Abstract:
A female metal terminal is provided with a resilient contact piece portion formed within a metal terminal body. The resilient contact piece portion is partially divided into a plurality of sections and a plurality of contact portions are formed on the resilient contact piece portion. The contact portions are extended along upward portions and downward portions of sub-flat portions of the resilient contact piece. The contact portions are respectively formed in a band-like manner obliquely relative to an insertion direction of the male metal terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a female metal terminal in which, when a male metal terminal is fitted into this female metal terminal, a resilient contact piece portion is resiliently contacted with the male metal terminal to guide the same so as to stabilize the contact thereof with the male metal terminal, thereby preventing the increase of contact resistance so as to stabilize the electrical connection. 
     The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 11-171618, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIGS. 5 to  7  show a conventional female metal terminal disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 8-250174. 
     In FIGS. 5 to  7 , the female metal terminal  1  includes a metal terminal body  3  of a box-shape, having an insertion port  2  for inserting a terminal portion  20  of a male metal terminal therethrough, and a resilient contact piece portion  5  formed by folding that portion of a bottom plate  4  of the metal terminal body  3 , extending from an end of the insertion port  2 , back into the interior of the metal terminal body  3 . The resilient contact piece portion  5  includes a flexing portion  6 , bent into the interior of the metal terminal body  3  at the lower side of the end of the insertion port  2 , a slanting portion  7  extending obliquely rearwardly from the flexing portion  6  within the metal terminal body  3 , and a resilient support portion  8  which extends from a distal end of the slanting portion  7 , and is curved toward the bottom plate  4 , and is resiliently held against the bottom plate  4 . 
     When the male metal terminal is inserted into the female metal terminal  1 , a distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is brought into resilient contact with the slanting portion  7 , so that an inserting resistance is produced. When this inserting operation is completed against this inserting resistance, the terminal portion of the male metal terminal is held in resilient contact with contact portions  9 , formed on an apex portion of the slanting portion  7 , thereby securing a predetermined contact load. 
     A slit  10  is formed in the resilient contact piece portion  5 , and extends from the proximal end thereof, connected to the bottom plate  4 , toward the distal end thereof in a direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal. Each of the flexing portion  6 , the slanting portion  7  and the resilient support portion  8 , is divided by this slit  10  into two sections in the direction of the width of the resilient contact piece portion  5 . 
     The resilient contact piece portion  5  is thus divided into the two sections by the slit  10 . With this construction, when the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is inserted in inclined relation to the resilient contact piece portion  5 , and is brought into contact with the resilient contact piece portion  5  at one side portion thereof, that section of the resilient contact piece portion  5 , with which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal first comes into contact, is resiliently deformed in a larger amount to undertake a larger proportion of the inserting force of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal. Therefore, the inserting resistance can be reduced as compared with a construction in which the inserting force is received by the whole of a resilient contact piece portion of a single platelike construction. 
     The resilient contact piece portion  5  is divided into the two sections by the slit  10  as described above, and in this connection, the two contact portions  9 , which contact the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal when the insertion of this terminal portion  20  is completed, are formed respectively on the apex portions of the two sections of the slanting portion  7 . When the insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is completed, the resilient forces of the two sections of the resilient contact piece portion  5  act on this terminal portion  20  through the respective contact portions  9 , and therefore the large contact load can be secured. 
     In this conventional metal terminal, when the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is inserted into the female metal terminal  1  through the insertion port  2  as shown in FIG. 6, the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is first brought into contact with the slanting portion  7  of the resilient contact piece portion  5  of the female terminal  1 . When the male metal terminal, thus contacted with the slanting portion  7  of the resilient contact piece portion  5 , is further inserted, the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal, is guided by the slanting portion  7 , and slides over this slanting portion  7  to advance within the female metal terminal  1  while pressing the resilient contact piece portion  5  toward the bottom plate  4 . Then, this distal end abuts against the contact portions  9  formed on the apex portion of the slanting portion  7 . When the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is further inserted, with its distal end thus abutted against the contact portions  9 , the distal end of the terminal portion  20  shaves surface portions of the contact portions  9  or almost the whole of the contact portions  9 . 
