JP5945962B2 - Male terminal fitting and terminal fitting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a male terminal fitting and a terminal fitting device.

  The male terminal fitting is formed by bending a conductive plate material. A tab portion extending in the form of a plate is formed at the distal end portion, and can enter into the square tube portion of the female terminal fitting and be electrically connected. In the male terminal fitting, a box portion is formed in a rectangular tube shape at the rear portion of the tab portion, and a barrel portion for connection with the electric wire is further formed behind the box portion. Since the box part is opened to the rear, the tip of the tab part enters the rear opening of the box part of the other male terminal fittings in the process of transporting the male terminal fittings in a bundle, and the tab part is deformed. There was a problem that it would. The thing of the following patent document 1 is known as what solves such a problem.

  This is intended to avoid the entry of the tab portion by raising the entanglement prevention piece from the bottom wall in the box portion and narrowing the entrance area of the opening surface on the rear side of the box portion.

Japanese Patent No. 3703809

  However, in this case, as the entanglement preventing piece is cut and raised, a new opening is formed on the bottom surface of the box portion, which may cause the tip of the tab portion to be caught.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and includes a male terminal fitting that can reliably avoid deformation of the tab portion due to the entanglement of the tab portion, and the male terminal fitting. It aims at providing a terminal metal fitting device.

The male terminal fitting of the present invention is a plate-like tab portion formed so as to be connectable to the female terminal fitting at the tip portion, a rectangular tube-like box portion that continues to the rear portion of the tab portion and opens toward the rear,
A male terminal fitting comprising a barrel portion that is connected to the electric wire and is connected to the rear of the box portion, and the tab portion has a widened portion that has a larger dimension on the tip side than on the base side. By forming, the width dimension of the front- end | tip part of the said tab part is formed wider than the width dimension of the said opening in the said box part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
Further, in the terminal fitting device of the present invention, the female terminal fitting includes a square tube portion into which the tab portion of the male terminal fitting enters, and at least one of the wall surfaces constituting the square tube portion includes the square tube portion. While the slit is cut along the entry direction of the tab portion from the front edge, the side edge portion of the widened portion of the male terminal fitting can enter the rectangular tube portion while being fitted in the slit. It is what.

According to the male terminal fitting of the present invention, since the widened portion formed in the tab portion is formed wider than the opening width on the rear side of the box portion, the tab portion of the other male terminal fitting enters the box portion. There is no end. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the deformation of the tab portion due to the entanglement between the male terminal fittings.
Further, according to the terminal fitting device of the present invention, since the female terminal fitting is provided with a slit to avoid interference with the widening portion, the width of the widening portion can be increased without increasing the size of the rectangular tube portion of the female terminal fitting. The dimensions can be increased.

Top view of male terminal fitting Same side view Same front view AA line sectional view of FIG. Side view of female terminal fitting Same front view Side sectional view of the square tube part of the female terminal fitting Side sectional view showing a state in which the tab portion has entered the rectangular tube portion BB sectional view of FIG.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(1) The male terminal fitting of the present invention preferably has a structure in which the tab portion is formed so that the width dimension gradually increases from the base portion to the tip.
Instead of such a configuration, when a sudden change in the width dimension is involved, the part becomes a stepped shape, which causes a new entanglement. However, if the width dimension is continuously changed in the length direction, a step portion is not generated, so that the tab portions are not entangled with each other.
(2) Further, in the terminal fitting device of the present invention, when the tab portion enters the square tube portion in a normal state, the side edge of the widened portion is equal to or located on the inner side of the outer surface of the square tube portion. It is preferable that it is the structure which has.
According to such a configuration, when the tab portion enters the rectangular tube portion, the widened portion does not protrude outward from the rectangular tube portion, so that interference can be avoided in the cavity wall of the female connector housing that houses the female terminal fitting. There is no need to provide a configuration for this.

  Next, an embodiment in which the male terminal fitting of the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Male terminal fitting M: See FIGS. 1 to 4>
The male terminal fitting M is formed by bending a conductive metal plate material. The front portion of the male terminal fitting M is formed with a tab portion 1 formed in a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction. A box portion 2 formed in a rectangular tube shape is formed at the rear portion of the tab portion 1. The box portion 2 includes a bottom wall 3, a pair of side walls 4 rising from both sides of the bottom wall 3, and a ceiling wall 5 bent horizontally from one of the side walls 4 toward the other side wall 4, The upper wall 6 is bent from the other side wall 4 so as to overlap the ceiling wall 5. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the rear surface of the box portion 2 is opened in a square shape (width dimension between the inner surfaces of the side walls 4: W1). In addition, a pair of stabilizers 7 are formed in a protruding position at a height slightly closer to the lower side on both sides in the width direction of the box portion 2, and the male terminal fitting M is vertically inverted so that the male connector housing cavity (both not shown). ) Is prevented from being inserted.

