JP2001266984A - Terminal metal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent break of a flat cable caused by tension and bending stress. SOLUTION: As contact pieces 28F, 28R penetrate their plate faces through a conductor 11 in a nearly orthogonal attitude to the length direction of the conductor 11, even if tension in the length direction of the conductor 11 acts on the flat cables 10A, 10B, there is no fear that a slit-shape penetrating point 35 by the contact pieces 28F, 28R will be split at the ends. In the length direction of the conductor 11, the penetrating points 35 (the points where flexural- rigidity falls by penetration) of the contact pieces 28F, 28R are located sandwiched between the pinched points (the points where flexural-rigidity does not fall by penetration) by the contact pieces 28F, 28R, because of which the bending stress on the flat cables 10A, 10B is checked at the pinched points and does not reach the penetration points 35. Therefore, a bend at the penetration points 35 is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal fitting for a flat cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-359874 discloses a terminal fitting connected to a flat cable in which an elongated thin conductor is sandwiched between covering sheets. The terminal fitting includes a plate-shaped base and plate-shaped contact pieces protruding upward at substantially right angles from both side edges of the base.The base is addressed to the back surface of the flat cable, and the contact piece is penetrated through a conductor. Then, the penetrating portion of the contact piece is bent in a substantially arc shape so that the tip of the bent portion is cut into the front surface of the flat cable.

[0003]

The terminal fitting can be used as a means for joining two flat cables. In this case, the two flat cables are overlapped so that the conductors are oriented in the same direction. A terminal fitting is attached so that the contact piece passes through the overlapping portion. At this time, if the direction of the plate surface of the contact piece is parallel to the length direction of the conductor, the contact piece penetrated by the flat cable when a tensile force in the length direction of the conductor acts between the flat cables. May act like a blade, and there is a concern that the slit created by its penetration will tear from its end.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to prevent a flat cable from being broken due to the action of a tensile force and a bending force.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flat cable having an elongated conductor, wherein a plate-like contact piece is integrally formed so as to rise substantially at a right angle from a base. And a terminal fitting attached so as to clamp the flat cable between the penetrating portion of the contact piece and the base while making contact by penetrating the contact piece through the conductor. The contact piece was penetrated by the conductor in such a manner that its plate surface was substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the conductor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the contact pieces are disposed at two places separated in a longitudinal direction of the conductor, and penetrate the conductor of the two contact pieces. Each of the portions is configured to clamp the flat cable between the base and the base at a position closer to the edge of the base than the penetrating position. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a portion of the contact piece that penetrates the conductor is pressed against the surface of the flat cable while keeping a flat shape. The configuration was adopted.

[0007] The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claims 1 to 3.
In any one of the inventions described above, the contact piece is formed by folding a portion extending flush from the outer edge of the base so as to overlap with the base and standing up the folded portion. . In the invention according to claim 5, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the base is provided with the contact piece that presses the flat cable between the base and the flat cable. The configuration is such that a regulating piece for regulating the displacement in the separating direction is formed.

[0008]

[Operation and effect of the invention] [Invention of claim 1]
Since the conductor penetrates the conductor with its plate surface substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the conductor, even if a tensile force is applied to the flat cable along the length direction of the conductor, a slit-like penetration by the contact piece There is no danger that the spot will tear at its end. [Invention of claim 2] In the longitudinal direction of the conductor, the penetrating position of the contact piece (the point where the bending rigidity is reduced by the penetrating)
Is positioned so as to be pinched between the pinching position by the contact piece and the base (where the bending stiffness does not decrease due to penetration), so the bending force applied to the flat cable is blocked at the pinching position And does not extend to the penetrating position, thereby preventing bending at the penetrating position.

[0010] The contact piece presses the flat cable while the contact piece remains flat, so that the area of the flat cable clamped between the base and the contact piece is increased. Therefore, when a tensile force acts on the flat cable, the tensile force does not have to reach the penetrating position of the contact piece. [Invention of Claim 4] In forming the contact piece, it is not necessary to cut and raise a part of the base, so that the strength of the base does not decrease. [Invention of claim 5] Since the contact piece is restricted from being separated from the flat cable by the restriction piece, the flat cable can be securely pressed.

[0010]

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the left side in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 is the front side in the front-rear direction. The vertical direction is based on FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6. For the upper and lower sides, respectively,
It may be paraphrased as front side and back side, but they agree in the direction.

