Pressure contact terminal fitting and connector

Abstract

The present invention prevents separation of a pressure-contacted electric wire.　The pressure contact terminal fitting (20) comprises a square tube part (23) and a pressure contact part (26) formed in the square tube part (23). The pressure contact part (26) has: a pressure contact slot (27) that is formed in a holding plate part (24) constituting the square tube part (23) and extends forward from a rear end edge (24R) of the holding plate part (24); a pressure contact blade (28) that constitutes an opening edge part of the holding plate part (24) that extends in the front-rear direction of the pressure contact slot (27); and stoppers (32L, 32R) that are disposed to the rear of the pressure contact position of an electric wire (37) in the pressure contact slot (27).

Description

Crimp terminal fittings and connectors

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a crimp terminal having a crimp slot formed between a pair of plate-shaped crimp blades. When an electric wire is pressed into the crimp slot, the insulation of the electric wire is cut by the crimp blades and the conductor core of the electric wire is connected to the crimp blades.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-187895

[0004] The region of the insulation displacement slot into which the wire is press-fitted is a slit of a constant width over the entire length in the insulation displacement direction, which raises concerns that the wire may come out of the insulation displacement slot when an external force is applied to the wire.

[0005] The insulation displacement terminal fitting of the present disclosure has been developed in light of the above circumstances, and aims to prevent the separation of a pressure-connected electric wire.

[0006] The crimping terminal fitting of the first disclosure comprises a rectangular tube portion and a crimping portion formed on the rectangular tube portion, the crimping portion being formed on a holding plate portion constituting the rectangular tube portion and having a crimping slot extending forward from the rear end edge of the holding plate portion, a crimping blade constituting an opening edge portion of the holding plate portion extending in the front-to-rear direction of the crimping slot, and a stopper positioned rearward of the crimping position of the electric wire within the crimping slot.

[0007] The connector of the second disclosure includes the insulation displacement terminal fitting of the first disclosure and a housing that accommodates the insulation displacement terminal fitting.

[0008] According to the first and second disclosures, it is possible to prevent the pressure-welded electric wire from coming off.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an electric wire is crimped onto a crimp terminal fitting of Example 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a connector showing the shape of the crimp portion of the crimp terminal fitting with the housing in cross section. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 2, showing the shape of the crimp portion. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line Y-Y in FIG. 3, showing a state in which an electric wire is crimped onto the crimp terminal fitting. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a crimp terminal fitting of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a crimp terminal fitting before a stopper is formed. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line Y-Y in FIG. 3, showing a state in which an electric wire is crimped onto the crimp terminal fitting with the housing in cross section.

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. Any combination of the following multiple embodiments within a range that does not cause contradictions is also included in the embodiments for carrying out the invention.

[0011] The insulation displacement terminal fitting of the first disclosure comprises: (1) a rectangular tube portion and a pressure-displacement portion formed in the rectangular tube portion, the pressure-displacement portion being formed in a holding plate portion constituting the rectangular tube portion and including a pressure-displacement slot extending forward from the rear edge of the holding plate portion, a pressure-displacement blade constituting an opening edge portion of the holding plate portion extending in the front-rear direction of the pressure-displacement slot, and a stopper positioned rearward of the position where the electric wire is to be press-displaced in the pressure-displacement slot. According to the configuration of the first disclosure, when an electric wire is pressed into the pressure-displacement slot from the rear of the rectangular tube portion, the insulation of the electric wire is cut by the pressure-displacement blade, and the core wire of the electric wire comes into contact with the pressure-displacement blade. Even if a rearward pulling force or a pressing force acts on the electric wire pressed into the pressure-displacement slot, the electric wire hits the stopper, thereby restricting rearward displacement. This prevents the electric wire from coming off the pressure-displacement portion.

[0012] (2) It is preferable that the stopper is formed integrally with the rectangular tube portion. With this configuration, the number of parts can be reduced compared to when the stopper is formed as a separate part from the insulation displacement terminal fitting.

[0013] (3) In (2), it is preferable that the rectangular tube portion has a side plate portion that is connected to the holding plate portion at a right angle, and the stopper extends from the rear end edge of the side plate portion into the rectangular tube portion and can swing around the rear end edge of the side plate portion as a fulcrum. With this configuration, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the strength of the side plate portion compared to when the stopper is formed by cutting and raising a part of the side plate portion.

