JP3146048B2 - Wire connection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention is used as an apparatus for connecting an electric wire to an electric circuit. Although the present invention has been developed as a device for connecting a communication line and a communication protector, the present invention is not limited to this application and can be widely used as an element of an electric appliance or as a device for connecting an electric circuit and an electric wire. The present invention relates to an inexpensive connection device capable of significantly reducing the number of work steps for connecting electric wires and maintaining a stable connection state for a long time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique for connecting an electric wire to an electric circuit,
2. Description of the Related Art For a long time, a technique of screwing a distal end of an electric wire to a terminal fitting provided in an electric circuit has been known. Since a reliable connection can be achieved by interposing a washer and a spring washer, it is widely used in all electric circuit fields.

As a technique for connecting a communication line to a communication protector, a screwing structure has been used for a long time as shown in FIG.

[0004] Although screwing can maintain statistically high reliability, it has disadvantages such as a large number of connection man-hours and considerable skill required to perform uniform and high-quality connecting work. In order to improve this, the present applicants have filed Japanese Utility Model Application Nos. 2-106890 and 3-6.
No. 8321 (both unpublished at the time of filing the present application) filed a utility model registration application. The present invention further improves these connection structures.

[0005]

When the above-mentioned prior art was repeatedly tested, it was found that there was a portion that required man-hours for the connection work, and that the connection work of the communication line was performed on a ladder or under an unstable scaffold environment. In some cases, congested electric wires may be divided and performed in a narrow space, and the connection of an extremely large number of communication lines due to such work may not always be performed uniformly. It has been found that there is still a problem in connecting to one electric wire connection device, and that a further improvement is necessary to mass-produce the connection device and reduce the price.

The present invention is an improvement of the present invention, in which the number of work steps for connection work is reduced gradually, uniform work can be performed without skill, and two electric wires having different wire diameters are used. Be able to connect to one wire connection device,
It is another object of the present invention to simplify the electric wire connection device and make it suitable for mass production and reduce the price.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a terminal fitting formed by bending a single substantially rectangular metal plate so that its cross section becomes substantially U-shaped. When the three sides of the terminal fitting are defined as front, upper and rear, the front and rear are brought into contact with the front and rear from inside of the terminal fitting bent in a U-shape, and the front and rear are pushed open by elasticity. And a push formed of a plastic molded body inserted into the terminal fitting bent into a U-shape through a hole formed in the upper part of the terminal fitting and a plate-shaped spring inserted into the terminal fitting. A button, and at least a part of the leg of the push button is in contact with the spring, and when the push button is strongly pushed in the direction of the U-shaped opening of the terminal fitting, the leg of the push button has an elasticity. Against that spring A small gap is formed between the inside of the rear end of the terminal fitting and the push button, and a wire to be connected is inserted from its upper portion to its leg, and the tip of the wire to be connected is inserted into the small gap. And a guide hole for leading to the circuit board is provided on the terminal fitting.

[0008] The guide hole is formed in two rows, and the plate-like spring has a shape in which a tip is branched into two corresponding to the two guide holes, and the plate-like spring is provided inside the terminal fitting. A locking claw that locks at the two branches is formed,
A small projection is formed on the leg of the push button, and a stopper for engaging with the projection and a bar-shaped tool for releasing the engagement between the projection and the stopper are inserted inside the terminal fitting. A tool hole is formed, and the mounting foot on the circuit board is formed by punching each of the front and rear ends of the terminal fitting, and at least the side provided on the front part of the mounting foot is The shape is formed to be bent inward, the plate-shaped spring is held at the bent portion, and the push button is in contact with the terminal fitting in a state where the push button is inserted into the terminal fitting. It is desirable that a metal piece for a test terminal led out be provided on the upper part of the push button.

[0009]

[Action] The tip of the electric wire is strongly pressed against the inside of the terminal fitting by the spring and comes into contact. Since this contact is maintained by the restoring elasticity of the spring, the electrical connection state is uniform and stable for a long time. The connection work is the work of inserting the end of the electric wire into the guide hole while pressing the push button with the fingertip, simplifies the work, and can be performed uniformly with extremely small work man-hours without depending on the skill of the worker It became so.

In the structure in which the tip of the spring branches into two, the contact pressure can be independently formed at the two tips, so that two wires having different wire diameters can be connected to one terminal fitting.

[0011] Even when the user notices that an incorrect electric wire was connected during the connection operation and performs replacement, the already connected electric wire can be easily pulled out simply by pressing the push button. In addition, since a metal piece for a test terminal is provided on the push button, it is possible to easily connect a monitor device and other electric wires on a trial basis, and the push button can be easily connected and easily pulled out. . Further, when a metal piece for a test terminal is provided on the push button, it can be directly connected.

