Female terminal

Abstract

Disclosed is a female terminal which makes it possible to reduce risks of detachment of a clip spring from a contact spring part and buckling deformation of the contact spring part without increasing the number of components.　A female terminal 10 has contact spring parts 24 and clip springs 34. The contact spring parts 24 are separated into a first tongue piece 60 and a second tongue piece 62 by a spring part-side slit 58. Holding plate parts 32 of the clip springs 34 are separated into a first holding piece 86 and a second holding piece 88 by a clip-side slit 84. The first tongue piece 60 and the second tongue piece 62 have engagement parts 76. The clip springs 34 have parts 94 to be engaged which come into contact with the engagement parts 76. The parts 94 to be engaged include: attachment guide parts 98 which come into contact with the engagement parts 76 and deform the holding plate parts 32 in the plate width direction to allow the clip springs 34 to be attached; and stopper parts 98 which engage with the engagement parts 76 detached from the attachment guide parts 98 to prevent the clip springs 34 from detachment. A base end part 90 of the clip-side slit 84 is positioned at a connection plate part 30.

Description

female terminal

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes a female terminal to which a flat tab-shaped male terminal is connected. The female terminal has a male terminal mounting portion into which the male terminal is inserted for electrical connection, and the female terminal and male terminal are used as a terminal unit. The male terminal mounting portion has a pair of support plate portions arranged opposite each other across a gap, and a pair of contact spring portions connected in a cantilevered manner to one end of the pair of support plate portions that define the male terminal insertion opening and protruding toward the other end. The pair of contact spring portions are arranged opposite each other across the male terminal insertion gap, and a separate clip spring is attached to each free end of the pair of contact spring portions to bias the free ends toward each other. The clip spring applies contact pressure to the pair of contact spring portions against the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion portion, maintaining a stable connection between the male and female terminals.

[0003] Furthermore, each contact spring portion is divided by a spring portion-side slit into first and second tongue pieces that can be displaced independently of each other, and each clamping plate portion is divided by a clip-side slit into first and second clamping pieces that can be displaced independently of each other. The connector also has a structure in which a pair of first tongue pieces that face each other with the male terminal sandwiched therebetween are clamped by a pair of first clamping pieces, and a pair of second tongue pieces that face each other with the male terminal sandwiched therebetween are clamped by a pair of second clamping pieces. As a result, the contact spring portions and clamping plate portions have improved compliance with displacement of the male terminal, and the first and second tongue pieces can be advantageously maintained in a pressure-contact state in response to rotational displacement of the male terminal, ensuring stable connection between the male and female terminals.

[0004] JP 2022-83287 A

[0005] In the female terminal of Patent Document 1, engaging protrusions provided on each free end of a pair of contact spring portions are positioned in through holes formed in the connecting plate portion of the clip spring, thereby preventing the contact spring portions of the clip spring from displacing in the width direction. However, the combination of the engaging protrusions and the through holes cannot prevent displacement in the attachment direction of the clip spring to the contact spring portions, which is the direction in which the contact spring portions protrude. Therefore, there is a risk that the clip spring may become displaced in the attachment direction to the contact spring portions due to deformation of the pair of contact spring portions when inserting or removing a male terminal, or vibration during vehicle installation, and thus become detached from the contact spring portions. To address this issue, it is possible to add additional components to prevent the clip spring from disengaging from the contact spring portions, but this is not a desirable solution due to the increased number of parts and the risk of buckling deformation of the contact spring portions due to the reaction force of the additional components.

[0006] Therefore, a female terminal is disclosed that can reduce the risk of the clip spring coming off the contact spring portion and the risk of the contact spring portion buckling and deforming without increasing the number of parts.

[0007] The female terminal of the present disclosure includes a male terminal mounting portion into which a male terminal is inserted for electrical connection, the male terminal mounting portion having a male terminal insertion opening provided on one end side, a pair of contact spring portions connected to the one end side in a cantilevered manner and protruding toward the other end side, and arranged opposite each other across a male terminal insertion gap, a connecting plate portion and a pair of clamping plate portions protruding in directions approaching each other from both side edges of the connecting plate portion, and the free ends of the pair of contact spring portions are positioned and mounted between the pair of clamping plate portions, and the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap. and a clip spring that urges the free ends toward each other when the contact springs are inserted, and each of the contact spring portions penetrates a central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in a protruding direction, and is divided into a first tongue piece and a second tongue piece that can be displaced independently of each other by a spring portion-side slit that opens on a protruding end surface, and each of the clamping plate portions of the clip spring penetrates a central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in a protruding direction, and is divided into a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece that can be displaced independently of each other by a clip-side slit that opens on a protruding end surface. a pair of first tongue pieces arranged oppositely between the pair of first clamping pieces arranged oppositely are clamped by the pair of first clamping pieces with the male terminal therebetween, and a pair of second tongue pieces arranged oppositely between the pair of second clamping pieces arranged oppositely are clamped by the pair of second clamping pieces with the male terminal therebetween, at least one of the pair of first tongue pieces and the pair of second tongue pieces has an engaging portion formed integrally therewith, and the clip spring has an engaged portion that abuts against the engaging portion when attached to the free end portion. The engaging portion and the engaged portion are integrally formed, and one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion includes an attachment guide portion that abuts against the other of the engaging portion and the engaged portion to deform the clamping plate portion of the clip spring in the plate width direction, thereby allowing the clip spring to move forward in the attachment direction, and a stopper portion that engages with the engaging portion or the engaged portion that has detached from the attachment guide portion to prevent the clip spring from displacing in the direction of detachment from the contact spring portion, and the base end of the clip spring that is opposite the opening side of the clip side slit is located on the connecting plate portion.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a female terminal that can suppress the risk of the clip spring coming off the contact spring portion and the risk of the contact spring portion being deformed.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a female terminal according to the first embodiment in a connected state with a male terminal. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the female terminal shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of the female terminal shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the female terminal shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the female terminal shown in FIG. 1 in a disconnected state with a male terminal. FIG. 8 is a side view of the female terminal shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the female terminal shown in FIG. 7 and corresponds to FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the female terminal shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which a clip spring is being attached to a pair of contact spring portions in the female terminal shown in FIG. 4 and corresponds to the cross-section taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 8. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the clip spring constituting the female terminal shown in FIG. 7 in a separate state before being assembled to the contact spring portions.

[0010] <Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. The female terminal of the present disclosure includes: (1) a male terminal mounting portion into which a male terminal is inserted for electrical connection, the male terminal mounting portion having a male terminal insertion opening provided at one end, a pair of contact spring portions connected to the one end in a cantilevered manner and protruding toward the other end, and arranged opposite each other across a male terminal insertion gap, a connecting plate portion, and a pair of clamping plate portions protruding toward each other from both side edges of the connecting plate portion, and the free ends of the pair of contact spring portions are disposed between the pair of clamping plate portions and mounted, and the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap. and a clip spring that urges the free ends toward each other when the contact spring is pressed against the contact spring, and each of the contact spring portions penetrates a central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in the protruding direction, and is divided into a first tongue piece and a second tongue piece that can be displaced independently of each other by a spring portion-side slit that opens at the protruding end surface, and each of the clamping plate portions of the clip spring penetrates a central portion in the width direction in the plate thickness direction and extends in the protruding direction, and is divided into a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece that can be displaced independently of each other by a clip-side slit that opens at the protruding end surface. a pair of first tongue pieces arranged oppositely between the pair of oppositely arranged first clamping pieces are clamped by the pair of first clamping pieces with the male terminal therebetween, and a pair of second tongue pieces arranged oppositely between the pair of oppositely arranged second clamping pieces are clamped by the pair of second clamping pieces with the male terminal therebetween, and at least one of the pair of first tongue pieces and the pair of second tongue pieces has an engaging portion integrally formed, and the clip spring has an engaged portion that abuts against the engaging portion when attached to the free end portion. One of the engaging portion and the engaged portion includes an attachment guide portion that abuts against the other of the engaging portion and the engaged portion to deform the clamping plate portion of the clip spring in the plate width direction, thereby allowing the clip spring to move forward in the attachment direction, and a stopper portion that engages with the engaging portion or the engaged portion that has detached from the attachment guide portion to prevent the clip spring from displacing in the direction of detachment from the contact spring portion, and the base end of the clip spring that is opposite to the opening side of the clip side slit is located on the connecting plate portion.

