JP6961433B2 - Male terminal, male connector and connection structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, a male terminal and a male connector attached to a connector or the like for connecting an automobile wire harness, and a connection structure in which the male terminal and the female terminal are electrically connected.

Conventionally, a large number of wire harnesses are arranged in an automobile, and these wire harnesses are connected by a connector. Such a connector is equipped with a terminal fixed to a covered electric wire or an electronic board constituting the wire harness.

Such terminals include, for example, a male terminal having a flat plate-shaped insertion tab and a female terminal having a tab insertion portion that allows insertion of the insertion tab, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. The male terminal and the female terminal are connected by connecting the connectors mounted with these terminals connected to the coated electric wire or the electronic board, and the coated electric wires or the like are electrically connected to each other.

The male terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be described in detail. The male terminal is provided with a tab formed in a flat plate shape, and the bottom surface of the tab insertion portion, which is a housing, is extended toward the tip side in the insertion direction and the tip is extended. An elastic contact portion is provided in which the portion is folded back to the base end side and stored inside the tab insertion portion, and a protruding portion protruding downward is provided at a position facing the elastic contact portion on the inner upper surface of the tab insertion portion. It is configured so that it can be inserted into a female terminal.

In the male terminal configured in this way, by inserting the tab into the tab insertion part of the female terminal, the tab is sandwiched between the elastic contact part and the protruding part from the vertical direction, and the female terminal and the male terminal Can be electrically connected.

However, the terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 may slide and rotate around the contact portion with the elastic contact portion as a rotation axis due to vibration of the vehicle body, for example, and the contact portion between the tab and the elastic contact portion is worn. There was a problem such as.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-311085

In view of the above problems, the present invention has a male terminal capable of preventing sliding rotation of the tab due to vibration or the like in a state where the tab is inserted into the tab insertion portion of the female terminal, and a tab insertion corresponding to the tab. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection structure in which the tab is inserted into a female terminal provided with a portion.

The present invention is a male terminal provided with a tab for inserting and connecting to a tab insertion portion in which a tab insertion space is formed inside the female terminal, and the tab is inserted in the tab insertion portion. It is long and is provided with a contact portion that comes into contact with the elastic contact portion provided in the tab insertion portion on one side in the plate thickness direction that intersects the insertion direction, and is provided on the other side from the other side to the one side. is concave towards the said provided at the resilient contact portion facing the position of the tab insertion portion, projection and restriction recessed portion which is the position restricting contact protruding toward the elastic contact portion is provided, et al is, The width direction is the direction intersecting the insertion direction and the plate thickness direction, and the tabs are formed from a base body provided with the contact portion and the regulation recess and both ends in the width direction of the base body. It is composed of a leg portion extending from the other side in the plate thickness direction toward the one side, and one end side end portion of the leg portion is arranged on one end side of the one end side end portion of the base body. It is characterized by.

The present invention also relates to a connection structure in which a male terminal having a tab and a female terminal having a tab insertion portion having a tab insertion space into which the tab is inserted are connected. The tab insertion portion is provided at a position facing the elastic contact portion provided on one side in the plate thickness direction intersecting the insertion direction in which the tab is inserted and the elastic contact portion on the other side in the plate thickness direction. The tab is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes toward the elastic contact portion, and the tab is formed long in the insertion direction, and has a contact portion that abuts on the elastic contact portion and faces the one side from the other side. is concave, wherein the projection and contact with the restriction recessed portion positioned regulations provided et al is, the insertion direction and a width direction and a direction intersecting the thickness direction, the tabs, the regulation and the contact portion It is composed of a base body provided with recesses and legs extending from both ends in the width direction of the base body from the other side in the plate thickness direction toward the one side, and one end of the leg portion. The side end portion is arranged on one end side of the one end side end portion of the base body .

The regulation recess has an arcuate shape that is recessed in the plate thickness direction when viewed from the insertion direction, a trapezoidal shape that expands from one side to the other side in the plate thickness direction, and a rectangular shape. Including the configuration that is recessed in.
In the elastic contact portion, for example, when the tab insertion portion is composed of a housing, one surface constituting the housing is extended toward the tip end side in the insertion direction, and the cross section along the insertion direction is curved. The configuration includes a configuration in which the tip portion is folded back toward the base end side and stored inside the tab insertion portion, and a configuration in which a part of the surface constituting the tab insertion portion is pushed up into the tab insertion space.

The protruding portion is formed in a substantially semicircular cross section or a substantially rectangular cross section when viewed from the insertion direction called a bead, and the protruding portion formed so as to have a length along the insertion direction and the regulation. It includes a protruding portion that protrudes toward one side from a portion that is desired to be brought into contact with the concave portion.

The above-mentioned facing positions are not limited to the case where the protruding portion and the elastic contact portion face each other, and the protruding portion is arranged so as to be offset from the front and back in the insertion direction of the elastic contact portion. Including the case where.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, when the tab is inserted into the tab insertion portion of the female terminal, sliding rotation of the tab due to vibration or the like can be prevented.
More specifically, in a state where the tab is inserted into the tab insertion portion, one side of the tab comes into contact with the elastic contact portion and is pressed against the other side, and the protruding portion is provided in the regulation recess provided on the other side. It will come into contact.

