Terminal fitting

Abstract

Provided is a terminal fitting capable of satisfactorily connecting a conductive path of a flexible printed circuit board and an elastic contact piece.　A terminal fitting (10) is connected to a conductive path (152) of a flexible printed circuit board (150). The terminal fitting (10) is provided with a main body section (20) and an elastic contact piece (30) that extends in a cantilever manner from the main body section (20). The elastic contact piece (30) has: a fold-back part (32) that is folded back toward the main body section (20) side; and an extension part (33) that extends from the fold-back part (32) toward the main body section (20) side and has a contact part (C1) with the conductive path (152). The main body section (20) has a left-side wall part (22) and a right-side wall part (23) that are positioned so as to sandwich a part (33A) in the extension part (33) excluding the contact part (C1) from both sides in a direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the extension part (33).

Description

Terminal fittings

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

[0002] The connector of Patent Document 1 includes a housing into which a cable configured as an FPC is inserted, and contacts housed in the housing. The contacts are generally H-shaped and have a rod-shaped fixed contact portion, a rod-shaped movable contact portion, and a connecting spring portion connecting the two contact portions. When the cable is sandwiched between the two contact portions, electrical continuity is established between the connector and the cable.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-36187

[0004] It is conceivable to use a resilient contact piece that extends in a cantilevered manner as the contact portion of the connector of Patent Document 1. However, it is anticipated that such a resilient contact piece will deform in the width direction when it comes into contact with a flexible printed circuit board or the like, and the connection between the conductive path of the flexible printed circuit board and the resilient contact piece will not be stable.

[0005] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure has been completed in light of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a satisfactory connection between the conductive path of a flexible printed circuit board and a resilient contact piece.

[0006] The terminal fitting of the present disclosure is a terminal fitting connected to a conductive path of a flexible printed circuit board, and comprises a main body portion and a resilient contact piece extending cantilevered from the main body portion, wherein the resilient contact piece has a folded portion folded back toward the main body portion, and an extension portion extending from the folded portion toward the main body portion and having a contact portion with the conductive path, and the main body portion has a pair of side wall portions positioned to sandwich the portion of the extension portion excluding the contact portion from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension portion.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a terminal fitting can be realized that can satisfactorily connect the conductive path of a flexible printed circuit board to the elastic contact piece.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting of Example 1 as seen from the left side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal fitting of FIG. 1 as seen from the right side. FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of the terminal fitting of FIG. 1 as seen from the left side. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the terminal fitting of FIG. 1 as seen from the left side. FIG. 5 is a rear view of a portion of the terminal fitting of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the terminal fitting of FIG. 1 as seen from below. FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the mating of the connector of Example 1 and the mating connector is completed. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view from the front showing an enlarged view of the connection portion between the resilient contact piece and the flexible printed circuit board in FIG. 7.

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) A terminal fitting connected to a conductive path of a flexible printed circuit board, comprising: a main body portion; and a resilient contact piece extending in a cantilevered manner from the main body portion, wherein the resilient contact piece has a folded portion folded back toward the main body portion, and an extending portion extending from the folded portion toward the main body portion and provided with a contact portion with the conductive path, and the main body portion has a pair of side walls positioned to sandwich a portion of the extending portion excluding the contact portion from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the extending portion.

[0010] In the terminal fitting (1), the extension of the resilient contact piece is prevented from deforming toward the side walls by interference with a pair of side walls provided on the main body. This prevents the position of the contact piece provided on the extension from changing, and stably maintains contact between the contact piece and the conductive path. This allows for good connection between the conductive path of the flexible printed circuit board and the resilient contact piece.

[0011] (2) The terminal fitting described in (1) above, wherein the main body has a base wall portion connected to the resilient contact piece, one of the side wall portions is connected to one edge portion of the base wall portion in the width direction, and the other side wall portion is connected to the other edge portion of the base wall portion in the width direction.

[0012] In the terminal fitting (2), the main body has three walls (a base wall and a pair of side walls) that are connected in a U-shape, which improves the strength.