[0011] According to the female terminal of the present disclosure, an engaging portion is integrally formed on at least one of the pair of first tongues and the pair of second tongues that constitute the contact spring portion, and an engaged portion that abuts against the engaging portion when the clip spring is attached to the free end of the contact spring portion is integrally formed on the clip spring. One of the engaging portion and the engaged portion includes an attachment guide portion that abuts against the other of the engaging portion and the engaged portion, deforming the clamping plate portion of the clip spring in the plate width direction to allow forward movement of the clip spring in the attachment direction, and a stopper portion that engages with the engaging portion or the engaged portion that has disengaged from the attachment guide portion to prevent the clip spring from disengaging from the contact spring portion. This eliminates the need for additional components such as a retainer to prevent the clip spring from disengaging, making it possible to provide a female terminal that reduces the risk of the clip spring disengaging from the contact spring portion without increasing the number of parts.

[0012] In particular, the base end of the clip spring, opposite the opening, of the clip-side slit extends to the connecting plate portion of the clip spring. This facilitates deformation of the clamping plate portion of the clip spring in the plate width direction as the engaging portion and the engaged portion abut when the clip spring is attached to the free end, and advantageously reduces the risk of buckling deformation of the contact spring portion when the clip spring is attached to the contact spring portion. Therefore, the female terminal of the present disclosure can reduce the risk of the clip spring coming off the contact spring portion and the buckling deformation of the contact spring portion without increasing the number of parts.

[0013] (2) In the above (1), it is preferable that the base end of one of the clip-side slits arranged on the connecting plate portion of the clip spring and the base end of the other clip-side slit are arranged in the center of the clamping plate portion of the connecting plate portion in the width direction and are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the clamping plate portion. In the clip spring, the base ends of both clip-side slits are arranged opposite each other in the center of the clamping plate portion of the connecting plate portion in the width direction and in a direction perpendicular to the width direction, so that when assembling the clip spring to the contact spring portion, it is easy to clamp the base ends with a jig, enabling stable assembly. In particular, since the recessed portion of the connecting plate portion serves as the clamping portion of the jig, the risk of the jig interfering with the female terminal can be advantageously reduced.

[0014] (3) In the above (1) or (2), the connecting plate portion of the clip spring is disposed opposite to the protruding end surfaces of the pair of contact spring portions, and the clip spring is attached to the pair of contact spring portions so that the pair of clamping plate portions of the clip spring protrude from the connecting plate portion in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the pair of contact spring portions, and the opposite direction is the mounting direction of the clip spring, and the engaging portion protruding toward the opposing first clamping piece and second clamping piece is provided on the outer edge portion of each of the first tongue piece and the second tongue piece. are each integrally provided, and the outer edge portions of the first clamping piece and the second clamping piece of the clip spring are each integrally provided with the mounting guide portion having a shape that gradually protrudes outward in the width direction from the front side toward the rear side in the mounting direction, and a recess portion that is connected to the rear side end of the mounting guide portion and is recessed inward in the width direction relative to the rear side end to accommodate the engaging portion, and it is preferable that the stopper portion is formed by a first step surface between the rear side end of the mounting guide portion and the recess portion, and a bottom surface of the recess portion.

[0015] The clip spring can be attached to the free end of the contact spring portions from the protruding end faces of the contact spring portions in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the contact spring portions, with the connecting plate portion facing the protruding end faces of the contact spring portions. This makes it easy to attach the clip spring to the pair of contact spring portions.

[0016] In addition, engaging portions that protrude toward the first clamping piece and the second clamping piece are respectively integrally provided on the outer edge portions of the first clamping piece and the second clamping piece, and an attachment guide portion that gradually protrudes outward in the width direction from the front side to the rear side in the attachment direction and that constitutes the engaged portion is respectively integrally provided on the outer edge portions of the first clamping piece and the second clamping piece of the clip spring, and a recessed portion that is connected to the rear end portion of the attachment guide portion and is recessed inward in the width direction from the rear end portion to accommodate the engaging portion. As a result, as the clip spring inserted from the protruding end faces of the pair of contact spring portions is moved forward in the attachment direction, the attachment guide portions that gradually widen outward in the width direction and that are provided on the outer edge portions of the first clamping piece and the second clamping piece can stably press the engaging portions provided on the outer edge portions of the pair of first and second tongue pieces outward in the width direction. When the clip spring is further moved forward in the installation direction, the engaging portion, which has climbed over the installation guide portion, is quickly accommodated in a recess connected to the rear end of the installation guide portion and recessed widthwise inward from the rear end. In this state, even if the clip spring attempts to displace in the opposite direction to the installation direction, the engaging portion engages with a first step surface between the rear end of the installation guide portion and the recess, which constitutes the engaged portion, preventing the clip spring from displacing from the contact spring portion in the opposite direction to the installation direction. Furthermore, even if the clip spring attempts to displace in both directions in the width direction intersecting the installation direction, the engaging portion engages with the bottom surfaces of the recesses in the engaged portion on both sides in the width direction. This prevents the clip spring from displacing from the contact spring portion on both sides in the width direction intersecting the installation direction. This allows for both improved assembly and stable retention of the clip spring. In particular, at the outer edge portions of the pair of first and second tongue pieces and the pair of first and second clamping pieces, the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion prevents displacement of the clip spring in the direction opposite to the mounting direction and on both sides in the width direction.This means that the simple structure prevents the female terminal from becoming larger, while more stably preventing the clip spring from detaching from the contact spring portion in response to displacement of the male terminal.

[0017] (4) In any one of (1) to (3) above, it is preferable that the male terminal mounting portion has a pair of support plates arranged opposite each other with a gap therebetween, the male terminal insertion opening is defined between the one end sides of the pair of support plates, and each of the first tongues and each of the second tongues is connected in a cantilever manner to the one end side of each of the support plates via a curved portion. Since the first tongues and second tongues constituting the contact spring portion are connected in a cantilever manner to the one end side of the support plate via the curved portion, it is possible to form the contact spring portion supported in a cantilever manner on the support plate portion by press-bending a single metal flat plate, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0018] (5) In any one of (1) to (4) above, it is preferable that at least one of the pair of first tongues and the pair of second tongues on which the engaging portions are provided has a widthwise dimension smaller at the protruding side than at the cantilevered end. By making the widthwise dimension smaller at the protruding side than at the connected end of at least one of the pair of first tongues and the pair of second tongues on which the engaging portions are provided, it is possible to reduce the weight of the first tongues and / or the second tongues on which the engaging portions are provided, compared to when the first tongues and / or the second tongues on which the engaging portions are provided protrude with a constant widthwise dimension, and it is possible to easily cause displacement of the clip spring in the plate width direction in the first tongues and / or the second tongues on which the engaging portions are provided. This makes it easier to detach the engaging portion or engaged portion from the attachment guide portion when attaching the clip spring to the free end of each contact spring portion, making it easier to attach the clip spring to the free end of each contact spring portion.

[0019] Furthermore, for example, in at least one of the first and second tongues, when the inner surfaces of the first and second tongues in the opposing direction (the width direction of the contact spring portion) are positioned outward in comparison with when the first and / or second tongues have a constant width dimension, thereby reducing the width dimension, contact between the first and second tongues can be avoided when the first and second tongues are displaced, for example, due to rotational displacement of the male terminal, etc. Alternatively, when a clip spring is attached to the free end of each contact spring portion, the effect of avoiding contact between the first and second tongues can be achieved even when the first and second tongues are displaced inward in the opposing direction.