The electric wire connection device of the present invention basically comprises three members, one metal plate, one plate-shaped spring, and a small push button made of plastic, and the metal plate and the spring are stamped. Thus, the push button can be manufactured very inexpensively, and the push button can be mass-produced by plastic molding and can be manufactured extremely inexpensively and uniformly. The assembly of these three members is very simple.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
(A) is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing the shape of the push button in the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a perspective view showing the shape of the terminal fitting, and (c) is a perspective view showing the shape of the spring. FIG. 3
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of a push button, a terminal fitting, and a spring according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating a connection state of a connected electric wire according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state of attachment to a circuit board in the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a terminal fitting 1 is formed by bending a single substantially rectangular metal plate so that its cross section becomes substantially U-shaped, and is bent into this U-shape. When three sides of the terminal fitting 1 are defined as a front part 1a, an upper part 1b, and a rear part 1c, the front part 1a and the rear part 1c come into contact with the front part 1a and the rear part 1c from the inside of the terminal fitting bent in a U-shape, and the front part 1a by elasticity. The leg is bent into a U-shape of the terminal fitting 1 through a single plate-shaped spring 2 inserted so as to push and open the rear part 1c and a hole 1d formed in the upper part 1b of the terminal fitting 1. A push button 3 made of a plastic molded body inserted inside; a leg of the push button 3 is at least partially in contact with the spring 2, and the push button 3 is a U-shaped opening of the terminal fitting 1. Pressed strongly in the direction of Has a structure in which a small gap is formed between the spring 2 and the inside of the rear portion 1c of the terminal fitting 1 against the elasticity of the spring 2, and the push button 3 has A guide hole 3 through which the connected wire 11 is inserted to guide the tip of the connected wire into the small gap.
a is formed, and the terminal fitting 1 is provided with a mounting foot 1 e on the circuit board 12.

The guide hole 3a is formed in two rows, and the plate-like spring 2 has a shape in which the tip is branched into two corresponding to the two guide holes, and the plate-like spring 2 is provided inside the terminal fitting 1. Are formed at the two branches. A small protrusion 3b is formed on the leg of the push button 3, and a stopper 1g is formed on the inside of the terminal fitting 1 to lock the protrusion 3b, and the protrusion 3b and the stopper 1g are locked. Tool hole 3 for inserting a rod-shaped tool
c is formed, and the mounting foot 1e to be mounted on the circuit board is formed by punching each end of the front part 1a and the rear part 1c of the terminal fitting 1, and at least the side of the mounting foot 1e provided at the front part 1a. Is a structure in which the shape is formed to be bent inward, and the plate-shaped spring 2 is held at the bent portion.

When the spring 2 shown in FIG. 2 (c) is provided inside the terminal fitting 1 shown in FIG. 2 (b), the root 2a of the spring 2 which is branched into two parts as shown in FIG. The fixed side end 2b enters between the portion 1a and the stopper 1g and the mounting foot 1e.
And the branch-side end 2c abuts against the inner surface of the rear portion 1c and is fixed. The branch end 2c always maintains a state in which a pressing force is applied to the inner surface of the rear portion 1c by its elasticity.

Next, when the push button 3 shown in FIG. 2A is inserted into the hole 1d formed in the upper part 1b of the terminal fitting 1 as shown in FIG. The push button 3 is engaged with the retaining 1g and is provided inside without being separated from the terminal fitting 1.

Thus, the spring 2 and the push button 3
Is mounted, the mounting foot 1e is inserted into the terminal mounting hole 12a of the circuit board 12 as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of connecting the connected electric wire 11 by the electric wire connecting apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the electric wire 11 is inserted into the guide hole 3a of the push button 3, the distal end of the electric wire 11 lifts the branch end 2c of the spring 2 in the direction of arrow A. When the electric wire 11 is pushed in, the connected electric wire 11 receives the elasticity of the spring 2 and presses against the terminal fitting 1 to be electrically connected. Even if a force is applied in the direction in which the connected electric wire 11 is pulled out, in this state, the spring 2 is prevented from coming off because the branch end 2c is in contact with the connected electric wire 11 at an acute angle.

As described above, it is possible to maintain a stable connection state without individual differences by a simple operation of merely inserting the connected electric wire 11 into the guide hole 3a of the push button 3.

Next, the connected electric wire 1 is used for connection change or the like.
The operation when extracting 1 will be described.

When the push button 3 is pushed in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 4, the spring pressing portion 3d abuts on the branch portion of the spring 2 at an angle, and moves the branch portion to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. A small gap a is formed between the connection wire 11 and the branch end 2c. Thereby, the connected electric wire 11 is released from the pressing force of the spring 2 and can be pulled out without receiving resistance.

When the push button 3 is separated from the terminal fitting 1 for some reason, a bar-shaped tool or driver 13 is inserted into the tool hole 3c of the push button 3 in the direction of arrow C, so that the protrusion 3b And is released from the engagement with the stopper 1g. If the push button 3 is pulled out in this released state, it can be easily separated from the terminal fitting 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the structure of the second embodiment of the present invention and the connection state of the electric wires to be connected. FIG. 7 (a) is a perspective view showing the shape of the push button in the second embodiment of the present invention.
(B) is a perspective view showing the shape of the test piece metal piece, (c).
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a shape of a terminal fitting, and FIG. 4D is a perspective view showing a shape of a spring.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the push button 3 in the first embodiment is formed as shown in FIG. 3A, and the test button fitting 3 shown in FIG.
1 are combined. The same terminal fitting 1 and spring 2 as in the first embodiment are used.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the push button 30 is pushed downward, the branch end 2c of the spring 2 is raised to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. In this state, when the connected electric wire 11 is inserted through the guide groove 30 a and the hand is released from the push button 30, the branch end 2 of the spring 2 is released.
As shown by a two-dot chain line c, the connected electric wire 11 is pressed into contact with the test terminal fitting 31 to be electrically connected.