Therefore, the tab is fixed by the elastic contact portion and the protruding portion, and the protruding portion comes into contact with the regulating recess recessed from the other side to one side. As a result, even if an external force that slides and rotates around the contact point between the elastic contact portion and the contact portion acts as a rotation axis, the regulation recess and the protrusion are in contact with each other, so that the tab slides. Rotation can be regulated.
Therefore, the sliding rotation of the tab due to vibration or the like can be prevented, and the contact point between the tab and the elastic contact portion can be prevented from being worn.

Further, the tabs are formed from a base body provided with the contact portion and the regulation recess and both ends in the width direction of the base body from the other side in the plate thickness direction toward the one side. The rigidity of the tab can be improved by being composed of the extending legs. As a result, the length of the tab in the width direction can be shortened, and the connector provided with the male terminal can be miniaturized.

Further, when the tab is inserted into the tab insertion portion, the leg portion guides the insertion of the tab along the wall portion forming the tab insertion portion, and the tab is easily inserted into the tab insertion portion. can. Therefore, even if the male terminal and the female terminal are miniaturized, the tab insertion work can be easily and surely performed.

Furthermore, since the one end side end portion of the leg portion is arranged on one end side of the one end side end portion of the base body, the rigidity of the tab can be further improved and the tab can be inserted. The work can be performed more easily and reliably.

Further, since the one end side end portion of the leg portion is arranged on one end side of the one end side end portion of the base body, the leg portion arranges the elastic contact portion at the central portion of the tab. It can be guided and the tab can be more easily inserted into the tab insertion portion.

As an aspect of the present invention, the regulation recess may have a pair of inclined portions that extend from the one side toward the other side and abut so as to sandwich the protrusion.
The inclined portion includes a case where the inclined portion is formed in a straight line or a curved shape.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent the tab from sliding and rotating.
For example, when only the bottom surface portion forming the regulation recess and the protrusion are in contact with each other, the elastic contact portion and the tab sandwiched by the protrusion are orthogonal to the rotation direction of the sliding rotation due to vibration. An external force due to the pressing of the elastic contact portion acts only in the direction in which the elastic contact portion is pressed. That is, the sliding rotation due to vibration is prevented by the frictional force.

On the other hand, the regulation recess spreads from one side toward the other side and has a pair of inclined portions that come into contact with the protruding portion so as to sandwich the protruding portion. Even if an external force acts on the tab in the sliding rotation direction in the abutted state, the protruding portion in contact with the regulation recess directly receives the external force for sliding and rotating the tab, so that the tab is more reliably described. The sliding rotation of the tab can be prevented.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the central portion of the tab on one side may be formed of a flat surface portion parallel to the insertion direction and the width direction intersecting the plate thickness direction.
According to the present invention, since the elastic contact portion can be accurately brought into contact with the flat surface portion, the elastic force acting from one side to the other side by the elastic contact portion can be reliably transmitted to the tab. Therefore, the tab can be reliably sandwiched between the elastic contact portion and the protruding portion, and the protruding portion can be reliably brought into contact with the regulation recess, so that stable conductivity can be ensured.

As an aspect of the present invention, the base body may be formed in a substantially V-shaped cross section, and the base body and the legs may be formed in a substantially M-shaped cross section.
The cross section refers to a cross section of the tab extending in the insertion direction cut at a plane orthogonal to the insertion direction, and is not only a cross section of the contact portion that abuts the elastic contact portion but also a cross section of the contact portion. The range including the front end side and the rear end side in the insertion direction is included. In other words, the cross section at the base end portion and the tip end portion of the tab does not necessarily have to be substantially V-shaped.

The substantially V-shape is along the insertion direction and the width direction intersecting the plate thickness direction when the opposing hypotenuses form vertices or when the contact portions between the opposing hypotenuses are curved. This includes the case where the hypotenuses facing each other in a straight line are connected. That is, the shape of the contact portion corresponding to the V-shaped apex portion includes a case where the shape is a square shape, an arc shape, or a flat shape in the insertion direction view.

According to the present invention, since the contact portion can be arranged so as to project to the one side, the elastic contact portion and the tab can be more reliably brought into contact with each other. Therefore, the tab can be pressed more reliably to the other side, and the protrusion and the regulation recess can be reliably brought into contact with each other.

Further, since the legs extending from the other side in the plate thickness direction toward the one side are provided at both ends of the base body having a substantially V-shaped cross section, the rigidity of the tab can be improved. As a result, the length of the tab in the width direction can be shortened, and the size of the connector can be reduced. Further, since the rigidity can be improved, the wall thickness of the tab can be reduced and the weight can be reduced.

Furthermore, when the leg portion is inserted into the tab insertion portion, it functions as a guide for the wall portion forming the tab insertion portion, so that the tab can be easily inserted into the tab insertion portion. As a result, even if the male terminal and the female terminal are miniaturized, the tab insertion work can be easily and reliably performed.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the tab may have a connecting portion that connects the ends of the legs on one side with each other along the width direction.
According to the present invention, the rigidity of the tab can be further improved, so that it is possible to further reduce the size of the male terminal.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the base body is composed of the contact portion and the regulation recess, and the base body may be formed in a substantially V-shaped cross section.
According to the present invention, since the contact portion projects to the one side, the elastic contact portion can be more reliably contacted with the contact portion. As a result, the tab can be pressed more reliably to the other side, so that the protrusion and the regulation recess can be reliably brought into contact with each other. Therefore, the sliding rotation of the tab can be prevented, and the male terminal and the female terminal can be reliably and electrically connected.

