WO2010088580A1

WO2010088580A1 - Terminal and connector

Info

Publication number: WO2010088580A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/022688
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toshiya Oda; Keiko Fukui
Original assignee: Molex Incorporated
Priority date: 2009-01-30
Filing date: 2010-02-01
Publication date: 2010-08-05
Also published as: JP5247499B2; JP2010177094A

Abstract

A terminal comprising a wire connection portion, a body portion and a pair of contacting arm portions is disclosed. The wire connection portion is configured to be connected to an electrical wire. The body portion is configured to be connected to a front end of the wire connection portion. Each contacting arm portion is substantially in parallel with one another and configured to be connected to a front end of the body portion and come into contact with a counterpart terminal.

Description

TERMINAL AND CONNECTOR

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The Present Application claims priority of prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009- 019652, entitled "Terminal And Connector," and filed 30 January 2009, the contents of which is fully incorporated in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION

[0002] The Present Application relates to a terminal and a connector. [0003] Conventional wire-to-board connectors have been used for connecting electrical wires of, for example, a cable to a circuit board such as a printed circuit board. An example of such a connector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-128032. Such a wire-to-board connector has one connector, which is mounted on a circuit board to be engaged by fitting with the other connector, which is connected to an end portion of a cable. [0004] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a terminal of a connector according to the prior art. Referring to Fig. 13, a wire connection portion of a terminal connected to an end portion of a non-illustrated cable is generally designated by reference numeral 862, and is connected to a rear end of a body portion 861 of the terminal. The wire connection portion 862 is provided with a cladding holding portion 862a which is pressure-bonded to the cable by application of pressure from above an insulating cladding of the cable and a core wire holding portion 862b which is directly pressure-bonded to a conductive core wire being exposed by removing an insulating cladding at an extreme end portion of the cable to tightly hold the cable and is electrically connected to the conductive core wire. The body portion 861 is provided with a pair of bent pieces 861a upstanding from both left and right ends thereof, and having an approximately U shape or inverted-C shape in sectional view thereof.

[0005] Moreover, the body portion 861 is formed, in the front end thereof, with a pair of connection portions 863, each having an elongated strip-like shape and extending frontward from respective one of both left and right side ends in the front end. Although the left and right connection portions 863 extend frontward from the front end of the body portion 861 in parallel with each other, the fore ends thereof extend rearward because both portions are turned back to be reversed by being bent at a halfway position thereof. Moreover, each of the left and right connection portions 863 is provided with a base end portion 863a which is connected to the front end of the body portion 861, a turned-back portion 863b which extends upward from an extreme end of the base end portion 863a, and a reversed portion 863c which extends rearward from an extreme end of the turned-back portion 863b. The foremost ends of the left and right reversed portions 863c are connected to each other by a circular arc-shaped connecting portion 865. On side faces of the left and right reversed portions 863c are provide convex contact portions 864, which are formed to protrude in a mutually opposing manner.

[0006] The above-mentioned terminal is fitted in a housing of a non-illustrated wire connector in a state of being connected to an end portion of the cable. When the wire connector is engaged by fitting with a non-illustrated board connector mounted on a circuit board, the terminal is brought into contact with a non-illustrated counterpart terminal of the board connector. In this case, the counterpart terminal is a plate-like member and comes to be positioned between the left and right reversed portions 863c by being moved relative to the terminal in the direction indicated by the arrow P in Fig. 13. The plate-like counterpart terminal is pinched by the reversed portions 863c from both one and the opposite surfaces thereof, so that the counterpart terminal is brought into electrical contact with the terminal. At this time, the convex contact portions 864 of the left and right reversed portions 863c stick into and tightly grip both one and the opposite surfaces of the counterpart terminal, so that the physical contact between the counterpart terminal and the terminal may become secure. [0007] Nevertheless, in the above-mentioned conventional terminal, since the front ends of the reversed portions 863c of the connection portions 863 and the connecting portion 865 are arranged at a position located above the bent pieces 861a of the body portion 861, there is a case where the connection portions 863 come to be physically distorted. For example, during an operation for fitting engagement with a board connector, when front ends of other members such as components of the board connector or a certain components mounted on the board are urged to relatively move along the connector and in a frontward direction, i.e., in a direction from the wire connection portion 862 toward the connection portions 863, there might occur a case where the front ends of the above-mentioned other members are caught at the front ends of the reversed portions 863c or the connecting portion 865. Then, the front ends of the reversed portions 863c are forced to move up, so that a whole body of the reversed portions 863c comes to be turned frontward to thereby be distorted. [0008] Moreover, since the front ends of the reversed portions 863c of the connection portions 863 and the connecting portion 865 are positioned so as to lie above the bent pieces 861a of the body portion 861, the terminal becomes tall in a direction of height thereof, making it difficult to reduce the overall height of the terminal. Therefore, it becomes difficult to reduce the overall height of the connector.

[0009] Furthermore, since the front ends of the left and right reversed portions 863c are connected together by the circular arc-shaped connecting portion 865, when a force is applied to the reversed portions 863c from the counterpart terminal, respective of the reversed portions 863c are unable to be displaced in independent manner but are bound to each other. Therefore, there might be a case where it is difficult to maintain correct contact with the counterpart terminal while the reversed portions 863c are unable to suitably absorb the force applied from the counterpart terminal.

