) of each of the first tongues 48 and the second tongues 50 (the case where the engaging portion is provided from the rear end of each tongue is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). This allows the front-rear dimension of each engaging portion 62 to be kept small, and also allows the widthwise dimension of the rear end (free end 40) of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 to be kept small. Furthermore, each of the first tongues 48 and the second tongues 50 is provided with an outward protruding portion 64 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction at a position a predetermined distance forward of the rear end (free end 40), and each of the engaging portions 62 is provided at the protruding end (outer end in the left-right direction) of each outward protruding portion 64. As a result, the engaging portions 62 provided on both the left and right sides of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b face each other at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction.

[0040] <Female terminal body 24> The female terminal body 24 is formed by pressing a single metal plate and includes the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b, which are arranged opposite each other across a gap 30 having a predetermined vertical dimension. The single metal plate constituting the female terminal body 24 may be made of a metal that is conductive and springy, such as a copper alloy. The upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b are connected to a rear cylindrical portion 66 provided at the rear end of the female terminal body 24. The rear cylindrical portion 66 has a cylindrical shape that extends substantially straight in the front-rear direction and includes a peripheral wall portion 72 having a front opening 68 and a rear opening 70 serving as a clip spring insertion port. In the first embodiment, the rear cylindrical portion 66 (peripheral wall portion 72) has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. As a result, the upper and lower support plates 32a, 32b extend forward from the upper and lower walls that form the peripheral wall 72 at the periphery of the front opening 68, respectively, and the inner hole of the rear cylindrical portion 66 communicates in the front-to-rear direction with the gap 30 between the upper and lower support plates 32a, 32b. In other words, the gap 30 between the upper and lower support plates 32a, 32b opens at the rear opening 70 through the inner hole of the rear cylindrical portion 66.

[0041] In particular, in the first embodiment, the opening areas of the front opening 68 and the rear opening 70 as viewed in the front-rear direction are larger than the maximum area of ​​the clip spring 38 as projected in the front-rear direction, allowing the clip spring 38 to be inserted through the front opening 68 and the rear opening 70. This allows the clip spring 38 to be inserted from the rear opening 70 in the rear cylindrical portion 66 through an inner hole in the rear cylindrical portion 66 into the gap 30 between the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b. That is, in the first embodiment, the rear opening 70 forms a clip spring insertion port for inserting the clip spring 38 into the female terminal body 24.

[0042] Additionally, a crimping portion 74 is provided on a portion of the circumference of the rear cylindrical portion 66, so as to maintain the female terminal body 24, which is formed by pressing a single flat metal plate, in a desired shape. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the upper wall portion and the right wall portion that constitute the peripheral wall portion 72 are butted against each other by pressing a single flat metal plate, and the crimping portion 74 is provided on the upper right corner of the rear cylindrical portion 66. By crimping and fixing at this crimping portion 74, the female terminal body 24, including the rear cylindrical portion 66, is maintained in a predetermined shape.

[0043] In particular, in the first embodiment, a plurality of crimping pieces 76 are provided in the front-rear direction in the crimping portion 74, and a central crimping piece 76a that protrudes toward the right wall is provided in the front-rear center portion of the upper wall that constitutes the peripheral wall 72. In addition, a pair of end crimping pieces 76b, 76b that protrude toward the upper wall are provided at both front-rear end portions of the right wall that constitutes the peripheral wall 72. By crimping these crimping pieces 76a, 76b, crimping in two directions that face opposite each other is achieved, and the shape of the female terminal body 24, including the rear tubular portion 66, can be more stably maintained.

[0044] At the periphery of the rear opening 70 in the rear cylindrical portion 66, a rearward extending portion 78 is provided on the wall below the peripheral wall portion 72. The rear extending portion 78 is generally rectangular and flat, and a circular bolt insertion hole 80 is formed in the center of the rear extending portion 78, penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction). A bolt (not shown) is inserted through the bolt insertion hole 80 to fix the female terminal body 24 including the rear cylindrical portion 66, i.e., the female terminal 10, to a power source member such as a battery, and the female terminal 10 is electrically connected to the power source member via the rear extending portion 78 around the bolt insertion hole 80.

[0045] <Support Plate 32 (Upper Support Plate 32a and Lower Support Plate 32b)> The upper support plate portion 32a and the lower support plate portion 32b are each a flat plate having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and are larger in the front-to-rear direction than in the left-to-right direction. As described above, the front end portion of each support plate portion 32a, 32b is folded back at each curved portion 42 and connected to each contact spring portion 18a, 18b (each first and second tongue piece 48, 50), and the rear end portion of each support plate portion 32a, 32b is connected to the rear cylindrical portion 66. The end faces of the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b facing outward in the opposing direction (outward in the up-down direction) are continuous without steps with the outer peripheral surface of the rear cylindrical portion 66, and each form a flat surface 82 without any irregularities.

[0046] <Clip spring 38> As described above, the clip spring 38 includes the connecting plate 34 and a pair of clamping plates 36, 36 that protrude toward each other from both side edges of the connecting plate 34. As shown in FIG. 7 , the connecting plate 34 and each clamping plate 36 are each formed into a substantially rectangular flat plate. The clip spring 38 having such a shape can also be formed, for example, by pressing a single metal flat plate. When the clip spring 38 is attached to the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, the clamping plates 36 protrude forward from both vertical ends of the connecting plate 34 and are inclined toward each other (inward in the vertical direction). In the first embodiment, the connecting plate 34 has a substantially rectangular shape whose left-right dimension is greater than its up-down dimension when viewed in the front-rear direction (projected in the front-rear direction), and the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 34 is the left-right direction.

