JP2011108448A - Connection structure of terminal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve work feeling at the time of connecting a terminal fitting. <P>SOLUTION: A male terminal fitting 10 has a tab 11 at the front end and a female terminal fitting 20 has a square cylinder part 21 which enables insertion of the tab 11 and an elastic contact piece 25 which can contact elastically the tab 11 inserted into the square cylinder part 21 and can elastically bend to a retreating position where it becomes in non-contact with the tab 11. The female terminal fitting 20 is provided with a holding part 30 which can hold the elastic contact piece 25 at the retreating position in a state the tab 11 is not inserted into the square cylinder part 21 and releases holding of the elastic contact piece 25 as it receives a pressure from the tab 11 only at the end stage of insertion process of the tab 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection structure for terminal fittings.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a female terminal fitting having a configuration in which an elastic contact piece is accommodated in a rectangular tube portion and a male terminal fitting having a tab at a tip end portion are connected. When connecting both terminal fittings, the tab is inserted into the rectangular tube portion and brought into contact with the elastic contact piece in an elastically deformed state.

JP 2003-346958 A

  In the connection process of the two terminal fittings, the tab contacts the elastic contact piece from the beginning when the tab is inserted into the rectangular tube portion, and the contact state continues until the connection operation of the two terminal fittings is completed. During this time, insertion resistance due to sliding contact between the elastic contact piece and the tab continues to occur due to the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece that is elastically bent.

  Thus, conventionally, since insertion resistance continues to occur over almost the entire process from the start of connection to the completion of connection in the connection process of both terminal fittings, the work feeling felt by the operator is poor and improved. desired.

  This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at improving the work feeling at the time of connecting a terminal metal fitting.

  As means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that the male terminal fitting having a tab at the front end, the rectangular tube portion enabling insertion of the tab, and the rectangular tube portion are inserted into the rectangular tube portion. A female terminal fitting having an elastic contact piece that can be elastically contacted with the tab and elastically bent to a retracted position that is not in contact with the tab; The elastic contact piece can be held at the retracted position in a state where the tab is not inserted into the square tube portion, and the elastic contact piece is subjected to a pressing force from the tab only at the end of the tab insertion process. It is characterized in that a holding portion for releasing the holding on the contact piece is provided.

  Invention of Claim 2 is the thing of Claim 1, The said elastic contact piece is a form extended in the cantilever shape ahead of the insertion direction of the said tab with respect to the said square cylinder part, The said holding | maintenance part is It is a form in which a part of the wall-shaped portion constituting the rectangular tube portion is cut and raised, and the elastic contact piece is held at the retracted position by locking its extended end portion to the holding portion. It is characterized in that the holding by the holding part is released when the tab pushes the holding part forward in the insertion direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the holding portion is formed on the holding piece formed so as to be able to be displaced integrally with the elastic contact piece and the square tube portion, and the holding The elastic contact piece is formed by allowing the elastic contact piece to hold the elastic contact piece in the retracted position by contacting the piece and the holding piece formed in the square tube portion and dissociated from the receiving portion. And a relief space allowing elastic return from the retracted position. At the end of the insertion of the tab, the tab comes into contact with the holding piece so that the holding piece is detached from the receiving portion. It is characterized by

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the sliding contact surface according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the elastic contact piece and the tab are slidably contacted in an oblique direction with respect to an elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece. And a contact portion that is brought into contact with each other by sliding the sliding contact surfaces with each other as the elastic contact piece elastically returns from the retracted position.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the contact portion of the elastic contact piece is rearward in the insertion direction of the tab with respect to the contact portion of the tab when the insertion of the tab is completed. The holding portion, which is arranged so as to come into contact with the tab and receives a pressing force from the tab, is characterized in that it gives an elastic reaction force to the tab in the rearward direction of insertion.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the tab is not inserted into the rectangular tube portion, the elastic contact piece is held at the retracted position by the holding portion. Therefore, in the process of inserting the tab into the rectangular tube portion, at the beginning of insertion, the tab and the elastic contact piece are There is no large sliding resistance in between. In the final stage of insertion, the holding portion releases the holding of the elastic contact piece by the pressing action of the tab, so that the elastic contact piece is elastically returned to a state in which the elastic contact piece elastically contacts the tab. According to the present invention, since the large insertion resistance due to the sliding between the tab and the elastic contact piece occurs only in the end of insertion in the connection process of both terminal fittings, immediately after the start of the connection of both terminal fittings. Compared to the one in which insertion resistance continues to occur over almost the entire process leading to the completion of connection, the work feeling is superior.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the holding part has a simple form in which the wall-like part constituting the rectangular tube part is cut up, the manufacturing cost of the female terminal fitting can be reduced.

