WO2012166339A1

WO2012166339A1 - Terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2012166339A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/037881
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shuhei YOKOYAMA
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date: 2011-05-27
Filing date: 2012-05-15
Publication date: 2012-12-06
Also published as: JP2012248425A

Abstract

In the construction of a surface mounting type terminal mounted to an object surface with an adhesive, to reduce the amount of adhesive used. A terminal 10 includes a base portion 12, a contact portion extending from the base portion 12 and provided with an electric contact point 14, and an adhesive support portion 18 provided on the base portion 12 separately from the contact portion and capable of supporting an adhesive for bonding the base portion to an object. The adhesive support portion 18 includes an anchor portion 28 extending below the base portion 12. Around the anchor portion 28, a non-point symmetrical opening 30 extending between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 28 is formed. The anchor portion 28 has a first end 28a connected to the base portion 12 and a second end 28b as a free end located below a notch 32 of the base portion 12. The adhesive for bonding the base portion 12 to an object can flow through the opening 30 before solidified. The anchor portion 28 can be engaged at least in part with the adhesive that penetrated through the opening 30 and is solidified, and can anchor the adhesive.

Description

TERMINAL

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a terminal, and more particularly to a terminal mounted to of an object.

Background

In a surface-mounting type (or surface mount type) terminal that is mounted to a surface of an object and is connected to a conductor formed on the surface, the construction has been known in which the terminal is mounted via an adhesive to the surface of the object, and an electrical contact point of the terminal and the conductor on the surface of the object are connected to each other mainly under adhesive action of the adhesive.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal mounting structure for mounting a terminal to a base plate having a conductor formed thereon. In Patent Document 1 , there is a description that "a terminal 3 includes two fixed sections 31, a plurality of elastic sections 32 extending generally in parallel from one of the fixed sections to the other fixed section, and base plate contact sections 33 provided on the elastic sections 32 so as to be convex to the base plate 1 and electrically connected to the conductor 2. The fixed section 31 are formed in a shape of generally flat plate, and a surface on the side of the base plate is fixed firmly to the base plate 1 by joining means such as a double coated adhesive tape 4 or the like. The base plate contact section 33 of the terminal 3 is bonded via an adhesive 5 to the base plate 1 while it is in contact with the conductor 2 under repulsive force due to elastic deformation of the elastic sections 32" and that "a terminal 303 includes a fixed section 331, a plurality of elastic section 332 extending in different directions (in mutually opposite directions in the example shown) from the fixed section 331, and base plate contact sections 333 provided on the elastic sections 332 so as to be convex to the base plate 302 and electrically connected to a conductor 302. The fixed section 331 is formed in a shape of generally flat plate, and a surface on the side of the base plate is firmly fixed to the base plate 301 by joining means such as a double coated adhesive tape 304 or the like. Also, the fixed section 331 is bonded via an adhesive 305 to the base plate 301 with the base plate contact section 333 of the terminal 303 in contact with the conductor 302 under the repulsive force due to elastic deformation of the elastic sections 332."

Patent Document 2 discloses a glass with a terminal wherein the terminal is bonded to the glass having silver print on the surface. In Patent Document 2, there is a description that "a terminal 14 is formed of two plates of different thickness, and includes a base portion 17 (having a thickness of, for example, 0.4 rom) with the lower surface bonded to the bonding layer 16 and a terminal portion 19

(having a thickness of, for example, 0.8 rom) provided upright from the base portion 17 with a female terminal portion 18 connected to a TV in the vehicle or the like", and that "the base portion 17 has archshaped bending portions 21, 21, that are bent toward the silver print 12 at both ends, and the bonding layer 16 is composed of a first double coated adhesive tape 22, an adhesive 23, and a second double coated adhesive tape 24 arranged from left in the drawing along the longitudinal direction of the terminal 14. Reference numerals 26, 26 denote contact points at which the bending portions 21, 21 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the silver print 12. Thus, the terminal 14 is in contact with the upper surface of the silver print 12 at a plurality of contact points 26, 26."

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1 : Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2009-105036

(Paragraphs 0016, 0030)

Patent Document 2: International Patent Publication No. WO 2010/100961 (Paragraphs 0043,

0045) Summary

In the construction in which an electric contact point and a conductor on an object surface are connected to each other mainly under adhesive action of an adhesive, it is desired to maintain proper connection of the electric contact point and the conductor stably for a long period, and at the same time, to reduce the amount of the adhesive used.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal comprising a base portion provided with a notch; a contact portion extending from the base portion, the contact portion provided with an electric contact point located below the base portion; and a cantilevered anchor portion extending below the base portion, the anchor portion provided with a free end located below the notch; wherein an opening is defined around the anchor portion, the opening being adapted to allow an adhesive for bonding the base portion to an object to flow through the opening before the adhesive is solidified, and at least a part of the anchor portion capable of being engaged with and anchoring the adhesive penetrated through the opening after the adhesive is solidified.

The terminal according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a cantilevered anchor portion extending below the base portion, and an opening formed around the anchor portion, so that the adhesive can be solidified in contact with the anchor portion without bulging above the base portion, and by controlling the direction of the adhesive before solidification when flowing through the opening, the adhesive can be solidified in desired shape. Therefore, with the terminal according to an aspect of the present invention, proper state of connection of the electric contact point and a conductor on the object surface can be maintained stably for a long period, and amount of liquid adhesive used can be reduced. Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view showing a terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention, (a) in a perspective view from above, and (b) in a perspective view from below.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1 , showing an example of a procedure for mounting the terminal of Fig. 1 to an object surface, and showing the steps of (a) provisional fixing and (b) bonding.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a variant of the terminal of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention, (a) in a perspective view from above, and (b) in a perspective view from below.

