JP2000133344A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector which hardly causes contact failure condition as a stationary support point to support a movable terminal can not easily be put in an unsteady condition and capable of establishing a construction with multiple core, tight pitch, saved space, and light, thin, short, and small demands by a market. SOLUTION: Electric connectors 1, (3), etc., include at least one movable terminal 21 and housings 11, (13), etc., having a through hole 15 penetrated by the movable terminal 21 and are configured so that the elastic deformation part 21c at the free end of each movable terminal 21 can make contacting with a mating terminal 23 while it makes elastic deformation when the connector members are to be put in mutual engagement, wherein the movable terminal portion 21a positioned inside the through hole can be engaged with the through hole 15 to function as a stationary support point for the elastic deformation part 21c, is furnished with at least one protrusion 21d protruding in the opposite direction so that it is possible to support an oppositely directed force to the direction of the force applied to the elastic deformation part when the connector members are to be put in mutual engagement, and is engaged with the through hole 15 through the protrusion 21d.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a connector for electrical connection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has proposed a novel and compact two-piece connector device (comprising a plug and a socket) comprising two connectors each having a body to which a large number of terminals are mounted (International Application No. PCT / US97). / 12149 (public number
WO98 / 02942)). To briefly describe this device,
Reference is made to FIG. 14 in which the main part is cut away and drawn in perspective.

The illustrated device comprises a first connector 71 shown on the upper side of the figure and a second connector 73 shown on the lower side.
In each of the main body housings 81 and 83 of the first and second connectors, four terminal groups are arranged in a row in parallel with each other.
The terminal group in each row is composed of one of two types of terminals. Housing 81 of first connector 71
A central recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the connector is formed at the center of the inside, and two groups of terminals are opposed to each other on opposite walls of the central recess. The two terminal groups are composed of one type, that is, a terminal 91 (referred to as a movable terminal) whose distal end can be elastically deformed. Each of the movable terminals 91
The tip side is inserted and attached to a T-shaped through hole 85 formed in the bottom surface of the housing.

[0004] On both sides of a central recess inside the housing 81 of the first connector 71, recesses extending in parallel with the central recesses are formed, and a terminal group is arranged on a wall on the central recess side of each recess. You. These two groups of terminals are of the other type, namely
It is composed of terminals 93 (referred to as fixed terminals) which are fixedly mounted. Each of the fixed terminals 93 is attached by inserting the distal end thereof into a horizontal bar-shaped through hole 87 formed in the bottom surface of the housing.

The movable terminal 91 has an overall shape in which an elongated metal plate is bent into an L-shape, and has a stepped elongated rectangular bar-shaped support portion 91e at one end, an intermediate bent portion, and the other end. And an elastic deformation portion 91c including an arc-shaped (semicircular) portion on the end side. The fixed terminal 93 is
Similarly, it has an L-shape overall shape, and is composed of a stepped elongated rectangular rod-shaped support portion 93e at one end, an intermediate bent portion, and a thin plate-shaped portion at the other end. .

The elastically deformable portion 91c of each movable terminal 91 is inserted into the main body through a T-shaped through hole 85 formed in the bottom surface of the housing of the first connector. The support portion 91e of the movable terminal 91 is arranged along the bottom surface (back surface) of the housing, and the tip portion protrudes outward from the connector side surface to form an external connection terminal portion. A portion slightly closer to the root than the projecting portion is restrained by the housing bottom portion.

In the second connector 73, recesses are formed on both sides inside the housing for coupling with the first connector 71, and a movable terminal group and a fixed terminal group are arranged on both opposing walls of each recess. Is done. Each movable terminal 91 of the movable terminal group is the first movable terminal.
It is the same as that of the connector 71, and each fixed terminal 93 of the fixed terminal group is also the same as that of the first connector 71. The movable terminal group of the first connector 71 is arranged so as to correspond to the fixed terminal group of the second connector 73, and the fixed terminal group of the first connector 71 is arranged so as to correspond to the movable terminal group of the second connector 73. I have.

