JP2006216324A - Terminal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal fitting with a stabilizer formed without setting up an opening by cutting and raising a part of a main body part. <P>SOLUTION: The stabilizer 30A is formed so as to integrally protrude from an end edge part at a bottom plate side at an overlapping wall 30B covering an outside face of a left side plate 25, without cutting and raising a part of the main body part 21. As a result, a tab of a male terminal fitting or other foreign substance are prevented from coming in from, for instance, a cut-and raised opening part, and a free end 40A of an elastic contact piece 40 is prevented from plastic deformation. Further, a part where the overlapping wall 30B lies on top of the left side plate 25 is to be a stepped part 29 recessed inward, in conformity with the shape of which, the overlapping wall 30B is housed, so that a connector housing can be prevented from becoming large. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal fitting provided with a stabilizer.

For example, a female terminal fitting is a shape having a rectangular tube-shaped main body with an elastic contact piece inside, and is inserted into the cavity formed in the housing from the rear in a form fixed to the end of the electric wire. Is contained. A stabilizer protrudes from the edge of the side of the main body, etc., while a guide groove is formed on the inner wall of the cavity to guide the stabilizer, and the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity upside down. The so-called erroneous insertion prevention function for restricting the insertion of the terminal metal and the stable insertion function for stably inserting the terminal fitting are performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-190227

Here, when the stabilizer is formed by cutting and raising from the side surface of the main body portion, an opening of the trace cut and raised on the side surface of the main body portion can be formed. Then, for example, a tab of the mating male terminal fitting or other foreign matter may enter from the opening and hit an elastic contact piece provided inside to cause plastic deformation.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to be able to prevent foreign matter from entering the main body while forming the stabilizer by cutting and raising it.

  As a means for achieving the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a rectangular tube-shaped main body portion having a stabilizer is provided in front of a barrel portion connected to an electric wire, and the stabilizer is a bottom plate of the main body portion. The main body portion is formed with a pair of side plates standing up from both side edges in the width direction of the bottom plate, and one side plate out of the two side plates from the other side. A top plate is bent and formed facing the bottom plate toward the other side plate, and is formed by folding back on the outer surface of the other side plate so as to overlap the other side plate from the end of the other side plate. Alternatively, an overlapping wall that is bent so as to overlap the outer surface of the other side plate from the end edge of the top plate is disposed, and the stabilizer is integrally formed from the end edge on the bottom plate side of the overlapping wall. Characterized in was a configuration in which out.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, a means for preventing the opening of the overlapping wall is interposed between the other side plate and the overlapping wall.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a stepped portion that is recessed inward is provided in a part of the other side plate, and the overlapping wall is adapted to the stepped portion. Thus, the outer surface of the other side plate is substantially flush with the surface around the stepped portion.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an elastic contact piece that can contact the male terminal fitting is provided in a folded manner toward the rear in the main body portion. Provided along the front-rear direction in a state of being eccentric in the width direction from the axis of the main body, and a pair of protrusions are formed on both side edges in the width direction at the rear end, and the elastic contact piece is within its elastic limit. When the protrusions are deformed, both protrusions engage with the restricting portions disposed on the both side plates so that excessive bending of the elastic contact piece can be restricted. The restricting portion is the step on the other side plate. It has the feature that it is arranged in the part.

<Invention of Claim 1>
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the stabilizer is formed so as to be integrally projected at the end edge portion of the overlapped wall, so that it is possible to provide the stabilizer without generating a cut-and-raised hole as in the prior art. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the entry of foreign matter.

<Invention of Claim 2>
According to the invention of claim 2, it is possible to restrict the overlapping wall from being opened by the spring back by the opening preventing means.

<Invention of Claim 3>
According to the invention of claim 3, the main body portion has a double wall structure where the overlapping wall is provided, but the overlapping wall is substantially flush with the side surface of the main body portion by providing a step portion on the other side plate. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the overlapping wall becomes a useless protrusion and the connector housing is enlarged.

<Invention of Claim 4>
In the case where the elastic contact piece is arranged eccentrically in the width direction in the main body portion as in the invention of claim 4, the distance between the elastic contact piece and the both side plates of the main body portion is long and short. The lengths of the protrusions are also long and short, and there is a concern that the long side has insufficient strength. However, as in the invention of claim 4, if the restricting portion is provided by using the portion where the step portion is provided, the lengths of both protrusions can be made equal, and the problem of insufficient strength is solved. be able to.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the female terminal fitting is illustrated. In the present embodiment, the up and down direction and the left and right direction are based on FIG. 7, and the front and back direction is the front direction on the front side of the sheet with reference to the direction orthogonal to the sheet of FIG. Further, the width direction in FIG. 10 is the vertical direction.