[0014] (4) In (3), it is preferable that the pair of stoppers extend from the pair of side plate portions and are arranged to form a V-shape when viewed in the axial direction parallel to the axis of the electric wire. With this configuration, when the pair of stoppers are pressed rearward by the electric wire, both stoppers attempt to displace in the width direction with the rear end edges of the side plate portions as fulcrums. At this time, the extending ends of both stoppers abut against each other, preventing rearward and widthwise displacement of both stoppers. This prevents the electric wire from coming off rearward.

[0015] (5) In (4), it is preferable that the extending ends of the pair of stoppers intersect with each other when viewed in the axial direction. With this configuration, even if only one stopper is pushed rearward by the electric wire, the extending end of one stopper abuts the extending end of the other stopper. This reliably prevents the pair of stoppers from being displaced rearward and in the width direction.

[0016] (6) In (4) or (5), preferably, rear ends of the pair of press-fitting blades are formed with inclined cutting portions that widen the groove width of the press-fitting slot toward the rear when viewed in the axial direction, and the rear ends of the pair of stoppers are located rearward of the cutting portions. With this configuration, when the electric wire is being pressed into the press-fitting slot, the rear ends of the pair of stoppers guide the electric wire into the press-fitting slot before the cutting portions begin to cut the insulation of the electric wire. This allows the insulation of the electric wire to be properly cut by the press-fitting blades.

[0017] (7) In (1) or (2), it is preferable that the side plate portion of the flat plate portion constituting the rectangular tube portion, on which the pressure-contact blade is not formed, is constituted by a double-layered plate-like portion, and the stopper is constituted by an extension portion extending from the inner one of the double-layered plate-like portions. With this configuration, the inner plate-like portion to which the stopper is connected can be reinforced by the outer plate-like portion, so that the reliability of the separation prevention function of the stopper is high.

[0018] (8) In (7), the extension portion extends into the rectangular tube portion in a bent form from the rear edge of the inner plate-like portion, and the extension dimension of the extension end portion from the rear edge of the inner plate-like portion is preferably set to a dimension such that, in an expanded state in which the extension portion is flush with the inner plate-like portion, the rear end of the extension portion is located rearward of the rear end of the rectangular tube portion. With this configuration, when bending the extension portion from the expanded state, a jig or the like can be hooked on the rear end of the extension portion that protrudes rearward from the rectangular tube portion, making bending easier.

[0019] The connector of the second disclosure includes the insulation displacement terminal fitting described in (9) (1) or (2) and a housing for accommodating the insulation displacement terminal fitting. According to the configuration of the second disclosure, as with the first disclosure, it is possible to prevent the electric wire from coming off the insulation displacement portion.

[0020] [Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] [Example 1] A connector 10 and a pressure-displacement terminal fitting 20 according to Example 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. In Example 1, the front-to-rear direction is defined as the F direction in Figures 1, 2, and 4. The up-down direction is defined as the H direction in Figures 1 and 3. The left-to-right direction is defined as the R direction in Figures 1 to 4. The left-to-right direction and the width direction are used interchangeably.

[0021] The connector 10 of the first embodiment is configured to include a housing 11 and insulation displacement terminal fittings 20. The housing 11 is configured by assembling a terminal accommodating member 12 and a cover 14. The terminal accommodating member 12 is formed with a terminal accommodating chamber 13 that opens to the rear surface of the terminal accommodating member 12. The cover 14 is assembled to the rear end of the terminal accommodating member 12 so as to close the opening at the rear end of the terminal accommodating chamber 13.

[0022] The insulation displacement terminal fitting 20 is a single component formed by bending a metal plate that has been punched into a predetermined shape. The insulation displacement terminal fitting 20 has an elongated shape extending in the front-to-rear direction as a whole. The insulation displacement terminal fitting 20 has a terminal connection portion 21, a connecting portion 22, and a rectangular tube portion 23. The terminal connection portion 21 is rectangular tube-shaped and constitutes the front end portion of the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20. A mating terminal (not shown) is connected to the terminal connection portion 21. The connecting portion 22 is box-shaped with an open top and extends rearward from the rear end of the terminal connection portion 21. The rectangular tube portion 23 extends rearward from the rear end of the connecting portion 22 and constitutes the rear end portion of the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20. The rectangular tube portion 23 has a pair of upper and lower holding plate portions 24 and a pair of left and right side plate portions 25L, 25R.