     When even the surface portions (part) of the contact portions  9  are thus shaved by the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal, there is encountered a problem that the contact of the contact surfaces of the contact portions  9  becomes unstable, and this unstable contact invites the increase of the contact resistance, so that the electrical connection becomes unstable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a female metal terminal in which contact portions, formed on an apex portion of a slanting portion of a resilient contact piece portion, will not be shaved by a distal end of a male metal terminal, and the contact of the male metal terminal with the contact portions is stabilized so as to prevent the increase of a resistance of contact between the contact portions and the male metal terminal, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection. 
     To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a female metal terminal which comprises a metal terminal body having a bottom plate and an insertion port which is formed in one end portion of the metal terminal body, and through which a male metal terminal is insertable into the metal terminal body, a resilient contact piece portion formed within the metal terminal body, the resilient contact piece portion including a flexing portion formed by folding back an extending portion of the bottom plate of the metal terminal body from the insertion port into an interior of the metal terminal body, a flat portion extending rearwardly from the flexing portion within the metal terminal body, and a resilient support portion extending from a distal end of the flat portion, curved toward the bottom plate, and held against the bottom plate, wherein the resilient contact piece portion is partially divided into a plurality of sections so as to divide the flat portion into a plurality of sub-flat portions, and a plurality of contact portions respectively formed on at least two of the sub-flat portions disposed at opposite side portions of the resilient contact piece portion, the contact portions being extended along upward portions and downward portions of the at least two of the sub-flat portions, the downward portions located downwardly from a position against which a distal end of the male metal terminal can abut when the male metal terminal is inserted into the metal terminal body, wherein the contact portions are respectively formed in a band-like manner obliquely relative to an insertion direction of the male metal terminal. 
     With this construction of the female metal terminal, the distal end of the male metal terminal will not shave the contact portions, and the contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is stabilized, and the resistance of contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is prevented from increasing, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection. 
     According to the second aspect of the present invention, more specifically, the sub-flat portions having the contact portions may be inclined so that the upward portions are upwardly located than the downward portions, respectively. In this construction, one of the contact portions may be extended from a right side portion of one of the upward portions to a left side portion of one of the downward portions, and the other one of the contact portions may be extended from a left side portion of the other one of the upward portions to a right side portion of the other one of the downward portions. 
     According to the third aspect of the present invention, the contact portions may be arranged gradually away from each other toward distal end portions of the contact portions on the downward portions from distal end portions of the contact portions on the upward portions. Alternatively, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the contact portions may be arranged gradually away from each other toward distal end portions of the contact portions on the upward portions from distal end portions of the contact portions on the downward portions. 
     According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the resilient contact piece portion is partially divided into at least three sections by slits, and the resilient support portion has, at a distal end portion thereof, a connecting portion which interconnects between at least two of the sections formed by dividing the resilient contact piece portion. With this construction of the female metal terminal, when the distal end of the male metal terminal is inserted, the plurality of divided sections of the resilient contact piece portion separated from each other, are prevented from being resiliently deformed independently of each other. Therefore, the resistance of contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is prevented from increasing, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection. 
     According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the slits are formed in the flexing portion, the flat portion and at least a part of the resilient support portion of the resilient contact piece portion. In this construction of the female metal terminal, the slits are formed not only in the flat portion, with which the male metal terminal can come into direct contact, but also in the flexing portion, and therefore the sub-flat portions can be resiliently deformed more independently of each other during the insertion of the male metal terminal, so that the inserting resistance can be reduced. 
     According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that at least two of the sub-flat portions, on which the contact portions are formed, include the upward portions each having an inclination angle smaller than an inclination angle of each of the downward portions relative to the bottom plate of the metal terminal body. With this construction, the amount of shaving of the contact portions by the distal end of the male metal terminal is reduced. 
