Terminal-equipped electric wire, and terminal

A terminal-equipped electric wire includes: an electric wire including a core wire and an insulating coating; and a terminal connected to the core wire exposed from an end portion of the electric wire. The terminal includes: a flat-plate-shaped weld portion; a bottom plate portion; and a crimping piece. In a state where the crimping piece is crimped so as to be wound around an outer periphery of the insulating coating, a leading edge of the crimping piece is located on a bottom plate portion side with respect to a first virtual plane that passes through the center of the electric wire and is perpendicular to the bottom plate portion, and the leading edge of the crimping piece is in proximity to a side edge of the bottom plate portion on a side opposite to a side on which the crimping piece is provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase of PCT application No. PCT/JP2017/015665, filed on 19 Apr. 2017, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-094438, filed on 10 May 2016, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a terminal-equipped electric wire and a terminal.

BACKGROUND

Generally, a terminal is composed of a portion to be connected electrically to a core wire of an electric wire when it is connected to an end of the electric wire and a portion for holding a portion of the core wire covered with a coating. The portion for holding the portion of the core wire covered with a coating is designed so that it plays a role of reducing the impact of a force applied to the electric wire on the connected portion with the core wire and it is less likely to damage the insulation coating of the electric wire. For example, a conventional terminal disclosed in JP 2013-4406 A includes a portion to which a core wire is to be welded and an insulation barrel to be crimped so as to wrap around the outer periphery of an insulating coating from both sides. The insulation barrel is provided with a redundant portion such that the entire length of the insulation barrel is longer than the outer periphery of the electric wire, and a force applied to the insulation coating is adjusted by providing the redundant portion. The insulation barrel thus configured is less likely to damage the insulating coating while ensuring a holding force to the electric wire.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP 2013-004406 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved

However, in the conventional terminal described in JP 2013-4406 A (Patent Document 1), the insulation barrel extends from both sides of the terminal in a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the axial direction of the terminal. Thus, a large dimension (non-crimped length) in the width direction is required when punching out the terminal from a plate material. Accordingly, depending on the shape of the terminal, the non-crimped length of the insulation barrel may be a maximum non-crimped length. That is, the non-crimped length of the insulation barrel extending from both sides is a factor reducing the yield of the terminal, i.e., a factor increasing cost.

Means to Solve the Problem

The terminal-equipped electric wire disclosed herein is a terminal-equipped electric wire including an electric wire with a core wire whose outer periphery is surrounded by an insulating coating, a terminal being connected to the core wire exposed from an end portion of the electric wire. The terminal includes: a flat-plate-shaped weld portion to which the core wire is welded; a bottom plate portion that is continuous with the weld portion and on which the insulating coating of the electric wire is placed; and a crimping piece extending from one side edge of the bottom plate portion in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the electric wire placed on the bottom plate portion extends. In a state where the crimping piece is crimped so as to be wound around an outer periphery of the insulating coating of the electric wire, a leading edge of the crimping piece is located on a bottom plate portion side with respect to a first virtual plane that passes through a center of the electric wire and is perpendicular to the bottom plate portion, and the leading edge of the crimping piece is in proximity to a side edge of the bottom plate portion on a side opposite to a side on which the crimping piece is provided.

According to such a configuration, the crimping piece crimped so as to be wound around the insulating coating of the electric wire is provided so as to extend from one side edge of the bottom plate portion. Thus, the non-crimped length of the crimping piece may be shorter than that in the case where the crimping piece extends from both side edges of the bottom plate portion. Furthermore, the outer periphery of the insulating coating is wrapped to the extent that the leading edge of the crimping piece is located on the bottom plate portion side with respect to the first virtual plane that passes through the center of the electric wire and is perpendicular to the bottom plate portion, and the leading edge of the crimping piece is in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion on the opposite side. That is, the bottom plate portion and the crimping piece are wound around at least half of the outer periphery of the electric wire, and therefore a holding force to the electric wire can be ensured.

As embodiments of the terminal-equipped electric wire disclosed herein, the following configurations may be adopted.

The terminal-equipped electric wire may be configured such that in the state where the crimping piece is crimped so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the insulating coating of the electric wire, the leading edge of the crimping piece is located on the bottom plate portion side with respect to a second virtual plane that passes through the center of the electric wire and is parallel to the bottom plate portion, and the leading edge of the crimping piece is in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion on the side opposite to the side on which the crimping piece is provided.

