CN116783782A - Connector and socket assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises the following steps: a cylindrical socket 20; a contact 10 including a cylindrical body 11 and a cup 13; and a chassis 3 in which a receiving hole 30 for receiving the socket 20 is formed, a pair of slits SL, SL extending parallel to each other are formed in the peripheral wall of the socket 20, and the holding portion 25 as a portion sandwiched by the slits SL, SL includes a protruding portion 251 protruding into the socket 20 and a non-protruding portion 253 connected to the protruding portion 251, and when the cylindrical body 11 is not located in the socket 20, the holding portion 25 assumes a protruding posture in which the protruding portion 25 protrudes into the space in the socket 20, and when in the protruding posture, the non-protruding portion 253 does not protrude radially inward of the inner periphery of the socket 20.

Description

Connector and socket assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector and a receptacle assembly constituting the connector.

Background

For example, a connector is known in which a plurality of first terminals and second terminals are electrically connected to each other. As such a connector, there is known a connector including: a tube body formed in an elongated tubular shape; the contact piece is accommodated in the cylinder body and is in a conducting state with the cylinder body; and a holding body holding the cartridge body.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. Hei 8-504997

Disclosure of Invention

In addition, in manufacturing the connector, it is necessary to insert the cylinder body into the holder and insert the contact into the cylinder body. When the cylinder body is inserted into the holder, the larger the inner diameter of the hole portion of the holder is, the easier the insertion is. When the contact is inserted into the barrel body, the larger the inner diameter of the barrel body relative to the outer diameter of the contact, the easier the insertion. However, the larger the inner diameter of the hole portion of the holder, the more easily the cartridge body inserted into the hole portion of the holder is separated from the holder, and the larger the inner diameter of the cartridge body, the more easily the contact inserted into the cartridge body is separated from the cartridge body.

The invention aims to provide a connector which is not easy to separate from a holding member for holding a socket and is easy to improve the force for holding a contact by the socket, and a socket assembly forming the connector.

The connector according to an example of the present invention includes: a cylindrical socket; a contact having a bar-like shape including a first portion positionable within the receptacle and a second portion protruding from an end of the receptacle; and a holding member having a receiving hole for receiving the socket, wherein a pair of slits extending parallel to each other are formed in a peripheral wall of the socket, and wherein a holding portion, which is a portion sandwiched by the pair of slits, includes a protruding portion protruding into the socket and a non-protruding portion connected to the protruding portion, wherein the holding portion is configured to have a protruding posture in which the protruding portion protrudes into a space in the socket when the first portion is not located in the socket, and wherein the non-protruding portion does not protrude radially inward than an inner periphery of the socket in the protruding posture.

A receptacle assembly according to an example of the present invention is the receptacle assembly in the connector, and includes: a carrier for carrying the socket; and a plurality of sockets that are carried together with the carrier, and in which a plurality of coupling portions that detachably couple axial ends of the sockets are provided at regular intervals.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a connector of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a specific structure of the contact.

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the connector shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an exploded front view of a contact unit of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the V-V line of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of line VI-VI of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view showing the holding portion 25 in an enlarged manner.

Fig. 9 is a VII-VII line cross-sectional view in a state where the contact 10 is inserted into the socket 20.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state in which the tubular body 11 is pressed against the inner wall of the socket 20 at the contact position E1.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state in which the tubular body 11 is held by the three protruding portions 251.

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a state in which the receptacle 20 is accommodated in a part of the accommodation hole 30.

Fig. 13 is a front view showing the structure of the aggregate of the sockets 20.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the XIV-XIV line of fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a front view showing a process of manufacturing the aggregate of the sockets 20.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing a housed state of the receptacle 20.

Fig. 17 is a plan view showing a state in which the sockets 20 are accommodated in all the accommodation holes.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view showing a state in which the receptacle 20 is inserted into the accommodation hole 30 of the chassis 3.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing a state in which the cylindrical body 11 of the contact 10 is further inserted into the socket body 21 of the socket 20 in a state in which the socket 20 is inserted into the accommodation hole 30 of the chassis 3.

Fig. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the protruding portion shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 21 is a partial sectional view showing a line XXI-XXI section in fig. 20 together with slits SL and SL.

Fig. 22 is a partial sectional view showing a state in which the contact 10 is inserted into the socket 20 shown in fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a plan sectional view showing a modification of the aggregate of the sockets 20.

Fig. 24 is a plan view showing a state in which the receptacle is accommodated in a part of the accommodation hole.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same structures, and a description thereof will be omitted. Each portion of the connector 1 illustrated in each figure is schematically shown.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view taken below line I-I of fig. 17. In the present specification, the vertical direction in each drawing is defined with reference to the longitudinal direction of the contact unit 2, the upper side of each drawing is defined as the front end portion side in the longitudinal direction of the contact unit 2, and the lower side of each drawing is defined as the base end portion side in the longitudinal direction of the contact unit 2. For convenience, the vertical direction will be referred to as the left-right direction.

The connector 1 shown in fig. 1 electrically connects a plurality of first terminals a and a plurality of second terminals B. In the present embodiment, a case is illustrated in which a first terminal a included in a connection switching unit (not shown) to be connected is connected to a base end portion of the connector 1, and a second terminal B included in a connector (not shown) for inspection jigs to be connected is connected to a tip end portion of the connector 1. The first terminal a and the second terminal B are conductively connected to each other via a contact unit 2 provided in the connector 1.

The connection switching unit is a so-called scanning device used in a substrate inspection device that inspects, for example, the electrical characteristics of a wiring pattern provided on a substrate. The scanning device switches the electrical connection relation between an inspection unit including a power supply portion for inspection of an inspection device body, a voltage detection portion, and a current detection portion, and a contact provided to an inspection jig connector as a second connection object.

The connection switching unit is provided with a plurality of first terminals a including, for example, electrode pins connected to a plurality of switching elements at a specific pitch. Further, a plurality of first terminals a protrude from the connection switching means arranged on the lower side in fig. 1 toward the base end portion side of the connector 1.