[0047] In the first embodiment, each clamping plate 36 penetrates the central portion in the width direction (left-right direction) in the plate thickness direction (approximately the up-down direction) and extends in the protruding direction (direction from rear to front). The clip-side slit 88 opening in the protruding end surface (front end surface) 86 divides each clamping plate 36 into a first clamping piece 90 and a second clamping piece 92, which can be displaced independently of each other. In particular, in the first embodiment, the left portion of each clamping plate 36 is the first clamping piece 90, and the right portion of each clamping plate 36 is the second clamping piece 92,. As a result, the first clamping pieces 90, 90 of each clamping plate 36 face each other in the up-down direction, and the second clamping pieces 92, 92 of each clamping plate 36 face each other in the up-down direction. The first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 are elastically deformable in the up-down direction, with the connection point with the connecting plate 34 as the base point.

[0048] The clip-side slits 88 are formed over the entire length (front-rear direction) of each clamping piece 90, 92, and a base end 94, which is opposite the opening side (front side) of the clip-side slit 88, extends beyond each clamping piece 90, 92 and is positioned on the connecting plate 34. In other words, as shown in Fig. 7 , the base end 94 of the clip-side slit 88 provided on the upper clamping plate 36 is located in the center of the connecting plate 34 in the width direction (left-right direction) of each clamping plate 36 and extends downward from the upper end of the connecting plate 34. The base end 94 of the clip-side slit 88 provided on the lower clamping plate 36 is located in the center of the connecting plate 34 in the left-right direction and extends upward from the lower end of the connecting plate 34. As a result, the base end portion 94 of one (upper) clip-side slit 88 and the base end portion 94 of the other (lower) clip-side slit 88 are disposed in the center portion in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the connecting plate portion 34. The base ends 94 are disposed opposite each other in a direction (up-down direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0049] The left-right dimension of each of the first clamping pieces 90 and the second clamping pieces 92 is larger than the left-right dimension of the front recesses 54a of each of the first tongues 48 and the second tongues 50, and in the first embodiment, is larger than the left-right dimension of the rear portions of each of the first tongues 48 and the second tongues 50. Furthermore, each of the first clamping pieces 90 and the second clamping pieces 92 has a bent portion 96 formed in a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10 and the bent portions 96 of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 abut against the positions where the front recesses 54a of the first and second tongues 48, 50 are formed, both left-right end portions of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 abut against portions that are outward in the left-right direction from the front recesses 54a of the first and second tongues 48, 50.

[0050] Furthermore, since a bent portion 96 is provided in the longitudinally intermediate portion of each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92, the protruding tip portions, including the protruding end faces 86, of each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 extend outward in the vertical direction from the bent portion 96. Therefore, the opposing distance between the first clamping pieces 90, 90 and the second clamping pieces 92, 92, which face each other in the vertical direction, is smallest at the bent portions 96 provided in the longitudinally intermediate portions. The gap between these vertically opposing bent portions 96 is an insertion opening 98 for inserting and assembling the free ends 40 of the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first and second tongues 48, 50). That is, when the clip spring 38 is attached, the connecting plate portion 34 of the clip spring 38 is disposed opposite the protruding end surfaces 44 of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, and in the first embodiment, the connecting plate portion 34 and the protruding end surfaces 44 abut against each other. When the clip spring 38 is attached, the clamping plate portions 36 of the clip spring 38 protrude from the connecting plate portion 34 in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b. The direction opposite to the protruding direction of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (from rear to front) is the attachment direction of the clip spring 38, and the direction opposite to this attachment direction (from front to rear) is the detachment direction of the clip spring 38 from the contact spring portions 18a, 18b.

[0051] Here, the clip spring 38 has an attachment guide portion 100 that presses the engaging portions 62 as the clip spring 38 is attached to the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b (the first and second tongues 48, 50), thereby elastically deforming the engaging portions 62 and allowing movement of the clip spring 38 forward in the attachment direction (from rear to front). The clip spring 38 also has engaged portions 102 that engage with the engaging portions 62 that have disengaged from the attachment guide portion 100. The attachment guide portion 100 and engaged portions 102 are provided integrally with the clip spring 38.

[0052] Specifically, the attachment guide portions 100 are provided on both side edges of each clamping plate portion 36 of the clip spring 38, i.e., on the outer left-right sides of each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92, in the middle portion in the front-rear direction (more specifically, the portion rearward of each bent portion 96). Thus, four attachment guide portions 100 are provided in the clip spring 38. Each of these attachment guide portions 100 is shaped to gradually protrude outward in the width direction (left-right direction) from the front side to the rear side in the attachment direction of the clip spring 38 (the direction from left to right in FIG. 6).

[0053] The clip spring 38 has recessed portions 106 that are connected to the rear end portions 104 of each mounting guide portion 100 and are recessed inward in the width direction (left-right direction) relative to the rear end portions 104 to accommodate each engaging portion 62. That is, four recessed portions 106 are provided in the clip spring 38, and in the first embodiment, each recessed portion 106 is provided so as to be open toward the rear of the clip spring 38. In particular, in the first embodiment, the first step surface 108 between the rear end portions 104 of each mounting guide portion 100 and each recessed portion 106, and the bottom surfaces 110 of each recessed portion 106 form the engaged portions 102.

[0054] In a standalone state before the clip spring 38 is attached, the maximum area of ​​the clip spring 38 as projected in the front-to-rear direction is larger than the opening area of ​​the rear cylindrical portion 66 as viewed in the front-to-rear direction (the opening areas of the front opening 68 and the rear opening 70). This allows the clip spring 38 to be inserted from the rear through the rear opening 70, which serves as a clip spring insertion port, and the inner hole of the rear cylindrical portion 66 into the gap 30 between the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b, as shown by the white arrow in Fig. 5. By inserting the clip spring 38 from the rear into the gap 30 between the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b, the clip spring 38 is positioned rearward of the free ends 40 of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (the first tongues 48 and the second tongues 50), as shown in Fig. 6.