[0013] (3) A terminal fitting as described in (2), which includes a support piece extending in a cantilevered manner from the main body portion and contacting the flexible printed circuit board from the side opposite the resilient contact piece, and the main body portion has a second base wall portion continuous with the support piece and a pair of second side wall portions facing each other, one of the second side wall portions continuing with one edge portion in the width direction of the second base wall portion, and the other second side wall portion continuing with the other edge portion in the width direction of the second base wall portion.

[0014] The terminal fitting (3) can be configured so that the flexible printed circuit board is sandwiched between the resilient contact piece and the support piece for connection. In addition, the main body has three walls (a second base wall and a pair of second side walls) arranged in a U-shape, which improves its strength.

[0015] (4) The terminal fitting described in (3), wherein the wall surface of the base wall portion and the wall surface of the second base wall portion face each other, one of the side wall portions and one of the second side wall portions form a single flat plate, and the other of the side wall portion and the other of the second side wall portion form a single flat plate.

[0016] The terminal fitting (4) has a simpler configuration than when the side wall portion and the second side wall portion are each formed as separate walls. Moreover, the base wall portion, the pair of second base walls, the side wall portion, and the pair of second side walls form a rectangular tube-like configuration, which increases strength.

[0017] (5) A terminal fitting according to any one of (1) to (4) above, which is made of a single plate member.

[0018] The terminal fitting (5) is easy to manufacture and has a simple shape.

[0019] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] [Example 1] Example 1 embodying the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In this Example 1, with regard to the front-to-rear direction, the F direction in Figures 1 and 7 is defined as the front. The front is the direction in which the connector 100 is mated with the mating connector 130. With regard to the up-down direction, the H direction in Figures 1 and 7 is defined as the upward direction. With regard to the left-to-right direction, the R direction in Figure 1 is defined as the rightward direction.

[0020] (Configuration of terminal fitting 10) The terminal fitting 10 of this embodiment 1 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the terminal fitting 10 is integrally formed by bending a single conductive metal plate. The terminal fitting 10 is made of a single, inseparable plate member. The terminal fitting 10 is connectable to a flexible printed circuit board 150 (see Figure 7). The terminal fitting 10 includes a main body 20, a resilient contact piece 30, a support piece 40, and a connecting portion 50.

[0021] (Configuration of main body portion 20) The main body portion 20 is a portion that is assembled to the housing 120 (see FIG. 7), which will be described later. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the main body portion 20 is open in the front-rear direction and has a rectangular cylindrical shape that is elongated in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body portion 20 has an upper base wall portion 21, a left side wall portion 22, a right side wall portion 23, and a lower base wall portion 24. The upper base wall portion 21 corresponds to the "base wall portion" in this disclosure. The left side wall portion 22 and the right side wall portion 23 correspond to the "side wall portion" and "second side wall portion" in this disclosure. The lower base wall portion 24 corresponds to the "second base wall portion" in this disclosure.

[0022] The upper base wall 21 constitutes the ceiling plate of the main body 20. The upper base wall 21 is a plate-like member that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction. A downwardly recessed receiving portion 21A is formed in the central portion of the upper base wall 21 in the front-to-rear direction. The lower base wall 24 constitutes the bottom plate of the main body 20. The lower base wall 24 is a plate-like member that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction. The wall surface (lower surface) of the upper base wall 21 and the wall surface (upper surface) of the lower base wall 24 face each other in the vertical direction. The wall surface (right wall surface) of the left side wall 22 faces the wall surface (left wall surface) of the right side wall 23 in the horizontal direction.

[0023] The left side wall 22 is formed as a flat plate. The left side wall 22 is continuous with the left edge of the upper base wall 21. The left side wall 22 extends downward from the left edge of the upper base wall 21. The left side wall 22 is a flat plate that is long in the front-to-rear direction. The left side wall 22 has a notch 22A cut rearward from the front edge.

[0024] The left side wall 22 is continuous with the left edge of the lower base wall 24. The left side wall 22 extends upward from the left edge of the lower base wall 24.

[0025] The right side wall 23 is formed as a flat plate. The right side wall 23 is continuous with the right edge of the upper base wall 21. The right side wall 23 extends downward from the right edge of the upper base wall 21. The right side wall 23 is a flat plate that is long in the front-to-rear direction. The right side wall 23 has a notch 23A cut rearward from the front edge.