Further, the present invention is a male connector composed of the above-mentioned male terminal and a housing to which the male terminal is mounted, and the male terminal has the length of the tab in the width direction. It is configured to be longer than the length in the plate thickness direction, and a large number of the male terminals may be arranged along the plate thickness direction rather than the width direction.

According to the present invention, the length in the width direction is more compact than the length in the plate thickness direction with respect to the number of the arranged male terminals as compared with the case where a large number of male terminals are arranged along the width direction. Can be done. Therefore, as in recent years, it is possible to solve problems such as space saving inside the vehicle and an increase in terminals with respect to an increase in electronic devices.

According to the present invention, a female type having a male type terminal capable of preventing sliding rotation of the tab due to vibration or the like in a state where the tab is inserted into the tab insertion part of the female type terminal, and a tab insertion part corresponding to the tab. A connection structure in which the tab is inserted into a terminal can be provided.

The schematic perspective view which shows the appearance of the connection structure from diagonally above. Schematic exploded perspective view showing the appearance of the connecting structure from diagonally above. Schematic exploded perspective view showing the appearance of the connecting structure from diagonally below. Explanatory drawing of a male terminal. Explanatory drawing of female terminal. Partial side view of the connection structure. Partial cross-sectional view of the connecting structure. Partial cross-sectional view of the connecting structure. Schematic perspective view of a connector in which a male terminal and a female terminal are assembled. Explanatory drawing of the connector which assembled the male type terminal and the female type terminal. Explanatory drawing of the embodiment of another male type terminal.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the connection structure 1 from diagonally above, FIG. 2 shows a schematic exploded perspective view showing the appearance of the connection structure 1 from diagonally above, and FIG. 3 shows the connection structure 1 of FIG. The schematic disassembled perspective view which shows the appearance from diagonally below is shown.

FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram of the male terminal 2 constituting the connection structure 1, and FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram of the female terminal 3 constituting the connection structure 1. More specifically, FIG. 4A shows a side view of the male terminal 2, FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C shows FIG. 4B. ) Is shown in an enlarged view of the α part. Similarly, FIG. 5 (a) shows a side view of the female terminal 3 viewed from the + T direction side, FIG. 5 (b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 5 (a), and FIG. 5 (c) shows. Is an enlarged view of the β part in FIG. 5 (b).

Here, in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction of the connection structure 1 is the insertion direction L, the width direction of the connection structure 1 is the plate thickness direction T, and the vertical direction is the width direction W. The insertion direction L, the plate thickness direction T, and the width direction W are orthogonal to each other.

Further, along the insertion direction L in FIG. 1, the left direction is the + L direction and the right direction is the −L direction. Similarly, the left direction is the −T direction and the right direction is the + T direction along the plate thickness direction T in FIG. 1, the upward direction is the + W direction and the downward direction is the −W direction along the width direction W in FIG. The same applies to FIGS. 2 and below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connection structure 1 has a male terminal 2 for connecting the base end side (-L direction side) to the substrate and a coated electric wire 100 connected to other devices (not shown) on the tip side (the tip side (-L direction side). It is composed of a female terminal 3 that can be inserted from the + L direction side) and a male terminal 2 is inserted from the base end side (−L direction side).
The coated electric wire 100 is composed of a conductive conductor 110 and an insulating coating 120 that covers the outer periphery of the conductor 110 in the insertion direction L, and is shown by a broken line in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the male terminal 2 has a conductive tab 10 long along the insertion direction L and a tab connection provided on the base end side (−L direction) of the tab 10. The portion 20 and the bus bar terminal portion 30 extending in the −L direction from the base end of the tab connecting portion 20 are integrally arranged side by side in this order from the + L direction of the insertion direction L.

The tab 10 is formed long along the insertion direction L and is made of a conductive metal plate formed so as to be inserted into the female terminal 3 from the −L direction, and is formed along the width direction W. The formed base body 11 and leg portions 12 extending in the −T direction from both ends of the base body 11 on the W side in the width direction are integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the base body 11 has a cross section configured such that the tip end side (+ L direction side) and the base end side (−L direction side) become narrower in the width direction W. It is a substantially V-shaped plate-shaped body.

Further, as shown in the orthogonal cross section of the insertion direction L in the central portion of the insertion direction L of the base body 11 (see FIG. 4B), the + T side surface of the base body 11 is from the + T side to the −T side. A regulation recess 13 forming a concave shape is formed along the insertion direction L of the base body 11, and a convex portion 14 projecting to the −T side is formed on the −T side surface of the base body 11 in the insertion direction L. It is formed along.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the regulation recess 13 is a concave inclined portion 131 which is a pair of inclined surfaces toward the inside of the width direction W from both ends of the width direction W of the base body 11 toward the −T side. And the concave flat surface portion 132 that connects the −T side ends of the concave inclined portion 131 to each other. In other words, the regulation recess 13 is a concave recess extending from the −T direction side toward the + T direction side.
In the present embodiment, the concave inclined portion 131 has a curved shape that is curved so as to be convex in the −T direction, but the shape is not limited to this shape and may be a linear shape.