[0010] Furthermore, since the front ends of the left and right reversed portions 863c are connected together by the circular arc-shaped connecting portion 865, the workability of the terminal must be degraded. Since the terminal is generally manufactured by applying, e.g., punching and bending processing to a metal plate, the dimension of the terminal is extremely small in a connector, which is fitted, in a small electronic device or apparatus such as a cellular phone. Therefore, it may be rather difficult to accurately form the left and right fine connection portions 863 including the complicated reversed portions 863c having front ends thereof being connected by the circular arc-shaped connecting portion 865 by punching through a metal plate.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION

[0011] Therefore, it is an object of the Present Application to solve the above-described problems encountered by the conventional wire-to-board connector and to provide a terminal and a connector incorporating therein the terminal which is provided with such a configuration that a pair of left and right contacting arm portions thereof, which have respective front ends thereof formed to be independent from one another, extend frontward from a body portion and are turned back such that both of the above-mentioned front ends come to positions in the vicinity of or being in contact with the body portion. As a result, the contacting arm portions may have high strength and might not be subjected to deformation during an operation for fitting engagement. Moreover, the contacting arm portions are able to be displaced in an independent manner so that firm contact with a counterpart terminal can be ensured while preventing them from being distorted. Accordingly, the terminal and the connector incorporating therein the terminal can be produced to have a dimensionally reduced height and size at a low cost with high reliability and workability thereof. [0012] Therefore, in accordance with the Present Application, there is provided a terminal which comprises a wire connection portion configured to be connected to an electrical wire; a body portion configured to be connected to a front end of the wire connection portion; and a pair of contacting arm portions which are arranged substantially in parallel with one another and configured to be connected to a front end of the body portion and come into contact with a counterpart terminal, wherein: each of the contacting arm portions comprises a base end portion configured to be connected to the body portion, a turned-back portion configured to be connected to a front end of the base end portion and turned backward, a reversed portion configured to extend backward from an end of the turned-back portion, and a front end portion configured to be connected to an end of the reversed portion via a bent portion; wherein the front end portions of the pair of contacting arm portions are configured to be independent from each other and to be arranged at positions adjacent to or being in contact with the body portion thereby permitting displacement thereof to be restricted by the body portion, and coming into contact with the counterpart terminal which comes to be positioned between the pair of contacting arm portions. [0013] In accordance with another embodiment of the Present Application, the terminal has such a configuration that the contacting arm portions have a substantially closed periphery in side view thereof.

[0014] In accordance with a further embodiment of the Present Application, the terminal has such a configuration that the terminal further comprises a position regulating portion which includes side regulating portions extending from both left and right side edges of the body portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the body portion, and that the front end portions of the pair of contacting arm portions are positioned between the left and right side regulating portions.

[0015] In accordance with a still further embodiment of the Present Application, the terminal has such a configuration that the position regulating portion includes bottom regulating portions configured to extend from front ends of the side regulating portions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the body portion, and that the front end portions of the pair of contacting arm portions are positioned between the body portion and the side regulating portions. [0016] In accordance with a still further embodiment of the Present Application, the terminal has such a configuration that the front end portions of the pair of contacting arm portions are pinched between the body portion and the side regulating portions.

[0017] Further, in accordance with the Present Application, there is provided a connector which comprises the terminal according to the Present Application which is connected to an electrical wire; and a housing configured to permit the terminal to be fitted therein, wherein the connector is configured to be engaged by fitting with a counterpart connector which is provided with a counterpart terminal configured to come into contact with the terminal and a counterpart housing configured to be engaged by fitting with the housing.

[0018] In accordance with the Present Application, the terminal has such a configuration that the pair of left and right contacting arm portions extend frontward from the body portion and have respective front ends thereof which are independent from each other and are formed to be turned backward so that the above-mentioned front ends are brought to a position adjacent to or being in contact with the body portion. Owing to such a configuration, the contacting arm portions have high strength and are not deformed during fitting engagement. Moreover, the contacting arm portions are able to be displaced in an independent manner thereby enabling to come into sure contact with a counterpart terminal and to be prevented from being subjected to any distortion. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a terminal and a connector, which can achieve reduction in dimension of the height and overall size thereof at a low cost with enhanced reliability and workability thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0019] The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the Present Application, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: [0020] Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a wire-to-board connector according to the Present Application, illustrating a state where a counterpart connector is not yet fitted to the wire-to- board connector; [0021] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the wire-to-board connector of Fig. 1, illustrating the state where a counterpart connector is not yet fitted to the wire-to-board connector; [0022] Figs. 3A to 3D are four planar views of a wire connector of the wire-to-board connector of Fig. 1, in which Fig. 3 A is a top plan view, Fig. 3B is a front view, Fig. 3C is a bottom plan view, and Fig. 3D is a side view, respectively;

[0023] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal according to the Present Application;

[0024] Figs. 5A to 5D are four planar views of the terminal of Fig. 4, in which Fig. 5A is a top plan view; Fig. 5B, a front view; Fig. 5C, a bottom plan view; and Fig. 5D, a side view;

[0025] Fig. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the right-half part of the terminal of Fig. 4; [0026] Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the wire-to-board connector of Fig. 1, illustrating a state where the connectors of the wire-to-board connector are engaged together by fitting; [0027] Fig. 8 is a first side sectional view, taken along Arrow A-A of Fig. 7, of the wire-to-board connector of Fig. 1, illustrating the state where one and the other connectors of the wire-to-board connector are engaged together by fitting; [0028] Fig. 9 is a second side sectional view, taken along Arrows B-B of Fig. 7, of the wire-to- board connector of Fig. 1, illustrating a state where one and the other connectors of the wire-to- board connector are engaged together by fitting;

[0029] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a terminal according to the Present Application; [0030] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a terminal according to the Present Application; [0031] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a terminal according to the Present Application; and [0032] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a terminal of a connector according to the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] While the Present Application may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the Figures, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the Present Application, and is not intended to limit the Present Application to that as illustrated.

