Method of fixing terminal fitting components to each other and terminal fitting

• US 20070049132A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Uchida, Jun, Shimizu, Isanori, Samejima, Masakuni, Suzuki, Tamio
• Granted Patent: US 7,442,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/891
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/055 co-operating with sockets having a rectangular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/113 co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section

Abstract

A terminal fitting includes first and second terminal fitting components. The first terminal fitting component includes a first flat plate having a through hole and caulking pieces. The caulking pieces stand up from both edges in the width direction of the first flat plate. The second terminal fitting component includes a second flat plate having a projection. The projection is inserted in the through hole, an end part of the projection is crushed, and the second flat plate is caulked with the caulking pieces so that the first and second terminal fitting components are fixed to each other, thereby obtaining the terminal fitting.

Claims

1. A method of fixing a first terminal fitting component having a first flat plate and a second terminal fitting component having a second flat plate to each other comprising the steps of:

inserting a solid projection projecting from the second flat plate into a through hole formed in the first flat plate; and

crushing an end part of the solid projection toward the second flat plate to form an enlarged part, such that the enlarged part comes in close contact with and is contained within the through hole, thereby holding the first flat plate between the enlarged part and the second flat plate.

2. A terminal fitting comprising:

a first terminal fitting component having a first flat plate; and

a second terminal fitting component having a second flat plate;

wherein the first and second terminal fitting components are fixed to each other on a condition that the first and second flat plates are placed one upon another,

the first flat plate having a through hole, and

the second flat plate having a solid projection projecting from the second flat plate, the solid projection being inserted in the through hole,

wherein an enlarged part is formed by crushing an end part of the inserted solid projection toward the second flat plate, so that the enlarged part comes in close contact with and is contained within the through hole, and the first flat plate is held between the enlarged part and the second flat plate.

3. The terminal fitting according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the through holes and a plurality of the solid projections are provided.

4. The terminal fitting according to claim 2, wherein an inner surface of the through hole is provided with a tapered surface inclined in a direction in which the through hole is gradually enlarged as leaving from the second flat plate placed on the first flat plate.

5. The terminal fitting according to claim 4, wherein the inner surface of the through hole is further provided with a parallel surface that is located nearer to the second flat plate than the tapered surface is located, the parallel surface continuing to the tapered surface and facing with an outer peripheral surface of the solid projection before formation of the enlarged part having a distance therebetween.

6. The terminal fitting according to claim 4, wherein the enlarged part comes in closely contact with the tapered surface so as to be received in the through hole.

7. The terminal fitting according to claim 2, wherein a projection length of the solid projection from the second flat plate before formation of the enlarged part is approximately equal to a thickness of the first flat plate, and a recess on an end surface of the end part of the solid projection as well as the enlarged part are formed by crushing a center of the end surface toward the second flat plate.