Terminal fitting

Abstract

Provided is a terminal fitting that can be satisfactorily connected to a circuit board by solder while using a plate material subjected to pre-plating processing.　The terminal fitting (10) is made of a metal plate (plate material) with a plate surface excluding a cut surface (10S) being subjected to plating processing. The terminal fitting (10) comprises: a connection part (10H) that is inserted into a through hole (H) of a circuit board (S) and is fixed to the circuit board (S) by solder; a first folded part (10Q) that extends from one side edge of a pair of side edges parallel to an insertion direction of the connection part (10H) into the through hole (H) and is folded back so as to overlap the connection part (10H); and a second folded part (10R) that extends from the other side edge of the pair of side edges and is folded back so as to overlap the connection part (10H). A cut surface (10S) of the extended end edge of the first folded part (10Q) and a cut surface (10S) of the extended end edge of the second folded part (10R) face each other so as to be butted.

Description

Terminal fittings

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector equipped with a fixing member having a board fixing portion that is fixed to a circuit board by solder. The fixing member of this connector is punched out with a die after plating a plate material (i.e., pre-plated). As a result, the cut surface cut by the die is not plated. The unplated portion is difficult to solder. For this reason, Patent Document 1 folds the board fixing portion so that the unplated area (i.e., the cut surface) is gathered in one place, thereby ensuring an area on the outer surface of the board fixing portion where solder can easily adhere.

[0003] JP 2017-103171 A

[0004] For example, if the cut surface is coated with plating by plating after punching out the plate material with a die (i.e., post-plating), the cut surface becomes more susceptible to solder adhesion and spreading. However, when plating after punching out the plate material with a die, it is necessary to perform plating while protecting the fixing member after punching so that it does not deform or break, which is time-consuming.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure was completed based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a terminal fitting that can be well connected to a circuit board using solder while using pre-plated plate material.

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure is a terminal fitting made of a plate material having at least a portion of its surface plated except for the cut surface, and comprises: a connection portion that is inserted into a through hole of a circuit board and fixed to the circuit board by soldering; a first folded portion that extends from one of a pair of side edges of the connection portion that are parallel to the insertion direction into the through hole and is folded back so as to overlap the connection portion; and a second folded portion that extends from the other of the pair of side edges and is folded back so as to overlap the connection portion, wherein the cut surface of the extending edge of the first folded portion and the cut surface of the extending edge of the second folded portion face each other so as to be butted against each other.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a pre-plated plate material can be used and can be satisfactorily connected to a circuit board using solder.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a terminal fitting as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the connector as viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a connection portion is connected to a circuit board by soldering. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a connection portion according to another embodiment, showing a state in which the folded length of the first folded portion is shorter than that of the second folded portion. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a connection portion according to another embodiment, showing a state in which only the first folded portion is provided and folded.

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. (1) A terminal fitting made of a plate material having at least a portion of its surface, excluding a cut surface, plated, the terminal fitting comprising: a connection portion that is inserted into a through hole of a circuit board and fixed to the circuit board by soldering; a first folded portion that extends from one of a pair of side edges of the connection portion that are parallel to the insertion direction of the through hole and folded back so as to overlap the connection portion; and a second folded portion that extends from the other of the pair of side edges and folded back so as to overlap the connection portion, wherein the cut surface of the extended edge of the first folded portion and the cut surface of the extended edge of the second folded portion face each other so as to abut against each other.

[0010] In the terminal fitting (1), the cut surfaces of the first folded portion and the second folded portion are opposed to each other so that they do not face the inner surface of the through hole of the circuit board. Therefore, even if the cut surfaces are not plated, the entire outer peripheral surfaces of the connecting portion, the first folded portion, and the second folded portion that face the inner surface of the through hole can be plated to allow solder to easily adhere and spread.

[0011] (2) The terminal fitting according to (1), wherein the outer surface of the extending end of the first folded portion and the outer surface of the extending end of the second folded portion are formed with valley portions having valley-shaped valley surfaces that become deeper toward the connection portion, and the surfaces of the valley surfaces are plated.