According to such a configuration, the outer periphery of the insulating coating is wrapped to the extent that the leading edge of the crimping piece is located on the bottom plate portion side with respect to the virtual plane that passes through the center of the electric wire and is parallel to the bottom plate portion, and the leading edge of the crimping piece is in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion on the opposite side. That is, the bottom plate portion and the crimping piece are wound around at least three quarters of the outer periphery of the electric wire, and therefore a holding force to the electric wire can be ensured even more reliably.

The terminal-equipped electric wire may be configured such that in a state where the electric wire is crimped by the crimping piece, an end face of the crimping piece abuts against the bottom plate portion.

According to such a configuration, the crimping piece covering the outer periphery of the electric wire abuts against the bottom plate portion, and therefore the holding force to the electric wire can be improved. Furthermore, since only the crimping piece extends from the bottom plate portion, the non-crimped length can be shortened.

The terminal-equipped electric wire may be configured such that an auxiliary piece that extends in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the electric wire placed on the bottom plate portion extends and is shorter than the crimping piece is provided on the side edge of the bottom plate portion on the side opposite to the side on which the crimping piece is provided, and in a state where the electric wire is crimped by the crimping piece, an end portion of the crimping piece and an end portion of the auxiliary piece overlap each other.

According to such a configuration, the end portion of the crimping piece overlaps the end portion of the auxiliary piece, and therefore the holding force can be improved. Furthermore, since the crimping piece and the auxiliary piece extend from both sides of the bottom plate portion, positioning of the electric wire can be achieved at the time of placing the electric wire on the bottom plate portion. On the other hand, the auxiliary piece is shorter than the crimping piece. Thus, as compared with the case where a crimping piece extends evenly from both side edges as in the prior art, the non-crimped length can be shortened.

The terminal-equipped electric wire may be configured such that an end face of the weld portion and an end face of the bottom plate portion are flush with each other in a flat, non-crimped state.

According to such a configuration, since the end face of the weld portion and the end face of the bottom plate portion are flush with each other, their positions on at least one side in the width direction are aligned with each other. This allows the yield to be improved.

The terminal-equipped electric wire may be configured such that an end face of the weld portion and an end face of the auxiliary piece are flush with each other in a flat, non-crimped state.

According to such a configuration, since the end face of the weld portion and the end face of the auxiliary piece are flush with each other, positions on at least one side in the width direction are aligned with each other. This allows the yield to be improved.

The terminal disclosed herein is a terminal including: a flat-plate-shaped weld portion to which a core wire of an electric wire is to be welded; a bottom plate portion that is continuous with the weld portion and on which a portion surrounded by an insulating coating in the electric wire is to be placed; and a crimping piece extending from one side edge of the bottom plate portion in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the electric wire placed on the bottom plate portion extends. In a state where the crimping piece is crimped so as to be wound around an outer periphery of the electric wire, a leading edge of the crimping piece extends in a direction different from the direction orthogonal to the weld portion, and is in proximity to a side edge of the bottom plate portion on a side opposite to a side on which the crimping piece is provided.

As embodiments of the terminal disclosed herein, the following configurations may be adopted.

The terminal may be configured such that in a state where the electric wire is crimped by the crimping piece, an end face of the crimping piece abuts against the bottom plate portion.

The terminal may be configured such that an auxiliary piece that extends in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the electric wire placed on the bottom plate portion extends and is shorter than the crimping piece is provided on the side edge of the bottom plate portion on the side opposite to the side on which the crimping piece is provided, and in a state where the electric wire is crimped by the crimping piece, an end portion of the crimping piece and an end portion of the auxiliary piece overlap each other.

The terminal may be configured such that an end face of the weld portion and an end face of the bottom plate portion are flush with each other in a flat, non-crimped state.

The terminal may be configured such that an end face of the weld portion and an end face of the auxiliary piece are flush with each other in a flat, non-crimped state.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the terminal-equipped electric wire and the terminal disclosed herein, it is possible to shorten the non-crimped length of a portion of the terminal to be crimped to an electric wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION

First Embodiment

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a terminal-equipped electric wire10of the present embodiment includes an electric wire20and a terminal30connected to an end of this electric wire20. In the following description, the Z direction indicates an upward direction in a vertical direction, the X direction indicates a right direction in a left-right direction, and the Y direction indicates a forward direction in a front-rear direction.

