Terminal fittings

Abstract

To provide terminal fittings that alleviate stress applied when the terminal fittings are deformed and reduce connection failures.SOLUTION: A terminal fitting 10 has a detachable side terminal part 12 that connects to a mating terminal T, a mounting side terminal part 11 that is mounted on a circuit board P, and a stress absorbing part 18 that is positioned between the detachable side terminal part 12 and the mounting side terminal part 11. The stress absorbing part 18 can elastically deform to relieve the stress generated in the detachable side terminal part 12 and the mounting side terminal part 11 of the terminal fitting 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal fitting for use in a connector for a printed circuit board, which has a terminal portion for connecting with a mating terminal, a terminal portion mounted on a circuit body, and a connecting portion connecting the two terminal portions in a straight line. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-21595 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When terminal fittings expand and contract due to fluctuations in ambient temperature, stress is generated in the terminal fittings, which may cause damage to the terminal fittings or lead to poor connections.

[0005] The present disclosure was made in light of the above circumstances, and aims to alleviate stresses that occur in terminal fittings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure comprises a detachable terminal portion that connects to a mating terminal, a mounting terminal portion that is mounted to a flat circuit, and a stress absorbing portion that is arranged between the detachable terminal portion and the mounting terminal portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, stress occurring in the terminal fitting can be alleviated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector unit. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The terminal fitting of the present disclosure comprises: (1) The terminal fitting includes a detachable terminal portion that connects to a mating terminal, a mountable terminal portion that is mounted on a circuit board, and a stress absorbing portion that is disposed between the detachable terminal portion and the mountable terminal portion. With this configuration, the stress absorbing portion elastically deforms, thereby alleviating stress that occurs in the detachable terminal portion and the mountable terminal portion of the terminal fitting.

[0010] (2) It is preferable that the stress-absorbing portion and the detachable-side terminal portion are connected at an obtuse angle, and that the stress-absorbing portion and the mounting terminal portion are connected at an obtuse angle. This configuration reduces the material cost of the terminal fitting compared to when the connecting portion between the detachable-side terminal portion and the mounting-side terminal portion in the stress-absorbing portion is a right angle or an acute angle. In addition, stress is less likely to concentrate at the bent portions at the front and rear ends of the stress-absorbing portion, making it less likely to break.

[0011] (3) Preferably, the detachable terminal portion has a flat plate portion directly connected to the stress-absorbing portion and a reinforcing portion that reinforces the flat plate portion. With this configuration, the rigidity of the flat plate portion can be increased, thereby reducing stress generated in the flat plate portion.

[0012] (4) The reinforcing portion preferably includes a first reinforcing plate portion folded back from one of two side edges along the length of the flat plate portion and aligned with the flat plate portion in the plate thickness direction. According to this configuration, the first reinforcing plate portion is folded back from the side edge along the length of the flat plate portion and aligned with the flat plate portion in the plate thickness direction, thereby increasing the rigidity of the flat plate portion.

[0013] (5) Preferably, the reinforcing portion includes a second reinforcing plate portion extending in the plate thickness direction from the other of the two side edge portions along the length direction of the flat plate portion. With this configuration, the second reinforcing plate portion extends at a right angle from the flat plate portion, thereby increasing the rigidity of the flat plate portion.

[0014] (6) It is preferable that the terminal fitting further includes a long reinforcing plate portion including the first reinforcing plate portion and arranged along the flat plate portion, the stress-absorbing portion, and the mounting-side terminal portion, and that the longitudinal side edge of the long reinforcing plate portion is connected to the longitudinal side edge of the flat plate portion and the longitudinal side edge of the mounting-side terminal portion, and is spaced apart from the longitudinal side edge of the stress-absorbing portion. With this configuration, the longitudinal side edge of the long reinforcing plate portion is connected to the longitudinal side edge of the flat plate portion and the longitudinal side edge of the mounting-side terminal portion, thereby increasing the rigidity of the entire terminal fitting. Since the stress-absorbing portion is not directly connected to the long reinforcing plate portion, the stress relaxation function is not impaired.