[0012] In the terminal fitting (2), the valley surface is coated with plating, which allows the solder to easily adhere and spread, and therefore the solder also flows around the valley portion, and the solder adheres to the valley surface of the first folded portion and the valley surface of the second folded portion so as to rise toward each other, making it easier for the raised solder at the bottom of the valley portion to approach each other and bond, thereby allowing the solder to adhere and spread easily so as to connect to the outer surface of the first folded portion and the outer surface of the second folded portion.

[0013] (3) A terminal fitting as described in (1) or (2), wherein the distance between the cut surface of the extending end of the first folded portion and the cut surface of the extending end of the second folded portion is smaller than the plate thickness dimension of the first folded portion and the second folded portion.

[0014] (3) The terminal fitting brings the extending ends of the first folded portion and the second folded portion closer together, making it easier to connect the solder attached to the outer surface of the first folded portion and the solder attached to the outer surface of the second folded portion without interruption.

[0015] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of a connector 1 having a terminal fitting 10 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. In the drawings, "front side," "rear side," "upper side," "lower side," "right side," and "left side" are represented by "F," "B," "U," "D," "R," and "L," respectively. Note that the directional references are defined for convenience and do not necessarily coincide with the directions when the connector 1 including the terminal fitting 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like. For example, the up-down direction is not limited to the direction of gravity.

[0016] 1, the connector 1 is configured so that mating terminals 50 of a mating connector (not shown) can be connected to terminal fittings 10 housed in a housing 30. The connector 1 has a pair of terminal fittings 10 and a housing 30. The connector 1 is attached to a circuit board S.

[0017] [Configuration of Circuit Board] The circuit board S is flat. Electronic components (not shown) are mounted on the top and bottom surfaces of the circuit board S. A pair of through holes H are formed in the circuit board S so as to penetrate in the thickness direction. A conductive portion La is provided on the bottom surface of the circuit board S so as to surround the through holes H. A connecting portion 10H of a terminal fitting 10 inserted into the through holes H and protruding from the bottom surface of the circuit board S is connected and fixed to the conductive portion La by soldering.

[0018] [Configuration of Terminal Fitting] The terminal fitting 10 is formed by pressing a metal plate, which is a conductive plate material. The terminal fitting 10 is a so-called female terminal fitting. The metal plate used for the terminal fitting 10 is plated before being pressed. That is, the metal plate is pre-plated. Therefore, in the terminal fitting 10 formed by pressing this metal plate, the cut surface 10S cut by the press working is not plated. In other words, the terminal fitting 10 is made of a plate material whose entire plate surface except for the cut surface 10S is plated.

[0019] The pair of terminal fittings 10 have the same configuration and differ only in the position in which they are arranged. Therefore, the terminal fittings 10 will be described with reference to one of the terminal fittings 10. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the terminal fitting 10 has a box portion 10A, a plurality of inclined portions 10C, a plurality of resilient contact portions 10D, a plurality of protrusions 10E, a spring portion 10G, and a connecting portion 10H.

[0020] The box portion 10A has a rectangular cylindrical shape, its axis is oriented vertically, and its upper and lower ends are open (see FIG. 3). The upper end of the box portion 10A is an insertion opening 10J into which the mating terminal 50 is inserted (see FIG. 3). That is, the box portion 10A has the insertion opening 10J into which the mating terminal 50 is inserted.

[0021] The inclined portions 10C are provided one on each side of the upper ends of a pair of opposing walls of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 1). Each inclined portion 10C is connected to the opening edge (the upper opening edge) of the insertion opening 10J and extends outward in the left-right direction and upward at an angle (see FIG. 1). The inclined portions 10C have a guide surface 10L that extends upward (forward in the opening direction of the insertion opening 10J) and widens as it connects to the opening edge (see FIG. 1).

[0022] The resilient contact portions 10D are formed in groups of three on the wall portion of the box portion 10A where the inclined portion 10C is continuous. Each resilient contact portion 10D is a part of the wall, formed by cutting and raising the wall portion and protruding inward from the wall portion. Each resilient contact portion 10D is formed to extend upward in a cantilevered manner (see FIG. 3). In other words, each resilient contact portion 10D has an elongated shape extending in the insertion / removal direction of the mating terminal 50. The resilient contact portions 10D can elastically deform inward and outward from the box portion 10A, starting from their lower ends. The resilient contact portions 10D are arranged side by side around the circumferential direction of the box portion 10A. Each resilient contact portion 10D is formed inclined so as to protrude inward from the wall portion of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 1). The tip (upper end) of each resilient contact portion 10D is inclined outward in the left-right direction and upward (see FIG. 1).

