Terminals and Connectors

Abstract

To suppress plastic deformation of an elastic contact portion of a terminal fitting due to external force.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 13 includes a tubular portion 30, an elastic contact portion 33, and an extension portion 35. The tubular portion 30 extends in a front-rear direction and has an open front surface. The elastic contact portion 33 is arranged in the tubular portion 30, extends in the front-rear direction, has a rear end directly or indirectly connected to the tubular portion 30, and has a front end as a free front end. The extension portion 35 extends from the tubular portion 30 and faces the elastic contact portion 33 in a bending direction of the elastic contact portion 33. The extension portion 35 is arranged at a position exposed on a front surface side of the tubular portion 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal fitting and a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal fitting. This terminal fitting is a female terminal and has a connecting portion in the shape of a square tube. A resilient contact piece is housed in the connecting portion and is folded back diagonally upward from the front edge of the bottom plate of the connecting portion. This resilient contact piece is composed of three contact pieces arranged side by side in the left-right direction. When the female terminal is connected to the male terminal, each of the three contact pieces comes into contact with a wide tab of the male terminal, and the rear end side is bent downward and deformed. The contact pieces on both the left and right sides of the three contact pieces are prevented from being excessively bent downward by excessive bending prevention pieces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-82158 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the central contact piece is not provided with a structure to prevent excessive downward bending. Therefore, there is a concern that the central contact piece may bend excessively due to contact with a tab or foreign object, and may undergo plastic deformation and not return to its original shape. Even if a structure to prevent excessive bending of the central contact piece could be provided in the terminal fitting of Patent Document 1, the following problem remains. That is, when a probe pin is applied to the front end of the contact piece exposed at the front of the housing to check electrical continuity after the terminal fitting is inserted into the housing, there is a concern that the contact piece may undergo plastic deformation and not return to its original shape.

[0005] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a technique capable of suppressing plastic deformation of the elastic contact portion of the terminal fitting due to an external force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure has a tubular portion extending along the front-to-rear direction and opening at the front side, an elastic contact portion disposed within the tubular portion, extending along the front-to-rear direction, with its rear end directly or indirectly connected to the tubular portion and its front end being a free end, and an extension portion extending from the tubular portion and facing the elastic contact portion in the deflection direction of the elastic contact portion, and the extension portion is disposed in a position exposed on the front side of the tubular portion. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress plastic deformation of the elastic contact portion of the terminal fitting due to an external force. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower half of the terminal fitting. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lower half of the terminal fitting. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the terminal fitting. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the terminal fitting showing a state in which an external force is applied to the resilient contact portion, causing it to come into contact with the extension portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the periphery of the insertion holes and punch holes of the connector. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector showing a state in which a probe pin is abutted against the extension portion. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the connector showing a state in which a mating terminal metal fitting is connected to the terminal metal fitting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A cylindrical portion extending along the front-to-rear direction and having an open front end, an elastic contact portion disposed within the cylindrical portion, extending along the front-to-rear direction, having a rear end directly or indirectly connected to the cylindrical portion and a front end which is a free end, and an extension portion extending from the cylindrical portion and facing the elastic contact portion in the deflection direction of the elastic contact portion, the extension portion being disposed in a position exposed on the front side of the cylindrical portion.

[0010] According to this configuration, the extension portion can suppress excessive bending of the elastic contact portion. Moreover, since the front end of the elastic contact portion is a free end, the extension portion that suppresses the bending deformation of the elastic contact portion can be exposed on the front side of the tube portion. Therefore, it is possible to check the electrical continuity by applying a probe pin to the extension portion instead of the elastic contact portion, and as a result, the elastic contact portion is less likely to be subjected to external forces, or it is possible to suppress plastic deformation even if it is subjected to external forces.

[0011] (2) It is preferable that a front end of the extension portion is disposed forward of a front end of the elastic contact portion in a natural state.

[0012] According to this configuration, it is easy to bring the probe pin into contact with the extension portion without contacting the elastic contact portion, and as a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the elastic contact portion of the terminal fitting from being pressed by the probe pin and plastically deforming. Note that the natural state refers to a state in which the elastic piece is not bent or deformed.

[0013] (3) It is preferable that a front end of the extension portion is located rearward of a front end of the cylindrical portion.