[0023] The rear end of the rectangular tube portion 23 is formed with a crimping portion 26 for connecting an electric wire 37 by crimping. The electric wire 37 is a well-known component in which a conductive core wire 38 is surrounded by a coating 39 made of insulating synthetic resin. The core wire 38 is a stranded wire made by twisting together thin metal wires. The cross section of the outer circumferential surface of the coating 39 is circular. The electric wire 37 is crimped to the crimping portion 26 with its axis oriented vertically (perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the crimping terminal fitting 20).

[0024] The insulation displacement portion 26 has a pair of upper and lower insulation displacement slots 27, two pairs of upper and lower insulation displacement blades 28, and a pair of left and right stoppers 32L, 32R. The insulation displacement slots 27 are cut out so as to extend linearly forward from the rear end edges 24R of the upper and lower holding plates 24. The insulation displacement slots 27 are located at the center of the holding plates 24 in the left-right direction.

[0025] Each holding plate 24 is formed with a pair of insulation displacement blades 28. The pair of insulation displacement blades 28 constitutes the left and right opening edges of the insulation displacement slot 27 of the holding plate 24. The insulation displacement blades 28 constitute the opening edges of the insulation displacement slot 27 extending in the front-rear direction. The rear ends of the pair of insulation displacement blades 28 function as a pair of symmetrical cutting portions 29. In a plan view of the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20 viewed from above, the pair of cutting portions 29 are inclined so that the spacing between them in the left-right direction gradually increases toward the rear end of the insulation displacement portion 26. During the process of pressure-welding the electric wire 37 to the insulation displacement portion 26, the pair of cutting portions 29 cut open a portion of the insulation displacement coating 39, exposing a portion of the core wire 38. The regions of the pair of insulation displacement blades 28, excluding the rear ends, function as contact portions 30 whose spacing is constant along their entire length. The pair of contact portions 30 are in conductive contact with the core wire 38. The distance between the pair of contact portions 30 is set to a dimension smaller than the outer diameter of the core wire 38 before pressure welding.

[0026] The pair of stoppers 32L, 32R are plate-shaped portions extending diagonally forward from the rear end edges 25E of the pair of side plate portions 25L, 25R. In a plan view, the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R are arranged so that their extending ends 33L, 33R (front ends) cross each other to form a V-shape. The extending ends 33L, 33R of the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R are located rearward of the front ends of the insulation displacement slots 27. The distance in the front-to-rear direction between the front ends of the insulation displacement slots 27 and the extending ends 33L, 33R of the stoppers 32L, 32R is set to be greater than the combined outer diameter of the core wire 38 and the thickness of the coating 39.

[0027] The rear edges 25E of the side plates 25L, 25R are located slightly rearward of the rear edge 24R of the holding plate 24 (rear ends 28R of the press-connecting blades 28). Therefore, the rear ends of the stoppers 32L, 32R are also located rearward of the rear edge 24R of the holding plate 24 and the rear ends 28R of the press-connecting blades 28. In a plan view, a portion of the stoppers 32L, 32R (the central portion in the extension direction from the side plates 25L, 25R) is arranged to overlap with the holding plate 24. The rear ends of the stoppers 32L, 32R are located rearward of the cutting portion 29. The extending ends 33L, 33R (front ends) of the stoppers 32L, 32R are located forward of the front ends of the cutting portions 29 and are located within the press-connecting slots 27.

[0028] The extending end portions 33L, 33R of the stoppers 32L, 32R are asymmetrical. As shown in FIG. 3 , the extending end portion 33R of the stopper 32R extending from the right side plate portion 25R has a lower notch 34R formed by cutting out its lower end region. The portion of the extending end portion 33R of the right stopper 32R above the lower notch 34R functions as an upper locking portion 35R. The extending end portion 33L of the stopper 32L extending from the left side plate portion 25L has an upper notch 34L formed by cutting out its upper end region. The portion of the extending end portion 33L of the left stopper 32L below the upper notch 34L functions as a lower locking portion 35L. The upper locking portion 35R of the right stopper 32R enters the upper notch 34L of the left stopper 32L, and the lower locking portion 35L of the left stopper 32L enters the lower notch 34R of the right stopper 32R. In a plan view, the upper locking portion 35R and the lower locking portion 35L partially overlap.