  The female terminal fitting 20 is formed by bending, cutting and raising a metal plate material punched into a predetermined shape as shown in FIG. 10, and is elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole as shown in FIG. The first half portion is a main body portion 21 having a rectangular tube shape, and the second half portion is an open barrel-shaped wire connection portion 22, and the wire connection portion 22 has a terminal of an electric wire W (not shown). Are connected in a conductive manner by crimping.

The main body 21 includes a bottom plate 24 that extends from the entire area of the bottom plate 24 that is elongated in the front-rear direction, a pair of side plates 25 and 26 that rise substantially perpendicularly from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 24, and the rising edge of the right side plate 26 as viewed from the front. And a top plate 27 extending to the left side plate 25 side in parallel to the left side plate 25.
At a position near the front end of the bottom plate 24, a lance hole 28 having a square shape is opened over the entire width. The front edge of the lance hole 28 is a locking edge 28A that is locked to a lance (not shown), and this locking edge 28A is knocked inward by the thickness of the plate, so that the allowance is earned. .

  A punching hole 32 is formed in the latter half portion of the main body 21 by punching a part of the bent edge 32 </ b> A between the left side plate 25 and the bottom plate 24. The center portion of the punching hole 32 is punched in a substantially square shape at the lower edge side of the left side plate 25 to form a rear restricting portion 37B. Of the side edges of the punching hole 32, the left side edge of the bottom plate 24 has a substantially rectangular rear protrusion. The part 31B protrudes toward the rear restricting part 37B. Since the base portion of the rear protrusion 31B is not bent, the rear protrusion 31B protrudes from the left edge of the bottom plate 24 when the main body 21 is assembled. Further, since the left side plate 25 has a stepped portion 29 formed by punching the portion above the punching hole 32 inward by the thickness of the plate, the rear protrusion 31B protrudes from the outer surface of the stepped portion 29 as well. It has become. On the other hand, the right side plate 26 has a substantially square rear portion locking hole 38B opened at a position corresponding to the rear portion restricting portion 37B of the left side plate 25 in the width direction.

An inner plate 35 is formed in the front half of the extended edge (left edge) of the top plate 27, and a polymerization wall 30B described later is formed in the latter half. The region other than the inner plate 35 is in contact with the upper edge of the left side plate 25 from above.
The inner plate 35 has a substantially square shape as a whole, and extends downward (so as to overlap) along the inner surface of the left side plate 25 when the main body 21 is assembled. And the lower end edge is located in the substantially center height of the main-body part 21, and this lower end edge is 37 A of front part control parts. 37 A of front part control parts are located above the front part protrusion 47 of the elastic contact piece 40 mentioned later, and have played the role which controls excessive bending | flexion when the elastic contact piece 40 receives pushing-up force from the downward direction.

  The bent edge between the inner plate 35 and the right side plate 26 has a central portion opened in a substantially square shape, and the opening portion is a front hole 39A. On the other hand, a substantially rectangular front protrusion 31A is formed at a position corresponding to the front hole 39A in the width direction and at the upper end edge of the left side plate 25. The front hole 39A is bent at a right angle to form a stepped portion. When the front protrusion 31A is bent at a right angle toward the step, the top surface of the front protrusion 31A and the top surface of the top plate 27 Are made to be flush with each other. The right side plate 26 is provided with a substantially square front locking hole 38A at a position corresponding to the front protrusion 31A and the width direction.

The overlapping wall 30B has a rectangular shape larger than the inner plate 35 as a whole, and when it is bent at a right angle from the top plate 27 with the base portion of the overlapping wall 30B as a bending edge, it fits into the stepped portion 29 formed on the left side plate 25. The position has been adjusted. Therefore, when the overlapping wall 30B extends downward so as to overlap the outer surface of the stepped portion 29, the outer surface of the overlapping wall 30B and the outer surface of the left side plate 25 are set to be flush with each other. Furthermore, a portion that is integrally formed from the lower end edge of the overlapping wall 30B and protrudes downward from the bottom plate 24 (a tip portion from the broken line shown in the overlapping wall 30B in FIG. 10) is a stabilizer 30A.
In the stabilizer 30A, a substantially square rear hole 39B is formed at a position facing the left edge of the rear protrusion 31B, and the rear protrusion 31B can be fitted in a press-fit manner. The rear hole 39B can restrict the overlapping wall 30B from being opened by the spring back.

