Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a male-female common terminal which can be used without distinguishing between a male terminal and a female terminal. According to such a male-female common terminal, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by realizing a single type of connection terminals having a common structure which allows the connection terminals are connected to each other.

The connection terminal disclosed in <CIT> includes an electric wire connection portion on one side and a terminal connection portion on the other side. The terminal connection portion includes a tab connection portion having an elongated plate shape, an embossed portion formed in a protruding shape on one surface of the tab connection portion, and tab hold pieces that extend from side edge portions of the tab connection portion on the side of the electric wire connection portion and are disposed to oppose each other with a predetermined distance on the one surface of the tab connection portion.

When the connection terminal is used for connection between electric wires, crimp pieces of the electric wire connection portions are crimped and connected to electric wire ends, respectively, and the terminal connection portions of the connection terminals attached to the electric wires are connected to each other.

The connection terminal as described above is formed by, for example, punching out chain terminals, formed by connecting in parallel terminals of a predetermined shape to a strip-like carrier, from a flat conductive metal plate, and then separating each of the terminals from the carrier. Therefore, although the male-female terminals can be manufactured in only one shape, when the number of contacts and the contact area and the like of the terminals are changed, it is necessary to change a press mold having a predetermined shape that is punched out from a flat conductive metal plate, resulting in an increase in the manufacturing cost. Prior art is also known from document <CIT> which discloses a connection terminal which has a base portion having a flat shape. Furthermore, it is shown a fitted condition between two connection terminals having the same shape. Further prior art is disclosed in Documents <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present invention have been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connection terminal and a terminal connection structure capable of reducing the manufacturing cost by realizing a single type of connection terminals, and also capable of changing the number of contacts or the contact area of the terminals while reducing the manufacturing cost.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the connection terminal of claim <NUM> and the terminal connection structure of claim <NUM>.

According to the connection terminal of the invention, a pair of connection terminals (the connection terminal and the counterpart connection terminal) can be electrically connected to each other by elastically sandwiching the base portion of the counterpart connection terminal by the base portion and the terminal contact portion. Therefore, it is not necessary to distinguish male and female of the connection terminals, so that the workability is high and the component management is facilitated. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the connection terminals can be reduced by realizing a single type of connection terminals as male-female common terminals.

Further, according to the connection terminal having the configuration, a portion for forming base portions has a strip-like busbar shape extending in a longitudinal direction of an elongated flat conductive metal plate. In addition, the folded portion folded back from the rear end of the base portion in the terminal fitting direction, the rise portion provided at the intermediate portion of the folded portion in the terminal fitting direction, and the terminal contact portion extending from the rise portion toward the front side in the terminal fitting direction, are integrally bent and formed. Accordingly, an elongated bent body can be formed to have a target shape (the same cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal direction) in the longitudinal direction of the elongated flat conductive metal plate. Therefore, by cutting the elongated bent body at arbitrary cutting positions in the longitudinal direction, the connection terminals can be easily formed to have different lengths in a width direction intersecting with the terminal fitting direction. Therefore, according to the connection terminal having the configuration, the number of contacts and the contact area of the terminals and the like can be changed.

In the connection terminal according to the invention, the terminal contact portions are provided at intermediate portions of the terminal contact portion in the terminal fitting direction and which is bent so as to protrude toward the base portion.

Therefore, when the base portion of the counterpart connection terminal is inserted from the front side in the terminal fitting direction, a tip end of the base portion of the counterpart connection terminal pushes up an inclined surface of a tip end of the terminal contact portion to smoothly enter between the base portion and the terminal contact portion.

Since the contact portion of the terminal contact portion come into contact with the base portion of the counterpart connection terminal, the contact portion of the terminal contact portion can be reliably brought into contact with the base portion of the counterpart connection terminal even when prying occurs in a vertical direction (a thickness direction) with respect to the connection terminals. Therefore, the contact area between the connection terminals can be prevented from reducing, thereby ensuring the connection reliability.

In the connection terminal according to claim <NUM>, the base portion includes a contact protrusion that protrudes toward the terminal contact portion from a surface of the base portion facing the terminal contact portion.

According to the connection terminal of claim <NUM>, since the contact protrusion of the base portion reliably come into contact with the base portion of the counterpart connection terminal, the contact area is increased due to the increase in the number of contacts between the connection terminals, thereby improving the connection reliability.