[0029] Next, the process of crimping the electric wire 37 will be described. When crimping, the cover 14 is removed from the terminal accommodating member 12, and the crimping terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 13. The inserted crimping terminal fitting 20 is prevented from being removed by a lance (not shown). When the crimping terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 13, the rectangular tube portion 23 protrudes rearward from the terminal accommodating member 12.

[0030] Next, with the cover 14 still removed, the electric wire 37 is press-fitted from the rear into the insulation displacement slot 27. During the press-fitting process, the electric wire 37 (coating 39) slides against the rear ends of the pair of left and right stoppers 32L, 32R, and is guided to the center position in the left-right direction of the rectangular tube portion 23 (insulation displacement slot 27). When the electric wire 37 is further press-fitted from the state in which it is positioned in the center position, the coating 39 is cut by the pair of cutting portions 29, and the core wire 38 is exposed in the gap in the coating 39.

[0031] When the electric wire 37 (core conductor 38) passes through the cutting portion 29, the core conductor 38 deforms and contacts the pair of contact portions 30. As shown in FIG. 4 , when the core conductor 38 reaches the front end of the insulation displacement slot 27, the electric wire 37 is completely crimped onto the insulation displacement portion 26, and the electric wire 37 is electrically connected to the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20. As the electric wire 37 moves forward through the insulation displacement slot 27, it elastically deforms the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R, pushing them apart in the left-right direction. After the electric wire 37 passes through the extending ends 33L, 33R of the stoppers 32L, 32R, the stoppers 32L, 32R return to their V-shaped configuration due to their elastic restoring force. Once the electric wire 37 has been crimped, the cover 14 is attached to the terminal accommodating member 12. This completes the assembly of the connector 10.

[0032] The electric wire 37 crimped to the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20 is led out of the housing 11 (for example, below the housing 11). There is a concern that another member (not shown) may interfere with the led-out portion of the electric wire 37, causing a pulling force or a pushing force to act rearward on the electric wire 37. However, even if the electric wire 37 attempts to move rearward relative to the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20, the electric wire 37 abuts from the front against the extending ends 33L, 33R of the stoppers 32L, 32R, so that the rearward movement of the electric wire 37 relative to the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20 is restricted. Therefore, there is no risk that the crimped electric wire 37 will come off rearward from the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20.

[0033] Furthermore, when the electric wire 37 presses the extending ends 33L, 33R of the stoppers 32L, 32R rearward, the right stopper 32R attempts to swing leftward about the rear edge 25E of the right side plate 25R, and the left stopper 32L attempts to swing rightward about the rear edge 25E of the left side plate 25L. However, the right stopper 32R is restricted from swinging leftward because the upper locking portion 35R abuts against the left stopper 32L. The left stopper 32L is restricted from swinging rightward because the lower locking portion 35L abuts against the right stopper 32R. Thus, the left and right stoppers 32L, 32R can reliably prevent the electric wire 37 from coming off rearward.

[0034] The connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a crimping terminal fitting 20 and a housing 11 that accommodates the crimping terminal fitting 20. The crimping terminal fitting 20 includes a rectangular tube portion 23 and a crimping portion 26 formed in the rectangular tube portion 23. The crimping portion 26 includes a crimping slot 27, a crimping blade 28, and stoppers 32L and 32R. The crimping slot 27 is formed in a holding plate portion 24 that constitutes the rectangular tube portion 23 and has a slit-like shape extending forward from a rear end edge 24R of the holding plate portion 24. The pair of crimping blades 28 are portions of the holding plate portion 24 that form opening edges of the crimping slot 27 that extend in the front-rear direction. The stoppers 32L and 32R are located rearward of the crimping position of the electric wire 37 within the crimping slot 27 (see FIG. 4).

[0035] With this configuration, when the electric wire 37 is press-fitted into the insulation displacement slot 27 from the rear of the rectangular tube portion 23, the insulation displacement blade 28 cuts the coating 39 of the electric wire 37, and the core 38 of the electric wire 37 comes into contact with the insulation displacement blade 28. Even if a pulling force or a pushing force acts backward on the electric wire 37 press-fitted into the insulation displacement slot 27, the electric wire 37 hits the stoppers 32L, 32R and is thereby restricted from moving backward. This prevents the electric wire 37 from coming off the insulation displacement portion 26.

