JP3446856B2 - Female terminal fitting - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a female terminal fitting provided with a pair of elastic contact pieces formed by bending so as to be folded back from both ends of a board portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A female terminal fitting of this kind is mounted in a junction box, and the mounting attitude is changed so that the positions and directions of the relay terminals and the elastic contact portions into which the male tabs of the male terminal fittings are inserted are changed. However, it is used as a double-ended terminal that can be fitted with a male tab.

[0003]

However, such a female terminal fitting has a large total length as compared with a female terminal fitting having only one elastic contact piece. In particular, in the two-point support type in which the tip of the elastic contact piece is brought into contact with the female terminal fitting, the elastic contact piece becomes longer than the cantilever type. Therefore, miniaturization of such a female terminal fitting has been conventionally desired. However, if the length of the elastic contact piece is shortened as a means for downsizing, the contact pressure with the male tab may not be sufficiently obtained. Also, if you try to shorten the total length of the female terminal fitting without changing the length of the elastic contact piece itself, the overall height dimension will increase because the shape of the elastic contact piece will be changed to a high mountain shape, and as a result, It was not possible to realize miniaturization.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to reduce the size.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of elastic contact pieces formed by bending so as to be folded back from both ends of the board portion, and when the male terminal fittings are fitted, the male contact pieces are bent. A feature of elastically contacting an elastic contact piece with a tab is that a pair of elastic contact pieces are formed with intersecting portions arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction at the tips thereof. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the intersecting portion can be engaged with the mating elastic contact piece, and one elastic contact piece elastically bends while the other elastic contact piece is elastically bent. The elastic contact piece is also characterized in that it is configured to cause elastic bending.

[0007]

According to the invention of claim 1, the intersecting portions can intersect with each other without coming into contact with the intersecting portions on the other side and abut on the substrate portion. Since the dimension occupied by the intersecting portion in the length dimension of the elastic contact piece is shared with the mating elastic contact piece, the length of the female terminal fitting can be shortened by the dimension of this intersecting portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when one elastic contact piece comes into elastic contact with the male tab and elastically flexes, the other elastic contact piece also elastically flexes. Therefore, the contact pressure can be increased by the elasticity of both sides.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

<First Embodiment> A first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The female terminal fitting of this embodiment is applied to a relay terminal housed in a junction box or the like and fitted with male tabs T from two opposite directions. The female terminal fitting 10 is formed by bending a metal plate material punched and formed into a predetermined shape, and has a main body 11 having a rectangular cross section and a pair of elastic members. Contact piece 15,
It consists of 15. The main body portion 11 includes a bottom plate portion (a substrate portion which is a constituent of the present invention) 12, a pair of side wall portions 13 and 13 standing up from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate portion 12, and upper end edges of the both side wall portions 13 and 13. Ceiling part 1 extending inward from the
4 and 14.

Elongated plate-shaped portions extend from both front and rear edges of the bottom plate portion 12, and the plate-shaped portions are bent so as to be folded back toward the inside of the main body portion 11 so as to face each other. A pair of extending elastic contact pieces 15, 15
Are formed. The elastic contact piece 15 has a gentle chevron shape inside the main body 11 and has a top 15A.
The clearance between the ceiling plate portion 14 and the ceiling plate portion 14 is set to be smaller than the thickness dimension of the male tab T. Further, the obliquely downward extending ends 15B of both elastic contact pieces 15 correspond to each other at the central position in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 11 at the approaching position, and are located at a low height close to the bottom plate portion 12. is doing.

The extending ends 15B, 15B of the pair of elastic contact pieces 15, 15 are respectively formed with intersecting portions 16 which further extend in the right half width region in the extending direction. The intersecting portions 16 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the width direction and extend so as to intersect with each other when viewed from the side. Since the intersecting portions 16 respectively occupy the right-half width region, even if they intersect, they do not interfere with each other in the width direction. The pair of intersecting portions 16, 16 intersecting each other in this manner extend obliquely upward and are arranged so as to ride on the elastic contact pieces 15 on the other side.

The intersecting portion 16 extends to reach the area on the other side beyond the central position in the lengthwise direction of the main body portion 11. The length of the elastic contact piece 15 including the intersecting portion 16 is the female terminal fitting. It is longer than half the length of 10. Therefore, in the region where the intersecting portion 16 rides on the mating elastic contact piece 15, the intersecting portion 16 and a part of the mating elastic contact piece 15 share the dimension in the length direction.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In a state where the male tab T is not fitted to the female terminal fitting 10, as shown in FIG. 2, the intersecting portion 16 and the mating elastic contact piece 15 are not in contact with each other. The vertical gap between the elastic contact piece 15 and the elastic contact piece 15 is
5 is set to be smaller than the vertical interval between the extension end 15B of the No. 5 and the bottom plate portion 12.