[0055] Such clip spring 38 is assembled to each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first tongues 48 and each of the second tongues 50) by being moved forward from a state in which it is positioned behind each free end portion 40 of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first tongues 48 and each of the second tongues 50). The state in which the clip spring 38 is moved forward and assembled to each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first tongues 48 and each of the second tongues 50) will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0056] That is, by moving the clip spring 38 forward from the state shown in Fig. 6 (white arrow R1 in Fig. 6), the free ends 40 of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (the first tongues 48 and the second tongues 50) are inserted into the insertion openings 98 of the clip spring 38. At the same time, the attachment guide portions 100 provided on the clamping plate portions 36 (the first clamping pieces 90 and the second clamping pieces 92) of the clip spring 38 come into contact with the engaging portions 62 provided on the protruding ends (free ends 40) of the first and second tongues 48, 50. Since the outward protrusion dimension of each mounting guide portion 100 gradually increases from the front to the rear, each engagement portion 62 is elastically deformed outward in the left-right direction along the inclined surface of each mounting guide portion 100 (white arrow R2 in Figure 6), and each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 including each mounting guide portion 100 is elastically deformed inward in the left-right direction (white arrow R3 in Figure 6).

[0057] In particular, since the clip-side slits 88 are provided between the first clamping pieces 90 and the second clamping pieces 92 in each clamping plate portion 36, it is possible to easily cause the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 to elastically deform inward in the left-right direction. Furthermore, since the spring-side slits 46 are provided in the widthwise central portions of the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b and divide them into the left and right first and second tongue pieces 48, 50, the elastic deformation of each engaging portion 62 outward in the left-right direction does not necessarily involve the elastic deformation of only each engaging portion 62, but rather the elastic deformation of each rear end side (free end portion 40 side) of each of the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50 including each engaging portion 62 may occur outward in the left-right direction. In particular, as mentioned above, the widthwise dimension of each of the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50 is smaller at the rear end side than at the front end side, making it easier for elastic deformation to occur outward in the left-right direction at the rear end side (free end 40 side) of each of the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50 as described above.

[0058] The above-described elastic deformation of each engaging portion 62 outward in the left-right direction and the elastic deformation of each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 inward in the left-right direction permit further forward movement of the clip spring 38. In addition, when each engaging portion 62 climbs over the rear end portion 104 of each mounting guide portion 100 and disengages from each mounting guide portion 100, the rear end portions of each of the first tongue portions 48 and second tongue portions 50, including each engaging portion 62, and each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 elastically deform to their original state (elastic return). 2 and other figures, the engaging portions 62 engage with the engaged portions 102 formed by the first stepped surfaces 108 and the bottom surfaces 110 of the recessed portions 106, and the clip spring 38 is attached with the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b (the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50) disposed between the clamping plate portions 36 (the first clamping pieces 90 and the second clamping pieces 92). As a result, the engaging portions 62 engage with the engaged portions 102, preventing the clip spring 38 from displacing from the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (the direction from front to rear).

[0059] In particular, in embodiment 1, when each engaging portion 62 is engaged with each engaged portion 102, each engaging portion 62 protrudes outward in the vertical direction beyond each clamping plate portion 36 (each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92) of the clip spring 38.

[0060] Further, forward movement of the clip spring 38 relative to each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first and second tongues 48, 50) is restricted by the rear ends (each of the free ends 40) of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 abutting against the connecting plate portion 34 of the clip spring 38. Here, the opening dimension (vertical dimension) of each insertion opening 98 in the clip spring 38 in a standalone state (before elastic deformation) is set equal to the vertical distance between the outer surfaces (vertical outer surfaces) of the free ends 40 of each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first tongues 48 and each of the second tongues 50). As a result, when the clip spring 38 is attached to the contact spring portions 18a, 18b and the inner surfaces of the bent portions 96 are placed on the outer surfaces of the first and second tongues 48, 50, the inner surfaces of the bent portions 96 and the first and second tongues 48, 50 come into zero-touch contact, as shown in Fig. 4. As a result, when the clip spring 38 is attached to the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, the front ends of the clamping plates 36 do not spread in the spreading direction (outward in the vertical direction), and therefore no urging force is generated inward in the vertical direction by the clamping plates 36. Therefore, even when the clip spring 38 is attached, the contact spring portions 18a, 18b do not elastically deform inward in the opposing direction.

[0061] 5 , before the clip spring 38 is attached, the rear end portions of the first and second tongues 48, 50 extend in the front-rear direction and are generally parallel to each other. Therefore, even when the clip spring 38 is attached to the rear end portions of the first and second tongues 48, 50, the first and second tongues 48, 50 do not elastically deform inward in the opposing directions, and the rear end portions of the first and second tongues 48, 50 extend generally straight in the front-rear direction. As a result, before the clip spring 38 is attached, the protruding end surfaces 44 of the first and second tongues 48, 50 extend in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the protruding end surfaces 44 abut against the connecting plate 34 to restrict the forward movement of the clip spring 38, substantially the entire surface of each protruding end surface 44 abuts against the connecting plate 34, thereby more reliably restricting the forward movement of the clip spring 38.

[0062] Furthermore, because the inner surfaces of the bent portions 96 abut against the first and second tongues 48, 50 in a zero-touch manner, even after the clip spring 38 is attached, when no male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, the clamping plates 36 of the clip spring 38 are not pushed outward in the opposing direction and are not elastically deformed. Therefore, the elastic restoring force associated with this elastic deformation is not applied to the contact spring portions 18a, 18b as a biasing force in a direction toward each other. Therefore, after the clip spring 38 is attached and before the male terminal 12 is inserted, the contact spring portions 18a, 18b are not elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction, and the rear portions of the first and second tongues 48, 50 extend in the front-to-rear direction.

[0063] The method for restricting the forward movement of the clip spring 38 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, protrusions may be provided on each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 that protrude outward in the vertical direction, or on each of the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b that protrude inward in the vertical direction, so that the front end portion (e.g., each protruding end face 86) of the clip spring 38 moving forward abuts against the protrusions, thereby restricting the forward movement of the clip spring 38.