First, the flat cables 10A and 10B will be described.
Are a plurality of conductors 11 each having an elongated thin plate shape and arranged in parallel with each other, and a pair of covering sheets 12 sandwiching the plurality of conductors 11 from above and below in a sandwich manner.
A, 12B. Flat cable 10A, 10B
Are provided on the main line side and the branch line side, and in the middle of the main line side flat cable 10A, the branch line side flat cable 10 is provided.
The front end of B is overlapped from above. The two flat cables 10A and 10B are combined by the terminal fitting 20 at the overlapping portion, and
The corresponding conductors 11 are joined together at the top and bottom by the terminal fittings 20.

In the portion to be joined by the terminal fitting 20, the lower flat cable 1 on the main line side is used.
The cover sheet 12A on the upper surface side at 0A is cut out in a square hole shape so as to expose only the conductor 11 in a region slightly ahead of the front edge of the flat cable 10B on the branch line side, and the branch line on the upper side is formed. Sheet 12A on the top side of the flat cable 10B on the side
In a region slightly behind its leading edge.
It is cut out in the shape of a square hole so that only 1 is exposed.
That is, when viewed from above, the main-line-side conductor 11 and the branch-line-side conductor 1
1 are exposed side by side at a slight interval in the length direction.

The terminal fitting 20 is manufactured by subjecting a conductive metal plate material to a flat plate-shaped terminal material 21 punched into a predetermined shape as shown in FIG. 7 by pressing and bending and stamping. . The terminal material 21 includes a base 22 having a rectangular plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction as a whole (the same direction as the length direction of the conductor 11). One extension 23
L, 23R, and a total of four restriction pieces 24 which extend outward from the right and left side edges of the front and rear ends of the base 22 in a plane substantially at a right angle and have a triangular breakage portion 24A. , And a pair of raised pieces 25 extending forward and rearward from the front and rear edges of the base 22 in a plane.

Here, the extension portions 23L and 23R will be described. The extension portion 23R on the right side (upper side in FIG. 7) is located relatively forward of the base 22 and from the vicinity of the rear of the front regulation piece 24 to the right. The base 27R includes a rectangular base 27R that protrudes toward the rear, and a contact piece 28F that extends rearward from the rear end edge of the base 27R along the right edge of the base 22. On the other hand, the left extending portion 23L is point-symmetric with respect to the right extending portion 23R with the center position of the base 22 in the front, rear, left, and right directions as a fulcrum. It comprises a rectangular base 27L protruding leftward from the vicinity of the front side of the restriction piece 24 on the side, and a contact piece 28R extending elongate forward along the left edge of the base 22 from the front edge of the base 27L. The extending end of each contact portion is a breakthrough portion 28A having a triangular shape with a sharp point.

At the time of molding, first, each contact piece 28F,
28R extends along the direction of extension and the lower surface side (flat cables 10A, 10B
In the state of attachment to the flat cables 10A and 10B, a reinforcing portion 29 that projects to the side that comes into contact with the upper surfaces of the flat cables 10A and 10B) is formed by stamping. Next, the extension portions 23L, 23
R, the control piece 24 and the raising piece 25 are each bent. The extension portions 23L and 23R have their base portions 27.
After the contact pieces 28F, 28R are bent downward at right angles to the bases 27L, 27R using the boundary 30 between the L, 27R and the contact pieces 28F, 28R as folds, the bases 27L, 27R are bent at the folds 31 along the side edges of the base 22. 27R is bent so as to be inverted to the upper surface side of the base 22. As a result, the two contact pieces 28F and 28R are located substantially at the center of the base 22 in the left-right direction, and are substantially perpendicular to the base 22 from the two positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction (the length direction of the conductor 11). Stand up. The plate surfaces of the contact pieces 28F and 28R face the left-right direction (the direction orthogonal to the length direction of the conductor 11).

The terminal fitting 20 is connected to a flat cable 10A,
10B, each contact piece 28F, 28R
Are in the directions opposite to the other contact pieces 28R and 28F, respectively (the front contact piece 28F is the front and the rear contact piece 28F is the
(R is backward).
The bending direction is such that the reinforcing portion 29 is connected to the flat cable 1.
It is in the direction of contacting the upper surfaces of 0A and 10B. Further, at the upper ends of the contact pieces 28F and 28R, the break-through portions 28 are provided.
Flat cable 10A, 1 with A pointed upward
Wait for attachment to OB.