<Invention of Claim 3>
During the insertion of the tab, the elastic contact piece is held at the retracted position by the holding piece coming into contact with the receiving portion. At the end of the insertion of the tab, the tab pushes the holding piece to dissociate it from the receiving part, and with this dissociation, the elastic contact piece returns elastically while a part of the holding piece escapes and enters the space. , Elastically abut against the tab.

<Invention of Claim 4>
At the end of the insertion of the tab, as the elastic contact piece returns to elasticity, the sliding contact surface of the elastic contact piece and the sliding contact surface of the tab come into sliding contact with each other, so that the surface coating on both contact parts is removed. The contact resistance is reduced, and a good contact state is obtained.

<Invention of Claim 5>
When the insertion of the tab is completed, the tab is pushed backward in the insertion direction by an elastic reaction force from the holding portion, and the contact portion on the tab side becomes a contact on the elastic contact piece side by the elastic reaction force from the holding portion. Pressed against the part. As a result, a large contact pressure is generated between both contact portions by adding the contact pressure caused by the elastic reaction force of the holding portion to the contact pressure caused by the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece. Are better.

The partial expanded sectional view showing the state where the connection of the male terminal metal fitting and the female terminal metal fitting was completed in Embodiment 1 Cross section of female terminal fitting Bottom view of female terminal fitting Sectional view showing the state of connection between male terminal fitting and female terminal fitting Sectional drawing showing the state in the middle of the connection of a male terminal metal fitting and a female terminal metal fitting in Embodiment 2 Partial enlarged sectional view showing a state where the connection between the male terminal fitting and the female terminal fitting is completed. Sectional drawing showing the state in the middle of the connection of a male terminal metal fitting and a female terminal metal fitting in Embodiment 3 Partial enlarged sectional view showing a state where the connection between the male terminal fitting and the female terminal fitting is completed. XX sectional view of FIG. YY sectional view of FIG.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the tabs 11 of the male terminal fitting 10 and the rectangular tube portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 20 are connected by fitting their front ends (tips) to each other and fitting them in an uneven shape.

  The male terminal fitting 10 has a tab 11 in a form that cantilevered forward (to the right in FIGS. 1 and 2). The extending direction of the tab 11 is a direction parallel to the connecting direction of the terminal fittings 10 and 20, that is, the inserting direction of the tab 11 with respect to the rectangular tube portion 21 (hereinafter simply referred to as the inserting direction). The tab 11 functions as a guide means for stabilizing the posture of the male terminal fitting 10 with respect to the rectangular tube portion 21 when inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21, and a female-side contact portion 28 of the elastic contact piece 25 described later. It also has a function as a connecting means. Further, the thickness dimension of the tab 11 in the vertical direction (direction substantially parallel to the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 25) is constant over the entire length of the tab 11 except for the male contact portion 12 described later.

  A male contact portion 12 is formed on the lower surface of the tab 11. The male side contact portion 12 protrudes in a generally triangular shape when viewed from the side (the width direction intersecting both the insertion direction of the tab 11 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 25). Of the two front and rear inclined surfaces of the male contact portion 12, the rear inclined surface in the insertion direction of the tab 11 is inclined with respect to both the insertion direction of the tab 11 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 25. A sliding surface 13 is formed. The male side slidable contact surface 13 faces rearward in the insertion direction of the tab 11, and faces downward (elastic contact piece 25 side) in the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 25.