[0036] The stoppers 32L, 32R are formed integrally with the rectangular tube portion 23. With this configuration, the number of parts can be reduced compared to when the stoppers 32L, 32R are formed as separate parts from the insulation displacement terminal fitting 20.

[0037] The rectangular tube portion 23 has side plates 25L, 25R that are connected at right angles to the holding plate portion 24. The stoppers 32L, 32R extend from the rear end edges 25E of the side plates 25L, 25R into the rectangular tube portion 23. The stoppers 32L, 32R can swing around the rear end edges 25E of the side plates 25L, 25R as a fulcrum. This configuration avoids a decrease in the strength of the side plates 25L, 25R compared to when the stoppers 32L, 32R are formed by cutting and raising portions of the side plates 25L, 25R.

[0038] The pair of stoppers 32L, 32R extend from the pair of side plate portions 25L, 25R and are arranged to form a V-shape in an axial view parallel to the axis of the electric wire 37. The axial view is synonymous with a plan view. With this configuration, when the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R are pressed rearward by the electric wire 37, both stoppers 32L, 32R attempt to displace in the width direction with the rear end edges 25E of the side plate portions 25L, 25R as a fulcrum. At this time, the extending end portions 33L, 33R of both stoppers 32L, 32R abut against each other, preventing rearward and widthwise displacement of both stoppers 32L, 32R. This prevents the electric wire 37 from coming off rearward.

[0039] When viewed in the axial direction, the extending ends 33L, 33R of the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R intersect with each other. With this configuration, even if only one of the stoppers 32L, 32R is pushed rearward by the electric wire 37, the extending end 33L, 33R of one stopper 32L, 32R abuts against the extending end 33L, 33R of the other stopper 32L, 32R. This reliably prevents the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R from being displaced rearward and in the width direction.

[0040] The rear ends of the pair of insulation displacement blades 28 are formed with cutting portions 29 that are inclined so as to widen the groove width of the insulation displacement slot 27 toward the rear when viewed in the axial direction. The rear ends of the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R are located rearward of the rear ends of the cutting portions 29. With this configuration, in the process of inserting the electric wire 37 into the insulation displacement slot 27, the electric wire 37 is guided into the insulation displacement slot 27 by the rear ends of the pair of stoppers 32L, 32R before the insulation displacement slot 39 of the electric wire 37 begins to be cut by the cutting portions 29. This allows the insulation displacement blades 28 to properly cut the insulation displacement slot 39.

[0041] [Example 2] A connector 40 and insulation displacement terminal fittings 50 according to Example 2 embodying the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. In Example 2, the front-to-rear direction is defined as the F direction in Figures 5 to 7. The up-down direction is defined as the H direction in Figures 5 and 6. The left-to-right direction is defined as the R direction in Figures 5 to 7. The connector 40 according to Example 2 has insulation displacement terminal fittings 50 configured differently from those of Example 1. Since the other configurations are the same as those of Example 1, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of the structure, operation, and effects will be omitted.

[0042] The insulation displacement terminal fitting 50 of the second embodiment is a single component formed by bending a metal plate that has been punched into a predetermined shape. The insulation displacement terminal fitting 50 has an elongated shape in the front-to-rear direction as a whole. The insulation displacement terminal fitting 50 has a terminal connecting portion 21, a connecting portion 22, and a rectangular tube portion 51. The terminal connecting portion 21 and the connecting portion 22 have the same configuration as those of the first embodiment.

[0043] The rectangular tube portion 51 extends rearward from the rear end of the connecting portion 22 and constitutes the rear end portion of the insulation displacement terminal fitting 50. The rectangular tube portion 51 has a pair of upper and lower holding plate portions 52, a right side plate portion 53R, and a left side plate portion 53L. A pressure contact portion 54 is formed at the rear end of the rectangular tube portion 51 for connecting the electric wire 37 by pressure contact, which has the same configuration as in Example 1. The pressure contact portion 54 has a pair of upper and lower pressure contact slots 27, two pairs of upper and lower pressure contact blades 28, and one stopper 58. The pressure contact slots 27 and the pressure contact blades 28 have the same configuration as in Example 1.

