JP6814618B2 - Quick connection terminal of outlet - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a quick connection terminal for connecting an electric wire to an outlet installed on a wall surface or the like.

In outlets that are mainly installed on the wall, quick-connect terminals are used to connect electric wires. The quick-connect terminal can be electrically connected by simply inserting an electric wire, and does not come off without screwing, so it can be connected with a simple operation and is widely used. This quick-connect terminal is provided with a release button for pulling out, and by operating this button, the wire disconnection prevention action of the quick-connect terminal was released and the wire was pulled out.

FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of this conventional quick-connect terminal. As shown in FIG. 5, the release button 50 is arranged adjacent to the insertion hole 51 into which the electric wire is inserted, and the release button 50 is tilted in the direction indicated by the arrow A3 to reach the electric wire 53 of the quick-connect spring 52. The lock of the electric wire 53 was released, and the electric wire 53 could be pulled out.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a release button is arranged inside a housing near a quick-connect terminal and is operated by a screwdriver or the like through a window formed in the housing.

JP-A-6-140093

The conventional quick-connect terminal provided in the outlet is described by exaggerating the release button 50 in FIG. 5, but as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is provided in a small space. The operation part was small, the load for releasing operation was heavy, and the operability was poor.
In addition, there is no member to indicate whether the inserted electric wire is securely connected to the quick-connect spring 52, and the connection of the electric wire can only be confirmed by a tester or the like.

Therefore, in view of such a problem, the present invention can perform the release operation of the connected electric wire with a relatively weak force, and also indicates that the inserted electric wire is connected to the quick-connect spring. The purpose is to provide a quick-connect terminal for an outlet with an embedded display in a space-saving manner.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is a quick connection terminal of an outlet formed in a housing for electrically connecting an electric wire inserted through an insertion hole formed in the housing to an outlet blade holder. Therefore, the connecting portion that makes elastic contact with the inserted electric wire and the tip that tilts in the wire insertion direction on the insertion hole side of the connecting portion and tilts to the inserted electric wire are locked to prevent the electric wire from coming off. A quick-connecting spring having a stopper piece, which is bent into a substantially S shape and electrically connected to an outlet blade holder, and an unlocking member for releasing the locking action of the retaining piece on an electric wire. The unlocking member has a release button that is projected from a portion adjacent to the insertion hole, and a slide that is continuously formed on the back of the release button and extends in the wire insertion direction and slides in the housing. It has a moving part and a release piece that is formed on the side of the sliding part and comes into contact with the retaining piece, and when the release button is pushed in and the sliding part slides and moves into the inside of the housing. The release piece is characterized in that the retaining piece is further tilted to release the electric wire locking action, and the electric wire can be pulled out.
According to this configuration, the operation of releasing the retaining piece of the inserted electric wire pushes the retaining piece in the wire insertion direction, so that the point of effort moves toward the tip of the retaining piece according to the pushing amount. Therefore, the release operation can be performed with a light load, that is, a weak pushing force.

The invention of claim 2 has a display member for displaying that the electric wire is securely connected to the quick connection terminal in the configuration according to claim 1, and the display member is a portion adjacent to the release button. A connecting piece having an insertion display portion exposed from the housing at the tip, extending from the back of the insertion display unit in the wire insertion direction, and having a length extending beyond the connecting portion, and an extension of the connecting piece. It has an electric wire contact piece that is bent from the provided end and is arranged at the bottom of the insertion hole and that the tip of the inserted electric wire comes into contact with the electric wire contact piece, while the electric wire contact piece is on the back of the electric wire contact piece. With a gap that allows the housing to move inward, the tip of the inserted wire presses the wire contact piece and moves it inside the housing, changing the exposure amount of the insertion display. However, it is characterized in that it is possible to grasp the completion of the insertion of the electric wire by this change.
According to this configuration, the display member can form the connecting piece and the electric wire contact piece in an L shape, for example, and can be manufactured with a thin member, so that the display member can be incorporated in a small space. Therefore, even a quick-connect terminal of an outlet with a small installation space can be easily incorporated, and it can be grasped that the inserted electric wire is connected to the quick-connect spring.

According to the present invention, the release button operation for releasing the retaining piece of the inserted electric wire pushes the retaining piece in the wire insertion direction, so that the force point moves toward the tip of the retaining piece according to the pushing amount. Therefore, the release operation can be performed with a light load, that is, a weak pushing force.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the quick connection terminal of the outlet which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the state which the electric wire was inserted into the quick connection terminal of the outlet of FIG. 1, (a) shows the state which the electric wire is locked, and (b) is the state which the lock is released. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the quick connection terminal of an outlet, (a) is the sectional explanatory view, and (b) is the front explanatory drawing. It is explanatory drawing which pressed the release button of the quick connection terminal of the outlet of FIG. 3, (a) is the sectional explanatory view, and (b) is the front explanatory view. It is explanatory drawing which shows the quick connection terminal of the conventional outlet, (a) is the state before the electric wire is inserted, (b) is the state which the electric wire is inserted, and (c) is the state which operated the release button.

Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing an example of a quick-connect terminal of an outlet according to the present invention, where 1 is an outlet housing, 2 is an insertion hole into which an electric wire 11 is inserted, and 3 is an inserted electric wire 11 and an outlet blade (not shown). A quick-connecting spring that electrically connects the receiver, 4 is an unlocking member having a release button 4a that enables the electric wire 11 to be pulled out, and 5a is an insertion display unit that displays the insertion state of the electric wire 11. The quick connection terminal 10 is formed inside the housing 1 of the outlet.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a terminal fitting connected to the outlet blade holder, which is in contact with the quick-connecting spring 3. Further, the formation surface of the insertion hole 2 will be described below as the front surface of the housing 1.

The quick-connecting spring 3 is an elastic spring piece formed by bending a strip-shaped metal piece in a substantially S shape, and is inserted into a connecting portion 3a formed of a curved surface for electrical connection with the inserted electric wire. It has a retaining piece 3b formed at the end of the metal piece to prevent the electric wire from coming off, the retaining piece 3b is arranged on the insertion hole 2 side, and the connecting portion 3a is located at the back of the housing 1. It is arranged.
The retaining piece 3b is bent and tilted in the electric wire insertion direction indicated by the arrow A1 from near the front surface of the housing 1, and the tip thereof is arranged in the vicinity of the connecting portion 3a.

The release button 4a is a tip portion of the unlocking member 4 arranged adjacent to the insertion hole 2 and protrudes from the housing 1. The unlocking member 4 has a sliding portion 4b which is continuously formed on the back portion of the release button 4a and is slidably arranged in the housing 1 in the wire insertion direction (direction of arrow A1). A release piece 4c that comes into contact with the retaining piece is projected from the side portion of the portion 4b.
A coil spring 20 for urging the sliding portion 4b forward is arranged between the sliding portion 4b and the housing 1, and the release button 4a is pressed to slide the sliding portion 4b into the housing 1. However, it is configured to perform a return operation.

The release piece 4c is formed so as to project from the side of the sliding portion 4b in the direction of the quick-connecting spring 3 and has a shape that bypasses the electric wire 11 inserted in the middle so as not to come into contact with the wire 11, and the tip is in the middle of the retaining piece 3b. It is in contact. When the release button 4a is pushed in, the release piece 4c further tilts the retaining piece 3b that is tilted, and releases the locking of the retaining piece 3b to the electric wire 11.

The insertion display portion 5a is a tip portion exposed from the housing 1 of the display member 5 arranged adjacent to the release button 4a, and the display member 5 is inserted into the connecting piece 5b extending in the wire insertion direction. It has an electric wire contact piece 5c with which the tip of the electric wire 11 abuts. The connecting piece 5b has a length extending beyond the connecting portion 3a of the quick connecting spring 3, and the electric wire contact piece 5c extends laterally from the end of the connecting piece 5b to reach the bottom of the insertion hole 2. Has a spring. As a result, the display member 5 is formed in a substantially L shape as a whole.

Further, on the back of the electric wire contact piece 5c, there is a gap S that allows the electric wire contact piece 5c to move inward of the housing 1, that is, the display member 5 can move inward of the housing 1. It is provided. A coil spring 21 that constantly urges the display member 5 forward is arranged on the back of the electric wire contact piece 5c.
In this way, in the quick-connect terminal 10, the quick-connect spring 3 is arranged on one side of the insertion hole 2 of the housing 1, the release button 4a and the insertion display portion 5a are arranged in this order on the other side, and the quick-connect terminals 10 are arranged in a straight line on the surface. Have been placed.

2A and 2B are explanatory views in which the electric wire 11 is inserted into the quick-connect terminal 10, where FIG. 2A shows a state in which the electric wire 11 is locked and FIG. 2B shows a state in which the electric wire 11 is released.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the electric wire 11 inserted through the insertion hole 2 comes into contact with the wire contact piece 5c at the bottom of the insertion hole 2 after being contact-engaged with the quick-connecting spring 3, and further, the electric wire. The abutting piece 5c is pushed in to complete the insertion. In this way, the electric wire contact piece 5c moves to the back of the gap S by the pressing force of the electric wire 11 that has come into contact with each other, and the amount of protrusion of the insertion display portion 5a is reduced to a small amount.
Further, the quick-connecting spring 3 is elastically deformed by the inserted electric wire 11, and the connecting portion 3a is brought into close contact with the electric wire 11 to maintain the elastic contact state by the restoring force, and the electric wire contact piece 3b exerts a retaining action. To do.

When the release button 4a is pressed in this state, as shown in FIG. 2B, the release piece 4c further bends the retaining piece 3b, so that the locking action on the electric wire 11 is released and the electric wire 11 is released. It can be pulled out. At that time, as the release button 4a is pushed in, the engagement point of the release piece 4c with the retaining piece 3b moves toward the tip.
When the electric wire 11 is pulled out in this unlocked state, the display member 5 returns to the original position by the action of the coil spring 21, and the insertion display portion 5a protrudes or the amount of protrusion increases. Further, the release button 4a also returns to the original position by the action of the coil spring 20 when the pressing is released.

