Terminal and terminal fixing structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11728580-B2
Application number	US-202117537372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A terminal includes: a flat surface portion; an extending portion continuous with the flat surface portion; a branch portion continuous with the extending portion and extending in a direction different from that in which the extending portion extends; and rotation stop portions continuous with the branch portion. When the terminal is attached to a bolt protruding from a fixing member and including a seat separated from the fixing member, the flat surface portion contacts the seat, the rotation stop portions extend from the branch portion toward a base end of the bolt in a protruding direction of the bolt, and at least a pair of the rotation stop portions are positioned to sandwich the seat in a direction intersecting the protruding direction to prevent rotation of the terminal with respect to the bolt.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A terminal attachable to a bolt, the bolt protruding from a fixing member and comprising a seat separated from the fixing member, the terminal being electrically connected to the fixing member when the terminal is attached to the bolt, the terminal comprising:
a crimp portion configured to be crimped onto an electric wire;
a flat surface portion extending from the crimp portion in a first direction and forming an end of the terminal in the first direction, the flat surface portion including,
a through hole spaced away from the crimp portion in the first direction, and
a straight outer edge extending in the first direction;

an extending portion continuous with the flat surface portion and extending to form a same surface as a surface of which the flat surface portion extends, the extending portion extends from the straight outer edge of the flat surface portion in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, the extending portion is spaced away from the end of the terminal;
a branch portion continuous with the extending portion and extending to form a same surface as the surface of which the flat surface portion extends, the branch portion extending away from the extending portion in a direction different from each of the first direction and the second direction, the branch portion is spaced away from the end of the terminal; and
a plurality of rotation stop portions continuous with the branch portion,
wherein when the terminal is attached to the bolt by insertion of the bolt into the flat surface portion,
the flat surface portion contacts the seat,
the plurality of rotation stop portions extend from the branch portion toward a base end of the bolt in a protruding direction of the bolt, and
at least a pair of the plurality of rotation stop portions are positioned to sandwich the seat in a direction intersecting the protruding direction to prevent rotation of the terminal with respect to the bolt.

2. The terminal according to claim 1 ,
wherein end surfaces of the plurality of rotation stop portions are positioned closer to the base end than a surface of the seat facing the fixing member.

3. The terminal according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the plurality of rotation stop portions comprises a temporary locking portion configured to be engaged with the seat.

4. A terminal fixing structure comprising:
a bolt protruding from a fixing member and comprising a seat separated from the fixing member; and
the terminal according to claim 1 ,
wherein the bolt is inserted into the flat surface portion, and the flat surface portion contacts the seat, and
wherein the plurality of rotation stop portions of the terminal are positioned to sandwich the seat to prevent rotation of the terminal with respect to the bolt.

5. The terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rotation stop portions includes a first rotation stop portion, a second rotation stop portion, a third rotation stop portion, and a fourth rotation stop portion,
wherein the pair of rotation stop portions includes the first rotation stop portion and the fourth rotation stop portion, the fourth rotation stop portion opposes the first rotation stop portion in the second direction.

6. The terminal according to claim 5 ,
wherein the second rotation stop portion opposes the third rotation stop portion in the second direction, the second rotation stop portion opposes the first rotation stop portion in the first direction, and the third stop rotations portion opposes the fourth rotation stop portion in the first direction.

7. The terminal according to claim 5 ,
wherein the extending portion includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion,
wherein the branch portion includes a first branch portion and a second branch portion, each of the flat surface portion, the first extending portion, and the second extending portion are sandwiched between the first branch portion and the second branch portion, and
wherein the first rotation stop portion is continuous with the first branch portion and the fourth rotation stop portion is continuous with the second branch portion.

8. The terminal according to claim 7 ,
wherein the second rotation stop portion is continuous with the first branch portion and the third rotation stop portion is continuous with the second branch portion, and
wherein the first rotation stop portion opposes the second rotation stop portion in the first direction and the third rotation stop portion opposes the fourth rotation stop portion in the first direction.

9. The terminal according to claim 5 ,
wherein a first gap extends between the first branch portion and the flat surface portion, and a second gap extends between the second branch portion and the flat surface portion.

Assignees

• Yazaki Corp

Inventors

• Yamamoto Takatatsu

Classifications

• H01R4/307 Primary

  characterised by the thread of the screw or nut · CPC title

• H01R4/305

  having means for facilitating engagement of conductive member or for holding it in position · CPC title

• H01R11/12 Primary

  End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork · CPC title

• H01R13/02 Primary

  Contact members · CPC title

• H01R13/629

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title