JP2006019076A - Terminal fitting and connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict an insertion operation in a wrong attitude of a terminal fitting without forming a projection on the terminal fitting. <P>SOLUTION: Even if this terminal fitting 20 is intended to be inserted into a cavity 11 in an attitude turned clockwise or counterclockwise at 90° with respect to a regular attitude thereof, since shapes of two pairs of corner parts 31 and 34, and 32 and 33 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are different from each other, the corner parts 31 and 32 interfere with projecting parts 12 and 13 to disable the insertion. Even if the terminal fitting 20 is intended to be inserted into the cavity 11 in an attitude reversed at 180° with respect to the regular attitude thereof, since shapes of two pairs of corner parts 31 and 33, and 32 and 34 positioned at opposing corners are different from each other, the corner parts 31 and 32 interfere with the projecting parts 12 and 13 to disable the insertion. Each of recessed parts 35 and 36 being means for restricting insertion in a wrong attitude of the terminal fitting 20 has a form caved inward relative to four upper, lower, left and right surfaces constituting a box part 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal fitting and a connector.

Patent Document 1 discloses a connector using a batch rubber stopper. In this connector, a batch rubber plug is attached to the rear end of the housing, and the terminal fitting is passed through a plurality of through holes formed in the batch rubber plug, accommodated in the housing, and attached to the rear end of the terminal fitting. Waterproofing is achieved by close contact of the inner periphery of the through hole.
JP 7-240250 A

  In the above connector, as a means for preventing the terminal fitting from being inserted in a horizontal orientation or an upside down orientation, a projection called a stabilizer that protrudes to the outer surface is formed on the terminal fitting, and the housing is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber. A structure for forming a groove corresponding to the protrusion is known.

  According to this structure, only when the terminal fitting is inserted in the correct posture, the insertion of the terminal fitting is allowed while the protrusion enters the groove, and when the terminal fitting is in an incorrect posture, the protrusion is the terminal. The insertion operation of the terminal fitting is regulated by interference with the opening of the storage chamber.

However, in the case where the protrusion is formed, there is a concern that the protrusion damages the inner periphery of the through hole when the terminal fitting is passed through the through hole of the collective rubber plug. There is also a problem that the housing is enlarged because the terminal fitting is enlarged.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to restrict the insertion operation of the terminal fitting in an unauthorized posture without providing a protrusion on the terminal fitting.

  As a means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a box portion which is capable of being inserted into a cavity of a housing and whose cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of insertion into the cavity is substantially square is provided. It is a terminal fitting provided, in a portion located at at least one corner among the four corners constituting the substantially cross section of the box portion, than the upper, lower, left and right outer surfaces constituting the box portion By forming a recess recessed inwardly, at least a pair of the corners out of the two pairs of diagonal corners are different from each other and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction among the four corners. The shape of any two of the corners is different from each other, and when inserted into the cavity in a normal posture, insertion is permitted by the recess corresponding to the protrusion formed on the inner wall of the cavity, Fraud In when inserted into the cavity has a feature in that the angle portion which is not formed of the concave portion is configured to be restricted to the insertion by interfering with the convex portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, of the upper, lower, left and right wall portions constituting the box portion, the front edge of the wall portion connected to the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed is provided. It is characterized in that a reinforcing portion having a curved surface facing forward is formed by bending the wire in a folded shape.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the box portion is formed by sequentially bending along a fold line substantially parallel to the insertion direction into the cavity. Either of the left and right wall portions has a double wall structure, and the concave portion is provided at a position corresponding to the side edge on the free end side of the outer wall portion of the double wall. It has the characteristics in the place.

