Protective cap and protective cap with terminals

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective cap and a protective cap with terminals that can stably maintain a state of covering the terminals. [Solution] The protective cap 10 is made of an elastic material that covers the terminal 80 and comprises a cylindrical portion 12 having a wire extension outlet 31 and a main body portion 11 having a terminal insertion opening 13. The main body portion 11 has a pressure receiving portion 24 positioned away from the terminal insertion opening 13, a reinforcing portion 25 extending from the pressure receiving portion 24 toward the terminal insertion opening 13, a terminal locking portion 27 protruding from the opening edge of the terminal insertion opening 13 to narrow the opening width of the terminal insertion opening 13, and an easily deformable portion 28 positioned on the side connected to the cylindrical portion 12 and adjacent to the reinforcing portion 25.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a protective cap and a protective cap with terminals.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a rubber cap that covers a terminal. The cap includes a vertical cylindrical portion and a hemispherical shell portion that is connected continuously while intersecting the vertical cylindrical portion. The vertical cylindrical portion covers the wire connection portion of the terminal. The hemispherical shell portion covers the electrical connection portion of the terminal. A locking protrusion for inserting and locking the tip of the electrical connection portion is formed on the hemispherical shell portion (see FIG. 8). The locking of the locking protrusion to the electrical connection portion prevents the cap from being displaced with respect to the terminal. A cap that covers a terminal is also described in Patent Document 2.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, when locking the locking protrusion to the electrical connection portion, since the hemispherical shell portion elastically deform, there is a concern that the locking operation is difficult. On the other hand, for example, if the internal space of the hemispherical shell portion is filled solidly and the structure is made to increase the rigidity of the hemispherical shell portion, it becomes easier to perform the operation of locking the locking protrusion to the electrical connection portion. However, when the rigidity of the hemispherical shell portion increases, when the wire extending from the electrical connection portion vibrates, the vibration force is likely to be transmitted to the locking portion of the locking protrusion with respect to the electrical connection portion. Here, if a large vibration force is applied to the locking portion of the locking protrusion, the locking of the locking protrusion with respect to the electrical connection portion may be disengaged, and as a result, the stability of the state where the cap covers the terminal may deteriorate.

[0005] Therefore, the object of this disclosure is to provide a protective cap and a protective cap with terminals that can stably maintain a state of covering the terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The protective cap of this disclosure is a protective cap made of an elastic material that covers a terminal, comprising a cylindrical portion having a wire extension outlet and a main body portion having a terminal insertion opening, wherein the main body portion has a pressure receiving portion disposed away from the terminal insertion opening, a reinforcing portion extending from the pressure receiving portion toward the terminal insertion opening, a terminal locking portion protruding from the opening edge of the terminal insertion opening so as to narrow the opening width of the terminal insertion opening, and an easily deformable portion disposed on the side connected to the cylindrical portion and adjacent to the reinforcing portion.

[0007] The protective cap with a terminal according to the present disclosure is a protective cap with a terminal comprising the protective cap and the terminal, wherein the terminal comprises a wire connection portion connected to an electric wire, a terminal body portion connected to the wire connection portion, and a separate fixing member for fixing the terminal body portion, the wire connection portion is covered by the cylindrical portion, the terminal body portion is positioned inside the body portion from the terminal insertion opening, the body portion has a surrounding portion that surrounds the fixing member, and the reinforcing portion is positioned between the surrounding portion and the cylindrical portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a protective cap and a protective cap with terminals that can stably maintain a state of covering the terminals. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protective cap of Embodiment 1, seen from above. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protective cap of Embodiment 1, seen from below. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side view of the protective cap of Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a bottom view of the protective cap of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the protective cap with terminals according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the protective cap with terminals according to Embodiment 1, taken along line AA in Figure 5. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a bottom view of the protective cap with terminals according to Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The protective cap in this disclosure is (1) A protective cap made of an elastic material that covers a terminal, comprising a cylindrical portion having a wire extension outlet and a main body portion having a terminal insertion opening, wherein the main body portion has a pressure receiving portion disposed away from the terminal insertion opening, a reinforcing portion extending from the pressure receiving portion toward the terminal insertion opening, a terminal locking portion protruding from the opening edge of the terminal insertion opening so as to narrow the opening width of the terminal insertion opening, and a deformable portion disposed on the side connected to the cylindrical portion and adjacent to the reinforcing portion.

