JP2014026812A - Connection member and connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector having a support member which can support a connector body so as to be movable in a predetermined plane, even if the size is small.SOLUTION: A connector 10 comprises: a connector body 20; and a mounting member 60 for mounting the connector body 20 on a substrate 100 so as to be movable in a predetermined plane (XY plane). The mounting member 60 comprises a support member 70 having a region (first region) moving together with the connector body 20 in the predetermined plane, a region (second region) moving together with the substrate 100 in the predetermined plane, and a spring connecting them. The spring is formed by winding a strip metal so as to intersect the predetermined plane.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection member that is attached to an object such as a panel and fits with a mating member, and more particularly, to a connector that is attached to an object such as a board and fits with a mating connector.

  When a connector fixed to an object such as a board is mated with a mating connector, a large load may be applied to the mating site due to misalignment or the like. In order to avoid such a problem, a connector having a structure that can be attached so as to be relatively displaceable with respect to an object is required.

  As a connector attached so that relative displacement with respect to a target object is possible, there exists a thing indicated by patent documents 1, for example. As shown in FIG. 9, the connector of Patent Document 1 uses a drum-shaped spring ring having an elastic force in the radial direction, and fixes a screw inserted into the spring ring to an object (support metal fitting). By bringing the outermost peripheral portion in the radial direction of the ring into contact with the connector housing, the connector main body can be displaced in a plane parallel to the object (support metal fitting).

No. 7-27578

  However, the spring ring of Patent Document 1 must have a certain size in structure, and may not function when configured to be a small size. That is, there is a possibility that a problem that the spring ring cannot be reduced with the miniaturization of the whole connector.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a support member that can support a connector main body so as to be movable within a predetermined plane even if the size is small.

The present invention provides the first connecting member as
A connecting member comprising a main body and an attachment member for attaching the main body to an object so that the main body is movable within a predetermined plane,
The attachment member includes a first part that moves together with the main body in the predetermined plane, a second part that moves together with the object in the predetermined plane, and a spring that connects the first part and the second part. A support member having a portion,
The spring portion provides a connection member formed by winding a band-shaped metal around the direction intersecting the predetermined plane.

The present invention is the first connecting member as the second connecting member,
The spring portion provides a connection member formed by winding a direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane as an axis.

The present invention is the first or second connection member as the third connection member,
The strip-shaped metal constituting the spring portion provides a connection member that is orthogonal to the predetermined plane.

The present invention is any one of the first to third connection members as the fourth connection member,
The support member provides a connection member obtained by processing a single metal plate.

The present invention is the first to fourth connection member as the fifth connection member,
The attachment member provides a connection member further including a shaft member that passes through a hole provided in the object and moves the second part of the support member together with the object in the predetermined plane.

The present invention is a fifth connecting member as the sixth connecting member,
The second member has a cylindrical shape,
The shaft member provides a connection member that is inserted and held in the cylindrical second member.

The present invention is the fifth or sixth connection member as the seventh connection member,
The shaft member comprises a bolt and a nut,
A distance from the head of the bolt to the nut provides a connection member that is larger than the sum of the size of the portion of the main body portion to which the attachment member is attached and the size of the object in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined plane. To do.

The present invention provides the first connector as any one of the first to seventh connection members,
The main body of the connection member is a connector main body,
The connector main body includes a plurality of contacts, a housing that holds the contacts, and a shell that at least partially covers the housing,
The housing is formed with an accommodating portion for accommodating the support member,
The first portion provides a connector that is pressed against the inner wall of the housing portion by the elasticity of the support member itself, and is thus movable with the housing.

The present invention is the first connector as the second connector,
In the direction orthogonal to the predetermined plane, a connector is provided in which the size of the inner wall of the housing portion is larger than the size of the spring portion.

The present invention is the first or second connector as the third connector,
The housing has a flange portion formed with the accommodating portion,
The shell has a flange cover that at least partially covers the flange portion;
The flange cover is provided with a connector in which a hole smaller than a cross-sectional size in the predetermined plane of the housing portion is formed.