     Further, according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the distal end portion of the resilient support portion may be divided by at least one slit. Incidentally, the resilient contact piece portion may be partially divided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the male metal terminal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a female metal terminal of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a resilient contact piece portion shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a resilient contact piece portion in another embodiment of a female metal terminal of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional resilient contact portion; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional female metal terminal; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view of the female metal terminal of FIG. 6, showing a condition in which a terminal portion of a male metal terminal is inserted into this female metal terminal. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to  3 . 
     In FIGS. 1 to  3 , a female metal terminal  100  is formed or shaped by bending an electrically-conductive metal sheet of a predetermined shape, and as a whole, this female metal terminal includes a wire connection portion (not shown), a metal terminal body  3 , and a resilient contact piece portion  5 . 
     The metal terminal body  3  is disposed forwardly of the wire connection portion (not shown), and has a generally box-shape with a square cross-section. An insertion port  2  is formed in one end of the metal terminal body  3  over an entire area thereof, and a terminal portion  20  of a male metal terminal can be inserted through this insertion port  2 . 
     The resilient contact piece portion  5  has a construction as shown in FIG. 3, and is formed by bending or folding that portion (strip-like portion of a predetermined width) of a bottom plate  4  of the metal terminal body  3 , extending from an end of the insertion port  2  in a direction of the length, into the interior of the metal terminal body  3 . More specifically, the resilient contact piece portion  5  includes a flexing portion  6 , bent upwardly into a U-shape at the end of the insertion port  2 , a flat portion  7  extending obliquely upwardly rearwardly from the flexing portion  6  within the hollow metal terminal body  3 , and a resilient support portion  8  which extends from a distal end of the flat portion  7 , and is curved downwardly into a U-shape, and further extends generally parallel to the flat portion  7 . A distal end of the resilient support portion  8  is held against the bottom plate  4 . 
     Slits  10  and  11  are formed in the resilient contact piece portion  5 , and more specifically are formed in the flexing portion  6 , the flat portion  7  and the resilient support portion  8 , and extend in a direction of extending of the flat portion  7  (that is, in a direction of insertion of the male metal terminal). The resilient contact piece portion  5  is divided by the two slits  10  and  11  into two resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B in the direction of the width thereof, with a retaining piece portion  14  interposed therebetween. 
     Therefore, the resilient contact piece section (first resilient contact piece section)  5 A includes a flexing portion section  6 A, bent upwardly into a U-shape at the end of the insertion port  2 , a sub-flat portion (first flat portion)  7 A extending obliquely upwardly rearwardly from the flexing portion section  6 A within the hollow metal terminal body  3 , and a resilient support portion section  8 A which extends from a distal end of the sub-flat portion  7 A, and is curved downwardly into a U-shape, and further extends generally parallel to the sub-flat portion  7 A. A contact portion (first contact portion)  12 A is formed on the sub-flat portion  7 A of the resilient contact piece section  5 A, and extends from an apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A toward the flexing portion section  6 A. More specifically, the contact portion  12 A of a band-like shape extends from a left side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, to a right side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A disposed downwardly of (that is, offset toward the flexing portion section  6 A from) that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted. The distal end of the band-like contact portion  12 A (close to the flexing portion section  6 A) has a larger width. The width of the distal end of the contact portion  12 A is this increased in order to achieve the stable contact between the contact portion  12 A and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal even when the contact portion  12 A is shaved by the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 . The contact portion  12 A, formed on the resilient contact piece section  5 A, is disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of the length of the resilient contact piece section  5 A in order to reduce the amount of shaving of the distal end of the contact portion  12 A by a chamfered portion, formed at the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 , and also to increase the area of contact between the contact portion  12 A and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal so as to secure the stable electrical connection. 
     The sub-flat portion  7 A of the resilient contact piece section  5 A is bent at a position between that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, and the apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A, to provide a gentle flat portion  7 Ab which has a smaller inclination angle relative to the bottom plate  14 , and hence is more parallel to the bottom plate  4 . Thus, the sub-flat portion  7 A is bent into a generally inverted V-shape to provide an abrupt flat portion  7 Aa and the gentle flat portion  7 Ab. 