[0011] According to the configuration described in (1) above, by pressing the pressure-receiving part with a finger or the like, the terminal can be inserted through the terminal insertion opening of the main body and the terminal locking part can be locked onto the terminal. Since a reinforcing part is placed between the pressure-receiving part and the terminal locking part, the pressing force applied to the pressure-receiving part is more easily transmitted to the terminal locking part via the reinforcing part, making it possible to smoothly lock the terminal locking part onto the terminal. In addition, the reinforcing part ensures the stability of the locking of the terminal locking part to the terminal. Furthermore, even if the electric wires extending from the cylindrical section vibrate and the cylindrical section tilts, the easily deformable section deforms, suppressing the transmission of the vibrational force of the electric wires (tilting force of the cylindrical section) to the terminal locking section, thereby stably maintaining the state in which the terminal locking section locks the terminal. The easily deformable section is a part of the main body that is made more easily deformable than the surrounding parts of the easily deformable section.

[0012] (2) The protective cap described in (1) above, wherein the main body portion preferably has a plurality of cavities between the reinforcing portions. According to the configuration described in (2) above, the elastic force (rigidity) between the pressure-receiving part and the terminal locking part in the main body can be adjusted by each cavity.

[0013] (3) The protective cap described in (2) above, wherein the plurality of cavities extend in the direction of extension of the reinforcing portion and open to a surface facing the terminal insertion opening. According to the configuration described in (3) above, the elastic force (rigidity) can be adjusted more appropriately, and when the pressure-receiving part is pressed with a finger or the like, that pressing force can be directly transmitted to the terminal locking part via the reinforcing part.

[0014] (4) A protective cap according to any of (1) to (3) above, wherein the easily deformable portion is recessed in the direction of extension from the pressure-receiving portion to the reinforcing portion and has a slit that extends along the boundary direction between the cylindrical portion and the main body portion. According to the configuration described in (4) above, the degree and manner of deformation of the easily deformable portion can be adjusted by changing the length and depth of the slits in the easily deformable portion.

[0015] (5) A protective cap with a terminal, comprising a protective cap as described in any of (1) to (4) above and the terminal, wherein the terminal comprises a wire connection portion connected to an electric wire, a terminal body portion connected to the wire connection portion, and a separate fixing member for fixing the terminal body portion, the wire connection portion being covered by the cylindrical portion, the terminal body portion being positioned inside the body portion from the terminal insertion opening, the body portion having a surrounding portion surrounding the fixing member, and the reinforcing portion being positioned between the surrounding portion and the cylindrical portion. According to the configuration of (5) above, even if an electric wire or the like extending from the cylindrical portion vibrates, the easily deformable portion deforms, so that it is possible to suppress the transmission of the vibration force to the surrounding portion, and the state in which the surrounding portion surrounds the fixing member can be stably maintained.

[0016] (6) The protective cap according to (5) above, wherein the cylindrical portion extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the surrounding portion and the reinforcing portion are arranged side by side, and the easily deformable portion is preferably arranged adjacent to a bent portion which is a boundary between the cylindrical portion and the main body portion. According to the configuration of (6) above, even if an electric wire or the like extending from the cylindrical portion vibrates and the cylindrical portion tilts with the bent portion as a fulcrum, the easily deformable portion adjacent to the bent portion can make it difficult for the vibration force to be transmitted by the terminal locking portion or the surrounding portion.

[0017] (7) The protective cap according to (5) or (6) above, wherein the inner surface of the surrounding portion preferably has a peripheral surface portion that adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, an inner end surface portion that adheres to the end surface of the fixing member, and a concave surface portion that is recessed in a direction away from the end surface of the fixing member on the outer periphery of the inner end surface portion. According to the configuration of (7) above, the surrounding portion is held by the fixing member because the peripheral surface portion and the inner end surface portion adhere to the fixing member. If, when covering the fixing member with the surrounding portion, the peripheral surface portion contacts the corner between the outer peripheral surface and the end surface of the fixing member and the surrounding portion opens and deforms on the fixing member, there is a concern that the state in which the peripheral surface portion adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member cannot be correctly formed. However, according to the configuration of (7) above, since the concave surface portion exists on the outer periphery of the inner end surface portion, the concave surface portion is positioned on the corner of the fixing member, so that it is possible to avoid the peripheral surface portion from contacting the corner of the fixing member. As a result, a state in which the peripheral surface portion adheres well to the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member can be formed.