Fig. 5 is a view showing a terminal according to a third embodiment of the present invention, (a) in a perspective view, and (b) in a sectional view taken along the line v-v.

Figs. 6(a)-(d) are schematic plan views showing variants of the anchor portion of the terminal according to embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a terminal according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to appended drawings. Throughout the drawings, corresponding constituents are denoted by common reference numerals and symbols.

Fig. 1 is a view showing a terminal 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a view showing an example of procedure for mounting the terminal 10 to a surface of an object.

The terminal 10 includes a base portion 12, a contact portion 16 extending from the base portion 12 and provided with an electric contact point 14, and an adhesive support portion 18 provided in the base portion 12 separately from the contact portion 16 and capable of supporting an adhesive for bonding the base portion 12 to an object. The base portion 12 is a generally rectangular flat plate-shaped element having a first surface (lower surface in the drawing) 12a and a second surface (upper surface in the drawing) 12b opposed to each other. As will be described later, the base portion 12 is fixed to an object surface mainly by means of an adhesive, and functions as a basic portion to suitably position the electric contact point 14 of the contact portion 16 relative to a conductor formed on the object surface. The base portion 12 as a whole can have suitable elasticity determined in dependence on its material, shape, size, etc.

In the terminal 10 shown, a pair of contact portions 16 is respectively provided at both longitudinal ends of the base portion 12. Each contact portion 16 includes a plurality of (three in the drawing) arm portions 20. Each arm portion 20 is a cantilevered element connected at the proximal end 20a to the base portion 12 and having the distal end as a free arm. The arm portion 20 has a generally V- shape bent near the proximal end 20a to be extended in the direction (downward in the drawing) projecting from the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and reversed in the midway in opposite direction (upward in the drawing), and the outward bulging surface of this reversing region functions as an electric contact point 14. Therefore, each contact portion 16 has a plurality of (three in the drawing) electric contact points 14 disposed at positions projecting from the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 (below the base portion 12). Each arm portion 20 can have suitable elasticity determined in dependence on its material, shape, size, etc.

In the construction shown, the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 are integrally formed from same electrically conductive material in one unit. For example, the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 are integrally formed in one unit by punching and bending in a predetermined shape from a single sheet metal material of a predetermined thickness. The base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 may also be formed separately and joined to each other in later process.

The terminal 10 may further include an electric wire connection portion 22 extending from the base portion 12 separately from the contact portion 16. The electric wire connection portion 22 is a flat plate-shaped element extending in the center region 12c of the base portion 12 in the direction (upward in the drawing) projecting from the second surface 12b. In the distal end region of the electric wire connection portion 22, a distal end portion 24 is formed for detachably connecting an external electric wire (not shown). For example, by connecting an external electric wire to the electric wire connection portion 22 of the terminal 10 mounted to an object surface, desired electric current can be supplied to a conductor on the object surface from the external electric wire via the terminal 10.

In the construction shown, the electric wire connection portion 22 is formed from electrically conductive material separately from the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16, and is joined at the end region 26 opposed to the distal end region 24 to the center region 12c of the base portion 12 by joining means such as calking. Alternatively, the electric wire connection portion 22 may be formed integrally with the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 from same electrically conductive material. The electric wire connection portion 22 may have various shapes and sizes other than those shown, as long as aforementioned functions of the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 are not impaired.

In the terminal 10 shown, a pair of adhesive support portions 18 is respectively provided between the center region 12c of the base portion 12 and the contact portions 16 at both longitudinal ends of the base portion 12. Each adhesive support portion 18 includes a cantilevered anchor portion 28 extended to a position projecting from the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 (i.e., below the base portion 12). The anchor portion 28 has a first end 28a connected to the base portion 12, and a second end 28b as a free end disposed on the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 (i.e., below the base portion 12).

Around the anchor portion 28, a non-point symmetrical opening 30 extending between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 28 is formed. The opening 30 has a shape and size adapted to allow liquid adhesive supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 to flow freely through the opening 30 irrespective of the viscosity of the adhesive before it is solidified. The anchor portion 28 functions to be engaged at least in part with the adhesive penetrated through the opening 30 and to be solidified so as to anchor the adhesive at a fixed position. Here, "non-point symmetrical opening 30" means that the outline of the opening 30 visually recognized as seen from the side of the second surface 12b of the base portion 12 (i.e., above the base portion 12) is a non-point symmetrical shape (generally U-shape, in the terminal 10 shown). Such a non-point symmetrical opening 30 is defined between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 28 by forming a notch 32 in the base portion 12 so as to penetrate the base portion 12 in a thickness direction and arranging the notch 32 and the cantilevered anchor portion 28 connected at the first end 28a to the base 12 adjacently to the notch 32, at a position where the notch 32 and the anchor portion 28 are substantially superimposed on each other as seen from above the base portion 12. In this configuration, the second (or free) end 28b of the anchor portion 28 is located below the notch 32 at the side of the first surface 12a of the base portion 12. The opening 30 is defined between the entire outer periphery 28c of the anchor portion 28 including the second (or free) end 28b and the inner periphery 32a of the notch 32 (Fig. 1(b)).

In the terminal 10 shown, the anchor portion 28 integrally includes a first portion 34 having a first end 28a and extending in the direction generally perpendicular to the base portion 12, a second portion 36 having a second end 28b and extending in the direction generally parallel to the base portion 12. The second portion 36 is a generally rectangular plate-like part with the non-point symmetrical opening 30 of generally U-shape, formed along three sides of the second portion (plate-like part). The anchor portion 28 and the opening 30 may have various shapes and size other than those shown, as long as the opening 30 is non-point symmetrical, and the adhesive for bonding the base portion 12 to an object can freely flow through the opening 30 before the adhesive is solidified and is securely anchored by the anchor portion 28 after the adhesive is solidified.

