Shield terminal

Abstract

An outer conductor (30) has a cylindrical shape and has: an insertion port (36) for a dielectric (60); and an elastic locking portion (45) for locking the dielectric (60) and suppressing the dielectric (60) from coming off from the insertion port (36). The dielectric (60) has a first member (61) and a second member (62) that are connected to each other. The first member (61) and the second member (62) have a first wall section (85) and a second wall section (65), respectively, which are disposed adjacent to each other. The tip of the elastic locking portion (45) moves from the side surface (89) of the first wall section (85) to the side surface (78) of the second wall section (65) in contact therewith when the dielectric (60) is inserted into the outer conductor (30). The first wall section (85) has an inclined surface (95) that intersects with the side surface (89) of the first wall section (85), is inclined inward and apart from the elastic locking portion (45), and faces the adjacent end surface (79) of the second wall section (65).

Description

Shield terminal

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

[0002] The connector (hereinafter referred to as a shield terminal) described in Patent Document 1 includes a dielectric that houses an inner conductor and a cylindrical first outer conductor that houses the dielectric. The dielectric is inserted into the first outer conductor from the rear. A pair of locking pieces is formed on the left and right walls of the first outer conductor. The locking pieces are formed by cutting and raising a portion of each of the left and right walls, so that they protrude forward. Locking recesses are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the dielectric. The locking pieces lock into the locking recesses from the rear, thereby holding the dielectric inside the first outer conductor in a non-disconnected state.

[0003] The dielectric has a lower dielectric and an upper dielectric that is assembled to the lower dielectric from above. The inner conductor is disposed between the assembled lower dielectric and upper dielectric. The lower dielectric has a lock receiving portion. The lock receiving portion forms part of the left and right side walls of the lower dielectric. The upper dielectric has a lock claw at a position corresponding to the protruding tip portion of the lock receiving portion. The lock receiving portion is engaged with the lock claw, and the lower dielectric and upper dielectric are assembled together.

[0004] The upper dielectric has a side wall (the wall indicated by the reference numeral 129 in FIG. 21 of Patent Document 1) that is adjacent to and aligned with the lock receiving portion when the upper and lower dielectrics are assembled. The rear end edge of the lock receiving portion and the front end edge of the side wall face each other in the front-to-rear direction and are arranged to be able to come into contact with each other in the up-and-down direction. A step (recess) is formed on the outer surface between the rear end edge of the lock receiving portion and the front end edge of the side wall due to the gap between the adjacent end faces. Prior art documents on shield terminals include Patent Documents 2 and 3.

[0005] JP 2020-107565 A JP 2023-33402 A JP 2008-146878 A

[0006] When assembling a shield terminal, a pull check is performed to confirm whether the dielectric is inserted into the first outer conductor to the correct depth (the position where the locking pieces engage with the locking recesses). The pull check is a check method in which the inner conductor connected to the end of the electric wire is accommodated in the dielectric, the dielectric is accommodated in the outer conductor, and the electric wire is pulled in a direction that pulls the dielectric away from the first outer conductor. If the dielectric remains inside the first outer conductor, it is determined that the locking pieces have engaged the locking recesses and the dielectric has been inserted into the first outer conductor to the correct depth. If the dielectric slips out of the first outer conductor, it is determined that the locking pieces have not engaged the locking recesses and the dielectric has not been inserted into the first outer conductor to the correct depth, i.e., it is in a partially inserted state.

[0007] In Patent Document 1, if the above-mentioned pulling check is performed when the dielectric is in a half-inserted state in the first outer conductor, the locking piece may get caught on the step formed between the lock receiving portion and the side wall, preventing the dielectric from slipping out, and the worker may mistakenly believe that the dielectric is inserted to the correct depth inside the first outer conductor.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a shield terminal that can improve the accuracy in checking the insertion state of a dielectric into an outer conductor.