[0018] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0019] <Embodiment 1> The protective cap 10 of Embodiment 1 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. As shown in Figure 5, the protective cap 10 covers the terminal 80 to provide waterproofing, dustproofing, and protection against electric shock. The terminal 80 is fixed to equipment such as a battery (not shown). For convenience, in the following description, the surface to which the terminal 80 is fixed to the equipment will be referred to as the top surface, and in Figures 1 and 5, upward, right, and forward will be indicated by the symbols X, Y, and Z, respectively. The references to these directions do not necessarily coincide with the references to directions when the protective cap 10 and terminal 80 are mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown).

[0020] (Terminal 80) As shown in Figure 5, the terminal 80 comprises a terminal body portion 81 and a wire connection portion 82 made of a conductive metal plate. As shown in Figure 7, the terminal body portion 81 is flat, with its surface facing vertically and extending in the front-to-back direction. A circular through-hole 83 is formed at the front end of the terminal body portion 81. As shown in Figure 5, the shaft portion 85 of a bolt 84 is inserted through the through-hole 83. The bolt 84 is an example of a fixing member, and in this embodiment 1, it is configured as a hexagonal bolt. The terminal body portion 81 is fixed to the equipment by screwing the shaft portion 85 of the bolt 84 into the equipment. The head portion 86 of the bolt 84 is pressed directly or indirectly via a washer against the opening edge of the through-hole 83 on the upper surface of the terminal body portion 81. In this embodiment 1, the bolt 84, together with the terminal body portion 81 and the wire connection portion 82, constitutes the terminal 80.

[0021] The wire connection portion 82 is bent in a curved shape from the rear end of the terminal body portion 81 and is positioned to extend upward from the terminal body portion 81. The terminal body portion 81 and the wire connection portion 82 form an L shape when viewed from the side. The wire connection portion 82 is connected to the end of the wire 60 by crimping. For example, the wire connection portion 82 consists of a wire barrel portion 87 that is connected to the conductor 62 exposed from the insulating coating 61 at the end of the wire 60, and an insulation barrel portion 88 that is connected to the insulating coating 61 at the end of the wire 60.

[0022] (Protective cap 10) As shown in Figures 1-3, the protective cap 10 comprises a main body portion 11 and a cylindrical portion 12. The main body portion 11 extends in the front-to-back direction as a whole. The cylindrical portion 12 extends in the up-to-down direction as a whole. The protective cap 10 has an L-shape in side view due to the main body portion 11 and the cylindrical portion 12. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, a terminal insertion opening 13 is opened on the lower surface of the protective cap 10. As shown in Figure 5, the terminal 80 is inserted into the interior of the protective cap 10 through the terminal insertion opening 13. The terminal main body portion 81 is housed inside the main body portion 11. The wire connection portion 82 is housed inside the cylindrical portion 12 except for its lower end. The lower end of the wire connection portion 82 is housed inside the lower end cylindrical portion 23 of the main body portion 11, which will be described later.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the upper wall portion 14 of the main body portion 11 is arranged flat along the front-rear and left-right directions. The peripheral wall portion 15 of the main body portion 11 (including the front wall portion, rear wall portion, and left and right side wall portions) extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper wall portion 14. As shown in Figure 2, the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 15 forms the opening edge of the terminal insertion opening 13. The opening edges of the terminal insertion opening 13 are connected at the same height.