[0014] If the extension portion is plastically deformed due to contact with a foreign object, etc., this may impair the function of suppressing excessive deflection of the elastic contact portion. In this regard, with this configuration, the tube portion functions as a protective wall and can suppress contact of foreign objects with the extension portion, thereby suppressing the occurrence of the above problem.

[0015] (4) It is preferable that the extension portion extends obliquely forward from a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical portion.

[0016] In the case where the extension portion is configured to extend perpendicularly to the tubular portion, the extension portion receives the entire force of the probe pin that contacts the extension portion from the front, and is therefore prone to plastic deformation. In this respect, with this configuration, the force of the probe pin that contacts the extension portion from the front can be distributed to the tubular portion as well, thereby suppressing plastic deformation of the extension portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the function of suppressing excessive deflection of the elastic contact portion is impaired due to plastic deformation of the extension portion.

[0017] (5) The connector may include the terminal fitting and a housing. The housing may have a cavity in which the terminal fitting is disposed, a flexibly deformable lance that engages the terminal fitting disposed in the cavity, a front wall portion disposed in front of the cavity, and a punch hole that opens on a front surface of the front wall portion in front of the lance. The extension portion of the terminal fitting may be disposed at a position visible from the front of the housing through the punch hole.

[0018] According to this configuration, the extension of the terminal fitting can be exposed to the front of the housing by utilizing the punch hole provided for forming the lance, which simplifies the structure of the housing compared to a configuration in which a separate hole is provided for exposing the extension.

[0019] [Details of the embodiment 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, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0020] [Embodiment 1] Fig. 1 discloses a connector 10 according to a first embodiment. The connector 10 is fitted to a mating connector (not shown). In the following description, the direction in which the connector 10 is fitted to the mating connector is referred to as the front of the connector 10, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear of the connector 10. The up-down direction appearing in Figs. 1 and 5 to 9 is referred to as the up-down direction of the connector 10. The left-right direction of the connector 10 as viewed from the front is referred to as the left-right direction of the connector 10.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 includes a housing 11, a retainer 12, and terminal fittings 13.

[0022] <Housing 11> The housing 11 is made of synthetic resin and has a cavity 20, a lance 21, a front wall portion 22, an insertion hole 23, and a die-cut hole 24, as shown in FIG.

[0023] 1, the cavity 20 has a shape extending along the front-rear direction and is open to the rear of the housing 11. The terminal fitting 13 is inserted into the cavity 20 from the rear.

[0024] 1, the lance 21 extends obliquely forward from an inner wall of the cavity 20 (specifically, the bottom wall 20A) in a cantilever shape and is capable of bending and deforming in the vertical direction. The lance 21 engages the terminal fitting 13 arranged in the cavity 20 to prevent it from slipping out rearward.

[0025] The front wall portion 22 is disposed in front of the cavity 20 as shown in FIG.

[0026] 1 and 7, the insertion hole 23 penetrates the front wall portion 22 in the front-rear direction. The insertion hole 23 has a shape that is elongated in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. A mating terminal fitting 90 (see FIG. 9) is inserted into the insertion hole 23. The mating terminal fitting 90 is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 13 arranged in the cavity 20.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the die punch hole 24 opens to the front surface of the front wall portion 22. The die punch hole 24 is a hole that is formed when the die for forming the lance 21 is removed. The die punch hole 24 is disposed in front of the lance 21. The die punch hole 24 communicates with the insertion hole 23 and extends downward from the center of the insertion hole 23 in the left-right direction. The left-right width dimension of the die punch hole 24 is smaller than the left-right width dimension of the insertion hole 23.

[0028] <Retainer 12> The retainer 12 is made of synthetic resin and is engaged with the housing 11 to prevent the terminal fittings 13 disposed in the cavities 20 from slipping out rearward.

[0029] <Terminal metal fitting 13> The terminal fitting 13 is conductive. The terminal fitting 13 is formed by bending a metal plate. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the terminal fitting 13 has a tube portion 30, a leg portion 31, a connecting portion 32, an elastic contact portion 33, a protruding portion 34, an extension portion 35, a front plate portion 36, and an electric wire connecting portion 37.