The restriction piece 24 is located above the fold 32 along the side edge of the base 22 (contact pieces 28F, 28R).
The same direction). These control pieces 2
4 is bent at a right angle so as to fall down on the upper surface side of the base 22 when being attached to the flat cables 10A and 10B. At the upper end of the restriction piece 24, the breakthrough 2
4A is a flat cable 10A with an upward sharpened posture,
Wait for attachment to 10B.

Further, the raised piece 25 is bent so as to be inverted to the base 22 side, and is substantially adhered to the upper surface of the base 22. The raised piece 25 has its upper surface on the base 2.
The height is substantially the same as the upper surface of each of the bases 27L and 27R, and is located adjacent to the bases 27L and 27R in the front-rear direction. The raised piece 25 and the base 27L,
27R corresponds to the upper and lower sides of the contact pieces 28F and 28R which are bent so as to fall on the upper surfaces of the flat cables 10A and 10B.

Next, the attachment of the terminal fitting 20 to the flat cables 10A and 10B will be described. The flat cable 10B on the branch line is superimposed on the flat cable 10A on the main line, the conductors 11 are held in a state where the conductors 11 are positioned, and the flat cables 10A and 10B are
The terminal fitting 20 is assembled from below (back side). At this time, the front contact piece 28F penetrates the conductor 11 in the main cable side flat cable 10A, and the rear contact piece 28R penetrates the conductor 11 in both the main cable side and the branch cable flat cables 10A and 10B. I do. Further, the regulating piece 24 penetrates the side edge position of the conductor 11. At this time, the upper ends of the contact pieces 28F, 28R and the upper end of the restricting piece 24 are formed with upwardly-pointed breakthrough portions 28A, 24A, so that the flat cables 10A, 10A can be easily formed.
B can be broken through without excessive deformation.

The contact pieces 28F, 28R and the restriction piece 24
Is passed through, the base pieces 27L, 27R and the raised piece 25, which are overlapped on the upper surface of the base 22, are directed to the lower surface (lower surface) of the lower flat cable 10A, and the contact pieces 28F, The upper part of 28R is bent. At this time, the front contact piece 28F is bent forward and the rear contact piece 28R is bent backward, and the bent contact pieces 28F, 28R are conductors exposed on the upper surfaces of the flat cables 10A, 10B. 11 is strongly pressed. At this time, the contact pieces 28F, 28R
Remains flat, and adheres to the upper surface of the conductor 11 over a wide surface. Thus, the flat cables 10A and 10B are connected to the contact pieces 28F and 28R and the base 22 together with the bases 27L and 27R and the raised pieces 25.
, So that the terminal fitting 20 and the flat cables 10A and 10B are conductively assembled in a state where play is restricted.

Thereafter, the regulating piece 24 is caulked inward while being curved in an arc shape, and the regulating piece 24 is bent.
Are strongly pressed against the upper surfaces of the contact pieces 28F and 28R. Since the restricting piece 24 presses the contact pieces 28F and 28R from above, the contact pieces 28F and 28R
Of the flat cables 10A and 10B in a direction away from the upper surfaces thereof. Thereby, the contact piece 2
Flat cable 1 between 8F, 28R and base 22
0A and 10B are reliably pinched. As described above, the conductor 11 of the flat cable 10A on the main line side and the conductor 11 of the flat cable 10B on the branch line side are jointed via the terminal fitting 20.

When the terminal fitting 20 is attached to the flat cables 10A and 10B, the contact piece 28
The F and 28R are penetrated by the conductor 11 in a posture in which the plate surface is substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the conductor 11. Therefore, when a tensile force acts on the flat cables 10A and 10B along the length direction of the conductor 11, the contact pieces 28
There is no possibility that the slit-shaped through portion 35 by F, 28R is torn at its end.

Further, in the length direction of the conductor 11, the penetrating position 35 of the contact pieces 28F, 28R (the place where the bending rigidity is reduced by the penetration) is a pressure area (penetration) between the contact pieces 28F, 28R and the base 22. (Where the bending stiffness is not reduced). Therefore, the terminal fittings 20 are attached to the flat cables 10A and 10B.
Even if a bending force such as to be lifted on both sides is applied, the bending force is blocked in the pinching area (the area where the contact pieces 28F and 28R are in contact with the conductor 11), and reaches the penetrating position. Never reach. That is, the flat cables 10A and 10B are not bent upward over substantially the entire length of the terminal fitting 20 in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the flat cable 10 at the penetration position 35 is
A and 10B are prevented from bending. The downward bending force of the flat cables 10A and 10B is also prevented by the presence of the base 22.

