JP2006344474A - Female terminal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce insertion force after preventing rolling of a tab. <P>SOLUTION: An elastic contact piece 28 is folded back into a body part 24 by forming a nearly ridge-like shape from a tip edge of a bottom plate 26 of the body part 24, and the top of the ridge is used as a contact part 29. In a front-side part 36 relative to the contact part 29, an elongated hole 38 is formed at the central part in the width direction. A tab 11 of a male terminal fitting 10 is inserted by rubbing the front-side part 36 and the contact part 29 while elastically deforming the elastic contact piece 28. Since the elongated hole 38 is opened in the front-side part 36 and its rigidity is lowered, restoration elastic force is reduced and frictional force is lowered, whereby insertion force is reduced. Since the opening position of the elongated hole 38 is located in the width and a large-width state is kept in the front-side part 36 rubbed by the tab 11, rolling of the tab 11 is suppressed and connection reliability is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a female terminal fitting.

As an example of the female terminal fitting, one described in Patent Document 1 is known. This is because, by press-molding a metal plate having excellent electrical conductivity, a main body portion having a substantially rectangular tube shape is formed in front of the electric wire fixing portion fixed to the end of the electric wire, and the leading edge of one surface of the main body portion is formed. The elastic contact piece has a substantially chevron shape and is folded back into the main body, and the top of the crest is a contact part. Then, the tab of the mating male terminal fitting is inserted into the main body portion from the front while elastically deforming the elastic contact piece, and the tab is elastically formed between the contact portion of the elastic contact piece and the opposite surface of the main body portion. Electrical connection is made by being pinched.
Japanese Patent No. 3534239 (FIG. 1)

By the way, when the tab of the male terminal fitting is inserted into the main body of the female terminal fitting, the tab rubs the elastic contact piece while elastically deforming the elastic contact piece. Necessary. In particular, since the total insertion force increases when the number of electrodes is increased, it is desired to reduce the insertion force for each individual. As one countermeasure, it has been proposed to reduce the rigidity of the elastic contact piece to reduce the rigidity, but if the elastic contact piece becomes narrow, there is a dislike that the inserted tab tends to roll (roll). , Simply can not cope.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize a low insertion force while preventing the tab from rolling.

  As means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that the elastic contact piece is folded into the main body part from the front end edge of one surface of the main body part having a substantially rectangular tube shape, A tab of a male terminal fitting is inserted from the front into the main body while elastically deforming the elastic contact piece, and between the contact portion provided on the top of the peak of the elastic contact piece and the opposing surface of the main body. A female terminal fitting in which electrical connection is established by elastically holding the tab, and a hole is opened in the width of the elastic contact piece on the front side of the contact portion. It has the characteristics in the configuration.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, a thinning portion is provided in a portion of the elastic contact piece on the rear side of the contact portion.
The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 2, the thinned portion is a hole.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the one according to the second aspect, a rear side portion of the contact portion of the elastic contact piece is formed in a bifurcated shape facing rearward with a slit in between, It is characterized in that the slit serves as the thinning portion.

  The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 2, a single slit is cut from a front side portion to a rear side portion of the elastic contact piece sandwiching the contact portion. Have.

<Invention of Claim 1>
The tab of the mating male terminal fitting is inserted by rubbing the front part and the contact part from the contact part of the elastic contact piece while elastically deforming the elastic contact piece. Here, since the hole is opened in the front part of the contact portion in the elastic contact piece and the rigidity is lowered, the restoring elasticity is reduced and the frictional force is reduced, and as a result, the insertion force is reduced. On the other hand, the opening position of the hole is within the width, and the portion in front of the contact portion rubbed by the tab is maintained in a wide state, so that the rolling of the tab is suppressed and the connection reliability is improved.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the thinning portion is provided also in the portion on the rear side of the contact portion of the elastic contact piece, the rigidity of the entire elastic contact piece is further reduced, and the insertion force is further reduced. Depending on the formation position of the thinned portion, the rear portion may be narrowed, but the tab does not slide in contact with the rear portion, and is thus independent of the tab rolling.
<Invention of Claim 3>
A hole removing portion is provided by opening a hole in the rear portion of the contact portion.
<Invention of Claim 4>
The rear portion of the contact portion is formed in a bifurcated shape, and the slit in between is a thinned portion.