  A barrel portion 9 for connecting to the electric wire 8 is disposed behind the box portion 2, and a connecting portion 10 formed so as to open upward is interposed between the barrel portion 2 and the box portion 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion 10 is formed so that the upper edge thereof is inclined upward, and continues to a portion slightly below the upper end with respect to the rear edges of the side walls 4 of the box portion 2. ing. The barrel portion 9 includes a wire barrel 9A for caulking the core wire of the electric wire 8, and an insulation barrel 9B for caulking the covered portion of the electric wire 8 together with the rubber plug 11 disposed at the rear portion.

  The base side of the tab portion 1 and the front end portion of the box portion 2 are connected by a connection portion 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting portion 12 is formed so as to be gradually widened as it goes forward in plan view, and is formed so as to become gradually narrower as it goes forward in side view shown in FIG. 2. Yes. Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a reinforcing rib 13 is formed on the lower surface of the connecting portion 12 over the predetermined length range over the lower surface of the tab portion 1 by knocking outward. Is formed.

  The tab portion 1 includes a lower plate 1A continuous from the lower surface of the connecting portion 12 and an upper plate 1B continuous from the upper surface of the connecting portion 12, and is formed by folding the upper plate 1B in close contact with the upper surface of the lower plate 1A. Has been. As shown in FIG. 1, the tab portion 1 is formed such that the width dimension gradually increases from the base side to the tip side in a plan view. Hereinafter, a length region (a length range indicated by S in FIG. 1) in which the width dimension of the tab portion 1 is wider than the opening width (W1) of the box portion 2 described above is referred to as the widened portion 14. .

  The front end surface of the widened portion 14 is a vertical surface, but the upper, lower, left and right surfaces are chamfered 15 and formed into a tapered shape.

<Female terminal fitting F: See FIGS. 5 to 9>
Similar to the male terminal fitting M, the female terminal fitting F is formed by bending a conductive metal plate. A rectangular tube portion 16 into which the tab portion 1 of the male terminal fitting M can enter is formed at the front portion of the female terminal fitting F. The rectangular tube portion 16 includes a bottom plate 17, a pair of side plates 18 erected from both sides in the width direction of the bottom plate 17, a ceiling plate 19 bent from one side plate 18 toward the other side plate 18, and the other side plate 18. It is formed in a rectangular tube shape that opens in both the front and rear directions from an upper plate 20 that is bent from the top plate 20 and is superimposed on the ceiling plate 19.

  A tongue piece 21 is formed in the rectangular tube portion 16 by being folded in a U shape from the bottom plate 17 into the rectangular tube portion 16. The tongue piece 21 is formed in a substantially mountain shape and can be bent in the vertical direction. A contact portion 22 for contacting the widened portion 14 is formed on the top of the tongue piece 21. The tongue piece 21 extends further downward from the top portion with a downward slope, and is slidable against a base portion 23 formed by knocking inward from the bottom plate 17 (see FIG. 3). On the bottom plate 17, an excessive deflection preventing piece 24 is formed to protrude toward the apex of the tongue piece 21 by cutting and raising. On the other hand, the ceiling plate 19 is provided with a fixed contact portion 25 so as to face the tongue piece 21. The fixed contact portion 25 is formed by knocking inward with a predetermined width dimension. As a result, the widened portion 14 comes into contact with the fixed contact portion 25 and the contact portion 22 of the tongue piece 21 in an elastically sandwiched state.

  A pair of slits 26 are provided on both side plates 18 of the rectangular tube portion 16 at the height position when the tab portion 1 enters the rectangular tube portion 16 in a normal state. Both slits 26 are formed by cutting from the front end edge of the rectangular tube portion 16 over a predetermined length range along the approach direction of the tab portion 1. The opening height (interval in the vertical direction) of both slits 26 is set slightly larger than the thickness dimension of the tab portion 1 as shown in FIG. Further, when the tab portion 1 enters the square tube portion 16 in a normal state (particularly in a state where the centers in the width direction are aligned), both side edges in the width direction at the distal end of the widened portion 14 are outward from the square tube portion 16. The width of the widest portion at the tip of the widened portion 14 (W2: see FIG. 1) is equal to the size between the outer surfaces of both side plates of the rectangular tube portion 16 (W3 size shown in FIG. 6). Or it is set a little narrower.

  Further, a pair of stabilizers 27 are formed in a projecting manner on the both side plates of the rectangular tube portion 16 below the slit 26 and near the end portion of the slit 26. Both stabilizers 27 prevent the female terminal fitting F from being erroneously inserted into the connector housing cavity (both not shown) in an upside down orientation.