[0009] The shielded terminal of the present disclosure includes a dielectric that accommodates an inner conductor, and a cylindrical outer conductor that accommodates the dielectric, the outer conductor having an insertion opening for the dielectric and an elastic locking portion that locks the dielectric and prevents the dielectric from slipping out of the insertion opening, the elastic locking portion having a shape that protrudes in a direction away from the insertion opening toward a tip located inside the outer conductor, the dielectric has a first member and a second member that are connected to each other, the first member and the second member have a first wall portion and a second wall portion that are arranged adjacent to each other, the tip of the elastic locking portion is configured to move while making contact from a side surface of the first wall portion to a side surface of the second wall portion when the dielectric is inserted into the outer conductor, and the first wall portion has an inclined surface that intersects the side surface of the first wall portion and is inclined inwardly so as to retreat from the elastic locking portion, and faces an adjacent end surface of the second wall portion.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a shield terminal that can improve the accuracy in checking the insertion state of the dielectric into the outer conductor.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an outer conductor, first and second members constituting a dielectric, and a pair of inner conductors connected to an end portion of a shielded cable in a shielded terminal of a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shielded terminal of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the shielded terminal of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second member of the dielectric in the shielded terminal of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first member of the dielectric in the shielded terminal of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the first member of the dielectric in the shielded terminal of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the dielectric is arranged behind the outer conductor during the assembly process of the shielded terminal of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cutaway perspective view of the first and second members constituting the dielectric in the shielded terminal of the first embodiment, cut in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, showing a state in which the locking portion of the first member and the locked portion of the second member are engaged. Fig. 9 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a state in which the dielectric is inserted into the outer conductor to a normal depth and the tips of the elastic locking portions of the outer conductor are locked onto the locking end faces of the second wall portion of the dielectric in the shield terminal of the first embodiment. Fig. 10 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a state in which the dielectric remains in a half-inserted position in the outer conductor and the tips of the elastic locking portions of the outer conductor are positioned outside the left and right slopes of the first wall portion of the dielectric in the shield terminal of the first embodiment.

[0012] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. A shield terminal of the present disclosure includes: (1) a dielectric that accommodates an inner conductor; and a tubular outer conductor that accommodates the dielectric, the outer conductor having an insertion opening for the dielectric and a resilient locking portion that locks the dielectric and prevents the dielectric from slipping out of the insertion opening, the resilient locking portion having a shape that protrudes in a direction away from the insertion opening toward a tip located inside the outer conductor, the dielectric has a first member and a second member that are connected to each other, the first member and the second member have a first wall portion and a second wall portion that are disposed adjacent to each other, the tip of the resilient locking portion is configured to move in contact from a side surface of the first wall portion to a side surface of the second wall portion when the dielectric is inserted into the outer conductor, and the first wall portion has an inclined surface that intersects the side surface of the first wall portion, is inclined inwardly away from the resilient locking portion, and faces an adjacent end surface of the second wall portion.

[0013] When performing a pull check to confirm whether the dielectric is inserted to the correct depth into the outer conductor, if the dielectric remains in a partially inserted position, not reaching the correct insertion position relative to the outer conductor, the tip of the elastic locking portion can move along the inclined surface before moving from the side surface of the second wall portion to the side surface of the first wall portion. This prevents the tip of the elastic locking portion from getting caught between the adjacent end surfaces of the first wall portion and the second wall portion, allowing the dielectric to easily slip out of the outer conductor. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an operator mistakenly believes that the dielectric is inserted to the correct depth into the outer conductor due to the elastic locking portion getting caught on the first wall portion.

[0014] (2) In the shield terminal described in (1) above, it is preferable that the second wall portion has a locking end face on the opposite side to the adjacent end face, and the inclined surface extends from the side of the first wall portion to a position inward from the tip of the elastic locking portion locked to the locking end face.

[0015] According to the above configuration (2), when the dielectric remains in a half-inserted position relative to the outer conductor, by performing a pulling check, it is possible to more reliably realize a state in which the tip of the elastic locking portion is positioned outside the inclined surface and moves.

[0016] (3) In the shield terminal described in (1) or (2) above, it is preferable that a side surface of the first wall portion is recessed inward from a side surface of the second wall portion.

[0017] When the dielectric remains in a half-inserted position relative to the outer conductor, a pulling check can be performed to ensure that the tip of the elastic locking portion can move smoothly without getting caught from the side of the second wall portion, via the inclined surface, to the side of the first wall portion.

[0018] (4) In the shield terminal described in any one of (1) to (3) above, the first member and the second member each have a first base and a second base that face each other via the inner conductor, the first wall and the second wall each have a shape that protrudes in pairs from the first base and the second base, the first wall has a locking portion at the tip of the first wall in the protruding direction that engages with the second base to maintain the connection between the first member and the second member, the inclined surface is preferably positioned between the locking portion and the first base in the protruding direction of the first wall, and the tip of the first wall in the protruding direction has a protrusion that is adjacent to the inclined surface and protrudes outward from the inclined surface.

[0019] If an inclined surface were formed on the tip of the first wall portion including the locking portion in the protruding direction, there would be a concern that the locking strength of the locking portion relative to the second base would be reduced. In this regard, with the configuration of (4) above, the tip of the first wall portion in the protruding direction has a protrusion that is adjacent to the inclined surface and protrudes outward from the inclined surface, so it is possible to prevent the inclined surface from reducing the locking strength of the locking portion.