[0044] The right side plate 53R is formed by overlapping an inner plate portion 55 and an outer plate portion 56. The stopper 58 is formed by an extension portion 57 extending from the rear end edge 55R of the inner plate portion 55. The stopper 58 is bent relative to the rear end edge 55R of the inner plate portion 55 so as to extend toward the inside of the rectangular tube portion 51. In a plan view, the stopper 58 has an arc-shaped curve that convexly curves rearward.

[0045] Next, the process of crimping the electric wire 37 will be described. The cover 14 is removed from the terminal accommodating member 12, and the insulation displacement terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 13. Before the electric wire 37 is crimped, the extension portion 57 of the insulation displacement terminal fitting 50 extends straight rearward from the rear edge 55R of the inner plate-like portion 55 so as to be flush with the inner plate-like portion 55. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6 , the rear end 57R of the extension portion 57 is located rearward of the rear end 51R of the rectangular tube portion 51 (the rear end 56R of the outer plate-like portion 56). In this state, the electric wire 37 is press-fitted into the insulation displacement slot 27 from behind.

[0046] During the press-fitting process, the electric wire 37 (coating 39) enters between the pair of cutting portions 29 without interfering with the extending portions 57, and as the electric wire 37 passes through the cutting portions 29, the coating 39 is cut by the pair of cutting portions 29, exposing the core wire 38 in the gap in the coating 39. When the electric wire 37 (core wire 38) passes through the cutting portions 29, the core wire 38 deforms and comes into contact with the pair of contact portions 30. As shown in Fig. 7 , when the core wire 38 reaches the front end of the insulation displacement slot 27, the electric wire 37 is completely crimped onto the insulation displacement portions 54, and the electric wire 37 is electrically connected to the insulation displacement terminal fitting 50.

[0047] After the electric wire 37 has been crimped, the stopper 58 is formed. The stopper 58 is formed by hooking a jig or the like (not shown) onto the rear end 27R of the extension portion 57 and using the rear edge 55R of the inner plate-like portion 55 as a fulcrum to push the extension portion 57 into the rectangular tube portion 51. The extension portion 57 is deformed into an arc shape as it is pushed into the rectangular tube portion 51. The formed stopper 58 is positioned inside the rectangular tube portion 51 so as to face the electric wire 37 from behind. Once the formation of the stopper 58 is complete, the cover 14 is attached to the terminal accommodating member 12. This completes the assembly of the connector 40.

[0048] When a backward pulling force or backward pushing force is applied to the electric wire 37 crimped to the insulation displacement terminal fitting 50, the electric wire 37 abuts against the stopper 58 from the front, thereby restricting the rearward movement of the electric wire 37 relative to the insulation displacement terminal fitting 50. Therefore, there is no risk that the crimped electric wire 37 will come off the insulation displacement terminal fitting 50 in the rearward direction.

[0049] The insulation displacement terminal fitting 50 of the second embodiment has four flat plate portions (a retaining plate portion 52, a right side plate portion 53R, and a left side plate portion 53L) that constitute the rectangular tube portion 51. Of the four flat plate portions (the retaining plate portion 52, the right side plate portion 53R, and the left side plate portion 53L), the right side plate portion 53R, on which the insulation displacement blade 28 is not formed, is composed of two overlapping plate portions 55, 56. The stopper 58 is composed of an extension portion 57 that extends from the innermost plate portion 55 of the two overlapping plate portions 55, 56. With this configuration, the innermost plate portion 55, to which the stopper 58 is connected, can be reinforced by the outermost plate portion 56, thereby increasing the reliability of the removal prevention function of the stopper 58.

[0050] The extension portion 57 extends into the rectangular tube portion 51 in a bent form from the rear end edge 55R of the inner plate-like portion 55. The extension dimension of the extension portion 57 from the rear end edge 55R of the inner plate-like portion 55 is set so that, in an unfolded state in which the extension portion 57 is flush with the inner plate-like portion 55, the rear end 57R of the extension portion 57 is positioned rearward of the rear end 51R of the rectangular tube portion 51. With this configuration, when bending the extension portion 57 from the unfolded state, a jig or the like can be hooked on the rear end 57R of the extension portion 57 that protrudes rearward beyond the rectangular tube portion 51, making bending easier.