Since the contact pieces 28F and 28R press the flat cables 10A and 10B while keeping the flat shape,
In the flat cables 10A and 10B, the area of the region pinched by the base 22 and the contact pieces 28F and 28R is increased. Therefore, when a tensile force acts on the flat cables 10A, 10B, the tensile force is applied to the contact pieces 28F,
It is not necessary to reach the penetration position 35 of 28R. Contact piece 2
Since the contact area between the 8F, 28R and the conductor 11 also increases,
Excellent contact reliability.

The contact pieces 28F, 28R are
Cables 10A, 10B by holding down
Because the distance from the cable is regulated, the flat cable 1
0A and 10B can be reliably pinched. Further, since the reinforcing portions 29 formed on the contact pieces 28F, 28R abut against the upper surface of the conductor 11 so as to depress the upper surface, the effect of pressing is high, and the contact between the contact pieces 28F, 28R and the conductor 11 is increased. The lateral deviation between them is also restricted.

When forming the contact pieces 28F and 28R, the extending portions 23 are extended to the outside of the base 22.
Because L and 23R are formed and bent.
Unlike the case where the contact piece is formed by cutting and raising a part of the base, the strength of the base 22 does not decrease. When the terminal material 21 is unfolded, the contact pieces 28F, 28
Since the extending portions 23L and 23R for forming the R are formed in an L shape along the side edge of the base 22,
While the extension portions 23L and 23R are arranged outside the base 22, there is no waste in removing the material.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the arrangement of the contact pieces 42F and 42R. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the structures, operations, and effects will be omitted. The terminal fitting 40 has a base 41 in the form of a rectangular plate that is long in the front-rear direction (the same direction as the length direction of the conductor 11) as a whole, and a pair of contact pieces 42 </ b> F that rise upward at substantially right angles from the front and rear end edges of the base 41. , 42R, and two pairs of regulating pieces 43 that rise upward substantially at right angles from the front and rear ends of the left and right side edges of the base 41.
The plate surfaces of both contact pieces 42F and 42R are in the left-right direction (conductor 11).
(The direction orthogonal to the length direction). The upper ends of the contact pieces 42F, 42R and the restriction pieces 43 are formed as triangular breakthroughs 42A, 43A.

The terminal fitting 40 is connected to the flat cable 10A,
10B, each contact piece 42F, 42R
Are bent so as to fall to the other contact pieces 42R and 42F, respectively (the front contact piece 42F is backward, and the rear contact piece 42R is forward). In addition, contact piece 4
At the upper ends of the 2F and 42R, the piercing portion 42A stands by in an upwardly sharp posture in preparation for attachment to the flat cables 10A and 10B. The restricting piece 43 is bent at a right angle so as to fall down on the upper surface side of the base 41 at the time of attachment to the flat cables 10A and 10B.
At the upper end of the restricting piece 43, the break-out portion 43A stands by for attachment to the flat cables 10A and 10B in an upwardly sharp posture.

Next, attachment of the terminal fitting 40 to the flat cables 10A and 10B will be described. The flat cable 10B on the branch line is superimposed on the flat cable 10A on the main line, the conductors 11 are held in a state where the conductors 11 are positioned, and the flat cables 10A and 10B are
The terminal fitting 40 is assembled from below (back side). At this time, the front contact piece 42F penetrates the conductor 11 in the flat cable 10A on the main line, and the contact piece 42R on the rear side connects the conductor 11 in the flat cable 10A, 10B on both the main line and the branch line. Penetrate through. The restriction piece 43 penetrates the side edge position of the conductor 11. At this time, the upper ends of the contact pieces 42F and 42R and the upper end of the restriction piece 43 are formed with upwardly-pointed break-through portions 42A and 43A, so that the flat cables 10A and 10A can be easily formed.
B can be broken through without excessive deformation.