[0015] (7) It is preferable that the tip reinforcing plate portion of the long reinforcing plate portion, which is arranged along the mounting terminal portion, has a step formed thereon to abut against the edge of the through hole in the circuit board. With this configuration, the mounting terminal portion is inserted to a constant depth into the circuit board, and stress is applied to each terminal fitting uniformly, so that stress is less likely to be generated locally on each terminal fitting.

[0016] (8) It is preferable that the detachable terminal portion has a through-shaped cylindrical portion, a spring piece that elastically contacts the mating terminal is provided inside the cylindrical portion, and the mounting terminal portion is disposed outside the cylindrical portion when the detachable terminal portion and the mounting terminal portion are viewed in the direction of penetration of the cylindrical portion. With this configuration, when inspecting the gap between the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion and the spring piece in a gap inspection, the mounting terminal portion does not exist on the path of the inspection light such as laser light, so that the gap inspection can be performed properly.

[0017] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] [Example 1] A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In Figures 1 to 8, "front" is represented by "F," "upper" is represented by "U," and "right side" is represented by "R."

[0018] [Configuration of Connector Unit 70] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector unit 70 of the first embodiment includes an outer housing 40, an inner housing 25, a plurality of terminal fittings 10, a circuit board P, and a holder 60. As shown in FIG.

[0019] [Configuration of circuit board P] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the circuit board P includes an FPC 55 and a support plate 30. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the FPC 55 is an abbreviation for Flexible Printed Circuits and is a thin, flexible sheet. As shown in FIG. 3, the FPC 55 has a plurality of connection holes 57 formed therein for allowing the mounting terminal portions 11 of the terminal fittings 10 to pass through individually. The FPC 55 has a structure in which a thin-film conductor layer constituting a predetermined wiring pattern is sandwiched between insulating films. This structure allows the FPC 55 to be flexibly deformed, such as by bending, while maintaining its electrical properties. A pair of first positioning holes 56 are formed in the FPC 55.

[0020] 1 to 3, the support plate 30 is attached to the FPC 55 to reinforce the FPC 55. The support plate 30 has a plurality of guide holes 31 formed therein that align with the connection holes 57. The support plate 30 also has a pair of second positioning holes 32 that align with the first positioning holes 56, and two third positioning holes 33 that are closed by the FPC 55. The guide holes 31 are larger than the connection holes 57 in order to absorb any misalignment between the guide holes 31 and the connection holes 57 when the support plate 30 is attached to the FPC 55.

[0021] [Configuration of Inner Housing 25] The inner housing 25 is made of synthetic resin and has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The inner housing 25 has a plurality of elongated terminal accommodating chambers 29 separated by terminal accommodating walls 28 to accommodate a plurality of terminal fittings 10 separately. A terminal through-hole 27 is formed at the front end of the terminal accommodating chamber 29, allowing a mating terminal T (see FIG. 8) to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 29 through the terminal through-hole 27. The inner housing 25 has two inner engaging protrusions 26. The inner housing 25 is fixed to the support plate 30 with the inner engaging protrusions 26 fitted into the third positioning holes 33. By fitting the inner engaging protrusions 26 into the third positioning holes 33, the mounting-side terminal portions 11 of the terminal fittings 10 accommodated in the inner housing 25 are inserted into the guide holes 31 and the connection holes 57 without misalignment.

[0022] [Configuration of outer housing 40] As shown in FIG. 2, the outer housing 40 has a housing accommodating chamber 44 for accommodating the inner housing 25. A front wall 47 and a terminal insertion opening 43 that penetrates the front wall 47 and aligns with the terminal through-hole 27 are formed at the front end of the housing accommodating chamber 44. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer housing 40 has a midsole 50 that extends perpendicularly from the edge of the opening at the rear end of the housing accommodating chamber 44, and a lower wall 48 and an upper wall 49 that extend rearward from both upper and lower edges of the midsole 50. A pair of cylindrical outer engaging protrusions 42 are formed on both left and right ends of the midsole 50. The outer housing 40 is attached to the circuit board P (support plate 30 and FPC 55) with the outer engaging protrusions 42 fitted into the second positioning hole 32 and the first positioning hole 56.