[0020] <Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> Specific examples of the female terminal of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure 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 A female terminal 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure and a terminal unit 14 including the female terminal 10 and a male terminal 12 connected to the female terminal 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 . The female terminal 10 is a terminal that connects a power source, such as a battery, to a load, such as a motor. The female terminal 10, which is provided on one side of the power source or the load, and the male terminal 12, which is provided on the other side of the power source or the load, are in contact with each other to establish electrical continuity, thereby supplying power from a power source, such as a battery, to a load, such as a motor. While the female terminal 10 can be oriented in any direction, in the following description, the upper side will be referred to as the upper side in FIG. 3 , the lower side as the lower side in FIG. 3 , the front side as the left side in FIG. 2 , the rear side as the right side in FIG. 2 , the left side as the upper side in FIG. 2 , and the right side as the lower side in FIG. 2 . In addition, when multiple identical components are illustrated, only some of the components may be designated by reference numerals, and the reference numerals may be omitted for the other components.

[0022] <Female Terminal 10> The female terminal 10 includes a male terminal attachment portion 16 into which the male terminal 12 is inserted for electrical connection. In particular, the female terminal 10 of the first embodiment has a clip spring 34 attached to a female terminal body 18 formed by bending a single metal flat plate as described below, and the male terminal attachment portion 16 is configured to include a portion (particularly a front portion) of the female terminal body 18 and the clip spring 34.

[0023] <Male Terminal 12> The male terminal 12 is a tab terminal having an overall plate shape. The male terminal 12 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, a predetermined width dimension (left-right dimension) and thickness dimension (up-down dimension), and extends substantially straight in the front-rear direction. In the first embodiment, the male terminal 12 has a horizontally elongated shape in which the width dimension is greater than the thickness dimension. The forward end portion (rear end portion) of the male terminal 12 in the insertion direction into the female terminal 10 is tapered. The male terminal 12 is conductive and formed from a metal with low electrical resistance, such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. A bolt insertion hole, for example, is provided in the base end portion (front end portion) of the male terminal 12, and the male terminal 12 is fixed to another component (e.g., a load-side component such as a motor) with a bolt (not shown). Alternatively, if a bolt insertion hole is not provided, a load-side electric wire or the like is fixed to the base end portion of the male terminal 12 by crimping, welding, or the like.

[0024] <Male terminal mounting portion 16> The male terminal mounting portion 16 has a male terminal insertion opening 20 provided at one end (front end) and a pair of contact spring portions 24, 24 (first contact spring portion 24a and second contact spring portion 24b) connected to the one end in a cantilevered manner, protruding toward the other end (rear end), and arranged opposite each other across a male terminal insertion gap 22. In embodiment 1, the male terminal mounting portion 16 has a pair of support plate portions 28, 28 (upper support plate portion 28a and lower support plate portion 28b) arranged opposite each other across a gap 26, and the support plate portions 28a, 28b are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction across the gap 26. Furthermore, each support plate portion 28a, 28b extends in the front-to-rear direction, and the male terminal insertion opening 20 is defined by including one end side (front end side) of each support plate portion 28a, 28b. In other words, the male terminal insertion opening 20 and the male terminal insertion gap 22 are formed in the front portion of the gap 26 between the support plate portions 28a, 28b. The contact spring portions 24a, 24b are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction across the male terminal insertion gap 22, with the upper side being the first contact spring portion 24a and the lower side being the second contact spring portion 24b.

[0025] Furthermore, the male terminal mounting portion 16 is equipped with a clip spring 34 having a connecting plate portion 30 and a pair of clamping plates 32, 32 that protrude in directions approaching each other from both side edges of the connecting plate portion 30. This clip spring 34 is attached with the free end portions 36 (i.e., rear end portions) of each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b disposed between the pair of clamping plates 32, 32, and as shown in Figures 1 to 6, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 22, the free end portions 36, 36 are biased in directions approaching each other.

[0026] <Female Terminal Body 18> The female terminal body 18 is formed by pressing a single metal plate and includes the upper and lower support plate portions 28a, 28b, which are arranged opposite each other across a gap 26 having a predetermined vertical dimension. The single metal plate constituting the female terminal body 18 may be made of a metal that is conductive and springy, such as a copper alloy. The upper and lower support plate portions 28a, 28b are connected to a rear cylindrical portion 38 provided at the rear end of the female terminal body 18. The rear cylindrical portion 38 has a cylindrical shape that extends substantially straight in the front-to-rear direction and includes a peripheral wall portion 44 having a front opening 40 and a rear opening 42. In the first embodiment, the rear cylindrical portion 38 (peripheral wall portion 44) has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape when viewed in the front-to-rear direction. As a result, the upper and lower support plates 28a, 28b extend forward from the upper and lower walls that form the peripheral wall 44 at the periphery of the front opening 40, respectively, and the inner hole of the rear cylindrical portion 38 communicates in the front-to-rear direction with the gap 26 between the upper and lower support plates 28a, 28b. In other words, the gap 26 between the upper and lower support plates 28a, 28b opens at the rear opening 42 through the inner hole of the rear cylindrical portion 38.

[0027] In particular, in the first embodiment, the opening areas of the front opening 40 and the rear opening 42 as viewed in the front-rear direction are larger than the maximum area of ​​the clip spring 34 as projected in the front-rear direction, allowing the clip spring 34 to be inserted through the front opening 40 and the rear opening 42. This allows the clip spring 34 to be inserted from the rear opening 42 in the rear cylindrical portion 38 through the inner hole of the rear cylindrical portion 38 into the gap 26 between the upper and lower support plate portions 28 a, 28 b.

[0028] A crimping portion 46 is provided on a portion of the circumference of the rear tubular portion 38, so as to maintain the female terminal body 18, which is formed by pressing a single flat metal plate, in a desired shape. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the upper wall and right wall that constitute the peripheral wall portion 44 are butted against each other by pressing a single flat metal plate, and the crimping portion 46 is provided on the upper right corner of the rear tubular portion 38. By crimping and fixing at this crimping portion 46, the female terminal body 18, including the rear tubular portion 38, is maintained in a predetermined shape.

[0029] In particular, in the first embodiment, a plurality of crimping pieces 48 are provided in the front-rear direction in the crimping portion 46, and a central crimping piece 48a that protrudes toward the right wall is provided in the front-rear center portion of the upper wall that constitutes the peripheral wall 44. In addition, a pair of end crimping pieces 48b, 48b that protrude toward the upper wall are provided at both front-rear end portions of the right wall that constitutes the peripheral wall 44. By crimping these crimping pieces 48a, 48b, crimping in two directions that are opposite to each other is achieved, and the shape of the female terminal body 18, including the rear tubular portion 38, can be more stably maintained.

[0030] At the periphery of the rear opening 42 in the rear cylindrical portion 38, a rearward extending portion 50 is provided on the wall portion below the peripheral wall portion 44. The rearward extending portion 50 has a generally rectangular flat plate shape overall, and a circular bolt insertion hole 52 penetrating through the rear extending portion 50 in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) is formed in the center of the rear extending portion 50. A bolt (not shown) is inserted through the bolt insertion hole 52 to fix the female terminal body 18 including the rear cylindrical portion 38, i.e., the female terminal 10, to a power source member such as a battery, and the female terminal 10 is electrically connected to the power source member via the rearward extending portion 50 around the bolt insertion hole 52.

[0031] <Contact spring portion 24 (first contact spring portion 24a and second contact spring portion 24b)> A curved portion 54 is provided at the front end of each support plate portion 28a, 28b. That is, the first contact spring portion 24a is connected in a cantilevered manner to the front end of the upper support plate portion 28a via the curved portion 54, protruding toward the rear end, and the second contact spring portion 24b is connected in a cantilevered manner to the front end of the lower support plate portion 28b via the curved portion 54, protruding toward the rear end. Therefore, the rear ends of the first contact spring portion 24a and the second contact spring portion 24b each serve as the free end portion 36 described above.

