Terminal fitting and connector

The terminal fitting's slide member and housing configuration address the issue of core wire exposure by securely covering the wire and coating, ensuring protection and efficient wire connection without dimension changes.

WO2025018156A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2025-01-23AUTONETWORKS TECH LTD +2
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2024/024182
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-07-20
Filing Date
2024-07-04
Publication Date
2025-01-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional terminal fittings and connectors fail to effectively protect the core wire and its coating from exposure when the sliding portion transitions from a non-contact to a contact state, leading to potential separation and exposure of the core wire.

Method used

A terminal fitting with a slide member that can slide between contact and non-contact positions, featuring a holding portion to cover the core wire and a protrusion that bites into the coating to secure it, along with a housing configuration that includes a groove-shaped recess and a cover portion to maintain the holding position.

Benefits of technology

The solution ensures the core wire and its coating are effectively protected, maintaining the holding position without altering the terminal fitting's dimensions, allowing for efficient connection of multiple wires while preventing exposure.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Provided is a terminal fitting (10) that is connected to a core wire (83) exposed from a coating (82) in a front end part of an electric wire (81), the terminal fitting (10) comprising: a connection member (11) having a contact part (11B) into which the core wire (83) is inserted and that is capable of making contact with the core wire (83); and a slide member (12) mounted slidably in the front-rear direction with respect to the connection member (11). The slide member (12) is slidable between a first position for keeping the contact part (11B) in a separated state of being separated from the core wire (83) and a second position for keeping the contact part (11B) in a contact state of being in contact with the core wire (83). The slide member (12) has a holding part (12B) that covers the core wire (83) and holds a front end part of the coating (82) when the slide member (12) is disposed in the second position.
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Description

Terminal fittings and connectors

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal fitting including a terminal body and a slide part attached to the terminal body. The terminal fitting is accommodated in a housing. A core wire exposed from the insulation at the end of an electric wire is inserted into the terminal body. As the slide part moves relative to the terminal body, the lower contact surface and the upper contact surface of the terminal body change between a contact state in which they contact the core wire and a non-contact state in which they do not contact the core wire. Patent Document 2 also discloses a terminal fitting with a similar configuration.

[0003] JP 2021-34307 A JP 2021-28882 A

[0004] In the configurations of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the sheath is not held by the housing, so a configuration for holding the sheath is required. Conventionally, a configuration has been adopted in which a holding member for holding the sheath is attached to the housing accommodating the terminal fitting, thereby indirectly holding the sheath to the housing. Furthermore, when the configurations of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are adopted, it is preferable that the sliding portion does not come into contact with the sheath of the core wire when in the non-contact state. In this case, when the sliding portion is moved relative to the terminal body from the non-contact state to the contact state, the sliding portion and the front end of the sheath may separate, exposing the core wire. Conventionally, a configuration has been adopted in which a cover member is attached to the housing accommodating the terminal fitting to cover the exposed core wire.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a terminal fitting and a connector that can protect the coating and the core wire exposed from the coating.

[0006] The terminal fitting of the first disclosure is a terminal fitting connected to a core wire exposed from the coating at the front end of an electric wire, and comprises: a connection member having a contact portion into which the core wire is inserted and which can come into contact with the core wire; and a slide member slidably attached to the connection member, wherein the slide member is slidable between a first position in which the contact portion is spaced apart from the core wire and a second position in which the contact portion is in contact with the core wire, and the slide member has a holding portion which covers the core wire and holds the front end of the coating when positioned in the second position.