When the male tab T is inserted into the main body 11 from the left side, the male tab T engages with the elastic contact piece 15 on the left side in the drawing to elastically displace the elastic tab piece 15 downward, and this elastic contact piece 1
The extended end 15 </ b> B of 5 abuts on the bottom plate 12. While the left elastic contact piece 15 is elastically displaced, the intersecting portion 16 of the left elastic contact piece 15 is also displaced downward and the right elastic contact piece 1 is
5, the elastic contact piece 15 on the right side of the extended end 15B
Push down. Then, when the male tab T reaches the normal fitting state, the male tab T is elastically clamped between the left elastic contact piece 15 and the ceiling plate portion 14, and the male tab T and the female terminal fitting 10 are separated from each other. It is connected so that it can be electrically conducted (see FIG. 3).

In this state, the left elastic contact piece 1
5 is the elastic restoring force at the base end 15C extending from the bottom plate portion 12 and the extension end 15B of the left elastic contact piece 15 is the bottom plate portion 1.
The elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 15 itself caused by the contact with the elastic contact piece 2 and the elastic restoring force of the right end of the elastic contact piece 15 at the base end 15C extending from the bottom plate portion 12 are acting. A contact pressure between the left elastic contact piece 15 and the male tab T is obtained by the force.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the extending portion 15B of the elastic contact piece 15 is provided with the intersecting portion 16 that intersects with each other in the width direction, the elastic contact piece 15 is long. The dimension occupied by the intersecting portion 16 of the outer dimensions is shared with the elastic contact piece 15 on the other side.
As a result, the length of the female terminal fitting 10 is shortened by the size shared with the other side, as compared with the one without the intersection portion 16, and the size is reduced.

When the elastic contact piece 15 elastically bends as the male tab T is fitted, the intersection 16 engages with the elastic contact piece 15 on the mating side, and the elastic contact piece 15 on the mating side also. The elastic tabs are elastically deflected, and the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact pieces 15, 15 acts on the male tab T. For this reason,
The contact pressure between the male tab T and the elastic contact piece 15 is higher than that in the case where only one elastic contact piece 15 elastically bends, and the conductivity is improved.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The female terminal fitting 20 of the present embodiment is different from the female terminal fitting 10 of the first embodiment in the structure of the intersecting portion 16. Since the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description of the structure, the action, and the effect of the same configuration will be omitted.

Similar to the first embodiment, the extended ends 25B, 25 of the pair of elastic contact pieces 25, 25 in the present embodiment.
B is also formed with intersecting portions 26, 26 that further extend in the width region of the right half in the extending direction, and these intersecting portions are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction and interfere with each other. They extend so as to intersect with each other when viewed from the side without doing.

A pair of intersecting portions 26, 2 intersecting in this way
Different from the first embodiment, 6 extends obliquely downward in the same direction as the extending end 25B of the elastic contact piece 25, and is arranged so as to sneak under the elastic contact piece 25 on the other side. ing.

The intersecting portion 26 extends to reach the area on the other side beyond the central position in the lengthwise direction of the main body portion 21, and the length of the elastic contact piece 25 including this intersecting portion 26 is the female terminal fitting. It is longer than half the length of 20. Therefore, in the region where the intersecting portion 26 sunk into the mating elastic contact piece 25, the intersecting portion 26 and a part of the mating elastic contact piece 25 share the dimension in the length direction.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In a state where the male tab T is not fitted to the female terminal fitting 20, as shown in FIG. 5, the extension end edge 25B of the mating elastic contact piece 25 leaves almost no gap on the upper surface of the intersection 26. It corresponds. In this state, when the male tab T is inserted into the main body 21 from the left side, the male tab T engages with the elastic contact piece 25 on the left side in the drawing and elastically displaces it downward. Along with this, the extended end edge 25 of this elastic contact piece 25
Comes into contact with the upper surface of the right crossing portion 26 to elastically bend the right elastic contact piece 25 downward, and the tip of the right crossing portion 26 comes into contact with the bottom plate portion 22. Then, when the male tab T reaches the normal fitting state, the left elastic contact piece 25 and the ceiling plate portion 24.
The male tab T is elastically clamped between the male tab T and the male tab T, and the male tab T and the female terminal fitting 20 are electrically connected to each other.

In this state, the left elastic contact piece 2
5 in addition to the elastic restoring force at the base end 25C extending from the bottom plate portion 22, the elastic restoring force at the extending base end 25C from the bottom plate portion 22 of the right elastic contact piece 25, and the right crossing portion 2
The elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 25 on the right side by contacting the tip of 6 with the bottom plate portion 22 acts, and the elastic restoring force between the elastic contact piece 25 on the left side and the male tab T acts. Contact pressure is obtained.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the extending end 25B of the elastic contact piece 25 is provided with the intersecting portion 26 which intersects with each other in the width direction so as to be adjacent to each other. Therefore, the female terminal fitting 20 is dimensioned by the dimension shared by the intersection 26 and the mating elastic contact piece 25.
The length is short, and the size is reduced.