  The female terminal fitting 20 has a rectangular tube portion 21 with a front surface (left surface in FIGS. 1 to 4) opened. The rectangular tube portion 21 includes a double upper surface wall 22, a lower surface wall 23 that is parallel to the upper surface wall 22, and left and right side walls 24 that connect the upper surface wall 22 and the lower surface wall 23. The upper wall 22, the lower wall 23, and the side wall 24 all have a flat plate shape parallel to the insertion direction of the tab 11.

  An elastic contact piece 25 is housed inside the rectangular tube portion 21 in a form in which a plate-like portion extending from the front end edge of the lower wall 23 is folded back. A space between the elastic contact piece 25 and the upper surface wall 22 in the space in the rectangular tube portion 21 is an insertion space 26 for inserting the tab 11.

  The elastic contact piece 25 is a form that extends in a cantilever direction toward the rear side (front side in the insertion direction of the tab 11) of the rectangular tube part 21 over its entire length, and the shape is simplified. The base end portion 27 (the end portion on the rear side in the insertion direction of the tab 11) of the elastic contact piece 25 is connected to the front end portion of the lower surface wall 23 in a semicircular arc shape. The elastic contact piece 25 can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction (direction intersecting the insertion direction of the tab 11) with the base end portion 27 as a fulcrum while elastically bending the base end portion 27.

  The elastic contact piece 25 has a shape in which a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction (extending direction) is bent in a stepped shape, and the bent portion serves as a female contact portion 28. The female contact portion 28 is formed with a female sliding surface 29 that is inclined with respect to both the insertion direction of the tab 11 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 25. The female side slidable contact surface 29 faces forward in the insertion direction of the tab 11 and faces upward (in the insertion space 26 side) in the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 25.

  In the rectangular tube portion 21, the holding portion 30 is formed by cutting upward a part of the lower surface wall 23 (the wall-shaped portion constituting the rectangular tube portion 21 which is a constituent element of the present invention) to which the elastic contact piece 25 continues. Is formed. Since the holding part 30 has a simple form in which the lower surface wall 23 is cut and raised, the manufacturing cost of the female terminal fitting 20 can be reduced. The holding portion 30 has an obtuse angle when viewed from the side, and is disposed in the vicinity of the extended end portion 25 </ b> E of the elastic contact piece 25. A portion on the upper end side (extended end portion) of the holding portion 30 is a pressed portion 31. The front surface of the lower end side (side continuous with the lower surface wall 23) of the holding portion 30 is a locking surface 32.

  Although the holding part 30 is always in the locking position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the holding part 30 can be elastically bent so as to tilt backward with its lower end part as a fulcrum. In a state where the holding part 30 is in the locking position, the pressed part 31 is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the tab 11. Similarly, when the holding portion 30 is in the locking position, the locking surface 32 is inclined with respect to the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 25 and is inclined in an overhang shape toward the elastic contact piece 25 side. Become.

  In the state where the male terminal fitting 10 and the female terminal fitting 20 are not connected (the tab 11 is not inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21), the extended end portion 25E (tab 11) of the elastic contact piece 25 is shown in FIG. In the insertion direction, the front end portion) is held at the retracted position by engaging with the engaging surface 32 of the holding portion 30 obliquely from below. In this retracted position, the elastic contact piece 25 is elastically displaced downward (in a direction away from the insertion space 26 of the tab 11) with the base end 27 as a fulcrum in a state where the base end 27 is elastically bent. That is, the elastic contact piece 25 stores an elastic restoring force for elastic recovery upward. When the elastic contact piece 25 is in the retracted position, the vertical distance between the female contact portion 28 and the lower surface (inner surface) of the upper surface wall 22 (that is, the height dimension of the insertion space 26) is The dimension is larger than the dimension (that is, the maximum thickness dimension of the tab 11) that combines the thickness dimension and the protruding dimension of the male contact portion 12 from the lower surface of the tab 11.

  When the tab 11 is inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21 from the state where the elastic contact piece 25 is held in the retracted position as described above, the tab 11 has its upper surface on the upper surface as shown in FIG. By making sliding contact with the wall 22, the posture of the male terminal fitting 10 with respect to the rectangular tube portion 21 is stabilized. During this time, neither the lower surface of the tab 11 nor the male contact point 12 contacts the elastic contact piece 25. Therefore, insertion resistance due to sliding contact between the tab 11 and the elastic contact piece 25 does not occur.

