CONNECTION STRUCTURE FOR GROUND TERMINAL FITTING

• US 20150099389A1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Nobukuni, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,184,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/305 having means for facilitating engagement of conductive member or for holding it in position
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail

Abstract

A grounding member (20) is formed with a receiving hole (23), and a ground terminal fitting (10) is formed with a cantilevered lock (13) including a step (13B). The lock (13) is locked to the receiving hole (23) with the step (13B) contact with a stopper (24) of the receiving hole (23). In tightening a first bolt (51) at a first mounting hole (151) and a first female screw hole (51), a rotational force in a direction to bring the step (13B) into contact with the stopper (24) is applied to a terminal main body (11). Butting portions (14) protrude from side edges (13D) of the lock (13) and prevent following rotation of the terminal main body (11) by contacting receiving surfaces (25) when the first bolt (51) is tightened.

Claims

1. A connection structure, comprising:

a grounding member (20) including a ground contact surface;

a first female screw hole (41) formed on the grounding member (20);

a second female screw hole (42) formed on the grounding member;

a receiving hole (23) formed on the grounding member (20);

a ground terminal fitting (10);

a plate-like terminal main body (11) formed on the ground terminal fitting (10) and capable of coming into surface contact with the ground contact surface;

a lock (13) cantilevered from an outer periphery of the terminal main body (11), formed with a step (13B) configured to be locked with the step (13B) contact with an opening edge of the receiving hole (23) by inserting a projecting end of the lock (13) into the receiving (23);

a first mounting hole (151) formed on the terminal main body (11) and corresponding to the first female screw hole (41) by locking the lock (13) to the receiving hole (23); and

a second mounting hole (152) formed on the terminal main body (11) and corresponding to the second female screw hole (42) by locking the lock (13) to the receiving (23);

wherein;

the ground terminal fitting (10) is mounted in surface contact with the grounding member (20) by inserting a first bolt (51) through the first mounting hole (151), screwing into the first bolt into the first female screw hole (41), inserting a second bolt (52) through the second mounting hole (152) and screwing the second bolt (52) into the second female screw hole (42);

a rotational force in a direction to bring the step (13B) into contact with the opening edge of the receiving hole (23) is applied to the terminal main body (11) when the first bolt (51) is tightened; and

the terminal main body (11) includes at least one butting portion (14) protruding from a side edge of the lock (13) extending along a projecting direction and configured to prevent following rotation of the terminal main body (11) by contacting an area of the ground contact surface near an opening area of the receiving hole (23) when the first bolt (51) is tightened.

2. The connection structure of claim 1, wherein the terminal main body (11) has two butting portions (14) at opposite sides of the lock (13).

3. The connection structure of claim 1, wherein a difference between inner diameters of the second female screw hole (42) and the second mounting hole (152) is larger than a difference between inner diameters of the first female screw hole (41) and the first mounting hole (151).

4. The connection structure of claim 1, wherein a distance from the receiving hole (23) to the first female screw hole (41) is set longer than a distance from the receiving hole (23) to the second female screw hole (42).

5. The connection structure of claim 1, wherein:

the ground terminal fitting (10) includes a wire connecting portion (12) to which a wire (60) is connected;

the lock (13) is arranged on an axis line extension line of the wire (60) connected to the wire connecting portion (12); and

an inserting direction of the lock (13) into the receiving hole (23) is substantially parallel to an axial direction of the wire (60).