A terminal connection structure according to claim <NUM> includes: a first electric wire connection portion in which an end of a first electric wire is electrically connected to a folded portion of a first connection terminal having a same configuration as that of the connection terminal according to any one of the items (<NUM>) to (<NUM>), and a second electric wire connection portion in which an end of a second electric wire is electrically connected to a folded portion of a second connection terminal having a same configuration as that of the connection terminal according to any one of the items (<NUM>) to (<NUM>). A base portion of the second connection terminal is inserted and elastically sandwiched between a base portion and a terminal contact portion of the first connection terminal while the second connection terminal is vertically inverted with respect to the first connection terminal, and the base portion of the first connection terminal is elastically sandwiched between the base portion and a terminal contact portion of the second connection terminal.

According to the terminal connection structure of claim <NUM>, the first electric wire connection portion can be configured to electrically connect the end of the first electric wire to the folded portion of the first connection terminal, and the second electric wire connection portion can be configured to electrically connect the end of the second electric wire to the folded portion of the second connection terminal. The base portions of the second and first connection terminals are elastically sandwiched by the base portions and the terminal contact portions of the first and second connection terminals, respectively, whereby the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal having the same shape are electrically connected. Therefore, the electric wires having ends respectively connected to the first and second electric wire connection portions of the first and second connection terminals are electrically connected to each other.

A connection terminal includes the features of claim <NUM>.

According to the connection terminal of claim <NUM>, a portion for forming the base portions of the connection terminal portions and the coupling portions has a strip-like busbar shape extending in a longitudinal direction of an elongated flat conductive metal plate. In addition, the folded portion folded back from the rear side of the base portion in the terminal fitting direction, the rise portion provided at the intermediate portion of the folded portion in the terminal fitting direction, and the terminal contact portion that extends from the rise portion to the front side in the terminal fitting direction, are integrally bent and formed. Accordingly, an elongated bent body can be formed in which a plurality of connection terminal portions having a target shape (the same cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal direction) in the longitudinal direction of the elongated flat conductive metal plate are connected via the coupling portions. Therefore, by cutting the elongated bent body at the coupling portions at arbitrary positions in the longitudinal direction, a so-called branch connection terminal having the plurality of connection terminal portions can be easily formed. The connection terminal according to the items (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) serving as a male-female common terminal is connected to the connection terminal portion of the connection terminal of the configuration.

Therefore, according to the connection terminal of the configuration, the branch connection terminal can be manufactured on a manufacturing line of the connection terminal according to the items (<NUM>) to (<NUM>), thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. In addition, according to the connection terminal of the configuration, the number of connection terminal portions of the branch connection terminal as well as the number of contacts and the contact area of the terminals can be easily changed.

According to the aspects of the present invention, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by realizing the single type of connection terminals, and the connection terminal and the terminal connection structure can be provided capable of coping with changes in the number of contacts and the contact area of the terminals while reducing the manufacturing cost.

The aspects of the present invention are briefly described as above. Details of the aspects of the present invention are further clarified by reading through modes described below for implementing the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiments") with reference to attached drawings.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a connection terminal <NUM> according to an example, not the invention is a male-female common terminal made of, for example, copper alloy.

The connection terminal <NUM> according to the example includes a flat base portion <NUM> having a predetermined width, a folded portion <NUM> which is folded back from a rear end (a left side in <FIG>) of the base portion <NUM> in a terminal fitting direction and extends toward a front side (a right side in <FIG>) in the terminal fitting direction, a rise portion <NUM> that is provided at an intermediate portion of the folded portion <NUM> in the terminal fitting direction and rises in a direction away from the base portion <NUM>, and a terminal contact portion <NUM> that extends from the rise portion <NUM> toward the front side in the terminal fitting direction and can be elastically deformed (displaced) in a direction away from the base portion <NUM> at a position facing the base portion <NUM>.

The base portion <NUM> is provided with a plurality of (three) contact protrusions <NUM> protruding toward the terminal contact portion <NUM> on a surface facing the terminal contact portion <NUM> by indenting or the like. The number of the contact protrusions <NUM> is not limited to three, and the three contact protrusions <NUM> can be reliably brought into contact with a base portion <NUM> on a counterpart side. Further, upper and lower edges of a tip end <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> inserted between the base portion <NUM> and a terminal contact portion <NUM> on the counterpart side are chamfered such that the tip end <NUM> is tapered.