  An elastic contact piece 40 that contacts a tab (not shown) of the mating male terminal fitting is accommodated in the main body 21. The elastic contact piece 40 is folded back from the front end of the bottom plate 24 and extends rearward in a cantilever shape, and has an elongated shape in the front-rear direction. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the elastic contact piece 40 is eccentric to the right side when viewed from the front in the width direction, and the center of the elastic contact piece 40 in the width direction is the right side plate 26, the inner plate 35, and the right side plate 26. Also, it almost coincides with the center of the interval between the step portions 29.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic contact piece 40 includes a bent portion 41 having a substantially semicircular arc shape connected to the front end of the bottom plate 24, and an extending portion 42 that extends backward from the bent portion 41 in a gentle mountain shape. It consists of. In a free state in which the elastic contact piece 40 is not elastically displaced, the free end 40A (the rear end of the extending portion 42) of the elastic contact piece 40 is in a non-contact position above the bottom plate 24, and from the bent portion 41 side. It is in a cantilevered support state. The elastic contact piece 40 has a bent portion 41 as a fulcrum and can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction mainly while bending the bent portion 41. When the elastic contact piece 40 is elastically displaced downward, the free end of the elastic contact piece 40 When 40A contacts the inner surface of the bottom plate 24, the elastic contact piece 40 is supported at both front and rear ends.

  A contact 44 struck upward in the form of a dome is formed at the apex of the peak of the extension portion 42, and a clamping portion 45 is struck downward in a region corresponding to the contact 44 on the top plate 27. Has been formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the elastic contact piece 40 is formed such that the central portion in the length direction of the inclined portion 42 </ b> A on the rear side of the extending portion 42 is narrower than the others.

  Furthermore, a pair of front and rear projections 47 and 48 are formed on the left and right side edge portions of the elastic contact piece 40 so as to protrude outward in the width direction. The left and right front projections 47 are symmetrical to each other and are disposed slightly forward of the contact 44. The front protrusion 47 is positioned so as to correspond to the front restriction portion 37A of the inner plate 35 and the front locking hole 38A of the right plate 26 in the front-rear direction, and the elastic contact piece 40 is not elastically displaced. In the free state, the upper surfaces of the left and right front projections 47 are set so as to be in a non-contact position slightly below the upper edge of the corresponding front portion restricting portion 37A or front portion locking hole 38A.

  On the other hand, the rear protrusion 48 is disposed on the free end 40 </ b> A of the elastic contact piece 40. The rear protrusion 48 is positioned so as to correspond to the rear restricting portion 37B of the stabilizer 30A and the rear locking hole 38B of the right side plate 26 in the front-rear direction, and in a free state where the elastic contact piece 40 is not elastically bent, As shown in FIG. 9, the upper surfaces of the left and right rear projections 48 are in a non-contact position slightly below the upper edge of the corresponding rear regulating portion 37B or rear locking hole 38B.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
The female terminal fitting 20 is assembled in the shape described above, and is connected to the terminal of the electric wire W by crimping the electric wire connecting portion 22. Here, if the stabilizer 30 </ b> A has a long dimension in the front-rear direction and is formed by cutting and raising from the outer surface of the main body portion 21, a large hole is opened in the outer surface of the main body portion 21. However, in the present embodiment, the stabilizer 30 </ b> A is integrally formed by extending from the lower end edge of the overlapping wall 30 </ b> B that covers the outer surface of the left side plate 25 without cutting up the outer surface of the main body 21. For this reason, the outer surface of the main body 21 does not have a large hole formed by cutting and raising, and the outer surface portion covered by the overlapping wall 30B is knocked out into the stepped portion 29. There is no risk of conversion.

  On the other hand, a plurality of electric wires W in which the female terminal fitting 20 is connected to the terminal as described above are bundled and conveyed to the insertion site into the connector housing. Here, as described above, the stabilizer 30A is formed without cutting and raising the outer surface of the main body portion 21, so that the stabilizers and the like of the other female terminal fittings 20 bundled together are cut and raised on the outer surface of the main body portion 21. It is prevented from entering through the formed holes and tangling. Further, the tab of the mating male terminal fitting and other foreign matters are similarly difficult to enter, so that it is possible to prevent the elastic contact piece 40 disposed inside from being pushed and plastically deformed.

  In addition, since the lance hole 28 is also opened relatively large, there is a possibility that foreign matter may enter and forcibly push up the elastic contact piece 40. In this case, the front protrusion 47 abuts against the upper edge of the front restricting portion 37A and the front locking hole 38A from below, and the rear protrusion 48 extends between the rear restricting portion 37B and the rear locking hole 38B. By abutting on the upper edge from the bottom, the displacement of the tab toward the entry space (upward) is restricted. In addition, since the restricting portions 37A and 37B and the locking holes 38A and 38B are arranged at two positions forward and rearward of the lance hole 28, the elastic contact piece 40 tilts forward when receiving the pressing force of the foreign matter. There is no risk of a posture or a tilted posture. Therefore, the bending portion 41 that is the first fulcrum of the elastic contact piece 40 is prevented from being plastically deformed.