  From this state, when the insertion of the tab 11 is advanced and the end of the insertion is reached, the front end portion in the insertion direction of the tab 11 approaches the pressed portion 31 of the holding portion 30, and the male contact portion 12 is connected to the female contact portion 28. Reach nearby. However, even at this time, the male contact portion 12 and the female contact portion 28 are not in contact. Therefore, insertion resistance due to sliding contact between the tab 11 and the elastic contact piece 25 does not occur.

  When the insertion of the tab 11 further proceeds from this state, the front end portion of the tab 11 pushes the pressed portion 31 of the holding portion 30, so that the holding portion 30 is located behind the square tube portion 21 (in the insertion direction of the tab 11). It is elastically displaced so that it falls down. With the elastic displacement of the holding portion 30, the locking surface 32 is dissociated from the extended end portion 25E of the elastic contact piece 25, so that the elastic contact piece 25 is elastically restored upward by its elastic restoring force. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, with the elastic return of the elastic contact piece 25, the female contact point 28 comes into contact with the male contact point 12 and the tab 11 and the elastic contact piece 25 (both terminal fittings 10, 20). Is connected, and a predetermined contact pressure is secured between the male contact portion 12 and the female contact portion 28 by the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 25.

  In the process in which the female contact portion 28 approaches and contacts the male contact portion 12, the female sliding contact surface 29 and the male sliding contact surface 13 are in sliding contact with each other. 13 and the film on the female sliding contact surface 29 are removed. By removing the coating in this manner, the contact resistance between the male contact portion 12 and the female contact portion 28 is reduced, and a good contact state is obtained.

  When the connection between the tab 11 and the elastic contact piece 25 is completed, the female contact portion 28 of the elastic contact piece 25 comes into contact with the male contact portion 12 of the tab 11 from the rear in the insertion direction of the tab 11. The holding part 30 which has received the pressing force from 11 gives an elastic reaction force in the insertion direction rearward to the tab 11 by its own elastic restoring force. Accordingly, the tab 11 is pushed rearward in the insertion direction by the elastic reaction force from the holding portion 30, and the male contact portion 12 of the tab 11 is pushed by the female of the elastic contact piece 25 by the elastic reaction force from the holding portion 30. It is pressed against the side contact portion 28. Thereby, between both contact parts 12 and 28, the contact pressure resulting from the elastic reaction force (elastic restoring force) of the holding | maintenance part 30 was added to the contact pressure resulting from the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 25, and the big Since contact pressure is generated, contact reliability is excellent.

  As described above, the connection structure of the first embodiment includes the male terminal fitting 10 having the tab 11 at the front end, the rectangular tube portion 21 that allows the tab 11 to be inserted, and the tab inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21. 11 is provided with a female terminal fitting 20 having an elastic contact piece 25 that can be elastically brought into contact with the tab 11 and elastically bent to a retracted position that is not in contact with the tab 11. 20, the elastic contact piece 25 can be held in the retracted position while the tab 11 is not inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21, and the pressing force from the tab 11 is received only at the end of the insertion process of the tab 11. A holding portion 30 for releasing the holding on the elastic contact piece 25 is provided.

  According to this configuration, since the large insertion resistance due to the sliding between the tab 11 and the elastic contact piece 25 is generated only in the end of the insertion in the connection process of the both terminal fittings 10 and 20, Compared to the case where insertion resistance continues to occur over almost the entire process from the start to the completion of connection, the work feeling is superior.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The male terminal fitting 40 and the female terminal fitting 50 according to the second embodiment are different in the tab 41 and the elastic contact piece 51 from the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of structures, operations, and effects are omitted.

  The tab 41 of the male terminal fitting 40 according to the second embodiment is formed with a male contact portion 42 having a recessed lower surface. The male contact portion 42 is cut out in a generally trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side (the width direction intersecting both the insertion direction of the tab 41 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 51). Of the front and rear inclined surfaces of the male contact portion 42, the front inclined surface in the insertion direction of the tab 41 is a male side slide that is inclined with respect to both the insertion direction of the tab 41 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 51. It is a contact surface 43. The male side slidable contact surface 43 faces rearward in the insertion direction of the tab 41, and faces downward (elastic contact piece 51 side) in the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 51.