The first portion 34 of the anchor portion 28 functions as a flow restriction section for restricting flow of an adhesive supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 before the adhesive is solidified. The first portion 34 restricts a flow of adhesive toward the contact portion 16 adjacent to the adhesive support portion 18 so as to substantially prevent the flow. An edge portion 26a on the side adjacent to the opening 30 of the end region 26 of the electric wire connection portion 22 joined to the center region 12c of the base portion 12 is disposed in opposition to the first portion 34 of the anchor portion 28, and functions as another flow restriction section for restricting the flow of adhesive supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 before the adhesive is solidified. The edge portion 26a restricts the flow of adhesive toward the center region 12c of the base portion 12 so as to substantially prevent the flow.

As shown, the anchor portion 28 may have in itself an optional through-hole 38 through which the adhesive can flow before the adhesive is solidified. The through-hole 38 may have a shape and size adapted to allow the liquid adhesive supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 to freely flow through the though-hole irrespective of the viscosity before the adhesive is solidified. In the drawing, a pair of throughholes 38 having the shape (circular shape) and size identical to each other is formed in the second portion (plate-like part) 36 of the anchor portion 28.

In the construction shown, the anchor portion 28 is fabricated integrally with the base portion 12 in one unit from same electrically conductive material as the base portion 12. For example, when the base portion 12 is punched in a predetermined shape in press process from a single sheet metal material of a predetermined thickness, the anchor portion 28 may be formed at the same time by punching and bending. In such press process, as seen from above the base portion 12, a cantilevered anchor portion 28 is disposed inside a notch in the shape of generally U-shape penetrating the base portion 12. The anchor portion 28 may also be fabricated from a member separate from the base portion 12, and joined to the base portion 12 in a later process.

An example of a procedure for mounting the terminal 10 to a surface 40a of an object 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. On the surface 40a of the object 40, a conductor 42 to which the terminal is to be connected is formed at suitable position.

As a preliminary step, a double coat adhesive tape 44 is applied to desired locations on the side of the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 of the terminal 10 except the contact portion 16 and the adhesive support portion 18 (in the drawing, surface of the end region 26 of the electric wire connection portion 22) (Fig. 2(a)). Alternatively, a double coat adhesive tape 44 is applied to positions of the surface 40a of the object 40 suitable for fixing desired locations of the terminal 10. As double coat adhesive tape 44, one having 3- layer structure consisting of an intermediate soft base material layer sandwiched by adhesive layers on both sides, such as VHB (trade mark) acrylic foam structural joining tape available from SUMITOMO 3M Co., may be used. Such a double coat adhesive tape 44 can resist shearing force applied in the direction of the surface of the double coat adhesive tape with the stress dispersing effect of the soft base material layer, and can absorb dimensional change of the terminal 10 due to variation of the ambient temperature, so that the base portion 12 of the terminal 10 can be firmly fixed to the surface 40a of the object 40.

Next, the terminal 10 is arranged in a position and orientation such that the plurality of (three) electric contact points 14 of the contact portion 16 are opposed to corresponding conductors 42 formed on the surface 40a of the object 40, and the base portion 12 is fixed to the object surface 40a with a double coat adhesive tape 44 (Fig. 2(a)). At this time, suitable pressing force P is applied to the base portion 12 so as to elastically deform at least one of the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 to bring individual electric contact points 14 into contact with the conductors 42 under uniform contact pressure P'. This pressing force P should be sufficiently large to cause the adhesive layer of the double coat adhesive tape 44 to exhibit required adhesive force. Shape and size of the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 (arm portion 20) and thickness of the double coat adhesive tape 44 are selected in advance so as to secure this contact pressure P'. Shape and size of the anchor portion 28 of the adhesive support portion 18 are selected in advance so as not to impede such elastic deformation of the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16. The double coat adhesive tape 44 is not intended to fix the terminal 10 permanently to the object 40, and needs only to exhibit a provisional fixing function until the adhesive is solidified as will be described later.

Next, the object 40 is arranged below the terminal 10 in the direction of gravity, and liquid adhesive 46 is supplied to each of a pair of adhesive support portion 18 of the terminal 10 provisionally fixed with a double coat adhesive tape 44 to the surface 40a of the object 40 (Fig. 2(a)). Liquid adhesive 46 flows through the opening 30 of the anchor portion 28 of each adhesive support portion 18 (also through the through-hole 38 in the construction shown), and tends to flow between the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and the object surface 40a, in dependence on its viscosity and wettability to the object surface 40a. At this time, since the opening 30 of the anchor portion 28 of each adhesive support portion 18 has a non-point symmetrical outline, the direction in which the liquid adhesive 46 flows through the opening 30 is substantially restricted, and accordingly, flow direction of the adhesive 46 between the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and the object surface 40a is substantially restricted. Therefore, by suitably selecting the non-point symmetrical shape of the opening 30, flow direction of the adhesive 46 before the adhesive is solidified can be controlled to solidify the adhesive 46 in a desired shape.

In the terminal 10 shown, when the liquid adhesive 46 flows through the opening 30 of each adhesive support portion 18, the first portion 34 of the anchor portion 28 of each adhesive support portion 18 and the edge portion 26a of the end region 26 of the electric wire connection portion 22 cooperate with each other to restrict flow of adhesive 46in the space between the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and the object surface 40a. As a result, the liquid adhesive 46 is substantially held in the region between the first position 34 and the edge portion 26a while in contact with the object surface 40a, and is stored in this region under frictional force and surface tension. In the construction shown, the side edge of the double coat adhesive tape 44 adjacent to the edge portion 26a of the end region 26 of the electric wire connection portion 22 also exhibits flow restricting function to the liquid adhesive 46.

