IP Library Granted Patent US 12,482,978
Granted Patent B2
US 12,482,978 · App. 18/275,175 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Connector

Inventors: Tetsuya Miyamura (Mie, JP); Daisuke Saito (Mie, JP)
Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.; SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
H01R13/11H01R12/75
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,482,978
App. No.
18/275,175
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is aimed to achieve a height reduction. A connector (F) is provided with a female terminal fitting ( 30 ) and a housing ( 10 ). The female terminal fitting ( 30 ) includes a tab inserting portion ( 35 ), into which a tab ( 53 ) of a male terminal fitting ( 52 ) is inserted, and a first resilient contact piece ( 37 ) exposed on an outer surface of the tab inserting portion ( 35 ) and configured to resiliently contact the tab ( 53 ). The housing ( 10 ) includes a terminal accommodation chamber ( 13 ) for accommodating the tab inserting portion ( 35 ). A deflection allowance space ( 22 ) for allowing a resilient displacement of the resilient contact piece ( 37 ) is formed within a thickness range of an upper wall portion ( 16 ) defining the terminal accommodation chamber ( 13 ), out of the housing ( 10 ).

Claims (36)

1 . A connector, comprising:

a female terminal fitting; and

a housing,

the female terminal fitting including:

a tab inserting portion, a tab of a male terminal fitting being inserted into the tab inserting portion; and

a resilient contact piece exposed on an outer surface of the tab inserting portion, the resilient contact piece resiliently contacting the tab,

the housing including a terminal accommodation chamber for accommodating the tab inserting portion,

a deflection allowance space for allowing a resilient displacement of the resilient contact piece being formed within a thickness range of a wall portion defining the terminal accommodation chamber, out of the housing, and

a part of the resilient contact piece being accommodated in the deflection allowance space in a state where the tab is not inserted in the tab inserting portion.

2 . A connector, comprising:

a female terminal fitting; and

a housing,

the female terminal fitting including:

a tab inserting portion, a tab of a male terminal fitting being inserted into the tab inserting portion; and

a resilient contact piece exposed on an outer surface of the tab inserting portion, the resilient contact piece resiliently contacting the tab,

the housing including a terminal accommodation chamber for accommodating the tab inserting portion,

a deflection allowance space for allowing a resilient displacement of the resilient contact piece being formed within a thickness range of a wall portion defining the terminal accommodation chamber, out of the housing, and

the deflection allowance space being open in an outer surface of the housing.

3 . A connector, comprising:

a female terminal fitting; and

a housing,

the female terminal fitting including:

a tab inserting portion, a tab of a male terminal fitting being inserted into the tab inserting portion; and

a resilient contact piece exposed on an outer surface of the tab inserting portion, the resilient contact piece resiliently contacting the tab,

the housing including a terminal accommodation chamber for accommodating the tab inserting portion,

a deflection allowance space for allowing a resilient displacement of the resilient contact piece being formed within a thickness range of a wall portion defining the terminal accommodation chamber, out of the housing,

the female terminal fitting including a terminal body formed with the tab inserting portion and the resilient contact piece, and

the housing being formed with a first mounting opening open in an outer surface of the housing in the wall portion, the first mounting opening enabling the terminal body to enter the terminal accommodation chamber.

4 . The connector of claim 3 , wherein:

the female terminal fitting includes a wire fixing member to be fixed to a front end part of a wire, the wire fixing member being mountable into a rear end part of the terminal body, and

the housing is formed with a second mounting opening for enabling the wire fixing member to be inserted into the terminal accommodation chamber from behind the housing.

5 . The connector of claim 4 , wherein:

the terminal body is formed into a rectangular tube shape by four plate portions,

the wire fixing member includes a tab-like contact portion to be inserted into the terminal body,

the terminal body includes a second resilient contact piece configured to resiliently contact the tab-like contact portion, and

the resilient contact piece and the second resilient contact piece are individually formed in the plate portions different from each other, out of the four plate portions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: MIYAMURA, TETSUYA; SAITO, DAISUKE
To: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.; SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 064439/0829 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-024937 · Feb 19, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240313453A1 · Sep 19, 2024
References Cited (17)
US 5899775A · Davis · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 5951336A · Seko · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 6109981A · Jin-ichi · 2000 [cited by examiner]
US 8944852B2 · Fukushi · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 10122108B2 · Bhagyanathan Sathianathan · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20020013104A1 · Tanaka · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20140242824A1 · Karadimas et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150111425A1 · Kao · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150111428A1 · Kao · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150111430A1 · Kao · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20180212340A1 · Bhagyanathan-Sathlanatha · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200185843A1 · Miyamura · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210075137A1 · Hung · 2021 [cited by examiner]
JP H09232021A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001039239A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014135129A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020135998A · 2020 [cited by applicant]