[0034] In the embodiments illustrated in the Figures, representations of directions such as up, down, left, right, front, rear and the like, used for explaining the structure and movement of the various elements of the Present Application, are not absolute, but relative. These representations are appropriate when the elements are in the position shown in the Figures. If the description of the position of the elements changes, however, it is assumed that these representations are to be changed accordingly.

[0035] In the drawing figures, a wire connector generally designated by reference numeral 1 is provided as a connector according to the present embodiment and as a first connector of a wire- to-board connector assembly, and is connected to a termination end of a cable provided with a plurality of electrical wires 91. Moreover, a board connector capable of functioning as a counterpart connector of a wire-to-board connector according to the present embodiment, and generally designated by reference numeral 101, is mounted on a surface of a circuit board 191 to be engaged by fitting with the wire connector 1. [0036] The board 191 is a flat plate-like cable which is called a printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), or the like, used in an electronic device or apparatus, such as a personal computer, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a video camera, a music player, a game machine, or a car navigation device, or an electric device or apparatus, for example, a consumer electronic appliance, such as a digital television or a DVD player, and may be any type of board. Throughout this specification, it will be described that the board 191 is a printed circuit board, which is used by being mounted within a cellular phone or the like.

[0037] In the example illustrated in the drawing figures, although the number of electrical wires 91 is shown to be three, the number of the electrical wires 91 may be arbitrarily changed and may be one or two, or four or more, for example. Moreover, the electrical wire 91 is a general conductive wire which is provided with a conductive core wire formed of a conductive material such as metal and an insulating cladding formed of an insulating material such as resin and covering the surroundings of the conductive core wire. [0038] The board connector 101 includes a board-side housing 111, as a counterpart housing, which is integrally formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and is configured to be engaged by fitting with an wire-side housing 11 of the wire connector 1, and board-side terminals 161 as counterpart terminals, which are formed of metal and are mounted in the board- side housing 111. In the example illustrated in the drawing figures, although the number of board-side terminals 161 is three, the number of board-side terminals 161 may be arbitrarily changed to comply with the number of electrical wires 91. The board connector 101 has a generally flat rectangular parallelepiped shape and is attached to the circuit board 191, so that a lower surface thereof faces a front surface of the circuit board 191, and the wire connector 1 is inserted from above to be engaged therewith by fitting.

[0039] The board connector 101 is a low-height connector having such a micro dimension that a height thereof (a vertical dimension in Fig. 1) is around 1.4 mm or less and the board-side terminals 161 are arranged at the pitch of around 1.2 mm or less: however, these dimensions may be appropriately changed.

[0040] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the board-side housing 111 is provided with a bottom wall portion 112 having a generally rectangular flat-plate shape, a front-end wall portion 115 which stands upwardly from the bottom wall portion 112 so as to extend along an edge on a front end side (the right upper side in Fig. 2, corresponding to a front end side of the fitting wire connector 1) of the bottom wall portion 112, and side wall portions 117 which stand upwardly from the bottom wall portion 112 so as to extend along both left and right side edges of the bottom wall portion 112. [0041] The board-side terminals 161 are arranged in parallel with each other at the above- mentioned pitch and have respective body portions, which are accommodated and held in terminal holding portions 116, which are slit-like spaces, formed in the front-end wall portion 115. Moreover, contact portions 164 of the board-side terminals 161 are configured to extend backward from the front-end wall portion 115. The contact portions 164 are generally rectangular plate-like members and are arranged to extend upward from the bottom wall portion 112 while extending backward from the front-end wall portion 115, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 1, solder tail portions 162 of the board-side terminals 161 have distal ends thereof which extend from a lower end of the front-end wall portion 115 toward the front end so as to be electrically connected to connection members such as non-illustrated signal lines, contact pads, terminals, or the like, formed in the circuit board 191. [0042] On the other hand, the wire connector 1 includes a wire-side housing 11, as a housing, which is integrally formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and is formed to be engaged by fitting with the board-side housing 111 of the board connector 101, and terminals 61 which are formed of metal and are accommodated in the wire-side housing 11. Moreover, the wire connector 1 has a generally flat rectangular parallelepiped shape and is inserted from above to be engaged by fitting with the board connector 101 in an attitude thereof in which a lower surface thereof faces an upper surface of the board connector 101. That is, the wire connector 1 is perpendicularly engaged by fitting with the board connector 101. [0043] As illustrated in the drawing figures, the wire-side housing 11 is a rectangular parallelepiped member, and is provided with a top plate portion 12 having a generally rectangular flat-plate shape, a bottom plate portion 14 which has a generally rectangular flat- plate shape and extends in parallel with the top plate portion 12, a front end portion 15 which has a generally rectangular flat-plate shape disposed to be perpendicular to the top plate portion 12 and the bottom plate portion 14 and is arranged for providing a connection between respective front end- side edges of the top plate portion 12 and the bottom plate portion 14, a rear end portion 16 which has a generally rectangular flat-plate shape disposed to be perpendicular to the top plate portion 12 and the bottom plate portion 14 and is arranged for providing a connection between respective rear end-side edges of the top plate portion 12 and the bottom plate portion 14 while maintaining a position parallel to the top plate portion 12, and a pair of side wall portions 17 having a generally rectangular flat-plate shape, respectively, are disposed to be perpendicular to the top plate portion 12 and the bottom plate portion 14 and are arranged for providing a connection between respective edges on both left and right sides of the top plate portion 12 and the bottom plate portion 14.