[0032] The space between the first contact spring portion 24a and the second contact spring portion 24b in the vertical direction is the male terminal insertion gap 22 into which the male terminal 12 is inserted, and the male terminal 12 is inserted from the front into the male terminal insertion gap 22. In other words, the male terminal insertion opening 20 is defined by including the front end sides of each support plate portion 28a, 28b.

[0033] <Spring portion-side slits 58, first tongue pieces 60, and second tongue pieces 62> In the first embodiment, each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b is divided into a first tongue piece 60 and a second tongue piece 62 that can be displaced independently of each other by a spring portion-side slit 58 that penetrates the central portion in the width direction (left-right direction) in the plate thickness direction (approximately the up-down direction) and extends in the protruding direction (direction from front to rear), and opens at the protruding end face (rear end face) 56. In particular, in the first embodiment, the left portions of each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b are the first tongue pieces 60, 60, and the right portions of each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b are the second tongue pieces 62, 62, respectively. As a result, the first tongues 60 of the contact spring portions 24 a, 24 b face each other in the vertical direction, and the second tongues 62 of the contact spring portions 24 a, 24 b face each other in the vertical direction. The spring portion-side slits 58 are provided over the entire length of the contact spring portions 24 a, 24 b in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction), and extend slightly beyond the curved portions 54 provided at the front ends of the contact spring portions 24 a, 24 b to the upper and lower support plate portions 28 a, 28 b.

[0034] Furthermore, a first contact 64 and a second contact 66 that come into contact with the male terminal 12 when the male terminal 12 is inserted are provided on the inner surfaces of the first and second tongues 60, 62 of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b in the opposing direction (up and down direction). That is, the first contacts 64, 64 are provided on the surfaces (lower surfaces) of the first and second tongues 60, 62 of the first contact spring portion 24a that face the second contact spring portion 24b, and the first and second tongues 60, 62 of the second contact spring portion 24b are provided on the surfaces (upper surfaces) that face the first contact spring portion 24a.

[0035] In embodiment 1, each first tongue 60 and each second tongue 62 in the first and second contact spring portions 24a, 24b has a bent portion 68 provided in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction), and each bent portion 68 forms each of the first contacts 64 and each of the second contacts 66.

[0036] 8 and 9, in the first embodiment, before the male terminal 12 is inserted, the bent portions 68 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b extend in the front-rear direction from the respective bent portions 68 to the respective free ends 36, which are the protruding tips, so that the bent portions 68 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b extend parallel to each other from the respective bent portions 68 to the respective free ends 36. In particular, as described above, the first contacts 64 and the second contacts 66 are formed by the respective bent portions 68 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b. Therefore, in each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b, the separation distance A (see FIGS. 8 and 9) between the inner surfaces in the opposing direction is substantially constant from the rear end of each of the first contacts 64 and the second contacts 66 to each of the free ends 36.

[0037] Before the male terminal 12 is inserted, each free end 36 extends in the front-rear direction, causing each protruding end surface 56 of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 to expand in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Each of these protruding end surfaces 56 is disposed opposite the connecting plate portion 30 of the clip spring 34, which expands in the same direction as the free end 36, as will be described later. In the first embodiment, substantially the entire surface of each protruding end surface 56 abuts against the connecting plate portion 30.

[0038] That is, in embodiment 1, the separation distance between the inner surfaces of the opposing direction in the male terminal insertion gap 22 formed between each contact spring portion 24a, 24b is largest at the front end, which is the male terminal insertion port 20, and gradually becomes smaller as it moves rearward from the male terminal insertion port 20.

[0039] In particular, in the first embodiment, the thickness dimension (vertical dimension) B (see FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of the male terminal 12 is larger than the separation distance A at the rear portion of the first contacts 64 and the second contacts 66 (the bent portions 68). As a result, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 22 through the male terminal insertion opening 20, the first contacts 64 and the second contacts 66 abut against the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, while the first and second tongues 60, 62 are pushed outward in the vertical direction, and the male terminal 12 is press-fit between the first contacts 64 and the second contacts 66 in the male terminal insertion gap 22. When the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 22, the male terminal 12 comes into contact only with the first contacts 64 and the second contacts 66, as shown in FIGS. 3 , 5 , 6 , etc.

[0040] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the first and second tongues 60, 62 of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b have a smaller width dimension at the other end (rear end) that protrudes compared to the one end (front end) that is cantilevered to the curved portion 54. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11 , which will be described later, the inner surfaces 72 of the first tongue 60 and the second tongue 62 in the opposing direction (left-right direction) of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b are positioned substantially entirely outward in the opposing direction compared to when the first and second tongues 60, 62 extend with a substantially constant width dimension in the front-rear direction (shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 11 ). Furthermore, the outer surfaces 74 of the first and second tongues 60 and 62 in the opposing direction (left-right direction) are positioned substantially entirely inward in the opposing direction, compared to when the first and second tongues 60, 62 extend with a substantially constant width in the front-rear direction. In particular, in the first embodiment, the width of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 gradually decreases from the curved portion 54 at the front end to the bent portion 68 at the middle portion in the front-rear direction, and the width is substantially constant from the bent portion 68 toward the protruding tip (rear end). As a result, the width of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 is smaller at the rear end than at the front end.

[0041] <Engaging Portion 76> At least one of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first tongues 60 and each of the second tongues 62) has an integrally formed engaging portion 76. In the first embodiment, the engaging portion 76 is provided on the outer edge of each of the first tongues 60 and each of the second tongues 62, resulting in a total of four engaging portions 76 in the female terminal 10. Each engaging portion 76 protrudes outward in the vertical direction by a predetermined protrusion dimension from both side edges of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b, i.e., from the rear end portions of each of the first tongues 60 and each of the second tongues 62, outward in the left-right direction, toward the corresponding clamping plate portion 32 of the opposing clip spring 34. Each engaging portion 76 is generally rectangular in side view (left-right view).

[0042] In particular, in the first embodiment, each engaging portion 76 is provided a predetermined distance forward of the rear end (free end 36) of each first tongue 60 and each second tongue 62 (the case where the engaging portion is provided from the rear end of each tongue is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 ). This allows the front-to-rear dimension of each engaging portion 76 to be kept small, and also allows the widthwise dimension of the rear end (free end 36) of each first and second tongue 60, 62 to be kept small. Furthermore, each first tongue 60 and each second tongue 62 is provided with an outward protruding portion 77 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction at a position a predetermined distance forward of the rear end (free end 36), and each engaging portion 76 is provided at the protruding end (outer end in the left-right direction) of each outward protruding portion 77. As a result, the engaging portions 76 provided on both the left and right sides of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b face each other at a predetermined distance in the left-right direction.

[0043] <Support Plates 28 (Upper Support Plates 28a and Lower Support Plates 28b)> The upper support plate 28a and the lower support plate 28b are each flat plates that are generally rectangular in plan view and are larger in the front-to-rear direction than in the left-to-right direction. As described above, the front ends of the support plates 28a, 28b are folded back at the curved portions 54 and connected to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (the first and second tongues 60, 62), and the rear ends of the support plates 28a, 28b are connected to the rear cylindrical portion 38. The end faces of the upper and lower support plates 28a, 28b facing outward (in the up-down direction) are continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the rear cylindrical portion 38 without any steps, forming flat surfaces 78 without any irregularities.

[0044] <Clip Spring 34> As described above, the clip spring 34 includes a connecting plate 30 and a pair of clamping plates 32, 32 that protrude toward each other from both side edges of the connecting plate 30. As shown in FIG. 12 , the connecting plate 30 and each clamping plate 32 are each substantially rectangular flat plate. A clip spring 34 having such a shape can also be formed, for example, by pressing a single metal flat plate. When the clip spring 34 is attached to each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b, the clamping plates 32 protrude forward from both vertical ends of the connecting plate 30 and are inclined toward each other (inward in the vertical direction). In the first embodiment, the connecting plate 30 has a substantially rectangular shape in which the left-right dimension is greater than the up-down dimension when viewed in the front-to-rear direction (projected in the front-to-rear direction), and the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 30 is the left-to-right direction.