[0024] A surrounding portion 16 is formed at the front end of the main body portion 11. As shown in Figure 5, the head 86 of the bolt 84 is positioned inside the surrounding portion 16. The peripheral wall portion 15 of the surrounding portion 16 is curved in an arc shape, except for the left side portion. As shown in Figure 2, the left side portion of the surrounding portion 16 is an open portion 17 that opens to the left. The terminal insertion opening 13 is cut out by the open portion 17.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the surrounding portion 16 has a cylindrical portion 18 radially inward from the circumferential wall portion 15. The cylindrical portion 18 protrudes downward from the upper wall portion 14 of the surrounding portion 16. As shown in Figure 5, the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 18 is positioned above the terminal insertion opening 13. The inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 18 is a circumferential surface portion 19 that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the head 86 of the bolt 84. The inner back surface of the cylindrical portion 18 (the surface facing downward at the upper end) is an inner end surface portion 21 that is in close contact with the upper end surface of the head 86 of the bolt 84. As shown in Figure 4, the circumferential surface portion 19 has a circular flat cross-sectional shape. The inner end surface portion 21 is arranged flat along the front-rear and left-right directions. The inner end surface portion 21 has a circular flat cross-sectional shape, is concentric with the circumferential surface portion 19, and is formed with a smaller diameter than the circumferential surface portion 19.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cylindrical portion 18 has a concave portion 22 between the inner end surface portion 21 and the circumferential surface portion 19. The concave portion 22 is annular in shape when viewed from the bottom and is recessed into the inner surface of the upper wall portion 14 of the surrounding portion 16. The concave portion 22 is positioned above the upper end surface of the head 86 of the bolt 84 and does not come into contact with the head 86.

[0027] A lower end cylindrical portion 23 is formed at the rear end of the main body portion 11. The peripheral wall portion 15 of the lower end cylindrical portion 23 is curved in an arc shape. As shown in Figures 1-3, the lower end cylindrical portion 23 is continuous with the cylindrical portion 12 in the vertical direction without any steps.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the upper wall portion 14 of the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the main body 11 (the portion between the surrounding portion 16 and the lower end cylindrical portion 23) is configured as a pressure-receiving portion 24 that can be pressed from above with a finger or the like. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the main body 11 has a reinforcing portion 25 that extends downward from the pressure-receiving portion 24 toward the terminal insertion opening 13. The internal space of the front-to-rear intermediate portion of the main body 11 is solidly filled by the reinforcing portion 25, except for the cavity portion 26 which will be described later. The lower end surface of the reinforcing portion 25 is positioned above the terminal insertion opening 13 and below the lower end surface of the cylindrical portion 18. The lower end surfaces of the reinforcing portion 25 are continuous at the same height and contact the upper surface of the terminal main body 81. The main body 11 has a plurality of cavities 26 between the reinforcing portions 25. Each cavity portion 26 extends downward from the pressure-receiving portion 24. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, each cavity 26 has an opening shape such as an oval, which is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-back direction when viewed from the bottom, and is arranged in the front-back and left-right directions. The reinforcing part 25 exhibits a grid shape when viewed from the bottom due to each cavity 26.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, a pair of terminal locking portions 27 are formed in the front-to-rear middle portion of the main body 11, protruding inward to the left and right from the opening edge of the terminal insertion opening 13. The left-to-right opening width of the terminal insertion opening 13 is narrowed by each terminal locking portion 27. Each terminal locking portion 27 is positioned below the lower end surface of the reinforcing portion 25 and faces the lower end surface of the reinforcing portion 25 with a gap between them. In this embodiment 1, each terminal locking portion 27 has a rectangular plate shape that is longer in the front-to-back direction than in the left-to-right direction. As shown in Figure 6, the upper surface of the terminal locking portion 27 is arranged flat along the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. The lower surface of the terminal locking portion 27 is inclined upward as it goes inward to the left and right. Each terminal locking portion 27 is hooked onto the left and right side edges of the lower surface of the terminal main body 81.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 5, the main body 11 has a deformable portion 28 between the reinforcing portion 25 and the lower end cylindrical portion 23 in the front-rear direction. The deformable portion 28 is positioned adjacent to the reinforcing portion 25 in the main body 11, closer to the cylindrical portion 12. In this embodiment 1, the deformable portion 28 is recessed and bulges downward at the rear end of the upper wall portion 14. As shown in Figure 5, the deformable portion 28 has the same thickness as the cylindrical portion 12 and has a portion that connects in a J-shape in side cross-section view. The lower end of the J-shape of the deformable portion 28 is integrally connected to the rear end of the reinforcing portion 25. The inner space of the deformable portion 28 is a U-shaped recessed space in side cross-section view that is recessed from the pressure-receiving portion 24, and as shown in Figure 1, it is a slit 29 that extends long in the left-right direction when viewed from above. The slit 29 opens into the peripheral wall portion 15 of the main body 11 and is open to the left and right outer sides.