[0044] The side wall portions 17 are respectively formed with a lock portion 18 which protrudes generally outwardly from an outer side wall thereof. When the wire connector 1 is engaged by fitting with the board connector 101, the lock portions 18 on both sides are engaged with the side wall portions 117 of the board-side housing 111, so as to ensure locking between the wire connector 1 and the board connector 101.

[0045] The wire- side housing 11 is further provided with terminal-receipt portions 13 respectively defining a cavity allowing the front end portion of each of the electrical wires 91 to be inserted therein while accommodating and holding therein respective one of the terminals 61 connected to the electrical wires 91. The respective terminal-receipt portions 13 are provided with counterpart terminal-insertion openings 13a which have a slit- like shape, respectively, and are formed to continuously extend from a portion in the vicinity of the front end of the bottom plate portion 14 to the front end portion 15. The respective terminal-receipt portions 13 are also provided with electrical wire-insertion openings 13b which have a rectangular shape, respectively, and are formed in the rear end portion 16. [0046] When the terminals 61 connected to the front end portions of the electrical wires 91 are received in the respective terminal-receipt portions 13, the electrical wires 91 takes the respective positions where they are inserted in the corresponding electrical wire-insertion openings 13b from rear of the wire connector 1 as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this case, the body portions 63 of the respective terminals 61 and the contacting arm portions 64 connected to the front ends of the body portions 63 are not exposed to the outside of the respective terminal-receipt portions 13. Incidentally, latching piece portions 67 which are formed of respective portions of the body portions 63 which are raised therefrom by cutting are exposed to the inside of groove-shaped latching opening portions 12a formed in the top plate portion 12 of the wire- side housing 11 to be in engagement with rear side walls of the latching opening portions 12a. [0047] The terminal-receipt portions 13, the counterpart terminal-insertion openings 13a and the contacting arm portions 64 of the respective terminals 61 are arranged to be in register with the pitch and the arrangement pattern of the contact portions 164 of the board- side terminals 161 of the board connector 101.

[0048] Next, a detailed description of the structure and arrangement of the terminal 61 will be provided. The terminal 61 is produced by applying, e.g., punching and bending processing to a metal plate. The terminal 61 is provided with the body portion 63, a wire connection portion 62 which is connected to the rear end of the body portion 63, and a pair of left and right contacting arm portions 64 which is connected to the front end of the body portion 63, and is connected to a termination end, i.e., the front end of the electrical wire 91. [0049] In Figs. 4 and 6, a lower surface side of the terminal 61 is illustrated to be directed upward. Moreover, in Fig. 4, the front end portion of the electrical wire 91, which is connected to the terminal 61, is omitted for the convenience's sake.

[0050] The wire connection portion 62 is provided with a cladding holding portion 62a which is pressure-bonded to the electrical wire 91 from above the insulating cladding of the electrical wire 91 to hold the electrical wire 91 and a core wire holding portion 62b which is directly pressure - bonded to the conductive core wire being exposed by removing of a part of the insulating cladding in the front end portion of the electrical wire 91 so as to hold the electrical wire 91 and is electrically connected to the conductive core wire. The cladding holding portion 62a and the core wire holding portion 62b are configured to extend downward from both left and right edges of the wire connection portion 62 and be pressure-bonded to the electrical wire 91 and the conductive core wire with front ends thereof being bent. In Figs. 4 to 6, the cladding holding portion 62a and the core wire holding portion 62b have a shape which corresponds to a state where they were already pressure-bonded to the electrical wire 91 and the conductive core wire due to an application of bending processing thereto.

[0051] The body portion 63 is provided with the latching piece portion 67 at a central part thereof, which is formed by applying cutting to that part to be raised therefrom. The latching piece portion 67 defines a cantilever- like member which has a base end thereof being connected to the body portion 63 and a front end thereof, namely, a free end obliquely extending toward an upper rear side. The latching piece portion 67 has the front end thereof which is configured to be engaged with the rear side wall of the latching opening portion 12a of the wire-side housing 11, so that the terminal 61 received in the terminal-receipt portion 13 of the wire-side housing 11 is prevented from being removed from the terminal-receipt portion 13. Moreover, the terminal 61 is inserted in the terminal-receipt portion 13 through the rectangular electrical wire-insertion opening 13b formed in the rear end portion 16 from the rear of the wire- side housing 11 in a state of being connected to the front end portion of the electrical wire 91. As a result, the terminal 61 is accommodated in the wire-side housing 11. [0052] The contacting arm portions 64 are elongated strip-like or rod-like members which are extended frontward from the front edge of the body portion 63. However, the fore ends thereof extend rearward because they are reversed halfway by being turned backward by bending. Moreover, each of the left and right contacting arm portions 64 is provided with a base end portion 64a which is connected to the front end of the body portion 63, a turned-back portion 64b which is curved downward from an end of the base end portion 64a and curved in a semi-circular shape so as to be turned backward, and a reversed portion 64c which extends rearward from an end of the turned -back portion 64b. The base end portion 64a and the reversed portion 64c are approximately parallel to one another and define an approximately U shape in side view thereof due to being connected to each other by the turned-back portion 64b. [0053] The reversed portion 64c have respective front ends thereof to which held portions 64f are connected as front end portions via crank-like portions 64e which are provided as bent portions having a generally S shape in side view thereof. Although the held portions 64f are arranged to be approximately parallel with the reversed portions 64c, they are lying at a position located on an upper side of the reversed portions 64c, respectively, and come close to or in contact with the body portion 63. That is to say, the upper surfaces of the left and right held portions 64f are positioned adjacent to or in close contact with the body portion 63. Therefore, each of the contacting arm portions 64 has a substantially closed peripheral body having an approximately rectangular or elliptical shape as a whole in side view thereof. Accordingly, the contacting arm portions 64 are able to exhibit appreciably high strength against deformation. [0054] Moreover, since the left and right held portions 64f are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, they can be independently displaced, so that whole bodies of the left and right reversed portions 64c and the left and right contacting arm portions 64 can mutually carry out independent displacements.