[0020] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0021] First Embodiment As shown in FIG. 1 , the shield terminal 10 of the first embodiment includes an inner conductor 20, an outer conductor 30, and a dielectric 60. The inner conductor 20 and the outer conductor 30 are made of conductive metal. The dielectric 60 is made of synthetic resin and is interposed between the inner conductor 20 and the outer conductor 30 to maintain an insulating state between them. The outer conductor 30 is connected to and covered by another outer conductor 30A (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 ), and together with the other outer conductor 30A, is electrically and mechanically connected to the shield layer 110 of the shielded cable 100. In the following description, the forward direction refers to the direction in which the shield terminal 10 is mated with a mating shield terminal (not shown). The up-down direction refers to the up-down direction in each drawing except for FIGS. 9 and 10 . In FIGS. 1 and 2 , the symbols X, Y, and Z represent the forward, right, and up, respectively. These directional references do not necessarily coincide with the directional references when the shield terminal 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown).

[0022] (Inner conductor 20 and shielded cable 100) The inner conductor 20 is formed by punching a flat metal plate and then bending it. The inner conductor 20 is housed in a pair in the dielectric 60. As shown in FIG. 3 , the inner conductor 20 has a rectangular cylindrical box portion 21, a wire barrel portion 22 located behind the box portion 21, and an insulation barrel portion 23 located behind the wire barrel portion 22. The box portion 21 is electrically connected to a mating inner conductor (not shown). The wire barrel portion 22 is crimped and electrically connected to the core portion 121 exposed by removing the coating 122 of the insulated electric wire 120 at the terminal portion of the shielded cable 100. The insulation barrel portion 23 is mechanically connected to the coating 122 of the insulated electric wire 120 at the terminal portion of the shielded cable 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 , the shielded cable 100 includes two covered electric wires 120, a shielding layer 110 collectively surrounding the outer periphery of each covered electric wire 120, and an insulating sheath 130 surrounding the outer periphery of the shielding layer 110. Each inner conductor 20 is connected to an end portion of each covered electric wire 120 exposed from the sheath 130. Each covered electric wire 120 is twisted inside the sheath 130, untwisted outside the sheath 130, and held at a constant interval by a clip 200. The shielding layer 110 is formed, for example, by a braided wire in which conductive wires are braided into a tubular shape. At the end portion of the shielded cable 100, the shielding layer 110 is folded back around the outer periphery of the sheath 130. As shown in FIG. 3 , the outer conductor 30 is connected to the end portion of the shielding layer 110, which is folded back around the outer periphery of the sheath 130 together with another outer conductor 30A.

[0023] (Outer conductor 30) The outer conductor 30 is formed by punching a flat metal plate and then bending it. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer conductor 30 has a rectangular cylindrical portion 31. The cylindrical portion 31 is configured with an upper plate portion 32, a lower plate portion 33, and left and right side plate portions 34. The upper plate portion 32 and the lower plate portion 33 face each other in the up-down direction. The left and right side plate portions 34 face each other in the left-right direction. The width dimension (left-right dimension) of each of the upper plate portion 32 and the lower plate portion 33 is greater than the height dimension (up-down dimension) of each of the left and right side plate portions 34.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 3, the interior of the tubular portion 31 forms an accommodation space 35 that accommodates the dielectric 60. The accommodation space 35 penetrates the tubular portion 31 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the accommodation space 35, which is the rear end opening of the tubular portion 31, is open rearward as an insertion opening 36. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the dielectric 60 is inserted into the accommodation space 35 through the insertion opening 36 and accommodated therein.

[0025] 2, the tubular portion 31 has a pair of upper and lower inclined surfaces 37 at the front end of each of the upper plate portion 32 and the lower plate portion 33. The upper and lower inclined surfaces 37 are inclined toward each other toward the front end opening of the tubular portion 31. The tubular portion 31 also has a pair of left and right inclined surfaces 38 at the front end of each of the left and right side plate portions 34. The left and right inclined surfaces 38 are inclined toward each other toward the front end opening of the tubular portion 31.

[0026] The tubular portion 31 has four corners 39 (three corners 39 are shown in FIG. 2 ) between each of the left and right side plate portions 34 and the upper plate portion 32, and between each of the left and right side plate portions 34 and the lower plate portion 33. A notch 41 extending in the front-rear direction and open to the front is formed at the front end of each corner 39. The upper plate portion 32, the lower plate portion 33, and the left and right side plate portions 34 each have a contact portion 42. Each contact portion 42 is elastically deformable and is formed by cutting and raising a portion of the upper plate portion 32, the lower plate portion 33, and the left and right side plate portions 34 outward from the tubular portion 31.

[0027] A mating outer conductor (not shown) is fitted into the cylindrical portion 31. The top, bottom, left, and right inclined surfaces 37, 38 can function to guide the mating outer conductor into the cylindrical portion 31. The contact portion 42 comes into contact with the mating outer conductor to be electrically connected thereto.