[0007] The connector of the second disclosure comprises the terminal fitting of the first disclosure and a housing that accommodates the terminal fitting, wherein the housing has a first housing having a groove-shaped recess formed therein and a second housing that is stacked on the first housing and covers the recess, and the first housing and the second housing have a cover portion that covers the retaining portion when the terminal fitting is accommodated in the recess.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a terminal fitting and a connector that can protect a coating and a core wire exposed from the coating.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connecting member for terminal fittings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a sliding member for the terminal fittings. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a plurality of electric wires are fixed by a sheet. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the terminal fittings accommodated in the first housing, as seen from the rear. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sliding member is positioned in a first position relative to the connecting member. FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sliding member is positioned in a second position relative to the connecting member. FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sliding member is positioned in the second position relative to the connecting member, with the protrusions biting into the sheath. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the terminal fittings accommodated in the first housing, as seen from the rear, with the protrusions biting into the sheath. FIG. 10 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the completed connector.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. (1) A terminal fitting connected to a core wire exposed from a coating at a front end of an electric wire, comprising: a connection member having a contact portion into which the core wire is inserted and which can come into contact with the core wire; and a slide member slidably attached to the connection member, wherein the slide member is slidable between a first position at which the contact portion is spaced from the core wire and a second position at which the contact portion is in contact with the core wire, and the slide member has a holding portion that covers the core wire and holds the front end of the coating when the slide member is disposed at the second position.

[0011] The terminal fitting (1) can cover and hold the front end of the covering with the holding portion and can also cover the exposed core wire even when the slide member is in the second position.

[0012] (2) The terminal fitting described in (1), wherein the holding portion has a guide portion that guides the electric wire while contacting the coating, and a protrusion portion that protrudes toward the guide portion and is positioned on the opposite side of the guide portion across an arrangement space in which the electric wire is arranged, the protrusion portion is displaceable between a separated position spaced apart from the guide portion and a close position close to the guide portion, and the protrusion portion bites into the coating that contacts the guide portion when in the close position.

[0013] The terminal fitting (2) has a protrusion that can bite into the coating, so that the coating can be well held.

[0014] (3) The terminal fitting described in (2), wherein the slide member has a tubular portion into which the contact portion is inserted, and when the slide member is viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the protrusion portion is positioned only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion in the moving direction from the separated position to the close position, and is positioned only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction.

[0015] Before being wrapped around the insulation barrel, the insulation barrel tends to protrude laterally beyond the cylindrical portion. In contrast, in the terminal fitting (3), in which the protrusions are disposed only between the outermost ends of the cylindrical portion in the direction of movement and only between the outermost ends of the cylindrical portion in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the outermost dimensions of the terminal fitting are unlikely to change when comparing before and after the insulation barrel is held in place. Therefore, in a configuration in which multiple terminal fittings are housed in a housing, it is easy to arrange adjacent terminal fittings closer to each other and then connect electric wires to each of the terminal fittings housed in the housing at the same time.

[0016] (4) A connector comprising: a terminal fitting according to any one of (1) to (3); and a housing for accommodating the terminal fitting, wherein the housing has a first housing having a groove-shaped recess formed therein, and a second housing stacked on the first housing to cover the recess, and the first housing and the second housing have a cover portion that covers the holding portion when the terminal fitting is accommodated in the recess.

[0017] In the connector of (4), the covering portion covers the holding portion, so that the covering can be easily maintained in a state where it is held by the holding portion.

[0018] (5) The connector described in (4), wherein the holding portion has a guide portion that guides the electric wire while contacting the coating, and a protrusion portion that protrudes toward the guide portion and is positioned on the opposite side of the guide portion across the arrangement space in which the electric wire is arranged, the guide portion is positioned along the bottom surface of the recess, and the protrusion portion is positioned on the opening side away from the bottom surface.

[0019] The connector of (5) is easy to construct such a configuration that the protrusions are displaced from the separated position to the adjacent position while the terminal fittings are accommodated in the recesses of the first housing.