[0055] In addition, the body portion 63 has both left and right side edges thereof to which position regulating portions 66 are connected. The position regulating portions 66 are formed by bending strip plate-like members extending from both left and right side edges. The position regulating portions 66 are provided with side regulating portions 66b which are formed to extend downward from both left and right side edges of the body portion 63 in a direction approximately perpendicular to the body portion 63 and bottom regulating portions 66a which are configured to extend inward from front ends of the side regulating portions 66b in a direction approximately parallel with the body portion 63. The left and right held portions 64f are disposed in a space surrounded by the body portion 63, the side regulating portions 66b, and the bottom regulating portions 66a, whereby a displacement in the up-down and left-right directions of the held portions 64f which are the foremost ends of the left and right reversed portions 64c is restricted. [0056] That is, even when the reversed portions 64c are subjected to an application of upward urging force, the held portions 64f are prevented from being further displaced in the upward direction when they are brought into contact with the body portion 63. Moreover, even when the reversed portions 64c are subjected to an application of a downward urging force, the held portions 64f are prevented from being further displaced in the downward direction as soon as they come into contact with the bottom regulating portions 66a. Furthermore, even when the reversed portions 64c are subjected to an application of any outward force, the held portions 64f are prevented from being further displaced in the outward direction as soon as they come into contact with the side regulating portions 66b. In addition, when an inward force is applied to the reversed portions 64c, the left and right held portions 64f are prevented from being further displaced in the inward direction because they are brought into mutual contact with each other. [0057] Moreover, since the held portions 64f which are the foremost ends of the left and right reversed portions 64c are positioned in the space surrounded by the body portion 63 and the position regulating portions 66, the held portions 64f are prevented from catching or conflicting on different components or any other member such as a tool during, for example, an operation of inserting the terminal 61 connected to the front end portion of the electrical wire 91 into the terminal-receipt portion 13 to be fitted in the wire-side housing 11. Therefore, the reversed portions 64c are prevented from being turned and distorted.

[0058] Furthermore, since the whole body of the terminal 61 is accommodated in the terminal- receipt portion 13 of the wire- side housing 11 and has a perimeter thereof being surrounded, the held portions 64f are prevented from catching or conflicting on the components of the board connector 101, the different components mounted on the circuit board 191, or any other member or element such as a tool during, for example, an operation of fitting the wire connector 1 and the board connector 101 to be engaged with each other. Therefore, the reversed portions 64c can be prevented from being turned and distorted. In addition, since foreign material such as dust and dirt is certainly prevented from entering between the left and right contacting arm portions 64, any deformation of the contacting arm portions 64 resulting from intervention of the foreign material might not occur.