[0031] The cylindrical portion 12 is cylindrical in shape, rising from the lower cylindrical portion 23. A wire extension outlet 31 is open at the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 12. The electric wire 60 connected to the electric wire connection portion 82 is led out upward through the wire extension outlet 31. As shown in Figure 5, the wire extension outlet 31 is coaxially connected to the rear end of the terminal insertion opening 13 through the internal space of the cylindrical portion 12 and the lower cylindrical portion 23. As shown in Figure 1, the lower end of the front surface of the cylindrical portion 12 is a bent portion 32 that intersects with the rear end of the upper wall portion 14 of the main body portion 11. The bent portion 32 has an arc shape along the front surface of the cylindrical portion 12.

[0032] (action) When assembling the protective cap 10 to the terminal 80, the protective cap 10 is placed over the terminal 80 from above. At this time, the upper wall portion 14, including the pressure receiving portion 24, is pressed downward by the worker's fingers or the like. When the pressing force on the pressure receiving portion 24 is transmitted to the terminal locking portion 27 via the reinforcing portion 25, each terminal locking portion 27 elastically deforms to open outwards to the left and right and rides up onto the left and right side edges of the terminal body portion 81. When the pressure receiving portion 24 is pressed further, each terminal locking portion 27 elastically returns to its original position, and as shown in Figure 6, the upper surface of each terminal locking portion 27 faces the lower surface of the left and right side edges of the terminal body portion 81 so as to be able to lock into place. At the same time, the lower end surface of the reinforcing portion 25 comes into contact with the upper surface of the terminal body portion 81. The terminal body portion 81 is sandwiched between each terminal locking portion 27 and the reinforcing portion 25 in the vertical direction (in the thickness direction of the terminal body portion 81), and the protective cap 10 is held in a state in which it is prevented from coming off relative to the terminal body portion 81.

[0033] Furthermore, during the assembly process of the protective cap 10, before each terminal locking portion 27 contacts the left and right side edges of the terminal body portion 81, the surrounding portion 16 is placed over the head 86 of the bolt 84 from above. As shown in Figure 5, the concave portion 22 is located on the corner 89 between the upper end surface and the outer circumferential surface of the head 86 of the bolt 84, so that the circumferential portion 19 does not come into contact with the corner 89 of the head 86 from above. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the surrounding portion 16 from coming into contact with the corner 89 and opening up and deforming. When the assembly of the protective cap 10 is completed in this way, the circumferential portion 19 comes into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the head 86 of the bolt 84, and the inner end surface portion 21 comes into close contact with the upper end surface of the head 86. The concave portion 22 is positioned away from the upper end surface of the head 86 and does not come into contact with the head 86.

[0034] Furthermore, once the protective cap 10 is assembled, the wire barrel portion 87 and insulation barrel portion 88 of the wire connection portion 82 are positioned inside the cylindrical portion 12, and the portion of the wire connection portion 82 below the wire barrel portion 87 is positioned inside the lower end cylindrical portion 23. The wire connection portion 82 is positioned away from the inner circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical portion 12 and the lower end cylindrical portion 23, respectively.

[0035] If the electric wire 60 connected to the electric wire connection part 82 vibrates and comes into contact with the opening edge of the electric wire extension outlet 31, the cylindrical part 12 will tilt with the bent part 32 as a fulcrum, and there is a concern that the tilting of the cylindrical part 12 (vibrational force of the electric wire 60) will also affect the main body part 11. However, in this embodiment 1, since the easily deformable part 28 is formed at a position on the main body part 11 closer to the cylindrical part 12 and adjacent to the bent part 32, when the cylindrical part 12 tilts, the easily deformable part 28 can deform in a direction that widens or narrows the opening width of the slit 29. Therefore, the effect of the tilting of the cylindrical part 12 on the reinforcing part 25, the surrounding part 16, and each terminal locking part 27 of the main body part 11 can be suppressed. As a result, the state in which the terminal main body part 81 is sandwiched between the reinforcing part 25 and each terminal locking part 27 can be maintained in good condition. In addition, the state in which the surrounding part 16 tightly covers the head 86 of the bolt 84 can also be maintained in good condition.

[0036] As described above, the protective cap 10 of this embodiment 1 is a protective cap 10 made of an elastic material that covers the terminal 80. The protective cap 10 comprises a cylindrical portion 12 having a wire extension outlet 31 and a main body portion 11 having a terminal insertion opening 13. The main body portion 11 has a pressure receiving portion 24 positioned away from the terminal insertion opening 13, a reinforcing portion 25 extending from the pressure receiving portion 24 toward the terminal insertion opening 13, a terminal locking portion 27 protruding from the opening edge of the terminal insertion opening 13 to narrow the opening width of the terminal insertion opening 13, and an easily deformable portion 28 positioned on the side connected to the cylindrical portion 12 and adjacent to the reinforcing portion 25.