The contact pieces 42F, 42R and the regulating piece 43
Is penetrated, the penetrating portions of the contact pieces 42F and 42R to the upper surface side are bent while the upper surface of the base 41 is directed to the lower surface (lower surface) of the lower main line flat cable 10A. At this time, the front contact piece 42F is bent backward and the rear contact piece 42R is bent forward, and the bent contact pieces 42F, 42R are conductors exposed on the upper surfaces of the flat cables 10A, 10B. 1
1 is strongly pressed against the upper surface. At this time, the contact pieces 42F,
42R remains in a flat plate shape, and is closely adhered to the upper surface of the conductor 11 over a wide surface. Thereby, the flat cables 10A and 10B are connected to the base and the contact piece 42.
F and 42R, and the terminal fitting 40 and the flat cables 10A and 10B are assembled in a conductive manner in a state where play is restricted.

Thereafter, the regulating piece 43 is caulked inward while being curved in an arc shape.
Are strongly pressed against the upper surfaces of the contact pieces 42F and 42R. Since the restricting piece 43 presses the contact pieces 42F and 42R from above, the contact pieces 42F and 42R
Cables 10A, 10B between the base and the base 41
Is reliably pinched. As described above, the conductor 11 of the flat cable 10A on the main line side and the flat cable 1 on the branch line side
The connection with the conductor 11 of 0B is performed via the terminal fitting 40.

When the terminal fitting 40 is attached to the flat cables 10A and 10B, the contact piece 42
F and 42R are penetrated by the conductor 11 so that the plate surfaces thereof are substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the conductor 11. Therefore, when a tensile force acts on the flat cables 10A and 10B along the length direction of the conductor 11, the contact pieces 42
There is no possibility that the slit-shaped through portion 44 by the F and 42R is torn at its end.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the contact piece is formed by folding the extension from the outer edge of the base inward and standing up. According to the present invention, the contact piece is formed by cutting and raising a part of the base. It may be formed.

(2) In the above embodiment, the flat cable is pressed while the portion of the contact piece penetrating the conductor remains flat, but according to the present invention, the penetrating portion is bent and only a part of the flat cable is bent. The flat cable may be pressed. (3) In the above-described embodiment, the extending portion serving as the contact piece extends from the side edge of the base (the edge portion along the length of the conductor) in an L-shape. Extend the protrusions from both ends of the base (both edges in the length direction of the conductor),
This may be bent to form a contact piece.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state where a terminal fitting is attached to a flat cable in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a left side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a terminal fitting is attached to a flat cable.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a terminal fitting.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the terminal fitting.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a terminal fitting.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a developed state before bending the terminal fitting.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where a terminal fitting is attached to a flat cable in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state where the terminal fitting is attached to the flat cable.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting before being attached to a flat cable.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Flat cable 11 ... Conductor 20 ... Terminal fitting 22 ... Base 23 ... Extension part 24 ... Restriction piece 28F, 28R ... Contact piece 35 ... Penetration part 40 ... Terminal fitting 41 ... Base 42F, 42R ... Contact piece 43 ... Restriction piece 44 ... Penetration point

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masahide Hio 1-114, Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. (72) Inventor Yutaka Noro 1-114, Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie F-term in Sumitomo Wiring Systems Co., Ltd. (reference) 5E023 AA11 BB06 BB11 EE01 HH30 5E077 BB05 BB11 CC06 DD11 DD14 FF01 HH02 HH07 JJ30

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A flat cable having an elongated conductor is integrally formed so as to stand up at a substantially right angle from a base, and a flat cable having an elongated conductor is applied to the back surface of the flat cable. A terminal fitting attached so as to pinch the flat cable between the penetrating portion of the contact piece and the base while making contact with the contact piece, wherein the contact piece has a plate surface of the conductor. A terminal fitting penetrated by the conductor in a posture substantially orthogonal to a length direction. 2. The contact piece is disposed at two locations separated in the longitudinal direction of the conductor, and the portions of the two contact pieces that penetrate the conductor are each located at a position closer to the base than the penetrating position. 2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the flat cable is clamped between the base and the base at a position on the edge side of the terminal. 3. 3. A structure in which a portion of the contact piece penetrating through the conductor is pressed against the surface of the flat cable in a close contact state while keeping a flat shape. Item 2. The terminal fitting according to Item 2. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact piece is formed by folding a portion extending from the outer edge of the base to be flush with the base so as to overlap the base and standing up the folded portion. Claims 1 to 3
The terminal fitting according to any one of the above. 5. The contact piece which presses the flat cable between the base and the base.
The terminal fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a restriction piece for restricting displacement in a direction away from the flat cable is formed.