[0023] The protrusions 10E are formed in pairs on the wall of the box portion 10A where the resilient contact portions 10D are disposed, protruding inward (see FIG. 2). Each protrusion 10E is a part of the wall and is formed by hammering out the wall. The lower end of each protrusion 10E is flush with the upper end of the opening 10P, which opens along the upper end of the resilient contact portion 10D (see FIG. 3). That is, the protrusions 10E are formed on the edge of the opening 10P, which is formed by cutting and raising the resilient contact portion 10D. In other words, the protrusions 10E are positioned on the wall closer to the insertion opening 10J than the resilient contact portions 10D. The protrusions 10E are arranged side by side around the circumferential direction of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 2). Each protrusion 10E is formed to protrude inward from the wall of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 2). The upper portion of each protrusion 10E is inclined downward toward the opposing wall (see FIG. 1). When the box part 10A is viewed from above, each protrusion 10E is disposed so as to correspond to a space between adjacent resilient contact parts 10D (see FIG. 2). The distance between the protrusions 10E facing each other in the left-right direction is greater than the distance between the resilient contact parts 10D facing each other in the left-right direction (see FIG. 2).

[0024] The spring portion 10G is formed in the box portion 10A, continuing from the lower edge of one of the pair of walls on which the resilient contact portion 10D is formed. The spring portion 10G is formed in a strip shape, forming an S-shape and extending in a direction away from the opposing wall portion of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the spring portion 10G has two bent portions 10M (see FIG. 1). When the box portion 10A is viewed from above, the spring portion 10G is positioned outward of the box portion 10A (see FIG. 2). A pair of locking pieces 10N are formed at the lower end of the spring portion 10G so as to protrude in the width direction.

[0025] The connecting portion 10H is formed to be continuous with the lower edge of the spring portion 10G and extend downward (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 10H has a first folded portion 10Q and a second folded portion 10R. The first folded portion 10Q extends from one of a pair of side edges of the connecting portion 10H parallel to the insertion direction (up-down direction) of the circuit board S into the through-hole H and is folded back so as to overlap the connecting portion 10H. The second folded portion 10R extends from the other of a pair of side edges of the connecting portion 10H parallel to the insertion direction of the circuit board S into the through-hole H and is folded back so as to overlap the connecting portion 10H in the same direction as the first folded portion 10Q.

[0026] The cut surfaces 10S of the extending edges of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R face each other so as to face each other at a predetermined distance. For example, the distance between the opposing cut surfaces 10S is preferably smaller than the plate thickness of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R. The cut surfaces 10S are not plated.

[0027] A valley portion 10T is formed between the extending ends of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R. The valley portion 10T has a pair of valley surfaces 10U. These valley surfaces 10U are formed on the outer surfaces of the extending ends of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R in a valley shape that deepens toward the connecting portion 10H. For example, these valley surfaces 10U are formed by a surface pressing process, in which pressure is applied from the thickness direction during press processing. Therefore, the surface of each valley surface 10U is plated. When viewing the box portion 10A from above, the connecting portion 10H and the spring portion 10G are located outside the box portion 10A (see FIG. 2).

[0028] [Housing Configuration] The housing 30 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 30 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The housing 30 has a partition wall 30A. The partition wall 30A is arranged to divide the space inside the housing 30 into left and right sides. Terminal fittings 10 are arranged in each of the left and right spaces inside the housing 30 divided by the partition wall 30A. These spaces are accommodation spaces A that accommodate the terminal fittings 10. Insertion holes 30B are formed in the upper end of the housing 30 corresponding to each accommodation space A.

[0029] A pair of protrusions 30C are formed in the lower part of the housing 30, protruding outward in the left-right direction so that the storage space A expands outward in the left-right direction. A pair of locking grooves 30D are formed in each of the protrusions 30C. In one of the protrusions 30C, the pair of locking grooves 30D are formed so as to extend upward from the lower end of each of a pair of wall portions whose plate thickness direction is oriented in a direction intersecting the left-right direction and the up-down direction. Only one of the pair of locking grooves 30D is shown in Figure 1.