A plurality of second terminals B including electrode pins and the like are arranged at a specific pitch in the inspection jig connector. The second terminals B are connected to respective contacts of an inspection jig which are pressed against inspection points such as wiring patterns to be inspected via wires. A plurality of second terminals B protrude from the inspection jig connector disposed on the upper side in fig. 1 toward the front end portion side of the connector 1.

The connector 1 is not limited to the relay between the connection switching unit and the inspection jig connector, and can be applied to other various applications. That is, the connection object connected to the base end portion of the connector 1 is not limited to the first terminal a provided in the connection switching unit. The connection object to be connected to the distal end portion of the connector 1 is not limited to the second terminal B provided in the inspection jig connector.

The connector 1 includes: a plurality of contact units 2 including contacts 10; a chassis 3 as an example of a holding member; and a cover plate 4 as an example of a cover member. Further, the present invention is not limited to the example including a plurality of contact units 2, and may be a connector including only one contact unit 2.

The chassis 3 is formed with a plurality of circular receiving holes 30 penetrating the chassis 3 in the thickness direction. A plurality of circular holes 50 penetrating the cover plate 4 in the thickness direction are formed in the cover plate 4. The inner diameters of the housing hole 30 and the hole portion 50 are each set to an inner diameter D. Further, the inner diameter of the receiving hole 30 may be different from the inner diameter of the hole 50.

As shown in fig. 2, the contact 10 has a substantially rod-like shape as a whole, and includes: a cylindrical body 11 formed of a conductive member in a substantially cylindrical shape; a plunger 12 formed of a conductive member in a rod shape; and a coil spring 13 disposed in the cylindrical body 11. As shown in fig. 1, the cylindrical body 11 corresponds to an example of a first portion located in the socket 20, and the portion protruding from the cylindrical body 11 of the plunger 12 and the cup 13 correspond to an example of a second portion.

A cup 13 having a diameter larger than that of the plunger 12 is provided at the front end portion of the plunger 12. A funnel portion 13a recessed in a funnel shape is formed at the front end of the cup 13. The cup 13 has a diameter larger than the second terminal B. Accordingly, when the second terminal B is connected to the connector 1, the outer peripheral portion of the tip of the second terminal B contacts the inclined surface of the funnel 13a, and the second terminal B is thereby stably in contact with the socket 13.

The present invention is not limited to the example in which the cup 13 is provided at the distal end portion of the plunger 12. The tip end portion of the plunger 12 may have a substantially conical pointed shape as in the plunger 12a shown in fig. 3, or may have a so-called crown shape including a plurality of projections as in the plunger 12 b. The tip end portion of the plunger 12 may have various shapes that are easily contacted with the second terminal B. The structure of the cover plate 4a shown in fig. 3 is explained below.

A distal opening 11a is formed in the distal end of the tubular body 11 located on the upper side in fig. 2. On the other hand, a bottom wall 11b including a base end opening 11c is provided at the base end portion of the tubular body 11 located on the lower side in fig. 2. The proximal end side of the plunger 12 is configured to be insertable into the tubular body 11 from the distal end opening 11a.

A reduced diameter portion 11d is provided at an intermediate portion of the tubular body 11 in the axial direction so as to deform a part of the tubular body 11 to be recessed inward.

A bulge 121 having an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion 11d of the cylindrical body 11 is provided at the base end portion of the plunger 12. The bulge 121 is inserted into the tubular body 11 and is pressed into the base end portion side of the reduced diameter portion 11d. Thus, the plunger 12 is slidably supported by the cylindrical body 11 in a state of being prevented from coming out to the upper side of the cylindrical body 11.

The outer diameter of the coil spring 13 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 11 and larger than the inner diameter of the base end opening 11c of the cylindrical body 11. The coil spring 13 is disposed between the bulge 121 of the plunger 12 and the bottom wall 11b of the tubular body 11, and pushes the bulge 121 upward.

As shown in fig. 4, the contact unit 2 includes a socket 20 formed in a cylindrical shape from a metal material having conductivity. The inner diameter of the socket 20 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the contact 10. Then, the base end side portion of the contact 10, specifically, the lower portion of the cylindrical body 11 is inserted into the socket 20 and held.

The socket 20 has a C-shape in cross section as viewed from the axial direction. The C-shaped slit 21a of the socket 20 extends along the longitudinal direction of the socket 20. As described below, the slit 21a is a gap that is inevitably formed in the peripheral wall of the socket 20 when the rectangular socket structure portion is bent into a cylindrical shape to form the socket 20.

The socket 20 includes: a socket body 21 inserted into the receiving hole 30 of the chassis 3; a front end side portion 22 inserted into the hole portion 50 of the cover plate 4; and an intermediate portion 29 provided between the socket body 21 and the front end side portion 22.

Further, from the base end portion side of the socket body 21 located on the lower side in fig. 4, a first terminal spring 23, a contact stopper 24, a holding portion 25, and a bulge portion 26 are provided in this order in the socket body 21.

That is, as shown in fig. 5, three first terminal springs 23 are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the socket body 21 in the base end side portion of the socket body 21. The first terminal spring 23 is a cantilever-shaped plate spring formed by bending an upper portion of a trapezoidal cutout formed in the socket body 21 toward the inside of the socket body 21.

As shown in fig. 6, three contact stopper portions 24 for positioning the base end portions of the contacts 10 are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the socket body 21 on the upper side of the first terminal springs 23. The contact stopper 24 is formed by, for example, recessing a lower portion of a cutout 24a (see fig. 4) extending in the circumferential direction of the socket body 21 toward the inside in the radial direction of the socket body 21.

As shown in fig. 7, a pair of holding portions 25, 25 are provided on both sides of the slit 21a on the upper side of the contact stopper portion 24. The slit 21a is located at the center of the pair of holding portions 25, 25. As shown in fig. 4, a portion between the slit SL and the slit SL sandwiched by a pair of slits SL and SL extending in the axial direction formed in the peripheral wall of the socket body 21 becomes the holding portion 25. The slits SL and SL are not necessarily limited to examples extending in the axial direction.

The angle R formed by a pair of virtual lines LN1, LN2 connecting the centers of the pair of holding portions 25, 25 with the axis Z of the receptacle 20 is set to substantially 120 degrees. Substantially 120 degrees means that errors such as manufacturing variations are allowed for 120 degrees. The angle R may be smaller than 180 degrees, and is not necessarily limited to 120 degrees.

