CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase of PCT application No. PCT/JP2019/019464, filed on 16 May 2019, which claims priority from Japanese patent application No. 2018-100823, filed on 25 May 2018, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology disclosed herein relates to a terminal connected to an electric wire.

BACKGROUND

An electric wire including a core wire and a terminal connected to a bare end of the core wire has been known. An example of such a terminal may include a crimp portion that is crimped on the end of the core wire that is exposed.

The terminal may be crimped on the wire as follows. First, a sheet metal is processed to form the terminal in a predefined shape by pressing. Next, the terminal is placed on a setting portion of a lower die of a pair of dies that are movable relative to each other in the vertical direction. Next, the bare end of the core wire is placed on the crimp portion of the terminal. Then, one of or both of the dies are moved toward each other to sandwich the crimp portion between a pressing portion of an upper die and the setting portion of the lower die and to crimp the crimp portion on the core wire of the electric wire. Through these steps, the terminal is connected to the end of the wire (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2007-059304).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2007-059304

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved

According to the technology describe above, relatively large equipment including the dies and a jig for crimping the crimp portion of the terminal on the core wire of the electric wire is required. Namely, equipment investment is required and thus a production cost may increase.

A virtual technology for solving the above problem may include a terminal that includes a terminal body and a slider. The terminal body may include a deformable connecting piece that extends in an extending direction. The slider is movable relative to the terminal body in the extending direction. The slider includes a pressing portion to press the connecting piece toward the electric wire.

According to the technology, the pressing portion of the slider presses the connecting piece toward the electric wire while the slider slides on the terminal body in the extending direction. The connecting piece is deformed toward the electric wire and pressed against the electric wire. The connecting piece is electrically connected to the electric wire. The terminal is electrically connected to the electric wire without using a relatively large jig such as a die.

However, according to the virtual technology, if a conductor included in the electric wire is provided with relatively large strength and thus the connecting piece is less likely to be deformed toward the electric wire, an excessively large force may be applied to the slider to slide the slider in the extending direction. The connecting piece may be bent in a direction different from the direction toward the electric wire, that is, the connecting piece may buckle.

The technology described herein was made in view of the above circumstances. An object is to provide a terminal including a connecting piece that is less likely to buckle.

Means to Solve the Problem

The technology described herein relates to a terminal that includes a terminal body and a slider. The terminal body includes at least one connecting piece extending in an extending direction and being deformable. The at least one connecting piece includes a contact surface and a receiving surface. The contact surface contacts an electric wire. The receiving surface is on an opposite side from the contact surface. The slider is movable in the extending direction relative to the terminal body. The slider includes an abutting portion that abuts against the receiving surface of the at least one connecting piece and presses the at least one connecting piece against the electric wire that is disposed on the contact surface of the at least one connecting piece along the extending direction. The at least one connecting piece includes a protrusion protruding from a section of the receiving surface in a direction from the contact surface toward the receiving surface.

According to the configuration, the abutting portion of the slider abuts against the protrusion of the connecting piece. According to the configuration, a contact area between the abutting portion and the receiving surface of the connecting piece can be reduced. Therefore, a force required for moving of the slider in the extending direction can be reduced. The connecting piece is less likely to buckle when pressed by the slider in the extending direction.

Preferred embodiments according to the technology described herein may include the following.

The protrusion may include a convex surface that is curved in a direction from the contact surface toward the receiving surface.

According to the configuration, because the protrusion of the connecting piece includes the convex surface, a contact area between the abutting portion and the protrusion is relatively small even if a misalignment occurs between the terminal body and the slider. Because precise relative positional alignment is not required for the terminal body and the slider, a production cost of the terminal can be reduced.

The protrusion may have a curvature that is larger at a distal end of the connecting piece than at a base end of the connecting piece.

According to the configuration, a section of the connecting piece closer to the base end is less likely to deform in comparison to a section of the connecting piece closer to the distal end. Therefore, the section of the connecting piece closer to the base end is less likely to buckle.

The protrusion may include a ridge section that extends in the extending direction.

According to the configuration, the abutting portion of the slider abuts against the protrusion of the connecting piece. According to the configuration, the contact area between the abutting portion and the receiving surface can be reduced. Therefore, the force required for moving of the slider in the extending direction can be reduced. The connecting piece is less likely to buckle when pressed by the slider in the extending direction.

The contact surface may include a recess that is recessed in a direction from the contact surface toward the receiving surface. The recess extends in the extending direction.

According to the configuration, the electric wire that is placed in the recess is less likely to be removed from the contact surface.

Effect of the Invention

According to the technology disclosed herein, the connecting piece included in the terminal is less likely to buckle.

