Joint connector
AssigneesAutonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
InventorsHajime Matsui, Yasuo Omori
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In the process of mounting a joint terminal (5) into a first terminal accommodating portion (16) of a housing (15), tab terminals (6) of the joint terminal (5) move forward along tab entrance paths (26) formed in the housing (15). The tab entrance path (26) is formed with a cam portion (27) spiral about an axis thereof. As the tab terminal (6) moves forward in the tab entrance path (26), a follower portion (8) formed at an intermediate position of the tab terminal (6) is guided by the cam portion (27). Thus, the tab terminal (6) is twisted about an axis. In this way, resilient contact pieces (14) of female terminals (9A, 9B) face the tab terminals (6) in a plate surface direction of the tab terminals (6) and are connected to the tab terminals (6).
Claims5
A joint connector, comprising:
- a joint terminal formed with a coupling piece and a plurality of tab terminals projecting in parallel from the coupling piece;
- a plurality of female terminal fittings configured such that the respective tab terminals are insertable thereinto and each including a terminal connecting portion internally formed with a deflectable resilient contact piece to resiliently contact the tab terminal;
- a housing formed with a first terminal accommodating portion configured such that the joint terminal is mountable therein and formed with a plurality of tab entrance paths into which the respective tab terminals are to be inserted and a second terminal accommodating portion including a plurality of cavities each coaxially facing the corresponding tab entrance path, configured such that the female terminal fitting is insertable therein and internally formed with a deflectable locking lance to be resiliently locked to the corresponding female terminal fitting, a deflection direction of the resilient contact pieces being the same as an arrangement direction of the tab terminals,
- wherein each tab terminal in the joint terminal is formed to be twisted about an axis thereof and a plate surface direction of each tab terminal is substantially perpendicular to that of the coupling piece and substantially the same as the deflection direction of the resilient contact pieces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.