As shown inFIG. 2, the electric wire20is configured such that the outer periphery of a core wire21formed of electrically conductive metal strands is surrounded by an insulation coating23. The electric wire20is a wire called a “fine wire” for use as a signal wire or the like, and has a small outer diameter. The insulating coating23is stripped from a front end portion of the electric wire20to expose the core wire21. Then, the electric wire20is placed on the terminal30so as to extend in the front-rear direction.

The terminal30is formed by pressing and then bending an electrically conductive metal plate material. As shown inFIG. 1, the terminal30includes a weld portion31to which the core wire21of the electric wire20is to be welded, a crimping portion40to be crimped to the electric wire20, and a neck portion35connecting the weld portion31and the crimping portion40.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the weld portion31has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the dimension of the weld portion31in the front-rear direction is longer than the dimension thereof in the width direction. The exposed core wire21is welded to the right half of the weld portion31in the left-right direction (width direction). That is, the core wire21is welded at a position biased to one side in the width direction of the weld portion31.

As shown inFIG. 1, the neck portion35is formed so as to extend rearward from the rear end of the weld portion31. The right end position of the neck portion35is located to the left of a right end face31A of the weld portion31. That is, the neck portion35is provided more inward toward the center side (inside) in the width direction than the weld portion31. The left end position of the neck portion35is located to the right of the central position of the weld portion31in the width direction. That is, the neck portion35extends rearward from a position biased to one side (right side) in the weld portion31. The dimension of the neck portion35in the width direction is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the electric wire20.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 7, the crimping portion40includes a bottom plate portion41, a crimping piece43, and an auxiliary piece45. The bottom plate portion41is continuous with the weld portion31via the neck portion35, and the insulating coating23of the electric wire20is placed on the bottom plate portion41. The dimension of the bottom plate portion41in the width direction is smaller than the dimension of the neck portion35in the width direction. Thus, in order to cause the rear end portion of the neck portion35to have the same width as the bottom plate portion41, both the side end portions thereof are bent slightly so as to be continuous with the crimping piece43and the auxiliary piece45.

As shown inFIG. 7, the crimping piece43is provided so as to extend from one side edge (left side edge) of the bottom plate portion41in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the electric wire20extends (the front-rear direction). As shown inFIG. 3, this crimping piece43is crimped so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the insulating coating23of the electric wire20. The width of the crimping piece43is such that the crimping piece43is wound around about three quarters of the outer periphery of the electric wire20. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 6, the left end position of the crimping piece43before being subjected to bending (non-crimped state) protrudes slightly to the left of the left end position of the weld portion31.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 7, the auxiliary piece45is provided such that, from a side edge of the bottom plate portion41on a side (right side) opposite to a side on which the crimping piece43is provided, the auxiliary piece45extends in a direction intersecting with a direction (front-rear direction) in which the electric wire20extends. Specifically, the auxiliary piece45is crimped in such a manner that it extends inward with respect to the crimping piece43while being wound around the outer periphery of the insulating coating23of the electric wire20. The width of the auxiliary piece45is shorter than a width according to which the auxiliary piece45is wound around about one quarter of the outer periphery of the electric wire20. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the auxiliary piece45is provided to the right of the neck portion35. In the non-crimped state, the width of the auxiliary piece45corresponds to the sum of the dimension by which the neck portion35is shifted to the left relative to the weld portion31and the dimension by which the bottom plate portion41is smaller than the neck portion35. Furthermore, in the non-crimped state, a right end face45A of the auxiliary piece45is flush with the right end face31A of the weld portion31.