[0064] <Assembly of female terminal 10> The following describes a specific example of a method for assembling the female terminal 10. However, the method for assembling the female terminal 10 is not limited to the embodiment described below.

[0065] First, a single metal plate is bent into the aforementioned shape to form the female terminal body 24. At this time, the rear tubular portion 66 is stably formed by crimping each crimping piece 76 (the central crimping piece 76a and each end crimping piece 76b), and the female terminal body 24 is maintained in a predetermined shape. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the clip spring 38 is positioned behind the female terminal body 24, and inserted into the gap 30 between the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b through the rear opening 70 (clip spring insertion opening) and the inner hole of the rear tubular portion 66. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the clip spring 38 is positioned behind the free ends 40 of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (each of the first and second tongues 48, 50) in the gap 30 between the upper and lower support plate portions 32a, 32b.

[0066] 6, the clip spring 38 is moved forward, and the free ends 40 of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (the first and second tongues 48, 50) are inserted into the insertion openings 98. This causes the engagement portions 62 to come into contact with the mounting guide portions 100, and the mounting guide portions 100 press against the engagement portions 62, causing the engagement portions 62 (or the rear portions of the first and second tongues 48, 50) to elastically deform outward in the left-right direction, and the first and second clamping portions 90, 92 to elastically deform inward in the left-right direction. In particular, because the plate width dimension of the rear portions of the first and second tongues 48, 50 is reduced and the clip-side slits 88 are formed to extend to the connecting plate portion 34, the elastic deformation can be stably generated. As a result, clip spring 38 is permitted to move further forward, causing each engaging portion 62 (or the rear portions of each of first and second tongues 48, 50) and each of first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 to elastically restore and deform, and each engaging portion 62 engages with each engaged portion 102. In this way, clip spring 38 is assembled to female terminal body 24, and the female terminal 10 of embodiment 1 is completed.

[0067] The clip spring 38 can be attached to the contact spring portions 18a, 18b as described above by manually or mechanically by holding the clip spring 38 with a jig (not shown). Since the clip spring 38 is inserted through the rear cylindrical portion 66, the attachment can be performed using the rear cylindrical portion 66, which is generally rectangular in rear view, as a guide or mark. In particular, the base ends 94 of the clip-side slits 88 of the clip spring 38 are located on the connecting plate portion 34, and the attachment can be performed by holding the base ends 94 located on the connecting plate portion 34 with the jig.

[0068] <Assembly of terminal unit 14> A specific example of a method for assembling a terminal unit 14 in a state in which the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 are connected by inserting the male terminal 12 into the female terminal 10 of the first embodiment will be described below.

[0069] First, the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 assembled as described above are positioned opposite each other in the front-to-back direction as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Then, the tip of the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15 through the male terminal insertion opening 26. As described above, in the male terminal insertion gap 15, the minimum opposing distance B between the front convex contacts 22a in the vertical direction is set smaller than the thickness dimension D of the male terminal 12, so that the male terminal 12 is press-fitted between the front convex contacts 22a. When the male terminal 12 is press-fitted, the front convex contacts 22a come into contact with both the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, and the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (between the first tongues 48, 48 and between the second tongues 50, 50) are pushed apart in directions separating them from each other, so that the opposing distance between the front convex contacts 22a in the vertical direction becomes D, which is equal to the thickness dimension D of the male terminal 12.

[0070] Then, the male terminal 12 is further press-fitted rearward. In particular, the rear convex contacts 22b, which are provided rearward of the front convex contacts 22a, have a minimum opposing distance A in the up-down direction that is smaller than the minimum opposing distance B in the up-down direction between the front convex contacts 22a and the thickness dimension D of the male terminal 12, so that the male terminal 12 is press-fitted between the rear convex contacts 22b. As a result, as shown in Fig. 8, the rear convex contacts 22b abut against the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, and the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (the first tongues 48, 48 and the second tongues 50, 50) are pressed and spread in directions that further separate them, so that the opposing distance in the up-down direction between the rear convex contacts 22b becomes equal to the thickness dimension D of the male terminal 12.

[0071] As described above, before the insertion of the male terminal 12, the protruding tip of each rear convex contact 22b is positioned vertically inward relative to each front convex contact 22a. As a result, when the male terminal 12 is press-fitted until it abuts against each rear convex contact 22b as shown in Fig. 8, each front convex contact 22a is positioned vertically outward relative to each rear convex contact 22b. That is, in the state shown in Fig. 8, the opposing distance in the vertical direction between the rear convex contacts 22b is D, which is equal to the thickness of the male terminal 12, while the opposing distance in the vertical direction between the front convex contacts 22a is greater than the thickness of the male terminal 12, so that each front convex contact 22a is separated from the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12 by a gap 112. Therefore, in the initial stage of mating between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12, the male terminal 12 abuts only against the rear convex contacts 22b and is spaced apart from the front convex contacts 22a.

[0072] Furthermore, by press-fitting the male terminal 12 into the male terminal insertion gap 15 as described above, the bent portions 52 of the first and second tongues 48, 50, which are spread outward in the vertical direction, come into contact with the bent portions 96 of the clip spring 38 from the inside in the vertical direction, causing the clamping plates 36 (the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92) to elastically deform outward in the vertical direction. The elastic restoring force of the clamping plates 36 (the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92) causes the clamping plates 36 (the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92) to clamp the free ends 40 of the first and second tongues 48, 50, and urge the first and second tongues 48, 50 in directions approaching each other. As a result, the rear convex contacts 22b are pressed against the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12 that is press-fit between the opposing surfaces of the first contact spring portion 18a and the second contact spring portion 18b. As a result, the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10 are electrically connected, completing the terminal unit 14 in which the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 are connected.