[0059] Since the held portions 64f are arranged above the bottom regulating portions 66a, it is possible to narrow the gap between the reversed portions 64c and the base end portion 64a. That is, it is possible to shorten the dimension in the height direction of the contacting arm portions 64. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the height of the terminal 61 and also to reduce the overall height of the wire connector 1. Since the held portions 64f which are the foremost ends of the left and right reversed portions 64c are spaced apart from each other, it is possible to improve the workability of the left and right contacting arm portions 64 resulting in improvement in the workability of the whole body of the terminal 61. [0060] Moreover, since the workability of the left and right contacting arm portions 64 is high, it is possible to connect the held portions 64f to the front ends of the respective reversed portions 64c via the crank- like portions 64e having a complicated shape, so that the held portions 64f can be positioned above the reversed portions 64c to come close to or in contact with the body portion 63. Therefore, due to the fact that the contacting arm portions 64 are allowed to have the closed peripheral body in the overall side view thereof, it becomes not only possible to increase the strength of the contacting arm portions 64 against deformation, but also to effectively prevent the reversed portions 64c from being displaced in the upward direction. [0061] On inner side faces of the left and right reversed portions 64c, convex contact portions 64d are formed so as to protrude in a mutually opposing manner. Moreover, between the left and right contacting arm portions 64, there is defined a counterpart terminal-entrance portion 65 which is formed as a space in which the contact portion 164 of the board-side terminal 161 functioning as a counterpart terminal enters when the wire connector 1 and the board connector 101 is engaged together by fitting. The plate-like contact portion 164 having entered in the counterpart terminal-entrance portion 65 is pinched between the contacting arm portions 64 from both left and right faces thereof, and thus, the board-side terminal 161 and the terminal 61 come into electrical contact with each other. At this time, the convex contact portions 64d of the left and right reversed portions 64c surely grasp both faces of the contact portion 164 by sticking therein, so that the contact between the board-side terminal 161 and the terminal 61 is ensured. [0062] In this manner, since the convex contact portions 64d tightly grasp both faces of the contact portion 164, the left and right reversed portions 64c must receive a strong repulsive force from the contact portion 164 of the board- side terminal 161. However, above, since the displacement of the held portions 64f which are the foremost ends of the reversed portions 64c is restricted in the up-down and left-right directions, even when a strong repulsive force is applied from the contact portion 164, the respective reversed portions 64c do not perform any displacement, and it is possible to maintain secure contact with the contact portion 164. [0063] As will be understood, since the contacting arm portions 64 have a substantially closed peripheral body having an approximately rectangular or elliptical overall shape in side view thereof and since the strength of the contacting arm portions 64 against deformation is extremely high, the respective portions of the contacting arm portions 64 might not be subjected to any large displacement even when a strong force is applied from the contact portion 164. Since the contact portion 164 enters into the counterpart terminal-entrance portion 65 from a relatively lower side with respect to the contacting arm portions 64, the reversed portions 64c must receive a large amount of upward force from the contact portion 164. Nevertheless, owing to the fact that the held portions 64f are arranged adjacent to or in contact with the body portion 63, the reversed portions 64c do not cause any large displacement thereof in the upward direction. [0064] Furthermore, since the left and right held portions 64f are formed to be structurally independent from each other, the whole bodies of the left and right reversed portions 64c and the left and right contacting arm portions 64 can independently displace. Therefore, even when the magnitude or the direction of force applied from the board-side terminal 161 is not uniform at the left and right contacting arm portions 64, the left and right contacting arm portions 64 are able to appropriately absorb the force by being displaced in a mutually independent manner, so that it is possible to surely maintain the contact state with the board-side terminal 161. [0065] Next, a description of an operation of fitting the wire connector 1 to be engaged with the board connector 101 will now be provided. When the wire connector 1 is fitted to the board connector 101 mounted on the circuit board 191, an operator operates the wire connector 1 by the operator's fingers or the like so that the bottom plate portion 14 of the wire connector 1 is brought to a position where it confronts the bottom wall portion 112 of the board connector 101 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Moreover, the orientation and direction of the wire connector 1 are adjusted so that the front end portion 15 of the wire connector 1 is directed in the same direction as the front-end wall portion 115 of the board connector 101. Then, the wire connector 1 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the circuit board 191 so that the bottom plate portion 14 of the wire connector 1 is inserted from above into a concave portion having a perimeter thereof being wholly defined by the bottom wall portion 112, the front-end wall portion 115, and the side wall portions 117 of the board-side housing 111 of the board connector 101, so that the wire connector 1 is engaged by fitting with the board connector 101 as illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9. [0066] At this time, the contact portion 164 of the board- side terminal 161 raised relative to the wire connector 1, passes through the counterpart terminal-insertion opening 13a from below the bottom plate portion 14 of the wire-side housing 11, and enters into the terminal-receipt portion 13. Moreover, in the terminal-receipt portion 13, the base end portions 64a, the turned-back portions 64b, and the reversed portions 64c of the contacting arm portions 64 are positioned at a portion which corresponds to an upper portion of the counterpart terminal-insertion opening 13a which is formed substantially in the vicinity of the front end of the bottom plate portion 14. Therefore, the contact portion 164 entered into the terminal-receipt portion 13 through the counterpart terminal-insertion opening 13a enters from below into the counterpart terminal- entrance portion 65 disposed between the left and right contacting arm portions 64. [0067] Since each of the above-mentioned contact portions 164 is pinched between the left and right contacting arm portions 64, the board-side terminal 161 and the terminal 61 are placed in position for making electrical contact with each other. At this time, since the convex contact portions 64d of the left and right reversed portions 64c tightly grasp both faces of the contact portion 164, the respective board- side terminals 161 and the associated terminals 61 are firmly contacted each other. Moreover, since the reversed portions 64c are not subjected to any large displacement, secure contact between the reversed portions 64c and the contact portion 164 can be maintained. Therefore, the conductive wires in the respective electrical wires 91 can be electrically securely connected to connection members of the circuit board 191 via the terminals 61 and the board- side terminals 161.

[0068] Furthermore, the lock portions 18 of the wire connector 1 on the opposite sides are locked by an engagement with the associated side wall portions 117 of the board-side housing 111. As a result, the wire connector 1 is prevented from being removed from the board connector 101. Moreover, since the operator does not need to operate the lock portions 18 when they are locked, the fitting engagement between the wire connector 1 and the board connector 101 can be carried out in an easy and a simple manner. Furthermore, since it is possible to sufficiently perceive the engagement between the lock portions 18 and the side wall portions 117 by a sense of click- feeling, the operator is able to correctly become aware of and confirm completion of the fitting engagement between the wire connector 1 and the board connector 101.

[0069] As described above, in the present embodiment, the held portions 64f connected to the foremost ends of the reversed portions 64c are formed to be independent from each other and are positioned close to or in contact with the body portion 63. Moreover, due to the fact that the above-mentioned held portions 64f are independent from each other, the whole bodies of the left and right reversed portions 64c and the left and right contacting arm portions 64 can be subjected to being mutually independently displaced.

[0070] Therefore, even if the force applied from the board- side terminal 161 to both the left and right contacting arm portions 64 is not uniform in its magnitude and/or direction, the left and right contacting arm portions 64 are able to appropriately absorb the force by the mutually independent displacement thereof, and as a result, it is possible to constantly maintain the contact state with the board-side terminal 161. Due to problems such as dimensional errors of the board- side terminal 161 per se or errors in attachment of the board- side terminal 161 to the board- side housing 111, or changes in attitudes of the wire connector 1 and the board connector 101 during fitting engagement operations, the state, e.g., the attitude, of the contact portion 164 of the board- side terminal 161 entering into the counterpart terminal-entrance portion 65 between the left and right contacting arm portions 64 is not always uniform, so that the magnitude and/or the direction of force applied to the left and right contacting arm portions 64 from the contact portion 164 is likely to become non-uniform. Therefore, if the left and right held portions 64f are connected with each other, because when one of the contacting arm portions 64 is displaced by the force applied from the contact portion 164, for example, the other contacting arm portion 64 may be together displaced, there might occur such an unfavorable state that the contact with the contact portion 164 cannot be maintained. To the contrary, in the present embodiment, since the left and right contacting arm portions 64 are able to be always displaced in a mutually independent manner, the other one of the contacting arm portions 64 might not follow to the displacement of one of the contacting arm portions 64 and thus, it is possible to maintain secure contact thereof with the contact portion 164 of the board- side terminal 161.