     Thus, the sub-flat portion  7 A of the resilient contact piece section  5 A is bent at the position between that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, and the apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A, to provide the abrupt flat portion  7 Aa and the gentle flat portion  7 Ab which is more parallel to the bottom plate  4 . With this construction in which that portion (gentle flat portion  7 Ab) of the sub-flat portion  7 A, disposed upwardly of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut, has a reduced inclination angle relative to the bottom plate  4 , the amount of shaving of the contact portion  12 A (formed on the sub-flat portion  7 A of the resilient contact piece section  5 A) by the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can be reduced in the vicinity of the apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A. 
     The resilient contact piece section (second resilient contact piece section)  5 B includes a flexing portion  6 B, bent upwardly into a U-shape at the end of the insertion port  2 , a sub-flat portion (second flat portion)  7 B extending obliquely upwardly rearwardly from the flexing portion section  6 B within the hollow metal terminal body  3 , and a resilient support portion section  8 B which extends from a distal end of the sub-flat portion  7 B, and is curved downwardly into a U-shape, and further extends generally parallel to the sub-flat portion  7 B. A contact portion (second contact portion)  12 B is formed on the sub-flat portion  7 B of the resilient contact piece section  5 B, and extends from an apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B toward the flexing portion section  6 B. More specifically, the contact portion  12 B of a band-like shape extends from a right side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, to a left side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B disposed downwardly of (that is, offset toward the flexing portion section  6 B from) that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted. The distal end of the band-like contact portion  12 B (close to the flexing portion section  6 B) has a larger width. The width of the distal end of the contact portion  12 B is this increased in order to achieve the stable contact between the contact portion  12 B and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal even when the contact portion  12 B is shaved by the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 . The contact portion  12 B, formed on the resilient contact piece section  5 B, is disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of the length of the resilient contact piece section SB in order to reduce the amount of shaving of the distal end of the contact portion  12 B by a chamfered portion, formed at the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 , and also to increase the area of contact between the contact portion  12 B and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal so as to secure the stable electrical connection. 
     The sub-flat portion  7 B of the resilient contact piece section SB is bent at a position between that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, and the apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B, to provide a gentle flat portion  7 Bb which has a smaller inclination angle relative to the bottom plate  4 , and hence is more parallel to the bottom plate  4 . Thus, the sub-flat portion  7 B is bent into a generally inserted V-shape to provide an abrupt flat portion  7 Ba and the gentle flat portion  7 Bb. 
     Thus the sub-flat portion  7 B of the resilient contact piece section  5 B is bent at the position between that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, and the apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B, to provide the abrupt flat portion  7 Ba and the gentle flat portion  7 Bb which has the smaller inclination angle relative to the bottom plate  4 , and therefore is more parallel to the bottom plate  4 . With this construction in which that portion (gentle flat portion  7 Bb) of the sub-flat portion  7 B, disposed upwardly of that portion of the subflat portion  7 B against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut, has a reduced inclination angle relative to the bottom plate  4 , the amount of shaving of the contact portion  12 B (formed on the sub-flat portion  7 B of the resilient contact piece section  5 B) by the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can be reduced in the vicinity of the apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B. 
     The resilient support portion section  8 A of the resilient contact piece section  5 A and the resilient support portion section  8 B of the resilient contact piece section  5 B are integrally interconnected at their distal end portions by a connecting portion  13 . The distal end portion of the resilient support portion section  8 A and the distal end portion of the resilient support portion section  8 B are thus interconnected by the connecting portion  13 , and with this construction when the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is inserted, the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B, separated form each other, are prevented from being resiliently deformed independently of each other. Therefore, the resistance of contact of the contact portions  12 A and  12 B with the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is prevented from increasing, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection. 
     When the male metal terminal is inserted, the retaining piece portion  14  engages the male metal terminal, and serves to prevent the inserted male metal terminal from withdrawal. Like the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B, the retaining piece portion  14  includes a flexing portion  15 , bent upwardly into a U-shape at the end of the insertion port  2 , and a flat portion  16  extending obliquely upwardly rearwardly from the flexing portion  15  within the hollow metal terminal body  3 . A retaining portion  17  for engagement with an engagement portion (not shown) of the male metal terminal is formed on an upper surface of the retaining piece portion  14 . 