[0073] In other words, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10, not only the first contact spring portion 18a and the second contact spring portion 18b but also each clamping plate portion 36 of the clip spring 38 is pushed outward in the vertical direction, and each rear convex contact 22b is pressed against both the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12 not only by the elastic restoring force of the first contact spring portion 18a and the second contact spring portion 18b but also by the elastic restoring force of each clamping plate portion 36.

[0074] In particular, in the first embodiment, the first and second contact spring portions 18a, 18b are each divided in the left-right direction into first tongues 48 and second tongues 50, and each clamping plate portion 36 is each divided in the left-right direction into first clamping pieces 90 and second clamping pieces 92. Therefore, between a pair of first clamping pieces 90, 90 arranged opposite to each other in the vertical direction, a pair of opposed first tongues 48, 48 are clamped by each of the first clamping pieces 90 with the male terminal 12 sandwiched therebetween, and between a pair of second clamping pieces 92, 92 arranged opposite to each other in the vertical direction, a pair of opposed second tongues 50, 50 are clamped by each of the second clamping pieces 92 with the male terminal 12 sandwiched therebetween.

[0075] 8, only the rear convex contacts 22b are in contact with the male terminal 12, but by repeatedly inserting and removing the male terminal 12 into and from the male terminal insertion gap 15 from this state, the rear convex contacts 22b wear down, reducing the amount by which each rear convex contact 22b protrudes inward in the vertical direction within the male terminal insertion gap 15. Then, by making the amount by which each front convex contact 22a and each rear convex contact 22b protrude inward in the vertical direction within the male terminal insertion gap 15 equal, all of the front convex contacts 22a and each rear convex contact 22b come into contact with both the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, as shown in FIG. 9. When the male terminal 12 is repeatedly inserted and removed from this state, the front convex contacts 22a and each rear convex contact 22b wear down approximately evenly.

[0076] In addition, when surface plating (e.g., silver plating) is provided on the surfaces of each of the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b as described above, the front convex contacts 22a and the rear convex contacts 22b may be configured to protrude equally inward in the vertical direction within the male terminal insertion gap 15 when the surface plating on each of the rear convex contacts 22b has been completely or partially peeled off. In this state, the surface plating on each of the rear convex contacts 22b has been peeled off to some extent, while the surface plating on each of the front convex contacts 22a is retained to some extent; specifically, it is not peeled off at all or is slightly peeled off.

[0077] 8, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, before the male terminal 12 reaches each of the rear convex contacts 22b, the male terminal 12 is inserted while abutting against each of the front convex contacts 22a, which causes some wear to each of the front convex contacts 22a. Similarly, when the male terminal 12 is removed from the male terminal insertion gap 15, when the male terminal 12 is pulled out further forward than each of the rear convex contacts 22b, the male terminal 12 is removed while abutting against each of the front convex contacts 22a, which causes some wear to each of the front convex contacts 22a. However, because the opposing distance A in the vertical direction at each of the rear convex contacts 22b is smaller than the opposing distance B in the vertical direction at each of the front convex contacts 22a, the contact pressure at each of the rear convex contacts 22b is greater than that at each of the front convex contacts 22a when the male terminal 12 is press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap 15. Therefore, the amount of wear at each of the front convex contacts 22a is smaller than the amount of wear at each of the rear convex contacts 22b, and wear at each of the front convex contacts 22a when the male terminal 12 is press-fitted into the male terminal insertion gap 15 is unlikely to be a problem.

[0078] According to the female terminal 10 of the first embodiment having the above-described structure, before the male terminal 12 is inserted, the protruding tips of the rear convex contacts 22b are positioned vertically inward relative to the front convex contacts 22a in the male terminal insertion gap 15. As a result, in the initial stage of mating between the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12, when the male terminal 12 is inserted to a predetermined position, the male terminal 12 makes contact only with the rear convex contacts 22b and is spaced apart from the front convex contacts 22a, as shown in FIG. 8 above. Repeated insertion and removal of the male terminal 12 from this state primarily wears the rear convex contacts 22b, but wear of the front convex contacts 22a is suppressed. Then, when the rear convex contacts 22b wear to a certain extent, the front convex contacts 22a also begin to contact the male terminal 12, as shown in FIG. 9. That is, wear at each front convex contact 22a occurs mainly after each rear convex contact 22b has worn to a certain extent, and even if wear at each rear convex contact 22b progresses to the point where it becomes difficult to maintain electrical continuity as the male terminal 12 is repeatedly inserted and removed, electrical continuity can be maintained between each front convex contact 22a and the male terminal 12. As a result, the life of the female terminal 10 can be extended, and even when the male terminal 12 is repeatedly inserted and removed from the female terminal 10, electrical continuity between the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10 can be stably maintained for a longer period of time.

[0079] Each contact spring portion 18a, 18b extends in the front-to-rear direction, which is the insertion direction of the male terminal 12, and in each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 constituting each contact spring portion 18a, 18b, the front convex contact 22a and the rear convex contact 22b are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction. This reduces the left-to-right width dimension required to form the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b, and allows multiple convex contacts 22 to be provided even in areas with relatively small widths, such as the first and second tongues 48, 50. As a result, a stable electrical connection can be maintained for a long period of time for both the first and second tongues 48, 50.

[0080] The female terminal body 24 includes a pair of contact spring portions 18a, 18b, and a clip spring 38 is attached to each free end portion 40 of each of these contact spring portions 18a, 18b, so that when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, the clip spring 38 urges the free ends 40 in a direction toward each other. As a result, when the male terminal 12 is inserted, the clip spring 38 presses the rear convex contacts 22b and the front convex contacts 22a against the male terminal 12, thereby achieving a more reliable electrical connection between the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10. Furthermore, repeated insertion and removal of the male terminal 12 with the rear convex contacts 22b pressed against the male terminal 12 in this manner tends to cause wear of the rear convex contacts 22b, which can further enhance the effect of extending the lifespan of the present disclosure.