[0030] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the tube portion 30 has a tube shape (more specifically, a rectangular tube shape) extending along the front-rear direction, and is open on both the front and rear surfaces. The tube portion 30 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The tube portion 30 has an upper plate portion 30A and a lower plate portion 30B that face each other. The front end of the lower plate portion 30B is located rearward of the front end of the upper plate portion 30A. The lower plate portion 30B has a locking hole 30C. The locking hole 30C is formed through the lower plate portion 30B. As shown in Fig. 8, the lance 21 is locked to the peripheral portion of the locking hole 30C.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the leg 31 extends from the front end of the lower plate 30B of the tube 30, bends back inside the tube 30, and extends obliquely backward. The leg 31 is provided in pairs with a gap in the left-right direction. The connecting portion 32 connects the rear ends of the pair of legs 31 to each other. The elastic contact portion 33 is disposed between the pair of legs 31 and protrudes forward from the connecting portion 32. In other words, the elastic contact portion 33 has a shape that extends along the front-rear direction, the rear end is connected to the front end of the connecting portion 32, and the front end 33A is a free end. The leg 31 flexes and deforms in the vertical direction with the part connected to the tube 30 as a fulcrum. The elastic contact portion 33 flexes and deforms in the vertical direction with the rear end as a fulcrum.

[0032] As shown in Figures 5, 7 and 9, the terminal fitting 13 has a first contact portion 41, a second contact portion 42 and a third contact portion 43. The first contact portion 41 is provided on the lower surface of the upper plate portion 30A of the tube portion 30. The first contact portions 41 are arranged in pairs with a gap in the left-right direction. The first contact portions 41 extend in the front-rear direction. The first contact portions 41 are curved so as to bulge downward.

[0033] The second contact portion 42 is provided on the upper surface of the elastic contact portion 33, as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 9. The second contact portion 42 is configured as a contact point. The second contact portion 42 is curved so as to bulge upward. When viewed from the top-bottom direction, the second contact portion 42 is disposed between the pair of first contact portions 41. The second contact portion 42 is disposed between the front end and the rear end of the first contact portion 41 in the front-rear direction.

[0034] The third contact portion 43 is provided on the upper surface of the connecting portion 32 as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 9. The third contact portion 43 is configured as a contact point. The third contact portion 43 is curved so as to bulge upward. The third contact portions 43 are arranged in pairs with a gap in the left-right direction. The third contact portion 43 is arranged between the left end of the first contact portion 41 on the left side and the right end of the first contact portion 41 on the right side in the left-right direction. The third contact portion 43 is arranged between the front end and the rear end of the first contact portion 41 in the front-rear direction. The third contact portion 43 is arranged behind the second contact portion 42. The second contact portion 42 is arranged between the pair of third contact portions 43 in the left-right direction.

[0035] 9, the mating terminal fitting 90 is inserted while bending the leg portion 31 and the resilient contact portion 33 downward, and is sandwiched between the first contact portion 41 and the second and third contact portions 42 and 43. In this way, the terminal fitting 13 is electrically connected to the mating terminal fitting 90.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 34 extends upward from the upper surface of the lower plate portion 30B of the tube portion 30. The protrusion 34 has a first restricting portion 34A and a second restricting portion 34B. The first restricting portion 34A is disposed below the rear end of the leg portion 31 and faces the rear end of the leg portion 31 in the up-down direction. The first restricting portion 34A suppresses excessive downward bending of the rear end of the leg portion 31. The second restricting portion 34B is disposed behind the rear end of the leg portion 31 and below the mating terminal fitting 90 connected to the elastic contact portion 33. The second restricting portion 34B suppresses downward displacement and rotation of the mating terminal fitting 90. In this specification, the term "excessive bending" refers to bending that exceeds the amount of bending of the elastic contact portion 33 when the terminal fitting 13 is normally connected to the mating terminal fitting 90.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, the extension portion 35 extends obliquely forward from the front end of the lower plate portion 30B of the tube portion 30. The front end of the upper plate portion 30A and the front ends of the left and right plate portions 30E constitute the front end 30D of the tube portion 30, and the front end of the lower plate portion 30B is disposed rearward of the front end 30D of the tube portion 30. The front end of the extension portion 35 is disposed rearward of the front end 30D of the tube portion 30. The extension portion 35 is disposed between the pair of legs 31 in the left-right direction. The extension portion 35 is disposed below the front end of the elastic contact portion 33 and faces the elastic contact portion 33 in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 6, when an external force is applied to the elastic contact portion 33 from a foreign object or the like in the direction indicated by the arrow, the extension portion 35 comes into contact with the tip of the elastic contact portion 33 pressed downward, suppressing excessive deflection of the elastic contact portion 33. A front end 35A of the extension portion 35 is disposed forward of a front end 33A of the elastic contact portion 33.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the front plate portion 36 is extended from the front end of the lower end side of each of the left and right plate portions 30E of the tube portion 30 in a direction perpendicular to the left and right direction inward. The front plate portion 36 is disposed below the upper plate portion 30A, and a hole into which the mating terminal metal fitting 90 is inserted is formed between the front plate portion 36 and the upper plate portion 30A. The front end 36A of the front plate portion 36, the front end of the upper plate portion 30A, and the front ends of the left and right plate portions 30E are aligned in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end of the front plate portion 36 is disposed below the upper end of the second contact portion 42 and below the upper end of the third contact portion 43. The extension portion 35 and the second contact portion 42 are exposed and disposed between the pair of left and right front plate portions 36 in a front view.