[0026] The right side wall portion 23 is continuous with the right edge portion of the lower base wall portion 24. The right side wall portion 23 is in contact with the right edge portion of the lower base wall portion 24 from above. Note that the right side wall portion 23 may be slightly spaced apart from the right edge portion of the lower base wall portion 24.

[0027] The main body 20 has a fixed portion 60, a first support portion 70, and a second support portion 80. The first support portion 70 and the second support portion 80 extend forward from the fixed portion 60 in parallel.

[0028] The fixed portion 60 constitutes the rear end portion of the main body 20. The fixed portion 60 is a rectangular tube-shaped member that is open in the front-rear direction. The fixed portion 60 includes a fixed-side upper plate 61, a fixed-side left plate 62, a fixed-side right plate 63, and a fixed-side lower plate 64. The fixed-side left plate 62 extends downward from the left edge of the fixed-side upper plate 61. The fixed-side right plate 63 extends downward from the right edge of the fixed-side upper plate 61. The fixed-side lower plate 64 extends rightward from the lower edge of the fixed-side left plate 62. The fixed-side right plate 63 contacts the right edge of the fixed-side lower plate 64 from above, excluding a protruding piece 63A (described later). Note that the fixed-side right plate 63 may be slightly spaced apart from the right edge of the fixed-side lower plate 64, excluding the protruding piece 63A.

[0029] A protruding piece 63A protruding downward is formed at the rear end of the lower edge of the fixed-side right plate 63. A notch 64A cut out to the left is formed at the rear end of the right edge of the fixed-side lower plate 64. The protruding piece 63A fits into the notch 64A, preventing misalignment between the fixed-side right plate 63 and the fixed-side lower plate 64.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, an opening 62A penetrating in the left-right direction is formed at the front end of the lower edge of the fixed-side left plate 62. A pair of locking pieces 64B protruding to the left is formed at the front end of the left edge of the fixed-side lower plate 64. The pair of locking pieces 64B protrude to the left through the opening 62A. As shown in Figure 2, a pair of locking pieces 64C protruding to the right is formed at the front end of the right edge of the fixed-side lower plate 64. The locking pieces 64B, 64C are engaged with holes 123 (see Figure 7) of the housing 120, which will be described later.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first support portion 70 supports the resilient contact piece 30. The first support portion 70 constitutes an upper extending portion of the front portion of the main body 20. The first support portion 70 extends forward from the front upper end of the fixed portion 60. The first support portion 70 has a U-shape that opens downward when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. The first support portion 70 includes a first substrate 71, a first left plate 72, and a first right plate 73. The first substrate 71 is a thin plate that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction. The first left plate 72 extends downward from the left edge of the first substrate 71. The first right plate 73 extends downward from the right edge of the first substrate 71. The first left plate 72 protrudes forward more than the first right plate 73.

[0032] The second support portion 80 is a portion that supports the support piece 40. The second support portion 80 constitutes a lower extension portion of the front portion of the main body portion 20. The second support portion 80 extends forward from the front lower end of the fixing portion 60. The second support portion 80 is U-shaped and open upward when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. The second support portion 80 includes a second substrate 81, a second left plate 82, and a second right plate 83. The second substrate 81 is a long, narrow plate extending in the front-to-rear direction. The second left plate 82 extends upward from the left edge of the second substrate 81. The second right plate 83 contacts the right edge of the second substrate 81 from above. Note that the second right plate 83 may be slightly spaced apart from the right edge of the second substrate 81.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 1, a notch 82A is formed at the front end of the upper edge of the second left plate 82. As shown in Fig. 2, a notch 83A is formed at the front end of the upper edge of the second right plate 83.

[0034] 1, 3, and 4, the second support portion 80 is formed with an extension piece 83B that extends leftward from the front end of the second right plate 83. The vertical width of the extension piece 83B is the same as the vertical width of the front end portion (the portion where the notch 83A is formed) of the second right plate 83. The extension piece 83B is in contact with the upper surface of the base end portion 41 of the support piece 40 (described later) and the lower surface of the extension portion 43.

