Female terminal and connector including female terminal

A female terminal downsized in a male terminal-inserting direction. A terminal body has a reception portion, for receiving a male terminal. A first and second spring portions are arranged to be opposed to each other so as to sandwich the male terminal inserted into the reception portion from an inlet portion thereof. The first spring portion has a first and second contact points brought into contact with the sale terminal in the reception portion. The second spring portion has a third contact point brought into contact with the stale terminal in the reception portion. The third contact point is between the first and second, contact points in the male terminal-inserting direction. The first contact point is in the inlet portion of the reception portion, and the second contact point is at a more inward location in the reception portion than the first contact point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a female terminal and a connector including the female terminal.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally as shown inFIG. 14, there has been known a female terminal901D including a pair of elastic contact pieces903D and903D′, arranged to be opposed to each other so as to sandwich a male terminal (not shown) inserted in an accommodating chamber900R (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-63961). The following description is given of the conventional female terminal.

One elastic contact piece903D is formed to be extended from a bottom plate908D of the female terminal901D to a free end912D via a bent portion911D. Two contact points AD1and AD2are formed on this elastic contact piece903D.

The other elastic contact piece903D′ is formed to be extended from a top plate907D of the female terminal901D to a free end912D′ via a bent portion911D′. One contact point BD is formed on this elastic contact piece903D′.

The contact point BD of the elastic contact piece903D′ is at a location between the contact points AD1and AD2in a male terminal-inserting direction900E.

When a male terminal is inserted in accommodating chamber900R, the male terminal is sandwiched between both of the elastic contact pieces903D and903D′. At this time, returning forces of the elastic contact pieces903D and903D′ act to hold the male terminal at the three points of the contact points AD1and AD2and the contact point BD in a sandwiching scanner.

When the male terminal is inserted between the elastic contact pieces903D and903D′, a relationship in which the contact points AD1and AD2and the contact point BD are at three corners of a triangle, respectively, is established, and hence the male terminal is stably held by the elastic contact pieces903D and903D′ in a sandwiched manner.

Therefore, it is observed that a contact stability between the male terminal and the elastic contact pieces903D and903D′ is obtained, whereby stable electrical connection between the male terminal and the female terminal901D is ensured.

However, the above-described female terminal901D has a problem that due to its structure, the elastic contact piece903D is formed to be long, and hence the dimension of the female terminal901D in the male terminal-inserting direction900E is increased accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to realize downsizing of a female terminal and a connector including the female terminal in a male terminal-inserting direction.

To attain the above object, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a female terminal comprising a terminal body having a reception portion for receiving a male terminal, and a first spring portion and a second spring portion that are formed on the terminal body, and are arranged to be opposed to each other so as to sandwich the male terminal inserted from an inlet portion of the reception portion into the reception portion, wherein the first spring portion includes a first linking portion which is continuous with a reception portion inlet-side end portion of the terminal body, and is bent from the reception portion inlet-side end portion toward the reception portion, and a first contact point and a second contact point which are brought into contact with the male terminal inserted in the reception portion, wherein the second spring portion includes a second linking portion which is continuous with the reception portion inlet-side end portion of the terminal body, and is bent from the reception portion inlet-side end portion toward the reception portion, and a third contact point which is brought into contact with the male terminal inserted in the reception portion, wherein the third contact point is at a location between the first contact point and the second contact point in a male terminal-inserting direction, wherein the first contact point is a location in the inlet portion of the reception portion, and wherein the second contact point is at a more inward location in the receiving portion than the first contact point.

Preferably, the second contact point is at a location closer to the second spring portion than the first contact point in a spring portion-opposed direction in which the first spring portion and the second spring portion are opposed to each other.

Preferably, the first spring portion includes a first spring body which is continuous with the first linking portion, and extends in the male terminal-inserting direction, the second spring portion includes a second spring body which is continuous with the second linking portion, and extends in the sale terminal-inserting direction, the first contact point is formed on the first linking portion, the second contact point is formed on the first spring body, and the third contact point is formed on the second spring body.

More preferably, the first linking portion has an arc shape.

More preferably, the first spring body includes a first straight portion which is continuous with the first linking portion, a carved portion which is continuous with the first straight portion, and a second straight portion which is continuous with the curved portion, and the curved portion is at a location farther from the second spring portion than the first straight portion and the second straight portion in the spring portion-opposed direction.

Preferably, the female terminal further comprises a first auxiliary spring portion that is formed on the terminal body, and is capable of supporting the first spring portion from a surface of the first spring portion, opposite from a surface which is brought into contact with the male terminal, and a second auxiliary spring portion that is formed on the terminal body, and is capable of supporting the second spring portion from a surface of the second spring portion, opposite from a surface which is brought into contact with the male terminal.

Preferably, the female terminal is formed of one metal plate.