[0020] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] <Embodiment 1> As shown in FIG. 1 , a connector 100 of embodiment 1 includes a terminal fitting 10 and a housing 90. The terminal fitting 10 includes a connecting member 11 and a sliding member 12, which are separate from each other. The connecting member 11 and the sliding member 12 are formed by pressing conductive metal plates. The housing 90 includes a first housing 91, a second housing 92, and a third housing 93. The first housing 91, the second housing 92, and the third housing 93 are made of synthetic resin. In embodiment 1, the "front side," "rear side," "upper side," "lower side," "right side," and "left side" are represented by "F," "B," "U," "D," "R," and "L," respectively, in the drawings. Note that the front-to-rear direction is the direction in which the connector 100 mates with a mating connector (not shown).

[0021] [Configuration of the Connection Member] As shown in Figure 2, the connection member 11 has a connection body 11A that is rectangular and extends in the front-to-rear direction, and a pair of contact portions 11B that extend rearward from the rear end of the connection body 11A. The connection body 11A is open on both sides in the front-to-rear direction. The connection member 11 has a locking portion 11C that protrudes upward from the upper wall of the connection body 11A. The connection body 11A has resilient contact pieces (not shown) inside. The resilient contact pieces are connected to tabs of a mating terminal fitting (not shown). The tabs are inserted into the connection member 11 from the front, come into contact with the resilient contact pieces, and are connected to the connection member 11.

[0022] Each contact portion 11B extends rearward in a strip shape from the rear end of the upper and lower walls of the connecting body 11A. Each contact portion 11B is elastically deformable in the vertical direction, with the rear end of each wall of the connecting body 11A as a fulcrum. This allows each contact portion 11B to elastically deform in the vertical direction and move closer to and farther away from each other.

[0023] [Configuration of Slide Member] As shown in FIG. 3 , the slide member 12 includes a rectangular cylindrical portion 12A extending in the front-rear direction and a holding portion 12B connected to the rear end of the cylindrical portion 12A and extending rearward. The cylindrical portion 12A is open on both sides in the front-rear direction. A downwardly cutout portion 12C is formed on the upper side of the rear portion of the cylindrical portion 12A. With the contact portions 11B of the connection member 11 inserted, the cylindrical portion 12A is slidable between a first position and a second position relative to the connection member 11 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The first position is a position in which the upper contact portions 11B are spaced apart from the core wire 83 of the electric wire 81 (see FIG. 6 ). The second position is a position in which the upper contact portions 11B are in contact with the core wire 83 (see FIG. 7 ). The first position is a position rearward of the second position.

[0024] 1 , the electric wire 81 is, for example, a coated electric wire, and the coating 82 is stripped off at the front end to expose the core wire 83. For example, the electric wires 81 are arranged in parallel, and the coatings 82 are fixed to a sheet 84 made of nonwoven fabric or the like (see FIG. 4 ). By handling the sheet 84, each of the plurality of electric wires 81 fixed to the sheet 84 can be inserted into each of the plurality of terminal fittings 10 at once.

[0025] 3, the holding portion 12B has a guide portion 12D, a connecting piece 12G, and a protrusion 12H. The guide portion 12D extends rearward in a U-shape from the rear end of the lower end of the tubular portion 12A. The guide portion 12D has a bottom wall 12E and left and right side walls 12F that rise from both left and right edges of the bottom wall 12E.

[0026] The connecting piece 12G is strip-shaped and extends rearward from the rear end of the upper wall of the tubular portion 12A. The rear portion of the connecting piece 12G is bent and inclined upward and rearward. The protruding portion 12H has a base 12J extending rearward from the rear end of the connecting piece 12G and hanging pieces 12K hanging from both left and right side edges of the base 12J. The rear end edges of the hanging pieces 12K are inclined downward and forward. The pair of hanging pieces 12K of the protruding portion 12H protrudes toward the guide portion 12D. An arrangement space S is formed between the protruding portion 12H and the guide portion 12D, in which the electric wire 81 is arranged. The protruding portion 12H is located on the opposite side of the guide portion 12D across the arrangement space S. When the slide member 12 is viewed from the front-rear direction, the outer lateral dimension D1 of the pair of hanging pieces 12K is smaller than the outer lateral dimension D2 of the pair of left and right side walls 12F (see FIG. 5).