When the connected electric wire 11 is pulled out, if the push button 30 is pushed in, the spring pressing portion 3d lifts the branch end 2c of the spring 2 to release it from the pressed state and can be pulled out without receiving resistance. In the second embodiment, the terminal fitting 1 and the test terminal fitting 31 are in an electrically connected state, and when a test such as connecting an external tester is performed,
The connection can be established by directly contacting the terminal 31a with a tester or the like without operating the push button 30.

When the push button 30 is separated from the terminal fitting 1, by pulling out the push button 30, the engaging portion 31b engaged with the retaining 1g slips off and comes off, as in the first embodiment. Can be easily separated without using the tool 13.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, an electric circuit and an electric wire can be connected with a small number of work steps, and a stable connection state can be maintained for a long time. Also,
Since the work content is simplified, variations in work due to individual differences can be eliminated, and there is an effect that the reliability of the connection work can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a partially sectional perspective view showing a shape of a push button according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a shape of a terminal fitting, and FIG. 2C is a perspective view showing a shape of a spring; FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the push button, the terminal fitting, and the spring in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a connection state of a connected electric wire in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state of attachment to a circuit board in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention and the connection state of the connected electric wires.

7A is a perspective view showing a shape of a push button according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing a shape of a metal piece for a test terminal, and FIG. 7C is a view showing a shape of a terminal fitting. Perspective view,
(D) is a perspective view showing the shape of the spring.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal fitting 1a Front part 1b Upper part 1c Rear part 1d Hole 1e Mounting foot 1f Stop nail 1g Retainer 2 Spring 2a Root part 2b Fixed side end part 2c Branch side end part 3, 30 Push button 3a Guide hole 3b Projection 3c Tool hole 3d Spring pressing part 11 Connected electric wire 12 Circuit board 12a Terminal mounting hole 13 Tool (driver) 30a Guide groove 31 Test terminal fitting 31a Terminal part 31b Engagement part

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiro Sekido 3-12-15 Chuo, Warabi City, Saitama Prefecture Nikko Electric Works, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhisa Eguchi 3-12-15 Chuo Warabi City, Saitama Co., Ltd. Inside Nikko Electric Works (72) Inventor Hiroshi Uemura 2-34-3 Nishi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Yakko Electric Works, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-213270 (JP, A) JP-A-4 -109563 (JP, A) Fully open sho 59-154773 (JP, U) Fully open sho 55-29094 (JP, U) Fully open 2-120764 (JP, U) Real publicly open 50-36706 (JP, Y1) ) Utility model registration 2532977 (JP, Y2) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 4/48

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A terminal fitting formed by bending a substantially rectangular metal plate material so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and three sides of the terminal fitting bent into the U-shape. When defined as a part, an upper part and a rear part, a single plate inserted so as to come into contact with the front part and the rear part of the terminal fitting from the inside bent in a U-shape and to push open the front part and the rear part by elasticity. And a push button made of a plastic molded body whose leg is inserted into a U-shape of the terminal fitting through a hole formed in an upper part of the terminal fitting, and the push button is provided. At least a part of the leg is in contact with the spring, and when the push button is strongly pressed in the direction of the U-shaped opening of the terminal fitting, the spring and the terminal are opposed to the elasticity of the spring. Inside the rear of the bracket And a guide hole is formed in the push button to insert a connected wire from its upper part to its leg and to guide the tip of the connected wire to the small gap. An electric wire connection device, wherein the terminal fitting is provided with a mounting foot on a circuit board. 2. The electric wire connection device according to claim 1, wherein the guide hole is formed in two rows, and the plate-like spring has a shape in which a tip is branched into two corresponding to the two guide holes. 3. The electric wire connection device according to claim 2, wherein a stopper is formed inside said terminal fitting to lock said plate-shaped spring at a portion branched into two. 4. The electric wire connection device according to claim 1, wherein a small projection is formed on a leg of the push button, and a stopper is formed inside the terminal fitting so as to be engaged with the projection. 5. A mounting foot wire connecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein formed by stamping, respectively Re front and rear of the tip Niso of the terminal fitting to the circuit board. 6. A structure in which at least a side provided at a front portion of the mounting foot is formed in a shape in which the shape is bent inward, and the bent portion holds the plate-shaped spring. 6. The electric wire connection device according to 5. 7. The test button is provided with a metal piece for a test terminal which is brought into contact with the terminal fitting in a state where the push button is inserted into the terminal fitting and is led out above the push button. The wire connection device according to the above.