  A barrel portion 29 is disposed behind the rectangular tube portion 16 via a connecting portion 28. The barrel portion 29 includes a wire barrel 29A for caulking the core wire of the electric wire 8, and an insulation barrel 29B for caulking the covering portion of the electric wire 8 together with the rubber stopper 11 disposed behind the barrel.

  Next, the function and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. Since the widened portion 14 is formed in the tab portion 1 of the male terminal fitting M and the width dimension (W2) at the tip of the widened portion 14 is set wider than the dimension (W1) of the opening width on the rear surface of the widened portion 14, Even when the male terminal fittings M are bundled and conveyed, the widened portion 14 does not enter the box portion 2 of another male terminal fitting M. Therefore, the deformation of the tab portion 1 due to the entanglement with the box portion 2 can be avoided in advance. Unlike the prior art, an opening is formed in the bottom surface of the box portion 2 to prevent entanglement, which does not cause a new entanglement, and the deformation of the tab portion 1 can be reliably suppressed. Further, since the widened portion 14 is formed, the chance of receiving a force in the bending direction with respect to the tab portion 1 has increased, but the reinforcing rib 13 formed at the base portion of the tab portion 1 effectively resists bending. be able to.

  Further, the width of the tab portion 1 is gradually increased from the base side to the tip, and only the tip is not rapidly amplified. That is, the tab portion 1 does not have a form in which the widened portion 14 projects in a stepped shape, so that the tab portions 1 are not entangled with each other.

  In addition, when the male and female connector housings in which the male and female terminal fittings F and M are accommodated are fitted, the tab portion 1 of the male terminal fitting M enters the rectangular tube portion 16 of the female terminal fitting F. In that case, the tab portion 1 can enter the rectangular tube portion 16 in a positioned state by fitting both side edges in the width direction of the widened portion 14 into the corresponding slits 26. When the fitting of the male and female connector housings is completed, the tab portion 1 is elastically sandwiched between the contact portion 22 of the tongue piece 21 and the fixed contact portion 25, and the electrical connection is completed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the slits 26 are provided in the rectangular tube portion 16 of the female terminal fitting F so as to avoid interference with the widened portion 14. Therefore, the entire square tube portion 16 can be reduced in size as compared with the type in which the widened portion 14 is accommodated in the square tube portion 16 without providing the slit 26. Further, in a state where the male and female terminal fittings are properly connected, both side edges in the width direction of the widened portion 14 do not protrude outward from the rectangular tube portion 16 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the cavity of the female connector housing does not increase in size.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the width dimension of the tab portion 1 is set so as to be gradually amplified from the base to the tip. However, the range from the base to a little before the tip is formed to have a uniform width, and only the tip has a width direction. It is good also as a form which protrudes outward in a step shape.
(2) In the above embodiment, the tab portion 1 is formed in a bilaterally symmetric shape in plan view, but it may be an asymmetric shape in which only one side edge is gradually widened. In that case, the slit 26 of the female terminal fitting F may be provided only on the side corresponding to the wide side.
(3) In the above embodiment, the tab portion 1 is folded from one side in the width direction. However, the tab portion 1 may be folded from both sides and the end edges may be butted against each other at the center in the width direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tab part 2 ... Box part 9,29 ... Barrel part 14 ... Widening part 16 ... Square tube part 26 ... Slit F ... Female terminal metal fitting M ... Male terminal metal fitting

Claims (4)

A plate-like tab portion formed to be connectable to the female terminal fitting at the tip;
A box-shaped box portion that is continuous with the rear portion of the tab portion and opens rearward;
A male terminal fitting comprising a barrel part that is connected to the electric wire continuously behind the box part,
The tab portion is formed with a widened portion having a tip-side dimension larger than a base-side dimension, so that the width of the tip of the tab is wider than the width of the opening in the box. A male terminal fitting that is formed.   2. The male terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the tab portion is formed so that a width dimension gradually increases from a base portion to a tip. The female terminal fitting includes a square tube portion into which the tab portion enters in the male terminal fitting according to claim 1 or 2, and at least one of the wall surfaces constituting the square tube portion has a front edge thereof. While the slit is cut along the entry direction of the tab portion from
A terminal metal fitting device, wherein a side edge portion of the widened portion of the male terminal metal fitting is capable of entering the rectangular tube portion while being fitted in the slit.   4. The side edge of the widened portion is equal to or located inside the outer surface of the square tube portion when the tab portion enters the square tube portion in a normal state. The terminal metal fitting apparatus as described in.

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