[0028] 1, 2 and 7, the cylindrical portion 31 has an engaging protrusion 43 formed by cutting and raising a part of the rear end portion outward at each of the left and right side plate portions 34 (only the engaging protrusion 43 of the right side plate portion 34 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7). The engaging protrusion 43 engages with another outer conductor 30A (not shown) and functions to position the other outer conductor 30A and the outer conductor 30.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, the cylindrical portion 31 has elastic locking portions 45 formed by cutting and bending inward a portion of each of the left and right side plate portions 34 at the rear end, rearward of the engaging protrusion 43 (only FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 show the elastic locking portion 45 of the right side plate portion 34). The elastic locking portions 45 are formed by bending portions of gate-shaped slits formed in portions of the left and right side plate portions 34 inward laterally, so that they extend cantilever-like from the base end toward the front (forward) (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In short, the elastic locking portions 45 are inclined laterally inward as they extend forward from the base end in the front-to-rear direction. The front end (tip end) of the elastic locking portion 45 is wider in the vertical direction than the rear end (base end) of the elastic locking portion 45. The tip of the elastic locking portion 45 is capable of contacting side surfaces 78 and 89 (described later) of the dielectric 60 and is arranged along the vertical direction (see FIGS. 1 and 7).

[0030] The outer conductor 30 has an extending portion 46 that extends rearward from the rear end of the upper plate portion 32 of the tubular portion 31. The extending portion 46 is in electrical contact with the terminal portion of the shielding layer 110 of the shielded cable 100. As shown in Fig. 3 , the other outer conductor 30A is crimped to the terminal portion of the shielding layer 110 while overlapping the extending portion 46 from the outside. The extending portion 46 is disposed in a sandwiched state between the terminal portion of the shielding layer 110 and the other outer conductor 30A.

[0031] 1 and 7, the dielectric 60 is configured to have a first member 61 and a second member 62 that are connected to each other. In the case of the first embodiment, the first member 61 is assembled to the second member 62 from above the second member 62. The inner conductors 20 are held between the first member 61 and the second member 62 in a state where two of them are lined up in the left-right direction.

[0032] 4 , the second member 62 has a rectangular plate-shaped second base 63, a front wall 64 protruding upward from the front end of the second base 63, a pair of left and right second wall portions 65 protruding upward from the left and right ends of the second base 63, and a pair of left and right side wall portions 66 protruding upward from positions forward of the second wall portions 65 at the left and right ends of the second base 63. The front ends of the side wall portions 66 are connected to the left and right ends of the front wall portion 64.

[0033] The front wall 64 has a pair of left and right insertion holes 67. As shown in Fig. 3, the insertion holes 67 penetrate the front wall 64 in the front-to-rear direction (thickness direction). When the shield terminal 10 is mated with the mating shield terminal, tabs of the mating inner conductor attached to the mating shield terminal are inserted into the insertion holes 67.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4 , the second member 62 has a partition wall 68 that protrudes upward from the left-right center of the upper surface of the second base portion 63. The partition wall 68 is divided into front and rear portions at a position near the front wall portion 64 via an opening 69 that penetrates the second base portion 63. The front end of the front partition wall 68 is connected to the left-right center between the insertion holes 67 in the front wall portion 64. An impedance adjusting member (not shown) can be inserted into the opening 69. A recess 71 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the upper end surface of the partition wall 68. A protrusion 72 (described later) of the first member 61 fits into the recess 71 (see FIG. 8 ).

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4 , the second member 62 has a pair of terminal accommodating chambers 73 on both the left and right sides of the partition wall 68. Each terminal accommodating chamber 73 is defined between the partition wall 68 and the side wall portion 66 and is open upward. The bottom of each terminal accommodating chamber 73 is formed on the upper surface of the second base portion 63. A locking protrusion 74 is formed on the upper surface of the second base portion 63 at a position corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber 73. The locking protrusion 74 has a flat truncated shape and is disposed between the side wall portion 66 and the second wall portion 65 in the front-to-rear direction. In addition, a pair of left and right retaining portions 75 is formed on the upper end of each side wall portion 66 so as to protrude into the terminal accommodating chamber 73.

[0036] Each inner conductor 20 is inserted into the corresponding terminal accommodating chamber 73 from above. As shown in Fig. 3, the box portion 21 faces the front surface of the locking protrusion 74 so as to be able to lock, thereby preventing the inner conductor 20 from slipping out rearward from the terminal accommodating chamber 73. Furthermore, the box portion 21 faces the rear surface of the front wall portion 64, thereby preventing the inner conductor 20 from slipping out forward from the terminal accommodating chamber 73. The inner conductor 20 is prevented from slipping out upward from the terminal accommodating chamber 73 primarily by the retaining portion 75, and is secondarily prevented by a retaining portion 88 of the first base portion 84, which will be described later, when the first member 61 is connected to the first member 61.

