阅读说明：本技术 端子金属配件和端子金属配件与壳体的配合结构 (Terminal metal fitting and fitting structure of terminal metal fitting and housing ) 是由 千叶真吾 长坂尚一 金大成 斋藤淳仁 于 2019-05-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：端子金属配件(10)包括：管状盒部(11),接收配对端子；锁定孔(14),形成为穿过所述盒部(11)的壁(11a)并接收锁定突起(25)；端子弹簧(16),从所述盒部(11)的内壁表面延伸,以按压和接触所述配对端子；支撑点部(15),形成在所述锁定孔(14)周围的部分处,以具有悬臂形状。当所述端子弹簧(16)接触所述配对端子时,支撑点部(15)用作支撑点(15a)。(The terminal metal fitting (10) includes: a tubular box portion (11) receiving a mating terminal; a locking hole (14) formed through a wall (11a) of the box portion (11) and receiving a locking protrusion (25); a terminal spring (16) extending from an inner wall surface of the box portion (11) to press and contact the counterpart terminal; a support point part (15) formed at a portion around the locking hole (14) to have a cantilever shape. When the terminal spring (16) contacts the counterpart terminal, a supporting point portion (15) serves as a supporting point (15 a).)

1. A terminal metal fitting locked in a terminal accommodating chamber by using a locking protrusion provided in a housing, the terminal metal fitting comprising:

a tubular box portion receiving a mating terminal;

a locking hole formed through a wall of the box part and receiving the locking protrusion;

a terminal spring extending from an inner wall surface of the box part to press and contact the counterpart terminal; and

a supporting point portion formed by cutting a portion around the locking hole and erecting the cut portion inside the box portion to have a cantilever shape, the supporting point portion serving as a supporting point when the terminal spring presses and contacts the counterpart terminal.

2. The terminal metal fitting according to claim 1,

the terminal spring extends to straddle the locking hole and is positioned to eliminate contact with the locking protrusion received through the locking hole; and

the support point portion supports the terminal spring to restrict deformation of the terminal spring toward the locking protrusion.

3. A fitting structure of a terminal metal fitting and a housing, the fitting structure comprising:

the terminal metal fitting according to claim 1 or 2; and

the housing has a terminal accommodating chamber for receiving the terminal metal fitting and a locking protrusion for locking the terminal metal fitting in the terminal accommodating chamber.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a terminal metal fitting and a fitting structure of the terminal metal fitting and a housing.

Background

There is known a fitting structure of a housing and a terminal metal fitting in which the terminal metal fitting is prevented from accidentally coming out of each terminal accommodating chamber of the housing by engaging a lance (locking protrusion) provided in the terminal accommodating chamber with a locking hole (lance hole) of the terminal metal fitting.

For details of the above structure, see JP2014-216256 a.

Disclosure of Invention

The above-described conventional fitting structure is based on the prerequisite that the terminal metal fitting locked by the lance cannot be moved backward in the housing direction unless the locking of the lance is canceled. In reality, however, there may occur a situation where, when, for example, the electric wire is subjected to a strong external force during its wiring, if the terminal metal fitting is pulled by the electric wire connected to the terminal metal fitting and is thereby pressed against the lance, a part of the terminal metal fitting (for example, the thin plate-like locking piece) bites into the associated lance. In that case, the terminal metal fitting is moved backward by the bite length in the housing direction.

When a part of the terminal metal fitting bites into the associated lance, not only the terminal metal fitting is displaced rearward in the housing direction but also it may be inclined in a direction crossing the housing direction. If the terminal metal fittings are subjected to such excessive positional deviation, when an attempt is made to fit the housing into or with the counterpart housing, the terminal metal fittings cannot properly contact the counterpart terminals so that electrical contact therebetween is not proper. Furthermore, when over-biting occurs, such an event may occur: the fit between the lance and the terminal metal fitting cannot be maintained, resulting in a large positional deviation of the terminal metal fitting out of the terminal accommodating chamber. It is preferable to prevent the possibility of occurrence of such positional deviation of the terminal metal fittings as much as possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal metal fitting and a fitting structure of a housing and the terminal metal fitting capable of suppressing positional deviation of the terminal metal fitting in each terminal accommodating chamber of the housing.