[0035] (Configuration of the resilient contact piece 30) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the resilient contact piece 30 extends in a cantilevered manner from the main body 20. The resilient contact piece 30 is strip-shaped. The resilient contact piece 30 resiliently contacts the conductive path 152 (see Figure 7) of the flexible printed circuit board 150. The resilient contact piece 30 protrudes forward beyond the support piece 40, which will be described later. The resilient contact piece 30 has a base end 31, a folded-back portion 32, and an extending portion 33.

[0036] The base end 31 extends forward from the first support portion 70. The folded portion 32 is continuous with the front end of the base end 31. The folded portion 32 extends forward from the base end 31 and is folded back toward the main body portion 20. The folded portion 32 is folded back downward and rearward (toward the first support portion 70). The folded portion 32 has a curved shape that convexly faces forward. The extending portion 33 is continuous with the extending end (lower rear end) of the folded portion 32.

[0037] The extending portion 33 extends from the folded portion 32 toward the main body 20 (specifically, the first support portion 70), i.e., toward the rear. The extending portion 33 is curved so that its front end is convex downward and its rear end is convex upward. The rear end of the extending portion 33 overlaps with the first support portion 70 in the vertical direction.

[0038] The extending portion 33 has a pair of first contact portions C1 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 8) and a second contact portion C2 (see FIG. 4). The first contact portions C1 correspond to the "contact portion" in this disclosure. The first contact portions C1 are portions that come into contact with the conductive path 152 (see FIG. 7) of the flexible printed circuit board 150. The second contact portions C2 are portions that come into contact with the receiving portion 21A (see FIG. 4).

[0039] The extending portion 33 has a wide portion 34 and a narrow portion 35. The wide portion 34 constitutes the front end portion of the extending portion 33. The narrow portion 35 constitutes the rear end portion of the extending portion 33.

[0040] The widthwise (left-right) size of the wide portion 34 is the same as the widthwise size of the base end portion 31 and the widthwise size of the folded-back portion 32. Here, the widthwise direction is a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension portion 33 and the plate thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 6 , the narrow portion 35 is smaller in widthwise (left-right) size than the wide portion 34. Both widthwise edge portions of the narrow portion 35 are located widthwise inward relative to both widthwise edge portions of the wide portion 34. In other words, the narrow portion 35 extends rearward from the widthwise center at the rear end of the wide portion 34.

[0041] 3 and 4, the wide portion 34 includes a forward inclined portion 34A and a rearward inclined portion 34B. The forward inclined portion 34A extends obliquely downward and rearward from the extending end of the folded-back portion 32. The rearward inclined portion 34B extends obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the forward inclined portion 34A.

[0042] The pair of first contact portions C1 are formed at the apex of a downwardly convex portion of the extending portion 33 (at the boundary between the forward inclined portion 34A and the rearward inclined portion 34B of the wide portion 34). As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the pair of first contact portions C1 are spaced apart in a direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the extension direction of the resilient contact piece 30 (more specifically, the base end portion 31) relative to the first support portion 70, i.e., in the width direction (left-right direction) of the resilient contact piece 30. In other words, the pair of first contact portions C1 are spaced apart in a direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the forward inclined portion 34A of the extending portion 33, and are spaced apart in a direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the extension direction and thickness direction of the rearward inclined portion 34B of the extending portion 33.

[0043] The first contact portions C1 protrude downward. As shown in Fig. 8, the cross section of the first contact portions C1 perpendicular to the front-rear direction is trapezoidal. The pair of first contact portions C1 are symmetrical with respect to a plane passing through the center between the pair of first contact portions C1 (a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction).

[0044] 6 and 8, a recess 36 is formed between the pair of first contact portions C1 in the resilient contact piece 30. The recess 36 is recessed upward (toward the first support portion 70). The pair of first contact portions C1 are adjacent to each other with the recess 36 sandwiched therebetween. As shown in FIG. 4, the depth of the recess 36 is greatest at the apex of the downwardly convex portion of the extension portion 33 (the boundary between the forward inclined portion 34A and the rearward inclined portion 34B).