An end <NUM> of a conductor21 of an electric wire 20A (20B) described below is welded onto an upper surface of the folded portion <NUM> serving as an electric wire connection portion by ultrasonic welding, laser welding or the like. The folded portion <NUM> and the rise portion <NUM> folded on one surface side (upper surface side in <FIG>) of the base portion <NUM> have a predetermined width same as that of the base portion <NUM>.

The terminal contact portion <NUM> according to the first example includes a plurality of (two) divided pieces <NUM> that are formed by dividing the terminal contact portion <NUM> in a width direction intersecting the terminal fitting direction by a slit <NUM> extending from a front end along the terminal fitting direction. An intermediate portion of each divided piece <NUM> of the terminal contact portion <NUM> has a contact portion <NUM> that is bent so as to protrude toward the base portion. Therefore, a tip end of the divided piece <NUM> extends obliquely away from the base portion, and a surface thereof on the base portion <NUM> side is an inclined surface 15a.

Between the contact portion <NUM> of the divided piece <NUM> and the base portion <NUM>, the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side can be inserted from the front side in the terminal fitting direction while being vertically inverted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a distance L between the contact portion <NUM> of the divided piece <NUM> of the terminal contact portion <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> is set to be slightly smaller than a thickness of the base portion <NUM> in a natural state of the divided piece <NUM>. When the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side is inserted between the contact portion <NUM> of the divided piece <NUM> and the base portion <NUM>, a tip end <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side pushes up the inclined surface 15a of the divided piece <NUM>, so that the divided piece <NUM> is elastically deformed (displaced) upward. The base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side is elastically sandwiched between the contact portion <NUM> of the divided piece <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> by a reaction force of the divided piece <NUM>.

Connection terminals <NUM> having the above configuration can form a terminal connection structure according to the example for electrically connecting the electric wires 20A and 20B to each other by using first and second connection terminals 10A and 10B having the same shape and the same dimension.

Each of the electric wires 20A and 20B is, for example, a coated electric wire in which a periphery of a conductor <NUM> is coated with an insulator <NUM>. The conductor <NUM> is formed by twisting together strands of a conductive metal material mainly made of copper. The conductor <NUM> is extrusion-coated with the insulator <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are a perspective view and a side view illustrating the terminal connection structure according to the example, and illustrate a state in which the first connection terminal 10A and the second connection terminal 10B are connected. In the following description, the connection terminal <NUM> crimped to an end of one electric wire 20A is referred to as the first connection terminal 10A, and the connection terminal <NUM> crimped to an end of the other electric wire 20B is referred to as the second connection terminal 10B.

First, the insulator <NUM> at the end of the electric wire is removed to expose the conductor <NUM> at the end of one electric wire 20A.

Next, the end <NUM> of the conductor <NUM> of one electric wire 20A is welded onto the upper surface of the folded portion <NUM> serving as the electric wire connection portion of the first connection terminal 10A by ultrasonic welding, laser welding or the like.

Similarly, the insulator <NUM> at the end of the electric wire is removed to expose the conductor <NUM> at the end of the other electric wire 20B.

Next, the end <NUM> of the conductor <NUM> of the other electric wire 20B is welded onto the upper surface of the folded portion <NUM> serving as the electric wire connection portion of the second connection terminal 10B by ultrasonic welding, laser welding or the like.

In the terminal connection structure according to the example, when the first connection terminal 10A and the second connection terminal 10B are connected as illustrated in <FIG>, as the base portion <NUM> of the second connection terminal 10B is inserted between the divided piece <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> of the first connection terminal 10A while being vertically inverted, the base portion <NUM> of the first connection terminal 10A also enters between the base portion <NUM> and the divided piece <NUM> of the second connection terminal 10B. Therefore, the base portion <NUM> of the second connection terminal 10B is elastically sandwiched between the contact portion <NUM> of the divided piece <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> of the first connection terminal 10A, and the base portion <NUM> of the first connection terminal 10A is elastically sandwiched between the contact portion <NUM> of the divided piece <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> of the second connection terminal 10B.