Embodiments of the present invention provide the following items (1) to (3):

(1) a terminal metal fitting locked in a terminal accommodating chamber by using a locking protrusion provided in a housing, the terminal metal fitting comprising:

a tubular box portion receiving a mating terminal;

a locking hole formed through a wall of the box part and receiving the locking protrusion;

a terminal spring extending from an inner wall surface of the box part to press and contact the counterpart terminal; and

a supporting point portion formed by cutting a portion around the locking hole and erecting the cut portion inside the box portion to have a cantilever shape, the supporting point portion serving as a supporting point when the terminal spring presses and contacts the counterpart terminal.

(2) The terminal metal fitting according to the item (1), wherein,

the terminal spring extends to straddle the locking hole and is positioned to eliminate contact with the locking protrusion received through the locking hole; and

the support point portion supports the terminal spring to restrict deformation of the terminal spring toward the locking protrusion.

(3) A fitting structure of a terminal metal fitting and a housing, the fitting structure comprising:

the terminal metal fitting according to item (1) or item (2); and

a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber for receiving the terminal metal fitting and a locking protrusion for locking the terminal metal fitting in the terminal accommodating chamber.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as for item (1), since the portion around the lock hole is cut and erected, the opening area of the lock hole is increased. By increasing the opening area of the locking hole, a larger locking protrusion can be used. Even if the end face of the locking hole bites into the locking projection when, for example, the terminal metal fitting is used, the use of the larger locking projection allows itself to undergo deeper biting. As a result, positional deviation of the terminal metal fittings in the terminal accommodating chambers can be more appropriately suppressed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as for item (2), a space between the locking hole and the terminal spring may be used as a space for receiving the locking protrusion. As a result, the internal space of the box portion 11 of the terminal metal fitting can be effectively utilized. Moreover, even if the terminal spring is pushed in a direction to be closer to the locking protrusion by the mating terminal inserted into the box portion of the terminal metal fitting, since the deformation of the terminal spring toward the locking protrusion is restricted by the supporting point portion, the interference of the terminal spring with the locking protrusion is suppressed. With these features, the terminal metal fitting 10 can be miniaturized without impairing its function.

Further, since the terminal metal fitting can be miniaturized as described above, the terminal metal fitting can be provided with an additional function. For example, a portion that engages with a holder, a spacer, or the like to double-lock the terminal metal fitting on the housing may be provided at a position closer to the tip end of the terminal metal fitting (e.g., a position on the rear end side of the box portion) than the conventional case. This makes the housing itself compact because the position of the holder or the like is closer to the distal end side of the terminal metal fitting.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, as for item (3), since the portion around the lock hole is cut and erected, the opening area of the lock hole is increased. A larger locking projection can be used by increasing the opening area of the locking hole, and therefore, when, for example, a terminal metal fitting is used, even if the end face of the locking hole bites into the locking projection, the locking projection can withstand deeper biting. As a result, the fitting structure having such a structure can suppress positional deviation of each terminal metal fitting in the associated terminal accommodating chamber more appropriately than the conventional structure.

The present invention can provide a terminal metal fitting and a fitting structure of a housing and the terminal metal fitting, which can suppress positional deviation of the terminal metal fitting in each terminal accommodating chamber of the housing.

Several aspects of the present invention have been briefly described above. Further details of the invention will become apparent if the following description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a terminal metal fitting according to an embodiment, and fig. 1B is a perspective view of the terminal metal fitting viewed from a different angle from fig. 1A.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line a-a in fig. 1B.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing a state in which each of the terminal metal fittings shown in fig. 1A and 1B is accommodated in a housing, and fig. 3B is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in fig. 3A.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion C of fig. 3B.