     When the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is inserted into the metal terminal body  3  of the female metal terminal  100  of the above construction through the insertion port  2 , the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is pressed against the upper surfaces of the sub-flat portions  7 A and  7 B of the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and SB and the upper surface of the flat portion  16  of the retaining piece portion  14 . As a result, the flexing portion sections  6 A and  6 B of the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B and the flexing portion  14  of the retaining piece portion  14  are flexed (resiliently deformed), and also the resilient support portion sections  8 A and  8 B are also resiliently deformed, and therefore because of the resilient forces of these portions, the inserting resistance develops between the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal and the two resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B. 
     At this time the sub-flat portions  7 A and  7 B of the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B press the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal hard against a top plate  19  of the metal terminal body  3  under the influence of the resilient support portion sections  8 A and  8 B. Namely, the sub-flat portions  7 A and  7 B of the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B, pressing the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal against the top plate  19  of the metal terminal body  3 , the flexing portion sections  6 A and  6 B, continuous respectively with these subflat portions  7 A and  7 B, and the resilient support portion sections  8 A and  8 B undertake a large proportion of the inserting force, and the resilient forces of the flexing portion sections  6 A and  6 B and the resilient support portion sections  8 A and  8 B mainly serve as the inserting resistance. 
     When the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is inserted into the metal terminal body  3  through the insertion port  2  as shown in FIG. 1, the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal first abuts against those portions of the contact portions  12 A and  12 B disposed respectively on the abrupt flat portions  7 Aa and  7 Ba of the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B, as shown in FIG.  2 . In this abutted position, the abrupt flat portions  7 Aa and  7 Ba of the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B offer the inserting resistance relative to the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal, and therefore the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal shaves the contact portions  12 A and  12 B. When the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal is further inserted into the metal terminal body  3 , the distal end of the terminal portion  20  advances while shaving the contact portions  12 A and  12 B abutted against this distal end, and when the distal end of the terminal portion  20  reaches the gentle flat portions  7 Ab and  7 Bb, the pressing force, applied from the sub-flat portions  7 A and  7 B of the resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B to the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the metal male terminal, is reduced, so that the inserting resistance is reduced. As a result, the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal ceases to shave the contact portions  12 A and  12 B, and this distal end continues to be inserted while guided by those portions of the contact portions  12 A and  12 B, and this distal end continues to be inserted while guided by those portions of the contact portions  12 A and  12 B disposed respectively on the gentle flat portions  7 Ab and  7 Bb. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, although the resilient contact piece portion  5  is divided into the two resilient contact piece sections  5 A and  5 B by the two slits  10  and  11 , the resilient contact piece portion  5  can be divided into three or four resilient contact piece sections by providing three or four slits. The number of division sections of the resilient contact piece portion  5  is determined by the pressing force of the resilient contact piece portion to press the terminal portion of the male metal terminal against the top plate of the metal terminal body. 
     FIG. 4 shows a resilient contact piece portion in another embodiment of a female metal terminal of the present invention. 
     This embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to  3  in that the condition of formation of a contact portion on a sub-flat portion (first flat portion)  7 A of a resilient contact piece section  5 A is different from the condition of formation of the contact portion (first contact portion)  12 A on the sub-flat portion (first flat portion)  7 A of the resilient contact piece section  5 A and that the condition of formation of a contact portion on a sub-flat portion (second flat portion)  7 B of a resilient contact piece section  5 B is different from the condition of formation of the contact portion (second contact portion)  12 B on the sub-flat portion (second flat portion)  7 B of the resilient contact piece section  5 B. 