  The invention of claim 4 comprises a housing having a cavity and a terminal fitting inserted into the cavity, and the terminal fitting has a substantially square cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of insertion into the cavity. A connector provided with a box portion formed, wherein the box portion is vertically, horizontally, and horizontally formed at a portion located in at least one corner portion of four corner portions constituting a substantially rectangular cross section of the box portion. By forming a recess recessed inward from the outer surface of each of the two corners, the shape of at least a pair of the corners is different from each other and the circumference of the four corners When the shape of any two of the corners adjacent to each other is different from each other and the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity in a normal posture, the concave portion is opposed to the convex portion formed on the inner wall of the cavity. The insertion is allowed, and when the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity in an unauthorized posture, the insertion of the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed interferes with the convex portion. It has the characteristics in that place.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the front end edge of the wall portion continuous with the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed among the upper, lower, left and right wall portions constituting the box portion. It is characterized in that a reinforcing portion having a curved surface facing forward is formed by bending the wire in a folded shape.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the method according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the box portion is formed by sequentially bending along a fold line substantially parallel to an insertion direction into the cavity. Either of the left and right wall portions has a double wall structure, and the concave portion is provided at a position corresponding to the side edge on the free end side of the outer wall portion of the double wall. It has the characteristics in the place.

<Invention of Claims 1 and 4>
Even if trying to insert the terminal fitting into the cavity in a posture rotated 90 ° to the left or right relative to the normal posture, the shape of the two corners adjacent in the circumferential direction is different, so the corner interferes with the convex portion, Insertion becomes impossible. Also, even if you try to insert the terminal fitting into the cavity in a 180 ° inverted position with respect to the normal position, the shape of the two corners located diagonally will be different, so the corners will interfere with the projections and will be inserted Is impossible.
The recess, which is a means for restricting the insertion of the terminal fitting in an incorrect posture, is recessed inward from the top, bottom, left, and right four surfaces that make up the box, so the terminal fitting is passed through the through hole of the batch rubber plug. The inner wall of the through hole is not damaged, and the terminal fitting and the housing are not enlarged.

<Invention of Claims 2 and 5>
When the terminal fitting is improperly inserted into the cavity, the front end of the wall portion connected to the corner where the recess is not formed interferes with the convex portion of the cavity, but the reinforcing portion is at the front end of the wall portion. Since it is formed, there is no possibility that the wall portion is deformed. And since the front end of a reinforcement part is a curved surface, there is no possibility that a convex part may be damaged.

<Invention of Claim 3 and Claim 6>
When the terminal fitting is about to be inserted into the cavity in an improper posture, the corner where the recess is not formed will abut against the projection of the cavity, but the corner that abuts is the outer surface side of the double wall In the case of the corner corresponding to the side edge on the free end side of the wall portion, the wall portion on the outer surface side may be deformed. However, in the present invention, since the concave portion is provided at a position corresponding to the side edge on the free end side of the wall portion on the outer surface side, when the terminal fitting is inserted in a correct posture, it is likely to be inserted in an incorrect posture. Even if it does, there is no possibility that the free end of the wall portion on the outer surface side interferes with the convex portion of the cavity.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are views of the terminal fitting as viewed from the front, and therefore the horizontal direction in the following description is opposite in the horizontal direction in FIGS.
The connector of this embodiment is obtained by inserting a terminal fitting 20 into a synthetic resin housing 10. A plurality of cavities 11 penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed in the housing 10 so as to be divided into two upper and lower stages and aligned.

  A substantially first half portion of the upper cavity 11 is a substantially rectangular space 11F in which a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction (the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20 with respect to the cavity 11) forms a substantially rectangular shape. The box portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20 is accommodated. In this substantially square space 11F, the upper convex portion 12 in a form projecting obliquely downward toward the center side with the corner portion where the right side surface and the upper surface are continuous, and the corner portion where the right side surface and the lower surface are continuous toward the center side. Thus, the lower convex portion 13 is formed so as to protrude obliquely upward. The two upper and lower convex portions 12 and 13 form a substantially isosceles triangle when viewed from the rear, and the inner surfaces of the convex portions 12 and 13 are tapered flat surfaces inclined by about 45 ° with respect to the right side surface and the upper and lower surfaces. It has become. Further, the rear ends of the convex portions 12 and 13 are positioned at the rear end of the substantially rectangular space 11F, and the rear end surfaces of the convex portions 12 and 13 are about to be inserted into the cavity 11 with the terminal fitting 20 in an illegal posture. Sometimes the abutting surfaces 12S and 13S are formed so that the corner portions 31 and 32 of the terminal fitting 20 abut against each other.