[0045] 4, the narrow portion 35 includes a forward inclined portion 35A and a rearward inclined portion 35B. The forward inclined portion 35A extends obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the wide portion 34. The rearward inclined portion 35B extends obliquely downward and rearward from the rear end of the forward inclined portion 35A.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4 , the second contact portion C2 is formed at the apex of the upwardly convex portion of the extension portion 33 (the boundary between the forward inclined portion 35A and the rearward inclined portion 35B of the narrow width portion 35). The second contact portion C2 protrudes upward. The cross section of the second contact portion C2 perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is trapezoidal. The second contact portion C2 faces the receiving portion 21A of the main body 20 at a distance in the up-down direction. The second contact portion C2 and the receiving portion 21A may be in contact with each other.

[0047] (Configuration of Support Piece 40) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the support piece 40 extends in a cantilevered manner from the main body 20. The support piece 40 is in the shape of a strip. The support piece 40 contacts the lower surface of the flexible printed circuit board 150. The support piece 40 has a base end portion 41, a folded portion 42, and an extending portion 43.

[0048] The base end 41 extends forward from the second support part 80. The folded part 42 is continuous with the front end of the base end 41. The folded part 42 extends forward from the base end 41 and is folded back toward the main body part 20. The folded part 42 is folded back to the upper and rear side (toward the second support part 80). The folded part 42 has a curved shape that convexly faces forward. The extending part 43 is continuous with the extending end (upper rear end) of the folded part 42.

[0049] The extension portion 43 extends from the folded portion 42 toward the main body portion 20 (specifically, the second support portion 80), i.e., rearward. The extension portion 43 is parallel to the front-rear direction and has a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. A protrusion 43A that protrudes upward is formed in the center of the extension portion 43 in the front-rear direction. The protrusion 43A has a rectangular shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction. The protrusion 43A faces the pair of first contact portions C1 of the resilient contact piece 30 at a distance in the top-bottom direction.

[0050] The portion of the extension 43 excluding its front end (the portion where the protrusion 43A is formed and the portion further rearward thereof) contacts from above a notch 82A (see FIGS. 1 and 3) in the upper edge of the second left plate 82 and a notch 83A (see FIGS. 2 and 4) in the upper edge of the second right plate 83. A rectangular cylindrical portion is formed by the portion of the extension 43 excluding its front end (the portion where the protrusion 43A is formed and the portion further rearward thereof) and the front end portion of the second support 80. The extension piece 83B extending from the second support 80 is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the front end of the base end 41 and the front end of the extension 43. The extension piece 83B is located forward of the front end of the second left plate 82 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0051] (Configuration of Connection Portion 50) The connection portion 50 is a strip-like plate extending rearward from the rear end of the lower base wall portion 24 of the main body portion 20. The connection portion 50 is electrically connected to a conductive portion (not shown) of a circuit board 110 (see FIG. 7), which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection portion 50 includes a first component portion 51, a second component portion 52, and a third component portion 53. The first component portion 51 extends rearward from the rear end of the lower base wall portion 24. The second component portion 52 extends rearward and downward from the rear end of the first component portion 51. The third component portion 53 extends rearward from the lower end of the second component portion 52. The connection portion 50 is connected to a conductive portion (not shown) of the circuit board 110 (see FIG. 7).

[0052] 2 to 4 , the portion of the extending portion 33 of the resilient contact piece 30 excluding the first contact portion C1 (hereinafter also referred to as the tip portion 33A) is sandwiched between the left side wall portion 22 and the right side wall portion 23 on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the extending portion 33. The extending direction of the extending portion 33 is the extending direction of the forward inclined portion 35A at the forward inclined portion 35A, and the extending direction of the rearward inclined portion 35B at the rearward inclined portion 35B. Specifically, the tip portion 33A is sandwiched between the left side wall portion 22 and the right side wall portion 23 on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the extending portion 33 and the plate thickness direction (left-right direction). The tip portion 33A is slightly spaced from the left side wall portion 22 and the right side wall portion 23.