As shown inFIG. 3, the state where the crimping portion40is wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire20will be described. In the following description, a virtual plane that passes through a center O in the radial direction of the electric wire20and is perpendicular to the bottom plate portion41is defined as a first virtual plane P1, and a virtual plane that passes through the center O in the radial direction of the electric wire20and is parallel to the bottom plate portion41is defined as a second virtual plane P2. In the state where the crimping portion40is wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire20, a leading edge43A of the crimping piece43passes over the first virtual plane P1to be located below the second virtual plane P2(on the bottom plate portion41side), and is in proximity to a side edge of the bottom plate portion41on a side (right side) opposite to a side on which the crimping piece43is provided. On the other hand, a leading edge (the right end face45A) of the auxiliary piece45is located below the second virtual plane P2and is interposed on the left side (electric wire20side) of the crimping piece43. That is, the end portion of the crimping piece43overlaps the end portion of the auxiliary piece45, and the position where they overlap each other is below the second virtual plane P2.

The configurations of the terminal-equipped electric wire10and the terminal30of the present embodiment are as described above. Next, methods of assembling the terminal-equipped electric wire10and the terminal30and functions of the terminal-equipped electric wire10and the terminal30will be described.

First, the insulating coating23at an end portion of the electric wire20is stripped. At this time, the core wire21is exposed to the extent that the exposed core wire21is slightly shorter than the dimension of the weld portion31in the front-rear direction.

On the other hand, an electrically conductive metal plate material is subjected to pressing to punch out the terminal30as shown inFIG. 6. At this time, the leading edge43A (left end position) of the crimping piece43protrudes to the left of the left end position of the weld portion31. However, the dimension of the protrusion (the dimension in the width direction) is smaller than that in a terminal provided with a crimping piece extending with the same length from both sides of a bottom plate portion. That is, as compared with the case where the crimping piece extends evenly from both side edges of the bottom plate portion, the non-crimped length (the dimension in the width direction) of the crimping piece43can be shortened, which allows the yield to be improved. Furthermore, the right end face31A of the weld portion31is flush with the right end face45A of the auxiliary piece45. Thus, at least the end faces on the right side are aligned with each other, and this leads to further improvement in the yield.

Next, as shown inFIG. 7, the terminal30is subjected to bending. The terminal30is bent into a U-shape having different right and left lengths with the crimping piece43and the auxiliary piece45rising obliquely upward from the bottom plate portion41. Thereafter, the electric wire20is placed on the terminal30. In the state where the core wire21of the electric wire20extends in the front-rear direction, the exposed core wire21is disposed on the right half of the weld portion31, and an end of the insulating coating23of the electric wire20is disposed on the crimping portion40. Then, the core wire21is ultrasonic-welded to the weld portion31. At this time, the electric wire20is positioned within the bottom plate portion41by the crimping piece43and the auxiliary piece45. Thus, the ultrasonic welding can be performed easily without the core wire21moving.

Thereafter, the crimping portion40is crimped so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire20. At this time, the crimping portion40is crimped in such a manner that the auxiliary piece45extends along the outer shape of the electric wire20, whereas the leading edge43A of the crimping piece43passes over the first virtual plane P1to be located below the second virtual plane P2(on the bottom plate portion41side) and is in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion41on a side (right side) opposite to the side on which the crimping piece43is provided. That is, the leading edge43A of the crimping piece43extends in a direction different from a direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the weld portion31, and is in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion41on the side (right side) opposite to the side on which the crimping piece43is provided. Then, the crimping piece43is crimped in such a manner that the end portion of the crimping piece43overlaps the end portion of the auxiliary piece45at a position below the second virtual plane P2. As described above, the crimping portion40is crimped so as to have the overlapping portion below the second virtual plane P2where a slight gap is formed between the crimping portion40and the electric wire20, rather than above the second virtual plane P2where the crimping portion40is in close contact with the insulating coating23in order to ensure the holding force. Accordingly, the insulating coating23of the electric wire20is less likely to be damaged. Furthermore, since the crimping portion40covers the outer periphery of the electric wire20, a holding force to the electric wire20can be ensured sufficiently even with the crimping piece43with a cantilever structure.