[0081] The tip extensions 56, which are the other end portions of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, extend parallel to each other across the male terminal insertion gap 15, and the protruding end faces 44 of the free ends 40 are in contact with the connecting plate portion 34 of the clip spring 38. As a result, when the clip spring 38 is attached to the free ends 40 of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, the protruding end faces 44 are brought into contact with the connecting plate portion 34, thereby determining the insertion end position of the clip spring 38. Furthermore, since the vertical separation distance C of each free end 40 (each tip extension portion 56) of each contact spring portion 18a, 18b is larger than the vertical separation distance A of each rear convex contact 22b and the vertical separation distance B of each front convex contact 22a, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, it is possible to prevent the male terminal 12 from coming into contact with each contact spring portion 18a, 18b at parts other than each of these convex contacts 22a, 22b.

[0082] It is preferable that the surface of each of the convex contacts 22a, 22b be provided with surface plating (e.g., silver plating), and in the state shown in Fig. 9, for example, each of the rear convex contacts 22b is in a worn state, that is, the surface plating provided on each of the rear convex contacts 22b is in a state where it has worn away and peeled off, while each of the front convex contacts 22a is in a state where its wear is suppressed, that is, the surface plating provided on each of the front convex contacts 22a is maintained. This makes it possible to stably maintain electrical continuity between the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10 even when only each of the rear convex contacts 22b contacts the male terminal 12 as shown in Fig. 8, or when each of the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b contacts the male terminal 12 as shown in Fig. 9.

[0083] According to the female terminal 10 of the first embodiment, the contact spring portions 18a, 18b of the female terminal body 24 are provided with engaging portions 62, and the clip spring 38 is provided with engaged portions 102, and the engaging portions 62 engage with the engaged portions 102 to prevent the clip spring 38 from falling off. This makes it possible to prevent the clip spring 38 from falling off without providing a separate member for preventing the clip spring from falling off, and avoids an increase in the number of parts.

[0084] Furthermore, each clamping plate portion 36 (each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92) of the clip spring 38 has each of the mounting guide portions 100 and each of the engaged portions 102 corresponding to each of the engaging portions 62. As a result, as described above, each of the first and second tongue portions 48, 50 and each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 elastically deforms in the plate width direction, causing each of the engaging portions 62 to climb over each of the mounting guide portions 100, and each of the engaging portions 62 that have disengaged from each of the mounting guide portions 100 to engage with each of the engaged portions 102, thereby assembling each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b and the clip spring 38.

[0085] In particular, clip-side slits 88 are provided between the first clamping pieces 90 and the second clamping pieces 92 in the opposing direction, and these clip-side slits 88 extend beyond the clamping plate portions 36 to the connecting plate portion 34. As a result, the first clamping pieces 90 and the second clamping pieces 92 are easily elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction, making it easier to disengage the engaging portions 62 from the mounting guide portions 100 and to engage the engaging portions 62 with the engaged portions 102. Therefore, as disclosed herein, by positioning the base end portions 94 of the clip-side slits 88 on the connecting plate portion 34, it is possible to improve the ease of assembling the clip spring 38 to the contact spring portions 18a, 18b. Furthermore, since each first clamping piece 90 and each second clamping piece 92 can be easily elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction, when assembling the clip spring 38 to each contact spring portion 18a, 18b, for example, the clip spring 38 does not need to be pushed forward with a relatively strong force, and buckling deformation of each of the first and second tongue pieces 48, 50 can be prevented.

[0086] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the base end 94 of each clip-side slit 88 extends to the connecting plate portion 34, and therefore the clip spring 38 can be held between the base ends 94 by a jig (not shown). That is, by positioning the base end 94 of each clip-side slit 88 on the connecting plate portion 34 as in the present disclosure, the central portion of the connecting plate portion 34 in the left-right direction can be held, and compared to when work is performed by holding both the left and right ends of the connecting plate portion with a jig, for example, the jig can be prevented from coming into contact with the female terminal 10 (particularly the rear tubular portion 66), which in turn allows for the rear tubular portion 66 to be made smaller.

[0087] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the rear portion of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 has a smaller width dimension than the front portion. This allows the weight of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 to be reduced, and when assembling the clip spring 38 to each of the first and second tongues 48, 50, the rear portions of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 can be easily elastically deformed outward in the opposing direction (left-right direction). This also improves the ease of assembling the clip spring 38 to each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b, and prevents buckling deformation of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50.

[0088] The female terminal body 24 constituting the male terminal mounting portion 16 has a rear opening 70 at the other end (rear end) thereof as a clip spring insertion port, and the clip spring 38 can be inserted into the female terminal body 24 through this rear opening 70 to attach the clip spring 38 to each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b. That is, in the conventional structure, the clip spring must be inserted into the female terminal body from the side and pushed forward, but according to the female terminal 10 of the present disclosure, the clip spring 38 can be attached to each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b by pushing the clip spring 38 forward through the rear clip spring insertion port (rear opening 70). As a result, the ease of assembling the clip spring 38 to each of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b and therefore the manufacturing efficiency of the female terminal 10 can be improved.