  A lance 14 is formed in a substantially second half region on the lower surface of the substantially rectangular space 11F so as to protrude forward in a cantilevered manner. The upper surface of the lance 14 is flush with the lower surface of the substantially rectangular space 11 </ b> F, and a retaining protrusion 14 a that extends into the insertion path of the terminal fitting 20 is formed on the upper surface of the lance 14. The lance 14 is used to prevent the terminal fitting 20 that is normally inserted into the cavity 11, and is elastically bent so as to advance forward into a bending space 15 secured below the lance 14. To get. The center line in the width direction (left-right direction) of the lance 14 is offset to the left (opposite to the convex portions 12 and 13) with respect to the center line in the width direction of the cavity 11 (substantially rectangular space 11F). ing.

A substantially second half region of the cavity 11 is a circular space 11R having a circular cross section orthogonal to the front-rear direction (the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20 with respect to the cavity 11). The crimping part 50 is accommodated.
Since the upper cavity 11 and the lower cavity 11 are vertically inverted, the lower cavity 11 has the same configuration as that of the upper cavity 11, and the same reference numerals on the upper side are used for detailed description. Is omitted.

Next, the terminal fitting 20 will be described.
The terminal fitting 20 is formed by bending a metal plate material 20a punched into a predetermined shape, and has a shape elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole. A substantially first half portion of the terminal fitting 20 is a box portion 21 that is a contact means with a tab of a male terminal (not shown), and a substantially second half portion is a crimping portion 50 that is a connection means with an electric wire 53.
The box portion 21 is formed by bending a metal plate material 20a along a fold line 22 that is substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20 with respect to the cavity 11, and includes an upper surface wall 23, a lower surface wall 24, a right side wall 25, and a left side wall 26. Have. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the insertion direction of the box portion 21 into the cavity 11 is generally rectangular as a whole so as to be accommodated in the substantially rectangular space 11 </ b> F of the cavity 11 without significant backlash. ing. The upper wall 23 has a double wall structure in which the inner wall 23a and the outer wall 23b are superposed in a substantially surface contact state, but the other wall portions 24, 25, 26 and taper walls 27, 28 described later are one sheet. It is a plate structure.

  Between the lower wall 24 and the right wall 25, a lower taper wall 27 that is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° with respect to both walls 24, 25 is interposed. Further, an upper tapered wall 28 that is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° with respect to both the walls 23 and 25 is also interposed between the right side wall 25 and the inner wall 23a. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the box part 21 forms a quadrangle as a whole, but is specifically configured by six wall parts 23 to 28. The lower wall 24 and the lower end of the left side wall 26 are connected substantially at right angles via a quarter arc portion 29 having a small radius of curvature, and the upper end of the left side wall 26 and the outer surface wall 23b are substantially arranged via a quarter arc portion 30 having a small radius of curvature. It is connected at right angles. On the other hand, the lower taper wall 27 is diagonally connected to the right edge of the lower wall 24, the right side wall 25 is diagonally connected to the upper end of the lower taper wall 27, and the upper taper wall 28 is diagonally connected to the upper end of the right side wall 25. An inner wall 23a is obliquely connected to the upper end of the upper tapered wall 28. The lower taper wall 27 is continuously formed over the entire region from the front end to the rear end of the box portion 21, but the upper taper wall 28 is formed from the position slightly behind the front end of the upper taper wall 28 from the box portion. It is formed over a region reaching the rear end of 21.