[0027] For example, the connecting member 11 is provided with a locking portion (not shown), and the sliding member 12 is provided with a locked portion (not shown). When the locking portion locks into the locked portion, the sliding member 12 is held in a first position relative to the connecting member 11 (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, the sliding member 12 is provided with a front locked portion (not shown) forward of the locked portion. When the locking portion locks into the front locked portion, the sliding member 12 is held in a second position relative to the connecting member 11 (see FIG. 7).

[0028] [Configuration of the First Housing] As shown in FIG. 1, the first housing 91 has a flat plate shape with its thickness oriented in the vertical direction. The first housing 91 has a plurality of recesses 91A. Each recess 91A is separated by a partition wall 91F that extends in the front-rear direction and rises upward (see FIG. 5). Each recess 91A extends in a groove-like shape in the front-rear direction and is aligned in the left-right direction. A cavity 91B is provided in front of each recess 91A so as to be connected to the other recesses 91A (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 8). Protrusions 91D are provided on both left-right edges of the first housing 91, protruding outward in the left-right direction. Only the left protrusion 91D is shown in FIG. 1.

[0029] [Configuration of Second Housing] The second housing 92 has a flat cover portion 92A with its thickness oriented in the vertical direction, and side wall portions 92B hanging down from both left and right edges of the cover portion 92A. A locking recess 92C is formed on the inner side of each side wall portion 92B in the horizontal direction, recessed outward in the horizontal direction. The cover portion 92A of the second housing 92 is stacked on the first housing 91 from above, covering each recess 91A of the first housing 91 (see FIG. 10 ).

[0030] [Configuration of the Third Housing] The third housing 93 has a flat plate portion 93A with its thickness oriented vertically, upright walls 93B rising from both left and right edges of the flat plate portion 93A, and a front wall 93C rising from the front edge of the flat plate portion 93A. The front wall 93C is formed with a plurality of through-holes 93H penetrating in the front-rear direction. A locking rib 93G is provided on the left-right outer side of the upright wall 93B, protruding outward in the left-right direction and extending in the front-rear direction. Only the left locking rib 93G is shown in FIG. 1 . The flat plate portion 93A has a plurality of recesses 93D. Each recess 93D extends in the front-rear direction and is aligned in the left-right direction. A cavity 93E is provided in front of each recess 93D so as to be connected to the cavity 91B and the cavity 93E of the first housing 91.

[0031] [Example of Method for Connecting Electric Wires to Terminal Fittings] As shown in Fig. 6 , the terminal fittings 10 are placed in the recessed portions 91A and cavities 91B of the first housing 91. At this time, the slide member 12 is positioned in a first position relative to the connecting member 11. First, the connecting member 11 is positioned so as to protrude forward of the slide member 12, and the terminal fittings 10 are inserted into the cavities 91B from the rear. Then, the front end of the connecting member 11 is abutted against the protruding portions 91C provided at the front end of the cavity 91B. Then, the locking portions 11C of the terminal fittings 10 are locked into the through holes 91E formed in the upper wall of the cavity 91B. This prevents the terminal fittings 10 from coming loose from the first housing 91. At this time, the guide portion 12D of the holding portion 12B is positioned along the bottom surface of the recess 91A, and the protrusion portion 12H of the holding portion 12B is positioned on the opening side of the recess 91A, spaced upward from the bottom surface of the recess 91A (see Figure 5).

[0032] Next, the electric wires 81, from which the coatings 82 have been stripped and the core wires 83 have been exposed, are inserted from the rear into the terminal fittings 10 with the slide member 12 positioned in the first position relative to the connecting member 11. Specifically, after the terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in the recesses 91A and cavities 91B, the plurality of electric wires 81 fixed to the sheet 84 are inserted all at once. At this time, the electric wires 81 are inserted into the terminal fittings 10 while the coatings 82 are in contact with and aligned with the guide portions 12D of the holding portion 12B. At this time, the guide portions 12D guide the electric wires 81. Insertion of the electric wires 81 into the connecting member 11 is stopped when the front end of the coating 82 slightly enters the rear end of the tubular portion 12A. At this time, the protrusions 12H are positioned in a spaced position, facing upward and spaced apart from the guide portions 12D.