  According to the present invention, a support member having a spring portion formed by winding a band-shaped metal in the flatwise direction (that is, winding in a spring shape) is used. With the support member having such a structure, even if the size is reduced, for example, an appropriate spring property can be ensured by increasing the number of turns and the like, which can contribute to downsizing of the entire connection member. On the other hand, when the size of the support member may be large, for example, an appropriate spring property can be ensured as a bending piece of less than one turn. That is, the support member of the present invention can correspond to connection members of various sizes.

It is a perspective view which shows the connector by embodiment of this invention. The connector main body portion of the illustrated connector is attached to a substrate (object) by an attachment member. It is a perspective view which shows the connector of FIG. The illustrated connector main body is not yet attached to the substrate (object). It is a perspective view which shows the connector of FIG. In the illustrated connector, shaft members (bolts and nuts) included in the mounting member are omitted. It is a perspective view which shows the connector of FIG. In the illustrated connector, the shell included in the connector main body is further omitted. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment member vicinity of the connector of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the attachment member of the connector of FIG. It is a top view which shows the supporting member contained in the attachment member of FIG. It is an expanded view of the supporting member of FIG. It is a figure which shows the support structure of the connector of patent document 1. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a connector body 20 and a board (target) so that the connector body 20 can move within a predetermined plane (XY plane). The mounting member 60 which attaches the connector main-body part 20 with respect to 100) is provided. The illustrated connector 10 is a receptacle connector, but the present invention is also applicable to a plug connector.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector body 20 includes a plurality of conductive contacts 30, a housing 40 made of an insulator that holds the contacts 30, and a shell made of metal that partially covers the housing 40. 50. In the present embodiment, a part of the shell 50 and the contact 30 are fixed to an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) 200. In other words, the connector main body 20 is fixed to the FPC 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connector main body 20 may be mounted and fixed on a board other than the board 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the plurality of contacts 30 are divided into two rows, and the contacts 30 in each row are arranged in the pitch direction (X direction). The two rows of contacts 30 are arranged so as to be symmetrical (back to back) in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the pitch direction (X direction).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the housing 40 has flange portions 42 that project outward from both ends in the pitch direction (X direction). As shown in FIG. 5, the flange portion 42 includes an accommodation portion 44, an accommodation portion 44, and a flange portion that are circular holes recessed downward (−Z direction) from the upper surface (+ Z surface) of the flange portion 42. A communication hole 48 communicating with the lower surface (-Z surface) of 42 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the communication hole 48 has a larger diameter than the hole 110 formed in the substrate 100.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, since the diameter of the accommodating portion 44 is larger than the diameter of the communication hole 48, the boundary portion between the accommodating portion 44 and the communication hole 48 has the accommodating portion 44. There is a step formed at the bottom 46. In other words, the bottom 46 has a flat ring shape (annular or washer shape). The accommodating portion 44 and the communication hole 48 are planes (XZ plane) defined by the pitch direction (X direction) and the vertical direction (Z direction) and pass through the center of the accommodating portion 44 and the communication hole 48. Inside, a space having an upside-down convex cross section is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the shell 50 has a flange cover 52 that partially covers the flange portion 42. A circular opening 54 is formed in the flange cover 52. However, the size of the opening 54 is smaller than the cross-sectional size in the predetermined plane (XY plane) of the accommodating part 44. In other words, the opening 54 is located radially inward from the inner wall 45 (the portion from the upper surface of the flange portion 42 to the bottom 46 of the housing portion 44) of the housing portion 44, and the upper end (+ Z side end) of the inner wall 45. Part) is hidden behind the flange cover 52 and cannot be visually recognized. In particular, in the present embodiment, the diameter of the opening 54 is smaller than the inner diameter of the bottom 46 (that is, the diameter of the communication hole 48).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the attachment member 60 includes a support member 70 and a shaft member 80. Among these, the shaft member 80 according to the present embodiment includes a bolt 82 and a nut 84. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shaft member 80 may be, for example, a screw of another shape or a pin as long as it has a shaft extending in the vertical direction (Z direction). May be.