  Of the four corner portions 31 to 34 of the box portion 21 that forms a square as a whole, the upper left corner portion 31 and the lower left corner portion 32 include the two wall portions 23 b and 26, 26 and 24 constituting the box portion 21. It is a form that is connected at a substantially right angle. On the other hand, a lower concave portion 35 and an upper concave portion 36 are formed in the lower right corner portion 33 and the upper right corner portion 34 by providing tapered walls 27 and 28, respectively. That is, of the four corner portions 31 to 34 constituting the box portion 21, two corner portions 33 and 34 are formed with recess portions 35 and 36 that are recessed inwardly from the upper, lower, left, and right outer surfaces constituting the box portion 21. Due to the recesses 35 and 36, the upper left corner 31 and the lower right corner 33 located diagonally have different shapes, and the lower left corner 32 and the upper right corner 34 are different from each other. It has a shape. Also. Two corners adjacent in the circumferential direction among the four corners 31 to 34, that is, the upper right corner 34 and the upper left corner 31 are different from each other, and the lower right corner 33 and the lower left corner The corners 32 have different shapes.

  In addition, a locking piece 38 that protrudes from an end edge on the free end (left end) side of the inner surface wall 23a is fitted into a locking hole 37 that is elongated in the front-rear direction formed in the upper end portion of the left side wall 26, By this fitting, the vertical displacement of the upper surface wall 23 (the inner surface wall 23a and the outer surface wall 23b) is restricted. Further, the outer surface wall 23b is overlapped with the upper surface (outer surface) of the inner surface wall 23a in a surface contact state, and the end edge on the free end (right end) side of the outer surface wall 23b is either the inner surface wall 23a or the upper tapered wall 28. It is a state which is not latched. Further, a tapered chamfer 39 that is substantially flush with the outer surface of the upper tapered wall 28 is provided at the edge of the free end of the outer surface wall 23b.

  Further, the front end edge of the lower surface wall 24, the front end edge of the left side wall 26, and the front end edge of the right side wall 25 are respectively bent tightly so as to be folded back toward the inner side of the box portion 21, thereby reinforcing portions 41, 42, 43. Is formed. The reinforcing portions 41, 42, and 43 have the curved surfaces 41 </ b> S, 42 </ b> S, and 43 </ b> S that are the outer sides of the bending directed forward. A protective wall 44 bent downward at a substantially right angle is formed on the front edge of the outer wall 23b. Note that the reinforcing portions as described above are not formed on the front end edges of the substantially arcuate portions 29 and 30 at the upper and lower ends of the left side wall 26, the front end edge of the upper tapered wall 28, and the front end edge of the lower tapered wall 27. The front end edges of the substantially quarter arc portions 29 and 30 and the upper and lower tapered walls 27 and 28 are located behind the reinforcing portions 41, 42 and 43.

  A lance hole 45 is formed in the lower wall 24. The center line in the width direction of the lance hole 45 is offset leftward with respect to the direction center line in the width of the box portion 21, whereby the center of the lance hole 45 and the center of the lance 14 of the housing 10 are aligned. It matches. An elastic contact piece 46 is formed by folding back from the front end edge of the inner wall 23 a to the inner rear side of the box portion 21. The elastic contact piece 46 is elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole, bent in a valley shape with a gentle gradient when viewed from the side, and the lowest point of the elastic contact piece 46 is a contact portion 47. Further, a receiving portion 48 is formed on the lower surface wall 24 by knocking an area including the contact portion 47 upward (to the elastic contact piece 46 side) in a pedestal shape. A tab (not shown) inserted into the box portion 21 from the front is brought into contact with the contact portion 47 with a predetermined contact pressure by the elasticity of the elastic contact piece 46 while being supported in a surface contact state by the receiving portion 48.