<Invention of Claim 5>
When one slit is cut across the front and rear portions sandwiching the contact portion, contact strips that can be elastically deformed independently are formed on the left and right sides sandwiching the slit. Therefore, for example, when the entire elastic contact piece is formed in a rolled (rolling) state, each contact strip is elastically deformed by an individual deformation amount, and each contact portion and the opposing surface of the main body portion are The tab is elastically held between them. Connection reliability is improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The female terminal fitting 20 of the present embodiment is formed by pressing a metal plate having excellent conductivity, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the barrels 21 and 22 fixed to the end of the electric wire 15 are provided. A main body 24 having a substantially rectangular tube shape with a top plate 25 having a double structure and opening in the front-rear direction is formed in front. The front side is a wire barrel 21 that is crimped and crimped to the end of the core wire 16 of the electric wire 15, and the rear side is an insulation barrel 22 that is crimped and crimped to the end of the covering 17.

  An elastic contact piece 28 is provided on the bottom plate 26 side of the main body 24. The elastic contact piece 28 is formed by a tongue piece extending forward from the front end edge of the bottom plate 26 being folded back in a gentle chevron over almost the entire length in the main body 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic contact piece 28 has a width of about 3/4 of the inner width of the main body portion 24, and the top of the above-mentioned mountain is a contact portion 29. Further, the folded tip is slightly bent upward so that the bent portion 30 hits the bottom plate 26 in a natural state. The bottom plate 26 is formed by cutting and raising an excessive deflection regulating plate 32 that corresponds to the position on the back side of the contact portion 29 of the elastic contact piece 28 and restricts the elastic contact piece 28 from being excessively bent and deformed. .

On the other hand, the inner plate of the double top plate 25 of the main body 24 has a pinching portion 34 that is recessed downward by a predetermined dimension in a region corresponding to the upper portion of the contact portion 29 of the elastic contact piece 28 as described above. Is formed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the mating male terminal fitting 10 has a tab 11 formed at the tip, and this tab 11 has a width slightly larger than the width of the elastic contact piece 28. In addition, the elastic contact piece 28 is formed to have a thickness larger than the vertical distance between the contact portion 29 and the sandwiching portion 34 by a predetermined dimension.

  A long hole 38 that is long in the front-rear direction is formed in the center portion in the width direction in the front side portion 36 of the contact portion 29 in the elastic contact piece 28. More specifically, the long hole 38 is formed in a length range that is a little more than half of the entire length of the front side portion 36 at the central portion in the length direction of the front side portion 36, and is about 1/4 of the width of the front side portion 36. Have a width of

The operation of this embodiment is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 4, after the female terminal fitting 20 is connected to the end of the electric wire 15, it is accommodated in a female housing (not shown), and the female housing is fitted with a mating male housing (not shown). As a result, the mating male terminal fitting 10 housed in the same male housing is connected.
That is, as shown by the arrow in the figure, the tab 11 of the male terminal fitting 10 is inserted from the front toward the gap between the elastic contact piece 28 and the sandwiching portion 34 in the main body portion 24, When the tip of 11 hits the upper position of the front side portion 36 of the elastic contact piece 28, the elastic contact piece 28 is pushed in while being bent and deformed in a flat direction, and the tip of the tab 11 is pushed in when the contact portion 29 exceeds a predetermined dimension. Is stopped. At that time, the elastic force of the elastic contact piece 28 is received, and the tab 11 is elastically sandwiched between the contact portion 29 and the sandwiching portion 34, whereby the electrical connection between the male and female terminal fittings 10, 20 is established. Taken.

