A terminal with a locking member capable of surely preventing damage of the locking member even in case the terminal inserted and locked in a connector housing is pulled reversely. An electric contact portion of the terminal has a cantilever-like locking member and protection walls for the locking member thereby to engage the locking member with a locking step of the connector housing, and further engaging-arm portions are provided on the locking member and arm-engaged portions engaging with the engaging-arm portions are also provided on the protection walls. Projections may be provided on free end portions of the engaging-arm portions. Further, as another type of locking member, extending walls each having an abutting edge, which abuts against the locking step when the terminal is pulled reversely, may be provided on a locking member. Different type of engaging-arm portions and engaging openings relative to the engaging-arm portions may be formed on the extending walls and on the protection walls, respectively. A reinforcing piece may be provided over the locking member to reinforce it. Thus, a terminal with a locking member capable of surely preventing damage of the locking member on being pulled reversely can be realized.
An electrical connector (1) includes a dielectric housing (10) defining a pair of passageways (12) therehrough and a pair of conductive terminals (50) held in the passageways, respectively. The conductive terminal includes a slim pin (52) for mating with a receptacle contact of a complementary connector, a crimping portion (54) for crimping a conductive wire and a retention portion (58) between the slim pin and the crimping portion. The retention portion has an off-center latch tang (66) rearwardly extending from a half of the retention portion. The off-center latch tang is engageably received in an off-center recess (78) of the passageway and the other half of the retention portion is borne by a block (80) of the dielectric housing to prevent the conductive terminal swiveling in the passageway.
Two resilient contact pieces (20A, 20B) have base ends (21A, 21B) coupled to each other and folded one over the other, such that the base ends (21A, 21B) are substantially in close contact. A pressing portion (24) presses the two base ends (21A, 21B) from the outside and prevents the base ends (21A, 21B) from opening. Thus, the two resilient contact pieces (20A, 20B) are held one over the other in proper postures.
A contact element has a contact body. A contact arrangement is attached to the contact body. The contact arrangement has a spring tongue. The spring tongue has a free end with a locking face for securing the contact element in a contact housing. The locking face is movable between a locked position and an assembly position. The spring tongue has first and second retention tongues. The first retention tongue extends laterally to a longitudinal direction of the spring tongue and engages an opening in the contact body when the locking face is in the locked position. The second retention tongue extends perpendicular to the spring tongue for engagement with the contact housing when the locking face is in the locked position.
A terminal fitting (10) is formed to be mountable into a resin housing (30). A metal lock (11) is formed by cutting and bending in a bottom plate (14) of the terminal fitting (10) and is resiliently engageable with an engaging portion (34) in the housing (30) to lock the terminal fitting (10). This metal lock (11) has a base (11A) in the form of a flat plate. An extended portion (11B) is at the leading end of the base (11A) and bulges out in thickness or width direction, thereby increasing an area of engagement with the engaging portion (34) when the terminal fitting (10) is pulled in withdrawing direction. Accordingly, the terminal fitting (10) has a terminal holding force enhanced by the presence of the extended portion (11B).