  The crimping portion 50 includes a bottom wall 51 that is continuous with the lower surface wall 24 of the box portion 21, and crimping pieces 52 that rise from both left and right edges of the bottom wall 51. The crimping part 50 is connected to the insulation coating 53a of the electric wire 53 and the core wire 53b, which is exposed by peeling off the insulation coating 53a, by caulking and crimping so that the crimping piece 52 is held. The crimping portion 50 has a circular cross section as a whole in a state where the electric wire 53 is crimped, and is accommodated in the circular space 11 </ b> R of the cavity 11 of the upper tapered wall 28 housing 10.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the upper cavity 11 from the rear in a correct posture with respect to the cavity 11, in the insertion process, the reinforcing portion 43 of the lower surface wall 24 of the box portion 21 abuts against the retaining protrusion 14a of the lance 14, The box portion 21 continues to advance while pushing down the lance 14 toward the bending space 15. When the terminal fitting 20 reaches the normal insertion position, the lance 14 is elastically restored, whereby the retaining projection 14a is locked in the lance hole 45, and the terminal fitting 20 is brought into a retaining state. In the normally inserted state, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower surface wall 24, the left side wall 26, the right side wall 25, and the outer surface wall 23b of the terminal fitting 20 are respectively formed on the lower surface, left side surface, right side surface, and upper surface of the cavity 11. In contrast, the upper and lower concave portions 36 and 35 of the terminal fitting 20 are opposed to each other with only a slight clearance 14 therebetween, and the tapered outer surfaces of the upper convex portion 12 and the lower convex portion 13 of the cavity 11 are respectively tapered. The terminal fitting 20 is accommodated in the cavity 11 with no vertical or horizontal play in the cavity 11 with only a slight clearance 14 therebetween. It should be noted that the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the lower cavity 11 in an upside down orientation.

  If the terminal fitting 20 is to be inserted into the upper cavity 11 in an incorrect posture rotated 90 ° to the right (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) with respect to the normal posture, the box portion 21 is substantially square. Before entering the space 11F, the front end of the upper left corner 31 (the curved surface 41S of the reinforcing portion 41 of the left side wall 26 and the front surface of the protective wall 44 of the outer surface wall 23b) is the abutting surface 12S of the rear end of the upper convex portion 12. At this point, the further insertion of the terminal fitting 20 is restricted by this contact. Further, when the terminal fitting 20 is to be inserted in an incorrect posture rotated 90 ° to the left (clockwise direction in FIG. 1) with respect to the normal posture, the front end (the left side wall 26 of the left side wall 26) Since the curved surface 41S of the reinforcing portion 41 and the curved surface 43S of the reinforcing portion 43 of the lower surface wall 24 abut against the abutting surface 13S of the lower convex portion 13, the insertion of the terminal fitting 20 is also restricted in this case. Further, when the terminal fitting 20 is to be inserted into the upper cavity 11 in a posture reversed 180 ° with respect to the normal posture, the upper left corner portion 31 abuts the lower convex portion 13 and the lower left corner portion 32. Since the contact with the upper convex portion 12, further insertion operation of the terminal fitting 20 is restricted.

  According to the present embodiment, the recesses 35 and 36 that are means for restricting insertion of the terminal fitting 20 in an unauthorized posture are recessed inward from the upper, lower, left, and right four surfaces constituting the box portion 21. For example, when the terminal fitting 20 is passed through a through-hole of a batch rubber plug (not shown), the inner wall of the through-hole is not damaged, and the terminal fitting 20 and the housing 10 are not enlarged.

  Of the upper, lower, left and right wall portions 23 to 26 constituting the box portion 21, wall portions (left side wall 26 and lower surface wall) that are connected to the upper left and lower left corners 31 and 32 where the recesses 35 and 36 are not formed. In 24), the front end edge is bent into a folded shape to form reinforcing portions 41 and 43 having a curved surface facing forward. Thus, when the terminal fitting 20 is improperly inserted into the cavity 11 in the posture, the front ends of the wall portions 24 and 26 connected to the corner portions 31 and 32 where the concave portions 35 and 36 are not formed are protruded from the cavity 11. Even if it interferes with the parts 12 and 13, deformation of the wall parts (the left side wall 26 and the lower surface wall 24) is prevented by the reinforcing parts 41 and 43. Moreover, since the front ends of the reinforcing portions 41 and 43 are not edges but are curved surfaces 41S and 43S, there is no possibility that the convex portions 12 and 13 are damaged.

