IP Library Granted Patent US 12,744,342
Granted Patent B2
US 12,744,342 · App. 18/570,227 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Terminal fitting and chain terminal

Inventors: Shinji Nozaki (Mie, JP); Hideto Nakamura (Mie, JP); Daisuke Saito (Mie, JP)
Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.; SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
H01R13/2428H01R13/422H01R13/187
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,744,342
App. No.
18/570,227
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is aimed to provide a terminal fitting and a chain terminal capable of maintaining connection reliability to a mating terminal. A terminal fitting ( 45 ) is provided with a box portion 46 , into which a mating terminal 18 is inserted from front, a base portion ( 47 ) fixed in the box portion ( 46 ), a contact portion ( 48 ) arranged forward of the base portion ( 47 ) and configured to electrically contact the mating terminal ( 18 ) being inserted into the box portion ( 46 ), and a spring portion ( 49 ) provided to link the base portion ( 46 ) and the contact portion ( 48 ) and support the contact portion ( 48 ) displaceably in an insertion direction (R) of the mating terminal ( 18 ). The spring portion ( 49 ) is shaped such that a plurality of plate portions ( 49 A) elongated in a direction intersecting the insertion direction (R) are folded and linked while being spaced apart in the insertion direction (R).

Claims (34)

1 . A terminal fitting, comprising:

a box portion, a mating terminal being inserted into the box portion from front, wherein the box portion comprises an upper wall and a lower wall provided opposite to the upper wall, wherein the lower wall comprises a through hole provided thereon;

a base portion fixed in the box portion;

a contact portion arranged forward of the base portion, the contact portion electrically contacting the mating terminal being inserted into the box portion; and

a spring portion provided to link the base portion and the contact portion, the spring portion supporting the contact portion displaceably in an insertion direction of the mating terminal,

the spring portion being shaped such that a plurality of plate portions elongated in a direction intersecting the insertion direction are folded and linked while being spaced apart in the insertion direction, and

intermediate parts of both side edges in a longitudinal direction of the plate portion comprising a plurality of curved portions, the plate portion being constricted toward a center from both ends in the longitudinal direction,

wherein the terminal fitting further comprises a supporting portion, wherein an end of the supporting portion is fixed to the upper wall of the box portion and a tip part of the supporting portion is inserted into the through hole.

2 . The terminal fitting of claim 1 , wherein:

the plate portions adjacent in the insertion direction, the plate portion and the base portion, and the plate portion and the contact portion are respectively linked by coupling portions having a bent shape, and

an odd number of the coupling portions are provided.

3 . A chain terminal, comprising:

one carrier; and

a plurality of the terminal fittings of claim 1 , the plurality of terminal fittings projecting from the carrier while being arranged in parallel, and

the terminal fitting including a crimping portion projecting from the box portion.

4 . The terminal fitting of claim 1 , wherein the base portion extends to close a rear end part of the box portion.

5 . The terminal fitting of claim 4 , wherein the supporting portion is provided behind and adjacent to the base portion, and extends to close the rear end part of the box portion.

6 . A terminal fitting, comprising:

a box portion, a mating terminal being inserted into the box portion from front;

a base portion fixed in the box portion;

a contact portion arranged forward of the base portion, the contact portion electrically contacting the mating terminal being inserted into the box portion; and

a spring portion provided to link the base portion and the contact portion, the spring portion supporting the contact portion displaceably in an insertion direction of the mating terminal,

the spring portion being shaped such that a plurality of plate portions elongated in a direction intersecting the insertion direction are folded and linked while being spaced apart in the insertion direction, and

intermediate parts of both side edges in a longitudinal direction of the plate portion comprising a plurality of curved portions, the plate portion being constricted toward a center from both ends in the longitudinal direction,

wherein:

the base portion extends to close a rear end part of the box portion, and

the terminal fitting further comprises a supporting portion behind and adjacent to the base portion, the supporting portion extending to close the rear end part of the box portion.

7 . The terminal fitting of claim 6 , wherein:

the plate portions adjacent in the insertion direction, the plate portion and the base portion, and the plate portion and the contact portion are respectively linked by coupling portions having a bent shape, and

an odd number of the coupling portions are provided.

8 . A chain terminal, comprising:

one carrier; and

a plurality of the terminal fittings of claim 6 , the plurality of terminal fittings projecting from the carrier while being arranged in parallel,

the terminal fitting including a crimping portion projecting from the box portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2023
From: NOZAKI, SHINJI; NAKAMURA, HIDETO; SAITO, DAISUKE
To: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.; SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 065889/0108 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-099238 · Jun 15, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240283183A1 · Aug 22, 2024
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