Here, when the tab 11 of the male terminal fitting 10 is inserted into the main body 24 of the female terminal fitting 20, the tab 11 mainly deforms and deforms the elastic contact piece 28, and mainly the front portion 36 of the elastic contact piece 28. The contact portion 29 is rubbed and inserted from the upper position. In this embodiment, a long hole 38 is opened in the front portion 36 of the elastic contact piece 28 and the rigidity is lowered. Therefore, the restoring elasticity is reduced and the frictional force is reduced, and as a result, the insertion force is reduced. For example, the insertion force when the elongated hole 38 is not formed in the elastic contact piece 28 is the characteristic line O in the graph of FIG. 5, whereas the insertion force of the female terminal fitting 20 of the present embodiment is the same. It has been confirmed that the insertion force decreases as shown by the characteristic line X in the graph.
On the other hand, the opening position of the long hole 38 is a central portion in the width direction, and the front side portion 36 where the tab 11 rubs is maintained in a wide state, so that the tab 11 can be prevented from rolling (rolling). Accordingly, the contact portion 29 and the sandwiching portion 34 of the elastic contact piece 28 can contact the tab 11 over a wide range, and the reliability of connection is improved.
That is, it is possible to reduce the insertion force while preventing the tab 11 from rolling.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the female terminal fitting 20A of the second embodiment, in the elastic contact piece 28A, in addition to the front part 36 sandwiching the contact part 29, the rear part 37 is similarly provided with a long hole 40 (in the center in the width direction). Corresponding to the thinned portion of the invention). Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the portions having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
Since the elongated hole 40 is also provided in the rear portion 37 of the elastic contact piece 28A, the rigidity of the entire elastic contact piece 28A is further lowered, and further insertion as shown in the characteristic line Y of the graph of FIG. The power is reduced. Since the front portion 36 is similarly maintained in the wide state, rolling of the tab 11 is also prevented.

<Embodiment 3>
8 and 9 show Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the third embodiment, a change is made to the structure in which the thinned portion is provided in the rear portion 37B of the elastic contact piece 28B.
In the female terminal fitting 20B of the third embodiment, the rear portion 37B of the elastic contact piece 28B is formed in a bifurcated shape facing backward with the slit 42 interposed therebetween. This slit 42 corresponds to the thinned portion of the present invention, and as in the second embodiment, the insertion force can be significantly reduced while preventing the tab 11 from rolling.

<Embodiment 4>
FIG. 10 shows Embodiment 4 of the present invention. This Embodiment 4 has shown the further modification of the structure which provides a thinning part in the back side part 37C of the elastic contact piece 28C.
In the female terminal fitting 20 </ b> C of the fourth embodiment, the lower most part of the rear portion 37 </ b> C of the elastic contact piece 28 </ b> C is formed to be narrowed to a width slightly more than half that of the front portion 36. The cut portions 45 on both side edges of the narrow portion 44 correspond to the thinned portion of the present invention. The same effects as those of the second embodiment can be obtained.

<Embodiment 5>
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the female terminal fitting 20D of this embodiment, in the elastic contact piece 28D, a single slit 50 is cut at the center in the width direction from the front portion 36 to the rear portion 37 with the contact portion 29 interposed therebetween. The inner plate of the double top plate 25 of the main body 24 has a pair of left and right clamping ridges 55 facing in the front-rear direction at positions corresponding to above the left and right ends of the contact portion 29 of the elastic contact piece 28D. However, it is formed by knocking out. About another structure, it is the same as that of the said Embodiment 1, Comprising: The duplicate description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol about the site | part which has the same function.
Even in the female terminal fitting 20D of the fifth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the insertion force while preventing the tab 11 of the male terminal fitting 10 from rolling, as in the above embodiments.