[0045] <Clip-Side Slit 84, First Clamping Piece 86, and Second Clamping Piece 88> In the first embodiment, each clamping plate 32 is divided into a first clamping piece 86 and a second clamping piece 88 that can be displaced independently of each other by a clip-side slit 84 that penetrates the widthwise (left-right) central portion in the plate thickness direction (approximately the up-down direction) and extends in the protruding direction (from rear to front), and that opens at the protruding end face (front end face) 82. In particular, in the first embodiment, the left portions of each clamping plate 32 are the first clamping pieces 86, 86, and the right portions of each clamping plate 32 are the second clamping pieces 88, 88. As a result, the first clamping pieces 86, 86 of each clamping plate 32 face each other in the up-down direction, and the second clamping pieces 88, 88 of each clamping plate 32 face each other in the up-down direction. Each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction, with the connection point with the connecting plate portion 30 as the base point.

[0046] The clip-side slits 84 are formed over the entire length of each clamping piece 86, 88 in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction), and a base end 90, which is opposite the opening side (front side) of the clip-side slit 84, is positioned beyond each clamping piece 86, 88 and on the connecting plate 30. In other words, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the base end 90 of the clip-side slit 84 provided on the upper clamping plate 32 is located in the center of the connecting plate 30 in the width direction (left-right direction) of each clamping plate 32, and extends downward from the upper end of the connecting plate 30. The base end 90 of the clip-side slit 84 provided on the lower clamping plate 32 is located in the center of the connecting plate 30 in the left-right direction and extends upward from the lower end of the connecting plate 30. As a result, the base end portion 90 of one (upper) clip-side slit 84 and the base end portion 90 of the other (lower) clip-side slit 84 are disposed in the center portion in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the connecting plate portion 30. The base end portions 90 are disposed opposite each other in a direction (up-down direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0047] The left-right dimension of each of the first and second clamping pieces 86 and 88 is larger than the left-right dimension of each of the recesses 70 in each of the first and second tongues 60 and 62, and in the first embodiment, is larger than the left-right dimension of the rear portions of each of the first and second tongues 60 and 62. Furthermore, each of the first and second clamping pieces 86 and 88 has a bent portion 92 formed in a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof. As a result, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10 and the bent portions 92 in each of the first and second clamping pieces 86 and 88 abut against the positions where the recesses 70 are formed in each of the first and second tongues 60 and 62, both left-right end portions of each of the first and second clamping pieces 86 and 88 abut at portions outward in the left-right direction from the recesses 70 in each of the first and second tongues 60 and 62.

[0048] Furthermore, since a bent portion 92 is provided in the longitudinally intermediate portion of each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88, the protruding tip portions, including the protruding end faces 82, of each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88 extend outward in the vertical direction from the bent portion 92. Therefore, the opposing distance between the first clamping pieces 86, 86 and the second clamping pieces 88, 88, which face each other in the vertical direction, is smallest at the bent portions 92 provided in the longitudinally intermediate portions. The gap between these vertically opposing bent portions 92 is an insertion opening 93 for inserting and assembling the free ends 36 of the first and second contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first and second tongues 60, 62). That is, when the clip spring 34 is attached, the connecting plate portion 30 of the clip spring 34 is disposed opposite the protruding end surfaces 56 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b, and in the first embodiment, the connecting plate portion 30 and the protruding end surfaces 56 abut against each other. When the clip spring 34 is attached, the clamping plate portions 32 of the clip spring 34 protrude from the connecting plate portion 30 in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b. The direction opposite to the protruding direction of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (from rear to front) is the attachment direction of the clip spring 34, and the direction opposite to this attachment direction (from front to rear) is the detachment direction of the clip spring 34 from the contact spring portions 24a, 24b.

[0049] <Engaged Portions 94> Here, the clip spring 34 integrally includes engaged portions 94 that abut against the engaging portions 76 as the clip spring 34 is attached to the free ends 36 of the first and second contact spring portions 24a, 24b (first and second tongues 60, 62). Each engaged portion 94 includes an attachment guide portion 96 that abuts against the engaging portions 76 and deforms the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88 of the clip spring 34 in the plate width direction (left-right direction), thereby allowing movement of the clip spring 34 forward in the attachment direction (from rear to front). Each engaged portion 94 also includes a stopper portion 98 that engages with the engaging portions 76 that have disengaged from the attachment guide portion 96 and prevents the clip spring 34 from disengaging from the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (from front to rear).

[0050] Specifically, the mounting guide portions 96 are provided on both side edges of each clamping plate portion 32 of the clip spring 34, i.e., on the outer left-right edges of each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88, in the middle portion in the front-rear direction (more specifically, the portion rearward of each bent portion 92). Thus, four mounting guide portions 96 are provided on the clip spring 34. Each of these mounting guide portions 96 is shaped to gradually protrude outward in the width direction (left-right direction) from the front side to the rear side in the mounting direction of the clip spring 34 (from left to right in FIG. 11 ).

[0051] The clip spring 34 has recessed portions 102 that are connected to the rear end portions 100 of each mounting guide portion 96 and are recessed inward in the width direction (left-right direction) from the rear end portions 100 to accommodate each engaging portion 76. That is, four recessed portions 102 are provided in the clip spring 34. In the first embodiment, each recessed portion 102 is open to the rear in the clip spring 34 and is provided integrally with each mounting guide portion 96. In particular, in the first embodiment, the stopper portion 98 is configured by a first step surface 104 between the rear end portions 100 of each mounting guide portion 96 and each recessed portion 102, and a bottom surface 106 of each recessed portion 102.

[0052] In a standalone state before the clip spring 34 is attached, the maximum area of ​​the clip spring 34 as projected in the front-to-rear direction is larger than the opening area of ​​the rear cylindrical portion 38 as viewed in the front-to-rear direction (the opening area of ​​the front opening 40 and the rear opening 42). This allows the clip spring 34 to be inserted from the rear through the rear opening 42 and the inner hole of the rear cylindrical portion 38 into the gap 26 between the upper and lower support plate portions 28a, 28b, as shown by the white arrow in Fig. 10. By inserting the clip spring 34 from the rear into the gap 26 between the upper and lower support plate portions 28a, 28b, the clip spring 34 is positioned rearward of the free ends 36 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (the first tongues 60 and the second tongues 62), as shown in Fig. 11.

[0053] The clip spring 34 is assembled to each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first tongues 60 and each of the second tongues 62) by being moved forward from a state in which it is positioned behind each free end 36 of each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first tongues 60 and each of the second tongues 62). The state in which the clip spring 34 is moved forward and assembled to each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first tongues 60 and each of the second tongues 62) will be described with reference to FIG. 11 .

[0054] 11 (white arrow R1 in FIG. 11 ), the free ends 36 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (first tongues 60 and second tongues 62) are inserted into the insertion openings 93 of the clip spring 34. At the same time, the attachment guide portions 96 provided on the clamping plate portions 32 (first clamping pieces 86 and second clamping pieces 88) of the clip spring 34 come into contact with the engaging portions 76 provided on the protruding ends (free ends 36) of the first and second tongues 60, 62. Since the outward protrusion dimension of each mounting guide portion 96 gradually increases from the front to the rear, each engaging portion 76 is elastically deformed outward in the left-right direction along the inclined surface of each mounting guide portion 96 (white arrow R2 in Figure 11), and each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88 including each mounting guide portion 96 is elastically deformed inward in the left-right direction (white arrow R3 in Figure 11).

