Switch terminal and connector with switch terminal

A connector with a switch terminal, comprising:

• a switch terminal including
• a pair of connecting pieces each having a base plate portion which has a terminal portion at one end thereof and a spring contact portion at the other end thereof, and
• connective portions interconnecting said base plate portions of said two connecting pieces in parallel relation to each other, each of said spring contact portions being bent into an arcuate configuration from an outer side edge of said base plate portion toward an inner side edge thereof to provide a folded portion, and distal ends of said folded portions being capable of contacting each other to thereby provide a normally-closed contact;
• and
• a connector housing having a switch terminal receiving chamber, said switch terminal receiving chamber including
• a partition rib provided on a wall surface of said chamber and extending in a longitudinal direction of said housing for isolating said pair of connecting pieces of said switch terminal from each other,
• guide walls which converge in said longitudinal direction in a tapered manner on opposite side walls of said switch terminal receiving chamber at a terminal inlet portion thereof, said partition rib being disposed between said opposite side walls;
• wherein when said switch terminal is inserted into said switch terminal receiving chamber, said pair of spring contact portions are urged b said tapered guide walls, so that said distal ends of said folded portions are contacted with each other to form the normally-closed contact;
• and wherein
• said connective portions are adapted to be removed from said terminal such that said pair of connecting pieces only contact each other at said distal ends.

A connector comprising:

• a plurality of male housings each having terminal receiving chambers for receiving and retaining a female terminal;
• a female housing in which said male housings are fittingly received;
• a lock lever pivotally attached to said female housing, said lock lever being closed only when each of said male housing is completely lockingly fitted in said female housing;
• a first locking means provided on each of said male housings and said female housing for locking each other together;
• a second locking means provided on each of said male housings and lock lever for locking each of said male housings and said female housing together;
• and
• means for electrically detecting whether each of said male housings and said female housing are completely fitted and locked to each other, said detecting means comprising:
• a switch terminal including a pair of connecting pieces each having a spring contact portion, a pair of said spring contact portions being normally contacted with each other to be electrically closed;
• a switch terminal receiving chamber provided to said female housing;
• and
• an insulating member provided on said lock lever for being inserted between said spring contact portions so as to interrupt electrical contact therebetween when said male housing and female housing are completely fitted to each other and said lock lever is closed,
• wherein said switch terminal receiving chamber comprises:
• a partition rib provided on a wall surface of said chamber for isolating said pair of connecting pieces of said switch terminal from each other, and
• guide walls which converge forwardly in a tapered manner on opposite side walls of said chamber at a terminal inlet portion thereof, said partition rib being disposed between said opposite side walls, wherein said pair of spring contact portions are urged by said guide walls so that ends of said spring contact portions are contacted with each other to form the normally-closed contact, when said switch terminal is inserted into said switch terminal receiving chamber.