[0089] <Modification> Although the first embodiment has been described above as a specific example of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to this specific description. Modifications, improvements, etc., within the scope of achieving the object of the present disclosure, are included in the present disclosure. For example, the following modifications of the embodiment are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0090] (1) In the above embodiment, when the male terminal 12 is repeatedly inserted and removed from the female terminal 10, the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b come into contact with the male terminal 12 as shown in Fig. 9, and then the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b are worn approximately evenly by repeated insertion and removal of the male terminal 12. However, this is not limited to this. That is, as in the female terminal 120 shown in Figs. 10 and 11, after the wear of the rear convex contacts 22b progresses and the front and rear convex contacts 22a, 22b come into contact with the male terminal 12, further repeated insertion and removal of the male terminal 12 may result in only the front convex contacts 22a coming into contact, and the rear convex contacts 22b no longer coming into contact. 10 indicates the state before the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 15, and the two-dot chain line in Fig. 10 indicates the initial stage of mating between the male terminal 12 and the female terminal 10, where the male terminal 12 abuts only against each rear convex contact 22b, and each front convex contact 22a faces the male terminal 12 across a gap 112. The solid line in Fig. 11 indicates the state after repeated insertion and removal of the male terminal 12 from the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 10, where each front convex contact 22a and each rear convex contact 22b abuts against the male terminal 12, and the two-dot chain line in Fig. 11 indicates the state after further repeated insertion and removal of the male terminal 12 from the state indicated by the solid line in Fig. 11, where only each front convex contact 22a abuts against the male terminal 12, and each rear convex contact 22b faces the male terminal 12 across a gap 112.

[0091] (2) In the above embodiment, before the insertion of the male terminal 12, the protruding tip of each rear convex contact 22b is located vertically inward in the male terminal insertion gap 15 compared to the protruding tip of each front convex contact 22a. However, this is not limited to this. That is, the protruding tip of the front convex contact may be located vertically inward in the male terminal insertion gap compared to the protruding tip of the rear convex contact. According to this embodiment, when only the male terminal and the front convex contact abut each other in the initial stage of mating between the male terminal and the female terminal, the male terminal does not come into contact with the rear convex contact, thereby preventing wear of the rear convex contact. Alternatively, even if a structure similar to the above embodiment is adopted, by setting the vertical separation distance B of each front convex contact before insertion to be greater than the thickness dimension D of the male terminal, contact between the male terminal and the front convex contact can be prevented in the initial stage of mating between the male terminal and the female terminal.

[0092] (3) In the above embodiment, the front convex contact 22a and the rear convex contact 22b are provided on each of the first and second tongues 48, 50, but this is not limited to this. Also, in the above embodiment, the pair of contact spring portions 18a, 18b are provided by folding back the curved portion 42 at the front end of each support plate portion 32a, 32b. However, this is not limited to this. That is, in the female terminal according to the present disclosure, only one of the upper and lower support plate portions may be folded back at the front end to provide a single contact spring portion, or a single contact spring portion may be provided with multiple convex contacts whose protruding tip positions are different. Furthermore, the number, positions, shapes, etc. of the convex contacts in the contact spring portion are not limited to these. Three or more convex contacts may be provided on the contact spring portion, or multiple convex contacts may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction, or may have a linear convex stripe shape, for example.

[0093] (4) In the above embodiment, the entire front convex contacts 22a and the entire rear convex contacts 22b were separated from each other in the front-to-rear direction, but it is sufficient if the parts that actually function as contacts are separated from each other. For example, the base parts of each convex contact may overlap each other.

[0094] (5) In the above embodiment, when the clip spring 38 is attached and before the male terminal 12 is inserted, the inner surfaces (vertical inner surfaces) of the bent portions 96 of the clip spring 38 abut against the outer surfaces (vertical outer surfaces) of the contact spring portions 18a, 18b (first and second tongues 48, 50) without contact. However, this is not limited to this. For example, when the clip spring is attached and before the male terminal is inserted, the inner surfaces of the bent portions of the clip spring may have a slight gap with respect to the outer surfaces of the contact spring portions. That is, when a male terminal is not inserted in the male terminal insertion gap, the clip springs attached to the contact spring portions may be displaceable in the opposing direction (vertical direction) of the contact spring portions. In this case, the clip springs are attached to the contact spring portions with a certain amount of play and a certain degree of freedom. This allows the clip spring to displace in accordance with the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted, improving its ability to follow the male terminal. In addition, the provision of the gap reduces insertion resistance, thereby suppressing contact wear and improving the stability of conduction between the male terminal and the female terminal.

[0095] Alternatively, when attaching the clip spring to the contact spring portion, the free ends of each contact spring portion may be inserted by pushing the insertion opening of the clip spring open in the vertical direction, and when attaching the clip spring, the clamping plate portion may apply a biasing force to the free ends of the contact spring portions in a direction that moves them closer to each other. In this case, when attaching the clip spring, the tip extensions of each contact spring portion may extend in a direction that moves closer to each other as they extend rearward. Alternatively, when attaching the clip spring, the tip extensions may gradually widen toward the protruding tip, regardless of whether or not a biasing force is applied by the clip spring.

[0096] (6) In the above embodiment, the engaging portion 62 was provided on each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 of each contact spring portion 18a, 18b. However, for example, the engaging portion may be provided on only one of the upper and lower contact spring portions, or only one of the left and right tongues. Similarly, in the above embodiment, the engaged portion 102 was provided on each of the first and second clamping pieces 90, 92 of each clamping plate portion 36. However, for example, the engaged portion may be provided at a position corresponding to the engaging portion on one of the four clamping pieces of the clip spring. Note that the engaging portion and the engaged portion are not essential to the female terminal according to the present disclosure. If the engaging portion and the engaged portion are not employed, for example, a separate member fixed to the male terminal mounting portion may be used to prevent the clip spring attached to each contact spring portion from falling off.

[0097] Furthermore, the engaging portion and the engaged portion may be provided in the opposite order to that of the above embodiment, with the mounting guide portion and the engaged portion provided on the tongue side and the engaging portion provided on the clamping portion side. In such a case, when assembling the clip spring to each contact spring portion, the tongue portion on which the mounting guide portion and the engaged portion are provided is elastically deformed inward in the left-right direction, and the clamping portion on which the engaging portion is provided is elastically deformed outward in the left-right direction. However, by setting the width dimension of the tongue portion small, contact between the tongue portions can be avoided.