Fig. 7 shows a state in which the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 are in a protruding posture in which the protruding portion 251 protrudes into the space in the receptacle 20 when the tubular body 11 is not positioned in the receptacle 20.

The holding portion 25 shown in fig. 8 is seen from the axis Z side in fig. 7. A protrusion 251 protruding in the axial center Z direction is formed in the center of the holding portion 25. In fig. 1 and 3, the protruding portion 251 is visible as a dent when formed by press working, in order to view the protruding portion 251 from the back side. Further, the protruding portion 251 is not necessarily limited to an example formed by press working, and the back side of the protruding portion 251 may not be recessed.

The holding portion 25 includes a pair of edge portions 252, 252 located between the protruding portion 251 and the pair of slits SL, SL. The holding portion 25 further includes a non-protruding portion 253 connected to the protruding portion 251 in the up-down direction, and a non-protruding portion 253. The edge 252 and the non-protruding portion 253 do not protrude radially inward from the inner periphery of the socket 20 in the protruding posture and the pressing posture described below. The edge 252 and the non-protruding portion 253 correspond to an example of a non-protruding portion.

As shown in fig. 9, when the contact 10 is inserted into the socket 20, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 11 interferes with the protruding portion 251, and the protruding portion 251 is pushed radially outward, and the holding portion 25 are bent into a substantially arcuate shape. The holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 are pushed out radially outward. Fig. 9 shows a state in which the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 are in a pressing posture in which the cylindrical body 11 is pressed by the protruding portion 251 when the cylindrical body 11 is positioned in the receptacle 20.

Thus, when the tubular body 11 is positioned in the receptacle 20, the posture of the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 is changed to the pressing posture in which the tubular body 11 is pressed by the protruding portion 251. As a result, the holding portion 25 and the elasticity of the holding portion 25 to return to the original shape cause the protruding portion 251 to push the cylindrical body 11.

When the tubular body 11 is positioned in the socket 20, the postures of the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 are changed to the pressing postures, and therefore, for example, the protruding amount of the protruding portion 251 from the inner peripheral surface of the socket 20 in the protruding posture may be larger than the difference between the inner diameter of the socket 20 and the outer diameter of the tubular body 11.

The cylindrical body 11 is pressed against the inner wall of the socket 20 at the contact position E1 by the urging force of the projection 251. The angle formed by the virtual line LN3 and the virtual line LN1 connecting the axis Z and the center of the slit 21a and the angle formed by the virtual line LN3 and the virtual line LN2 are R/2, that is, the range of the angle R smaller than 180 degrees, and the slit 21a is located at the center of the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25. As a result, the contact position E1 is located on the opposite side of the slit 21 a.

As a result, the cylindrical body 11 is stably held by the three points of the protruding portion 251 and the contact position E1, which are positioned at intervals along the circumferential direction of the socket body 21. When the angle R is set to substantially 120 degrees, the cylindrical body 11 is held by three points which are positioned at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the socket body 21, and the holding stability is further improved. The action of the accommodating hole 30 on the holding cylindrical body 11 will be described below.

Further, since the cylindrical body 11 is held by the pressing force of the protruding portion 251, the inner diameter of the socket 20 is easily increased, and the contact 10 is easily inserted into the socket 20. Therefore, the contact unit 2 easily combines ease of insertion of the contact 10 into the cylindrical socket 20 and difficulty in removal of the contact 10 from the socket 20.

Referring to fig. 10, when the cylindrical body 11 is pressed against the contact position E1 of the inner wall of the socket 20 by the projection 251, the inner wall of the socket 20 functions as a guide for supporting the cylindrical body 11. As a result, the contact 10 is stably held, and the positional deviation of the cup 13 can be reduced.

The socket 20 is easily deformed in the vicinity of the slit 21a, and the shape of the socket 20 is most stable on the side opposite to the side farthest from the slit 21 a. Therefore, by positioning the slit 21a in the range of the angle R smaller than 180 degrees and in the center of the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25, the contact position E1 can be positioned on the opposite side of the slit 21a where the shape of the socket 20 is most stable.

As a result, since the cylindrical body 11 can be guided at the position where the shape of the socket 20 is most stable, the stability of the holding contact 10 is improved, and an effect of reducing the misalignment of the cup bearing 13 can be expected to be improved.

Note that the slit 21a may fall within the above-described range of the angle R of less than 180 degrees, and is not necessarily limited to an example in which the angle formed by the virtual line LN3 of the slit 21a and the virtual line LN1 of the projection 251 is equal to the angle formed by the virtual line LN3 of the slit 21a and the virtual line LN2 of the projection 251. If the slit 21a falls within the range of the angle R smaller than 180 degrees, the contact position E1 can be set while avoiding the slit 21a having the largest deformation.

Instead of pressing the cylindrical body 11 against the contact position E1 of the inner wall of the socket 20 by the protruding portions 251, another protruding portion 251 may be provided at the contact position E1, and the cylindrical body 11 may be held by the three protruding portions 251.

When the cylindrical body 11 is held by the three protruding portions 251, the cylindrical body 11 is held by the protruding portions 251, and is in a floating state without being in contact with the inner wall of the socket 20, as shown in fig. 11. In this state, the contact 10 is easily inclined, and thus the position of the cup 13 is easily deviated.

Therefore, the cylindrical body 11 is preferably held by the protruding portion 251, and the three points of the contact position E1.

In the drawings, three first terminal springs 23 and three contact stopper portions 24 are formed at positions overlapping each other in a plan view of the socket body 21, the three first terminal springs being disposed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the socket body 21. The first terminal springs 23 and the contact stopper portions 24 may be formed at positions offset in the circumferential direction of the socket body 21 in a plan view.

In the vicinity of the distal end portion of the socket body 21, that is, in a portion located slightly below the protruding portion 27 described below, three bulging portions 26 are provided so as to dome the peripheral wall of the socket body 21 radially outward.