[0039] 1, the electric wire connecting portion 37 is disposed rearward of the cylindrical portion 30. The electric wire connecting portion 37 is electrically connected to the conductor 74 of the electric wire 73 by crimping or the like.

[0040] <Actions and Effects of Connector 10> The terminal fitting 13 is disposed in a cavity 20 of the housing 11, as shown in Fig. 1. When the terminal fitting 13 is disposed in the correct insertion position in the cavity 20, its forward movement is restricted by the front wall portion 22, and its rearward movement is restricted by the lance 21 and the retainer 12. When the terminal fitting 13 is disposed in the cavity 20, the elastic contact portion 33 is exposed to the front of the housing 11 through the insertion hole 23 and the punch hole 24, and the extension portion 35 is exposed to the front of the housing 11 through the punch hole 24, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0041] After the terminal fitting 13 is placed in the cavity 20, as shown in FIG. 8, a probe pin 92 is applied from the front of the terminal fitting 13. A tip surface 92A of the probe pin 92 is a flat surface along a plane direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The probe pin 92 is inserted through the insertion hole 23 and the die-cut hole 24 of the housing 11 and contacts the front end 35A of the extension portion 35 of the terminal fitting 13. When the electrical continuity between the probe pin 92 and the terminal fitting 13 is confirmed, it is determined that the terminal fitting 13 is placed in the correct insertion position. When the terminal fitting 13 is not placed in the correct insertion position, the probe pin 92 does not contact the terminal fitting 13, so that electrical continuity cannot be confirmed and it is determined that the terminal fitting 13 is not placed in the correct insertion position. The state in which the terminal fitting 13 is not placed in the correct insertion position means that the lance 21 is not preventing the terminal fitting 13 from coming out backward.

[0042] In the connector 10 where electrical continuity has been confirmed, the mating terminal fittings 90 are electrically connected to the terminal fittings 13 as shown in FIG.

[0043] As described above, the terminal fitting 13 can suppress excessive bending of the elastic contact portion 33 by the extension portion 35. Moreover, since the front end 33A of the elastic contact portion 33 is a free end, the extension portion 35, which suppresses bending deformation of the elastic contact portion 33, can be exposed on the front side of the tubular portion 30. Therefore, it is possible to check continuity by applying the probe pin 92 to the extension portion 35 instead of the elastic contact portion 33, and as a result, it is possible to suppress plastic deformation of the elastic contact portion 33 due to an external force.

[0044] Furthermore, the front end 35A of the extension portion 35 is disposed forward of the front end 33A of the elastic contact portion 33 in its natural state. This makes it easier to abut the probe pin 92 against the extension portion 35 without abutting the elastic contact portion 33, and as a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the elastic contact portion 33 of the terminal fitting 13 from being pressed by the probe pin 92 and being plastically deformed.

[0045] Furthermore, the front end 35A of the extension portion 35 is disposed rearward of the front end 30D of the tubular portion 30. If the extension portion 35 is plastically deformed due to contact with a foreign object, etc., this may impair the function of suppressing excessive deflection of the elastic contact portion 33. In this regard, according to the terminal fitting 13, the tubular portion 30 functions as a protective wall and can suppress contact of foreign objects with the extension portion 35, thereby suppressing the occurrence of the above problem.