  The elastic contact piece 51 of the female terminal fitting 50 has the same overall shape as that of the first embodiment, but has a shape in which a central portion in the length direction is bent in a step shape. A female contact portion 52 that protrudes in the direction toward the tab 41 and the insertion space 26 is formed. The female contact point 52 has a generally triangular shape (mountain shape) when viewed from the side (the width direction intersecting both the insertion direction of the tab 41 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 51).

  Of the both front and rear inclined surfaces of the female contact portion 52, the front inclined surface in the insertion direction of the tab 41 is inclined with respect to both the insertion direction of the tab 41 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 51. It is a contact surface 53. The female-side sliding contact surface 53 faces forward in the insertion direction of the tab 41, and faces upward (in the tab 41 side) in the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 51.

  When the male terminal fitting 40 and the female terminal fitting 50 are not connected (the tab 41 is not inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21), the extended end portion 51E of the elastic contact piece 51 (the front end portion in the insertion direction of the tab 41). ) Is held at the retracted position (see FIG. 5) by being locked obliquely from below with respect to the locking surface 32 of the holding portion 30. In this retracted position, the elastic contact piece 51 is elastically displaced downward (in a direction away from the insertion space 26 of the tab 41) with the base end 27 as a fulcrum while the base end 27 is elastically bent. The contact piece 51 stores an elastic restoring force for elastic recovery upward. When the elastic contact piece 51 is in the retracted position, the vertical distance between the female contact portion 52 and the lower surface (inner surface) of the upper surface wall 22 (that is, the height dimension of the insertion space 26) is The dimension is larger than the thickness dimension.

  When the tab 41 is inserted into the rectangular tube portion 21 from the state in which the elastic contact piece 51 is held at the retracted position, the tab 41 has its upper surface on the upper wall 22 as shown in FIG. By the sliding contact, the posture of the male terminal fitting 40 with respect to the rectangular tube portion 21 is stabilized. Further, during this time, the lower surface of the tab 41 does not contact the elastic contact piece 51 or the female contact point 52, so that no insertion resistance due to sliding contact between the tab 41 and the elastic contact piece 51 does not occur.

  When the insertion of the tab 41 further proceeds from this state, the front end portion of the tab 41 pushes the pressed portion 31 of the holding portion 30 and elastically displaces the holding portion 30 so as to tilt backward to the square tube portion 21. The stop surface 32 is dissociated from the extended end portion 51E of the elastic contact piece 51, and the elastic contact piece 51 is elastically restored upward by its elastic restoring force. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, with the elastic return of the elastic contact piece 51, the female contact portion 52 comes into contact with the male contact portion 42 and the tab 41 and the elastic contact piece 51 (both terminal fittings 40, 50). Is connected, and a predetermined contact pressure is secured between the male contact portion 42 and the female contact portion 52 by the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 51.

  Further, in the process in which the female contact portion 52 approaches and contacts the male contact portion 42, the female sliding contact surface 53 and the male sliding contact surface 43 are in sliding contact with each other. The film on the surface of 43 and the surface of the female-side sliding contact surface 53 is removed. By removing the coating in this way, the contact resistance between the male contact point portion 42 and the female contact point portion 52 is reduced, and a good contact state is obtained.

  In the state where the connection between the tab 41 and the elastic contact piece 51 is completed, the female contact point 52 of the elastic contact piece 51 comes into contact with the male contact point 42 of the tab 41 from the rear in the insertion direction of the tab 41, The holding portion 30 that has received the pressing force from the tab 41 gives an elastic reaction force in the rearward direction of insertion to the tab 41 by its own elastic restoring force. Therefore, the tab 41 is pushed rearward in the insertion direction by the elastic reaction force from the holding portion 30, and the male contact point 42 of the tab 41 is pushed by the female of the elastic contact piece 51 by the elastic reaction force from the holding portion 30. It is pressed against the side contact portion 52. Thereby, between both the contact parts 42 and 52, the contact pressure resulting from the elastic reaction force (elastic restoring force) of the holding | maintenance part 30 was added to the contact pressure resulting from the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 51, and the big Since contact pressure is generated, contact reliability is excellent.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the third embodiment, the tab 61 of the male terminal fitting 60 and the rectangular tube portion 71 of the female terminal fitting 70 are connected by fitting their front ends (tips) to each other and fitting them in an uneven shape.