As shown in fig. 1, 3 and 4, a pair of protruding portions 27 protruding radially outward are provided in the intermediate portion 29. The protruding portion 27 includes a prying portion formed by expanding an upper portion of a cutout extending in the circumferential direction, for example, formed in the peripheral wall of the intermediate portion 29, radially outward. The lower end surface 271 of the protruding portion 27 is formed as a horizontal surface.

The pair of protruding portions 27, 27 protrude in mutually opposite directions through the axis Z of the socket 20. The distance from the axis Z of the socket 20 to the tip of the protruding portion 27 is larger than the distance from the axis Z to the outer peripheral surface of the bulge portion 26.

Referring to fig. 1, the chassis 3 and the cover plate 4 are formed into a plate shape having a rectangular plan view shape by an insulating member having a specific thickness. The cover plate 4 is fixed to the chassis 3 by, for example, screwing or the like. The chassis 3 includes a facing surface FB facing the cover plate 4, and the cover plate 4 includes a facing surface FC facing the chassis 3.

The cover plate 4 is formed with a spacer portion 40 protruding from the facing surface FC. When the cover plate 4 is attached to the chassis 3, the facing surface FB and the facing surface FC face each other with the facing interval P therebetween. The facing interval P corresponds to the protrusion height of the spacer portion 40.

The inner diameter D of the receiving hole 30 is slightly larger than the outer diameter D of the socket 20 shown in fig. 4. The radius D/2 of the receiving hole 30 and the hole portion 50 is smaller than the distance from the axis Z to the tip of the protruding portion 27. Further, the dimension T of the extension 27 in the axial direction of the socket 20 is smaller than the facing interval P. Thus, when the socket 20 is inserted into the receiving hole 30, the intermediate portion 29 and the distal portion 22 of the socket 20 protrude from the facing surface FB.

When the cover plate 4 is attached to the chassis 3 in this state, the tip end side portion 22 is inserted into the hole 50 of the cover plate 4 and held, and the protruding portion 27 is located in the gap of the facing interval P. The number of the protruding portions 27 is not limited to two, and may be one, or three or more.

In fig. 12, for example, 64 accommodation holes 30 are formed in the longitudinal direction of the chassis 3 extending in the up-down direction. In fig. 12, for example, 64 housing holes 30 are also formed in the lateral direction of the chassis 3 extending in the lateral direction. Thus, 4096 of the accommodation holes 30 are arranged in a lattice shape on the chassis 3.

Referring to fig. 13, the aggregate 6 of the sockets 20 includes a carrier 61 and a carrier 62 for carrying the sockets, and a plurality of sockets 20 carried together with the carrier 61 and the carrier 62. The axial end portion of the socket 20 and the carrier 61 are detachably coupled by a coupling portion 63. The plurality of connection portions 63 connected to the respective sockets 20 are provided at a predetermined arrangement interval K. The lower end portion of the socket 20 in the axial direction and the carrier 62 are detachably connected by a connecting portion 64. The plurality of connection portions 64 connected to the respective sockets 20 are provided at a predetermined arrangement interval K.

The connection portions 63 and 64 are formed to be narrow so as to separate the sockets 20 from the carriers 61 and 62, respectively, by bending and cutting them.

As shown in fig. 14, the pair of protruding portions 27 protrude in a direction Ls intersecting the longitudinal direction Lc of the carrier 61, 62 at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees, as viewed from above the receptacle 20. This is constituted as follows: as described below, when the user inserts the socket body 21 into the accommodation hole 30 of the chassis 3 to accommodate, the pair of protruding portions 27 are inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the arrangement direction of the accommodation holes 30.

In manufacturing the aggregate 6 of the sockets 20, first, a metal plate of a specific thickness is subjected to press working, whereby, as shown in fig. 15, a press plate 60 is formed, the press plate 60 including a pair of upper and lower carriers 61, 62 and a plurality of socket structure portions 65 including rectangular plate-like bodies arranged therebetween.

The first terminal spring 23, the contact stopper 24, the slit SL, the holding portion 25, the protruding portion 251, the bulging portion 26, the protruding portion 27, and the like are formed at specific positions of the socket structure portion 65 by press working or the like.

Then, bending processing is performed to gently bend the left and right side portions of the socket structure portion 65 in the direction indicated by arrow C in fig. 15. As described above, as shown in fig. 13, the aggregate 6 of the sockets 20 in which the plurality of sockets 20 are provided is formed between the upper and lower carriers 61, 62.

The installation interval K of the adjacent sockets 20 provided in the aggregate 6 is set to be, for example, an integer multiple of the arrangement interval S of the adjacent receiving holes 30 and receiving holes 30 provided in the chassis 3. For example, the arrangement interval K of the connection portions 63 and 64 is set to 3 times the arrangement interval S of the storage holes 30 and the storage holes 30 arranged in the lateral direction of the chassis 3 (see fig. 12).

The arrangement interval K between the connection portions 63 and 64 is not limited to 3 times or 2 times or 4 times or more the arrangement interval S between the housing holes 30 and the housing holes 30. Further, the arrangement interval K of the connection portions 63 and 64 may be 1 time the arrangement interval S of the housing holes 30 and the housing holes 30, that is, the arrangement interval K and the arrangement interval S may be equal to each other.

When assembling the contact unit 2 and the connector 1 using the aggregate 6 of the socket 20, the user first bends and cuts the upper end portion of the connecting portion 64 between the lower carrier 62 and the base end portion of the socket 20, and thereby, as shown in fig. 16, the lower carrier 62 is separated from the base end portion of the socket 20.

The base end portions of the sockets 20 that are connected only to the upper carrier 61 in the manner described above are made to face the upper end opening portions of the housing holes 30 arranged in the lateral direction of the chassis 3, for example. In this state, the socket bodies 21 of the plurality of sockets 20 are inserted into the receiving holes 30. Thereby, the bulge portion 26 is fitted into the accommodation hole 30, and the lower end surface 271 of the projection portion 27 abuts against the facing surface FB of the chassis 3.

Here, since the socket body 21 in a state in which the contact 10 is not inserted is inserted into the receiving hole 30, unlike fig. 9, the holding portion 25 does not protrude outward from the outer periphery of the socket body 21 as in fig. 7. Therefore, the holding portion 25 does not interfere with the inner wall of the housing hole 30 when the socket body 21 is inserted into the housing hole 30. As a result, the socket body 21 is easily inserted into the accommodation hole 30.