The convex portion 14 formed by forming the regulation concave portion 13 is a pair of inclined surfaces toward the inside of the width direction W toward the −T side at a position facing the concave inclined portion 131. The portion 141 is composed of a convex side flat portion 142 which is a plane parallel to the width direction W and connects the −T side end portion of the convex side inclined portion 141.
The base body 11 configured in this way has a substantially V-shaped cross section in the insertion direction in which the central portion of the base body 11 is cut perpendicularly to the insertion direction L, and can be easily manufactured by press working or the like.

The leg portion 12 extending from both ends of the width direction W of the base body 11 toward the −T direction is a plate material having the same plate thickness as the base body 11, and is located at the tip end side (-T direction end portion) of the leg portion 12. A certain leg bottom surface 121 is arranged on the −T direction side with respect to the convex side flat surface portion 142. In other words, the length L1 of the leg portion 12 in the plate thickness direction T is the length L2 of the base body 11 in the plate thickness direction T (in the base body 11 formed in a substantially V-shaped cross section, the concave inclined portion 131. The length is longer than the length from the + T side end to the −T side end of the convex flat surface portion 142).

Further, the length L1 of the leg portion 12 in the plate thickness direction T is shorter than the length W1 of the base body 11 in the width direction W. That is, the insertion direction cross section obtained by cutting the central portion of the tab 10 perpendicular to the insertion direction L has a substantially M shape long in the width direction W. Therefore, the tab 10 has improved rigidity as compared with a flat tab having the same plate thickness and width.

The bus bar terminal portion 30 is a bus bar integrally configured with the tab 10 via the tab connecting portion 20, and has a rod-shaped bus bar connecting portion 31 extending in the −L direction from the base end side of the tab connecting portion 20 and a bus bar connecting portion 31. Integrally composed of a bent portion 32 that is slightly bent to the + T side at the end on the −L side and extends in the −W direction, and a bus bar 33 that is connected to the bent portion 32 and connected to the substrate of another device or the like. Has been done.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the female terminal 3 is a hollow elongated tubular body made of a metal member, and is connected to a terminal connecting portion 40 to be connected to the male terminal 2 and a covered electric wire 100. The electric wire connecting portions 50 to be connected are arranged side by side in this order from the rear end side (−L direction side) to the tip end side (+ L direction side).

The terminal connection portion 40 is composed of a tab insertion side cylinder portion 41 formed of an elongated tubular body having a rectangular cross section into which the tab 10 in the male terminal 2 is inserted, and is formed on the −L side of the tab insertion side cylinder portion 41. An open end 411, which is an open end, is formed at the end (see FIG. 3), and a tab insertion space S into which the tab 10 can be inserted is formed inside the tab insertion side tubular portion 41. Further, an elastic contact portion 42 and a bead 43 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the central portion of the tab insertion side tubular portion 41 (see FIG. 5B).

The opening end 411 is formed in a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, and the width length is one size longer than the length W1 which is the width length in the tab 10, and the length in the plate thickness direction T is the tab 10 (leg portion 12). The length is about twice the length L1 in the plate thickness direction T.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (b) and 5 (c), the elastic contact portion 42 has a connecting end connected to the tip end side of the bottom surface 41a, one end of which is the inner peripheral surface on the −W side of the tab insertion side tubular portion 41. The contact state between the portion 421 and the free end portion 422 whose other end is located on the base end side of the bus bar terminal portion 30 of the tab insertion side tubular portion 41 and the inner surface of the bottom surface 41a on the + L side of the free end portion 422 is maintained. It is a so-called cantilever-shaped plate-like body provided with a tongue piece support portion 423 configured as described above, and is in contact with a tab 10 to be inserted between the connecting end portion 421 and the free end portion 422. The tongue piece contact portion 44 (dimple) that electrically connects the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 is provided so as to project toward the + T side.
At the time of insertion, the convex side flat portion 142 on the tab 10 is arranged on the −T direction side with respect to the apex of the tongue piece contact portion 44.

In the elastic contact portion 42 configured in this way, although the free end portion 422 is a free end, the elastic contact portion 42 is supported by the connecting end portion 421 and the tongue piece support portion 423 with respect to the bottom surface 41a, so-called 2 It has a point support structure and can generate a sufficiently large elastic force that can withstand the contact pressing force of the inserted tab connecting portion 20.

The bead 43 is a protruding portion protruding from the upper surface 41b, which is the inner peripheral surface of the tab insertion side tubular portion 41 facing the bottom surface 41a, toward the tongue piece contact portion 44, that is, toward the −T side, and is a tab. It is formed by pressing the outer peripheral surface of the insertion-side tubular portion 41 on the + T side in the −W side direction.

The bead 43 is a substantially ellipse in a plan view provided in a certain range of the free end portion 422 in the insertion direction L at a position facing the tongue piece contact portion 44 provided in the central portion of the elastic contact portion 42 in the insertion direction L. The tip side protrusion 432 and the base end side protrusion 433 located on the front-rear end side (± L direction side) of the elastic contact portion 42 with respect to the central protrusion 431 which is the protrusion of the shape and is the central portion of the bead 43. The one protrudes to the -W side.

The electric wire connection portion 50 is composed of a tip side cylinder portion 51 which is an elongated cylindrical body having a rectangular cross section extending from the tip side (+ L direction side) of the terminal connection portion 40 to the tip, and is a base end of the tip side cylinder portion 51. (-L side end) is connected to the tip (+ L side end) of the tab insertion side cylinder 41.