  The box portion 21 is formed by sequentially bending the metal plate material 20a along a fold line 22 substantially parallel to the insertion direction into the cavity 11, and the upper surface wall 23 has a double wall structure. The free end edge (right end edge) of the outer surface wall 23b constituting the wall 23 is in a state in which it is not locked to another wall portion, that is, in a state where deformation is likely to occur due to interference with other members. When the terminal fitting 20 is about to be inserted into the cavity 11 in an illegal posture as described above, the corners 31 and 32 where the recesses 35 and 36 are not formed abut against the projections 12 and 13 of the cavity 11. Therefore, if the corner that abuts is the upper right corner 34 corresponding to the free edge of the outer wall 23b, the outer wall 23b may be deformed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the concave portion 36 is disposed at the upper right position corresponding to the free edge of the outer surface wall 23b. This prevents the free end of the outer wall 23b from interfering with the convex portions 12 and 13 of the cavity 11 even when the terminal fitting 20 is inserted in a correct posture as well as in an incorrect posture. Has been.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the terminal fitting 60 is configured differently from the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of structures, operations, and effects are omitted.
The terminal fitting 60 of the second embodiment has an elongated tab 61 protruding forward at the tip, a box portion 62 connected to the rear end of the tab 61, and a crimping portion 50 connected to the rear end of the box portion 62. And as a whole, it is elongated in the front-rear direction. The box 62 has an upper surface wall 63, a lower surface wall 64, a right side wall 65, and a left side wall 66. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the direction of insertion of the box portion 62 into the cavity is generally rectangular as a whole. The upper surface wall 63 is configured such that a right wall 63R extending inward from the upper end of the right side wall 65 and a left wall 63L extending inward from the upper end of the left side wall 66 are substantially flush with each other.

  Between the lower wall 64 and the right wall 65, there is a lower tapered wall 67 that makes an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the walls 64, 65. Further, an upper tapered wall 68 that is inclined at about 45 ° with respect to both the walls 63R and 65 is also interposed between the right side wall 65 and the right wall 63R. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the box portion 62 is a quadrangle as a whole, and is specifically configured by six wall portions 63L, 63R, 64, 65, 66, 67, and 68. The lower wall 64 and the lower end of the left side wall 66 are connected substantially at right angles via a quarter arc part 69 having a small radius of curvature, and the upper end of the left side wall 66 and the left wall 23b are substantially set via a quarter arc part 70 having a small radius of curvature. It is connected at right angles. On the other hand, the lower tapered wall 67 is diagonally connected to the right edge of the lower wall 64, the right side wall 65 is diagonally connected to the upper end of the lower tapered wall 67, and the upper tapered wall 68 is diagonally connected to the upper end of the right side wall 65. The upper wall of the upper taper wall 68 is connected to the right wall 63R diagonally.

  Of the four corners 71 to 74 of the box part 62 that forms a square as a whole, the upper left corner part 71 and the lower left corner part 72 include the two wall parts 63L and 66, 66 and 64 constituting the box part 62. It is a form that is connected at a substantially right angle. On the other hand, the lower right corner 73 and the upper right corner 74 are respectively provided with tapered walls 67 and 68 so as to be recessed inward from the upper, lower, left and right outer surfaces constituting the box portion 62. A lower recess 75 and an upper recess 76 are formed. Due to the recesses 75 and 76, the upper left corner 74 and the lower right corner 72 located diagonally out of the four corners 71 to 74 constituting the box 62 have different shapes, and the lower left The corner portion 73 and the upper right corner portion 71 have different shapes. Also. Of the four corners 71 to 74, two corners adjacent in the circumferential direction, that is, the upper right corner 74 and the upper left corner 71 are different from each other, and the lower right corner 73 and the lower left corner The corner portions 72 have different shapes.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above embodiment, the recesses are formed in two of the four corners. However, according to the present invention, the recess may be formed in only one corner or formed in three corners. May be.
(2) In the above-described embodiment, the concave portion is notched in a tapered shape. However, according to the present invention, an arc-shaped notched shape, a rectangular shape or a triangular notched shape may be employed.
(3) Although applied to a crimp terminal in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a press contact terminal.