Then, the user bends and cuts the lower end portion of the connecting portion 63, thereby separating the upper carrier 61 from the front end portion of the socket 20. As a result, as shown in fig. 12 and 16, the plurality of sockets 20 are simultaneously accommodated in a row in the lateral direction every two accommodation holes 30. Then, the socket 20 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 30 adjacent to the accommodation hole 30 in which the socket 20 is accommodated, and by repeating the above operation, the socket 20 is accommodated and held in all the accommodation holes 30 of the chassis 3 as shown in fig. 17.

In the housed state of the sockets 20, the pair of protruding portions 27 provided in each socket 20 are arranged in a state inclined at about 45 degrees with respect to the arrangement direction (lateral direction) of each socket 20. That is, as shown in fig. 14, the pair of protruding portions 27 protrude in a direction Ls intersecting at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction Lc of the carrier 61, 62. Therefore, after the user inserts the plurality of sockets 20 into the accommodation holes 30 of the chassis 3, the front end portions of the respective sockets 20 are separated from the carrier 61, and the arrangement direction of the pair of protruding portions 27 and the arrangement direction of the accommodation holes 30 intersect at an angle of about 45 degrees.

Thereafter, the base end side portion of the contact 10 shown in fig. 2 is inserted into the socket 20 from the front end opening 22a, and the bottom wall 11b of the contact 10 abuts against the contact stopper 24 of the socket body 21. As a result, the protruding portion 251 of the holding portion 25 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the contact 10, and the contact unit 2 for electrically connecting the contact 10 and the socket 20 is assembled.

Referring to fig. 18, in this state, since the contact 10 has not been inserted into the socket 20, the holding portion 25 does not protrude to the outside of the outer periphery of the socket body 21. Therefore, the holding portion 25 does not interfere with the inner wall of the housing hole 30, and thus the receptacle 20 can be easily and smoothly inserted into the housing hole 30.

Referring to fig. 19, when the cylindrical body 11 of the contact 10 is inserted into the socket body 21, the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 are pushed out radially outward as described above.

When the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 are pushed out radially outward, the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 interfere with the inner wall of the housing hole 30, and the cylindrical body 11 is pressed against the inner wall of the socket body 21 at the contact position E1 by the reaction force of the back pressure of the holding portion 25 and the holding portion 25 by the inner wall of the housing hole 30. The socket body 21 is pushed radially outward by the cylindrical body 11 at the contact position E1, and presses the outer wall of the socket body 21 against the inner wall of the accommodation hole 30 at the contact position E2.

Thus, the socket body 21 is held in contact with and interferes with the inner wall of the housing hole 30 at three positions of the holding portion 25, and the contact position E2, and as a result, the socket 20 is not easily separated from the housing hole 30. At this time, as described above, the cylindrical body 11 also contacts and interferes with the inner wall of the socket body 21 at three points of the holding portion 25, and the contact position E1, and as a result, the contact 10 is not easily detached from the socket 20.

As shown in fig. 10, the socket body 21, that is, the socket 20 is pressed by the holding portion 25 and the contact position E2 of the holding portion 25 against the inner wall of the housing hole 30, and as a result, the inner wall of the housing hole 30 functions as a guide for supporting the socket 20. As a result, the socket 20 is stably held, and the positional deviation of the cup 13 is reduced.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 11, in the case where the cylindrical body 11 is held by the three protrusions 251, the receptacle 20 is also held by the three protrusions 251. In this case, the receptacle 20 is not in contact with the inner wall of the accommodation hole 30, but is in a floating state. In this state, the socket 20 is easily inclined, and thus the position of the cup 13 is easily deviated.

Therefore, the structure of holding the cylindrical body 11 and the receptacle 20 by the three points of the protruding portion 251, and the contact position E1 is more preferable than the structure held by the three protruding portions 251.

Further, the holding portion 25 may not necessarily include a pair of edge portions 252, and one edge portion 252 may be provided. The holding portion 25 may not include the edge portion 252, but may have both ends of the protruding portion 251a reaching the slit SL or the slit SL, as in the holding portion 25a shown in fig. 20, for example.

However, as will be described below, the holding portion 25 more preferably includes a rim 252. Fig. 21 shows a protruding posture of the holding portion 25 a.

As shown in fig. 15, when the socket body 21 is formed by forming the slit SL and the slit SL in the flat plate by press working and bending the same along the arrow C, the slit SL is compressed on the inner diameter side as shown in fig. 21, and is easily brought into contact with the holding portion 25a (or the holding portion 25).

Fig. 22 shows a pressing posture of the holding portion 25 a. As shown in fig. 22, when the contact 10 is inserted into the socket 20, the holding portion 25a excluding the edge portion 252 is pushed radially outward by the peripheral surface of the tubular body 11. As a result, as shown in the interference portion H, the corners 254 and 254 on the outer diameter side of the protruding portion 251a are easily caught by the corners 211 and 211 of the socket body 21 on the inner diameter side of the slit SL and the slit SL.

When the corners 254 and 254 are engaged with the corners 211 and 211, the pressing force from the cylindrical body 11 is received by the socket body 21 and acts as a force to deform the peripheral wall of the socket body 21 so as to open the peripheral wall. In other words, the pressing force is offset. As a result, the reaction force generated by the protruding portion 251a is reduced with respect to the pressing force from the cylindrical body 11, and the contact pressure between the protruding portion 251a and the cylindrical body 11 is reduced, so that the holding force with which the contact 10 is not easily separated from the socket 20 is reduced.

In order to reduce the displacement of the pressing force caused by the deformation of the socket body 21, it is considered to reduce the inner diameter of the socket body 21. However, if the inner diameter of the socket body 21 is reduced, the difference between the inner diameter of the socket 20 and the inner diameter of the contact 10 becomes smaller, and the ease of inserting the contact 10 into the socket 20 increases.

Therefore, the holding portion 25 including the edge portion 252 easily combines the increase in the holding force of the socket 20 on the contact 10 and the ease of insertion of the contact 10 into the socket 20, compared with the holding portion 25a not including the edge portion 252.