[0033] Next, the sliding member 12 is slid from the first position to the second position relative to the connecting member 11. At this time, only the sliding member 12 slides, and the position of the electric wire 81 does not change. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 , the upper contact portion 11B is pressed downward by the upper wall of the tubular portion 12A and elastically deforms, approaching the lower contact portion 11B and contacting the core wire 83 from above. As a result, the core wire 83 is sandwiched between the upper and lower contact portions 11B from above and below. The front end of the coating 82 moves rearward and away from the rear end of the tubular portion 12A. The partition wall 91F of the first housing 91 covers the holding portion 12B from the left and right when the terminal fitting 10 is housed in the recess 91A. In other words, the partition wall 91F is a covering portion that covers the holding portion 12B from the left and right.

[0034] Next, the protrusion 12H is pressed downward by a pressing tool such as a crimper. As a result, the protrusion 12H moves downward as shown in FIG. 8 . The pair of hanging pieces 12K then bite into the sheath 82 of the electric wire 81, which is placed in contact with the guide portion 12D (see FIG. 9 ). Thus, the terminal fitting 10 housed in the first housing 91 is connected to the core wire 83 exposed from the sheath 82 at the front end of the electric wire 81. When the slide member 12 is placed in the second position and the protrusion 12H is pressed downward, the holding portion 12B covers the core wire 83 from above and below and holds the front end of the sheath 82. At this time, the protrusion 12H is positioned in a close position close to the guide portion 12D. For example, the protrusion 12H positioned in the close position can be moved to the separated position by inserting a pointed tool (not shown) between the protrusion 12H and the sheath 82H.

[0035] 5 and 9, when viewing the slide member 12 from the front-to-rear direction, the protrusions 12H arranged at the separated position and the adjacent position are arranged only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the direction of movement (vertical direction) from the separated position to the adjacent position. Here, the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the direction of movement (vertical direction) from the separated position to the adjacent position are the upper end E1 and the lower end E2 of the slide member 12 (see FIG. 5). The dimension between the upper end E1 and the lower end E2 in the vertical direction is the maximum dimension of the slide member 12 (terminal fitting 10) in the vertical direction.

[0036] Furthermore, the protrusions 12H are disposed only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the movement direction (up-down direction). Here, the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the movement direction (up-down direction) are the left end E3 and the right end E4 of the slide member 12 (see FIG. 5). The dimension between the left end E3 and the right end E4 in the left-right direction is the maximum dimension of the slide member 12 (terminal fitting 10) in the left-right direction.

[0037] Next, as with the first housing 91, the terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in the recesses 93D and cavities 93E of the third housing 93, and then the electric wires 81 are inserted into the terminal fittings 10. The slide member 12 is moved from the first position to the second position, and the protrusions 12H are pressed downward with the pressing jig. In this way, the electric wires 81 are connected to the terminal fittings 10 accommodated in the third housing 93.

[0038] Next, the first housing 91, the second housing 92, and the third housing 93 are assembled. First, the first housing 91 is assembled to the third housing 93. At this time, the recessed portion 91A of the first housing 91 is placed on the upper side, with the wires 81 drawn out rearward. Then, the first housing 91 is attached from above between a pair of vertical walls 93B of the third housing 93. Locking holes 93F are formed in the vertical walls 93B so as to penetrate through the wall thickness, and each of the protrusions 91D of the first housing 91 is locked into each of the locking holes 93F (see FIG. 1).