[0037] 3, a stopper portion 76 is formed to protrude downward from the rear end portion of the second base portion 63. When the dielectric 60 is accommodated to the normal depth in the accommodation space 35 of the tubular portion 31 and the stopper portion 76 abuts against the rear end of the lower plate portion 33 of the outer conductor 30, the dielectric 60 is prevented from slipping out forward from the tubular portion 31.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4 , the second member 62 has a pair of left and right locking portions 77 that protrude outward from the left and right end surfaces of the second base portion 63, between the side wall portion 66 and the second wall portion 65. Each locking portion 77 extends in a rib-like manner in the front-to-rear direction on the left and right end surfaces of the second base portion 63. Each locking portion 77 is seamlessly connected to the left and right end surfaces of the locking protrusion 74 and is located in the same area as the locking protrusion 74 in the front-to-rear direction. Each locking portion 77 is also connected to the rear end surface of the side wall portion 66. As shown in FIG. 8 , when the first member 61 and the second member 62 are connected, each locking portion 77 is locked to a locking portion 98 (described later) of the first member 61.

[0039] 4 and 8 , each second wall portion 65 has a rectangular plate shape in a side view, and has side surfaces 78 extending in the front-rear and up-down directions on the left and right outer end surfaces. The side surfaces 78 of each second wall portion 65 are sliding surfaces with which the tips of the elastic locking portions 45 move while coming into contact when the dielectric 60 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 31.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 8 , the front end surface of the second wall portion 65 forms an adjacent end surface 79 adjacent to a first wall portion 85 (described later) of the first member 61 when the first member 61 and the second member 62 are connected. The rear end surface of the second wall portion 65 forms a locking end surface 81 that faces the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 so as to be able to lock with the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 when the dielectric 60 is completely inserted into the tubular portion 31 (see FIG. 9 ). The locking end surface 81 and the adjacent end surface 79 are both arranged to extend in the vertical direction. Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 , the second wall portion 65 has an upper inclined surface 82 that slopes inwardly to the left and right from the side surface 78 to the upper end surface, and a front inclined surface 83 that slopes inwardly to the left and right from the side surface 78 to the adjacent end surface 79.

[0041] 5 and 6 , the first member 61 has a rectangular plate-shaped first base 84 and a pair of left and right first wall portions 85 that protrude downward from left and right ends of the first base 84. The first base 84 has a front portion 86 and a rear portion 87 that is continuous with the rear end of the front portion 86 and is formed slightly wider in the left-right direction than the front portion 86.

[0042] When the first member 61 and the second member 62 are connected, the front portion 86 of the first base portion 84 rests on the upper end surfaces of the side wall portions 66 of the second member 62 and closes the front portions of the upper surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers 73. A rib-like protrusion 72 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the center of the left and right of the upper surface of the front portion 86. The protrusion 72 fits into the recess 71 of the partition wall 68, preventing left-right displacement of the first member 61 relative to the second member 62. A pair of retaining portions 88 are formed on the left and right sides of the protrusion 72 on the upper surface of the first base portion 84. The retaining portions 88 are flat-trapezoidal and sandwich each inner conductor 20 between themselves and the first base portion 84 when the first member 61 and the second member 62 are connected (see FIG. 3 ).

[0043] When the first member 61 and the second member 62 are connected, the rear portion 87 of the first base 84 rests on the upper end surfaces of the second wall portions 65 of the second member 62, closing the rear portions of the upper surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers 73. As shown in FIG. 5 , each first wall portion 85 has a rectangular plate shape in side view and protrudes downward from the left and right ends of the rear portion 87. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , side surfaces 89 extending along the front-rear and up-down directions are formed on the left and right outer end surfaces of each first wall portion 85. The side surfaces 89 of each first wall portion 85 are located in a portion of each first wall portion 85 excluding the lower end (tip end 91 in the protruding direction) of each first wall portion 85. The tip end 91 of each first wall portion 85 has an outer end surface 92 extending along the front-rear and up-down directions. The first wall portion 85 has a step 93 between the outer end surface 92 and the side surface 89. The outer end surface 92 is located laterally outward of the side surface 89 via the step 93.

[0044] When the first member 61 and the second member 62 are connected, the rear end surface of each first wall portion 85 forms an adjacent end surface 94 adjacent to the corresponding second wall portion 65. The adjacent end surface 94 is disposed to extend in the vertical direction. The adjacent end surface 94 of each first wall portion 85 faces and comes into contact with the adjacent end surface 79 of each second wall portion 65.

[0045] 5, the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85 has, for example, a linear rear edge 96 extending in the vertical direction at a position close to the adjacent end surface 94 of the first wall portion 85. The first wall portion 85 also has an inclined surface 95 that slopes inwardly to the left and right as it extends rearward from the rear edge 96 of the side surface 89.

[0046] The inclined surface 95 of the first wall portion 85 is linearly inclined between the side surface 89 and the adjacent end surface 94 in a direction intersecting with each of the side surface 89 and the adjacent end surface 94. For example, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 95 of the first wall portion 85 with respect to the front-to-rear direction is set to 30 to 60 degrees, more preferably 35 to 55 degrees, and even more preferably 45 degrees or less, from the side surface 89 to the adjacent end surface 94. As shown in Figures 9 and 10 , the inclined surface 95 of the first wall portion 85 is disposed so as to face the adjacent end surface 79 of the second wall portion 65, and has a portion that overlaps with the adjacent end surface 79 in the left-right direction.

