JPH0713196Y2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial field of application> The present invention is directed to an electric blanket, an electric carpet in which an electric heating type under carpet is attached to the lower surface, a film heater, a flexible cord, a flat cable, etc. The present invention relates to an electric connector suitable for connection.

In the present invention, a so-called "conductive film", which itself generates Joule heat and serves as a heat source, is included in the above-mentioned film-shaped conductor, and is a "conductor" type that conducts electricity without generating heat. Not limited to only.

<Prior Art> As an electrical connector suitable for connecting the above-mentioned film-shaped conductors to each other, most of the conventional electrical connectors have not been provided.

Generally, this type of film-shaped conductor is a metal foil such as a copper foil or an aluminum foil itself or a metal foil to which a thin insulating coating is applied. Since the thickness of the film conductor is around 0.2 mm, the connection member (terminal) is made sufficiently thin to accommodate this.
Although some attempts have been made to solder the conductor to the conductor, a reliable joining state is not always obtained due to the thinness of the conductor and the connecting member, and rather the local high temperature during soldering causes There is a possibility that the conductor or the like may be significantly deformed or even damaged.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to mount the above-mentioned film-shaped conductor, despite being made of a sufficiently thin conductive metal sheet. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that is strong, reliable, and easy (crimping) and is easy to manufacture.

<Means for Solving the Problem> As a result of various studies conducted by the present inventors in order to achieve this object, the inventors have created a new electrical connector according to the present invention.

That is, the electrical connector for a film conductor according to the present invention comprises a plurality of flat terminals for connecting a film conductor, which are integrally formed and arranged through a main body made of a thin conductive metal sheet. In the electrical connector, each of the flat terminals has a cut and raised tongue that is electrically connected to the main body, three narrow slits that surround the tongue, and substantially the outside of the slit. The U-shaped base and the tongue having the film-shaped conductor sandwiched between the base and the base that is in conduction with the main body are pressed and deformed to form the same plane as the base. It is characterized in that it can be restored to the state and that the width of the slit is slightly larger than the thickness of the film conductor.

In consideration of the thickness and flexibility of the film conductor to be connected, the slits forming the flat terminal are strong between the tongue and the base without damaging the conductor. Should be set to an optimum width so as to be held at, but generally about 1.5 times or less the thickness of the conductor is suitable.

Rounding at the ends and corners of the slit, that is, a protector is preferable in order to prevent damage when inserting the film conductor into the flat terminal. The protector preferably has a diameter of about twice the slit width.

The conductive metal sheet is selected from copper sheet, aluminum sheet and the like in consideration of workability, durability, conductivity and the like. The thickness is preferably about 0.8 mm, but the thickness is not limited to this. It is a matter that should be appropriately determined according to the required conditions of the film conductor and electrical equipment provided with the film conductor.

Further, the number of the above flat terminals per one electrical connector of the present invention is two or more, and the specific number and arrangement mode thereof should be appropriately determined according to the application of the connector. For example, when three or four flat terminals are provided for each connector, the number of the main body portions interposed between the flat terminals is two or three, respectively, but their lengths are not necessarily constant. . The number of tongue pieces per flat terminal is usually sufficient, but it is also possible to set it to two or more, and the specific number, shape, arrangement, etc. can be freely designed as appropriate.

<Operation> Since the electric connector for connecting the film conductor according to the present invention has the structure as described above, when using the appropriate portion of the film conductor, the flat terminal is cut and raised to the tongue piece. It is inserted in the gap between the base and the surrounding base, and then the tongue is cut and raised so as to be substantially flush with the base by an appropriate pinching or pressing means such as pliers to restore the former shape. The crimping to the flat terminal is completed only by performing a simple operation such as. At that time, the film-shaped conductor to be pressure-bonded passes through one slit directed downward from above the base, and then reaches an adjacent slit along the lower surface of the tongue, and conversely, from the lower side to the upper side, the adjacent slit is reached. After passing through the existing slit, it is brought back to the upper surface of the base portion, and a zigzag state is exhibited.