In the terminal 10 shown, the second portion 36 of the anchor portion 28 is a plate-like part of generally rectangular shape with the opening 30 in generally U-shape extending over relatively wide space being formed along three sides of the second portion (plate-like part) 36, so that even if viscosity of the adhesive is relatively high, flow direction of the adhesive 46 can be controlled without impeding flow of the adhesive 46 itself through the opening 30. The through-holes 38 optionally provided in the anchor portion 28 can pass the adhesive 46 therethrough n order to supplement the adhesive 46 through the opening 30 when viscosity of the adhesive is relatively high. When viscosity of the adhesive 46 is relatively low and the adhesive 46 can pass through the opening 30 easily and rapidly, number and size of through-holes 38 can be reduced, or through-holes 38 can be totally omitted.

When a predetermined amount of adhesive 46 is supplied to the adhesive support portion 18, the adhesive 46, while in uniform contact with the anchor portion 28 under frictional force and surface tension, climbs over the anchor portion 28 and presents a form filling at least partially the opening 30 (Fig. 2(b)). At this time, since the cantilevered anchor portion 28 extends below the base portion 12, the adhesive 46 needs not be supplied to such an extent that the adhesive 46 flows out on the second surface 12b of the base portion 12.

When the adhesive 46 is solidified in a form filling at least partially the opening 30, the anchor portion 28 is engaged, at least in part, with the solidified adhesive 48 (Fig. 2(b)). In the terminal 10, the anchor portion 28 has the second portion 36 extending in the direction generally parallel to the base portion 12, and generally entire second portion 36 is embedded and fixed in the solidified adhesive 48. The solidified adhesive 48 secures sufficiently large contact area to the adhesive support portion 18 by contact with the anchor portion 28, and is anchored by the anchor portion 28 at a fixed position. Since the solidified adhesive 48 is anchored at a fixed position on the adhesive support portion 18, the terminal 10 is attached to the object surface 40a in dependence upon the adhesive force of the adhesive 48 to the object surface 40a (and supplementary adhesive force of the double coat adhesive tape 44), and the state in which at least one of the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 is elastically deformed is maintained, so that the contact pressure P' between individual electric contact point 14 and corresponding conductor 42 is maintained. As a result, proper connection each electric contact point 14 of the terminal 10 to corresponding conductor 42 can be stably maintained for a long period without being affected by variation of ambient temperature or vibration of the object 40 or the like.

With the terminal 10, since the cantilevered anchor portion 28 extending below the base portion is provided in the adhesive support portion 18 and the non-point symmetrical opening 30 is formed around the anchor portion 28, as described above, proper connection of the electrical contact point 14 to the conductor 42 on the object surface 40a can be stably maintained for a long period, and at the same time, amount of liquid adhesive 46 used can be reduced. In particular, in the terminal 10 shown, since the second portion 36 of the anchor portion 28 is embedded and fixed in the solidified adhesive 48, the terminal 10 is more firmly mounted to the object surface 40a, and proper connection of the electrical contact point 14 to the conductor 42 can be more stably maintained. Since the solidified adhesive 48 may have a shape not bulging from the second surface 12b of the base portion 12, it is advantageous if the space on the side of the second surface 12b of the base portion 12 is to be utilized more effectively.

Liquid adhesive can exhibit strong adhesive force by hardening or solidifying to hold the terminal 10 in firmly fixed state to the surface 40a of the object 40, and may consist of resin material in which chemical cross-linking reaction arises to form dense 3-dimensional network. Such resins include, for example, room temperature curing type or heat curing type resins such as epoxy-based resins, photo curable acrylic resins, heat curable acrylic resins, unsaturated polyester resins, silicone resins, urethane resins, bismaleimide, cyanoacrylate, urea resins. When a room temperature curing type resin such as an epoxy based resin is used as the adhesive 46, it is advantageous that work can be carried out at room temperature without application of heat, and the terminal 10 and the object 40 are not affected by heat. Other resins such as UV curable resins or thermoplastic resins may also be used as the adhesive 46. In the present application, "solidification" refers generally to hardening and solidifying in narrow sense.

In the terminal mounting procedure described above, the terminal 10 is provisionally fixed to the object 40 by using a double coat adhesive tape 44 to fix the base portion 12 to the object surface 40a. With this construction, the base portion 12 is fixed to the object surface 40a with a double coat adhesive tape 44, and at the same time, contact pressure P' between individual electric contact points 14 and corresponding conductor 42 can be secured and the contact pressure P' can be maintained for some time period, so that, even if a resin such as room temperature curing type resin that takes some time for solidification is used as the adhesive 46, the procedure may proceed to the next step without waiting for solidification of the adhesive 46. In place of the double coat adhesive tape, suitable adhesive or jig may be used to provisionally fix the terminal 10 to the object 40.

An electrically insulating member can be used as a member for provisional fixing such as the double coat adhesive tape 44 interposed between the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and the surface 40a of the object 40. With this construction, even if there is other conductor (not shown) electrically independent of the conductor 42 on the surface 40a of the object 40, the base portion 12 of the terminal 10 can be disposed on the other conductor via the electrically insulating member for provisional fixing, so that the terminal 10 can be mounted to the surface 40a of the object 40 where a large number of conductors are arranged in high density with no trouble in selecting the mounting position. As electrically insulating double coat adhesive tape 44, a cheap general purpose tape can be used. When insulation to conductors other than the terminal 10 and the conductor 42 needs not be considered, an electrically conductive member for provisional fixing may be used. With this construction, the terminal 10 can be connected, for example, to other portion of the conductor 42 via the electrically conductive member for provisional fixing, so that number of conduction paths between the terminal 10 and the conductor 42 can be increased and connection reliability can be improved.