Further, the tip portion of the tip side tubular portion 51 is provided with an open rectangular tip side opening end 511 (see FIG. 2), and an electric wire arrangement space U formed inside the electric wire connecting portion 50 is formed. Has been done. The tip-side opening end 511 is formed in a square shape in front view, which is one size smaller than the opening end 411 (not shown).

In the electric wire connecting portion 50 configured in this way, the conductor 110 exposed by stripping the insulating coating 120 of the covered electric wire 100 is inserted from the + L direction through the open end 511 on the tip side, and the conductor 110 is inserted into the electric wire arrangement space U. Can be placed. Further, the conductor 110 inserted through the front end side opening end 511 is sandwiched from the width direction W side by elastic holding pieces 52 provided at both ends of the width direction W in the wire connecting portion 50, and is sandwiched with respect to the wire connecting portion 50. It is electrically and mechanically fixed and arranged in the electric wire arrangement space U.

Hereinafter, the connection state of the connection structure 1 in which the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are connected by inserting the tab 10 into the terminal connection portion 40 will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.
Here, FIG. 6 shows an enlarged side view of the terminal connection portion 40 in the connection structure 1 in which the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are connected as viewed from the + T direction side, and FIGS. 7 and 8 show the male terminal. The cross-sectional view at the position where 2 and the female terminal 3 were brought into contact with each other is shown.

Specifically, FIG. 7 (a) shows a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 (b) shows a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 shows a sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. Is shown.
In FIGS. 7 and 8, the tab connecting portion 20 and the bus bar terminal portion 30 are omitted for convenience.

As shown in FIG. 6, the tab 10 can be inserted into the terminal connection portion 40 by pushing the tab 10 from the opening end 411 into + L. At this time, the leg portions 12 forming the tab 10 are parallel to the side surface portions 41c forming the opening end 411. Further, since the insertion direction L1 of the leg portion 12 has a length of about half that of the opening end 411, the leg portion 12 functions as a guide when the leg portion 12 is inserted into the tab insertion side tubular portion 41.

Further, since the insertion direction L1 which is the length of the legs 12 is longer than the length L2 of the base body 11 in the plate thickness direction T, the elastic contact portions 42 are arranged between the legs 12. .. Therefore, the leg portion 12 also functions as a guide so that the elastic contact portion 42 is arranged at the central portion of the tab 10 in the width direction W.

In this way, the tab 10 inserted into the terminal connection portion 40 using the leg portion 12 as a guide is inserted to the vicinity of the tip end of the terminal connection portion 40, and is sandwiched between the elastic contact portion 42 and the bead 43. It is fixed in the insertion space S.

More specifically, at the position where the tongue piece contact portion 44 provided on the elastic contact portion 42 and the tab 10 come into contact with each other, the tongue piece contact portion 44 functions as the contact portion as shown in FIG. 7A. It comes into contact with the convex side flat surface portion 142. At this time, since the elastic contact portion 42 has elasticity, the elastic contact portion 42 presses the tab 10 in the + T direction to conduct the tab 10 and the terminal connection portion 40.

On the other hand, since the central protrusion 431 has a smaller protrusion amount than the tip side protrusion 432 and the base end side protrusion 433, the regulation recess 13 is at this position where the tongue piece contact portion 44 and the tab 10 come into contact with each other. And the central protrusion 431 are not in contact with each other.

On the other hand, on the tip side (+ L direction side) of the position where the tongue piece contact portion 44 and the tab 10 abut, as shown in FIG. The tip-side protruding portion 432 is in contact with the paired concave-side inclined portion 131 at two points. More specifically, the concave inclined portion 131 is in contact with the tip side protruding portion 432 at a position substantially symmetrical in the width direction W. That is, the concave inclined portion 131 is in contact with the tip side protruding portion 432 so as to sandwich the bead 43 at a position substantially symmetrical.

Therefore, even when the tab 10 attempts to slide and rotate around the contact portion between the tongue piece contact portion 44 and the convex side flat portion 142 as the rotation center, the tip that is in contact with the concave side inclined portion 131. A drag force acts in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the sliding rotation (horizontal direction with respect to the plate thickness direction T) by the side protruding portion 432, and the sliding rotation of the tab 10 can be reliably prevented.

Further, since the tongue piece contact portion 44 pushes up the tab 10 to the + T side by the elastic force, an external force acts on the contact point between the concave side inclined portion 131 and the proximal end side protruding portion 433, and the tab 10 and the terminal It can be made conductive with the connection portion 40.

Similarly, on the proximal end side (-L direction side) of the position where the tongue piece contact portion 44 and the tab 10 abut, as shown in FIG. The base end side protruding portion 433 is in contact with each other at two points so as to be sandwiched between the paired concave side inclined portions 131.