[0047] The inclined surface 95 of the first wall portion 85 is inclined and continues to the rear end of the side surface 89, and is disposed in the same vertical range (same height) as the side surface 89. As shown in FIG. 9 , when the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 is disposed so as to be lockable opposite the locking end surface 81 of the second wall portion 65, the inclined surface 95 of the first wall portion 85 has a portion that faces the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 via the second wall portion 65. Furthermore, the inclined surface 95 of the first wall portion 85 has a rear portion BB that extends inwardly to the left and right from the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 by the inner dimension S. In the first embodiment, the rear portion BB of the inclined surface 95 is formed longer than the front portion FB of the inclined surface 95. However, the rear portion BB of the inclined surface 95 may be the same length as the front portion FB of the inclined surface 95, or may be formed shorter than the front portion FB of the inclined surface 95. As described above, it is preferable that the rear end of the rear portion BB of the inclined surface 95 is located laterally inward of the tip of the elastic locking portion 45, more specifically, the left and right inner corners of the tip of the elastic locking portion 45.

[0048] 5 and 6 , the tip end 91 of each first wall portion 85 has, below the inclined surface 95, angular protrusions 97 that extend outward to the left and right from the inclined surface 95. The upper end surface of the protrusion 97 is triangular when viewed from above and connects to the lower end of the inclined surface 95 at a right angle. The upper end surface of the protrusion 97 is positioned below and opposite the lower end surface of the first base portion 84.

[0049] 5 and 8, the tip end 91 of each first wall portion 85 has a locking portion 98 at a position forward of the protrusion 97 and overlapping the protrusion 97 in the up-down direction. The locking portion 98 is recessed on the inner surface of the tip end 91, extends in the front-to-rear direction, opens at the front end surface of the first wall portion 85, and is closed at a position forward of the inclined surface 95. As shown in FIG. 8, the locking portion 98 has a shape that allows the locked portion 77 of the second member 62 to fit into it.

[0050] (Function of Shield Terminal 10) When assembling the shield terminal 10, the shield layer 110 at the terminal portion of the shielded cable 100 is folded back toward the outer periphery of the sheath 130, the inner conductors 20 are connected to the terminal portions of the two coated electric wires 120 exposed from the front end of the sheath 130, and the clips 200 are attached (see Figure 1).

[0051] Next, each inner conductor 20 is inserted from above into each terminal accommodating chamber 73 of the second member 62. When each inner conductor 20 is accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber 73 of the second member 62, partition walls 68 are positioned between each inner conductor 20, and the clip 200 is positioned behind the partition walls 68. The clip 200 is positioned above the upper surface of the second base 63 together with the terminal portions of the two insulated electric wires 120.

[0052] Next, the first member 61 is placed over the second member 62 from above. During the process of attaching the first member 61 to the second member 62, the first wall portion 85 enters between the side wall portion 66 and the second wall portion 65, and the tip portion 91 contacts the locked portion 77, causing the first wall portion 85 to elastically deform outward to the left and right, with the upper end portion connecting to the first base portion 84 as a fulcrum. When the first member 61 is attached to the second member 62, the first wall portion 85 elastically returns to its original position, and the locked portion 77 fits into the locking portion 98. This connects the first member 61 and the second member 62 in a state that prevents separation. The first base portion 84 of the first member 61 closes the top opening of the second member 62. As shown in FIG. 7 , the first wall portion 85 fits between the side wall portion 66 and the second wall portion 65. The adjacent end surface 94 of the first wall portion 85 faces and contacts the adjacent end surface 79 of the second wall portion 65 (see FIGS. 9 and 10 ). The inclined surface 95 of the first wall portion 85 is located forward and away from the adjacent end surface 79 of the second wall portion 65. The side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85 is located laterally inward of the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65 in the left-right direction.

[0053] 2 and 7, the dielectric 60 housing the inner conductors 20 is inserted into the housing space 35 of the tubular portion 31 of the outer conductor 30 through the insertion opening 36. During the insertion process, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 moves while successively contacting the left and right outer end faces of the side wall portion 66, the side faces 89 of each first wall portion 85, the inclined faces 95 of each first wall portion 85, and the side faces 78 of each second wall portion 65. While the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 is in contact with the side faces 78, 89, etc., the elastic locking portion 45 is elastically deformed outward to the left and right with the base end side as a fulcrum.