[0055] In particular, the clip-side slits 84 are provided between the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88 in each clamping plate portion 32, which facilitates inward elastic deformation in the left-right direction in each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88. Furthermore, the spring-side slits 58 are provided in the widthwise central portions of the first and second contact spring portions 24a, 24b, which divide the first and second tongue pieces 60, 62 into left and right, so that the elastic deformation of each engaging portion 76 outward in the left-right direction does not necessarily involve the elastic deformation of only the engaging portion 76, but may also involve the elastic deformation of the rear end sides (free end portions 36 sides) of the first and second tongue pieces 60, 62 including the engaging portion 76 outward in the left-right direction. In particular, as mentioned above, the widthwise dimension of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 is smaller at the rear end side than at the front end side, making it easier for elastic deformation to occur outward in the left-right direction at each of the rear end sides (free end 36 side) of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 as described above.

[0056] The above-described elastic deformation of each engaging portion 76 outward in the left-right direction and the elastic deformation of each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88 inward in the left-right direction permit further forward movement of the clip spring 34. In addition, when each engaging portion 76 climbs over the rear end portions 100 of each mounting guide portion 96 and disengages from each mounting guide portion 96, the rear end portions of each of the first tongues 60 and second tongues 62, including each engaging portion 76, and each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88 elastically deform to their original state (elastic return). 2 and other figures, the engaging portions 76 engage with the stopper portions 98 formed by the first stepped surfaces 104 and the bottom surfaces 106 of the recessed portions 102, and the clip spring 34 is attached with the free end portions 36 of the first and second contact spring portions 24a, 24b (the first and second tongues 60, 62) positioned between the clamping plate portions 32 (the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88). As a result, the engaging portions 76 engage with the stopper portions 98, preventing the clip spring 34 from displacing from the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (from the front to the rear).

[0057] In particular, in embodiment 1, when each engaging portion 76 is engaged with each stopper portion 98, each engaging portion 76 protrudes outward in the vertical direction beyond each clamping plate portion 32 (each of the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88) of the clip spring 34.

[0058] Further, forward movement of the clip spring 34 relative to each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first and second tongues 60, 62) is limited by the rear ends (each of the free ends 36) of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 abutting against the connecting plate portion 30 of the clip spring 34. Here, the opening dimension (vertical dimension) of each insertion opening 93 in the clip spring 34 in a standalone state (before elastic deformation) is set equal to the vertical distance between the outer surfaces (vertical outer surfaces) of the free ends 36 of each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first tongues 60 and each of the second tongues 62). 8 and 9, when the clip spring 34 is attached to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b and the inner surfaces of the bent portions 92 are placed on the outer surfaces of the first and second tongues 60, 62, the inner surfaces of the bent portions 92 and the first and second tongues 60, 62 come into zero-touch contact with each other. As a result, when the clip spring 34 is attached to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b, the front ends of the clamping plates 32 do not spread in the spreading direction (outward in the vertical direction), and therefore no inward biasing force in the vertical direction is generated by the clamping plates 32. Therefore, even when the clip spring 34 is attached, the contact spring portions 24a, 24b do not elastically deform inward in the opposing direction.

[0059] 10 , before the clip spring 34 is attached, the rear end portions of the first and second tongues 60, 62 extend in the front-rear direction and are generally parallel to each other. Therefore, even when the clip spring 34 is attached to the rear end portions of the first and second tongues 60, 62, the first and second tongues 60, 62 do not elastically deform inward in the opposing directions, and the rear end portions of the first and second tongues 60, 62 extend generally straight in the front-rear direction. As a result, before the clip spring 34 is attached, the free ends 36 extend in the front-rear direction, and the protruding end faces 56 of the first and second tongues 60, 62 widen in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Therefore, when each protruding end face 56 abuts against the connecting plate portion 30 to restrict the forward movement of the clip spring 34, each protruding end face 56 abuts against the connecting plate portion 30 over almost the entire surface, thereby more reliably restricting the forward movement of the clip spring 34.

[0060] Furthermore, since the inner surface of each bent portion 92 abuts against each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 with zero touch, even after the clip spring 34 is attached, each contact spring portion 24a, 24b does not elastically deform inward in the opposing direction, and the rear portions of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 extend in the front-to-rear direction.

[0061] The method of restricting the forward movement of the clip spring 34 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the inner surface (inner surface in the vertical direction) of each bent portion 92 of the clip spring 34 may be abutted against the outer surface (outer surface in the vertical direction) of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b (each of the first and second tongue pieces 60, 62), thereby restricting the forward movement of the clip spring 34.

[0062] Furthermore, when the clip spring 34 is attached, the inner surfaces (inner surfaces in the vertical direction) of the bent portions 92 of the clip spring 34 may be spaced a small distance from the outer surfaces (outer surfaces in the vertical direction) of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (first and second tongues 60, 62). Alternatively, the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (first and second tongues 60, 62) may be inserted into the insertion openings 93 of the clip spring 34 so as to push the clamping plate portions 32 (first and second clamping pieces 86, 88) outward in the vertical direction, in which case the elastic restoring forces of the clamping plate portions 32 (first and second clamping pieces 86, 88) urge the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (first and second tongues 60, 62) in directions that bring them closer to each other (inward in the vertical direction).

[0063] In particular, as described above, when the engaging portions 76 are engaged with the stopper portions 98 and the clip spring 34 is attached, the inner surfaces of the bent portions 92 do not have to abut against the outer surfaces of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (first and second tongues 60, 62), and in this case, the clip spring 34 is attached to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (first and second tongues 60, 62) with a certain degree of play, i.e., in a somewhat free state. This allows the clip spring 34 to displace in response to the male terminal 12 when the male terminal 12 is inserted, improving its ability to follow the male terminal 12.

[0064] <Assembly of Female Terminal 10> A specific example of a method for assembling the female terminal 10 will be described below. Note that the method for assembling the female terminal 10 is not limited to the embodiment described below.

[0065] First, a single metal plate is bent into the aforementioned shape to form the female terminal body 18. At this time, the rear tubular portion 38 is stably formed by crimping each crimping piece 48 (the central crimping piece 48a and each end crimping piece 48b), and the female terminal body 18 is maintained in a predetermined shape. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 , the clip spring 34 is positioned behind the female terminal body 18 and inserted into the gap 26 between the upper and lower support plate portions 28a, 28b through the rear opening 42 and the inner hole of the rear tubular portion 38. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11 , the clip spring 34 is positioned behind the free ends 36 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (each of the first and second tongues 60, 62) in the gap 26 between the upper and lower support plate portions 28a, 28b.

[0066] 11 , the clip spring 34 is moved forward, and the free ends 36 of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (the first and second tongues 60, 62) are inserted into the insertion openings 93. This causes the engaging portions 76 to come into contact with the mounting guide portions 96, and the mounting guide portions 96 press against the engaging portions 76, causing the engaging portions 76 (or the rear portions of the first and second tongues 60, 62) to elastically deform outward in the left-right direction, and the first and second clamping portions 86, 88 to elastically deform inward in the left-right direction. In particular, the reduced plate width of the rear portions of the first and second tongues 60, 62 and the formation of the clip-side slits 84 extending to the connecting plate portion 30 allow the above-mentioned elastic deformation to occur stably. As a result, clip spring 34 is permitted to move further forward, causing each engaging portion 76 (or the rear portions of each of first and second tongues 60, 62) and each of first and second clamping pieces 86, 88 to elastically restore and deform, and each engaging portion 76 engages with each stopper portion 98. In this way, clip spring 34 is assembled to female terminal body 18, and the female terminal 10 of embodiment 1 is completed.

[0067] The clip spring 34 can be attached to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b as described above by a worker manually or mechanically by holding the clip spring 34 with a jig (not shown). Since the clip spring 34 is inserted through the rear cylindrical portion 38, the attachment can be performed using the rear cylindrical portion 38, which is generally rectangular in rear view, as a guide or mark. In particular, the base ends 90 of the clip-side slits 84 of the clip spring 34 are located on the connecting plate portion 30, and the attachment can be performed by holding the base ends 90 located on the connecting plate portion 30 with the jig.

[0068] <Assembly of Terminal Unit 14> A specific example of a method for inserting the male terminal 12 into the female terminal 10 of the first embodiment to assemble the terminal unit 14 in a state in which the female terminal 10 and the male terminal 12 are connected will be described below.