In the terminal mounting procedure described above, by applying a pressing force P to the base portion 12 in the direction toward the object surface 40a, a plurality of electric contact points 14 of the contact portion 16 are brought into contact with the conductors 42 under uniform contact pressure P'. With this construction, a relatively high contact pressure P' can be produced between the electric contact points 14 and the conductors 42 in synergism with the shape of the electric contact point 14 consisting of outward bulging surface of the arm portion 20. Therefore, electrical connection can be stably established by penetrating oxide film formed on the surface of electric contact points 14 and conductors 42 without requiring so-called wiping action in which the electric contact point 14 is slid relative to the conductor 42 under the contact pressure.

The terminal 10 shown has a pair of contact portions 16 at both longitudinal ends of the base portion 12, and includes a plurality of (three in the drawing) electric contact points 14 in each contact portion 16. with this construction, even if the surface 40a of the object 40 includes curved surface, individual arm portion 20 having the electric contact point 14 can be elastically displaced independently of each other, so that each electric contact point 14 can be stably brought into contact with corresponding conductor 42 under the required contact pressure P'. Further, in the construction shown in which each contact portion 16 has a plurality of (three in the drawing) comb-shaped arm portions 20, heat generation can be suppressed by reducing the electric current flowing in individual arm portion 20, and heat discharging effect of the electric contact point 14 can be improved. The construction of the contact portion 16 is not limited to the construction shown in which a plurality of arm portions 20 are included, and the construction which includes a single arm portion bent in generally U-shape, or the construction in which a multiplicity of heat discharging holes are formed in a single arm portion, may be adopted.

The terminal 10 shown has the construction in which liquid adhesive 46 is supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 provided in the base portion 12, and fix the base portion 12 to the object 40 by solidified adhesive 48. With this construction, the contact portion 16 needs not be directly bonded to the conductor 42 on the object surface 40a, so that, even if dimension of the terminal 10 changes due to variation of ambient temperature, the electric contact point 14 of the contact portion 16 can slide along the surface of the conductor 42 while maintaining proper contact state. Therefore, even if such dimensional change is produced in the terminal 10, the terminal 10 and the object 40 can be protected from troublesome stress, and conductive connection of the terminal 10 and the conductor 42 can be stably maintained.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a variant of the terminal 10 described above. A terminal 10' according to the variant shown includes, in place of the electric wire connection portion 22 described above, an electric wire connection portion 50 in the shape of a flat plate extending in the direction generally parallel to the second surface 12b in the center region 12c of the base portion 12. The terminal 10' has substantially same construction as the terminal 10 described above except for the construction of the electric wire connection portion 50. Therefore, corresponding constituents are denoted by same reference numerals or symbols, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the distal end region of the electric wire connection portion 50, a distal end portion 52 that permits an external electric wire (not shown) to be detachably connected is formed. The electric wire connection portion 50 is formed from electrically conductive material separately from the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16, and is joined to the center region 12c of the base portion 12 at the end region 54 opposite to the distal end portion 52. Alternatively, the electric wire connection portion 50 can be formed integrally with the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 from the same electrically conductive material.

In each adhesive support portion 18, an anchor portion 28 and an opening 30 corresponding to the anchor portion 28 and the opening 30 of the terminal 10 described above except that through-holes 38 are absent are provided. Functions of the anchor portion 28 and the opening 30 and effects obtained with them are same as in the terminal 10. Fig. 4 is a view showing a terminal 60 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The terminal 60 has substantially same construction as the terminal 10 according to the first embodiment except for the construction of an anchor portion 62 of an adhesive support portion 18.

Therefore, corresponding constituents are denoted by common reference numerals or symbols, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The terminal 60 includes a base portion 12, a contact portion 16 extending from the base portion 12 and provided with an electric contact point 14, and an adhesive support portion 18 provided on the base portion 12 separately from the contact portion 16 and capable of supporting an adhesive for bonding the base portion 12 to an object. The terminal 60 further includes an electric wire connection portion 22 extending from the base portion 12 separately from the contact portion 16. The electric wire connection portion 22 is joined to the center region 12c of the base portion 12 at an end region 26 opposite to a distal end portion 24 by joining means such as calking.

In the terminal 60 shown, a pair of adhesive support portion 18 is respectively provided between the center region 12c of the base portion 12 and the contact portions 16 at both longitudinal ends. Each adhesive support portion 18 includes a cantilevered anchor portion 62 extending to a position projecting from the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 (i.e., below the base portion 12). The anchor portion 62 has a first end 62a connected to the end region 26 of the electric wire connection portion 22, and a second end 62b as a free end disposed on the side of the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 (i.e., below the base portion 12).

Around the anchor portion 62, a non-point symmetrical opening 64 extending between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 62 is formed. The opening 64 has a shape and size that permits liquid adhesive 46 supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 (Fig. 2) to flow freely through the opening 64 before the adhesive is solidified. The anchor portion 62 functions such that it can be engaged at least in part with and anchor the adhesive 48 that flows through the opening 64 and is solidified (Fig. 2). Here, the opening 64 is "non-point symmetrical" means that the outline of the opening 64 visually recognized as seen from the side of the second surface 12b of the base portion 12 (i.e., above the base portion 12) is a nonpoint symmetrical shape (generally U-shape, in the terminal 60 shown). Such a non-point symmetrical opening 64 is defined between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 62 by forming a notch 66 in the base portion 12 so as to penetrate the base portion 12 in a thickness direction and arranging the notch 66 and the cantilevered anchor portion 62 connected at the first end 62a to an edge portion 26a of the end region 26 of the electric wire connection portion 22 adjacently to the notch 66, at a position where the notch 66 and the anchor portion 62 are substantially superimposed on each other as seen from above the base portion 12. In this configuration, the second (or free) end 62b of the anchor portion 62 is located below the notch 66 at the side of the first surface 12a of the base portion 12. The opening 64 is defined between the entire outer periphery 62c of the anchor portion 62 including the second (or free) end 62b and the inner periphery 66a of the notch 66 (Fig. 4(b)). In the terminal 60 shown, the anchor portion 62 includes a plate-like part 68 of generally rectangular shape having the first end 62a and the second end 62b and extending in the direction generally parallel to the base portion 12, and the opening 64 of non-point symmetrical generally U-shape is formed along three sides of the plate-like part 68. The anchor portion 62 and the opening 64 may have various shapes and sizes not limited to those shown, as long as the opening 64 is of non-point symmetrical shape, and an adhesive for bonding the base portion 12 to an object can freely flow through the opening 64 before the adhesive is solidified and can be securely anchored by the anchor portion 62 after the adhesive is solidified.