[0054] When the dielectric 60 is inserted to the normal depth into the accommodating space 35 of the tubular portion 31, as shown in Fig. 3, the stopper portion 76 abuts against the rear end of the lower plate portion 33 of the tubular portion 31, thereby stopping the insertion of the dielectric 60 into the accommodating space 35 of the tubular portion 31. The peripheral edge of the front wall portion 64 is disposed adjacent to the upper, lower, left, and right inclined surfaces 37, 38 of the tubular portion 31. Then, the elastic locking portion 45 elastically returns to its original position, and the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 faces the locking end surface 81 of the second wall portion 65 so as to be able to be locked (see Fig. 9). This prevents the dielectric 60 from slipping out rearward from the accommodating space 35 of the tubular portion 31. In this state, when a pulling check is performed by pulling the dielectric 60 via the shielded cable 100 in the direction in which the dielectric 60 escapes from the accommodation space 35 of the tubular portion 31, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 locks with the locking end surface 81 of the second wall portion 65, thereby preventing the dielectric 60 from slipping out of the accommodation space 35 of the tubular portion 31. This allows the worker to confirm that the dielectric 60 has been inserted (accommodated) to the normal depth in the accommodation space 35 of the tubular portion 31.

[0055] On the other hand, if the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 has not yet reached a position where it can be locked by the locking end surface 81 of the second wall portion 65 and the dielectric 60 remains in a partially inserted position, i.e., not fully inserted into the accommodating space 35 of the tubular portion 31, the elastic locking portion 45 may be elastically deformed, and the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 may come into contact with the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65. When the above-described pulling check is performed in this state, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 moves while contacting the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65, and the rear portion of the dielectric 60 gradually comes out of the tubular portion 31. During the pulling check, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 moves from the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65 to a position corresponding to the inclined surface 95. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10 , the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 can smoothly move from a state where it is positioned on the left or right outer side of the inclined surface 95 to a side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85. That is, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 can move along the inclined surface 95. This prevents the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 from dropping in and getting caught between the adjacent end surfaces 79, 94 of both the first wall portion 85 and the second wall portion 65.

[0056] The elastic locking portion 45 can move from the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65, via the inclined surface 95, to the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85 without particularly large elastic deformation. Thereafter, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 moves while contacting the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85, and the elastic locking portion 45 elastically returns to its original state, allowing the dielectric 60 to smoothly slip rearward through the insertion opening 36 of the tubular portion 31. Thus, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to reliably confirm whether the dielectric 60 remains in the half-inserted position in the accommodating space 35 of the tubular portion 31 by visual inspection, load measurement, or the like.

[0057] As described above, the shield terminal 10 of the first embodiment includes the dielectric 60 that accommodates the inner conductor 20 and the tubular outer conductor 30 that accommodates the dielectric 60. The outer conductor 30 has an insertion opening 36 for the dielectric 60 and a resilient locking portion 45 that locks the dielectric 60 and prevents the dielectric 60 from slipping out of the insertion opening 36. The resilient locking portion 45 protrudes toward a tip (inner left or right) located inside the outer conductor 30 in a direction away from the insertion opening 36 (forward). The dielectric 60 includes a first member 61 and a second member 62 that are connected to each other. The first member 61 and the second member 62 each have a first wall portion 85 and a second wall portion 65 that are disposed adjacent to each other. The tip of the resilient locking portion 45 moves while contacting the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85 to the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65 during insertion of the dielectric 60 into the outer conductor 30. The first wall portion 85 has an inclined surface 95 that intersects with the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85 , inclined inwardly away from the elastic locking portion 45 , and faces the adjacent end surface 79 of the second wall portion 65 .

[0058] In the above configuration, when a pulling check is performed to check whether the dielectric 60 is inserted to the normal depth into the outer conductor 30, if the dielectric 60 remains at a half-inserted position, which is not yet the normal insertion position relative to the outer conductor 30, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 can move along the inclined surface 95 before moving from the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65 to the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85. This prevents the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 from getting caught between the adjacent end surfaces 79, 94 of the first wall portion 85 and the second wall portion 65, and allows the dielectric 60 to slip out of the outer conductor 30. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an operator mistakenly believes that the dielectric 60 is inserted to the normal depth into the outer conductor 30 due to the elastic locking portion 45 getting caught on the first wall portion 85.

[0059] Furthermore, the second wall portion 65 has a locking end face 81 on the side opposite to the adjacent end face 79. The inclined surface 95 extends in the inward / outward direction (left / right direction), which is the elastic deformation direction of the elastic locking portion 45, from the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85 to a position inward from the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 locked by the locking end face 81. Therefore, when the dielectric 60 remains in the half-inserted position relative to the outer conductor 30, performing a pulling check can more reliably achieve a state in which the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 moves to be positioned outside the left or right of the inclined surface 95.

[0060] Furthermore, the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85 is recessed inward (inner in the left and right directions) by the inner dimension S from the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65. Therefore, when the dielectric 60 remains in the half-inserted position relative to the outer conductor 30, if a pulling check is performed, the tip of the elastic locking portion 45 can move smoothly without getting caught from the side surface 78 of the second wall portion 65, via the inclined surface 95, to the side surface 89 of the first wall portion 85.