On the other hand, in the holding portion 25 including the rim 252, as shown in fig. 19, even if the holding portion 25 is pushed out radially outward by the pressing force from the cylindrical body 11, the protruding portion 251 is separated from the corner portion 211 and the corner portion 211 by the rim 252 and the rim 252, and as a result, the corner portion 211 and the protruding portion 251 do not interfere with each other. As a result, the pressing force from the cylindrical body 11 is not deviated toward the socket body 21, and the holding force for making the contact 10 less likely to be separated from the socket 20 is easily maintained.

Further, since the corner 211, and the protruding portion 251 do not interfere with each other, the protruding stroke of the protruding portion 251 in the outer diameter direction is easily increased, and the inner wall of the housing hole 30 interferes with the protruding portion 251. If the inner wall of the receiving hole 30 can be made to interfere with the protruding portion 251, as described above, the socket 20 is made not to easily separate from the receiving hole 30 by the reaction force generated by the inner wall of the receiving hole 30, and the contact 10 is made not to easily separate from the socket 20.

In the holding portion 25 including the edge portion 252, the contact pressure between the inner wall of the accommodating hole 30 and the protruding portion 251 can be adjusted by adjusting the inner diameter of the accommodating hole 30. Therefore, by adjusting the inner diameter of the receiving hole 30, the holding force for making the socket 20 not easily separated from the receiving hole 30 and the holding force for making the contact 10 not easily separated from the socket 20 can be easily adjusted.

That is, according to the connector 1, when the receptacle 20 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 30 of the chassis 3 and the contact 10 is not positioned in the receptacle 20, the protruding portion 251 of the holding portion 25 is in a protruding posture protruding into the receptacle 20. In this state, when the cylindrical body 11 is inserted into the socket 20, the protruding portion 251 is interfered by the cylindrical body 11, the protruding portion 251 is pushed in the outer diameter direction of the socket 20, the holding portion 25 protrudes from the outer periphery of the socket 20, and the holding portion 25 is pressed against the inner wall of the housing hole 30 of the chassis 3. As a result, the socket 20 is easily separated from the chassis 3.

Since the socket 20 is not easily separated from the chassis 3, the inner diameter of the receiving hole 30 is easily larger than the outer diameter of the socket 20, and the holding portion 25 does not protrude from the outer periphery of the socket 20 before the contact 10 is inserted into the socket 20, so that the socket 20 is easily received in the receiving hole 30 of the chassis 3.

Further, the reaction force generated by pressing the holding portion 25 against the inner wall of the housing hole 30 acts as a force for pressing the protruding portion 25 against the cylindrical body 11, and as a result, the force for holding the contact 10 by the socket 20 is easily increased.

If the socket 20 has a C-shaped cross section, the diameter of the socket 20 is easily enlarged, and thus the holding force of the socket 20 on the contact 10 is easily reduced. However, according to the connector 1, as described above, the protruding portion 25 presses the inner wall of the housing hole 30 and presses and holds the contact 10 by its reaction force, so that even if the receptacle 20 has a C-shaped cross section, the holding force of the contact 10 is easily improved.

Further, since the edge 252, the non-protruding portion 253, and the non-protruding portion 253 of the holding portion 25 do not protrude radially inward of the inner periphery of the socket 20 in the protruding posture, when the protruding portion 25 is pushed in the outer diameter direction of the socket 20 by the tubular body 11, the possibility that the edges of the edge 252, the non-protruding portion 253, and the non-protruding portion 253 are caught by the corner 211 of the slit SL can be reduced, and the holding portion 25 easily protrudes from the outer periphery of the socket 20.

Further, in the holding portion 25a shown in fig. 20, by including the non-protruding portion 253, the occurrence of interference between the corner portion 211 and the holding portion can be reduced as compared with a case where the non-protruding portion 253 is not included and the entire holding portion protrudes inward of the inner peripheral surface of the socket 20.

As described above, by inserting the socket 20 into the accommodation hole 30, the contact 10 is inserted into the socket 20, and the contact unit 2 is configured in a state held by the chassis 3. Further, a cover plate 4 is provided so as to cover the tip end portion of the contact unit 2, and is fixed to the chassis 3. As a result, the connector 1 shown in fig. 1 can be assembled.

The example in which the slit 21a extending in the longitudinal direction of the socket 20 is formed in the peripheral wall of the socket 20 and the socket 20 has a C-shape in a cross section as viewed from the axial direction has been shown, but the socket may be formed of a cylindrical pipe without a slit. However, since the diameter of the socket 20 is extremely small, it is not easy to form the first terminal spring 23, the contact stopper 24, the holding portion 25, the bulge 26, and the extension 27 in the socket including the pipe material.

In contrast, when the cross-sectional C-shape including the slit 21a extending in the longitudinal direction of the socket 20 is formed as described above, the socket 20 can be easily formed by bending the plate-shaped socket structure into a cylindrical shape. Before the plate-like receptacle structure is curled to form the receptacle 20, the bulge 26, the projection 27, the holding portion 25a, the contact stopper 24, the first terminal spring 23, and the like can be easily formed by press working or the like on a part of the receptacle structure. Accordingly, the socket 20 including the slit 21a is easily manufactured, and is more preferable in terms of the aspect.

Further, by using the aggregate 6 including the carrier 61 and the carrier 62 for carrying the sockets and the plurality of sockets 20 carried together with these, the user can easily perform the operation of housing the sockets 20 in the housing holes 30 of the chassis 3. That is, the socket body 21 of each socket 20 having its upper end connected to the carrier is inserted into the receiving hole 30, and then the upper carrier 61 is separated from the front end of the socket 20, whereby the sockets 20 can be received in the plurality of receiving holes 30 at the same time.

Further, since the arrangement intervals K (see fig. 13) of the connection portions 63 and 64 provided in the carriers 61 and 62 are set to be an integer multiple of the arrangement intervals S (see fig. 12) of the receiving holes 30 adjacent to each other arranged in the chassis 3, the plurality of sockets 20 can be simultaneously received in the receiving holes 30 in a single row. Further, a comb-shaped assembly of the sockets 20 in which the lower carrier 62 and the connecting portion 64 are omitted and the upper ends of the sockets 20 are detachably connected by a plurality of connecting portions 63 provided on the upper carrier 61 may be used.