  The male terminal fitting 60 has a tab 61 in a form that cantilevered forward (rightward in FIGS. 7 to 10). The tab 61 has a flat plate shape, and the plate surfaces (upper and lower surfaces) are oriented horizontally. The extending direction of the tab 61 is a direction parallel to the connecting direction of the terminal fittings 60 and 70, that is, the inserting direction of the tab 61 with respect to the rectangular tube portion 71 (hereinafter simply referred to as the inserting direction). When the tab 61 is inserted into the square tube portion 71, the tab 61 functions as a guide means for stabilizing the posture of the male terminal fitting 60 with respect to the square tube portion 71 and is connected to a contact portion 78 of the elastic contact piece 75 described later. It also has a function as a means. Further, the thickness dimension of the tab 61 in the vertical direction (a direction substantially parallel to the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 75) is constant over the entire length of the tab 61. In addition, a pressing surface 62 that is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the tab 61 is formed on the side edge of the front end portion of the tab 61.

  The female terminal fitting 70 has a rectangular tube portion 71 whose front surface (the left surface in FIGS. 7 to 10) is open. The rectangular tube portion 71 includes an upper surface wall 72, a lower surface wall 73 that is parallel to the upper surface wall 72, and left and right side walls 74 that connect the upper surface wall 72 and the lower surface wall 73. All of the upper wall 72, the lower wall 73, and the side wall 74 have a flat plate shape parallel to the insertion direction of the tab 61. An elastic contact piece 75 having a shape in which a plate-like portion extending from the front end edge of the lower surface wall 73 is folded back is accommodated inside the rectangular tube portion 71. A space between the elastic contact piece 75 and the upper surface wall 72 in the space in the rectangular tube portion 71 is an insertion space 76 for inserting the tab 61.

  The elastic contact piece 75 extends in a cantilever shape toward the rear of the square tube portion 71 (front in the insertion direction of the tab 61) over its entire length, and the shape is simplified. The base end portion 77 of the elastic contact piece 75 (the end portion on the rear side in the insertion direction of the tab 61) is connected to the front end portion of the lower surface wall 73 in a semicircular shape. The elastic contact piece 75 can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction (direction intersecting the insertion direction of the tab 61) with the base end portion 77 as a fulcrum while the base end portion 77 is elastically bent. The elastic contact piece 75 has a shape in which a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction (extending direction) is bent in a stepped shape, and the bent portion has an upper direction (a direction approaching the tab 61 and the insertion space 76). A contact portion 78 is formed so as to protrude to ().

  In the female terminal fitting 70, the elastic contact piece 75 can be held at a retracted position, which will be described later, with the tab 61 not inserted into the rectangular tube portion 71, and the pushing from the tab 61 only at the end of the insertion process of the tab 61. A holding portion 80 that releases the holding of the elastic contact piece 75 by receiving pressure is provided. The holding portion 80 includes a holding piece 81, a receiving portion 82, and an escape space 83.

  The holding piece 81 has a form extending upward (in a direction approaching the tab 61 and the insertion space 76) from a side edge portion of the extending end portion 75 </ b> E (front end portion in the insertion direction of the tab 61) of the elastic contact piece 75. Further, the elastic contact piece 75 can be displaced in the vertical direction integrally with the extended end portion 75E. The upper surface wall 72 of the wall-shaped portion constituting the rectangular tube portion 71 faces the elastic contact piece 75, and a region corresponding to the receiving portion 82 of the upper surface wall 72 is the receiving portion 82. The escape space 83 penetrates a region adjacent to the receiving portion 82 in the width direction (direction intersecting both the insertion direction of the tab 61 and the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece 75) of the upper surface wall 72. It is an open form. The receiving portion 82 and the escape space 83 are located in front of the contact portion 78 in the insertion direction of the tab 61.