  (4) In the first embodiment, the reinforcing portion is formed at the front end of the wall portion connected to the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed. However, according to the present invention, such a reinforcing portion may not be formed.

The front view showing the state which inserted the terminal metal fitting in the cavity in Embodiment 1. Front view of terminal fitting Side view of terminal fitting Plan view of terminal fitting Bottom view of terminal fitting XX sectional view of FIG. Exploded view of terminal fitting Rear view of housing Cross section of housing Front view of terminal fitting of embodiment 2 Side view of terminal fitting of embodiment 2 YY sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 11 ... Cavity 12, 13 ... Convex part 20 ... Terminal metal fitting 21 ... Box part 23a ... Upper surface wall (wall part) of inner surface side
23b ... Upper surface wall (wall portion) on the outer surface side
24 ... Bottom wall (wall)
25 ... Right side wall (wall)
26 ... Left side wall (wall)
31, 32, 33, 34 ... corners 35, 36 ... concave portions 41, 42, 43 ... reinforcing portions 41S, 42S, 43S ... curved surfaces

Claims (6)

A terminal fitting including a box portion that is capable of being inserted into a cavity of a housing and has a box shape in which a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion direction into the cavity is substantially square,
A recess is formed in a portion located at at least one of the four corners constituting a substantially square cross section of the box portion, which is recessed inwardly from upper, lower, left and right outer surfaces constituting the box portion. Thus, the shape of at least one pair of the corners among the two pairs of corners located diagonally different from each other and the shape of any two of the four corners adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction Are different from each other,
When inserted into the cavity in a regular posture, the insertion is allowed by the concave portion corresponding to the convex portion formed on the inner wall of the cavity,
A terminal fitting characterized in that, when inserted into the cavity in an unauthorized posture, the insertion is restricted by the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed interfering with the convex portion. Of the upper, lower, left and right wall portions constituting the box portion, the wall portion connected to the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed is bent forward at its front edge so that the curved surface faces forward. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing portion having a shape is formed. The box portion is formed by sequentially bending along a fold line substantially parallel to the insertion direction into the cavity, and one of the upper, lower, left and right wall portions has a double wall structure. ,
The terminal fitting according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concave portion is provided at a position corresponding to a side edge on the free end side of the wall portion on the outer surface side of the double wall. A housing having a cavity and a terminal fitting inserted into the cavity are provided, and the terminal fitting is provided with a box portion in which a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the insertion direction into the cavity is substantially rectangular. Connector,
A recess is formed in a portion located at at least one of the four corners constituting a substantially square cross section of the box portion, which is recessed inwardly from upper, lower, left and right outer surfaces constituting the box portion. Thus, the shape of at least one pair of the corners among the two pairs of corners located diagonally different from each other and the shape of any two of the four corners adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction Are different from each other,
When the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity in a normal posture, the insertion is permitted by the concave portion corresponding to the convex portion formed on the inner wall of the cavity,
The connector is configured such that when the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity in an illegal posture, the insertion is restricted by the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed interfering with the convex portion. Of the upper, lower, left and right wall portions constituting the box portion, the wall portion connected to the corner portion where the concave portion is not formed is bent forward at its front edge so that the curved surface faces forward. The connector according to claim 4, wherein a reinforcing portion having a shape is formed. The box portion is formed by sequentially bending along a fold line substantially parallel to the insertion direction into the cavity, and one of the upper, lower, left and right wall portions has a double wall structure. ,
6. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the concave portion is provided at a position corresponding to a side edge on a free end side of an outer surface side wall portion of the double wall.

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