IP Library Granted Patent US 12695233
Granted Patent B2
US 12695233 · App. 18/686,853 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Female connector

Inventors: Tetsuya Miyamura (Mie, JP); Hideto Nakamura (Mie, JP); Daisuke Saito (Mie, JP)
Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.; SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
H01R13/424
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12695233
App. No.
18/686,853
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The structure of a female terminal fitting can be simplified. A female connector ( 1 ) is provided with a housing ( 10 ) and a female terminal fitting ( 20 ) to be accommodated into the housing ( 10 ). The female terminal fitting ( 20 ) includes a spring member ( 50 ) having a pair of resilient pieces ( 52, 53 ) and a flat plate member ( 60 ). The spring member ( 50 ) is provided with an accommodation space ( 55 ) between the pair of resilient pieces ( 52, 53 ). The flat plate member ( 60 ) and a male terminal fitting ( 82 ) enter the accommodation space ( 55 ) to be connected. The accommodation space ( 55 ) is open to face an inner side wall ( 44 D) of the housing ( 10 ).

Claims (31)

1 . A female connector, comprising:

a housing; and

a female terminal fitting to be accommodated into the housing,

the female terminal fitting including:

a spring member having a pair of resilient pieces; and

a flat plate member to be held in contact with the resilient pieces,

the spring member being provided with an accommodation space between the pair of resilient pieces,

the flat plate member and a mating terminal entering the accommodation space to be connected,

the accommodation space being open to face an inner side wall of the housing,

the housing being configured by assembling a first housing and a second housing,

a plurality of the flat plate members being assembled into the first housing,

a plurality of the spring members being assembled into the second housing, and

the first housing assembled with the plurality of flat plate members and the second housing assembled with the plurality of spring members being assembled by being completely locked from a temporarily locked state.

2 . The female connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the flat plate member is inserted into the accommodation space from one side,

the mating terminal is inserted into the accommodation space from a side opposite to the one side, and

the mating terminal has a higher strength than the flat plate member.

3 . The female connector of claim 1 , wherein the flat plate member and the mating terminal are accommodated in a stacked state in the accommodation space.

4 . The female connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the housing includes:

the first housing provided with a cavity for accommodating the flat plate member; and

the second housing displaceable between a temporary locking position and a complete locking position with respect to the first housing,

the flat plate member is provided with a connecting portion to be connected to a wire, and

the first housing is provided with a cut portion for exposing the connecting portion of the flat plate member accommodated in the cavity with the second housing located at the temporary locking position.

5 . The female connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the first housing is provided with a cavity for accommodating the flat plate member,

the flat plate member is connected to a wire, and

a wall part of the cavity is provided with a holding portion for holding the wire by projecting.

6 . The female connector of claim 1 , wherein:

one of the resilient pieces is provided with a first guide portion for guiding insertion of the mating terminal into the accommodation space, and

the other resilient piece is provided with a second guide portion for guiding insertion of the flat plate member into the accommodation space.