In addition, the following effects can be obtained.
Since one slit 50 is cut across the front and rear portions 36 and 37 with the contact portion 29 interposed therebetween, a pair of left and right contact strips 51 that are elastically deformed independently are provided on both the left and right sides with the slit 50 interposed therebetween. Will be composed.
Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 14 (A), when the elastic contact piece 28D is formed in a rolling (rolling) state, each contact strip 51 is elastically deformed by an individual deformation amount, The tab 11 is elastically clamped between the contact portion 29 and the opposing clamping ridge 55.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, even when the protruding amounts of the left and right clamping protrusions 55 are formed differently, the contact strips 51 are elastically deformed by individual deformation amounts, and the respective contact portions 29. And the tab 11 is elastically clamped between the opposing clamping protrusions 55.
In any of the above cases, even when subjected to vibration or the like, there is a high possibility that the tab 11 can be held between the contact portion 29 and the holding protrusion 55 on both the left and right sides, that is, the connection reliability is high. Enhanced.

<Embodiment 6>
15 to 17 show Embodiment 6 of the present invention.
The female terminal fitting 20E of the sixth embodiment is also a modification of the fifth embodiment, and the front end side of the slit 50E cut from the front side portion 36 to the rear side portion 37 of the elastic contact piece 28E is The elastic contact piece 28E is also cut over the folded back bent portion 57. The same effects as those of the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the said embodiment, although the case where the clamping part or the clamping protrusion was provided in the position facing the contact part of an elastic contact piece was illustrated, a tab is between a contact part and the opposing top plate. They may be directly held, and such a thing is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(2) The elastic contact piece may be of a type in which the tip does not contact the bottom plate while the tab is inserted and elastically deforms, or the tip contacts the bottom plate after being slightly bent and slides. Good.
(3) The elastic contact piece may be provided on the top plate side of the main body.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the female terminal metal fitting of Embodiment 1 of this invention Plan view of main unit Front view Partially cutaway side view showing the connection operation with the mating male terminal fitting Graph showing insertion force Longitudinal sectional view of female terminal fitting of embodiment 2 Plan view of main unit Vertical sectional view of the female terminal fitting of Embodiment 3 Plan view of main unit Plan sectional drawing of the main-body part of the female terminal metal fitting which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. Vertical section of female terminal fitting of Embodiment 5 of the present invention Plan view of main unit Front view Explanatory drawing showing the straightened state of connection The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the female terminal metal fitting of Embodiment 6 of this invention Plan view of main unit Front view

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Male terminal metal fitting 11 ... Tab 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E ... Female terminal metal fitting 24 ... Main-body part 25 ... Top plate 26 ... Bottom plate 28, 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, 28E ... Elastic contact piece 29 ... Contact part 34 ... Clamping part 36 ... Front side part 37, 37B, 37C ... Rear side part 38 ... Long hole (hole)
40 ... long hole (thickening part)
42 ... slit (thickening part)
45 ... (on both sides of the narrow part 44) excised part (thickening part)
50, 50E ... slit 51 ... contact strip 55 ... clamping ridge

Claims (5)

An elastic contact piece is formed in a substantially chevron shape from the front end edge of one surface of the main body portion having a substantially rectangular tube shape, and is folded back into the main body portion, and a tab of a mating male terminal fitting elastically deforms the elastic contact piece, The tab is elastically sandwiched between a contact portion that is inserted from the front and provided on the top of the peak of the elastic contact piece and the opposing surface of the main body portion, so that an electrical connection is obtained. Female terminal fittings,
A female terminal fitting, wherein a hole is opened in a width in a portion of the elastic contact piece on a front side of the contact portion. The female terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein a thinning portion is provided on a portion of the elastic contact piece on the rear side of the contact portion. The female terminal fitting according to claim 2, wherein the thinned portion is a hole. The back portion of the contact portion of the elastic contact piece is formed in a bifurcated shape facing the rear with a slit in between, and the slit serves as the thinning portion. Item 2. The female terminal fitting according to Item 2. The female terminal fitting according to claim 2, wherein a single slit is cut from a front portion to a rear portion sandwiching the contact portion in the elastic contact piece.

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