In addition, when the aggregate 6 shown in fig. 14 is used, as shown in fig. 17, the pair of protruding portions 27 may be provided in a state of being inclined at a certain angle with respect to the arrangement direction of the housing holes 30. As a result, interference between the adjacent protruding portions 27 is more easily prevented than in the case where the pair of protruding portions 27 are provided along the lateral direction or the longitudinal direction of the chassis 3. Therefore, it is easy to sufficiently secure the protruding amount of the protruding portion 27.

In the modification of the aggregate 6 shown in fig. 23, the direction Ls in which the pair of protruding portions 27 provided in the receptacle 20 protrude is oriented in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction Lc of the carriers 61, 62. In this case, as shown in fig. 24, it is preferable that the arrangement interval K1 of the connecting portions 63 and 64 provided in the carriers 61 and 62 is set to be an integer multiple of the arrangement interval S1 of the adjacent housing holes 30 arranged in the oblique direction of the chassis 3.

Accordingly, when the user inserts the lower portion of the receptacle 20 into each of the accommodation holes 30 and accommodates the carrier 61 and the carrier 62 in a state where the carrier 61 and the carrier 62 are disposed along each of the accommodation holes 30 aligned in the oblique direction of the chassis 3, the pair of protruding portions 27 are provided in a state where they are inclined in the oblique direction of the chassis 3. The arrangement intervals K and K1 may not necessarily be integer multiples of the arrangement intervals S and S1.

A through hole 5 externally fitted to the front end portion of the contact unit 2 is formed in the cover plate 4a shown in fig. 3. The through hole 5 is a hole connecting a first hole 51, a second hole 52, a third hole 53, and a fourth hole 54 formed at a position overlapping the housing hole 30 of the chassis 3 in a plan view.

The inner diameter of the first hole 51 located at the lowermost position of each of the holes 51 to 54 provided in the cover plate 4a is larger than the outer diameter d of the socket 20. Thereby, the tip end portion of the socket 20 can be inserted into the first hole 51.

A second hole 52 having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 11 of the contact 10 is provided above the first hole 51. By inserting the distal end portion of the tubular body 11 into the second hole 52, the inner peripheral surface of the second hole 52 is brought into substantially close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the tubular body 11.

A third hole 53 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameters of the plungers 12a, 12b of the contact 10 is formed above the second hole 52. The plunger 12a or the plunger 12b may be inserted into the third hole portion 53.

A fourth hole 54 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second terminal B and larger than the inner diameter of the third hole 53 is formed above the third hole 53. The tip end portion of the plunger 12 and the second terminal B are inserted into the fourth hole 54 and electrically connected.

By the cover plate 4a, the socket 20 is prevented from coming out of the cover plate 4a by the step difference of the first hole portion 51 and the second hole portion 52, and the contact 10 is prevented from coming out of the cover plate 4a by the step difference of the second hole portion 52 and the third hole portion 53. Further, the positioning accuracy of the plungers 12a, 12B and the second terminal B can be improved by the third hole 53 and the fourth hole 54.

As shown in fig. 1, the plunger 12 having the cup 13 provided at the tip end thereof is not easy to insert the cup 13 into the third hole 53. Thus, when using the plunger 12, it is appropriate to cover the plate 4.

That is, a connector according to an example of the present invention includes: a cylindrical socket; a contact having a bar-like shape including a first portion positionable within the receptacle and a second portion protruding from an end of the receptacle; and a holding member having a receiving hole for receiving the socket, wherein a pair of slits extending parallel to each other are formed in a peripheral wall of the socket, and wherein a holding portion, which is a portion sandwiched by the pair of slits, includes a protruding portion protruding into the socket and a non-protruding portion connected to the protruding portion, wherein the holding portion is configured to have a protruding posture in which the protruding portion protrudes into a space in the socket when the first portion is not located in the socket, and wherein the non-protruding portion does not protrude radially inward than an inner periphery of the socket in the protruding posture.

According to the above configuration, when the socket is accommodated in the accommodation hole of the holding member and the contact is not located in the socket, the protruding portion of the holding portion is in a protruding posture protruding into the socket. In this state, when the contact is inserted into the socket, the protruding portion is interfered by the contact, the protruding portion is pushed in the outer diameter direction of the socket, the holding portion protrudes from the outer periphery of the socket, and the holding portion is pressed against the inner wall of the receiving hole of the holding member. As a result, the socket is easily prevented from being separated from the holding member. Further, the reaction force generated by pressing the holding portion against the inner wall of the receiving hole acts as a force for pressing the protruding portion against the contact, and as a result, the force for holding the contact by the socket is easily increased. Further, since the non-protruding portion of the holding portion does not protrude radially inward of the inner periphery of the socket in the protruding posture, when the protruding portion is pushed in the outer diameter direction of the socket by the contact, the risk that the edge of the non-protruding portion gets stuck to the edge of the slit can be reduced, and the holding portion easily protrudes from the outer periphery of the socket.

When the first portion is positioned in the socket, the holding portion may change its posture to a pressing posture in which the first portion is pressed by the protruding portion.

According to the above configuration, when the contact is inserted into the socket and the first portion is positioned in the socket, the posture of the holding portion is changed to the pressing posture, and the first portion is pressed by the protruding portion. Therefore, the contact is easily held.

Further, the protruding amount of the protruding portion is preferably larger than a difference between the inner diameter of the socket and the outer diameter of the first portion.

According to the above configuration, when the first portion is positioned in the socket, the posture of the holding portion can be changed to the pressing posture.

Preferably, the holding portion includes an edge portion between the protruding portion and the pair of slits as the non-protruding portion.

According to the above configuration, since the protruding portion is separated from the edge of the slit by the edge portion, the protruding portion is less likely to be caught by the edge of the slit when the holding portion is changed from the protruding posture to the pressing posture.

Preferably, the pair of slits extend along an axial direction of the receptacle.

According to the above configuration, since the slit is easily extended along the axial direction of the socket, the movement amount of the protruding portion between the protruding posture and the pressing posture is easily increased.