[0098] (7) In the above embodiment, the rear of the recessed portion 106 in the clip spring 38 is open, but this is not limited to this. The rear of the recessed portion may be closed, and the recessed portion may be substantially rectangular when viewed in the thickness direction of the clamping plate portion. This makes it possible to adjust the front-to-rear dimension of the connecting plate portion from the position of the recessed portion, and to change the shape of the clip spring depending on the insertion depth of the male terminal.

[0099] (8) In the above embodiment, the female terminal body 24 is formed by bending a single metal plate and is fixed by crimping at the crimping portion 74, but this is not limited to this. For example, the upper and lower support plate portions may be arranged opposite each other with a gap between them and fixed by welding or bolts. Alternatively, a contact spring portion formed separately from the support plate portion may be fixed to the front end of the support plate portion. In this case, the member to which the contact spring portion is fixed does not need to be plate-shaped and may be, for example, cylindrical.

[0100] (9) In the above embodiment, the spring portion-side slit 46 is provided in the widthwise center of each contact spring portion 18a, 18b, dividing it into two tongues, each first tongue 48 and each second tongue 50, and the clip-side slit 88 is provided in the widthwise center of each clamping plate portion 36, dividing it into two clamping pieces, each first clamping piece 90 and each second clamping piece 92. However, this is not limited to such an embodiment. That is, each contact spring portion may be provided with multiple spring portion-side slits, dividing it into three or more tongues, or each clamping plate may be provided with multiple clip-side slits, dividing it into three or more clamping pieces. Alternatively, the spring portion-side slits and clip-side slits may not be provided, and the contact spring portion and clamping plate may not be divided. In addition, the number of tongue pieces in the upper contact spring portion and the number of tongue pieces in the lower contact spring portion may be different from each other, and the number of clamping pieces in the upper clamping plate portion and the number of clamping pieces in the lower clamping plate portion may be different from each other, but it is preferable that the numbers of tongue pieces and clamping pieces on the upper and lower sides are the same.

[0101] (10) In the above embodiment, the male terminal 12 is a flat tab terminal, but is not limited to this. For example, the male terminal may be a cylindrical pin terminal. In this case, each contact spring portion constituting the male terminal insertion gap may be cylindrical as a whole.

[0102] (11) In the above embodiment, the widthwise dimension of each of the first and second tongues 48, 50 was smaller at the rear end than at the front end, but each tongue may extend with a substantially constant widthwise dimension, for example, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 6. Note that the tongue having a widthwise dimension smaller at the rear end than at the front end, as in the above embodiment, is preferably a tongue provided with an engaging portion, and may be any one of the four tongues of each of the first and second tongues.

[0103] (12) In the above embodiment, the base end 94 of each clip-side slit 88 provided in the clip spring 38 was located on the connecting plate 34 beyond each clamping plate 36, but this is not limited to this, and the base end of the clip-side slit may be located in the middle of the clamping plate in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). Also, in the above embodiment, the clip spring 38 was inserted into the female terminal body 24 from the rear through the rear opening 70, which is the clip spring insertion port, but as in Patent Document 1, the clip spring 38 may be inserted from the side of the female terminal body and then displaced forward to be attached to each contact spring portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 10 Female terminal (embodiment 1) 12 male terminal 14 Terminal Unit 15 Male terminal insertion gap 16 Male terminal mounting part 18 Contact spring part 18a First contact spring part 18b Second contact spring part 20 Opposite Surface 20a First opposing surface 20b Second facing surface 22 Convex contact 22a Front convex contact 22b Rear convex contact 24 Female terminal body 26 Male terminal insertion port 30 Gap 32 Support plate part 32a Upper support plate part 32b Lower support plate part 34 Connecting plate part 36 Holding plate part 38 Clip spring 40 Free end 42 Curved section 44 Projecting end surface 46 Spring side slit 48 First tongue piece 50 Second tongue piece 52 Bend 54a Front recess 54b Rear recess 56 Tip extension 58 (opposing direction of first tongue and second tongue) inner surface 60 (facing direction of first tongue and second tongue) Outer surface 62 Engagement part 64 Outward protrusion 66 Rear cylindrical part 68 Front opening 70 Rear opening 72 Peripheral wall section 74 Crimping part 76 Crimping piece 76a Central crimping piece 76b End crimping piece 78 Rear extension 80 Bolt insertion hole 82 Flat surface 86 Protruding end face 88 Clip side slit 90 1st clamping piece 92 Second clamping piece 94 Proximal end 96 Bent part 98 Receptacle 100 Mounting guide 102 engaged portion 104 Rear end 106 Recessed part 108 1st step surface 110 bottom 112 Gap 120 Female terminal (Fig. 10, 11)

Claims

1. a male terminal mounting portion having a male terminal insertion gap into which the male terminal is inserted; a contact spring portion disposed in the male terminal mounting portion; a plurality of convex contacts spaced apart from one another and projecting from a surface of the contact spring portion facing the male terminal insertion gap; A female terminal, wherein a protruding tip of at least one of the convex contacts is located more inward than the protruding tips of the other convex contacts in the thickness direction of the male terminal insertion gap.

2. 2. The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact spring portion extends in a direction in which the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal mounting portion, and the plurality of convex contacts are arranged side by side in the insertion direction.

3. a male terminal insertion opening provided at one end of the male terminal mounting portion; a pair of contact spring portions connected to the one end side in a cantilevered manner, protruding toward the other end side, and disposed opposite each other across the male terminal insertion gap; 3. The female terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a connecting plate portion; a pair of clamping plate portions protruding in directions approaching each other from both side edge portions of the connecting plate portion; and a clip spring in which the free ends of the pair of contact spring portions are positioned and attached between the pair of clamping plate portions, and which urges the free ends in directions approaching each other when the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap.

4. The female terminal according to claim 3, wherein the other end portions of the pair of contact spring portions extend parallel to each other across the male terminal insertion gap, and the protruding end surfaces of the free ends contact the connecting plate portion of the clip spring.

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