[0061] Furthermore, the first member 61 and the second member 62 each have a first base 84 and a second base 63 that face each other across the inner conductor 20. The first wall 85 and the second wall 65 each have a shape that protrudes in pairs from the first base 84 and the second base 63, respectively. The first wall 85 has a locking portion 98 at a tip 91 in the protruding direction of the first wall 85 that engages with the second base 63 to maintain the connection between the first member 61 and the second member 62. The inclined surface 95 is disposed between the locking portion 98 and the first base 84 in the protruding direction of the first wall 85. The tip 91 in the protruding direction of the first wall 85 has a protrusion 97 that is adjacent to the inclined surface 95 and protrudes outward (to the left and right). In this way, if the tip 91 of the first wall portion 85 has a protrusion 97 that is adjacent to the inclined surface 95 and protrudes outward from the inclined surface 95, the locking strength of the locking portion 98 can be prevented from being reduced by the inclined surface 95.

[0062] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] The above-described first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the above-described first embodiment, the inclined surface extends linearly from the side surface of the first wall portion to the left and right inward. In contrast, in other embodiments, the inclined surface may extend curvedly from the side surface of the first wall portion to the left and right inward. In the above-described first embodiment, the inner conductor is a female terminal having a box portion. However, the inner conductor may be a male terminal having a tab protruding forward. If the inner conductor is a male terminal, the dielectric may have a structure in which a tab protrudes forward from an insertion hole in the front wall portion.

[0063] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Shield terminal 20...Inner conductor 21...Box portion 22...Wire barrel portion 23...Insulation barrel portion 30...Outer conductor 30A...Another outer conductor 31...Tube portion 32...Upper plate portion 33...Lower plate portion 34...Side plate portion 35...Accommodating space 36...Insertion opening 37...Pair of upper and lower inclined portions 38...Pair of left and right inclined portions 39...Corner portion 41...Notch portion 42...Contact portion 43...Engaging protrusion 45...Elastic locking portion 46...Extending portion 60...Dielectric 61...First member 62...Second member 63...Second base portion 64...Front wall portion 65...Second wall portion 66...Side wall portion 67...Insertion hole 68...Partition wall 69...Opening 71...Recess 72...Protrusion 73...Terminal accommodating chamber 74...Lock protrusion 75...Prevention portion 76...Stopper portion 77...Locked portion 78...Side surface of second wall portion 79...Adjacent end surface of second wall portion 81...Engaging end surface 82...Upper inclined surface 83...Front inclined surface 84...First base portion 85...First wall portion 86...Front portion 87...Rear portion 88...Pressing portion 89...Side surface of first wall portion 91...Tip portion 92...Outer end surface 93...Step portion 94...Adjacent end surface of first wall portion 95...Inclined surface 96...Rear edge 97...Protrusion 98...Locking portion 100...Shielded cable 110...Shield layer 120...Insulated electric wire 121...Core portion 122...Insulation 130...Sheath 200...Clip BB...Rear portion FB...Front portion S...Inner dimension

Claims

1. A shielded terminal comprising: a dielectric that accommodates an inner conductor; and a cylindrical outer conductor that accommodates the dielectric; the outer conductor has an insertion opening for the dielectric and an elastic locking portion that locks the dielectric and prevents the dielectric from slipping out of the insertion opening; the elastic locking portion has a shape that protrudes in a direction away from the insertion opening toward a tip located inside the outer conductor; the dielectric has a first member and a second member that are connected to each other; the first member and the second member have a first wall portion and a second wall portion that are arranged adjacent to each other, respectively; the tip of the elastic locking portion is configured to move while making contact from a side surface of the first wall portion to a side surface of the second wall portion when the dielectric is inserted into the outer conductor; and the first wall portion has an inclined surface that intersects the side surface of the first wall portion, is inclined inwardly away from the elastic locking portion, and faces an adjacent end surface of the second wall portion.

2. A shield terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second wall portion has a locking end face on the opposite side to the adjacent end face, and the inclined surface extends from the side surface of the first wall portion to a position inward from the tip of the elastic locking portion that is locked to the locking end face.

3. A shield terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side surface of said first wall portion is recessed inward from the side surface of said second wall portion.

4. A shield terminal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first member and the second member respectively have a first base and a second base that face each other via the inner conductor, the first wall and the second wall respectively have a shape that protrudes in pairs from the first base and the second base, the first wall has a locking portion at its tip in the protruding direction of the first wall that engages the second base to maintain the connection between the first member and the second member, the inclined surface is disposed between the locking portion and the first base in the protruding direction of the first wall, and the tip of the first wall in the protruding direction has a protrusion that is adjacent to the inclined surface and protrudes outward from the inclined surface.

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