[0030] [Example of Assembling Terminal Fittings to a Housing] As shown in Fig. 1, the orientation of each terminal fitting 10 is adjusted so that the connection portions 10H are lower than the box portion 10A, and the terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in each accommodation space A from below the housing 30. At this time, the terminal fittings 10 are accommodated in the accommodation space A with the connection portions 10H of each terminal fitting 10 facing away from each other. Then, the locking pieces 10N are press-fitted into the locking grooves 30D of the housing 30 from below. In this way, the assembly of the housing 30 and the terminal fittings 10 is completed, and the connector 1 is completed. The insertion hole 30B of the housing 30 is formed to face the insertion opening 10J, which is one opening of the box portion 10A. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, when the connector 1 is viewed from above (from the opening direction), a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 30B is located inside the outer circumferential surface of the box portion 10A.

[0031] In the completed connector 1, the terminal fittings 10 are arranged spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing 30. That is, the terminal fittings 10 are in a non-contact state, with the exception of the locking pieces 10N, and do not come into contact with the housing 30. Therefore, the box portion 10A of the terminal fitting 10 can swing left and right from the end of the spring portion 10G connected to the locking piece 10N as a base point within a range that does not contact the inner surface of the housing 30 (see FIG. 1).

[0032] [Example of Assembling a Connector to a Circuit Board] The connecting portion 10H of the terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the through hole H of the circuit board S. At this time, the connecting portion 10H is inserted into the through hole H from the upper surface side of the circuit board S. Then, while keeping the lower end surface of the housing 30 in contact with the upper surface of the circuit board S, the connecting portion 10H is connected and fixed to the conductive portion La of the circuit board S using solder. In this manner, the connector 1 is assembled to the circuit board S (see FIG. 1 ).

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6 , solder is applied to and spreads around the entire circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion 10H, which faces the inner surface of the through hole H, and the connection portion 10H is connected to and fixed to the conductive portion La of the circuit board S. In the valley portion 10T, solder is applied to and rises on the valley surface 10U of the first folded portion 10Q as it approaches the second folded portion 10R, and solder is applied to and rises on the valley surface 10U of the second folded portion 10R as it approaches the first folded portion 10Q. At the bottom of the valley portion 10T, the solder applied to the valley surface 10U of the first folded portion 10Q and the solder applied to the valley surface 10U of the second folded portion 10R are joined. In this way, the solder can be applied and spread smoothly and continuously around the entire outer circumference of the connection portion 10H while maintaining the connection between the solder applied to the outer surfaces of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R.

[0034] Next, the effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0035] The terminal fitting 10 is made of a metal plate (plate material) whose surface except for a cut surface 10S is plated. The terminal fitting 10 includes a connection portion 10H that is inserted into a through hole H of a circuit board S and fixed to the circuit board S by soldering, a first folded portion 10Q that extends from one of a pair of side edges of the connection portion 10H that are parallel to the insertion direction into the through hole H and is folded back so as to overlap the connection portion 10H, and a second folded portion 10R that extends from the other of the pair of side edges and is folded back so as to overlap the connection portion 10H. The cut surface 10S of the extending edge of the first folded portion 10Q and the cut surface 10S of the extending edge of the second folded portion 10R face each other so as to abut against each other.

[0036] According to this configuration, the cut surfaces 10S of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R are opposed to each other so as to be abutted against each other, so that the cut surfaces 10S do not face the inner surface of the through hole H of the circuit board S. Therefore, even if the cut surfaces 10S are not plated, the entire outer peripheral surfaces of the connection portion 10H, the first folded portion 10Q, and the second folded portion 10R that face the inner surface of the through hole H of the circuit board S can be made into plated surfaces to which solder can easily adhere and spread.