[0046] Furthermore, the extension portion 35 extends obliquely forward from the tubular portion 30. In a configuration in which the extension portion 35 extends perpendicularly to the tubular portion 30, the extension portion 35 receives the entire force of the probe pin 92 that contacts the extension portion 35 from the front, and the extension portion 35 is prone to plastic deformation. In this regard, according to the terminal fitting 13, the force of the probe pin 92 that contacts the extension portion 35 from the front can be distributed to the tubular portion 30 as well to form a force component, thereby suppressing plastic deformation of the extension portion 35. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the function of suppressing excessive deflection of the elastic contact portion 33 is impaired due to plastic deformation of the extension portion 35.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the connector 10, the extension portion 35 of the terminal fitting 13 can be exposed to the front of the housing 11 by utilizing the punched hole 24 provided for forming the lance 21. Therefore, the structure of the housing 11 can be simplified compared to a configuration in which a separate hole is provided for exposing the extension portion 35.

[0048] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. (1) In the above embodiment, the front end of the extension portion is disposed forward of the front end of the elastic contact portion in the natural state, but the extension portion may not be disposed forward of the front end of the elastic contact portion in the natural state. For example, the front end of the extension portion may be aligned with the front end of the elastic contact portion in the natural state in the front-rear direction, or may be disposed rearward of the front end of the elastic contact portion in the natural state. (2) In the above embodiment, the front end of the extension portion is disposed rearward of the front end of the tubular portion, but the extension portion may not be disposed rearward of the front end of the tubular portion. For example, the front end of the extension portion may be aligned with the front end of the tubular portion in the front-rear direction, or may be disposed forward of the front end of the tubular portion. (3) In the above embodiment, the extension portion extends obliquely forward from the cylindrical portion, but may have another shape. For example, the extension portion may extend at a right angle to the cylindrical portion. (4) In the above embodiment, the elastic contact portion is indirectly connected to the cylindrical portion via the leg portion and the connecting portion. However, the elastic contact portion may be directly connected to the cylindrical portion. (5) In the above embodiment, the extension portion extends from the front end of the lower plate portion. However, the extension portion may extend from a portion of the lower plate portion rearward of the front end. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10…Connector 11. Housing 12…Retainer 13...Terminal metal fitting 20…Cavity 20A…Bottom wall 21…Lance 22...Front wall part 23...Through hole 24…Die-cut hole 30...Cylinder part 30A…Upper plate 30B…Lower plate part 30C…Latching hole 30D…Front end of the tube 30E…Both left and right boards 31...legs 32...Connection part 33...Elastic contact part 33A…Front end of elastic contact part 34...Protruding part 34A…First Regulatory Section 34B…Second Regulatory Section 35…Extension part 35A…Front end of extension 36…Front plate part 36A…Front end of front panel 37…Electric wire connection part 41...First contact part 42…Second contact part 43...Third contact part 73...Electric wire 74…Conductor 90...Mating terminal fitting 92…Probe pin 92A…Tip surface of probe pin

Claims

1. A cylindrical portion extending along a front-rear direction and having an open front surface; an elastic contact portion disposed within the cylindrical portion, extending along a front-rear direction, a rear end of the elastic contact portion being directly or indirectly connected to the cylindrical portion, and a front end of the elastic contact portion being a free end; an extension portion extending from the cylindrical portion and facing the elastic contact portion in a bending direction of the elastic contact portion, The extension portion is disposed at a position exposed on a front surface side of the cylindrical portion, The front end of the extension portion is disposed forward of the front end of the elastic contact portion in a natural state. Terminal fittings.

2. A cylindrical portion extending along a front-rear direction and having an opening at the front, an elastic contact portion disposed within the cylindrical portion, extending along a front-rear direction, a rear end of the elastic contact portion being directly or indirectly connected to the cylindrical portion, and a front end of the elastic contact portion being a free end; an extension portion extending from the cylindrical portion and facing the elastic contact portion in a bending direction of the elastic contact portion, The extension portion is disposed at a position exposed on the front side of the cylindrical portion, and extends obliquely forward from a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical portion. Terminal fittings.

3. The front end of the extension portion is disposed rearward of the front end of the cylindrical portion. The terminal fitting according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The terminal fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a housing; The housing includes: a cavity in which the terminal metal fitting is disposed; a flexible lance for engaging the terminal metal fitting disposed in the cavity; a front wall portion disposed in front of the cavity; A punch hole that opens to a front surface of the front wall portion in front of the lance, The extension portion of the terminal fitting is disposed at a position that is visible from the front of the housing through the die-cut hole. connector.

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