[0071] Moreover, since the held portions 64f are formed to be independent from each other, the workability of the left and right contacting arm portions 64 can be high. Further, since the workability is high, the held portions 64f can be positioned above the reversed portions 64c to be close to or in contact with the body portion 63. Therefore, by allowing the contacting arm portions 64 to have the closed periphery in the overall side view thereof, it is not only possible to increase the strength of the contacting arm portions 64 against deformation, but also to effectively prevent the reversed portions 64c from being displaced in the upward direction. Furthermore, since it is possible to narrow a gap defined between the reversed portions 64c and the base end portion 64a as well as to shorten the dimension in a direction of height of the contacting arm portions 64, reduction in the entire height of the terminal 61 as well as reduction in the overall height of the wire connector 1 can be effected.

[0072] In addition, since the held portions 64f are positioned in the space surrounded by the body portion 63 and the position regulating portion 66, the displacement in both the up-down and left-right directions of the held portions 64f is restricted. Therefore, since the respective portions of the contacting arm portions 64 are not subjected to a large displacement even if a large force is applied from the contact portion 164 during the fitting engagement between the wire connector 1 and the board connector 101, the contacting arm portions 64 can maintain secure contact with the contact portion 164. Furthermore, since the held portions 64f are surely prevented from catching on any other member, the reversed portions 64c are prevented from being turned and distorted. [0073] Furthermore, although the present embodiment has been described with respect to a case where the convex contact portions 64d arranged to protrude from the inner side faces of the contacting arm portions 64 in a mutually opposing manner are formed in only the reversed portions 64c, the convex contact portions 64d may be formed in either only the base end portion 64a or both of the reversed portions 64c and the base end portion 64a. [0074] Next, a description of a second embodiment of the Present Application will now be provided. It should be noted that those components and parts having the same structure as the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numeral and redundant description thereof will be omitted for simplicity sake. Moreover, a description of the same operation and effect as the first embodiment will be also omitted. [0075] In the present embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the bottom regulating portions 66a of the position regulating portion 66 are urged upward, i.e., toward the body portion 63 by pressing during production process thereof. Therefore, non-illustrated held portions 64f are pressed against the body portion 63 by the bottom regulating portions 66a.

[0076] In Fig. 10, similar to Fig. 4, a lower surface side of the terminal 61 is illustrated to be directed upward, and the cladding holding portion 62a and the core wire holding portion 62b have a shape which corresponds to a state where they are pressure-bonded to the electrical wire 91 and the conductive core wire by bending that has been already applied thereto. [0077] In this manner, the held portions 64f which are foremost ends of the left and right reversed portions 64c are pinched from both upper and lower sides by the body portion 63 and the bottom regulating portions 66a. Therefore, even when the reversed portions 64c receive upward and downward urging force, the held portions 64f are not displaced any more in the vertical direction. Moreover, since the held portions 64f are pinched from the upper and lower sides by the body portion 63 and the bottom regulating portions 66a, the held portions 64f are unable to be displaced in the horizontal direction. Therefore, even when the reversed portions 64c receive outward and inward urging force, the held portions 64f are not displaced at all. [0078] As described above, in the present embodiment, the held portions 64f are fixed by being pinched by the body portion 63 and the bottom regulating portions 66a. Therefore, the strength of the contacting arm portions 64 against deformation is further increased, and since the respective portions of the contacting arm portions 64 are not subjected to a large displacement even if a large force is applied thereto from the contact portion 164, it is possible to maintain secure contact with the contact portion 164. Moreover, an amount of bending of the bottom regulating portions 66a may be adjustably controlled such that they are close to or in slight contact with the held portions 64f, so that the held portions 64f do not displace in the up-down direction but displace in the front-rear and the left-right directions. [0079] Next, a description of a third embodiment of the Present Application will now be provided. It should be noted that those components having the same structure as the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numeral and redundant description thereof will be omitted for simplicity sake. Moreover, a description of the same operation and effect as the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

[0080] As illustrated in Fig. 11, in the present embodiment, the position regulating portion 66 is provided with only the side regulating portions 66b but the bottom regulating portions 66a are not provided at all. Namely, the bottom regulating portions 66a are omitted. Therefore, the displacement in the downward direction of the held portions 64f is not restricted. [0081] In Fig. 11, similar to Fig. 4, a lower surface side of the terminal 61 is illustrated to be directed upward, and the cladding holding portion 62a and the core wire holding portion 62b have a shape which corresponds to a state where they are pressure-bonded to the electrical wire 91 and the conductive core wire by bending that has been already applied thereto.