[0053] As shown in Figure 4, the tip end 33A is composed of the rear end portion of the forward inclined portion 35A of the narrow width portion 35 and the entire rear inclined portion 35B. The rear end portion of the forward inclined portion 35A of the narrow width portion 35 and the front end portion of the rear inclined portion 35B are sandwiched from both left and right sides by the first left plate 72 and first right plate 73 of the first support portion 70. The rear end portion of the rear inclined portion 35B is sandwiched from both left and right sides by the fixed-side left plate 62 and fixed-side right plate 63 of the fixed part 60. Because the tip end 33A of the resilient contact piece 30 is sandwiched between the left side wall 22 and the right side wall 23 of the main body 20, interference with the left side wall 22 and the right side wall 23 suppresses outward deformation of the resilient contact piece 30 in the left-right direction.

[0054] 7, the connector 100 of the first embodiment is mounted on a circuit board 110. The connector 100 includes a housing 120 and terminal fittings 10.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, the housing 120 has a rear wall 121 and a hood portion 122. The rear wall 121 is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. The hood portion 122 protrudes forward from the rear wall 121. The hood portion 122 has a rectangular cylindrical shape that opens forward. A mating housing 140 is fitted into the hood portion 122. The rear wall 121 is provided with a plurality of holes 123 (only one is shown in Figure 7) that penetrate from front to back. The terminal fittings 10 are attached by being press-fitted into each hole 123 in the rear wall 121.

[0056] The housing 120 is fixed to the circuit board 110. The third component portion 53 of the connecting portion 50 of the terminal fitting 10 is electrically connected to a conductive portion (not shown) of the circuit board 110.

[0057] (Configuration of Mating Connector 130) As shown in Fig. 7, the mating connector 130 includes a mating housing 140 and a flexible printed circuit board 150. The mating housing 140 has an accommodating portion 141 that accommodates a portion of the rear end of the flexible printed circuit board 150. The rear end of the mating housing 140 is formed with a plurality of through holes 142 arranged in two rows, one above the other, that penetrate in the front-rear direction. A portion of the terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the through holes 142. The front of the flexible printed circuit board 150 stops when it abuts the edge of the through holes 142.

[0058] 8, the flexible printed circuit board 150 includes a base material 151 made of resin and a conductive path 152 laminated on the base material 151. The conductive path 152 is laminated on the upper surface side of the base material 151.

[0059] (Mating state of connector 100 and mating connector 130) As shown in Figure 7, when the connector 100 and mating connector 130 are mated, the resilient contact pieces 30 and first support portions 70 of the terminal fittings 10 enter the accommodating portions 141 through the upper through-holes 142. The support pieces 40 and second support portions 80 of the terminal fittings 10 enter the accommodating portions 141 through the lower through-holes 142. The resilient contact pieces 30 approach the flexible printed circuit board 150 so as to move relative to it in the front-to-rear direction. The rear end of the flexible printed circuit board 150 enters the inside of the notch portions 22A (see Figure 1) and 23A (see Figure 2).

[0060] The flexible printed circuit board 150 is sandwiched vertically between the resilient contact pieces 30 and the support pieces 40. A pair of first contact portions C1 of the resilient contact pieces 30 contact the conductive paths 152 on the upper surface of the flexible printed circuit board 150. The protrusions 43A of the support pieces 40 contact the lower surface of the flexible printed circuit board 150.

[0061] As shown in Figure 8, the pair of first contact portions C1 are in contact with the flexible printed circuit board 150. The base material 151 of the flexible printed circuit board 150 facing the recess 36 has no escape route in the left-right direction, and the thickness increases due to deformation of the base material 151 on the outer left-right sides. This makes it difficult for the conductive path 152 to separate from the first contact portions C1, making it easier to ensure contact pressure between the first contact portions C1 and the conductive path 152. Therefore, the terminal fitting 10 can satisfactorily connect the conductive path 152 of the flexible printed circuit board 150 to the resilient contact piece 30.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the left side wall 22 and right side wall 23 of the main body 20 are positioned to sandwich the tip 33A of the resilient contact piece 30 from both the left and right sides. Therefore, the tip 33A of the resilient contact piece 30 is prevented from deforming to both the left and right sides by interference with the left side wall 22 and right side wall 23 of the main body 20. In other words, the left side wall 22 and right side wall 23 function to guide the displacement of the tip 33A of the resilient contact piece 30. This makes it difficult for the position of the first contact C1 of the resilient contact piece 30 to change, and stable contact between the first contact C1 and the conductive path 152 is maintained. This ensures a good connection between the conductive path 152 of the flexible printed circuit board 150 and the resilient contact piece 30.