[0039] Next, the first housing 91 and the third housing 93 are attached between the pair of side wall portions 92B of the second housing 92. At this time, each locking rib 93G is locked into each locking recess 92C (see FIG. 1). In this manner, the connector 100 is completed. As shown in FIG. 10, in the completed connector 100, the cover portion 92A of the second housing 92 covers from above the holding portion 12B of the slide member 12 of the terminal fitting 10 housed in the recess 91A of the first housing 91. Furthermore, in the completed connector 100, the first housing 91 covers from above the holding portion 12B of the slide member 12 of the terminal fitting 10 housed in the recess 93D of the third housing 93.

[0040] Next, the effects of this configuration will be illustrated. The terminal fitting 10 is connected to a core wire 83 exposed from a coating 82 at the front end of an electric wire 81, and includes a connection member 11 having a contact portion 11B into which the core wire 83 is inserted and which can come into contact with the core wire 83, and a slide member 12 attached to the connection member 11 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The slide member 12 is slidable between a first position where the contact portion 11B is spaced from the core wire 83, and a second position where the contact portion 11B is in contact with the core wire 83. When the slide member 12 is positioned in the second position, the slide member 12 has a holding portion 12B that covers the core wire 83 and holds the front end of the coating 82.

[0041] According to this configuration, even when the slide member 12 is positioned in the second position, the holding portion 12B can cover and hold the front end portion of the coating 82 and also cover the exposed core wire 83.

[0042] The holding portion 12B has a guide portion 12D that guides the electric wire 81 while contacting the coating 82, and a protrusion portion 12H that protrudes toward the guide portion 12D and is disposed on the opposite side of the guide portion 12D across the arrangement space S in which the electric wire 81 is disposed. The protrusion portion 12H is displaceable between a spaced position spaced apart from the guide portion 12D and a close position close to the guide portion 12D. When in the close position, the protrusion portion 12H bites into the coating 82 that is in contact with the guide portion 12D. With this configuration, the protrusion portion 12H can bite into the coating 82, thereby enabling the coating 82 to be held in place well.

[0043] The slide member 12 has a tubular portion 12A into which the contact portion 11B is inserted. When the slide member 12 is viewed from the front-rear direction, the protrusions 12H are disposed only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the movement direction from the separated position to the close position, and are disposed only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the left-right direction perpendicular to the movement direction.

[0044] Before being wrapped around the insulation barrel, the insulation barrel tends to protrude laterally beyond the tubular portion. In contrast, as in the terminal fitting 10, if the protrusion 12H is disposed only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the direction of movement and only between the outermost ends of the tubular portion 12A in the left-right direction perpendicular to the direction of movement, the outermost dimensions of the terminal fitting 10 are unlikely to change when comparing before and after the covering 82 is held. Therefore, when a plurality of terminal fittings 10 are housed in the housing 90, it is easy to arrange adjacent terminal fittings 10 closer to each other and then connect the electric wires 81 to each of the terminal fittings 10 housed in the housing 90 at the same time.

[0045] The connector 100 includes a terminal fitting 10 and a housing 90 that accommodates the terminal fitting 10. The housing 90 includes a first housing 91 having a groove-shaped recess 91A formed therein, and a second housing 92 that is stacked on the first housing 91 and covers the recess 91A. The first housing 91 has a partition wall 91F that serves as a cover that covers the retaining portion 12B from the left and right when the terminal fitting 10 is accommodated in the recess 91A. The second housing 92 has a cover 92A that covers the retaining portion 12B when the terminal fitting 10 is accommodated in the recess 91A. With this configuration, covering the retaining portion 12B with the cover 92A protects the retaining portion 12B, making it easier to maintain the state in which the coating 82 is held by the retaining portion 12B.