To attain the above object, in a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector including a female terminal comprising a terminal body having a reception portion for receiving a male terminal, and a first spring portion and a second spring portion that are formed on the terminal body, and are arranged to be opposed to each other so as to sandwich the male terminal inserted from an inlet portion of the reception portion into the reception portion, wherein the first spring portion includes a first linking portion which is continuous with a reception portion inlet-side end portion of the terminal body, and is bent from the reception portion inlet-side end portion toward the reception portion, and a first contact point and a second contact point which are brought into contact with, the male terminal inserted in the reception portion, wherein, the second spring portion includes a second linking portion which is continuous with the reception portion inlet-side end portion of the terminal body, and is bent from the reception portion inlet-side end portion toward the reception portion, and a third contact point which is brought into contact with the male terminal inserted in the reception portion, wherein the third contact point is at a location between the first contact point and the second contact point in a male terminal-inserting direction, wherein the first contact point is a location in the inlet portion of the reception portion, and wherein the second contact point is at a more inward location in the receiving portion than the first contact point, and a housing that holds the female terminal.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize downsizing of the female terminal and the connector including the female terminal in the male terminal-inserting direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof.

A plug connector (connector)1according to an embodiment of the present invention can be fitted to a receptacle connector2, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, and 5 to 7.

Cables3are connected to the plug connector1. The plug connector1includes female terminals10(seeFIGS. 8 to 13) according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a housing70that holds the female terminals10.

The housing70is formed of an insulating material (e.g. a synthetic resin), and has elasticity. The housing70includes a housing body71, a spring portion72, and protruding portions73.

The housing body71has two contact accommodation portions711for accommodating the female terminals10, respectively. Each contact accommodation portion711extends in a plug connector-fitting direction D3.

One end of the spring portion72is connected to an end of the housing body71, which is formed with male terminal receiving inlets71A. The spring portion72extends in the plug connector-fitting direction D3.

The spring portion72has opposite sides each formed with the protruding portion73(seeFIGS. 1 and 2). The two protruding portions73are at respective locations in a substantially intermediate portion of the spring portion72in the ping connector-fitting direction D3. Each protruding portion73has an upper portion formed with an inclined surface73A, and a rear portion formed with a vertical surface73B (seeFIGS. 2 and 3).

The receptacle connector2is mounted on a printed circuit board, not shown. The receptacle connector2includes two male terminals20, and a housing80that holds the two male terminals20.

The housing80has a connector accommodation portion80A that accommodates the plug connector1(seeFIG. 3). The connector accommodation portion80A extends in a male terminal-inserting direction D1.

The housing80is formed of an insulating material (e.g. a synthetic resin), and has elasticity. The housing80includes a housing body81and a protruding portion83.

The housing body81has a rear wall portion81B formed with two press-in holes81C (only one press-in hole81C appears inFIGS. 3 and 7).

The protruding portion83is formed on an inner surface of a top-side portion81D of the housing body81(seeFIG. 3). The protruding portion83is at a location toward a front end of the housing body81in the males terminal-inserting direction D1. The protruding portion83has a front portion formed with an inclined surface83A, and a rear portion formed with a vertical surface83B (seeFIGS. 3 and 7).

Each male terminal20includes a contact portion21, a connection portion22, and a linking portion23(seeFIG. 3). The contact portion21can be brought into contact with the female terminal10of the plug connector1. The connection portion22is inserted in and soldered to a through hole (not shown) of the printed circuit board. The linking portion23is bent into an L-shape, and connects the contact portion21and the connection portion22. The linking portion23is press-fitted in an associated one of the press-in holes81C of the rear wall portion81B as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, whereby the male terminal20is held by the housing body81.

As shown inFIGS. 8 to 13, each female terminal10is formed by blanking and bending one metal plate. The female terminal10includes a terminal body11, a first spring portion12, a second spring portion13, a crimping portion16, a cover holding portion17, a linking portion18, and a linking portion19.

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 12, the terminal body11has a top-side portion11A, a bottom-side portion11B opposed to the top-side portion11A, a side portion11C that connects one of lateral ends of the top-side portion11A and one of lateral ends of the bottom-side portion11B, and a receiving portion11D for receiving the stale terminal20. The receiving portion11D is a space formed by the top-side portion11A, the bottom-side portion11B, and the side portion11C, for receiving therein the male terminal20.

The side portion11C is formed with a protruding portion11C1that functions as a guide when the female terminal10is accommodated into the accommodation portion711(seeFIG. 3) of the housing70, and a lance11C2for holding the female terminal10accommodated in the accommodation portion711of the housing70in the housing body71of the housing70.