According to the connection terminal <NUM> (10A, 10B) according to the example described above, a pair of connection terminals 10A and 10B can be electrically connected to each other by elastically sandwiching the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side by the base portion <NUM> and the terminal contact portion <NUM> (divided piece <NUM>). Therefore, it is not necessary to distinguish male and female of the connection terminals 10A and 10B, so that the workability is high and the component management is facilitated. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the connection terminals <NUM> can be reduced by realizing a single type of the connection terminals <NUM> (10A, 10B) as male-female common terminals.

<FIG> are explanatory views illustrating a step of press-molding the connection terminal <NUM> according to the example.

According to the connection terminal <NUM> according to the example as illustrated in <FIG>, a portion for forming base portions <NUM> has a strip-like bus bar shape extending in a longitudinal direction of an elongated flat conductive metal plate <NUM>. In addition, the folded portion <NUM> which is folded back from the rear end of the base portion <NUM> in the terminal fitting direction at a fold line <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction, the rise portion <NUM> provided at the intermediate portion of the folded portion <NUM> in the terminal fitting direction, the terminal contact portion <NUM> that extends from the rise portion <NUM> toward the front side in the terminal fitting direction, can be formed to have an target shape (the same cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal direction) in the longitudinal direction of the elongated flat conductive metal plate <NUM>.

The step of press-molding the connection terminal <NUM> and connection terminals <NUM> and <NUM> according to the example will be described with reference to <FIG>.

First, as illustrated in <FIG>, a plurality of slits <NUM> extending toward the other side edge are cut out at predetermined intervals on one side edge (upper edge in <FIG>) along the longitudinal direction of the conductive metal plate <NUM>. The formation intervals of the slits <NUM> are set in accordance with a width of each divided piece <NUM> of the terminal contact portion <NUM>.

Next, as illustrated in <FIG>, a side edge side of the conductive metal plate <NUM> along the longitudinal direction is folded back at the fold line <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction, and an elongated bent body <NUM> is formed by integrally bending and forming portions constituting the folded portion <NUM>, the rise portion <NUM> and the terminal contact portion <NUM>.

Therefore, by cutting the elongated bent body <NUM> at arbitrary cutting positions <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, the connection terminals <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> can be easily formed to include the terminal contact portions <NUM>, 12A and 12B having different lengths in the width direction intersecting the terminal fitting direction. Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, by cutting at the cutting positions <NUM> extending along the slits <NUM> such that the terminal contact portion <NUM> is formed by two divided pieces <NUM>, the connection terminal <NUM> according to the example is formed. In addition, by cutting at the cutting positions <NUM> extending along the slits <NUM> such that the terminal contact portion 12A is formed by three divided pieces <NUM>, the connection terminal <NUM> is formed in which the number of contacts and the contact area are larger than those of the connection terminal <NUM>. Further, by cutting at the cutting positions <NUM> extending along the slits <NUM> such that the terminal contact portion 12B is formed by four divided pieces <NUM>, the connection terminal <NUM> is formed in which the number of contacts and the contact area are larger than those of the connection terminal <NUM>.

As described above, according to the connection terminal <NUM>, the number of contacts and the contact area of the terminals can be easily changed.

According to the connection terminal <NUM> (10A, 10B), the intermediate portion of the terminal contact portion <NUM> has the contact portion <NUM> that is bent so as to protrude toward the base portion <NUM>. Therefore, when the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side is inserted from the front side in the terminal fitting direction, the tip end <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side can push up the inclined surface 15a at a tip end of the terminal contact portion <NUM> to smoothly enter between the base portion <NUM> and the terminal contact portion <NUM>.

Since the contact portion <NUM> of the terminal contact portion <NUM> comes into contact with the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side, the contact portion <NUM> of the terminal contact portion <NUM> can be reliably brought into contact with the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side even when prying occurs in a vertical direction (a thickness direction) with respect to the connection terminals <NUM>. Therefore, the contact area between the connection terminals can be prevented from reducing, thereby ensuring the connection reliability.

According to the connection terminal <NUM> (10A, 10B) according to the example, since the contact protrusions <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> reliably come into contact with the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side, the contact area are increased due to an increase in the number of contacts between the connection terminals, thereby improving the connection reliability.