[0037] As described above, by pressing the pressure-receiving part 24 with a finger or the like, the terminal 80 can be inserted through the terminal insertion opening 13 of the main body 11, and the terminal locking part 27 can be locked onto the terminal 80. Since the reinforcing part 25 is positioned between the pressure-receiving part 24 and the terminal locking part 27, the pressing force applied to the pressure-receiving part 24 is more easily transmitted to the terminal locking part 27 via the reinforcing part 25, allowing the terminal locking part 27 to be locked onto the terminal 80 smoothly. In addition, the reinforcing part 25 ensures the stability of the locking of the terminal locking part 27 to the terminal 80.

[0038] Furthermore, even if the electric wire 60 extending from the cylindrical portion 12 vibrates and the cylindrical portion 12 tilts, the easily deformable portion 28 deforms, suppressing the transmission of the vibrational force of the electric wire 60 (tilting force of the cylindrical portion 12) to the terminal locking portion 27, and stably maintaining the state in which the terminal locking portion 27 locks the terminal 80. In addition, since the main body portion 11 has multiple cavities 26 between the reinforcing portions 25, cushioning is provided to the reinforcing portions 25, and the elastic force (rigidity) between the pressure receiving portion 24 and the terminal locking portion 27 in the main body portion 11 can be appropriately adjusted.

[0039] Furthermore, since multiple cavities 26 extend in the direction of extension (up and down) of the reinforcing portion 25 and open on the surface facing the terminal insertion opening 13 (the lower surface of the main body portion 11), when the pressure receiving portion 24 is pressed with a finger or the like, that pressing force can be directly and efficiently transmitted to the terminal locking portion 27 via the reinforcing portion 25.

[0040] The easily deformable portion 28 is recessed in the direction of extension from the pressure-receiving portion 24 to the reinforcing portion 25, and has a slit 29 extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction (left-right direction). With this, the degree and manner of deformation of the easily deformable portion 28 can be adjusted by changing the length and depth of the slit 29 of the easily deformable portion 28.

[0041] Furthermore, the protective cap with terminals of this embodiment 1 includes the protective cap 10 and the terminal 80. The terminal 80 includes a wire connection portion 82 connected to the electric wire 60, a terminal body portion 81 connected to the wire connection portion 82, and a bolt 84, which is a separate fixing member that fixes the terminal body portion 81. The wire connection portion 82 is covered by the cylindrical portion 12. The terminal body portion 81 is positioned inside the body portion 11 from the terminal insertion opening 13. The body portion 11 has a surrounding portion 16 that surrounds the head 86 of the bolt 84. Therefore, even if the electric wire 60 extending from the cylindrical portion 12 vibrates, the easily deformable portion 28 deforms, suppressing the transmission of the vibration force of the electric wire 60 (tilting force of the cylindrical portion 12) to the surrounding portion 16, and stably maintaining the state in which the surrounding portion 16 surrounds the head 86 of the bolt 84.

[0042] Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 12 extends in a direction (up and down) that intersects with the direction in which the enclosing portion 16 and the reinforcing portion 25 are aligned (front-to-back direction). The easily deformable portion 28 is positioned adjacent to the bent portion 32 formed at the boundary between the cylindrical portion 12 and the main body portion 11. Therefore, even if the electric wire 60 extending from the cylindrical portion 12 vibrates and the cylindrical portion 12 tilts with the bent portion 32 as a fulcrum, the easily deformable portion 28 adjacent to the bent portion 32 makes it difficult for the vibration force of the electric wire 60 to be transmitted to the terminal locking portion 27 and the enclosing portion 16.