The edge portion 26a of the end region 26 of the electric wire connection portion 22 joined to the center region 12c of the base portion 12 on the side adjacent to the opening 64 functions as a flow restricting portion that restricts flow of adhesive 46 supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 before the adhesive is solidified (Fig. 2). The edge portion 26a restricts flow so as to stop the flow of the adhesive 46 toward the center region 12c of the base portion 12.

As shown, the anchor portion 62 can have in itself optional through-holes 70 that permit the adhesive 46 before solidification to flow through them. The through-holes 70 have shapes and sizes that allow the liquid adhesive 46 supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 to flow freely through them irrespective of its viscosity. In the drawing, a pair of through-holes 70 having identical shape (rectangle) and size is formed in the plate-like part 68 of the anchor portion 62.

In the construction shown, the anchor portion 62 is formed integrally with the electric wire connection portion 22 from the same electrically conductive material as the electric wire connection portion 22. For example, when the electric wire connection portion 22 is formed by punching in a predetermined shape from a single sheet metal material of a predetermined thickness in press process, the anchor portion 62 can be formed at the same time by punching and bending. The anchor portion 62 may be formed from a separate member from the electric wire connection portion 22 and may be joined to the electric wire connection portion 22 in a later process.

The procedure for mounting the terminal 60 to the surface 40a of the object 40 (Fig. 2) is same as the mounting procedure for the terminal 10 described above. Liquid adhesive 46 supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 (Fig. 2) passes through the opening 64 (and also the through-holes 70 in the construction shown) around the anchor portion 62 of each adhesive support portion 18, and depending on its characteristics such as viscosity and wettability to the object surface 40a, tends to flow between the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and the object surface 40a. At this time, since the opening 64 of the anchor portion 62 of each adhesive support portion 18 has a non-point symmetrical outline, the direction in which the liquid adhesive 46 passes through the opening 64 is substantially restricted, and accordingly, the flow direction of the adhesive 46 between the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and the object surface 40a is substantially restricted. Therefore, by suitably selecting the non-point symmetrical shape of the opening 64, the flow direction of the adhesive 46 before solidification can be controlled in order to solidify the adhesive 46 in desired shape.

In the terminal shown, since the anchor portion 62 has the plate-like part 68 of generally rectangular shape, and the opening 64 of generally U-shape extending over a relatively large space is formed on the three directions of the plate-like part 68, even if the viscosity of the adhesive 46 is relatively high, the flow direction of the adhesive 46 can be controlled without impeding the flow itself of the adhesive through the opening 64. The through-holes 70 optionally provided in the anchor portion 62 can pass the adhesive 46 through themselves in order to supplement the adhesive 46 through the opening 64 when viscosity of the adhesive 46 is relatively high. If viscosity of the adhesive 46 is relatively low, number and size of the through-holes 70 can be reduced, or the through- holes 70 can be omitted.

When a predetermined amount of adhesive 46 is supplied to the adhesive support portion 18, the adhesive 46, while in uniform contact with the anchor portion 62 under frictional force and surface tension, climbs over the anchor portion 62 and presents a form filling the opening 64 at least in part. At this time, since the cantilevered anchor portion 62 extends below the base portion 12, the adhesive 46 needs not be supplied so much that it flows over onto the second surface 12b of the base portion 12.

When the adhesive 46 is solidified in the form filling the opening at least in part, the anchor portion 62 is engaged with at least in part and anchors the adhesive 48 after solidification (Fig. 2). In the terminal 60 shown, the anchor portion 62 has the plate-like part 68 extending in the direction generally parallel to the base portion 12, and generally entire plate-like part 68 is embedded in the adhesive 48 after solidification. The adhesive 48 after solidification secures sufficiently large contact area to the adhesive support portion 18 by being in contact with anchor portion 62, and is anchored at fixed position by the anchor portion 62. Since the adhesive 48 after solidification is anchored at fixed position on the adhesive support portion 18, depending on the adhesive force of the adhesive 48 to the object surface 40a (and supplementary adhesive force of a double coat adhesive tape), the terminal 60 is attached to the object surface 40a, while the state in which at least one of the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 of the terminal 60 is elastically deformed is maintained, so that contact pressure P' between individual electric contact point 14 and corresponding conductor 42 (Fig. 2) is maintained. As a result, proper connection of each electric contact point 14 of the terminal 60 and corresponding conductor 42 (Fig. 2) can be stably maintained for a long period without being affected by variation of ambient temperature or vibration of the object 40.

With the terminal 60, since the cantilevered anchor portion 62 extending below the base portion 12 is provided in the adhesive support portion 18, and the non-point symmetrical opening 64 is formed around the anchor portion 62, proper connection of the electric contact point 14 of the contact portion 16 and the conductor 42 on the object surface 40a can be stably maintained for a long period as noted above, and amount of adhesive used can be reduced. In particular, in the terminal 60 shown, the plate-like part 68 of the anchor portion 62 is embedded and fixed in the adhesive 48 after solidification, so that the terminal 60 is more firmly mounted to the object surface 40a, and the proper connection of the electric contact point 14 and the conductor 42 is more stably maintained. Since the adhesive 48 after solidification can have a shape not bulging from the second surface 12b of the base portion 12, it is advantageous if, in application of the terminal 60, the space on the side of the second surface 12b of the base portion 12 is to be utilized effectively.