[0008]

The above plug-in type connector device has several points to be improved, for example, as follows. That is, first, in order to fix the movable terminal 91 in the T-shaped through hole 85 on the bottom surface of the housing,
A jagged engagement portion 91g is formed on the side surface of the movable terminal 91, and the engagement portion 91g on the other side is changed from the engagement portion 91g on one side.
The dimension B up to g is larger than the lengthwise dimension A of the through hole corresponding to the T-shaped horizontal bar (FIG. 1).
5). When the movable terminal portion (including the jagged engagement portion 91g) is engaged with the through hole 85, it can constitute a support (fixed fulcrum) for the elastic deformation portion 91c including the arcuate portion on the tip side. When the first and second connectors 71 and 73 are connected to each other, the elastic deformation portion 91c (including the arc-shaped portion) of each movable terminal 91 is elastically deformed by an external force (in FIG. 15, in the direction of the upward arrow). I do. At this time, the movable terminal portion constituting the support is turned in the opposite direction (FIG. 15).
Then, a reaction force in the downward arrow direction acts. But,
In the direction of the reaction force, a gap C exists between the movable terminal portion and the through-hole portion. Since there is no support in the gap C, force concentrates on the engaging portion between the movable terminal portion 91g and the through-hole 85, and the through-hole portion is locally crushed or depressed. Therefore, the contact pressure between the movable terminal 91 and the fixed terminal 93 decreases,
As a result, there is a concern that poor electrical contact may occur.

Secondly, the elongated rectangular rod-shaped support portion 91e of each movable terminal has a non-constrained and exposed portion between the constrained portion constrained on the housing bottom surface and the middle bent portion. There is a risk that an electrical short may occur at that portion.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a connector is connectable and has at least one movable terminal and a housing having a through hole through which the movable terminal passes. In a connector for electrical connection in which the elastically deformable portion on the free end side of the movable terminal is elastically deformed when the connector is connected, the movable terminal portion located inside the through hole engages with the through hole. Thus, the terminal portion can function as a fixed fulcrum of the elastically deformable portion, and the terminal portion projects in the opposite direction so as to support a force in the opposite direction to the direction of the force acting on the elastically deformable portion when the connector is connected. It is characterized by comprising a protruding portion and engaging with the through hole via the protruding portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a connector is connectable and has at least one fixed terminal and a housing having a through-hole through which the fixed terminal passes, and when the connector is connected, the fixed terminal contacts a counterpart terminal. In the connector for electrical connection that can be performed, the distal end portion of the fixed terminal is bent by a predetermined angle in a direction away from the counterpart terminal, and is configured to be able to reduce at least the impact at the time of connecting the connector. Features.

Preferably, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a terminal portion extending outside the housing from the through hole and extending along the housing outer wall is embedded in the housing outer wall. Also, preferably, the housing outer wall is a housing bottom surface on a housing mounting surface side, and an insulating sheet is attached to the housing bottom surface. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for electrical connection having a plurality of terminals and a housing in which the terminals are mounted, wherein the terminals are embedded in a bottom surface of the housing on the side where the housing is mounted. And an insulating sheet is attached.

Preferably, the terminal is buried so as not to contact the insulating sheet.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, a first connector 1 and a second connector 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Will be described. However, for the portions common to the connector device according to the above-described inventor's hand, the overlapping description will be omitted as appropriate, and the characteristic portions will be mainly described.

1 and 2 are overall perspective views of the first connector 1, FIGS. 3 and 4 are overall perspective views of the second connector 3, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part of the first connector 1 turned upside down, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the movable terminal, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fixed terminal when the first connector 1 and the second connector 3 are in the connector connection state.

{Mounting Structure of Fixed Terminal and Movable Terminal} Referring to these drawings, the main bodies of the first connector 1 and the second connector 3, that is, the housings 11 and 13 are made of, for example, a predetermined industrial plastic material (for example, , LC
P) is formed by injection molding. Both housings 1
Two rows of T-shaped through-holes 15 formed in an array are formed in the bottom surfaces of the first and the 13th in parallel with each other, and a horizontal bar-shaped through-hole 17 is formed outside or inside the array. Are formed in parallel with each other.

In each of the plurality of T-shaped through holes 15 of the housings 11 and 13, a movable terminal 21 made of metal (for example, made of copper alloy) is regularly inserted and fixed. The fixed terminals 23 made of the same metal are regularly inserted and fixed in each of the through holes 17. The movable terminal 21 is inserted and fixed in the T-shaped through hole 15,
A wide portion 21a (having a dimension D in FIG. 10) is located inside the through-hole 15, and the terminal tip side projects in a cantilever manner into the housings (connector bodies) 11, 13 so as to be elastically deformable.

At the tip end of the movable terminal 21 (the arc-shaped portion 2
When the connector is connected, the elastically deforming portion 21c comes into contact with the corresponding fixed terminal of the other connector and is pressed by this, and the elastically deforming portion 21c is moved by the pressing force (external force). And elastically bend while following the shape of the corresponding curved portion (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

The wide portion 21a of the movable terminal 21 constitutes a support (fixed fulcrum) when this external force (pressing force) acts on the arc-shaped portion 21b of the elastic deformation portion 21c. Generates a reaction force (in FIG. 10, in the direction of the downward arrow) corresponding to this external force. For this purpose, the surface of the wide portion 21a of the movable terminal 21 is
A protrusion 21d protruding in a direction parallel to the direction of the reaction force is formed two apart. These projections 21d can be formed by, for example, pressing a plate material forming the movable terminal 21, or can be formed by a cutting process, a bonding operation of another component, or the like.