[0023] [Holder 60 Configuration] 1 to 3, the holder 60 has a base portion 61 whose central portion is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped plate and whose left and right end portions are curved inward. A pair of protruding portions 64 protrude from the left and right end portions of the base portion 61. The holder 60 has outer engagement claws 62 that extend inward from the edges of the protruding portions 64. The holder 60 is assembled to the outer housing 40 by engaging the outer engagement claws 62 with the inner engagement claws 41 of the outer housing 40.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, when the outer housing 40 and holder 60 are assembled, a protective space 45 is defined by the midsole 50, the lower wall 48, the upper wall 49, and the base plate 61. The protective space 45 accommodates the support plate 30, a portion of the FPC 55, and the mounting-side terminals 11 of the terminal fittings 10 that pass through the connection holes 57. Inside the holder 60, a plurality of flat pressure plates 63 are formed, each protruding forward from the base plate 61 and aligned parallel to one another in the left-right direction. The lower ends of the pressure plates 63 are connected to one another via a connecting portion 65 in the left-right direction. A slit-like gap 51 is formed between the connecting portion 65 and the lower wall 48, connecting the protective space 45 to the external space behind the holder 60.

[0025] [Configuration of terminal fitting 10] 4 to 8, the terminal fitting 10 is a single component in which the detachable terminal portion 12, stress absorbing portion 18, and mounting terminal portion 11 are integrally formed, and has an overall shape that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction. The detachable terminal portion 12 is disposed at the front end of the terminal fitting 10 and is configured with a rectangular cylindrical portion 13 and a flat portion 14. The detachable terminal portion 12 is accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber 29 of an inner housing 25 so that it can be connected to a mating terminal.

[0026] The tubular portion 13 penetrates in the front-to-rear direction. A spring piece 24 is disposed inside the tubular portion 13. The spring piece 24 is formed of a plate portion that extends in the front-to-rear direction and is bent. In a side view of the terminal fitting 10, the spring piece 24 is bent in a mountain-like shape. The bent portion of the spring piece 24 closest to the right wall of the tubular portion 13 functions as a contact point C that contacts the mating terminal T. As shown in FIG. 7 , in a front view of the tubular portion 13, a gap α smaller than the thickness of the mating terminal T is secured between the contact point C and the right wall of the tubular portion. The mating terminal T is inserted into the tubular portion 13 from the front of the terminal fitting 10 and wedges into the gap α while elastically deforming the spring piece 24. This electrically connects the detachable terminal portion 12 of the terminal fitting 10 and the mating terminal T. The mating terminal T can be removed from the tubular portion 13.

[0027] The flat plate portion 14 has a long, narrow, flat plate shape with its thickness oriented in the front-to-rear direction. The flat plate portion 14 extends flush and linearly forward from the rear end of the left wall portion of the tubular portion 13. The detachable terminal portion 12 has a reinforcing portion 15 for reinforcing the flat plate portion 14. The reinforcing portion 15 has a first reinforcing plate portion (reinforcing plate portion A and reinforcing plate portion B) and a second reinforcing plate portion 20. Reinforcing plate portion A and reinforcing plate portion B are connected to the upper edge of the two upper and lower side edges along the length of the flat plate portion 14. Reinforcing plate portion A has reinforcing plate D extending rightward from the upper edge of the flat plate portion 14 at a right angle, and reinforcing plate E extending downward from reinforcing plate D at a right angle. Reinforcing plate E is arranged side by side with a gap in the left-to-right direction relative to the flat plate portion 14.

[0028] As shown in Figure 8, in a front view, the flat plate portion 14 and the reinforcing plates D and E form a roughly upside-down U-shape. There is a sufficient gap between the flat plate portion 14 and the reinforcing plates E in the plate thickness direction (left-right direction). Because the reinforcing plate E is disposed at a gap from the flat plate portion 14, when an external force acts on the reinforcing plate portion A from diagonally above and to the right, for example, the gap causes the reinforcing plates D and E to elastically deform and displace diagonally downward and to the left. This elastic deformation can relieve stress generated in the flat plate portion 14.