In the terminal 10, 60 according to various embodiments described above, a pair of contact portions 16 is respectively provided at both longitudinal ends of the base portion 12, and a pair of adhesive support portions is respectively provided between the center region 12c of the base portion 12 and the contact portions 16 at both longitudinal ends. This construction can stably maintain proper connection between the electric contact point 14 of the terminal 10, 60 and the conductor 42 on the object surface 40a in good balance. In particular, when the mounting region of the object surface 40a to which the terminal 10, 60 is to be mounted is concavely curved, contact pressure P' can be easily secured by fixing the center region 12c of the base portion 12 to the object surface 40a as described above.

In contrast, Fig. 5 shows a terminal 80 according to a third embodiment of the present invention including a single contact portion 16 and a single adhesive support portion 18. The terminal 80 has substantially same construction as the terminal 10 according to the first embodiment (Fig. 1) except that it includes a single contact portion 16 and a single adhesive support portion 18. Therefore, corresponding constituents are denoted by common reference numerals or symbols, and detailed explanation will be omitted.

The terminal 80 includes a base portion 12, a contact portion 16 extending from the base portion

12 and having an electric contact point 14, and an adhesive support portion 18 provided on the base portion 12 separately from the contact portion 16 and capable of supporting an adhesive for bonding the base portion 12 to an object. In the terminal 80 shown, a single contact portion 16 is provided at one longitudinal end of the base portion 12, and a single adhesive support portion 18 is provided between the other longitudinal end region 12c of the base portion 12 and the contact portion 16 (Fig. 5(a)). The adhesive support portion 18 includes a cantilevered anchor portion 28 extending to a position projecting from the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 (i.e., below the base portion 12). Around the anchor portion 28, a non-point symmetrical opening 30 extending between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 28 is formed. The opening 30 has a shape and size that permits liquid adhesive 46 supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 before solidification (Fig. 2) to flow freely through the opening 30 irrespective of its viscosity. The anchor portion 28 functions to be engaged at least in part with the adhesive 48 that passes through the opening 30 and is solidified, and anchor the adhesive 48 at fixed position.

Since, in the terminal shown in Fig. 5, the cantilevered anchor portion 28 extending below the base portion 12 is provided in the single adhesive support portion 18, and the non-point symmetrical opening 30 is formed around the anchor portion 28, proper connection of the electric contact point 14 of the contact portion 16 and the conductor 42 on the object surface 40a (Fig. 2) can be maintained stably for a long period, and the amount of liquid adhesive 46 used can be reduced.

In the terminal la, 60, 80 according to various embodiments described above, the anchor portion 28, 62 has an outline that corresponds to the outline of the notch 32, 66 formed in the base portion 12, as seen from the second surface 12b to the base portion 12 (i.e., above the base portion 12) (Fig. 6(a)).

Alternatively, the anchor portion 28, 62 may have an outline not corresponding to the outline of the notch 32, 66 formed in the base portion 12, as seen from the second surface 12b to the base portion 12 (i.e., above the base portion 12). For example, a notch 32, 66 having a generally rectangular outline may be combined with an anchor portion 28, 62 having a rectangular outline with rounded front (Fig. 6(b)), a generally triangular outline (Fig. 6(c)), a triangular outline with rounded tip (Fig. 6(d)), or the like, to construct the adhesive support portion 18. In any of the construction shown, a nonpoint symmetrical opening 30, 64 is formed between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 28, 62.

The terminal 10, 60, 80 according to various embodiments described above can be used as a terminal for electric heating wire annexed as anti-tarnishing to an automobile rear window. An electric heating wire of an automobile rear window is generally formed by printing electrically conductive paste in a predetermined pattern on a glass plate, and a terminal is provided at the end of the electric heating wire for connection to a cable from a power supply. By using the terminal 10, 60, 80, an adhesive can be used to connect the terminal 10, 60, 80 to an electric heating wire stably for a long period without soldering.

The terminal 10, 60, 80 according to various embodiments described above can also be used by surface-mounting to a substrate board such as a printed circuit board. The terminal 10, 60, 80 can be easily and reliably connected to a conductor such as aluminum or electrically conductive ceramics that is difficult to be joined by soldering.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a terminal 90 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The terminal 90 includes a wall 92 separately from the anchor portion 28, the wall 92 functioning as an outflow preventing section for restricting a flow of an adhesive supplied to an anchor portion 28 before the adhesive is solidified. The terminal 90 has substantially same construction as the terminal 10 according to the first embodiment (Fig. 1) except for the provision of the wall 92. Therefore,

corresponding constituents are denoted by common reference numerals or symbols, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The terminal 90 includes a base portion 12, a pair of contact portions 16 extending from the base portion 12 and provided respectively with electric contact points 14, and a pair of adhesive support portions 18 provided in the base portion 12 separately from the contact portions 16 and capable of supporting an adhesive for bonding the base portion 12 to an object. Each adhesive support portion 18 includes a cantilevered anchor portion 28 extended to a position projecting from the first surface 12a (Fig. 2) of the base portion 12 (i.e., below the base portion 12). Around the anchor portion 28, a non-point symmetrical opening 30 extending between the base portion 12 and the anchor portion 28 is formed. The opening 30 has a shape and size adapted to allow an unsolidified liquid adhesive 46 (Fig. 2) supplied to the adhesive support portion 18 to flow freely through the opening 30 irrespective of the viscosity of the adhesive. The anchor portion 28 functions to be engaged at least in part with a solidified adhesive 48 (Fig. 2) penetrated through the opening 30 so as to anchor the adhesive 48 at a fixed position.