[0046] The holding portion 12B has a guide portion 12D that guides the electric wire 81 while contacting the sheath 82, and a protrusion portion 12H that protrudes toward the guide portion 12D and is located on the opposite side of the arrangement space S in which the electric wire 81 is arranged from the guide portion 12D across the arrangement space S. The guide portion 12D is located along the bottom surface of the recess 91A, and the protrusion portion 12H is located on the opening side spaced from the bottom surface of the recess 91A. This configuration makes it easy to configure a configuration in which the protrusion portion 12H can be displaced from the separated position to the adjacent position while the terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in the recess 91A of the first housing 91. Furthermore, it is easy to connect the electric wires 81 to each of the terminal fittings 10 accommodated in the recess 91A all at once.

[0047] <Other Embodiments> The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0048] Unlike the first embodiment, the connecting member may be provided with a tab.

[0049] Unlike the first embodiment, the tubular portion of the sliding member is not limited to a rectangular tubular shape, but may be cylindrical.

[0050] Unlike the first embodiment, the second housing and the third housing may sandwich the first housings stacked in the vertical direction from above and below.

[0051] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Terminal fitting 11: Connection member 11A: Connection body 11B: Contact portion 11C: Locking portion 12: Slide member 12A: Cylindrical portion 12B: Holding portion 12C: Notch portion 12D: Guide portion 12E: Bottom wall 12F: Left and right side walls 12G: Connecting piece 12H: Protrusion portion 12J: Base portion 12K: Hanging piece 81: Electric wire 82: Coating 83: Core wire 84: Sheet 90: Housing 91: First housing 91A: Recess 91B: Cavity 91C: Protrusion 91D: Protrusion 91E: Through hole 91F: Partition wall (cover portion) 92: Second housing 92A: Cover portion 92B : Side wall portion 92C : Locking recess 93 : Third housing 93A : Flat plate portion 93B : Standing wall 93C : Front wall 93D : Recess 93E : Cavity 93F : Locking hole 93G : Locking rib 93H : Insertion hole 100 : Connector D1, D2 : Dimensions E1 : Upper end of slide member (terminal metal fitting) E2 : Lower end of slide member (terminal metal fitting) E3 : Left end of slide member (terminal metal fitting) E4 : Right end of slide member (terminal metal fitting) S : Arrangement space

Claims

1. A terminal fitting connected to a core wire exposed from the coating at the front end of an electric wire, comprising: a connection member having a contact portion into which the core wire is inserted and capable of contacting the core wire; and a slide member slidably attached to the connection member, wherein the slide member is slidable between a first position at which the contact portion is spaced apart from the core wire and a second position at which the contact portion is in contact with the core wire, and wherein the slide member has a holding portion that covers the core wire and holds the front end of the coating when positioned in the second position.

2. A terminal fitting as described in claim 1, wherein the holding portion has a guide portion that guides the electric wire while contacting the coating, and a protrusion portion that protrudes toward the guide portion and is positioned on the opposite side of the guide portion across the arrangement space in which the electric wire is arranged, the protrusion portion is displaceable between a separated position spaced away from the guide portion and a close position close to the guide portion, and the protrusion portion bites into the coating that is in contact with the guide portion when in the close position.

3. A terminal fitting as described in claim 2, wherein the slide member has a tubular portion into which the contact portion is inserted, and when the slide member is viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the protrusion portion is positioned only between the two outermost ends of the tubular portion in the moving direction from the separated position to the close position, and is positioned only between the two outermost ends of the tubular portion in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction.

4. A connector comprising: a terminal fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3; and a housing for accommodating the terminal fitting, wherein the housing has a first housing having a groove-shaped recess formed therein, and a second housing stacked on the first housing and covering the recess, and the first housing and the second housing have a cover portion which covers the retaining portion when the terminal fitting is accommodated in the recess.

5. A connector as described in claim 4, wherein the holding portion has a guide portion that guides the electric wire while contacting the coating, and a protrusion portion that protrudes toward the guide portion and is positioned on the opposite side of the guide portion across the arrangement space in which the electric wire is arranged, the guide portion is positioned along the bottom surface of the recess, and the protrusion portion is positioned on the opening side spaced from the bottom surface.

Citation Information

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