Further, when the elastic contact piece 25 elastically bends as the male tab T is fitted, the extending edge 25B of the elastic tab 25 engages with the intersecting portion 26 of the mating side so that the mating elastic contact piece 25 also. The elastic tabs are elastically bent, and the elastic restoring force of both elastic contact pieces 25, 25 acts on the male tab T. Therefore, the contact pressure between the male tab T and the elastic contact piece 25 is higher than that in the case where only one elastic contact piece elastically bends, and the conductivity is improved.

<Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The female terminal fitting 30 of the present embodiment is applied to a double-ended terminal that can be fitted to a male tab even if the mounting posture is changed so that the position and direction of the wire connecting portion 27 are changed. The female terminal fitting 30 of the present embodiment includes a main body portion 31 having an elastic contact piece 35 fitted with a male tab (not shown in FIG. 7), and the main body portion 31.
And an electric wire connecting portion 27 to which the electric wire W is connected.

The main body 31 of this embodiment has the same structure as the main body 31 of the female terminal fitting 20 of the second embodiment.
A pair of elastic contact pieces 35, 35 extending so as to be folded back from both end edges of the bottom plate portion, and both elastic contact pieces 35, 35
And an intersecting portion 36 that extends from the extending end 35B so as to intersect with each other and sunk under the elastic contact piece 35 on the other side. Guide portions 3 that open outward are provided on both front and rear edges of the side wall portion 33.
3A and 33A are formed, and an open guide portion 34A is also formed on one end edge of the ceiling plate portion 34, and these guide portions 33A and 34A prevent insertion of the male tab into the main body portion 31. It is easy to do. The operations of the elastic contact piece 35 and the intersecting portion 36 associated with the fitting of the male tab are the same as those in the second embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

The wire connecting portion 27 is provided so as to extend from the edge of the ceiling plate portion 34 opposite to the guide portion 34A. The wire connecting portion 27 is bent upward in an arc shape at the end edge of the ceiling plate portion 34 and extends, and an insulation barrel 27A is formed at the upper end portion thereof, and a position lower than the insulation barrel 27A. A wire barrel 27B is formed on the wire barrel 27B, and the insulation barrel 27A and the wire barrel 27B form a wire connecting portion 27. The resin coating Wa of the electric wire W is crimped to the insulation barrel 27A,
The core wire Wb exposed by peeling off the resin coating Wa is pressure-bonded to the wire barrel 27B. The electric wire W connected to the electric wire connecting portion 27 is arranged so as to extend upward from the end portion of the main body portion 31 at a right angle to the length direction (the fitting direction of the male tab).

In the female terminal fitting 30 of this embodiment, the attachment of the main body 31 to the connector housing (not shown) is reversed vertically and horizontally in FIG. Can be set to. In addition, the male tabs should be attached as shown in FIG.
Since the fitting can be done from either the left or right direction in, the degree of freedom in design when setting the fitting direction of the male tab and the way of arranging the electric wire W is high.

Also in the present embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the extending end 35B of the elastic contact piece 35 is formed.
Since the intersecting portions 36 intersecting with each other are provided so that the length dimension of the elastic contact piece 35 is partially shared with the other side, downsizing is achieved, and the elastic contact pieces 35 of both sides are made. Since the elastic restoring force of the elastic tabs 35 and 35 acts on the male tab, the contact pressure between the male tab and the elastic contact piece 35 is high, and the conductivity is improved.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the case where the intersecting portion rides on and dives into the mating elastic contact piece has been described, but according to the present invention, the intersecting portion and the mating elastic contact piece are arranged. A configuration may be adopted in which the intersecting portions do not overlap and are adjacent to each other in the width direction.

(2) In the above embodiment, the case where the crossing portion and the mating elastic contact piece are engaged with each other when the male tab is fitted has been described, but according to the present invention, the crossing portion and the elastic contact piece are elastic. The contact piece may not be engaged.

(3) In the double-insertion type female terminal fitting according to the third embodiment, the structure of the intersecting portion of the second embodiment is applied, but the structure of the intersecting portion of the first embodiment and a modification (1). The configuration of the modified example (2) can also be applied to the double-insertion type female terminal fitting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the male tab of the first embodiment is not fitted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the male tab of Embodiment 1 is fitted.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which a male tab of Embodiment 2 is not fitted.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which a male tab of Embodiment 2 is fitted.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Female terminal fitting 12 ... Bottom plate part (substrate part) 15 ... Elastic contact piece 16 ... intersection T ... Male tab

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of elastic contact pieces formed by bending so as to be folded back from both ends of a board portion, wherein the elastic contact pieces are elastically bent with respect to the male tabs when fitted with a male terminal fitting. A female terminal fitting, wherein the pair of elastic contact pieces are provided with intersecting portions that are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction at the tip end portions of the pair of elastic contact pieces. 2. A structure in which an intersecting portion is engageable with an elastic contact piece on the other side, and one elastic contact piece causes elastic deflection as the other elastic contact piece causes elastic deflection. The female terminal fitting according to claim 1.