According to the connection terminal <NUM> (10A, 10B) according to the example, since the terminal contact portion <NUM> includes two divided pieces <NUM>, each of the divided pieces <NUM> can independently come into contact with the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side. Therefore, the divided pieces <NUM> of the terminal contact portion <NUM> can be reliably brought into contact with the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side even when prying occurs in a rotation direction (a direction of rotating about the terminal fitting direction) with respect to the connection terminals <NUM> (10A, 10B). Therefore, the contact area between the connection terminals can be prevented from reducing, thereby ensuring the connection reliability.

According to the terminal connection structure according to the example, the electric wire connection portion can be configured to electrically connect the end of one electric wire 20A to the folded portion <NUM> of the first connection terminal 10A, and the electric wire connection portion can be configured to electrically connect the end of the other electric wire 20B to the folded portion <NUM> of the second connection terminal 10B. The base portions <NUM> of the second and first connection terminals 10B and 10A are elastically sandwiched by the base portions <NUM> and the terminal contact portions <NUM> of the first and second connection terminals 10A and 10B respectively, whereby the first connection terminal 10A and the second connection terminal 10B having the same shape are electrically connected. Therefore, the electric wires 20A and 20B whose electric wire ends are respectively connected to the electric wire connection portions of the first and second connection terminals 10A and 10B are electrically connected to each other.

Therefore, according to the connection terminal <NUM> (10A, 10B) and the terminal connection structure according to the example, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by realizing the single type of connection terminals <NUM>, and the number of contacts and the contact area can be changed while reducing the manufacturing cost.

Materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, disposition locations or the like of constituent elements in the above-described example are optional and not limited as long as the object can be achieved.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a terminal connection structure according to a modification of the example, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a terminal connection structure according to another modification. Components same as those of the terminal connection structure according to the example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

In a connection terminal <NUM> according to the modification of the example as illustrated in <FIG>, a pair of side walls <NUM> are bent and formed on both side edges of the folded portion <NUM> serving as an electric wire connection portion.

Therefore, when an end of the conductor <NUM> of the electric wire 20A is ultrasonically welded onto an upper surface of the folded portion <NUM>, the pair of side walls <NUM> can restrain the end of the conductor <NUM>. Therefore, when the conductor <NUM> is ultrasonically welded, strands twisted together can be prevented from loosening. A connection area between the connection terminal <NUM> and the conductor <NUM> is a flat surface restricted by the folded portion <NUM> and the pair of side walls <NUM>, so that the contact area can be increased. Therefore, the connectivity between the connection terminal <NUM> and the conductor <NUM> can be improved.

In a connection terminal <NUM> according to another modification of the example as illustrated in <FIG>, a pair of conductor caulking pieces <NUM> and a pair of coat caulking pieces <NUM> are bent and formed, and spaced apart in the terminal fitting direction on both side edges of the folded portion <NUM> serving as an electric wire connection portion.

Therefore, at the end of the electric wire 20A, the conductor <NUM> is crimped by the conductor caulking pieces <NUM>, and the adjacent insulator <NUM> is crimped by the coat caulking pieces <NUM>.

Accordingly, a configuration of the folded portion <NUM> serving as the electric wire connection portion according to the example may be of various types depending on the form, thickness and the like of an electric wire to be connected.

<FIG> are a perspective view and a side view illustrating a connection terminal <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. Components same as those of the connection terminal <NUM> according to the example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the connection terminal <NUM> according to the embodiment as illustrated in <FIG>, two divided pieces 15A and 15B constituting a terminal contact portion 12C are configured to elastically sandwich the base portion <NUM> of another connection terminal <NUM> with the base portion <NUM> at different positions along the terminal fitting direction.

Therefore, according to the connection terminal <NUM> according to the embodiment, when the base portion <NUM> on a counterpart side is inserted from a front side in the terminal fitting direction, the tip end <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side reaches sandwiching positions of the divided pieces 15A and 15B at different timings, respectively, and a peak value of the insertion force can be reduced. Therefore, the tip end <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> on the counterpart side can smoothly enter between the base portion <NUM> and the divided pieces 15A and 15B.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a connection terminal <NUM> according to another example. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a terminal connection structure using the connection terminal <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Components same as those of the connection terminal <NUM> according to the example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the connection terminal <NUM> is a branch connection terminal that includes a pair of connection terminal portions <NUM>, and a coupling portion <NUM> provided between adjacent base portions <NUM> of the pair of connection terminal portions <NUM>. The connection terminal portion <NUM> includes the flat base portion <NUM> having a predetermined width, the folded portion <NUM> in which a rear side (a left side in <FIG>) of the base portion in the terminal fitting direction is folded back and extends toward a front side (a right side in <FIG>) of the terminal fitting direction, the rise portion <NUM> that rises away from the base portion <NUM> at an intermediate portion of the folded portion <NUM> in the terminal fitting direction, the terminal contact portion <NUM> that extends from the rise portion <NUM> to the front side in the terminal fitting direction and can be elastically deformed (displaced) in a direction away from the base portion <NUM> at a position facing the base portion <NUM>.