[0069] First, the female terminal 10 and male terminal 12 assembled as described above are positioned opposite each other in the front-to-rear direction as shown in Figures 7 to 9. Then, the tip portion of the male terminal 12 is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap 22 through the male terminal insertion opening 20 and press-fit between the opposing surfaces of the first contacts 64 and second contacts 66 provided on the first and second tongues 60, 62 of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b. As a result, as shown in Figures 3, 5, 6, etc., the first and second contacts 64, 66 come into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, and the contact spring portions 24a, 24b (the first tongues 60, 60 and the second tongues 62, 62) are pushed apart in directions separating them from each other.

[0070] Then, the bent portions 68 of the first and second tongues 60, 62, which have been spread outward in the vertical direction, abut against the bent portions 92 of the clip spring 34 from the inside in the vertical direction, causing the clamping plates 32 (the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88) to elastically deform outward in the vertical direction. The elastic restoring force of the clamping plates 32 (the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88) clamps the free ends 36 of the first and second tongues 60, 62 by the clamping plates 32 (the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88), urging the free ends 36 of the first and second tongues 60, 62 in directions approaching each other. As a result, the first contacts 64 and the second contacts 66 are pressed into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12, which is press-fitted between the opposing surfaces of the first contact spring portion 24a and the second contact spring portion 24b. As a result, the male terminals 12 and the female terminals 10 are electrically connected to each other, completing the terminal unit 14 in which the female terminals 10 and the male terminals 12 are connected to each other.

[0071] In other words, when the male terminal 12 is inserted into the female terminal 10, not only the first contact spring portion 24a and the second contact spring portion 24b but also each clamping plate portion 32 of the clip spring 34 is pushed outward in the vertical direction, and each first contact 64 and each second contact 66 is pressed against both the upper and lower surfaces of the male terminal 12 not only by the elastic restoring force of the first contact spring portion 24a and the second contact spring portion 24b but also by the elastic restoring force of each clamping plate portion 32.

[0072] In particular, in the first embodiment, the first and second contact spring portions 24a, 24b are each divided in the left-right direction into first tongues 60 and second tongues 62, and each clamping plate portion 32 is each divided in the left-right direction into first clamping pieces 86 and second clamping pieces 88. Therefore, between a pair of first clamping pieces 86, 86 arranged opposite to each other in the vertical direction, the pair of opposed first tongues 60, 60 are clamped by each of the first clamping pieces 86 with the male terminal 12 sandwiched therebetween, and between a pair of second clamping pieces 88, 88 arranged opposite to each other in the vertical direction, the pair of opposed second tongues 62, 62 are clamped by each of the second clamping pieces 88 with the male terminal 12 sandwiched therebetween.

[0073] According to the female terminal 10 of the first embodiment, the contact spring portions 24a, 24b of the female terminal body 18 are provided with engaging portions 76, and the clip spring 34 is provided with stopper portions 98 that constitute the engaged portions 94, and the engagement between the engaging portions 76 and the stopper portions 98 prevents the clip spring 34 from falling off. This makes it possible to prevent the clip spring 34 from falling off without providing a separate member for preventing the clip spring from falling off, and avoids an increase in the number of parts.

[0074] Furthermore, when assembling the clip spring 34 to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b, as described above, by displacing the clip spring 34 forward while the engaging portions 76 and the mounting guide portions 96 are in contact with each other in the front-to-rear direction, the rear portions of the first and second tongues 60, 62 are elastically deformed outward in the opposing directions (left-to-right directions), and the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88 are elastically deformed inward in the opposing directions (left-to-right directions). Here, clip-side slits 84 are provided between the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88 in the opposing directions, and these clip-side slits 84 extend beyond the clamping plate portions 32 to reach the connecting plate portion 30. As a result, the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88 can be easily elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction, making it easier to disengage the engaging portions 76 from the mounting guide portions 96 and to engage the engaging portions 76 with the stopper portions 98. Therefore, as disclosed herein, by positioning the base end portions 90 of the clip-side slits 84 on the connecting plate portion 30, the ease of assembling the clip spring 34 to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b can be improved. Furthermore, because the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88 can be easily elastically deformed inward in the opposing direction, when assembling the clip spring 34 to the contact spring portions 24a, 24b, for example, the clip spring 34 does not need to be pushed forward with a relatively strong force, and buckling deformation of the first and second tongues 60, 62 can be prevented.

[0075] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the rear portion of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 is smaller in width than the front portion. This allows the weight of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 to be reduced, and when assembling the clip spring 34 to each of the first and second tongues 60, 62, the rear portions of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 can be easily elastically deformed outward in the opposing direction (left-right direction). This also improves the ease of assembling the clip spring 34 to each of the contact spring portions 24a, 24b and prevents buckling deformation of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62.

[0076] The base end 90 of each clip-side slit 84 is located in the central portion of the connecting plate portion 30 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and these base end portions 90 are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (up-down direction). Since the base end 90 of each clip-side slit 84 extends to the connecting plate portion 30 in this manner, it becomes possible to clamp the base end portions 90 by sandwiching them between them with a jig (not shown). That is, by positioning the base end 90 of each clip-side slit 84 on the connecting plate portion 30 as in the present disclosure, the central portion of the connecting plate portion 30 in the left-right direction can be clamped. This prevents the jig from coming into contact with the female terminal 10 (particularly the rear tubular portion 38) compared to when, for example, both left and right ends of the connecting plate portion are gripped with a jig, thereby enabling the rear tubular portion 38 to be made smaller.

[0077] The clip spring 34 is provided with mounting guide portions 96 that gradually protrude outward in the left-right direction from the front to the rear, and recessed portions 102 that connect to rear end portions 100 of the mounting guide portions 96, and each stopper portion 98 is formed by a first step surface 104 between each rear end portion 100 and each recessed portion 102, and a bottom surface 106 of each recessed portion 102. As a result, when each engaging portion 76 engages with each stopper portion 98, the first step surfaces 104 abut against each engaging portion 76, thereby restricting rearward displacement of the clip spring 34, and the bottom surfaces 106 abut against each engaging portion 76, thereby restricting left-right displacement of the clip spring 34. In particular, since the female terminal body 18 and the clip spring 34 are each formed by pressing a single flat metal plate, each engagement portion 76 and each stopper portion 98 can be easily provided, and the simple configuration can more reliably prevent the clip spring 34 from falling off.

[0078] A curved portion 54 is provided at the front end of each of the support plate portions 28a, 28b, and the contact spring portions 24a, 24b are connected in a cantilevered manner via the curved portions 54. This allows the contact spring portions 24a, 24b to be formed integrally with the support plate portions 28a, 28b, and in particular, as in the first embodiment, the entire female terminal body 18 can be formed from a single flat metal plate.

[0079] <Modifications> Although the first embodiment has been described above in detail as a specific example of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to this specific description. Modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope of achieving the object of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. For example, the following modifications of the embodiment are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0080] (1) In the above embodiment, the engaging portions 76 were provided on the first and second tongues 60, 62 of each contact spring portion 24a, 24b, but for example, the engaging portions may be provided on only one of the upper and lower contact spring portions, or on only one of the left and right tongues. Similarly, in the above embodiment, the engaged portions 94 were provided on the first and second clamping pieces 86, 88 of each clamping plate portion 32, but for example, the engaged portions may be provided at positions of the four clamping pieces of the clip spring that correspond to the engaging portions.

[0081] (2) In the above embodiment, the rear of the recessed portion 102 in the clip spring 34 is open, but this is not limited to this. The rear of the recessed portion may be closed, and the recessed portion may be substantially rectangular when viewed in the thickness direction of the clamping plate portion. This makes it possible to adjust the front-to-rear dimension of the connecting plate portion from the position of the recessed portion, and to change the shape of the clip spring depending on the insertion depth of the male terminal.