[0082] As described above, , since the bottom regulating portions 66a are omitted, it is possible to simplify the bending processing applied to the position regulating portion 66. Therefore, the processing of the terminal 61 is made easy and the productivity thereof is improved. Moreover, since the displacement in the downward direction of the held portions 64f is not restricted, it is considered that although a large amount of displacement of the reversed portions 64c will occur when the reversed portions 64c receive a downward urging force, the downward urging force that is applied to the reversed portions 64c from the contact portion 164 of the board-side terminal 161 is less than an upward urging force applied thereto. Therefore, in practice, the reversed portions 64c might not be displaced greatly in the downward direction. [0083] Next, a description of a fourth embodiment of the Present Application will now be provided. It should be noted that those components having the same structure as the first to third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numeral and redundant description thereof will be omitted for simplicity sake. Moreover, a description of the same operation and effect as the first to third embodiments will be omitted. [0084] As illustrated in Fig. 12, in the present embodiment, the held portions 64f are connected to the front ends of the reversed portions 64c via hook-like portions 64g having an approximately L shape in side view thereof, in lieu of the crank-like portions 64e. That is to say, in the present embodiment, portions functioning as bent portions which connect the held portions 64f as front end portions to the reversed portions 64c are configured as the hook-like portions 64g having an approximately L shape in side view thereof, instead of the crank-like portions 64e. Therefore, the held portions 64f extend upward approximately perpendicular to the reversed portions 64c and the body portion 63. Moreover, the foremost ends of the held portions 64f enter in the holding-opening portions 68 formed in the body portion 63.

[0085] Therefore, the displacement in the front-rear and left-right directions of the held portions 64f is restricted by the holding-opening portions 68. Moreover, when the held portions 64f are much displaced in the up-down direction, since an axial line thereof is inclined, the front or rear side faces thereof are brought into contact with front or rear edges of the holding-opening portions 68. Therefore, when the reversed portions 64c receive an urging force in the up-down direction, the displacement in the up-down direction of the held portions 64f is restricted to some degree of a range by the holding-opening portions 68. [0086] Similar to the third embodiment, the position regulating portion 66 is provided with only the side regulating portions 66b while the bottom regulating portions 66a are omitted. [0087] In Fig. 12, similar to Fig. 4 described above, a lower surface side of the terminal 61 is illustrated to be directed upward, and the cladding holding portion 62a and the core wire holding portion 62b have a shape which corresponds to a state where they are pressure-bonded to the electrical wire 91 and the conductive core wire by bending that has been already applied thereto. [0088] As described above, in the present embodiment, since the held portions 64f are connected to the front ends of the reversed portions 64c via the hook- like portions 64g having a simpler shape than the crank-like portions 64e, it is possible to simplify the processing of the contacting arm portions 64. Therefore, the processing of the terminal 61 is made easy and the productivity thereof is improved. Moreover, since the displacement of the held portions 64f in the up-down direction as well as the front-rear and left-right directions is restricted by the holding-opening portions 68, the reversed portions 64c are not subjected to a large displacement thereof even if a force is applied in any direction. [0089] While a preferred embodiment of the Present Application is shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing Description and the appended Claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT Is CLAIMED Is:

1. A terminal (61) comprising: a wire connection portion (62) configured to be connected to an electrical wire (91); a body portion (63) configured to be connected to a front end of the wire connection portion (62); and a pair of contacting arm portions (64) which are arranged substantially in parallel with one another and configured to be connected to a front end of the body portion (63) and come into contact with a counterpart terminal (161); wherein: each of the contacting arm portions (64) comprises a base end portion (64a) configured to be connected to the body portion (63), a turned-back portion

(64b) configured to be connected to a front end of the base end portion (64a) and turned backward, a reversed portion (64c) configured to extend backward from an end of the turned-back portion (64b), and a front end portion (64f) configured to be connected to an end of the reversed portion (64c) via a bent portion (64e, 64g); the front end portions (64f) of the pair of contacting arm portions (64) are configured to be independent from each other and to be arranged at positions adjacent to or being in contact with the body portion (63) thereby permitting displacement thereof to be restricted by the body portion (63); and coming into contact with the counterpart terminal (161) which comes to be positioned between the pair of contacting arm portions (64).

2. The terminal (61) according to Claim 1, wherein the contacting arm portions (64) have a substantially closed periphery in side view thereof.

3. The terminal (61) according to Claim 2: further comprising a position regulating portion (66) which includes side regulating portions (66b) extending from both left and right side edges of the body portion (63) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the body portion (63); wherein the front end portions (64f) of the pair of contacting arm portions (64) are positioned between the left and right side regulating portions (66b).

4. The terminal (61) according to Claim 3, wherein: the position regulating portion (66) includes bottom regulating portions (66a) configured to extend from front ends of the side regulating portions (66b) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the body portion (63); and wherein the front end portions (64f) of the pair of contacting arm portions (64) are positioned between the body portion (63) and the side regulating portions (66b).

5. The terminal (61) according to Claim 4, wherein the front end portions (64f) of the pair of contacting arm portions (64) are pinched between the body portion (63) and the side regulating portions (66b).

6. The terminal (61) according to Claim 1: further comprising a position regulating portion (66) which includes side regulating portions (66b) extending from both left and right side edges of the body portion (63) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the body portion (63); wherein the front end portions (64f) of the pair of contacting arm portions (64) are positioned between the left and right side regulating portions (66b).

7. The terminal (61) according to Claim 6, wherein: the position regulating portion (66) includes bottom regulating portions (66a) configured to extend from front ends of the side regulating portions (66b) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the body portion (63); and wherein the front end portions (64f) of the pair of contacting arm portions (64) are positioned between the body portion (63) and the side regulating portions (66b).

8. The terminal (61) according to Claim 7, wherein the front end portions (64f) of the pair of contacting arm portions (64) are pinched between the body portion (63) and the side regulating portions (66b).

9. A connector (1) comprising: the terminal (61) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 which is connected to the electrical wire (91); and a housing (11) configured to permit the terminal (61) to be fitted therein; wherein the connector (1) is configured to be engaged by fitting with a counterpart connector (101) which is provided with a counterpart terminal (161) configured to come into contact with the terminal (61) and a counterpart housing (111) configured to be engaged by fitting with the housing (11).