The terminal 90 further includes a wall 92 extending below the base portion 12 separately from the anchor portion 28 and formed uprightly along an edge 12d of the base portion 12 at a position near the opening 30. In the illustrated configuration, a pair of upright walls 92 are provided at positions near the opening 30 formed around each of a pair of anchor portions 28, so as to project on the first surface 12a (Fig. 2) from the longitudinally-extending opposite side edges 12d of the base 12. Each wall 92 includes, as a unitary part, a proximal end portion 92a connected to the side edge 12d of the base portion 12, and a side wall portion 92b extending from the proximal end portion 92a along the base portion side edge 12d to a region near the opening 30. The wall 92 extends in a direction generally perpendicular to both of the first surface 12a of the base portion 12 and the first portion 34 of the anchor portion 28.

In the illustrated configuration, the wall 92 is formed integrally with the base portion 12, as a unitary part, from the same electrically conductive material as the base portion 12. For example, in a press process, when the base portion 12 is punched out to a predetermined shape from a single sheet metal having a predetermined thickness, the wall 92 can be simultaneously formed by punching and bending the sheet metal. Alternatively, the wall 92 may be previously formed separately from the base portion 12 and thereafter joined to the base portion 12. Also, the proximal end portion 92a and the side wall portion 92b of the wall 92 may be previously formed separately from each other and thereafter joined integrally to each other.

The pair of walls 92 provided near each opening 30 cooperate with the first portion 34 of the anchor portion 28, and function to restrict the flow of the unsolidified adhesive 46 (Fig. 2) supplied to the anchoring section 62 and prevent the unsolidified adhesive 46 from flowing out from the adhesive support portion 18 to the outside. Therefore, in the terminal 90, the adhesive anchoring function of the anchor portion 28 and the adhesive-flow restricting function of the wall 92 synergistically operate to allow the adhesive 48 (Fig. 2) to be solidified in shape and size sufficient to ensure a required anchoring force with a minimum required amount of supplied adhesive 46. As a result, proper connection between each electric contact point 14 of the terminal 90 and a corresponding conductor 42 (Fig. 2) can be stably maintained for a long period without being affected by the fluctuation of ambient temperature, the vibration of the object 40 (Fig. 2), etc.

Description of Reference Numerals

10, 60, 80, 90—-terminal

12 base portion 14 electric contact point

16 contact portion

18 adhesive support portion

20 arm portion

22, 50 electric wire connection portion

28, 62 anchor portion

30, 64 opening

32, 66 notch

34 first portion

36 second portion

38, 70 through-hole

46 adhesive (before solidification)

48 adhesive (after solidification)

68 plate-like part

92— -wall

Following are exemplary embodiments of a terminal according to aspects of the present invention.

Embodiment 1 is a terminal comprising: a base portion provided with a notch; a contact portion extending from said base portion, said contact portion provided with an electric contact point located below said base portion; and a cantilevered anchor portion extending below said base portion, said anchor portion provided with a free end located below said notch; wherein an opening is defined around said anchor portion, said opening being adapted to allow an adhesive for bonding said base portion to an object to flow through said opening before the adhesive is solidified, and at least a part of said anchor portion capable of being engaged with and anchoring the adhesive penetrated through said opening after the adhesive is solidified.

Embodiment 2 is the terminal of embodiment 1 , wherein said opening is a nonpoint symmetrical opening.

Embodiment 3 is the terminal of embodiments 1 or 2, wherein said anchor portion is provided with a first end joined to said base portion and a second end comprising said free end.

Embodiment 4 is the terminal of anyone of embodiments 1-3, wherein said anchor portion comprises a part extending parallel to said base portion. Embodiment 5 is the terminal of anyone of embodiments 1 -4, wherein said anchor portion comprises a generally rectangular plate-like part, said opening defined along three sides of said plate-like part. Embodiment 6 is the terminal of anyone of embodiments 1-5, wherein said anchor portion is provided with a through hole adapted to allow the adhesive to flow therethrough before the adhesive is solidified.

Embodiment 7 is the terminal of anyone of embodiments 1 -6, further comprising a wall extending below said base portion separately from said anchor portion and formed uprightly along an edge of said base portion at a position near said opening.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the mechanical, electromechanical, and electrical arts will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adoptions or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal comprising:

a base portion provided with a notch;

a contact portion extending from said base portion, said contact portion provided with an electric contact point located below said base portion; and

a cantilevered anchor portion extending below said base portion, said anchor portion provided with a free end located below said notch;

wherein an opening is defined around said anchor portion,

said opening being adapted to allow an adhesive for bonding said base portion to an object to flow through said opening before the adhesive is solidified, and at least a part of said anchor portion capable of being engaged with and anchoring the adhesive penetrated through said opening after the adhesive is solidified.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein said opening is a nonpoint symmetrical opening.

3. The terminal of claim 1 or 2, wherein said anchor portion is provided with a first end joined to said base portion and a second end comprising said free end.

4. The terminal of anyone of claims 1-3, wherein said anchor portion comprises a part extending parallel to said base portion.

5. The terminal of anyone of claims 1-4, wherein said anchor portion comprises a generally rectangular plate-like part, said opening defined along three sides of said plate-like part.

6. The terminal of anyone of claims 1-5, wherein said anchor portion is provided with a through hole adapted to allow the adhesive to flow therethrough before the adhesive is solidified.

7. The terminal of anyone of claims 1-6, further comprising a wall extending below said base portion separately from said anchor portion and formed uprightly along an edge of said base portion at a position near said opening.