Connecting structure and connecting method of flat circuit body and terminal
View Patent ↗A portion of a flat conductor of a flat circuit board is exposed from an insulating layer covering at least one of surfaces of the flat conductor. A terminal includes a bottom plate on which the exposed portion of the flat conductor is provided, and crimp claws which are raised at two side edges of the bottom plate so that the exposed portion of the flat conductor is disposed therebetween. A spacer member is provided on the exposed portion of the flat conductor, and is configured to be plastically deformed so as to contact with inner surfaces of the crimp claws when the crimp claws are crimped onto the spacer member, thereby the terminal is crimped to the flat conductor in a state where the exposed portion of the flat conductor is in surface contact with the bottom plate.
1. A connecting structure of a flat circuit body and a terminal, comprising:
a flat circuit body including a flat conductor and an insulating layer covering at least one surface of the flat conductor, a portion of the flat conductor being exposed from the insulating layer;
the terminal including a bottom plate on which the exposed portion of the flat conductor is provided, and crimp claws which are raised at two side edges of the bottom plate so that the exposed portion of the flat conductor is disposed therebetween; and
a spacer member provided on the exposed portion of the flat conductor, the spacer member including a flat portion having a first edge and a second, opposite edge and two distinct projected parts, each projected part of the two distinct projected parts extending outward from one of the first edge and the opposite second edge, and the spacer member being configured to be plastically deformed to contact with inner surfaces of the crimp claws when the crimp claws are crimped onto the spacer member, thereby the terminal is crimped to the flat conductor in a state where the exposed portion of the flat conductor is in surface contact with the bottom plate.
2. The connecting structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the flat circuit body includes a plurality of flat conductors which are arranged in a planar shape and are separated at a predetermined interval.
3. The connecting structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the flat portion of the spacer member includes a conductor pressing part which is provided on the exposed portion of the flat conductor and the two distinct projected parts extend outward from the conductor pressing part, and
the two distinct projected parts are covered by the crimp claws and are plastically deformed so as to contact with the inner surfaces of the crimp claws, when the crimp claws are crimped onto the spacer member.
4. The connecting structure of claim 1 , the crimp claws further including:
a first crimp claw having an interior surface facing the spacer member in an uncrimped configuration and an opposite, exterior surface; and
a second crimp claw having an interior surface facing the spacer member in the uncrimped configuration and an opposite exterior surface, and
wherein when the crimp claws are crimped onto the spacer member, each crimp claw extends around one of the two distinct projected parts and at least a portion of the exterior surface of the first crimp claw is in contact with at least a portion of the exterior surface of the second crimp claw.