[0029] The reinforcing plate portion B has a reinforcing plate F that is folded back from the upper edge of the flat plate portion 14 along the flat plate portion 14. The flat plate portion 14 and the reinforcing plate F are arranged in close contact with each other or in a positional relationship in which they are close to each other. Since there is almost no gap between the flat plate portion 14 and the reinforcing plate F in the thickness direction, the reinforcing plate F hardly undergoes elastic deformation when the reinforcing plate portion B is subjected to an external force. However, the two-ply flat plate portion 14 and the reinforcing plate F form a laminated structure with a large overall thickness, and therefore have high rigidity.

[0030] The front and rear edges of connecting plate 21 are integrally connected to the rear edge of reinforcing plate E and the front edge of reinforcing plate F. As described above, the gap in the plate thickness direction between flat plate portion 14 and reinforcing plate E is different from the gap in the plate thickness direction between flat plate portion 14 and reinforcing plate F. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6, connecting plate 21 is inclined with respect to the left and right in a plan view of terminal fitting 10 viewed from above. Connecting plate 21 is not folded back in the plate thickness direction from the upper edge of flat plate portion 14. In other words, the upper edge of flat plate portion 14 is connected to the upper edges of reinforcing plate portions A and B but is spaced apart from the upper edge of connecting plate 21.

[0031] The detachable terminal portion 12 has a second reinforcing plate portion 20 for reinforcing the flat plate portion 14. The second reinforcing plate portion 20 is a long, narrow, flat portion that extends flush rearward from the rear end of the lower wall portion of the tubular portion 13. The left edge of the second reinforcing plate portion 20 is connected at a right angle to the lower edge of the two upper and lower side edges along the length of the flat plate portion 14. The second reinforcing plate portion 20 is spaced apart from the lower side surfaces of the reinforcing plates E and F and the connecting plate 21.

[0032] The second reinforcing plate portion 20 extends perpendicularly from the lower edge (side edge along the length) of the flat plate portion 14, thereby increasing the rigidity of the flat plate portion 14. The increased rigidity of the flat plate portion 14 prevents buckling deformation of the flat plate portion 14 when the mating terminal T is connected to the tubular portion 13. The second reinforcing plate portion 20 faces the reinforcing plates E and F in the vertical direction at a right angle. Therefore, even if the reinforcing plate portion A receives a force from above and deforms downward, the second reinforcing plate portion 20 acts as a support, preventing excessive deformation of the reinforcing plate portion A. In this way, the detachable terminal portion 12 has high rigidity due to the first reinforcing plate portions (reinforcing plate portion A and reinforcing plate portion B) and the second reinforcing plate portion 20.

[0033] The mounting-side terminal portion 11 is parallel to the flat plate portion 14 and has a plate shape that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction. The rear end of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 is tapered so that it can be inserted into the guide hole 31 of the support plate 30 and the connection hole 57 of the FPC 55. The mounting-side terminal portion 11 has a function of connecting with the wiring pattern of the FPC 55. The mounting-side terminal portion 11 is inserted into the guide hole 31 of the support plate 30 and the connection hole 57 of the FPC 55 and protrudes rearward of the FPC 55. The through portion 53 of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 that protrudes rearward of the FPC 55 is fixed to the FPC 55 by soldering or the like. Each terminal fitting 10 is arranged to protrude forward from the FPC 55 and is connected to the wiring pattern of the FPC 55.

[0034] The terminal fitting 10 has a tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22. The tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 is a portion folded back from the upper edge of the two upper and lower side edges along the length direction of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 so as to fit along the right side surface of the mounting-side terminal portion 11. The mounting-side terminal portion 11 and the tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 are in close contact with each other, with almost no gap in the plate thickness direction. The mounting-side terminal portion 11 and the tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 are formed with a step portion 16 that abuts against the opening edge portion 34 of the guide hole 31 in the support plate 30.

