Press-connecting terminal and press-connecting connector

Abstract

To provide a pressure contact terminal and a pressure contact connector capable of reducing insertion force while suppressing enlargement.SOLUTION: The slot portion side S1 includes a slot inner-side portion side S1 constituting an inner side portion of the U-shape and a slot bottom portion side S11 constituting a bottom portion of the U-shape, the slot inner-side portion side S12 has a tapered shape T whose thickness decreases toward an inner side of the U-shape, and the slot bottom portion side S11 has a tapered shape T whose thickness decreases toward an opening direction of the U-shape. S12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a press-connecting terminal and a press-connecting connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, insulated electric wires such as VVF (Vinyl insulated vinyl sheathed flat-type) cables have been connected to insulation displacement terminals with insulation displacement blades. In such insulation displacement terminals, the insulation displacement blades have a slot that is approximately U-shaped in plan view, and the blades are tapered at the inside of the slot except for the slot bottom, and are not tapered at the bottom of the U (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-283685 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional insulation displacement terminals, the insulation displacement blades have a tapered shape on the inside of the slot but not on the bottom of the slot. Therefore, when an insulated wire is inserted into the slot, the blades bite into the insulator at the inside of the slot, tearing it, but the insulation at the bottom of the slot remains unbroken. As a result, the insulated wire does not fit all the way into the slot. For this reason, the insulation displacement blades must be enlarged in height to accommodate the conductor, resulting in larger insulation displacement terminals and connectors. Furthermore, because the bottom of the slot does not contact the conductor, the insulation displacement blades must ensure contact area with the conductor only at the inside of the slot. This narrows the slot to increase the amount of penetration of the slot into the conductor, resulting in higher insertion force.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to provide an insulation displacement terminal and insulation displacement connector that can reduce insertion force while preventing the terminal from becoming too large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The crimp terminal of the present invention is a crimp terminal comprising a crimp blade that is formed in a plate shape and has a slot portion that is U-shaped when viewed in a plane, and an electrical connection portion that is connected to a mating terminal, wherein the slot portion has a slot inner portion that forms the inside of the U-shape and a slot bottom portion that forms the bottom of the U-shape, and the slot inner portion has a tapered shape that becomes thinner toward the inside of the U-shape, and the slot bottom portion has a tapered shape that becomes thinner toward the opening direction of the U-shape.

[0007] The crimping connector of the present invention comprises the above-mentioned crimping terminal and a housing that accommodates the crimping terminal, and the housing has a butt portion that protrudes from the bottom side of the slot toward the open side of the slot adjacent to the crimping blade when the crimping terminal is accommodated therein. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the insertion force while suppressing an increase in size. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the insulation displacement connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of the insulation displacement connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a plan view of the pressure blade shown in FIG. 2 as seen from the tip end side. [Figure 4] This is an image of when an insulated wire is pressed into the pressure blade. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the insulation displacement connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention will be described below in accordance with preferred embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, in the embodiments shown below, some components are omitted from illustration and description, but it goes without saying that publicly known or well-known technologies are applied as appropriate to the details of the omitted technologies within the scope of the content described below.

[0011] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a crimping connector according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of the crimping connector shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the crimping connector 1 can electrically connect the crimping terminal 40 to the insulated electric wire W by pushing the crimping terminal 40 against the blade portion of the crimping terminal 40 without stripping the insulation from the insulated electric wire W. The crimping connector 1 includes a housing 10 and the crimping terminal 40.

[0012] The housing 10 comprises a case portion 20 and a lid portion 30. The case portion 20 accommodates the insulation displacement terminals 40 and the insulated electric wires W that are pressed into the insulation displacement terminals 40 and electrically connected thereto. The case portion 20 comprises an electric wire accommodation portion 21 that mainly accommodates the insulated electric wires W, and a mating portion 22 that is mated with a mating connector. Next, prior to describing the details of the housing 10, the details of the insulation displacement terminals 40 will be described.

[0013] 2, the insulation displacement terminal 40 is made by punching and bending a single metal plate. The insulation displacement terminal 40 includes a tab (electrical connection portion) 41, a plurality of insulation displacement blades 42, and a strain relief portion 43.

[0014] The tab 41 is electrically connected to a mating terminal. Although the insulation displacement terminal 40 is illustrated as a male terminal in Fig. 2, it is not limited to a male terminal and may be a female terminal. In other words, the insulation displacement terminal 40 may have a receiving portion for the tab 41 instead of the tab 41.