As described above, in the terminal-equipped electric wire10of the first embodiment, the auxiliary piece45is shorter than the crimping piece43. Thus, as compared with the case where a crimping piece extends evenly from both side edges of a bottom plate portion as in the prior art, the dimension in the width direction in the non-crimped state (non-crimped length) can be shortened, which allows the yield to be improved.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the outer periphery of the insulating coating23is wrapped to the extent that the leading edge of the crimping piece43is located on the bottom plate portion41side with respect to the first virtual plane P1, which passes through the center of the electric wire20and is perpendicular to the bottom plate portion41, and the leading edge of the crimping piece43is in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion41on the opposite side. That is, the bottom plate portion41and the crimping piece43are wound around at least half of the outer periphery of the electric wire20, and therefore a holding force to the electric wire20can be ensured. In particular, when the electric wire20is subjected to a force of pulling away the electric wire20in a direction perpendicular to the plate face of the weld portion31, the electric wire20is held down by the crimping piece43from a direction perpendicular to the bottom plate portion41. Thus, when the core wire21is welded (by ultrasonic welding) to the weld portion31, the core wire21is prevented from being separated from the weld portion31.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the outer periphery of the insulating coating23is wrapped to the extent that the leading edge of the crimping piece43is located on the bottom plate portion41side with respect to the second virtual plane P2, which passes through the center of the electric wire20and is parallel to the bottom plate portion41, and the leading edge of the crimping piece43is in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion41on the opposite side. That is, the bottom plate portion41and the crimping piece43are wound around at least three quarters of the outer periphery of the electric wire20, and therefore a holding force to the electric wire20can be ensured even more reliably.

Moreover, since the end portion of the crimping piece43overlaps the end portion of the auxiliary piece45, a holding force to the electric wire20can be ensured sufficiently.

Moreover, since the right end face31A of the weld portion31and the right end face45A of the auxiliary piece45are flush with each other in the flat, non-crimped state, it is possible to further improve the yield.

Moreover, since the crimping piece43and the auxiliary piece45extend from both sides of the bottom plate portion41, positioning of the electric wire20can be achieved at the time of placing the electric wire20on the bottom plate portion41.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 to 13.

With a terminal-equipped electric wire110of the second embodiment, the shape of a crimping portion140is different from that of the first embodiment. Members and portions having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof are omitted or simplified. Vertical, left-right, and front-rear directions in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The terminal-equipped electric wire110includes an electric wire20and a terminal130. The terminal130is formed by pressing and then bending an electrically conductive metal plate material. As shown inFIG. 8, the terminal130includes a weld portion31to which the core wire21of the electric wire20is to be welded, a crimping portion140to be crimped to the electric wire20, and a neck portion135connecting the weld portion31and the crimping portion140.

As shown inFIG. 8, the neck portion135is formed so as to extend rearward from the rear end of the weld portion31. The right end position of the neck portion135is flush with a right end face31A of the weld portion31, and also is flush with a right end face141A of a bottom plate portion141of the crimping portion140. The dimension of the neck portion135in the width direction is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the electric wire20. The position of the electric wire20is determined by the position of the neck portion135and the position of the crimping portion140continuous therewith, and the core wire21of the electric wire20is welded to a right end portion of the weld portion31.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 10, the crimping portion140includes the bottom plate portion141and a crimping piece143. The bottom plate portion141is continuous with the weld portion31via the neck portion135, and an insulating coating23of the electric wire20is placed on the bottom plate portion141. A left end portion of the bottom plate portion141is continuous with the crimping piece143, while an upper surface of a right end portion thereof is an abutted surface147against which an abutting surface143B of the crimping piece143is to abut.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 10, the crimping piece143is provided so as to extend from one side edge (left side edge) of the bottom plate portion141in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the electric wire20extends (the front-rear direction). Specifically, the crimping piece143is crimped so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the insulating coating23of the electric wire20. The width of the crimping piece143is such that after the crimping piece143is wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire20, the abutting surface143B abuts against the abutted surface147of the bottom plate portion141. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 13, the left end of the crimping piece143before being subjected to bending (non-crimped state) is at the same position as the left end of the weld portion31.

As shown inFIG. 10, the state where the crimping portion140is wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire20will be described. In the state where the crimping portion140is wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire20, a leading edge143A of the crimping piece143passes over a first virtual plane P1to be located below a second virtual plane P2(on the bottom plate portion141side), and the abutting surface143B of the crimping piece143abuts against the abutted surface147, which is an upper surface of a side edge portion of the bottom plate portion141on a side (right side) opposite to a side on which the crimping piece143is provided. That is, the leading edge143A of the crimping piece143extends in a direction different from a direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the weld portion31and abuts against the abutted surface147of the bottom plate portion141in proximity to the side edge of the bottom plate portion141on the side (right side) opposite to the side on which the crimping piece143is provided.