Moreover, since the width of the slit is only slightly larger than the thickness of the film conductor, the slit is sandwiched between the edges of the narrow slit, and due to the frictional resistance at the edge, the portion of the conductor after the pressure bonding is performed. Is almost impossible to pull out from the flat terminal, and moreover, since the width of the slit is slightly larger than the thickness of the film-shaped conductor, the conductor that is relatively weaker than the connector is Despite having a bent posture that is passed through the slit, does not receive an unreasonable shearing force due to strong pressure on the slit edge during crimping operation,
Therefore, there is no possibility that the conductor will be seriously damaged or damaged.

When the conductor portion is inserted, the edge thereof rubs against the end or corner of the slit, but since the above-mentioned roundness (protector) is formed at the end, the film conductor or the conductive film. This is convenient because damage such as is prevented.

By the above-mentioned flat terminal crimping operation, the respective flat terminals are brought into a state of mutual conduction through the main body portion.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is an electrical connector (10) made of one copper sheet having a thickness of about 0.8 mm, in which two flat terminals (13) are opposed to each other via a main body part (12). It is formed integrally with the section. Each flat terminal (13) is cut and raised tongue (14).
Has a shape surrounded on three sides by a U-shaped base (16) with a slit (15) (see FIG. 3) having a width in plan view of about 0.8 mm.

The tongue pieces (14) are arranged in opposite directions to each other in a posture in which the free ends are parallel to the short sides of the electrical connector (10) which is generally rectangular. Clearance (gap) between the lower surface of (14) and the upper surface of the base (16)
Is about 0.8 mm (see Fig. 2).

The slit (15), which is also "U" shaped, has a diameter of about 2 mm at both ends and the corner portion, that is, about 2 of the slit width.
Rounded, protector (15
a) is provided.

In use, the insulating coating (C) on one end of the film conductor (E), for example, is peeled off (see FIG. 1), and the bare surface of the conductor is placed on the lower surface of the tongue piece (14). First, the flat terminal (13) is inserted so as to make contact. The presence of the rounding prevents the conductor from being strongly “squeezed” at the corners and ends of the slit (15) during this insertion, and therefore there is no risk of damage to the site. Furthermore, the degree of conductor bending or folding at the corners is the maximum, but the above rounding also acts as a "relief" to avoid sudden and unreasonable deformation, and damage to the conductor at that part is prevented. It has the effect of preventing. In this way, the conductor is attached to the tongue (1
After being inserted into the clearance between 4) and the base (16), the tongue (14) is pressed and deformed toward the base (16),
It suffices if the two are in a state of one side, whereby the so-called "crimping" operation is completed and the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. That is, the conductor along the upper surface of the base portion (16) is guided to the lower surface of the tongue piece (14) through the slit (15), and the bare surface is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the tongue piece and then another slit (15). ), And it can be brought back to the upper surface of the base (16) again.

Since the tongue pieces (14) which are electrically connected to the conductors (E) are electrically connected to each other through the central main body portion (12), the electrical connection between the conductors (E) is made. To be realized. Then, as is apparent from FIG. 4, the portion of the conductor located in the slit is strongly clamped between the edge of the base portion (16) and the edge of the tongue piece (14), and is fixed so as not to fall off. A mechanically strong connection is also realized at the same time. Moreover, the important point is that the swelling at the connection site is suppressed to a minimum and there is almost no possibility of giving an unnatural feeling.