[0035] The stress-absorbing portion 18 is disposed between the mounting-side terminal portion 11 and the detachable-side terminal portion 12. As shown in FIG. 6 , in a plan view, the front end of the stress-absorbing portion 18 is connected to the rear end of the detachable-side terminal portion 12 at an obtuse angle β. In a plan view, the rear end of the stress-absorbing portion 18 is connected to the front end of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 at an obtuse angle γ. The obtuse angles β and γ are the same. Since no bends forming acute angles are formed at the front and rear ends of the stress-absorbing portion 18, stress is less likely to concentrate at the front and rear ends of the stress-absorbing portion 18 even when external forces are applied to the terminal fitting 10 in the left-right and front-rear directions. The terminal fitting 10 has a connecting reinforcement portion 23 arranged alongside the stress-absorbing portion 18 in the plate thickness direction. The front end of the connecting reinforcement portion 23 is connected to the rear end of the reinforcing plate F at an obtuse angle β. The rear end of the connecting reinforcement portion 23 is connected to the front end of the tip side reinforcement plate portion 22 at an obtuse angle γ.

[0036] The terminal fitting 10 has an elongated reinforcing plate portion 19 composed of a reinforcing plate F, a connecting plate 21, a reinforcing plate E, a connecting reinforcing portion 23, and a tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22. The elongated reinforcing plate portion 19 is a reinforcing portion elongated in the front-to-rear direction and disposed along the flat plate portion 14, the stress-absorbing portion 18, and the mounting-side terminal portion 11. The upper edge of the elongated reinforcing plate portion 19 is connected to a portion of the upper edge of the flat plate portion 14 and the entire upper edge of the mounting-side terminal portion 11, but is not connected over the entire upper edge (side edge along the length) of the stress-absorbing portion 18. More specifically, the reinforcing plate F constituting the reinforcing portion 15 is connected to a portion of the upper edge of the flat plate portion 14 at its folded-back upper edge. The tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 is connected to the upper edge of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 at its folded-back upper edge.

[0037] The structure in which the long reinforcing plate portion 19 is connected to the flat plate portion 14 and the mounting-side terminal portion 11 in a folded manner improves the rigidity of the flat plate portion 14 and the mounting-side terminal portion 11, making them less susceptible to deformation due to external forces. The stress-absorbing portion 18 is not directly connected to the connecting reinforcement portion 23, which is arranged to overlap the right side of the stress-absorbing portion 18, and there is no folded portion. Therefore, the rigidity of the stress-absorbing portion 18 is lower than that of the flat plate portion 14 and the mounting-side terminal portion 11. When an external force acts on the terminal fitting 10 such that it relatively displaces the mounting-side terminal portion 11 and the detachable-side terminal portion 12 in the front-to-rear direction, the stress-absorbing portion 18 elastically deforms, preventing deformation of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 and the detachable-side terminal portion 12. In other words, the stress-absorbing portion 18 absorbs stress in the detachable-side terminal portion 12 and the mounting-side terminal portion 11. In this way, the terminal fitting 10 can achieve both high rigidity and stress relaxation in the detachable terminal portion 12 and the mounting terminal portion 11.

[0038] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. When assembling the connector unit 70, a plurality of terminal fittings 10 are inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 29 of the inner housing 25. Even if a load acts on the terminal fittings 10 during insertion, the terminal fittings 10 have sufficient rigidity to withstand the load. In a process separate from the insertion of the terminal fittings 10, the support plate 30 and the FPC 55 are attached to form the circuit board P.

[0039] Next, the inner engaging projections 26 of the inner housing 25 are fitted into the third positioning holes 33 of the circuit board P. As a result, the tips of the mounting-side terminal portions 11 are inserted into the guide holes 31 without hitting the support plate 30. The step portions 16 formed on the tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 abut against the opening edges 34 of the guide holes, so that the insertion depth of the detachable-side terminal portions 12 into the through holes (guide holes 31 and connection holes 57) of the circuit board P is constant, and the posture of the terminal fittings 10 relative to the circuit board P is stabilized. This ensures stable connection reliability between the terminal fittings 10 and the mating terminals T for all terminal fittings 10. Furthermore, the likelihood of tilting of each terminal fitting 10 is stable for all terminal fittings 10, so that damage to the terminal fittings 10 and stress concentration due to tilting are unlikely to occur.