Detailed Description

< example >

The terminal metal fitting 10 and the fitting structure 1 of the terminal metal fitting 10 and the housing 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, in the axial direction (fitting direction) of each terminal metal fitting 10, the fitting side (left side in fig. 1A and 1B to 4) of the counterpart terminal (not shown) will be referred to as a tip side (or front side), and the side opposite to the tip side (right side in fig. 1A and 1B to 4) will be referred to as a base side (or rear side). Further, the top side and the bottom side are defined as shown in fig. 1A and 1B to fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the fitting structure 1 is equipped with terminal metal fittings 10 to which the terminating end portions of the electric wires 30 are respectively connected, and a housing 20 that accommodates the terminal metal fittings 10. As shown in fig. 3B, each electric wire 30 is constituted by a core wire 31 and a resin cover 32 covering the core wire 31.

As shown in fig. 1A and 1B and fig. 2, each terminal metal fitting 10 is a female terminal formed by pressing a metal plate, and is equipped with a rectangular cylindrical box portion 11 into which a counterpart terminal (male terminal (not shown)) is insertable, a core wire die forging 12 for crimping a core wire 31 of an electric wire 30, and a cover die forging 13 for punching on a cover 32 of the electric wire 30, thereby fixing the electric wire 30.

As shown in fig. 1A and 2, the bottom wall 11A of the box portion 11 is formed at a substantially center in the fitting direction with a rectangular locking hole 14 (through hole) for receiving a lance 25 (see fig. 3B and 4; described later) provided in the housing 20.

A portion of the bottom wall 11a of the box portion 11 surrounding the base end side end face of the locking hole 14 is formed with a support point portion 15 as a cut standing piece, which is cut apart and stands obliquely toward the inside (i.e., upward) of the box portion 11 and toward the distal end side like a cantilever, at the center in the width direction. The width of the supporting point part 15 is slightly larger than the width of the lance 25. Therefore, the locking hole 14 and the supporting point part 15 form a space that can serve as a part capable of receiving the lance 25.

As shown in fig. 2, the plate-like terminal spring 16 is provided on the inner surface (top surface) of the bottom wall 11a of the box part 11 so as to extend obliquely like a cantilever from a position on the base side of the locking hole 14 to a position on the distal end side of the locking hole 14 to the inside of the box part 11 (i.e., upward) and across the locking hole 14. The distal end portion 15a of the supporting point portion 15 is in contact with or opposed to the bottom surface of the terminal spring 16 at a position near the center in the extending direction of the terminal spring 16 with a slight gap.

The distal end portion of the terminal spring 16 is bent downward. A counterpart terminal (male terminal) inserted through the distal end side opening 11c of the box part 11 is sandwiched between the top projecting end 16a of the distal end portion of the terminal spring 16 and the top wall 11b of the box part 11. When the terminal spring 16 is pressed against and brought into contact with the counterpart terminal in this way, the distal end portion 15a of the supporting point portion 15 serves as a supporting point at which the terminal spring 16 is elastically deformed downward. These features will be described in detail later.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the housing 20 is equipped with a terminal accommodating portion 21 for holding the terminal metal fitting 10 and a lock arm 22 provided on the top surface of the terminal accommodating portion 21 and having a lock protrusion 22 a. When the housing 20 is fitted into a mating housing (not shown) accommodating a mating terminal, the lock arm 22 is fitted with a fitting portion of the mating housing. Thus, the lock arm 22 performs a function of locking the connected state of the two housings.

The terminal accommodating portion 21 is provided with a terminal accommodating chamber 23 for accommodating each terminal metal fitting 10, an insertion hole 24 through which each counterpart terminal is inserted, and a lance 25.

As shown in fig. 3B, the terminal accommodating chambers 23 are open on the base side of the housing 20, and the terminal metal fittings 10 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 23 from the base side of the housing 20.