The cover holding portion17is a portion that is crimped to hold the cable3together with its cover. When the cable3is not held by the cover holding portion17, the cross section of the cover holding portion17is substantially U-shaped (seeFIGS. 8 and 12). The crimping portion16is a portion that is crimped to hold a plurality of conductors (not shows) of the cable3. When the conductors of the cable3are not held by the crimping portion16, the cross section of the crimping portion16is substantially U-shaped (seeFIG. 8. The linking portion18is a portion that links the crimping portion16to the terminal body11. The linking portion19is a portion that links the cover holding portion17to the crimping portion16.

The first spring portion12and the second spring portion13are arranged to be opposed to each other so as to sandwich the mala terminal20inserted from an inlet portion E (hatched area inFIG. 11B) of the receiving portion11D into the receiving portion11D.

As shown inFIGS. 10, 11A, 11B, and 13, the first spring portion12includes a first contact point PC1and a second contact point PC2which are brought into contact with the contact portion21of the male terminal20inserted in the receiving portion11D.

The second spring portion13includes a third contact point PC3which is brought into contact with the contact portion21of the male terminal20inserted in the receiving portion11D.

The third contact point PC3is at a location between the first contact point PC1and the second contact point PC2in the male terminal-inserting direction D1.

The first contact point PC1is at a location in the inlet portion E of the receiving portion11D, and the second contact point PC2is at a more inward location in the receiving portion11D than the first contact point PC1(seeFIG. 11B).

The second contact point PC2is at a location closer to the second spring portion13than the first contact point PC1in a spring portion-opposed direction D2(seeFIG. 11A).

The first spring portion12includes a first linking portion121which Is continuous with a receiving inlet-side end portion11E of the terminal body11, and a first spring body122which is continuous with the first linking portion121.

The first linking portion121is a portion which is bent in a manner drawing an arc from the receiving inlet-side end portion11E toward the receiving portion11D. The first linking portion121has an arc shape as viewed from the side thereof (seeFIG. 10). The arc shape here is not limited to an arc in the strict sense, but includes an arc shape in which most part of the first linking portion121is formed into an arc. For example, an arc shape in which at least one of opposite ends is formed to extend straight, and an arc shape in which an intermediate portion is formed to extend straight are included in the arc shape mentioned here. In the present embodiment, the first spring body122is smoothly continuous with one end of the arc drawn by the first linking portion121.

The first spring body122extends in the male terminal-inserting direction D1.

The second spring portion13includes a second linking portion131which is continuous with the receiving inlet-side end portion HE of the terminal body11, and a second spring body132which is continuous with the second linking portion131.

The second linking portion131is a portion which is bent in a manner drawing an arc from the receiving inlet-side end portion11E of the terminal body11toward the receiving portion11D. The second linking portion131has an arc shape, as viewed from the side thereof (seeFIG. 10).

The second spring body132extends in the male terminal-inserting direction D1.

The first contact point PC1is formed on the first linking portion121, the second contact point PC2is formed on the first spring body122, and the third contact point PC3is formed on the second spring body132.

The first spring body122includes a first straight portion122A which is continuous with the first linking portion121, a curved portion122B which is continuous with the first straight portion122A, and a second straight portion122C which is Continuous with the curved portion122B (seeFIG. 11A).

The curved portion122B is at a location farther from the second spring port ion13than the first straight portion122A and the second straight portion122C in the spring portion-opposed direction D2.

Further, the terminal body11is formed with a first auxiliary spring portion14and a second auxiliary spring portion15(seeFIG. 10). The first auxiliary spring portion14is a spring portion which can support the first spring portion12from a surface side of the first spring portion12, opposite from a surface side of the same which is brought into contact with the male terminal20. The second auxiliary spring portion15is a spring portion which can support the second spring portion13from a surface side of the second spring portion13, opposite from a surface side of the same which is brought into contact with the male terminal20.

Note that the inlet portion E of the receiving portion11D is a space (hatched area inFIG. 11B) surrounded by an end portion of the first spring portion12toward the terminal body (the first linking portion121and an end portion of the first spring body122toward the first linking portions in the present embodiment), and an end portion of the second spring portion13toward the terminal body (the second linking portion131and an end portion of the second spring body132toward the second linking portion, in the present embodiment).

When the plug connector1is inserted in the connector accommodation portion80A of the receptacle connector2, the inclined surfaces73A of the protruding portions73of the plug connector1are brought into abutment with the protruding portion83of the receptacle connector2, whereby the spring portion72of the plug connector1is elastically deformed. When the inclined surfaces73A of the protruding portions73of the plug connector1are slid on the inclined surface83A of the protruding portion83of the receptacle connector2until the protruding portions73of the plug connector1climb over the protruding portion83of the receptacle connector2, the returning force of the spring portion72of the plug connector1restores a state of the spring portion72before being elastically deformed, and hence the vertical surface83B of the protruding portion83of the receptacle connector2and the vertical surfaces73B of the protruding portions73of the plug connector1are opposed to each other in the male terminal-inserting direction D1(seeFIG. 7). As a result, even when attempt is made to pull out the plug connector1from too receptacle connector2, the vertical surfaces73B of the protruding portions73of the plug connector1are brought into abutment with the vertical surface83B of the protruding portion83, which makes the ping connector1difficult to be pulled out of the receptacle connector2, whereby a fitted state between the plug connector1and the receptacle connector2is maintained.

