Ground connection structure and ground terminal fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9774104-B2
Application number	US-201715403349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2017
Priority date	Feb 3, 2016
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A ground connection structure includes a stud bolt ( 11 ) standing on a ground surface ( 10 A), and a non-circular rotation stopping portion ( 12 ) is formed on a base part of the stud bolt ( 11 ). A ground terminal fitting ( 20 ) is to be connected conductively to the ground surface ( 10 ). The ground terminal fitting ( 20 ) has a non-circular rotation stopping hole ( 25 ) that is fit to the rotation stopping portion ( 12 ) with relative rotation restricted. Resilient contact pieces ( 27 ) extend in an axial direction of the stud bolt ( 11 ) from an edge of the rotation stopping hole ( 25 ). A nut ( 15 ) is screwed onto the stud bolt ( 11 ) and causes the resilient contact pieces ( 27 ) to be deflected resiliently between the nut ( 15 ) and the ground surface ( 10 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ground connection structure, comprising:
a stud bolt standing on a surface of a ground;
a non-circular rotation stopping portion formed on a base part of the stud bolt;
a ground terminal fitting to be connected conductively to the ground;
a non-circular rotation stopping hole formed in the ground terminal; fitting and fit to the rotation stopping portion with relative rotation restricted;
at least one resilient contact piece extending from an edge of the rotation stopping hole; and
a nut screwed onto the stud bolt and configured to deflect the at least one resilient contact piece resiliently between the nut and the ground.

2. The ground connection structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient contact piece projects only toward the surface of the ground.

3. The ground connection structure of claim 2 , further comprising at least one projection formed in a contact area of the at least one resilient contact piece with the ground and configured to bite into the surface of the ground.

4. The ground connection structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient contact piece is configured to resiliently contact an outer periphery of the rotation stopping portion.

5. The ground connection structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient contact piece comprises two resilient contact pieces extending from opposite edges of the rotation stopping hole.

6. The ground connection structure of claim 5 , wherein the ground terminal fitting has a terminal body, the rotation stopping hole being formed in the terminal body, the resilient contact pieces are bent to lie between the terminal body and the ground.

7. The ground connection structure of claim 6 , wherein each of the resilient contact pieces has a curve bent from the terminal body and a contact plate aligned substantially parallel to the terminal body.

8. The ground connection structure of claim 6 , wherein the rotation stopping hole is square with two opposite side edges from which the resilient contact pieces extend, and opposite front and rear edges that engage opposite front and rear edges of the rotation stopping portion.

9. A ground terminal fitting conductively connectable to a surface of a ground on which a stud bolt stands, a base part of the stud bolt having a non-circular rotation stopping portion supported on the surface of the ground, the ground terminal fitting comprising:
a terminal body in the form of a flat plate, a non-circular rotation stopping hole formed in the terminal body and configured to be fitted to the non-circular rotation stopping portion formed on the base part of the stud bolt with relative rotation restricted; and
at least one resilient contact piece extending from an edge of the terminal body in the rotation stopping hole, the resilient contact piece including a substantially semicircular bent portion connected to the edge of the terminal body in the rotation stopping hole and a substantially flat contact plate cantilevered laterally out from an end of the semicircular bent portion to extend away from the rotation stopping hole, the at least one resilient contact piece being resiliently deflected between a nut screwed onto the stud bolt and the ground.

10. The ground terminal fitting of claim 9 , further comprising at least one projection formed on the contact plate of the at least one resilient contact piece and configured to bite into the surface of the ground.

11. The ground terminal fitting of claim 9 , wherein the at least one resilient contact piece is configured to resiliently contact an outer periphery of the rotation stopping portion.

12. The ground terminal fitting of claim 9 , wherein the at least one resilient contact piece comprises two resilient contact pieces extending from opposite edges of the rotation stopping hole.

Assignees

• Sumitomo Wiring Systems

Inventors

• Kitagawa Yuji

Classifications

• H01R4/48 Primary

  utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member (H01R4/52 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R4/34 Primary

  Conductive members located under head of screw · CPC title

• H01R4/304

  having means for improving contact · CPC title

• H01R11/12

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