Preferably, the socket further includes a pair of holding portions, and an angle formed by a pair of virtual lines connecting the pair of holding portions and an axis of the socket, respectively, is smaller than 180 degrees.

According to the structure, the contact can be pressed against the inner wall of the socket by the pair of holding portions. As a result, the contact can be supported at three points by the contact position where the contact contacts the inner wall of the socket and the pair of holding portions, and therefore the contact can be easily and stably held. Further, since the inner wall of the socket guides the contacts, the deviation of the contacts can be reduced.

Preferably, an angle formed by a pair of virtual lines connecting the pair of holding portions and the axis of the socket, respectively, is substantially 120 degrees.

According to the above configuration, the contact position where the contact is in contact with the inner wall of the socket is trisected with the positions of the pair of holding portions, so that the contact is easily and stably supported at three points.

The socket preferably has a C-shape in cross section from the axial direction.

According to this structure, the socket is easily formed by bending the plate-like member into a cylindrical shape.

The socket preferably has a C-shape in a cross section as viewed from the axial direction, and the slit having the C-shape is located within the angle range of less than 180 degrees.

The socket having the C-shaped cross section is easily deformed in the vicinity of the slit. Therefore, by positioning the slit in the range of the angle smaller than 180 degrees, the contact can be brought into contact with the inner wall of the socket while avoiding the vicinity of the slit which is easily deformed.

Preferably, the slit having the C-shape is located at a substantially center of the pair of holding portions within the range of the angle smaller than 180 degrees.

The socket having a C-shaped cross section is easily deformed in the vicinity of the slit, and the socket is most stable in shape on the side opposite to the side furthest from the slit. Therefore, in the range of the angle smaller than 180 degrees, the slit is located at the substantial center of the pair of holding portions, so that the contact can be brought into contact with the inner wall of the socket on the opposite side of the slit where the shape of the socket is most stable.

A receptacle assembly according to an example of the present invention is the receptacle assembly in the connector, and includes: a carrier for carrying the socket; and a plurality of sockets that are carried together with the carrier, and in which a plurality of coupling portions that detachably couple axial ends of the sockets are provided at regular intervals.

According to the above configuration, the user inserts the other end portion of each socket into the receiving hole, and then separates the carrier from the one end portion of the socket, thereby simultaneously receiving the sockets in the plurality of receiving holes. Therefore, the socket body can be easily inserted into the receiving hole and received in the holding member.

In the connector having such a structure and the receptacle assembly constituting the connector, the receptacle is not easily separated from the holding member for holding the receptacle, and the force for holding the contact by the receptacle is easily increased.

The present application is based on Japanese patent application No. 2020-219348 filed on 28, 12 in 2020, the contents of which are included in the present application. The embodiments and examples of the present application are not limited to the embodiments and examples, but are merely to be construed as being limited thereto.

Description of symbols

1: connector with a plurality of connectors

2: contact element unit

3: chassis (retaining component)

4. 4a: cover plate

5: through hole

6: aggregate body

10: contact element

11: cylinder body (first part)

11a: front end opening

11b: bottom wall

11c: base end opening

11d: diameter-reducing part

12. 12a, 12b: plunger piston

13: cup holder (second part)

13a: funnel part

20: socket

21: socket body

21a: lancing

22: front end side portion

22a: front end opening

23: spring for first terminal

24: contact stop

24a: incision

25. 25a: holding part

26: bulge part

27: extension part

29: intermediate portion

30: containing hole

40: spacer part

50: hole part

51: a first hole part

52: a second hole part

53: a third hole part

54: fourth hole part

60: stamping plate

61. 62: carrier body

63. 64: connecting part

65: socket structure

121: bulge part

211. 254: corner portion

251. 251a: protruding part

252: edge part (non-protruding part)

253: non-protruding part

271: lower end face

A: first terminal

B: second terminal

C: arrows

D: inner diameter of

E1: contact position

E2: contact position

FB. FC: facing surfaces

H: interference part

K. K1: set interval

LN1, LN2, LN3: virtual line

Lc: in the length direction

Ls: direction of

P: opposite spacing

R: angle of

S, S1: arrangement interval

SL: slit(s)

T: size of the device

Z: axle center

d: outer diameter of

Claims (11)

1. A connector, characterized by comprising:

a cylindrical socket;

a contact having a bar-like shape including a first portion capable of being positioned in the socket and a second portion protruding from an end of the socket; and

a holding member having a receiving hole for receiving the socket

A pair of slits extending parallel to each other are formed in the peripheral wall of the receptacle,

the holding portion as a portion sandwiched by the pair of slits includes a protruding portion protruding into the receptacle and a non-protruding portion connected to the protruding portion,

The holding portion is configured to assume a protruding posture in which the protruding portion protrudes into a space in the receptacle when the first portion is not located in the receptacle,

the non-protruding portion does not protrude radially inward of the inner periphery of the socket in the protruding posture.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is capable of changing its posture to a pressing posture in which the first portion is pressed by the protruding portion when the first portion is positioned in the receptacle.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a protruding amount of the protruding portion is larger than a difference between an inner diameter of the socket and an outer diameter of the first portion.

4. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding portion includes a rim portion between the protruding portion and the pair of slits as the non-protruding portion.

5. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pair of slits extend along an axial direction of the receptacle.

6. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by comprising a pair of the holding portions, and

An angle formed by a pair of imaginary lines connecting the pair of holding portions and the axial center of the socket is smaller than 180 degrees.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein an angle formed by a pair of imaginary lines connecting the pair of holding portions and the axial center of the receptacle, respectively, is substantially 120 degrees.

8. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the receptacle has a C-shape in cross section as seen from the axial direction.

9. The connector according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the receptacle has a C-shape in cross section as viewed from the axial direction,

the C-shaped slit is located within the range of angles less than 180 degrees.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the C-shaped slit is located substantially centrally of the pair of retaining portions over the range of angles less than 180 degrees.

11. A receptacle aggregate, which is an aggregate of the receptacles in the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by comprising:

a carrier for carrying the socket; and a plurality of sockets carried together with the carrier, and

The carrier is provided with a plurality of coupling portions at regular intervals, and the plurality of coupling portions are detachably coupled to axial end portions of the socket.