[0051] Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes all modifications equivalent to and within the scope of the claims, including the following embodiments. The stopper may be formed as a separate member from the insulation displacement terminal fitting. In this case, the material of the separate member (stopper) is not limited to metal, but may also be synthetic resin. In Example 1, the stopper may be formed by cutting out a portion of the side plate. In Example 1, the stopper may be formed to extend from only one of the pair of side plate portions. In Example 1, the pair of stoppers may be arranged in a configuration other than a V-shape (for example, arranged in a line in the width direction). In Example 1, the entire stopper may be located at the same position as the cutout portion or only in a region forward of the cutout portion. In Example 2, each of the left and right side plate portions may be formed by two overlapping side portions, and a pair of stoppers may extend individually from each of the left and right side plate portions. In the second embodiment, the stopper may be formed by cutting out a part of the inner plate-like portion of the two overlapping side portions that make up the side plate portion. In the second embodiment, the extension portion may be disposed in a region forward of the rear end of the rectangular tube portion when not bent.

[0052] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Connector 11...Housing 12...Terminal accommodating member 13...Terminal accommodating chamber 14...Cover 20...Pressure-displacement terminal fitting 21...Terminal connecting portion 22...Connecting portion 23...Rectangular tube portion 24...Retaining plate portion 24R...Rear end edge of retaining plate portion 25E...Rear end edge of side plate portion 25L...Left side plate portion 25R...Right side plate portion 26...Pressure-displacement portion 27...Pressure-displacement slot 27R...Rear end of pressure-displacement slot 28...Pressure-displacement blade 28R...Rear end of pressure-displacement blade 29...Cutting portion 30...Contacting portion 32L...Stopper 32R...Stopper 33L...Extending end portion of stopper 33R...Extending end portion of stopper 34L...Upper notch portion 34R...Lower notch portion 35L...Lower locking portion 35R...Upper locking portion 37...Electric wire 38...Core wire 39...Covering 40...Connector 50...Pressure-displacement terminal fitting 51...Rectangular tube portion 51R...Rear end of rectangular tube portion 52...Retaining plate portion (flat plate portion) 53L...Right side plate portion (flat plate portion) 53R...Left side plate portion (flat plate portion) 54...Pressure-displacement portion 55...Inner plate-shaped portion 55R...Rear end edge of inner plate-shaped portion 56...Outer plate-shaped portion 56R...Rear end of outer plate-shaped portion 57...Extending portion 57R...Rear end of extending portion 58...Stopper

Claims

1. A crimp terminal fitting comprising: a rectangular tube portion; and a crimp portion formed on said rectangular tube portion, said crimp portion being formed on a holding plate portion constituting said rectangular tube portion, said crimp slot extending forward from the rear end edge of said holding plate portion; crimp blades constituting an opening edge portion of said holding plate portion extending in the front-to-rear direction of said crimp slot; and a stopper located rearward of the position where an electric wire is crimped within said crimp slot.

2. The crimp terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is formed integrally with the rectangular tube portion.

3. A crimp terminal fitting as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rectangular tube portion has a side plate portion that is connected to the holding plate portion at a right angle, and the stopper extends from the rear end edge of the side plate portion into the rectangular tube portion and is capable of swinging around the rear end edge of the side plate portion as a fulcrum.

4. A crimp terminal fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pair of stoppers extend from the pair of side plate portions and are arranged so as to form a V-shape when viewed in the axial direction parallel to the axis of the electric wire.

5. The insulation displacement terminal fitting according to claim 4, wherein the extending ends of the pair of stoppers intersect with each other when viewed in the axial direction.

6. A crimp terminal fitting as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the rear ends of the pair of crimp blades are formed with inclined cutouts that widen the groove width of the crimp slot rearward when viewed in the axial direction, and the rear ends of the pair of stoppers are located rearward of the cutouts.

7. A crimp terminal fitting as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the side plate portion of the flat plate portion constituting the rectangular tube portion on which the crimping blade is not formed is constituted by a double-layered plate-like portion, and the stopper is constituted by an extension extending from the innermost of the double-layered plate-like portions.

8. A crimp terminal fitting as set forth in claim 7, wherein the extension portion extends into the rectangular tube portion in a bent form from the rear edge of the inner plate portion, and the extension dimension of the extension end portion from the rear edge of the inner plate portion is set to a dimension such that, in an expanded state in which the extension portion is flush with the inner plate portion, the rear end of the extension portion is positioned rearward of the rear end of the rectangular tube portion.

9. A connector comprising the pressure-displacement terminal fitting according to claim 1 or 2 and a housing for accommodating the pressure-displacement terminal fitting.

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