[0015] The plurality of insulation displacement blades 42 are located on the base side of the tab 41 and are electrically connected to the insulated electric wire W. While two insulation displacement blades 42 are provided in this embodiment, the number may be one or three or more. Each of the two insulation displacement blades 42 is formed in a plate shape and is connected by a side wall 42a. Each of the insulation displacement blades 42 has a U-shaped slot S1 in the center when viewed from above. This slot S1 has a tapered blade portion, as shown in detail in FIG. 3 (described later). Therefore, when the insulated electric wire W is pressed into the slot S1, the insulation is cut through and the insulation displacement blades 42 reach the conductor of the insulated electric wire W. This establishes electrical continuity between the insulated electric wire W and the insulation displacement terminal 40.

[0016] The strain relief portion 43 is located on the opposite side of the press-connecting blades 42 from the tabs 41, and is integrated with the press-connecting blades 42 via elongated connecting portions 43a. The strain relief portion 43 has the same configuration as the press-connecting blades 42. That is, the strain relief portion 43 is formed in a plate shape, and has a second slot portion S2 that is U-shaped in the center when viewed from above.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a plan view from the tip side of the insulation displacement blade 42 shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an image diagram of an insulated electric wire W being pressed into the insulation displacement blade 42. As shown in Fig. 3, the slot portion S1 of the insulation displacement blade 42 has a slot inner portion S11 that forms the inside of the U-shape, and a slot bottom portion S12 that forms the bottom of the U-shape.

[0018] The slot inner portion S11 has an enlarged portion S13 that expands on both sides at the open side of the slot portion S1. This slot inner portion S11 has a tapered shape T in which the thickness of two opposing inner portions decreases toward the inside of the U. Therefore, when the insulated wire W is pushed into the slot portion S1, the slot inner portion S11 cuts through the insulator W1, causing the slot inner portion S11 to come into contact with the conductor W2, as shown in FIG.

[0019] 3, the slot bottom S12 is a semicircular portion in a plan view, and has a tapered shape T that becomes thinner toward the open side of the U. Therefore, even after the insulated wire W is pushed into the slot S1 and comes into contact with the slot bottom S12, further pushing causes the insulator W1 (see FIG. 4) to be torn, and the slot bottom S12 and the conductor W2 (see FIG. 4) to come into contact with each other.

[0020] In particular, in the present embodiment, the insulation displacement terminal 40 also has a tapered shape T at the slot bottom S12. If the slot bottom S12 did not have a tapered shape T, the insulated wire W would not be inserted deeper than the dashed line position shown in FIG. 3 . This would result in the insulation displacement terminal 40 and the insulation displacement connector 1 becoming larger due to the insulator W1 remaining between the slot bottom S12 and the conductor W2. Furthermore, because the slot bottom S12 does not contact the conductor W2, the slot S1 must be narrowed to increase the depth at which the slot inner portion S11 penetrates the conductor W2, resulting in a higher insertion force. However, in the insulation displacement terminal 40 according to the present embodiment, the slot bottom S12 also has a tapered shape T, allowing the insulated wire W to be inserted deeper than the dashed line position shown in FIG. 3 . This reduces the insertion force while preventing the terminal from becoming larger.

[0021] The strain relief portion 43 also has a second slot portion S2. The second slot portion S2 may have a tapered shape only on the inner side of the slot, or may not have a tapered shape. Furthermore, the second slot portion S2 may have a tapered shape on both the inner side and the bottom of the slot, similar to the slot portion S1.

[0022] Figure 5 is a VV cross-sectional view of the insulation displacement connector 1 shown in Figure 1. The insulation displacement terminal 40 is attached to the housing 10 so that the open side of the case portion 20 (hereinafter referred to as the case open side) coincides with the open side of the slot portion S1 (see Figures 2 and 3). For example, the case portion 20 has a press-fit portion 23 (see Figure 1) into which the strain relief portion 43 is press-fit. The insulation displacement terminal 40 is attached to the case portion 20 by press-fitting the strain relief portion 43 into the press-fit portion 23 from the case open side. Note that the insulation displacement terminal 40 may also be attached to the case portion 20 at another location not shown.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 5, the case 20 has a butt portion 24 adjacent to the insulation displacement blade 42 when the insulation displacement terminal 40 is housed therein. The butt portion 24 is a rib that protrudes from the slot bottom S12 (see FIG. 3), which is the bottom surface 20a of the case 20, toward the open side of the slot. The butt portion 24 protrudes by an appropriate length to prevent the insulated wire W from being excessively pushed into the slot S1 (see FIG. 3). In the insulation displacement blade 42 according to this embodiment, the slot bottom S12 (see FIG. 3) has a tapered shape T (see FIG. 3). Therefore, if the insulated wire W is excessively pushed into the slot S1, much of the conductor W2 (see FIG. 4) will be cut, increasing the possibility that the conductor W2 will be cut when an external force is applied to the insulated wire W. However, since the case portion 20 is provided with the abutment portion 24, excessive pushing of the insulated wire W into the slot portion S1 is prevented, making it easier to ensure an appropriate electrical continuity.