  When housing of the female terminal fitting 20 in the connector housing is completed, the tab of the male terminal fitting fitted into the mating male connector and attached to the connector is fitted into the main body 21 of the female terminal fitting 20 accommodated in the cavity. And the elastic contact piece 40 is elastically displaced while being split between the contact 44 and the sandwiching portion 45 and elastically sandwiched from both, and electrical continuity between the male and female terminal fittings is taken. become.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the stabilizer 30A is integrally formed by extending the lower end edge of the overlapping wall 30B covering the outer surface downward without cutting up the outer surface of the main body 21. For example, the tab of the male terminal fitting and other foreign matters can be prevented from entering from the cut and raised holes, and there is no possibility that the free end 40A side of the elastic contact piece 40 is plastically deformed. Further, when the electric wires W are bundled and transported, there is no possibility that the female terminal fittings 20 enter each other through the holes in which the stabilizers 30A of the other female terminal fittings 20 are cut and raised.

  Further, in order to prevent the elastic contact piece 40 from being excessively bent and deformed to the top plate 27 side, protrusions 47 are provided at four convenient positions on the left and right side edges of the elastic contact piece 40 and at two positions before and after the free end 40A. , 48 are formed so as to contact the upper edges of the restricting portions 37A, 37B and the locking holes 38A, 38B of the main body portion 21. Among them, the protrusion 48 on the right free end 40A side is adapted to be engaged with the restricting portion 38B of the right side plate 26, and the restricting portion 38B has an opening shape. The situation of 48 can be visually confirmed from the outside through the opening of the restricting portion 38B.

  Further, since the elastic contact pieces 40 are arranged eccentrically in the width direction, if there is no stepped portion 29 and the inner plate 35, the left side edge side projections 48 and 47 are locked to the left side plate 25 serving as the outer wall. Since it is necessary, the protrusions 48 and 47 are long, and there is a concern that the strength is inferior. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the protrusions 48 and 47 can be shortened by using the step portion 29 and the inner plate 35 to be locked, thereby contributing to enhancement.

<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 first embodiment, the stabilizer 30 </ b> A and the overlapping wall 30 </ b> B are illustrated as extending from the top plate 27. However, the first embodiment folds 180 ° outward from the upper end edge of the left side plate 25. May be formed.

  (2) This application can be applied not only to the female terminal fittings exemplified in the above embodiment but also to male terminal fittings provided with a stabilizer.

The right view of the female terminal metal fitting which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention Plan view Same left side view Bottom view Same part fracture left side view Partial cutaway plan view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. Front view of female terminal fitting Partially broken left side view of FIG. IX-IX sectional view of FIG. Exploded view of female terminal fitting

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Female terminal fitting (terminal fitting)
21 ... Body part 22 ... Wire connection part (barrel part)
24 ... Bottom plate 25 ... Left side plate (the other side plate)
26 ... right side plate (one side plate)
27 ... Top plate 29 ... Stepped portion 30A ... Stabilizer 30B ... Overlapping wall 31A ... Front projection (opening prevention means)
31B ... Rear protrusion (opening prevention means)
37B: Rear regulating part (regulating part)
38B: Rear locking hole (regulator)
39A ... Front hole (opening prevention means)
39B: Rear hole (opening prevention means)
40 ... elastic contact piece 48 ... projection

Claims (4)

A rectangular tube-shaped main body portion having a stabilizer is provided in front of the barrel portion connected to the electric wire, and this stabilizer is a terminal fitting formed to protrude further downward from the bottom plate of the main body portion,
The main body is formed with a pair of side plates standing upright from both side edges of the bottom plate, and the top plate is opposed to the bottom plate from one side plate of the side plates toward the other side plate. The other side plate is bent and formed on the outer surface of the other side plate so as to overlap with the other side plate from the end of the other side plate, or from the edge of the top plate to the other side plate. A terminal fitting characterized in that a superposed wall that is bent so as to overlap with the outer surface of the base plate is provided, and the stabilizer projects integrally from an end edge of the superposed wall on the bottom plate side. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein means for preventing opening of the overlapping wall is interposed between the other side plate and the overlapping wall. A stepped portion that is recessed inward is provided in a part of the other side plate, and the overlapping wall is overlapped with the stepped portion so that an outer surface thereof is a surface around the stepped portion in the other side plate. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the terminal fitting is substantially flush with the terminal fitting. An elastic contact piece that can come into contact with the male terminal fitting is provided inside the main body portion so as to be folded back, and the elastic contact piece is eccentric in the width direction from the axis of the main body portion in the front-rear direction. A pair of protrusions are formed on both side edges in the width direction at the rear end portion, and the protrusions are arranged on the both side plates when the elastic contact piece is bent and deformed within its elastic limit. By locking to the part, it is possible to regulate the excessive bending of the elastic contact piece,
The terminal fitting according to claim 3, wherein the restricting portion is disposed in the stepped portion of the other side plate.

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