Therefore, even when the tab 10 attempts to slide and rotate around the contact point between the tongue piece contact portion 44 and the convex side flat portion 142 as the rotation center, the base end that is in contact with the concave side inclined portion 131. Since the side protrusion 433 acts on the reaction force in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the sliding rotation (horizontal direction with respect to the plate thickness direction T), the sliding rotation of the tab 10 can be reliably prevented.
Further, an external force acts on the contact point between the concave inclined portion 131 and the proximal end side protruding portion 433, so that the tab 10 and the terminal connecting portion 40 can be reliably brought into contact with each other to conduct conductivity.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the concave inclined portion 131 and the bead 43 (the tip side protruding portion) are formed on the tip end side and the base end side in the insertion direction L of the contact point between the tongue piece contact portion 44 and the convex side flat portion 142. 432 and the base end side protrusion 433) are in contact with each other at four points, and the tip end side protrusion 432 and the base end side protrusion 433 are paired concave sides at positions substantially symmetrical in the width direction W. Since it is in contact with the inclined portion 131, it is possible to more reliably prevent the sliding rotation of the tab 10 centered on the contact point with the tongue piece contact portion 44.

The male terminal 2 configured in this way is used for the male connector 500 to be connected to the wire harness 200 with a connector, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for example.
Here, FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the wire harness 200 with a connector and the male connector 500, and FIG. 10 shows a broken line of the rear cover 430 and the housing case 420 of the wire harness 200 with a connector and the male housing 510 of the male connector 500. A schematic perspective view of a wire harness 200 with a connector and a male connector 500 showing a state in which the rear cover 430, the housing case 420, and the male housing 510 are transmitted through the rear cover 430 and the housing case 420 is shown. The vertical direction in FIGS. 9 and 10 is defined as the vertical direction Z.

As shown in FIG. 9, the wire harness 200 with a connector is configured by connecting a female connector 400 to the tip of a wire harness 300 in which covered electric wires 100 are bundled. The wire harness 200 with a connector and the male connector 500 can be mounted on a vehicle (for example, an automobile) and used.

The female connector 400 includes a plurality of female terminals 3 connected to the coated electric wire 100, a housing 410 to which the plurality of female terminals 3 are mounted, and a housing case 420 that accommodates the housing 410 from the front side of the housing. It is composed of a rear cover 430 mounted on the housing case 420 so as to accommodate the end of a bundle of covered electric wires 100 drawn from the rear end of the housing 410, for example, in electronic devices mounted on a vehicle. It is configured to be connectable with a fixed male connector 500.

As shown in FIG. 10, the male connector 500 includes a male terminal 2 arranged so as to correspond to the female terminal 3 mounted on the female connector 400, and a male housing 510 for accommodating the male terminal 2. It is composed of and. The male terminal 2 housed in the male housing 510 is arranged so that the width direction W of the tab 10 is along the vertical direction Z. As for the male terminal 2, 5 sets (3 sets at the bottom and 2 sets at the top) are arranged in the male housing 510, with 8 in the thickness direction T and 2 rows in the width direction W as one set. doing.

In the male connector 500 in which the male terminal 2 is arranged in this way, the male terminal 2 arranged along the width direction W of the tab 10 along the vertical direction Z has the male terminal 2 arranged along the plate thickness direction T rather than the width direction W. Since a large number of male terminals 2 are arranged, for example, as compared with the case where a large number of male terminals 2 in which the plate thickness direction T is arranged along the vertical direction Z are arranged along the width direction W, the number of male terminals 2 arranged is male. The size of the mold connector 500 can be reduced.

The male terminal 2 configured in this way includes a tab 10 that is inserted into and connected to the terminal connection portion 40 in which the tab insertion space S is formed in the female terminal 3, and the tab 10 is the terminal connection portion 40. A convex flat surface portion that is long in the insertion direction L and abuts on one side (-T direction side) of the plate thickness direction T that intersects the insertion direction L with the elastic contact portion 42 provided in the terminal connection portion 40. 142 is provided, and is concave on the other side (+ T direction side) from the other side toward one side, toward the elastic contact portion 42 provided at a position facing the elastic contact portion 42 of the terminal connection portion 40. By providing the regulating recess 13 whose position is restricted by contacting the protruding bead 43, the sliding rotation of the tab 10 due to vibration or the like can be performed in the state where the tab 10 is inserted into the terminal connection portion 40 of the female terminal 3. Can be prevented.

More specifically, when the tab 10 is inserted into the terminal connection portion 40, one side of the tab 10 comes into contact with the elastic contact portion 42 and is pressed against the other side, and the bead 43 hits the regulation recess 13 provided on the other side. It will come into contact.

Therefore, the tab 10 is sandwiched and fixed by the elastic contact portion 42 and the bead 43, and the bead 43 comes into contact with the regulation recess 13 recessed from the other side to one side, so that the elastic contact portion 42 and the convex side plane surface. Even if an external force acts so as to slide and rotate with the contact point of the portion and 142 as the rotation axis, the regulation recess 13 and the bead 43 come into contact with each other, and the sliding rotation of the tab 10 can be regulated. Therefore, the sliding rotation of the tab 10 due to vibration or the like can be prevented, and the contact point between the tab 10 and the elastic contact portion 42 can be prevented from being worn.

Further, the regulation recess 13 has a pair of concave inclined portions 131 that spread from one side to the other side and abut so as to sandwich the bead 43, so that the tab 10 slides and rotates reliably. Can be prevented.

More specifically, even if an external force acts on the tab 10 in the sliding rotation direction while the bead 43 is in contact with the concave inclined portion 131, the bead 43 in contact with the regulation recess 13 directly slides on the tab 10. Since it receives an external force to rotate, the sliding rotation of the tab 10 can be prevented more reliably.