In this way, the operation of releasing the retaining piece 3b of the inserted electric wire 11 pushes the retaining piece 3b in the wire insertion direction, so that the point of effort moves toward the tip of the retaining piece 3b according to the pushing amount. Therefore, the release operation can be performed with a light load, that is, a weak pushing force.
Further, the display member 5 can be formed of an L-shaped long but thin plate material, and can be incorporated in a small space, and even a quick-connect terminal of an outlet having a small installation space can be incorporated without difficulty. It can be grasped that the electric wire 11 is connected to the quick connection spring 3.

3 and 4 are explanatory views showing another example of the quick-connect terminal of the outlet, and show a configuration in which the two quick-connect terminals 10 and 10 are operated by one release button 40a. FIG. 3 shows a state before inserting the electric wire, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the inserted electric wire 11 can be pulled out by pressing the release button 40a. In each case, (a) is a cross-sectional explanatory view and (b) is a front explanatory view. is there.
As shown in the figure, the two quick-connecting terminals 10 and 10 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the symmetrical line M, and the quick-connecting springs 3 are arranged back to back. Then, the release button 40a is integrally formed.

Hereinafter, since the quick-connecting spring 3 and the display member 5 are the same as those in the above embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted, and the release button 40a will be described.
The release button 40a is formed so as to have a width straddling the two insertion holes 2 and 2, and a pair of sliding portions 40b arranged in accordance with the position of the insertion hole 2 on the back portion of the release button 40a. The unlocking member 40 is formed.

The sliding portion 40b is formed toward the inside of the housing 1 in the electric wire insertion direction indicated by the arrow A2, and a release piece 40c that abuts on the retaining piece 3b is formed on the rear end side portion. As a result, the entire unlocking member 40 is formed in a substantially U shape.
Then, when the release button 40a is pressed, the release piece 40c further bends the retaining piece 3b, so that the locking action on the electric wire 11 is released and the electric wire 11 can be pulled out.
Similar to the above embodiment, the release button 40a is also provided with a coil spring that always urges the front forward between the release button 40a and the housing 1, but is omitted.

By arranging the two quick-connect terminals symmetrically in this way, the release buttons 40a can be integrated in a space-saving manner, and the installation space can be further reduced. Further, the plug-in display unit 5a can also be provided in a space-saving manner. Then, in the operation of releasing the retaining piece 3b of the inserted electric wire 11, the retaining piece 3b is pushed in the wire insertion direction, and the force point moves toward the tip of the retaining piece 3b according to the pushing amount, so that a light load, that is, Release operation can be performed with a weak pushing force.

In each of the above embodiments, a display member 5 for displaying that the electric wire 11 is securely connected is provided, but the display member 5 may not be provided.

1 ・ ・ Housing, 2 ・ ・ Insert hole, 3 ・ ・ Quick connection spring, 3a ・ ・ Connecting part, 3b ・ ・ Retaining piece, 4 ・ ・ Unlocking member, 4a ・ ・ Release button, 4b ・ ・ Sliding , 4c ... Release piece, 5 ... Display member, 5a ... Plug-in display part, 5b ... Connecting part, 5c ... Wire contact piece, 10 ... Quick connection terminal, 11 ... Wire, 20 , 21 ... Coil spring, 40 ... Unlocking member, 40a ... Release button, 40b ... Sliding part, 40c ... Release piece.

Claims (2)

A quick-connect terminal for an outlet formed in the housing for electrically connecting an electric wire inserted through an insertion hole formed in the housing to an outlet blade holder.
A retaining piece that elastically contacts the inserted electric wire and tilts in the wire insertion direction on the insertion hole side of the connecting portion and locks the tilted tip to the inserted electric wire to prevent the electric wire from coming off. A quick-connecting spring that is bent into a substantially S-shape and electrically connected to the outlet blade holder.
It has an unlocking member that releases the locking action of the retaining piece on the electric wire.
The unlocking member includes a release button projecting from a portion adjacent to the insertion hole and a release button.
A sliding portion that is continuously formed on the back of the release button, extends in the wire insertion direction, and slides in the housing.
It has a release piece formed on the side portion of the sliding portion and abutting on the retaining piece.
When the release button is pushed in and the sliding portion slides and moves into the housing, the release piece further tilts the retaining piece to release the wire locking action and pulls out the wire. The quick-connect terminal of the outlet, which is characterized by being able to. It has a display member for displaying that the electric wire is securely connected to the quick-connect terminal.
The display member has a plug-in display portion exposed from the housing at a portion adjacent to the release button at the tip thereof.
A connecting piece extending from the back of the insertion display portion in the wire insertion direction and having a length extending beyond the connecting portion.
While having a wire contact piece formed by bending from an extended end of the connecting piece and arranged at the bottom of the insertion hole and with which the tip of the inserted wire abuts.
The back of the wire contact piece has a gap that allows the wire contact piece to move inward of the housing.
The tip of the inserted electric wire presses the electric wire contact piece and moves it to the inside of the housing, so that the exposure amount of the insertion display portion changes, and this change makes it possible to grasp the completion of the insertion of the electric wire. The quick-connect terminal of the outlet according to claim 1.

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