As shown in fig. 3B, each insertion hole 24 is open at the tip of the associated terminal accommodating chamber 23 and communicates with the terminal accommodating chamber 23. The counterpart terminal is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 23 through the insertion hole 24 and fitted into the box portion 11 of the terminal metal fitting 10 held in the terminal accommodating chamber 23. As a result, a state in which the counterpart terminal and the terminal metal fitting 10 are electrically connected to each other is maintained.

As shown in fig. 3B, the lance 25 is provided on the bottom surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 23 opposite to the bottom wall 11a of the box portion 11 of the terminal metal fitting 10 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 23. The lance 25 is an elastic piece that extends from a predetermined position on the bottom surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 23 obliquely toward the inside (i.e., upward) of the terminal accommodating chamber 23 and toward the distal end side as a cantilever.

In a state in which the terminal metal fitting 10 is inserted halfway into the terminal accommodating chamber 23, the lance 25 is elastically deformed downward by interference of the bottom wall 11a of the box portion 11 of the terminal metal fitting 10. After the terminal metal fitting 10 is inserted completely, the lance 25 returns to the initial state by its own elastic restorability while entering the locking hole 14 of the box part 11. As a result, as shown in fig. 3B and 4, the lance 25 is received by the locking hole 14. Therefore, a state is established in which the tip end surface of the lance 25 and the tip end side surface of the locking hole 14 are engaged with each other, thereby preventing the terminal metal fitting 10 from being disengaged from the terminal accommodating chamber 23.

As shown in fig. 4, in a state where the lance 25 is received by the locking hole 14, a part of the lance 25 is located in a space formed between the locking hole 14 and the terminal spring 16 of the terminal metal fitting 10, and the terminal spring 16 is not in contact with the lance 25. When the counterpart terminal is further inserted into the box part 11 of the terminal metal fitting 10 from the state of fig. 4, although the terminal spring 16 is pushed down (toward the lance 25), because the tip end part 15a of the supporting point part 15 serves as a supporting point of the terminal spring 16, the downward deformation of the terminal spring 16 (toward the lance 25) is restricted. As a result, the terminal spring 16 can be reliably prevented from interfering with the lance 25.

Further, since the supporting point part 15 is cut apart from the base side end of the locking hole 14 and erected, a space between the locking hole 14 and the supporting point part 15 can be used as a space for receiving a part of the lance 25. Therefore, the dimension of the locking hole 14 in the fitting direction in relation to the reception of the lance 25 increases from the dimension L1 in the case where the supporting point part 15 is not formed to the dimension L2 of the present structure (see fig. 4). This makes it possible to receive the lance 25 larger than that in the case where the supporting point part 15 is not formed through the locking hole 14.

Hereinafter, the dimension of the cross section in the fitting direction obtained by cutting the lance 25 received by the locking hole 14 through the plane containing the opening of the locking hole 14 is referred to as a shearing distance L3 (see fig. 4). When an external force acts on the terminal metal fitting 10 in a direction of being pulled out from the terminal accommodating chamber 23, the tip end side surface of the locking hole 14 pushes the tip end surface of the lance 25, whereby a shear stress acts on the lance 25 in the fitting direction.

In this embodiment, the terminal metal fitting 10 can receive the lance 25 through the locking hole 14, and the lance 25 increases over the shearing distance L3 as the dimension of the locking hole 14 in relation to receiving the lance 25 increases from L1 to L2 in the fitting direction. Therefore, when the external force as described above is applied to the terminal metal fitting 10, the shear stress acting on the lance 25 in the fitting direction is reduced by a value corresponding to an increase in the shear distance L3. As a result, the lance 25 is not easily deformed when an external force is applied to the terminal metal fitting 10. Even if the distal end side surface of the locking hole 14 bites into the lance 25, the lance 25 can undergo deeper biting due to the increase in the shearing distance L3.