When the plug connector1is inserted in the connector accommodation portion80A of the receptacle connector2, the contact portion21of each sale terminal20of the receptacle connector2is relatively inserted from the inlet portion E of the receiving portion11D of the female terminal10into the receiving portion11D, whereby the first spring portion12and the second spring portion13are elastically deformed, respectively, to cause a space between the first spring portion12and the second spring portion13to be increased (seeFIGS. 7 and 13). Further, when the plug connector1is inserted in the connector accommodation portion80A of the receptacle connector2, first, one of the surfaces of the contact portion21of each male terminal20la brought into contact with the first contact point PC1of the first spring portion12, then, the other of the surfaces of the contact portion21of each male terminal20is brought into contact with the third contact point PC3of the second spring portion13, and finally, the one of the surfaces of the contact portion21of each male terminal20is brought into contact with the second contact point PC2of the first spring portion12. Thus, the contact portion21of each male terminal20of the receptacle connector2is supported by the first spring portion12and the second spring portion13at the three points.

When the first spring portion12is elastically deformed, the first spring portion12presses down the first auxiliary spring portion14, whereby the first auxiliary spring portion14is elastically deformed, and hence the first spring portion12is supported by the first auxiliary spring portion14from the surface of the first spring portion12, opposite from the surface which is brought into contact with the male terminal20, and the returning force of the first auxiliary spring portion14acts on one of the surfaces of the contact portion21of the male terminal20via the first spring portion12. As a result, the contact forces applied from the first contact point PC1and the second contact point PC2are increased, which makes up for insufficiency of the contact force generated in a case where only the first spring portion12is employed.

Further, when the second spring portion13is elastically deformed, the second spring portion13presses up the second auxiliary spring portion15, whereby the second auxiliary spring portion15is elastically deformed, and hence the second spring portion13is supported by the second auxiliary spring portion15from the surface of the second spring portion13, opposite from the surface which is brought into contact with the male terminal20, and the returning force of the second auxiliary spring portion15acts on the other of the surfaces of the contact portion21of the scale terminal20via the second spring portion13. As a result, the contact force applied from the third contact point PC3is increased, which makes up for insufficiency of the contact force generated in a case where only the second spring portion13is employed.

To pull out the plug connector1from the receptacle connector2, it is only necessary to press down a free end portion of the spring portion72toward the housing body71, and pull out the plug connector1from the receptacle connector2.

When the free end portion of the spring portion72is pressed toward the housing body71, a state in which the protruding portions73of the plug connector1are hooked on the protruding portion83of the receptacle connector2is released, and hence it is possible to easily pull out the plug connector1from the receptacle connector21.

According to the present embodiment, since the first contact point PC1of the first spring portion12is arranged at the inlet portion E of the receiving portion11D, it is possible to arrange the second contact point PC2of the first spring portion12at a location toward the inlet portion E of the receiving portion11D, which eliminates the need of increasing the dimension of the first spring portion12in the male terminal-inserting direction D1. Therefore, it is possible to support the contact portion21of each male terminal20at the three points in a sandwiching manner to thereby obtain high contact stability, and it is possible to reduce the dimension of the female terminal10in the male terminal-inserting direction D1, and in turn realize downsizing of the plug connector1.

Although in the above-described embodiment, the number of contact points of the first spring portion12is two (the first contact point PC1and the second contact point PC2), and the number of contact points of the second spring portion13is one (the third contact point PC3), the number of contact points of the first spring portion12may be three or more, and the number of contact points of the second spring portion13may be two or more.

Further, although one first spring portion12is provided and also one second spring portion13is provided, two or more first spring portions12and two or more second spring portions13may be provided, or one of the number of first spring portions12and the number of second spring portions13may be one, and the other of the numbers may be two or more.

Further, although the first contact point PC1is provided on the first linking portion121of the first spring portion12, the first contact point PC1is only required to be at a location in the inlet portion E of the receiving portion11D, and for example, the first contact point PC1may be provided on the end portion of the first spring body122of the first-spring portion12toward the first linking portion.

Although in the above-described embodiments the first linking portion121is formed into the are shape, the shape of the first linking portion121is not limited to the are shape but may be formed into a shape other than the arc shape, insofar as it is a shape which is bent from the receiving inlet-side end portion11E toward the receiving portion11D. For example, the first linking portion may be formed into a shape other than the arc shape insofar as an outer surface of the first linking portion is a curved surface which is curved from the receiving inlet-side end portion11E toward the receiving portion11D.

It is further -understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.