  In the state where the male terminal fitting 60 and the female terminal fitting 70 are not connected (the tab 61 is not inserted into the rectangular tube portion 71), the upper end portion of the holding piece 81 is brought into contact with the receiving portion 82. The elastic contact piece 75 is held at the retracted position (see FIG. 7). In this retracted position, the elastic contact piece 75 is elastically displaced downward (in a direction away from the insertion space 76 of the tab 61) with the base end 77 as a fulcrum while the base end 77 is elastically bent. The contact piece 75 stores an elastic restoring force for elastic return upward. When the elastic contact piece 75 is in the retracted position, the vertical distance between the contact point 78 and the lower surface (inner surface) of the upper surface wall 72 (that is, the height dimension of the insertion space 76) is the thickness of the tab 61. The dimensions are larger than the dimensions.

  When the tab 61 is inserted into the rectangular tube portion 71 from the state in which the elastic contact piece 75 is held in the retracted position in this way, the tab 61 causes the upper surface of the tab 61 to slidably contact the upper surface wall 72 in the initial and middle stages of the insertion. Thus, the posture of the male terminal fitting 60 with respect to the rectangular tube portion 71 is stabilized. During this time, the tab 61 does not contact the elastic contact piece 75 or the contact portion 78. Therefore, no insertion resistance due to the sliding contact between the tab 61 and the elastic contact piece 75 occurs. Further, the front end portion of the tab 61 passes through the contact portion 78, and the lower surface of the tab 61 faces the contact portion 78 in a non-contact state above the contact portion 78.

  From this state, when the insertion of the tab 61 further proceeds and the end of the insertion, the pressing surface 62 of the front end portion of the tab 61 in the insertion direction pushes the holding piece 81, so that the holding piece 81 is in sliding contact with the receiving portion 82. It is displaced outward in the width direction (upper side in FIGS. 9 and 10) so as to retract from the tab 61. At this time, since the extended end portion 75E of the elastic contact piece 75 is also displaced in the width direction integrally with the holding piece 81, the elastic contact piece 75 is slightly inclined in the width direction with the base end portion 77 as a fulcrum. .

  Then, immediately before the pressing surface 62 passes through the holding piece 81, the holding piece 81 is detached from the receiving portion 82 and corresponds to the escape space 83, and the elastic contact piece 75 is elastically restored upward and the holding piece 81. The upper end of the air enters the escape space 83. In other words, the escape space 83 exhibits a function of allowing the elastic contact piece 75 to elastically return from the retracted position by allowing the holding piece 81 disengaged from the receiving portion 82 to enter. When the elastic contact piece 75 is elastically displaced upward, the contact portion 78 contacts the lower surface of the tab 61, and a predetermined contact pressure is secured between the tab 61 and the contact portion 78 by the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 75. The Thus, the state where the tab 61 and the contact portion 78 are in contact with each other is maintained until the insertion of the tab 61 is completed.

  As described above, the connection structure of the third embodiment includes the male terminal fitting 60 having the tab 61 at the front end, the rectangular tube portion 71 that allows the tab 61 to be inserted, and the tab inserted into the rectangular tube portion 71. A female terminal fitting 70 having an elastic contact piece 75 that can be elastically brought into contact with 61 and elastically bent to a retracted position that is not in contact with the tab 61 is provided. The female terminal fitting 70 can hold the elastic contact piece 75 in the retracted position with the tab 61 not inserted into the rectangular tube portion 71, and can be pushed from the tab 61 only at the end of the insertion process of the tab 61. A holding portion 80 that releases the holding of the elastic contact piece 75 by receiving pressure is provided.

  According to this configuration, since the large insertion resistance due to the sliding of the tab 61 and the elastic contact piece 75 is generated only in the end of the insertion in the connection process of the two terminal fittings 60 and 70, the connection of the two terminal fittings is performed. Compared to the case where insertion resistance continues to occur over almost the entire process from the start to the completion of connection, the work feeling is superior.