[0082] (3) In the above embodiment, the female terminal body 18 is formed by bending a single metal plate and is fixed by crimping at the crimping portion 46, but this is not limited to this. For example, the upper and lower support plate portions may be arranged opposite each other with a gap between them and fixed by welding or bolts. Alternatively, a contact spring portion formed separately from the support plate portion may be fixed to the front end of the support plate portion. In this case, the member to which the contact spring portion is fixed does not need to be plate-shaped and may be, for example, cylindrical.

[0083] (4) In the above embodiment, the spring portion slit 58 is provided in the widthwise center of each contact spring portion 24 a, 24 b to divide it into two tongues, the first tongue 60 and the second tongue 62, and the clip portion slit 84 is provided in the widthwise center of each clamping plate portion 32, 32 to divide it into two clamping pieces, the first clamping piece 86 and the second clamping piece 88. However, this is not limited to this. That is, each contact spring portion may be provided with multiple spring portion slits to divide it into three or more tongues, or each clamping plate may be provided with multiple clip portion slits to divide it into three or more clamping pieces. Note that the number of tongues in the upper contact spring portion and the number of tongues in the lower contact spring portion may be different from each other, and the number of clamping pieces in the upper clamping plate portion and the number of clamping pieces in the lower clamping plate portion may be different from each other, but it is preferable that the numbers of tongues and clamping pieces on the upper and lower sides are the same.

[0084] (5) In the above embodiment, the male terminal 12 is a flat tab terminal, but is not limited to this. For example, the male terminal may be a cylindrical pin terminal. In this case, each contact spring portion constituting the male terminal insertion gap may be cylindrical as a whole.

[0085] (6) In the above embodiment, the widthwise dimension of each of the first and second tongues 60, 62 was smaller at the rear end than at the front end, but each tongue may extend with a substantially constant widthwise dimension, for example, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 11. Note that the tongue having a widthwise dimension smaller at the rear end than at the front end as in the above embodiment is preferably a tongue provided with an engaging portion, and may be any one of the four tongues of each of the first and second tongues.

[0086] (7) In the above embodiment, the engaging portions 76 are provided on each of the first tongues 60 and the second tongues 62, and the first clamping pieces 86 and the second clamping pieces 88 are provided with the engaged portions 94 corresponding to the engaging portions 76. However, an engaging portion consisting of an attachment guide portion and a stopper portion may be provided on the tongue side, and an engaged portion may be provided on the clamping piece side. In such a case, when assembling the clip spring to each contact spring portion, the tongues on which the engaging portions are provided are elastically deformed inward in the left-right direction, and the clamping pieces on which the engaged portions are provided are elastically deformed outward in the left-right direction. However, by setting the width dimension of the tongues to be small, contact between the tongues can be avoided.

[0087] 10 Female terminal 12 Male terminal 14 Terminal unit 16 Male terminal mounting portion 18 Female terminal body 20 Male terminal insertion opening 22 Male terminal insertion gap 24 Contact spring portion 24a First contact spring portion 24b Second contact spring portion 26 Gap 28 Support plate portion 28a Upper support plate portion 28b Lower support plate portion 30 Connecting plate portion 32 Clamping plate portion 34 Clip spring 36 Free end portion 38 Rear cylindrical portion 40 Front opening portion 42 Rear opening portion 44 Peripheral wall portion 46 Crimping portion 48 Crimping piece 48a Central crimping piece 48b End crimping piece 50 Rear extension portion 52 Bolt insertion hole 54 Curved portion 56 Protruding end surface (of contact spring portion) 58 Spring portion side slit 60 First tongue 62 Second tongue 64 First contact point 66 Second contact point 68 Bent portion 72 Inner surface (in the opposing direction of the first tongue and the second tongue) 74 Outer surface (in the opposing direction of the first tongue and the second tongue) 76 Engagement portion 77 Outward protruding portion 78 Flat surface 82 Protruding end surface (of the clamping plate portion) 84 Clip side slit 86 First clamping piece 88 Second clamping piece 90 Base end portion 92 Bent portion 93 Insertion opening 94 Engaged portion 96 Mounting guide portion 98 Stopper portion 100 Rear end portion 102 Recessed portion 104 First step surface 106 Bottom surface

Claims

1. A male terminal mounting section into which a male terminal is inserted for electrical connection, the male terminal mounting section having: a male terminal insertion opening provided at one end; a pair of contact spring sections each connected to the one end in a cantilevered manner and protruding toward the other end, and arranged opposite each other across a male terminal insertion gap; a connecting plate section and a pair of clamping plate sections protruding in directions approaching each other from both side edges of the connecting plate section, with the free ends of the pair of contact spring sections disposed and attached between the pair of clamping plate sections, and a clip spring that urges the free ends in directions approaching each other when the male terminal is inserted into the male terminal insertion gap; each of the contact spring sections extends in the protruding direction through the center portion in the plate thickness direction, and is divided into a first tongue and a second tongue that are capable of independent displacement from each other by a spring section-side slit that opens on the protruding end face; Each of the clamping plate portions of the clip spring extends in the protruding direction, penetrating its respective widthwise central portion in the plate thickness direction, and is divided into first clamping pieces and second clamping pieces that can be displaced independently of each other by clip-side slits that open on the protruding end surface; a pair of first tongue pieces that are arranged oppositely between the pair of oppositely arranged first clamping pieces are clamped by the pair of first clamping pieces with the male terminal therebetween, and a pair of second tongue pieces that are arranged oppositely between the pair of oppositely arranged second clamping pieces are clamped by the pair of second clamping pieces with the male terminal therebetween; at least one of the pair of first tongue pieces and the pair of second tongue pieces has an engaging portion that is integrally provided; and the clip spring has an engaged portion that abuts against the engaging portion when attached to the free end portion, a female terminal in which one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion includes an attachment guide portion that abuts against the other of the engaging portion and the engaged portion to deform the clamping plate portion of the clip spring in the plate width direction, thereby allowing the clip spring to move forward in the attachment direction, and a stopper portion that engages with the engaging portion or the engaged portion that has detached from the attachment guide portion to prevent the clip spring from displacing in the direction of detachment from the contact spring portion, and the base end of the clip spring that is opposite the opening side of the clip side slit is located on the connecting plate portion.

2. A female terminal as described in claim 1, wherein the base end of one of the clip side slits arranged on the connecting plate portion of the clip spring and the base end of the other of the clip side slits are arranged in the central portion of the width direction of the clamping plate portion of the connecting plate portion and are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the clamping plate portion.

3. The connecting plate portion of the clip spring is disposed opposite to the protruding end faces of the pair of contact spring portions, and the clip spring is attached to the pair of contact spring portions so that the pair of clamping plate portions of the clip spring protrude from the connecting plate portion in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the pair of contact spring portions, the opposite direction being the attachment direction of the clip spring, and the engaging portion protruding toward the opposing first clamping piece and second clamping piece is integrally provided on each outer edge portion of the first tongue piece and second tongue piece, and the attachment guide portion having a shape that gradually protrudes outward in the width direction from the front side to the rear side in the attachment direction, and a recessed portion that is connected to the rear end of the attachment guide portion and is recessed inward in the width direction relative to the rear end to accommodate the engaging portion are integrally provided on each outer edge portion of the first clamping piece and second clamping piece of the clip spring, 3. The female terminal according to claim 1, wherein the stopper portion is formed by a first step surface between the rear end of the mounting guide portion and the recessed portion, and a bottom surface of the recessed portion.

4. A female terminal as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the male terminal mounting portion has a pair of support plate portions arranged opposite each other with a gap between them, the male terminal insertion opening is defined between the one end sides of each of the pair of support plate portions, and each of the first tongue pieces and each of the second tongue pieces is connected in a cantilever manner to the one end sides of each of the support plate portions via a curved portion.

5. A female terminal as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one of the pair of first tongue pieces and the pair of second tongue pieces on which the engaging portion is provided has a smaller width dimension at the other end side, which is the protruding side, than at the one end side connected in a cantilevered manner.

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