[0040] Next, the mounting-side terminal portion 11 is soldered to the FPC 55 on the surface of the FPC 55 opposite the support plate 30 and inner housing 25, and the terminal fitting 10 is mounted to the FPC 55. When the terminal fitting 10 fixed by soldering expands in the front-rear direction due to thermal expansion, there is a concern that the front end of the detachable-side terminal portion 12 may hit the front wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 29 and buckle. At this time, the stress absorbing portion 18 and the connecting reinforcement portion 23 elastically deform, thereby alleviating stress in the mounting-side terminal portion 11 and the detachable-side terminal portion 12. Furthermore, the rigidity of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 and the detachable-side terminal portion 12 is increased by the tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 and the reinforcement portion 15, so that excessive deformation and breakage are unlikely to occur.

[0041] Next, the outer engaging projections 42 of the outer housing 40 are inserted through the first positioning holes 56 of the FPC 55 and the second positioning holes 32 of the support plate 30, and the outer housing 40 is fixed to the circuit board P by thermal fusion. Thermal contraction of the portions fixed by thermal fusion places a load on the mounted terminal fittings 10, but the stress absorbing portions 18 and the connecting reinforcement portions 23 of the terminal fittings 10 are able to elastically deform, thereby alleviating the stress in the mounting-side terminal portions 11 and the detachable-side terminal portions 12. Furthermore, the reinforcing plate portions A and B make it difficult for the flat plate portion 14 to bend and deform, so the stress in the flat plate portion 14 can be alleviated.

[0042] Next, the holder 60 is fitted into the outer housing 40. This protects the circuit board P and the through-holes 53 of the terminal fittings 10. The portions of the FPC 55 to which the support plate 30 is not attached are bent within the protective space 45 and led out to the rear of the holder 60 through the gap 51 between the connecting portion 65 and the lower wall portion 48.

[0043] The terminal fitting 10 of the present embodiment 1 includes a detachable terminal portion 12 that connects with a mating terminal T, a mounting terminal portion 11 that is mounted on a circuit board P, and a stress absorbing portion 18 that is arranged between the detachable terminal portion 12 and the mounting terminal portion 11. With this terminal fitting 10, the stress absorbing portion 18 can elastically deform, thereby alleviating stress that occurs in the detachable terminal portion 12 and the mounting terminal portion 11 of the terminal fitting 10.

[0044] The stress-absorbing portion 18 and the detachable-side terminal portion 12 are connected at an obtuse angle β, and the stress-absorbing portion 18 and the mounting-side terminal portion 11 are connected at an obtuse angle γ. This configuration reduces the material cost of the terminal fitting 10 compared to when the connecting portion of the stress-absorbing portion 18 between the detachable-side terminal portion 12 and the mounting-side terminal portion 11 is a right angle or acute angle. In addition, stress is less likely to concentrate at the bent portions at the front and rear end portions of the stress-absorbing portion 18, making it less likely to break.

[0045] The detachable terminal portion 12 has a flat plate portion 14 directly connected to the stress absorbing portion 18, and a reinforcing portion 15 that reinforces the flat plate portion 14. The reinforcing portion 15 increases the rigidity of the flat plate portion 14, thereby reducing stress generated in the flat plate portion 14.

[0046] The reinforcing portion includes a first reinforcing plate portion (reinforcing plate portion A, reinforcing plate portion B) that is folded back from one of two side edges (upper end edge) along the length direction of the flat plate portion 14 and is aligned in the plate thickness direction with the flat plate portion 14. Reinforcing plate portions A and B are folded back from the side edges along the length direction of the flat plate portion 14 and are aligned in the plate thickness direction, thereby increasing the rigidity of the flat plate portion 14.

[0047] The reinforcing portion 15 includes a second reinforcing plate portion 20 extending in the plate thickness direction from the other side edge portion (lower end edge portion) of two side edge portions along the length direction of the flat plate portion 14. Since the second reinforcing plate portion 20 extends at a right angle from the flat plate portion 14, the rigidity of the flat plate portion 14 is increased.