<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.
(1) In Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the holding portion is formed by cutting and raising a part of the lower wall connected to the elastic contact piece. However, the wall-like portion (for example, the upper surface) is different from the lower wall connecting the elastic contact piece. (Wall) may be cut and raised to form the holding portion.
(2) In the first and second embodiments, a contact portion having a sliding contact surface oblique to the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece is formed on both the elastic contact piece and the tab, and the elastic return of the elastic contact piece is restored. The surface coating of the contact portion is removed by the wiping action between the sliding contact surfaces, but the contact portion does not cause the wiping action (for example, one of the elastic contact piece and the tab is protruding. And the other contact portion may be planar.
(3) By applying the embodiment in which the contact portion having the sliding contact surface oblique to the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece as described in the first embodiment or the second embodiment is applied to the third embodiment. Also good.
(4) In the third embodiment, the receiving portion and the escape space are formed on the upper surface wall. However, the receiving portion and the escape space are formed on the wall-shaped portion other than the upper surface wall among the plurality of wall-shaped portions constituting the rectangular tube portion. It may be formed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Male terminal metal fitting 11 ... Tab 12 ... Male side contact part 13 ... Male side sliding contact surface 20 ... Female terminal metal fitting 21 ... Square tube part 25 ... Elastic contact piece 25E ... Extension end part 28 of an elastic contact piece 28 ... Female side Contact part 29 ... Female side sliding contact surface 30 ... Holding part 40 ... Male terminal fitting 41 ... Tab 42 ... Male side contact part 43 ... Male side sliding contact face 50 ... Female terminal fitting 51 ... Elastic contact piece 51E ... Elastic contact piece Extension end 52 ... Female side contact part 53 ... Female side sliding contact surface 60 ... Male terminal fitting 61 ... Tab 70 ... Female terminal fitting 71 ... Square tube part 75 ... Elastic contact piece 80 ... Holding part 81 ... Holding piece 82 ... Receiving part 83 ... Relief space

Claims (5)

A male terminal fitting having a tab at the front end;
A rectangular tube portion that allows the tab to be inserted, and an elastic deflection to a retracted position that can be elastically contacted with the tab inserted into the rectangular tube portion and is not in contact with the tab. A female terminal fitting having an elastic contact piece,
In the female terminal fitting, the elastic contact piece can be held at the retracted position in a state where the tab is not inserted into the square tube portion, and the pressing force from the tab is only at the end of the insertion process of the tab. A terminal fitting connection structure, wherein a holding portion for releasing the holding of the elastic contact piece by receiving the elastic contact piece is provided. The elastic contact piece is in the form of a cantilever extending forward in the insertion direction of the tab with respect to the rectangular tube part,
The holding part is a form in which a part of a wall-like part constituting the rectangular tube part is cut and raised.
The elastic contact piece is adapted to be held at the retracted position by locking its extended end to the holding part,
The terminal fitting connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is released when the tab pushes the holding portion forward in the insertion direction. The holding part is
A holding piece formed so as to be integrally displaceable with the elastic contact piece;
A receiving portion that is formed in the rectangular tube portion and holds the elastic contact piece in the retracted position by contacting the holding piece;
An escape space that allows the elastic contact piece to elastically return from the retracted position by allowing the holding piece, which is formed in the rectangular tube portion and dissociated from the receiving portion, to enter, is configured.
The terminal fitting connection structure according to claim 1, wherein, at the end of insertion of the tab, the holding piece is disengaged from the receiving portion by the tab coming into contact with the holding piece. .   The elastic contact piece and the tab have a sliding contact surface oblique to the elastic displacement direction of the elastic contact piece, and the sliding contact is performed as the elastic contact piece elastically returns from the retracted position. The terminal fitting connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a contact portion that abuts by sliding the surfaces together is formed. The contact portion of the elastic contact piece is arranged so as to come into contact with the contact portion of the tab from the rear in the insertion direction of the tab when the insertion of the tab is completed,
The terminal fitting connection according to claim 4, wherein the holding portion that receives the pressing force from the tab applies an elastic reaction force to the tab in the rearward direction of insertion. Construction.

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