Connection terminal and a connection terminal assembly and method for assembling the connection terminal

• US 7,255,583 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takagi, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Tulsidas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US11/491,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 439/248, 439/247, 439/378, 439/379
• US Class Current: 439/248
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A connection terminal includes a housing, a case fixed to the housing, a terminal stage installed inside the case and having a first terminal and a guide portion, the first terminal and the guide portion projecting parallel to each other from one end of the terminal stage in the same direction, a connected member facing the case and having a second terminal to which the first terminal is fitted and connected for establishment of electrical connection, and a recessed portion to which the guide portion is fitted. The terminal stage is movable at least in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the connection between the first and second terminals while being installed inside the case. The first and second terminals are fitted to each other after the guide portion is fitted to the recessed portion.

Claims

1. A connection terminal comprising:

a housing;

a case fixed to the housing;

a terminal stage installed inside the case and having a first terminal and a guide portion, the first terminal and the guide portion projecting parallel to each other from one end of the terminal stage in the same direction;

a connected member facing the case and having a second terminal to which the first terminal is fitted and connected for establishment of electrical connection, and a guide insertion hole to which the guide portion is fitted;

the terminal stage being movable in three dimensional directions while being installed inside the case; and

the first and second terminals being fitted to each other after the guide portion is fitted to the guide insertion hole.

2. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first terminal and the guide portion are separately provided at the terminal stage, and the second terminal and the guide insertion hole are separately provided at the connected member.

5. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the case has a rotation stopper portion that limits rotation of the terminal stage; and

the rotation stopper portion limits a movement on a plane normal to the direction of connection between the first and second terminals of the terminal stage to within predetermined allowable limits.

6. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the case has a rotation stopper portion that limits rotation of the terminal stage; and

the rotation stopper portion limits a movement on a plane normal to the direction of connection between the first and second terminals of the terminal stage to within predetermined allowable limits.

8. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the case further has a limiting portion that limits a movement in a terminal stage installation direction of the terminal stage; and

the limiting portion limits a movement in the direction of connection between the first and second terminals of the terminal stage to within predetermined allowable limits.

9. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the case further has a limiting portion that limits a movement in a terminal stage installation direction of the terminal stage; and

the limiting portion limits a movement in the direction of connection between the first and second terminals of the terminal stage to within predetermined allowable limits.

11. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

at least one of a top end portion of the guide portion or an opening portion of the guide insertion hole is formed into a tapered shape.

12. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

a top end portion of the guide portion is positioned higher than a top end portion of the first terminal.

13. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the second terminal is provided inside a terminal insertion hole that receives the first terminal; and

an opening portion of the terminal insertion hole is positioned higher than an opening portion of the guide insertion hole.

14. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a seat installed inside the case for supporting the terminal stage, the seat limiting a downward movement in the direction of connection between the first and second terminals of the terminal stage;

wherein;

the first and second terminals are terminals that transmit a signal of a fluid pressure sensor; and

the fluid pressure sensor is provided at the opposite side to the terminal stage via the seat.

15. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the first terminal is disposed at a position where the first terminal can abut against the guide portion by elastic deformation.

16. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

at least one of a top end portion of the guide portion or an opening portion of the guide insertion hole is formed into a tapered shape.

17. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

at least one of a top end portion of the guide portion or an opening portion of the guide insertion hole is formed into a tapered shape.

19. The connection terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

a top end portion of the guide portion is positioned higher than a top end portion of the first terminal.

3. A connection terminal assembly comprising:

a first housing;

a plurality of first assemblies disposed at the first housing, each of which has a case fixed to the first housing, a terminal stage installed inside the case, a first terminal, and a guide portion, the first terminal and the guide portion projecting parallel to each other from one end of the terminal stage in the same direction;

a second housing including a connected member that faces the case;

a plurality of second assemblies as many as the first assemblies, fixed at positions corresponding to the first assemblies on the connected member to combine with the first assemblies, each of the second assemblies having a second terminal to which the first terminal is fitted and connected for establishment of electrical connection, and a guide insertion hole to which the guide portion is fitted; and

the terminal stage being movable inside the case in three dimensional directions when combining the first and second assemblies.

4. The connection terminal assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the first and second terminals are fitted to each other after the guide portion is fitted to the guide insertion hole.

7. The connection terminal assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the case has a rotation stopper portion that limits rotation of the terminal stage; and

the rotation stopper portion limits a movement on a plane normal to the direction of connection between the first and second terminals of the terminal stage to within predetermined allowable limits.

10. The connection terminal assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the case further has a limiting portion that limits a movement in a terminal stage installation direction of the terminal stage; and

the limiting portion limits a movement in the direction of connection between the first and second terminals of the terminal stage to within predetermined allowable limits.

18. The connection terminal assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

at least one of a top end portion of the guide portion or an opening portion of the guide insertion hole is formed into a tapered shape.

20. A method for assembling a connection terminal comprising a first housing, a plurality of first assemblies disposed at the first housing, each of which has a case fixed to the first housing, a terminal stage installed inside the case, a first terminal, and a guide portion, the first terminal and the guide portion projecting parallel to each other from one end of the terminal stage in the same direction, a second housing including a connected member that faces the case, a plurality of second assemblies as many as the first assemblies, fixed at positions corresponding to the first assemblies on the connected member to combine with the first assemblies, each of the second assemblies having a second terminal to which the first terminal is fitted and connected for establishment of electrical connection, and a guide insertion hole to which the guide portion is fitted, and the terminal stage being movable inside the case in three dimensional directions when combining the first and second assemblies, the method comprising:

fitting the guide portion into the guide insertion hole;

guiding the first terminal to a position corresponding to the second terminal by the fit of the guide portion into the guide insertion hole; and

fitting the first terminal to the second terminal after guiding the first terminal.