Further, the elastic contact portion 42 is formed by forming the central portion on one side of the tab 10, that is, the convex side flat portion 142 parallel to the width direction W intersecting the insertion direction L and the plate thickness direction T. It can be accurately brought into contact with the convex side flat portion 142, and the elastic force acting from one side to the other side can be reliably transmitted to the tab 10 by the elastic contact portion 42. Therefore, the tab 10 can be reliably sandwiched between the elastic contact portion 42 and the bead 43.

Furthermore, it is composed of a base body 11 provided with a convex side flat surface portion 142 and a regulation recess 13, and the convex side flat surface portion 142 is formed by forming a substantially V-shaped cross section of the base body 11. Since it protrudes toward the −T direction, the elastic contact portion 42 can be more reliably brought into contact with the convex flat surface portion 142, and the tab 10 can be more reliably pressed toward the + T direction side. Therefore, the bead 43 and the regulation recess 13 can be surely brought into contact with each other.

Further, the tab 10 is directed from the base body 11 provided with the convex side flat portion 142 and the regulation recess 13 and both ends of the base body 11 in the width direction W toward one side from the other side in the plate thickness direction T. By being composed of the extending legs 12, the rigidity of the tab 10 can be improved, and the length of the tab 10 in the width direction W can be shortened. As a result, the connector provided with the female terminal 3 can be miniaturized.

Furthermore, when the tab 10 is inserted into the terminal connection portion 40, the leg portion 12 guides along the wall portion forming the terminal connection portion 40, so that the tab 10 can be easily inserted into the terminal connection portion 40. As a result, even if the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are miniaturized, the tab 10 can be easily and reliably inserted.

Further, the base body 11 has a substantially V-shaped cross section, and the base body 11 and the leg portion 12 have a substantially M-shaped cross section, so that the convex side flat portion 142 is moved to the −T direction side. It can be arranged so as to protrude, and the elastic contact portion 42 and the tab 10 can be brought into contact with each other more reliably. Therefore, the tab 10 can be pressed more reliably to the other side, and the bead 43 and the regulation recess 13 can be reliably brought into contact with each other.

Further, since the legs 12 extending from the other side in the plate thickness direction T to one side are provided at both ends of the base body 11 having a substantially V-shaped cross section, the rigidity of the tab 10 can be improved. As a result, the length of the tab 10 in the width direction W can be shortened, and the size of the connector can be reduced. Further, since the rigidity can be improved, the wall thickness of the tab 10 can be reduced, and the weight can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the leg portion 12 functions as a guide for the wall portion forming the terminal connection portion 40 when the leg portion 12 is inserted into the terminal connection portion 40, the tab 10 can be easily inserted into the terminal connection portion 40. As a result, even if the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 are miniaturized, the tab 10 can be easily and reliably inserted.

Further, the one end side end portion (-T direction side end portion) of the leg portion 12 is closer to the -T direction side than the one end side end portion (-T direction side end surface) of the convex side flat surface portion 142 constituting the base body 11. By arranging the tabs 10, the rigidity of the tabs 10 can be further improved, and the tabs 10 can be inserted more easily and reliably because they function more as a guide to the wall portion forming the terminal connection portion 40. can.

Furthermore, since the one end side end portion of the leg portion 12 is arranged on one end side of the one end side end portion of the base body 11, the leg portion 12 arranges the elastic contact portion 42 at the central portion of the tab. The tab 10 can be more easily inserted into the terminal connection portion 40.

Further, the male connector 500 is composed of a male terminal 2 and a male housing 510 to which the male terminal 2 is mounted. The male terminal 2 has a plate having a length W in the width direction of the tab 10. It is configured to be longer than the length in the thickness direction T, and a large number of male terminals 2 are arranged along the plate thickness direction T rather than the width direction W, so that the length in the width direction W is larger than the length in the plate thickness direction T. Compared with the case where a large number of male terminals 2 are arranged along the width direction W, the number of the arranged male terminals 2 can be made compact. Therefore, as in recent years, it is possible to solve problems such as space saving inside the vehicle and an increase in terminals with respect to an increase in electronic devices.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The tab insertion part corresponds to the terminal connection part 40,
The contact portion corresponds to the convex side flat portion 142 and
The protruding part corresponds to the bead 43,
The inclined part corresponds to the concave side inclined part 131,
The flat surface portion corresponds to the convex side flat surface portion 142,
The housing corresponds to the male housing 510 and the male connector corresponds to the male connector 500,
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many embodiments can be obtained.

For example, in the present embodiment, the regulation recess 13 is formed by being recessed in an arc shape on the −T direction side when viewed from the insertion direction L, but is formed, for example, from the −T direction side toward the + T direction side. It may be a structure formed by denting in a trapezoidal shape that spreads out, or a structure dented in a rectangular shape.

Further, the elastic contact portion 42 extends one surface (bottom surface 41a) constituting the tab insertion side tubular portion 41 formed of the housing toward the −L direction side, and the cross section along the insertion direction L is curved. The end portion on the L-direction side may be folded back on the + L-direction side and housed inside the terminal connection portion 40. That is, the shape of the elastic contact portion 42 does not matter as long as it has a configuration in which the tab 10 inserted into the terminal connection portion 40 is pressed toward the + T direction by an elastic force.