[0063] The left side wall portion 22 and the right side wall portion 23 also have the function of protecting the tip portion 33A of the resilient contact piece 30 by preventing other members from contacting the tip portion 33A.

[0064] (Operation and Effect of First Embodiment) The terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment is connected to a conductive path 152 of a flexible printed circuit board 150. The terminal fitting 10 includes a main body 20 and a resilient contact piece 30 extending in a cantilevered manner from the main body 20. The resilient contact piece 30 includes a folded portion 32 folded back toward the main body 20, and an extending portion 33 extending from the folded portion 32 toward the main body 20 and including a contact portion (first contact portion C1) with the conductive path 152. The main body 20 includes a pair of side walls (a left side wall 22 and a right side wall 23) positioned to sandwich a portion (a tip portion 33A) of the extending portion 33 excluding the contact portion (first contact portion C1) from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the extending portion 33 (the left-right direction).

[0065] In this terminal fitting 10, the extension 33 of the resilient contact piece 30 interferes with a pair of side walls (left side wall 22, right side wall 23) provided on the main body 20, thereby suppressing deformation toward the side walls (left side wall 22, right side wall 23). This makes it difficult for the position of the contact portion (first contact portion C1) provided on the extension 33 to change, and stable contact between the contact portion (first contact portion C1) and the conductive path 152 is maintained. This allows for good connection between the conductive path 152 of the flexible printed circuit board 150 and the resilient contact piece 30.

[0066] In the terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment, the main body 20 has a base wall (upper base wall 21) that is continuous with the resilient contact piece 30. One side wall (left side wall 22) is continuous with one edge (left edge) of the base wall (upper base wall 21) in the width direction (left-right direction). The other side wall (right side wall 23) is continuous with the other edge (right edge) of the base wall (upper base wall 21) in the width direction (left-right direction).

[0067] In this terminal fitting 10, the main body 20 has three walls (an upper base wall 21, a left side wall 22, and a right side wall 23) that are connected in a U-shape, thereby improving the strength.

[0068] The terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment includes a support piece 40 extending in a cantilevered manner from the main body 20 and contacting the flexible printed circuit board 150 from the side opposite the resilient contact piece 30. The main body 20 has a second base wall (lower base wall 24) continuous with the support piece 40 and a pair of opposing second side walls (left side wall 22, right side wall 23). One of the second side walls (left side wall 22) is continuous with one edge (left edge) of the second base wall (lower base wall 24) in the width direction (left-right edge). The other second side wall (right side wall 23) is continuous with the other edge (right edge) of the second base wall (lower base wall 24) in the width direction (left-right edge).

[0069] This terminal fitting 10 can be configured to sandwich and connect the flexible printed circuit board 150 between the resilient contact piece 30 and the support piece 40. In addition, the main body 20 has three walls (a lower base wall 24, a left side wall 22, and a right side wall 23) that are connected in a U-shape, thereby improving its strength.

[0070] In the terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment, the wall surface of the base wall portion (upper base wall portion 21) and the wall surface of the second base wall portion (lower base wall portion 24) face each other. The left side wall portion 22 and the right side wall portion 23 are formed as a single flat plate.

[0071] The terminal fitting 10 has a simpler configuration than a case in which the side wall portion of the main body 20 supporting the resilient contact piece 30 and the side wall portion of the main body 20 supporting the support piece 40 are separate walls. Furthermore, the main body 20 has a rectangular cylindrical configuration with an upper base wall 21, a left side wall 22, a right side wall 23, and a lower base wall 24, which increases its strength.

[0072] The terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment is made of a single plate member, which makes it easy to manufacture and simplifies the shape.

[0073] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the examples described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is defined by the claims. The present invention includes the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, including the following embodiments.