The configurations of the terminal-equipped electric wire110and the terminal130of the present embodiment are as described above. Subsequently, methods of assembling the terminal-equipped electric wire110and the terminal130and functions of the terminal-equipped electric wire110and the terminal130will be described.

An electrically conductive metal plate material is subjected to pressing to punch out the terminal130as shown inFIG. 13. At this time, the leading edge43A (left end position) of the crimping piece143is at the same position as the left end of the weld portion31. Thus, the non-crimped length (the dimension in the width direction) of the crimping piece143can be shortened, which allows the yield to be improved. Furthermore, the right end face31A of the weld portion31is flush with the right end face of the neck portion135and with the right end face141A of the bottom plate portion. Thus, at least the end faces on the right side are aligned with each other, and this leads to further improvement in the yield.

Next, the terminal130is subjected to bending. The terminal130is bent such that the crimping piece143rises obliquely to the upper left from the bottom plate portion141. Then, the electric wire20is placed on the terminal130. In the state where the core wire21of the electric wire20extends in the front-rear direction, the exposed core wire21is disposed on a right end portion of the weld portion31, and the terminal end of the insulating coating23of the electric wire20is disposed on the bottom plate portion141of the crimping portion140. Then, the core wire21is ultrasonic-welded to the weld portion31.

Thereafter, the crimping portion140is crimped so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the electric wire20. The crimping portion140is crimped in such a manner that the leading edge143A of the crimping piece143passes over the first virtual plane P1to be located below the second virtual plane P2(on the bottom plate portion141side) and the abutting surface143B of the crimping piece143abuts against the abutted surface147, which is the upper surface of the side edge portion of the bottom plate portion141on the side (right side) opposite to the side on which the crimping piece143is provided. As described above, the end face (abutting surface143B) of the crimped crimping piece143abuts against the abutted surface147, and therefore the insulating coating23of the electric wire20is less likely to be damaged by the corners of the end face and the like. Furthermore, since the crimping portion140covers the outer periphery of the electric wire20, a holding force to the electric wire20can be ensured sufficiently even with the crimping piece143with a cantilever structure.

As described above, in the terminal-equipped electric wire10of the present embodiment, only the crimping piece143extends from the bottom plate portion141. Thus, the dimension in the width direction in the non-crimped state (non-crimped length) can be shortened, which allows the yield to be improved.

Moreover, the right end face31A of the weld portion31is flush with the right end face141A of the bottom plate portion141in the flat, non-crimped state, and the non-crimped length of the crimping portion140falls within the width of the weld portion31. Thus, it is possible to further improve the yield.

On the other hand, since the end face (abutting surface143B) of the crimping piece143abuts against the abutted surface147of the bottom plate portion141, a holding force to the electric wire20can be ensured sufficiently.

Other Embodiments

The techniques disclosed herein are by no means limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, various modes to be described below are also encompassed therein.

(1) Although the leading edges43A,143A of the crimping pieces43,143are located below the second virtual plane P2in the first and second embodiments, they need not extend up to the second virtual plane P2as long as they pass over the first virtual plane P1.

(2) Although the crimping portions40,140in the first and second embodiments are configured such that the crimping pieces43,143are wound around so as to cover the entire outer periphery of the electric wire20, a gap may be present between the crimping pieces43,143and the auxiliary piece45or the bottom plate portion141.

(3) Although the right end face31A of the weld portion31is flush with the right end face45A of the auxiliary piece45or with the right end face141A of the bottom plate portion141in the flat, non-crimped state in the first and second embodiments, they need not be flush with each other.

(4) Although ultrasonic welding is used to weld the core wire21to the weld portion31in the first and second embodiments, other methods such as resistance welding may be used to weld the core wire21.

(5) Although the neck portions35,135are provided in the first and second embodiments, the bottom plate portions41,141of the crimping portions40,140may be directly continuous with the weld portion31without the neck portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

10,110Terminal-equipped electric wire

31A Right end face

41,141Bottom plate portion

141A Right end face

43A,143A Leading edge

45A Right end face

O Center in radial direction of electric wire

P1First virtual plane

P2Second virtual plane