[0048] The terminal fitting 10 includes a first reinforcing plate portion (reinforcing plate portion A, reinforcing plate portion B) and a long reinforcing plate portion 19 arranged along the flat plate portion 14, the stress-absorbing portion 18, and the mounting-side terminal portion 11. The longitudinal side edge (upper edge) of the long reinforcing plate portion 19 is connected to the longitudinal side edge (upper edge) of the flat plate portion 14 and the longitudinal side edge (upper edge) of the mounting-side terminal portion 11. The upper edge of the long reinforcing plate portion 19 is spaced apart from the longitudinal side edge (upper edge) of the stress-absorbing portion 18. With this configuration, the long reinforcing plate portion 19 is connected to the longitudinal side edges of the flat plate portion 14 and the mounting-side terminal portion 11, thereby increasing the rigidity of the entire terminal fitting 10. Because the stress-absorbing portion 18 is not directly connected to the long reinforcing plate portion 19, its stress relaxation function is not impaired.

[0049] Of the long reinforcing plate portion 19, the tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 arranged along the mounting-side terminal portion 11 has a step portion 16 formed thereon that abuts against the opening edge of the through-hole (guide hole 31) in the circuit board P. With this configuration, the insertion depth of the mounting-side terminal portion 11 into the circuit board P is constant, and stress is applied to each terminal fitting 10 uniformly, making it difficult for stress to occur locally in each terminal fitting 10.

[0050] The detachable terminal portion 12 has a through-hole-shaped tubular portion 13. A spring piece 24 that elastically contacts the mating terminal T is provided within the tubular portion 13. When the detachable terminal portion 12 and the mounting terminal portion 11 are viewed in the direction of penetration of the tubular portion 13, the mounting terminal portion 11 is disposed outside the tubular portion 13. A gap inspection is performed using a laser beam on the terminal fitting 10 before it is attached to the inner housing 25. The gap inspection checks whether the length of the gap α between the inner surface of the right wall portion of the tubular portion 13 and the spring piece 24 is within an appropriate range. In this inspection, a detection light such as a laser beam is irradiated into the interior of the tubular portion 13 from the front or rear of the tubular portion 13. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 , when the detachable terminal portion 12 and the mounting terminal portion 11 are viewed in the direction of penetration of the tubular portion 13, the mounting terminal portion 11 is disposed outside (to the left) the tubular portion 13. In other words, the mounting-side terminal portion 11 does not exist on the optical path of the detection light, particularly within the range of the gap α. Therefore, the gap inspection can be performed properly.