     More specifically, the resilient contact piece section (first resilient contact piece section)  5 A includes a flexing portion section  6 A, bent upwardly into a U-shape at the end of the insertion port  2 , the sub-flat portion (first flat portion)  7 A extending obliquely upwardly rearwardly from the flexing portion section  6 A within the hollow metal terminal body  3 , and a resilient support portion section  8 A which extends from a distal end of the sub-flat portion  7 A, and is curved downwardly into a U-shape, and further extends generally parallel to the sub-flat portion  7 A. The contact portion (first contact portion)  18 A is formed on the sub-flat portion  7 A of the resilient contact piece section  5 A, and extends from an apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A toward the flexing portion section  6 A. More specifically, the contact portion  18 A of a band-like shape extends from a right side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, to a left side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A disposed downwardly of (that is, offset toward the flexing portion section  6 A from) that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 A against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  is inserted. The distal end of the band-like contact portion  18 A (close to the flexing portion section  6 A) has a larger width. The width of the distal end of the contact portion  18 A is this increased in order to achieve the stable contact between the contact portion  18 A and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal even when the contact portion  18 A is shaved by the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 . The contact portion  18 A, formed on the resilient contact piece section  5 A, is disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of the length of the resilient contact piece section  5 A in order to reduce the amount of shaving of the distal end of the contact portion  18 A by a chamfered portion, formed at the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 , and also to increase the area of contact between the contact portion  18 A and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal so as to secure the stable electrical connection. 
     The resilient contact piece section (second resilient contact piece section)  5 B includes a flexing portion section  6 B, bent upwardly into a U-shape at the end of the insertion port  2 , the sub-flat portion (second flat portion)  7 B extending obliquely upwardly rearwardly from the flexing portion section  6 B within the hollow metal terminal body  3 , and a resilient support portion section  8 B which extends from a distal end of the sub-flat portion  7 B, and is curved downwardly into a U-shape, and further extends generally parallel to the sub-flat portion  7 B. The contact portion (second contact portion)  18 B is formed on the sub-flat portion  7 B of the resilient contact piece section  5 B, and extends from an apex portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B toward the flexing portion section  6 B. More specifically, the contact portion  18 B of a band-like shape extends from a left side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B, against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted, to a right side portion (with respect to the direction of insertion of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal) of that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B disposed downwardly of (that is, offset toward the flexing portion section  6 B from) that portion of the sub-flat portion  7 B against which the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal can abut when this terminal portion  20  is inserted. The distal end of the band-like contact portion  18 B (close to the flexing portion section  6 B) has a larger width. The width of the distal end of the contact portion  18 B is thus increased in order to achieve the stable contact between the contact portion  18 B and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal even when the contact portion  18 B is shaved by the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 . The contact portion  18 B, formed on the resilient contact piece section  5 B, is disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of the length of the resilient contact piece section SB in order to reduce the amount of shaving of the distal end of the contact portion  18 B by a chamfered portion, formed at the distal end of the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal upon insertion of the terminal portion  20 , and also to increase the area of contact between the contact portion  18 B and the terminal portion  20 , and also to increase the area of contact between the contact portion  18 B and the terminal portion  20  of the male metal terminal so as to secure the stable electrical connection. 
     The other construction is not different from that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to  3 . 
     The female metal terminals of the present invention, having the above construction, achieves the following advantageous effects. 
     In the present invention of the first aspect, the distal end of the male metal terminal will not shave the contact portions, formed on the apex portion of the flat portion of the resilient contact piece portion, and the contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is stabilized, and the resistance of contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is prevented from increasing, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection. 
     In the present invention of the second aspect, the distal end of the male metal terminal will not shave the contact portions, formed on the apex portion of the flat portion of the resilient contact piece portion, and the contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is stabilized, and the resistance of contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is prevented from increasing, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection. 
     In the present invention, when the distal end of the male metal terminal is inserted, the resilient contact piece sections, separated from each other, are prevented from being resiliently deformed independently of each other. Therefore, the resistance of contact of the contact portions with the male metal terminal is prevented from increasing, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection. 
     In the present invention, the slits are formed not only in the flat portion, with which the male metal terminal can come into direct contact, but also in the flexing portion, and therefore the flat portions can be resiliently deformed more independently of each other during the insertion of the male metal terminal, so that the inserting resistance can be reduced. 
     In the present invention, the amount of shaving of the contact portions (at the apex portion of the flat portion of the resilient contact piece portion) by the distal end of the male metal terminal is reduced.