[0024] 5, the abutment portion 24 is adjacent to the insulation displacement blade 42 at a position opposite the tab 41 that sandwiches the insulation displacement blade 42. However, the abutment portion 24 is not limited to this, and may be located between the two insulation displacement blades 42, or may be located closer to the tab 41 than the two insulation displacement blades 42.

[0025] Furthermore, the case portion 20 is provided with a second abutment portion 25. The second abutment portion 25 is a rib formed at a position adjacent to the strain relief portion 43 when the case portion 20 houses the insulation displacement terminal 40. Similar to the abutment portion 24, the second abutment portion 25 also protrudes from the slot bottom S12 side, which is the bottom surface portion 20a of the case portion 20, toward the slot open side.

[0026] 1, the case 20 has two openings 26 and one notch 27 in each side wall 20b. The lid 30 has a top plate 31 and a side wall 32.

[0027] The top plate 31 covers the electric wire storage section 21 of the case section 20 from the open side of the case. Each side wall 32 is a plate formed perpendicular to the top plate 31, and has two protruding pieces 33 that fit into the opening 26 of the case section 20. Each protruding piece 33 has an inclined structure that becomes thinner toward the case section 20 side, making it easy to assemble to the case section 20.

[0028] Furthermore, the cover part 30 has a lock arm 34, an electric wire holder part 35, and a piece part 36. The lock arm 34 is an arm member provided at a position closer to the fitting part 22 than the side wall 32. This lock arm 34 fits into the notch part 27 of the case part 20. This lock arm 34 has an inclined structure on the tip side similar to the protruding piece 33, and is fitted into the notch part 27 by utilizing its flexure, and is assembled to the case part 20.

[0029] The wire holder portion 35 is a holding member for each insulated wire W to prevent the insulated wire W from shifting sideways. The slot inner portion S11 of the insulation displacement blade 42 (see FIG. 3) has a tapered shape T. This could cause the insulated wire W to shift sideways, resulting in the slot inner portion S11 cutting the conductor W2 to an unexpected depth. However, the insulation displacement connector 1 according to this embodiment includes the wire holder portion 35, which reduces the possibility of the insulated wire W being severed due to lateral shifting. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, the wire holder portion 35 is positioned opposite the second abutment portion 25 when the cover portion 30 is assembled to the case portion 20. Therefore, the insulated wire W is pressed toward the cover portion 30 by the second abutment portion 25 and firmly held therein, while the wire holder portion 35 prevents the insulated wire W from shifting sideways.

[0030] The piece 36 is a protruding part that presses the insulated wire W from the open side of the case when the cover 30 is attached to the case 20. The piece 36 is configured to press the insulated wire W at the base end of the insulation displacement connector 1, thereby preventing external force from being applied to the insulation displacement blades 42 and the like.

[0031] Next, a method of using the insulation displacement terminal 40 and insulation displacement connector 1 according to this embodiment will be described. First, the case portion 20 of the insulation displacement connector 1 is prepared, and the insulation displacement terminal 40 is assembled to this case portion 20. In this embodiment, the insulation displacement terminal 40 is fixedly assembled to the case portion 20 by press-fitting the strain relief portion 43 into the press-fit portion 23. Note that it is preferable that the insulation displacement terminal 40 is fixed to the case portion 20 not only by press-fitting into the press-fit portion 23, but also at other locations.

[0032] After the insulation displacement terminal 40 is assembled, the insulated wire W is pushed into the slot portion S1 of the insulation displacement blade 42. At this time, the insulator W1 of the insulated wire W is first cut by the slot inner portion S11, which has a tapered shape T, and the conductor W2 and the slot inner portion S11 are brought into electrical continuity.

[0033] Furthermore, when the insulated wire W is pushed further into the slot S1 from this state, the insulated wire W reaches the slot bottom S12. In this embodiment, the slot bottom S12 of the insulation displacement terminal 40 also has a tapered shape T. Therefore, the insulator W1 of the insulated wire W is also cut at the slot bottom S12, and electrical continuity is established between the slot bottom S12 and the conductor W2.