In the above embodiment, the conductor is made of a metal foil having a thickness of about 0.2 mm, and the insulating coating (C) at the connection site is peeled off only on one side in order to compensate for its mechanical strength, but there is a problem in terms of strength. If not, by removing the coating on both the front and back surfaces, contact between the lower surface of the conductor and the upper surface of the base portion (16) is added, and electrical contact is further sufficient.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the strip-shaped film conductors are connected has been exemplified, but it goes without saying that film conductors of other shapes can be similarly connected.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is for connecting a wide film conductor (E '), and two cut and raised tongues are provided for each short side of the rectangular electric connector (10). Piece (14), (14)
1 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 except that they are arranged side by side, and will not be described in detail.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is an electrical connector (10) for a film conductor (E ″) having a wider width, each having two wires along each long side.
The cut and raised pieces (14) and (14) are arranged so that their free edges face each other. Therefore, as is clear from the figure, each conductor abutted at the central part in the direction of the short piece is cut and raised at both side edges, and the "root" of the piece (14) is formed.
At that point, it will be held in a state in which the lateral movement is blocked.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10, the elongated electrical connector (1
Three flat terminals (13), (13), and (13) are arranged along the length direction of (0), (10 '), and (10 "), and each flat terminal is the first. But in this case the flat terminals (13) at both ends of each connector,
The position of the intermediate flat terminal (13) sandwiched by (13) is different. In the first type (the one shown in the upper part of FIG. 7), for example, an intermediate flat terminal (13) is provided in a portion close to the flat terminal (13) on the side (left side) away from the power source side conductor (R). , The second one (the same one in the central part) is provided with the intermediate flat terminal (13) just in the center, and the third one (the one in the lower part) has the first one inverted, that is, the power source side. An intermediate flat terminal (13) is provided closer to.

According to such a combination, a connection for branching and extracting three load side conductors from the power source side conductors (R), (S), and (T) is possible. That is,
As shown in FIG. 10, the load side conductors (E) ... are taken out from one flat terminal at the end facing the power source side, but two are taken out from the middle flat terminal. .

In addition to the above-described examples, the present invention can naturally be implemented in the form of various modifications. For example, four or more flat terminals are arranged in a row in one elongated rectangle, or three or more flat terminals are juxtaposed on each short side.

<Effects of the Invention> The present invention provides the electrical connector as described above, and the effects thereof are clear from the above description.
The following is a brief summary.

(I) Since the conductive metal sheet having a required thickness is provided with a U-shaped slit and the tongue pieces surrounded by the slits are raised on three sides, the manufacturing thereof is easy. (Ii) At the time of use, it can be crimped simply by inserting the film conductor into the flat terminal provided with the cut and raised tongue and pressing the tongue so that it is flush with the base. In particular, if the number of flat terminals provided on one electrical connector is three or more and they are used in combination, not only simple electrical connection but also branch extraction can be easily performed. (Iii) As described above Protectors are formed at the ends and corners of the slit, so there is no risk of damaging the thin conductor when it is inserted. (Iv) The thin conductor is separated from the thin tongue and the base. Can be attached to flat terminals in a flat position Therefore, there is no possibility that the fastening part will rise unnaturally as in the conventional case, and therefore not only the appearance but also the possibility of hitting another object while using the electric appliance is small, even if it hits. The impact is not as great as in the conventional case. (V) In addition, it is not necessary to use any other type of commercially available or commonly used terminal, and the input terminal and output terminal of each company Various advantages such as electrical connection in the middle of wiring and the like can be obtained without being restricted by the type.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an electric connector according to the first embodiment together with a conductor to be connected.
1 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a usage state of the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is taken along line IV-IV in FIG. Sectional view, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the usage state of the second embodiment, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the usage state of the third embodiment, and FIGS. 7 and 10 are the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a state of use in FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. In the figure, (10), (10 '), (10 ") are electrical connectors, (12)
Is a main body part, (13) is a flat terminal, (14) is a tongue piece, (15) is a slit, (15a) is rounded (protector), (1
6) is a base, (E), (E ′), (E ″), (R),
(S) and (T) are film conductors.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A main body (1) made of a thin conductive metal sheet.
An electric connector (10) comprising a plurality of flat terminals (13) for connecting film conductors, which are integrally formed with the flat terminals (13) via the above (2). Is a cut-and-raised tongue piece (14) that is in conduction with the main body portion (12), three narrow slits (15) surrounding the tongue piece, and a substantially U-shaped base portion located outside the slit. (16), and the tongue piece (14) sandwiching the film-shaped conductor (E) between the main body part (12) and the base part (16) electrically connected to the base part (12) is deformed by being pressed. The slit (15) has a width such that it can be restored so as to be flush with the base (16), and the width of the slit (15) is slightly larger than the thickness of the film conductor (E) and about 1.5 times the thickness or less. At the same time, both ends and corners of the U-shaped slit (15) are rounded to form a protector (15a) having a diameter of about twice the width of the slit. Connectors, characterized in that it is.