In the terminal metal fitting 10 and the fitting structure 1 according to the embodiment of the invention, the opening area of the lock hole 14 is increased because the portion around the lock hole 14 is cut and erected. By increasing the opening area, a larger lance 25 can be received through the locking hole 14. When an external force is applied to the terminal metal fitting 10 being used, a situation may occur in which the end face of the locking hole 14 bites into the lance 25. In the case where the lance 25 is large, it can withstand deeper biting. As a result, the inclination of the terminal metal fitting 10 in the terminal accommodating chamber 23 can be suppressed.

Further, a space between the locking hole 14 and the terminal spring 16 may be used as a space for receiving the lance 25. As a result, since the internal space of the box portion 11 of the terminal metal fitting 10 can be effectively utilized, the terminal metal fitting 10 can be miniaturized without giving any function thereto. Also, even if the terminal spring 16 is pushed in a direction approaching the lance 25 by the inserted counterpart terminal, since the deformation of the terminal spring 16 toward the lance 25 is restricted by the supporting point part 15, the interference of the terminal spring 16 with the lance 25 is suppressed. As a result, even if the terminal metal fitting 10 is miniaturized, the function thereof can be maintained.

Further, since the terminal metal fitting 10 can be miniaturized as described above, the terminal metal fitting 10 can be made to provide an additional function. For example, a portion that mates with a retainer for double locking may be provided at a position closer to the tip of the terminal metal fitting 10 (e.g., a position on the rear end side of the box portion 11) than in the conventional case. This contributes to miniaturization of the connector structure.

< other examples >

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various modifications may be used within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but changes, improvements, and the like can be made as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement position, and the like of each constituent element in the foregoing embodiments are not limited. Any material, any shape, any size, any number, any arrangement position, and the like may be used as long as the present invention can be implemented.

In the above-described embodiment, the box portion 11 of each terminal metal fitting 10 is shaped like a rectangular cylinder. However, the box portion 11 of each terminal metal fitting 10 may be shaped cylindrically, in which case the electric wire connected to each terminal metal fitting 10 may be a coaxial cable.

The features of the above-described terminal metal fitting 10 and the fitting structure 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be briefly summarized in the form of items [1] to [3 ]:

(1) a terminal metal fitting (10) locked in a terminal accommodating chamber (23) by using a locking protrusion (25) provided in a housing (20), the terminal metal fitting (10) comprising:

a tubular box portion (11) receiving a mating terminal;

a locking hole (14) formed through a wall (11a) of the box portion (11) and receiving the locking protrusion (25);

a terminal spring (16) extending from an inner wall surface of the box portion (11) to press and contact the counterpart terminal; and

and a support point portion (15) formed by cutting a portion around the locking hole (14) and erecting the cut portion inside the box portion (11) to have a cantilever shape, the support point portion (15) serving as a support point (15a) when the terminal spring (16) presses and contacts the counterpart terminal.

(2) The terminal metal fitting (10) according to [1], wherein,

the terminal spring (16) extends to straddle the locking hole (14) and is positioned to eliminate contact with the locking protrusion (25) received through the locking hole (14); and

the support point portion (15) supports the terminal spring (16) to restrict deformation of the terminal spring (16) toward the locking protrusion (25).

(3) A fitting structure (1) of a terminal metal fitting (10) and a housing (20), the fitting structure (1) comprising:

the terminal metal fitting (10) according to the item [1] or the item [2 ]; and

a housing (20) having a terminal accommodating chamber (23) for receiving the terminal metal fitting (10) and a locking protrusion (25) for locking the terminal metal fitting (10) in the terminal accommodating chamber (23).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: fitting structure

10: terminal metal fitting

11: box part

11 a: bottom wall

14: locking hole

15: supporting point part

15 a: terminal part (supporting point)

16: terminal spring

20: shell body

23: terminal housing chamber

25: spear bar (engaging projection)