[0034] Here, the case portion 20 has a butting portion 24 adjacent to the insulation displacement blade 42. Therefore, the insulated wire W is pushed into the slot portion S1 to an appropriate depth, and the insulated wire W is prevented from being pushed in excessively.

[0035] Additionally, the insulation displacement terminal 40 includes a strain relief portion 43. This strain relief portion 43 has a second slot portion S2, and the insulated wire W is also pushed into the second slot portion S2 of the strain relief portion 43. Here, the strain relief portion 43 is adjacent to the second abutment portion 25 when attached to the case portion 20. Therefore, the second abutment portion 25 prevents the insulated wire W from being pushed excessively into the strain relief portion 43. In particular, if the second slot portion S2 has a tapered shape, the conductor W2 is prevented from being excessively torn in the second slot portion S2.

[0036] Thereafter, the lid portion 30 is assembled to the case portion 20. At this time, the protruding piece 33 and the locking arm 34 fit into the opening 26 and the notch 27 of the case portion 20, thereby assembling the lid portion 30 to the case portion 20. In this assembled state, the wire holder portion 35 is positioned opposite the second abutment portion 25. Therefore, the second abutment portion 25 and the wire holder portion 35 firmly hold the insulated wire W at a position adjacent to the strain relief portion 43. Therefore, the second abutment portion 25, the wire holder portion 35, and the strain relief portion 43 together can further reduce the possibility of the conductor being cut by an external force.

[0037] In this way, with the insulation displacement terminal 40 according to this embodiment, because the slot bottom S12 has a tapered shape T, when the insulated wire W is inserted into the slot S1, the slot bottom S12 also bites into the insulator W1. This reduces the amount of insulator remaining. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the height of the slot S1 or narrow the slot S1, and it is possible to provide an insulation displacement terminal 40 that can reduce insertion force while preventing an increase in size.

[0038] The connector further includes a strain relief portion 43 having a second slot portion S2 for strain relief at a position opposite the tab 41 across the insulation displacement blade 42. Therefore, even if, for example, the insulated wire W is excessively pressed into the slot portion S1 and the slot bottom portion S12 bites too hard into the conductor W2, making the wire vulnerable to external forces, the second slot portion S2 provides strain relief, reducing the possibility of the conductor being cut.

[0039] Furthermore, the insulation displacement connector 1 according to this embodiment has abutment portions 24 that protrude from the slot bottom S12 side toward the slot opening side adjacent to the insulation displacement blades 42. This makes it possible to prevent the insulated wire W from being excessively pushed in by the abutment portions 24. This reduces the possibility of excessive pushing in itself.

[0040] Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and other techniques may be appropriately combined to the extent possible. Furthermore, publicly known or well-known techniques may be combined to the extent possible.

[0041] For example, although the example shows a crimping connector 1 that accommodates three insulated wires W, the number of wires is not limited to three. Furthermore, the number of crimping blades 42 and the number of components such as strain relief portions 43 are not limited to those described above.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the entire slot portion S1 of the pressure-contact blade 42 has a tapered shape T, but for example, between the slot inner portion S11 and the slot bottom portion S12, there may be a recess that is hollowed outward, and this recess may not have a tapered shape T. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1: Crimp connector 10: Housing 24: Abutment part 40: Crimp terminal 41: Tab (electrical connection part) 42: Pressure blade 43: Strain relief part S1: Slot section S11: Inner part of the slot S12: Bottom of slot S2: Second slot section T: Tapered shape

Claims

1. An insulation displacement terminal including an insulation displacement blade having a plate-like slot portion that is U-shaped in plan view, and an electrical connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal, The slot portion has a slot inner portion that forms the inner portion of the U-shape and a slot bottom portion that forms the bottom portion of the U-shape, The inner portion of the slot has a tapered shape that becomes thinner toward the inside of the U-shape, The bottom of the slot has a tapered shape that becomes thinner toward the opening of the U-shape. A pressure-displacement terminal characterized by:

2. The connector further includes a strain relief portion having a second slot portion for strain relief at a position opposite the electrical connection portion across the pressure contact blade.

2. The insulation displacement terminal according to claim 1.

3. The insulation displacement terminal according to claim 1; a housing for accommodating the insulation displacement terminal, The housing has abutment portions that protrude from the bottom of the slot toward the open side of the slot adjacent to the pressure contact blades when the pressure contact terminal is accommodated therein.

1. A pressure-displacement connector comprising:

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