The widened portion 23a of the fixed terminal 23 is similarly provided with two protrusions 23d separated from each other so that the fixed terminal 23 can be securely fixed in the corresponding horizontal bar-shaped through hole 17 without play. It is configured. As can be understood from FIG. 10, in such a manner of fixing the wide portion 21a of the movable terminal 21, the movable terminal 21 can be securely fixed in the through hole 15 without play, and the protruding portion 21d exerts a reaction force straight on the front. , The wide portion 21a (fixed fulcrum) is unlikely to be wobbly.

Therefore, as compared with the movable terminal fixed type shown in FIG. 15, the contact pressure due to the arc-shaped portion 21c of the movable terminal 21 is less likely to decrease, and electrical contact failure is less likely to occur. Also,
Wide portion 21a of movable terminal 21 (and fixed terminal 23)
(23a) has a dimension D, which is smaller than the dimension B (FIG. 15) of the corresponding terminal portion of the conventional device, that is, the corresponding through-hole dimension (A) can be reduced;
This means that the formation pitch between the through holes can be reduced, and therefore the pitch between the terminals can be reduced (for example, 0.3 m).
m pitch).

In addition to the existence of such projections 21d (23d), not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, but on both sides of the wide portion 21a (23a), the same jaggedness as that of the aforementioned conventional one. With a through-hole 15 (1
7) It may be configured so that it can be engaged in the through hole at the time of insertion / fixation to 7). Also, the protrusion 21
The dimension in the thickness direction of the wide portion including the d and 23d is the dimension E (see FIG. 1) of the through hole portion with which the projections 21d and 23d engage.
0). When this amount is increased, the fixing can be performed reliably and rattling is less likely to occur, while the insertion force at the time of terminal insertion increases.

{Structure of the Tip of the Fixed Terminal} Referring to FIG. 11, which schematically shows a state before the first connector 1 and the second connector 3 are connected to each other, the movable terminal 21 and the solid terminal 23 come into contact with and engage with each other. In order to alleviate the shock at the time, it is preferable to adjust the distal end portion of the fixed terminal 23 at a predetermined angle (generally in the range of 5 to 15 °) in a direction away from the counterpart terminal (movable terminal). (10 °). Housing (connector body) 11, 1
The corresponding portion 3 is inclined to correspond to this.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the distal end of the fixed terminal can contact the corresponding distal end of the movable terminal at an angle of approximately 30 °. FIG. 13 shows a contact state with the movable terminal in a case where the distal end side of the fixed terminal is not bent (that is, is straight), and is in contact with the movable terminal at an angle of about 40 °.

A very large number of connectors 1 and 3 (for example,
Since each of the terminals 21 and 23 has 500 poles), the bending of the front end of the fixed terminal causes the terminal 21 and 23 to be bent.
It can be understood that the shock or force at the time of connecting the connector can be considerably reduced. << Embedded structure of support part of each terminal >> Elongated rectangular rod-shaped support part 21e of each of movable terminal 21 and fixed terminal 23,
23e is buried by being pushed into a groove 11c formed in the T-shaped or horizontal bar-shaped through holes 15, 17 formed in the housing bottom surfaces 11b, 13b. For example, each groove 11
The depth c is set to be 0.25 to 0.30 mm (> the thickness of the support portions 21e and 23e = 0.15 mm), and the width is set to be 0.2 to 0.35 mm.

As described above, since the supporting portions 21e and 23e are entirely embedded in the housing bottom surfaces 11b and 13b, there is almost no possibility that the terminal supporting portions 21e and 23e come into contact with each other to cause a short circuit. . As shown in FIG. 6, the "housing bottom surfaces 11b and 13b" are rectangular flat portions in which the terminal support portions 21e and 23e are buried. Than predetermined amount (for example, 0.1-0.3mm)
Only lower (FIG. 6). Housing bottom surface 11b,
A rectangular insulating sheet 25 thinner than the step amount of 0.1 to 0.3 mm (for example, 0.05 to 0.08 mm) is attached to 13b (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 6).