[0051] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the examples described above and in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes the equivalent meaning of the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, including the following embodiments. (1) In this embodiment 1, the long reinforcing plate portion 19 includes a tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22, a connecting reinforcing portion 23, a reinforcing plate F, a connecting plate 21, and a reinforcing plate E, but the long reinforcing plate portion 19 does not necessarily have to include the connecting plate 21. (2) In this embodiment 1, when the detachable side terminal portion 12 and the mounting side terminal portion 11 are viewed in the direction of penetration of the tubular portion 13, the mounting side terminal portion 11 is positioned outside (to the left) the tubular portion 13, but if gap inspection is not performed, the mounting side terminal portion 11 may be positioned inside the tubular portion 13. (3) In the first embodiment, the second reinforcing plate portion 20 extends from the lower edge of the flat plate portion 14 in the plate thickness direction, but the second reinforcing plate portion 20 may not be provided. (4) In this embodiment 1, the tip side reinforcing plate portion 22 is formed with a step portion 16 that abuts against the opening edge portion 34 of the guide hole 31 in the support plate 30, but the step portion 16 does not have to be formed. (5) In this embodiment 1, the reinforcing portion 15 has a reinforcing plate portion A separated from the flat plate portion 14, but the reinforcing portion 15 may also be arranged so that it follows the flat plate portion 14 without any gaps throughout its entire length. (6) In this embodiment 1, the tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 is arranged so as to be closely aligned with the detachable terminal portion 12 in the plate thickness direction, but the tip-side reinforcing plate portion 22 may also be arranged so as to have a certain gap between it and the detachable terminal portion 12. (7) In this embodiment 1, the front end of the second reinforcing plate portion 20 is connected to the lower wall portion of the tubular portion 13, but it does not necessarily have to be connected to the wall portion of the tubular portion 13 as long as it extends in the plate thickness direction from one of the two side edge portions of the flat plate portion 14. (8) In the first embodiment, the flat plate portion 14 extends from the left side surface of the cylindrical portion 13, but the flat plate portion 14 may extend from another surface of the cylindrical portion 13. (9) In this embodiment 1, the first reinforcing plate portion (reinforcing plate portion A, reinforcing plate portion B) extends from the upper edge portion of the flat plate portion 14, and the second reinforcing plate portion 20 extends from the lower edge portion. However, it is also possible to configure the second reinforcing plate portion 20 to extend from the upper edge portion of the flat plate portion 14, and the first reinforcing plate portion (reinforcing plate portion A, reinforcing plate portion B) to extend from the lower edge portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10...Terminal fitting 11...Mounting side terminal part 12...Detachable terminal section 13...Cylinder part 14...Flat plate part 15...Reinforcement 16...Double part 18...Stress absorption section 19...Long reinforcing plate 20...Second reinforcing plate portion 21...Connection plate 22...Tip side reinforcing plate 23...Connecting reinforcement part 24...Spring piece 25...Inner housing 26...Inner engagement protrusion 27...Terminal through hole 28...Terminal housing wall 29...Terminal receiving chamber 30...Support plate 31...Guide hole 32...Second positioning hole 33...Third positioning hole 34...Opening edge of guide hole 40...Outer housing 41...Inner engaging claw 42...Outer engagement protrusion 43...Terminal insertion port 44…Housing Containment Room 45...Protected Space 47...Front wall part 48…Lower wall part 49...Top wall part 50…Insole 51...Gap 53...Penetration section 55...FPC 56...First positioning hole 57...Connection hole 60...Holder 61...Board 62...External engagement claw 63...Retaining plate 64...Protruding part 65...Connection part 70...Connector unit A... Reinforcing plate portion (first reinforcing plate portion) B... Reinforcing plate portion (first reinforcing plate portion) C…Contact part D...Reinforcement plate E...Reinforcement plate F...Reinforcement plate P...Circuit board T: Mating terminal α…gap β…obtuse angle γ…obtuse angle

Claims

1. a detachable terminal portion that connects to a mating terminal; a mounting terminal portion to be mounted on a circuit board; a stress absorbing portion disposed between the detachable terminal portion and the mounting terminal portion, The detachable terminal portion is a flat plate portion directly connected to the stress absorbing portion; a reinforcing portion that reinforces the flat portion.

2. the stress absorbing portion and the detachable terminal portion are connected to each other at an obtuse angle; 2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the stress absorbing portion and the mounting-side terminal portion are connected to each other at an obtuse angle.

3. A terminal fitting as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reinforcing portion includes a first reinforcing plate portion that is folded back from one of two side edge portions along the length direction of the flat plate portion and is aligned with the flat plate portion in the plate thickness direction.

4. A terminal fitting as described in Claim 3, wherein the reinforcing portion includes a second reinforcing plate portion extending in the plate thickness direction from the other of the two side edge portions along the length direction of the flat plate portion.

5. A long reinforcing plate portion including the first reinforcing plate portion and arranged along the flat plate portion, the stress absorbing portion, and the mounting side terminal portion, 4. The terminal fitting according to claim 3, wherein a side edge portion along the length of the elongated reinforcing plate portion is connected to a side edge portion along the length of the flat plate portion and a side edge portion along the length of the mounting-side terminal portion, and is spaced apart from a side edge portion along the length of the stress-absorbing portion.

6. A terminal fitting as described in Claim 5, wherein the tip reinforcing plate portion of the long reinforcing plate portion that is arranged along the mounting side terminal portion has a step portion formed thereon that abuts against the opening edge portion of the through hole in the circuit board.

7. The detachable terminal portion has a through-shaped cylindrical portion, a spring piece that elastically contacts the mating terminal is provided inside the cylindrical portion; The terminal fitting according to claim 1 , wherein when the detachable terminal portion and the mounting terminal portion are viewed in a direction in which the cylindrical portion penetrates, the mounting terminal portion is disposed outside the cylindrical portion.

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