Further, the bead 43 that comes into contact with the regulation recess 13 is a beat in which the surface of the tab insertion side cylinder portion 41 on the + T direction side is recessed in the −T direction as in the present embodiment. It may be a protrusion that protrudes in the −T direction at a position where it comes into contact with.

In the present embodiment, the concave inclined portion 131 is in contact with the bead 43 (tip side protruding portion 432 and proximal end side protruding portion 433) at four places, but it is not always necessary to be at four places, for example, 2. The contact may be made at a location (tip side protrusion 432 or base end side protrusion 433), or the center protrusion 431 may be in contact with the concave inclined portion 131.

The tab 10 is stably contacted at three points: a concave inclined portion 131 that abuts the tip side protruding portion 432 and the base end side protruding portion 433, and a convex side flat portion 142 that abuts the tongue piece contact portion 44. Therefore, the electrical connection between the male terminal 2 and the female terminal 3 can be reliably realized.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the tab 10 is configured so that the L cross section in the insertion direction is substantially M-shaped. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A. , The insertion direction L cross section without the leg portion 12 may be configured to be substantially V-shaped.

Here, FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) show a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6 in another embodiment of the male terminal 2.

As a result, the convex side flat portion 142 projects in the −T direction side, so that the elastic contact portion 42 and the tab 10 can be brought into contact with each other more reliably. Further, the tab 10 can be pressed more reliably toward the + T direction, and the bead 43 and the regulation recess 13 can be reliably brought into contact with each other.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11B, the L cross section in the insertion direction provided with the connecting portion 15 for connecting the −T side end portion of the leg portion 12 may be configured to have a substantially B shape. As a result, the rigidity of the tab 10 can be further improved, so that the male terminal 2 can be further miniaturized.
However, in the case of the M-shaped cross section, the tab 10 has an appropriate strength, and the tab 10 can be surely brought into contact with the tongue piece contact portion 44 and the bead 43. It is preferable to the B-shaped cross section.

Further, the bus bar terminal portion 30 is connected to the base end side (−L direction side) of the tab 10 in the male terminal 2, but is connected to, for example, a crimping portion for crimping the coated electric wire 100 instead of the bus bar terminal portion 30. You may. Similarly, although the electric wire connecting portion 50 is connected to the tip side (+ L direction side) of the terminal connecting portion 40 of the female terminal 3, a crimping portion or a connector for crimping the covered electric wire 100 instead of the electric wire connecting portion 50. A storage unit or the like that can be stored in the box may be connected. That is, the parts to be connected to the base end side of the tab 10 and the tip end side of the terminal connecting portion 40 can be appropriately selected.

40 Terminal connection 142 Convex flat surface 43 Bead 131 Concave inclined 142 Convex flat surface 510 Male housing 500 Male connector

Claims (7)

A male terminal with a tab that is inserted and connected to the tab insertion part where a tab insertion space is formed inside the female terminal.
The tab is configured to be long in the insertion direction into the tab insertion portion.
On one side in the plate thickness direction intersecting the insertion direction, a contact portion that comes into contact with the elastic contact portion provided in the tab insertion portion is provided.
On the other side, it is concave from the other side toward the one side, and is in contact with a protruding portion protruding toward the elastic contact portion provided at a position facing the elastic contact portion of the tab insertion portion. restricting recess being positioned regulations provided et al is,
The width direction is defined as the direction in which the insertion direction and the plate thickness direction intersect.
The tab is
A base body provided with the contact portion and the regulation recess,
It is composed of legs extending from both ends in the width direction of the base body from the other side in the plate thickness direction toward the one side.
A male terminal in which one end side of the leg is arranged on one end side of the one end side end of the base body. The tab has a connecting portion that connects the ends of the legs on one side to each other along the width direction.
The male terminal according to claim 1. The base body has a substantially V-shaped cross section.
The cross section of the base body and the legs was formed in a substantially M shape.
The male terminal according to claim 1 or 2. The regulation recess is
It has a pair of inclined portions that spread from the one side toward the other side and abut so as to sandwich the protruding portion.
The male terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The central portion of the tab on one side is
It is composed of a flat surface portion parallel to the width direction.
The male terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The male terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A male connector composed of a housing to which the male terminal is mounted.
The male terminal is
The length of the tab in the width direction is configured to be longer than the length in the plate thickness direction.
A male connector in which a large number of male terminals are arranged along the plate thickness direction rather than the width direction. A connection structure in which a male terminal provided with a tab and a female terminal having a tab insertion portion in which a tab insertion space into which the tab is inserted are connected are connected.
The tab insertion part is
An elastic contact portion provided on one side in the plate thickness direction intersecting the insertion direction in which the tab is inserted,
A protrusion provided at a position facing the elastic contact portion on the other side in the plate thickness direction and projecting toward the elastic contact portion is provided.
The tab is long in the insertion direction.
The contact portion that comes into contact with the elastic contact portion and
Wherein the other side is a concave whereas toward the side, and restricting recess is provided we are located regulations in contact with the protrusion those,
The width direction is defined as the direction in which the insertion direction and the plate thickness direction intersect.
The tab is
A base body provided with the contact portion and the regulation recess,
It is composed of legs extending from both ends in the width direction of the base body from the other side in the plate thickness direction toward the one side.
A connection structure in which one end side ends of the legs are arranged on one end side of the one end side end portion of the base body.

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