First connector 1 and / or second connector 3
Is a type mounted on a predetermined substrate, the following effects can be obtained by the configuration itself of attaching the insulating sheet 25 to the housing bottom surfaces 11b and 13b. That is, since there is no danger of short-circuit,
For example, a circuit pattern or the like can be formed on the corresponding surface of the predetermined substrate opposed to b and 13b with a very small gap, which is preferable in terms of effective use of the substrate surface. Also, as in this embodiment, terminals 21, 23 are provided on the housing bottom surfaces 11b, 13b.
Is preferable because the risk of short-circuit can be completely and reliably prevented.

{Other Structures} Other characteristic structures of the connector device 5 (1, 3) of the present embodiment will be briefly described below. Regardless of the first and second connectors 1, 3, both longitudinal sides and an intermediate mounting surface 11d, 1
3d has a bifurcated projection 31 for connector positioning,
33 are provided. This makes it possible to mount the connector easily, reliably, and quickly.

Further, as shown in FIG.
On both sides in the longitudinal direction, two plate-shaped protrusions 41 and 51 having different widths protruding toward the connector connection side are provided, and a hook portion is provided at the tip thereof. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, at the corresponding positions on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the second connector 3,
Two penetrating fitting holes 43, 53 having different width dimensions to which the projecting portions 41, 51 can fit are provided. This allows
It is possible to eliminate a situation in which the first connector 1 and the second connector 3 are connected in the wrong direction. Also, at the time of proper connection of the connector, the hook at the tip of the protruding portion is mechanically hooked on the back side of the fitting hole, and the connector connection state of both connectors 1 and 3 can be maintained and held safely and reliably.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned conventional inconveniences can be satisfactorily solved or eliminated, whereby market demands such as multi-core, narrow pitch, space saving, light weight, small size and the like can be obtained. Can be supplied to the market.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a first connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the first connector of FIG. 1 upside down.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a second connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of the first connector of FIG. 3 as viewed from below.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the first connector.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the first connector turned upside down.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector connection state of a first connector and a second connector.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a single movable terminal.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fixed terminal alone.

FIG. 10 shows a state where the movable terminal according to the present embodiment is inserted and fixed.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part as viewed from the connector bottom side.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a contact relationship between a movable terminal and a fixed terminal.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a contact-related portion in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a contact-related portion when a fixed terminal is straight.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a main part showing a state before connection of a connector of a conventional connector device.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a main part of a conventional movable terminal in a state where the movable terminal is inserted and fixed, as viewed from the bottom side of the connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st connector 3 ... 2nd connector 5 ... Connector device 11, 13 ... Housing 11a ... Bending part 11b ... Housing bottom surface 11c ... Groove 11d ... Mounting surface 15 ... T-shaped through-hole 17 ... Horizontal bar-shaped through-hole 21 ... Movable Terminals 21a, 23a: Wide portion 21b: Arc-shaped portion 21c: Elastic deformation portion 21d, 23d: Projection portion 21e, 23e: Support portion 25: Insulating sheet 31, 33: Projection portion

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5E023 AA04 AA16 BB02 BB22 BB29 CC02 CC22 CC26 DD22 EE03 EE10 EE29 FF01 HH08 HH13 HH22 HH25 HH30 5E087 EE04 EE14 FF02 FF06 FF19 FF27 GG06 HR02 RR02 MM02 RR02

Claims (6)

[Claims] At least one connector is connectable to a connector.
A movable terminal and a housing having a through-hole through which the movable terminal penetrates, for electrical connection in which the elastically deformable portion on the free end side of the movable terminal can elastically deform and come into contact with the counterpart terminal when the connector is connected. In the connector of (1), the movable terminal portion located inside the through-hole engages with the through-hole, and can function as a fixed fulcrum of the elastically deforming portion. The connector comprises at least one protrusion projecting in the opposite direction to support a force in the opposite direction, and is engaged with the through hole via the protrusion. 2. At least one connector is connectable.
A fixed terminal, and a housing having a through-hole through which the fixed terminal penetrates, wherein the fixed terminal can be brought into contact with the mating terminal when the connector is connected. A connector characterized by being bent by a predetermined angle in a direction away from the side terminal, and configured to be able to alleviate an impact at least when the connector is connected. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a terminal portion extending from the through hole to the outside of the housing and extending along the housing outer wall is embedded in the housing outer wall. 4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the housing outer wall is a housing bottom surface on a housing mounting surface side, and an insulating sheet is attached to the housing bottom surface. 5. A connector for electrical connection having a plurality of terminals and a housing in which the terminals are mounted, wherein the terminals are buried in a bottom surface of the housing on the side where the housing is mounted. A connector to which a sheet is attached. 6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the terminal is embedded so as not to contact the insulating sheet.