[0043] Furthermore, the inner surface of the enclosing portion 16 has a circumferential surface portion 19 that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the head 86 of the bolt 84, which is a fixing member; an inner end surface portion 21 that is in close contact with the upper end surface of the head 86; and a concave surface portion 22 on the outer circumference of the inner end surface portion 21 that is recessed away from the upper end surface of the head 86. The enclosing portion 16 is held by the bolt 84 by the circumferential surface portion 19 and the inner end surface portion 21 being in close contact with the head 86 of the bolt 84. In particular, since the concave surface portion 22 is present on the outer circumference of the inner end surface portion 21, the concave surface portion 22 is positioned on the corner portion 89 of the head 86 of the bolt 84, thereby preventing the circumferential surface portion 19 from contacting the corner portion 89 of the head 86. As a result, a state in which the circumferential surface portion 19 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the head 86 of the bolt 84 can be formed effectively.

[0044] [Other embodiments of this disclosure] Embodiment 1 disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In the first embodiment described above, the easily deformable portion bulged downward in a concave shape on the upper wall of the main body. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the easily deformable portion may be thinner than the surrounding area on the upper wall of the main body to have an easily deformable shape. The easily deformable portion may also have a hole that penetrates the upper wall of the main body in the thickness direction. In the first embodiment described above, the easily deformable portion extended in a straight line in the left-right direction. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the easily deformable portion may extend while curving in the left-right direction. For example, the easily deformable portion may extend in an arc parallel to the front surface of the cylindrical portion. In the first embodiment described above, the protective cap was open to the outside at the terminal insertion opening, the wire extension outlet, and the open portion. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the protective cap only needs to be open to the outside at the terminal insertion opening and the wire extension outlet, and the open portion may be closed. The protective cap may also have openings other than the terminal insertion opening, the wire extension outlet, and the open portion, for example, by forming a notch in the cylindrical portion. In the first embodiment described above, the fixing member was a bolt. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the fixing member may be a nut. When the fixing member is a nut, it is preferable that the surrounding portion surrounds the nut, with the circumferential surface portion in close contact with the outer surface of the nut and the inner end surface portion in close contact with the end surface of the nut. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 10… Protective cap 11...Main body 12...Cylinder part 13…Terminal insertion slot 14...Top wall part 15...Peripheral wall part 16...Siege 17...Open part 18…Cylindrical section 19...peripheral part 21...Inner end surface part 22... Concave part 23…Lower end cylinder part 24...Pressure receiving section 25…Reinforcement 26...Cavity part 27... Terminal locking part 28...Easily deformable parts 29... Slit 31...Electric wire outlet 32...Bend 60...Electric wire 61...Insulating coating 62... Conductor 80... Terminals 81...Terminal body 82... Wire connection section 83... Through hole 84... Volts 85... Shaft 86...Head 87...Wire barrel section 88...Insulation barrel section 89... Corner

Claims

1. A protective cap made of an elastic material that covers the terminal, It comprises a cylindrical part having a wire extension outlet and a main body part having a terminal insertion port, The protective cap comprises a main body having a pressure-receiving portion positioned away from the terminal insertion opening, a reinforcing portion extending from the pressure-receiving portion toward the terminal insertion opening, a terminal locking portion protruding from the opening edge of the terminal insertion opening to narrow the opening width of the terminal insertion opening, and a deformable portion positioned adjacent to the reinforcing portion on the side connected to the cylindrical portion.

2. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a plurality of cavities between the reinforcing portions.

3. The protective cap according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of cavities extend in the direction of extension of the reinforcing portion and open to the surface facing the terminal insertion opening.

4. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein the easily deformable portion is recessed in the direction of extension from the pressure-receiving portion to the reinforcing portion and has a slit extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction.

5. A protective cap with a terminal, comprising a protective cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the terminal, The terminal comprises a wire connection portion connected to an electric wire, a terminal body portion connected to the wire connection portion, and a separate fixing member for fixing the terminal body portion. The wire connection portion is covered by the cylindrical portion. The terminal body is positioned inside the main body from the terminal insertion opening. The main body portion has a surrounding portion that encloses the fixing member, The reinforcing portion is a protective cap with terminals, positioned between the surrounding portion and the cylindrical portion.

6. The cylindrical portion extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the surrounding portion and the reinforcing portion are aligned, The protective cap with terminals according to claim 5, wherein the easily deformable portion is arranged adjacent to the bent portion which is the boundary between the cylindrical portion and the main body portion.

7. The protective cap with terminals according to claim 5, wherein the inner surface of the surrounding portion has a circumferential portion that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member, an inner end portion that is in close contact with the end face of the fixing member, and a concave portion that is recessed on the outer circumference of the inner end portion in a direction away from the end face of the fixing member.

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