According to such a connection terminal <NUM>, a portion for forming base portions <NUM> of the connection terminal portions <NUM> and the coupling portion <NUM> has a strip-like busbar shape extending in a longitudinal direction of an elongated flat conductive metal plate. In addition, the folded portion <NUM> in which the rear side of the base portion <NUM> in the terminal fitting direction is folded back, the rise portion <NUM> provided at the intermediate portion of the folded portion <NUM> in the terminal fitting direction, and the terminal contact portion <NUM> that extends from the rise portion <NUM> to the front side in the terminal fitting direction, are integrally bent and formed. Accordingly, an elongated bent body can be formed in which a plurality of connection terminal portions <NUM> having a target shape (the same cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal direction) in the longitudinal direction of the elongated flat conductive metal plate are connected via coupling portions <NUM> (see <FIG>). Therefore, by cutting the elongated bent body at the coupling portions <NUM> at arbitrary positions in the longitudinal direction, the connection terminal <NUM> serving as the branch connection terminal having a plurality of connection terminal portions <NUM> can be easily formed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the connection terminal 10B of the above configuration serving as a male-female common terminal is connected to the connection terminal portion <NUM> of the connection terminal <NUM> of the configuration.

Therefore, as illustrated in <FIG>, the connection terminal <NUM> serving as the branch connection terminal can be configured as a joint terminal to which connection terminals 10B connected to ends of a pair of electric wires 20B are respectively connected.

A connection terminal <NUM> serving as a branch connection terminal illustrated in <FIG> can also be configured as a joint terminal including a large number of (six) connection terminal portions <NUM> and coupling portions <NUM> respectively provided between adjacent base portions <NUM> of the connection terminal portions <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A connection terminal (<NUM>) comprising:
a base portion (<NUM>) having a flat shape;
a folded portion (<NUM>) which is folded back from a rear end of the base portion in a terminal fitting direction and extends toward a front side in the terminal fitting direction;
a rise portion (<NUM>) that is provided at an intermediate portion of the folded portion in the terminal fitting direction and rises in a direction away from the base portion (<NUM>); and
a terminal contact portion (12C) that extends from the rise portion (<NUM>) toward the front side in the terminal fitting direction and is elastically deformable in the direction away from the base portion (<NUM>) at a position facing the base portion (<NUM>),
wherein the terminal contact portion (12C) includes a plurality of divided pieces (15A, 15B) formed by dividing the terminal contact portion (12C) in a width direction intersecting the terminal fitting direction by a slit (<NUM>) formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of divided pieces (15A, 15B) and extending from a front end of the terminal contact portion (12C) along the terminal fitting direction,
wherein the terminal contact portion (12C) includes a plurality of contact portions (<NUM>) which are provided at intermediate portions of the plurality of divided pieces (15A, 15B) in the terminal fitting direction, respectively, and which are bent so as to protrude toward the base portion (<NUM>), and
a distance (L) between the contact portions (<NUM>) of the divided pieces (15A, 15B) of the terminal contact portion (12C) and the base portion (<NUM>) is set to be slightly smaller than a thickness of the base portion (<NUM>) in a natural state of the divided pieces (15A, 15B), the plurality of contact portions (<NUM>) are provided at different positions along the terminal fitting direction, respectively,
wherein the connection terminal (<NUM>) is configured to receive a base portion (<NUM>) of a counterpart connection terminal having a same configuration as that of the connection terminal (<NUM>) such that the base portion of the counterpart connection terminal is inserted and elastically sandwiched between the base portion (<NUM>) and the terminal contact portion (<NUM> (12C) of the connection terminal (<NUM>) while the counterpart connection terminal is vertically inverted with respect to the connection terminal (<NUM>).