[0037] The outer surfaces of the extending end of the first folded portion 10Q and the extending end of the second folded portion 10R are formed with valley portions 10T having valley-shaped valley surfaces 10U that deepen toward the connecting portion 10H, and the surfaces of the valley surfaces 10U are plated. With this configuration, the valley surfaces 10U are coated with plating, which facilitates solder adhesion and spreading. Therefore, the solder also flows around the valley portions 10T, and the solder adheres to the valley surfaces 10U of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R in a manner that bulges toward each other. The bulging solder at the bottoms of the valley portions 10T approaches each other and easily bonds. This allows the solder to adhere and spread in a manner that connects the outer surfaces of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R.

[0038] The distance between the cut surface 10S of the extending end of the first folded portion 10Q and the cut surface 10S of the extending end of the second folded portion 10R is smaller than the thickness of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R. With this configuration, the extending ends of the first folded portion 10Q and the second folded portion 10R are brought closer to each other, which makes it easier to seamlessly connect the solder attached to the outer surface of the first folded portion 10Q and the solder attached to the outer surface of the second folded portion 10R.

[0039] [Other Embodiments] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is defined by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0040] Unlike the above embodiment, the connection portion may have the configuration shown in Figures 7 and 8. For example, as in connection portion 110H shown in Figure 7, the folded length of first folded portion 110Q may be made shorter than that of second folded portion 110R, thereby shifting the position of valley portion 110T. Also, as in connection portion 210H shown in Figure 8, only first folded portion 210Q may be folded. In this case, it is possible to apply a surface pressing process to the extending end portion of first folded portion 210Q and the edge portion of connection portion 210H adjacent to the extending end portion of first folded portion 210Q in the plate thickness direction.

[0041] The number of inclined portions, the number of resilient contact portions, the number of protrusions, and the number of bent portions of the spring portion are not limited to those in the above embodiment.

[0042] Unlike the above embodiment, the spring portion may be bent in a Z-shape or a crank shape.

[0043] Unlike the above embodiment, the distance between the cut surface of the extending end edge of the first folded portion and the cut surface of the extending end edge of the second folded portion may be larger than the plate thickness dimension of the first folded portion and the second folded portion.

[0044] The terminal fitting may be a male terminal fitting.

[0045] Unlike the above embodiment, a valley surface may be formed only on the extending end portion of either the first folded portion or the second folded portion. Alternatively, no valley surface may be provided.

[0046] Unlike the above embodiment, the terminal fitting may be made of a plate material in which only a portion of the plate surface, excluding the cut surface, is plated. Specifically, it is sufficient that the outer peripheral surfaces and the valley surface of the connection portion, the first folded portion, and the second folded portion are plated.

[0047] 1: Connector 10: Terminal fitting 10A: Box portion 10C: Inclined portion 10D: Elastic contact portion 10E: Protrusion 10G: Spring portion 10H, 110H, 210H: Connection portion 10J: Insertion opening 10L: Guide surface 10M: Bent portion 10N: Locking piece 10P: Opening 10Q, 110Q, 210Q: First folded portion 10R, 110R: Second folded portion 10S: Cut surface 10T, 110T: Valley portion 10U: Valley surface 30: Housing 30A: Partition wall 30B: Insertion hole 30C: Protrusion 30D: Locking groove 50: Counter terminal A: Accommodating space H: Through hole La: Conductive portion S : Circuit board

Claims

1. A terminal fitting made of a plate material with at least a portion of its surface excluding a cut surface being plated, comprising: a connection portion that is inserted into a through hole of a circuit board and fixed to the circuit board by soldering; a first folded portion that extends from one of a pair of side edges parallel to the insertion direction of the connection portion into the through hole and is folded back so as to overlap the connection portion; and a second folded portion that extends from the other of the pair of side edges and is folded back so as to overlap the connection portion, wherein the cut surface of the extending edge of the first folded portion and the cut surface of the extending edge of the second folded portion face each other so as to be butted against each other.

2. The terminal fitting as described in claim 1, wherein a valley portion having a valley-shaped valley surface which deepens toward said connection portion is formed on the outer surface of the extended end of said first folded portion and on the outer surface of the extended end of said second folded portion, and the surface of said valley surface is plated.

3. A terminal fitting as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the distance between the cut surface of the extended end of the first folded portion and the cut surface of the extended end of the second folded portion is smaller than the plate thickness dimension of the first folded portion and the second folded portion.

Images