[0074] In the first embodiment, the tip 33A of the extending portion 33 of the resilient contact piece 30 is sandwiched between the left side wall 22 and the right side wall 23 from both the left and right sides, but the sandwiched portion is not limited to this. For example, only the rearwardly inclined portion 35B of the narrow portion 35 of the extending portion 33 may be sandwiched between the left side wall 22 and the right side wall 23. Furthermore, the tip 33A and the like of the extending portion 33 may be sandwiched only between the first left plate 72 and the first right plate 73.

[0075] In the first embodiment, the resilient contact piece 30 may not have the second contact portion C2, and the narrow portion 35 may not have the rearward inclined portion 35B.

[0076] In the first embodiment, the first support portion 70 may be configured to not have at least one of the first left plate 72 and the first right plate 73. Similarly, the second support portion 80 may be configured to not have at least one of the second left plate 82 and the second right plate 83.

[0077] In the above-described first embodiment, the side wall portion constituting the first support portion 70 and the side wall portion constituting the second support portion 80 constitute a single flat plate, but each side wall portion may also constitute a different plate.

[0078] In the first embodiment, the support piece 40 and the second support portion 80 may not be provided.

[0079] 10: Terminal metal fitting 20: Main body 21: Upper base wall (base wall) 21A: Receiving portion 22: Left side wall (side wall, second side wall) 22A: Notch 23: Right side wall (side wall, second side wall) 23A: Notch 24: Lower base wall (second base wall) 30: Resilient contact piece 31: Base end 32: Folded portion 33: Extension 33A: Tip (portion of extension excluding contact portion) 34: Wide portion 34A: Forward inclined portion 34B: Rearward inclined portion 35: Narrow portion 35A: Forward inclined portion 35B: Rearward inclined portion 36: Recess 40: Support piece 41: Base end 42: Folded portion 43: Extension 43A: Protrusion 50: Connection portion 51: First component portion 52: Second component portion 53: Third component portion 60: Fixed portion 61: Fixed-side upper plate portion 62: Fixed-side left plate portion 62A: Opening 63: Fixed-side right plate portion 63A: Protruding piece 64: Fixed-side lower plate portion 64A: Notch portion 64B, 64C: Locking piece 70: First support portion 71: First board 72: First left plate 73: First right plate 80: Second support portion 81: Second board 82: Second left plate 82A: Notch portion 83: Second right plate 83A: Notch portion 83B: Extension piece 100: Connector 110: Circuit board 120: Housing 121: Back wall 122: Hood portion 123: Hole 130: Mating connector 140: Mating housing 141: Receiving portion 142: Through hole 150: Flexible printed circuit board 151: Base material 152: Conductive path C1: First contact portion (contact portion) C2: Second contact portion

Claims

1. A terminal fitting connected to a conductive path of a flexible printed circuit board, comprising: a main body; and a resilient contact piece extending in a cantilevered manner from the main body, wherein the resilient contact piece has a folded portion folded back toward the main body, and an extension portion extending from the folded portion toward the main body and comprising a contact portion with the conductive path, wherein the main body has a pair of side walls positioned so as to sandwich the portion of the extension portion excluding the contact portion from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension portion.

2. A terminal fitting as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main body has a base wall portion connected to the resilient contact piece, one of the side walls being connected to one edge portion in the width direction of the base wall portion, and the other of the side walls being connected to the other edge portion in the width direction of the base wall portion.

3. A terminal fitting as described in claim 2, comprising a support piece extending in a cantilevered manner from said main body portion and contacting said flexible printed circuit board from the side opposite said resilient contact piece, said main body portion having a second base wall portion continuous with said support piece and a pair of second side wall portions opposing each other, one of said second side wall portions continuing with one edge portion in the width direction of said second base wall portion, and the other of said second side wall portions continuing with the other edge portion in the width direction of said second base wall portion.

4. A terminal fitting as described in claim 3, wherein the wall surface of the base wall portion and the wall surface of the second base wall portion face each other, one of the side wall portions and one of the second side wall portions form a single flat plate, and the other of the side wall portion and the other of the second side wall portion form a single flat plate.

5. A terminal fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is made of a single plate member.

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