  As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the support member 70 is obtained by processing a single metal plate, and the first member 72 that moves together with the connector body 20 and the hole 110 of the substrate 100. And a second portion 74 held in the hole 110, and a spring portion 76 that connects the first portion 72 and the second portion 74.

  As best shown in FIG. 7, the first portion 72 has a cylindrical shape. As best shown in FIG. 5, the first portion 72 is placed on the bottom portion 46 of the housing portion 44 and is formed on the flange portion 42 of the housing 40 by its own elastic force. The first portion 72 and the housing 40 (that is, the connector main body portion 20) are moved together in a predetermined plane (XY plane) by being pressed against the inner wall 45. More specifically, the first portion 72 is rotatable in the housing portion 44, but is always kept in contact with the inner wall 45 of the housing portion 44. Accordingly, for example, the housing portion 44 and the support member are maintained. When the 70 axis is taken as a reference, the first portion 72 is relatively fixed to the inner wall 45 of the housing portion 44.

  As best shown in FIG. 7, the second portion 74 also has a cylindrical shape. However, the diameter of the second part 74 is smaller than the diameter of the first part 72. The diameter of the illustrated second portion 74 is about half of the diameter of the first portion 72. The outer diameter of the second portion 74 corresponds to the diameter of the hole 110 of the substrate 100, and the second portion 74 is inserted into the hole 110. For this reason, the 2nd site | part 74 will move with the board | substrate 100 within a predetermined plane (XY plane). More specifically, the second portion 74 is rotatable, but cannot move relative to the hole 110 within a predetermined plane (XY plane), and therefore, the second portion 74 is viewed with reference to the axial center of the second portion 74. In this case, the second portion 74 is fixed relative to the hole 110.

  The inner diameter of the second part 74 corresponds to the diameter (pin diameter) of the bolt 82, and the bolt 82 is inserted into the second part 74. In the case of the structure according to the present embodiment, the diameter of the bolt 82 may be configured to be smaller than the diameter of the second portion 74, but in order to suppress rattling of the bolt 82 and the nut 84, the present embodiment As described above, it is preferable to make the inner diameter of the second portion 74 correspond to the diameter (pin diameter) of the bolt 82.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the shaft member 80 is fixed to the second portion 74 by sandwiching the second portion 74 between the head 82 a of the bolt 82 and the nut 84. Thus, the distance between the head 82a of the bolt 82 and the nut 84 in the vertical direction (Z direction) orthogonal to the predetermined plane (XY plane) is determined by the size of the second portion 74 in the vertical direction (Z direction). . However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the size of the second portion 74 in the vertical direction (Z direction) is reduced and the size of the hole 110 of the substrate 100 is adjusted to the bolt 82. The second member 74 may be fixed to the second member 74 by sandwiching the second member 74 between the upper surface (+ Z surface) of the substrate 100 and the head 82a of the bolt 82.

  The communication hole 48 has a size larger than that of the second portion 74 in a predetermined plane (XY plane). That is, the diameter of the communication hole 48 is larger than the diameter of the second portion 74. As a result, a space for moving the housing 40 (and thus the connector main body 20) in a predetermined plane (XY plane) is secured.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the distance between the head 82 a of the bolt 82 and the nut 84 in the vertical direction (Z direction) orthogonal to the predetermined plane (XY plane) is It is larger than the sum of the sizes of the flange portion 42, the flange cover 52 of the shell 50, and the substrate 100 in the vertical direction (Z direction), and therefore the connector main body portion 20 moves slightly in the vertical direction (Z direction). Since it is possible, it can move smoothly in a predetermined plane (XY plane). In the illustrated connector 10, a gap is provided between the head 82 a of the bolt 82 and the flange cover 52 of the shell 50, and a gap is also provided between the nut 84 and the lower surface (−Z surface) of the substrate 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the head 82a of the bolt 82 and the shell 50 can be used as long as the connector body 20 can be smoothly moved in a predetermined plane (XY plane). A gap may be provided only between one of the flange cover 52 and the nut 84 and the lower surface (−Z surface) of the substrate 100.

  As understood from FIGS. 5 to 7, the spring portion 76 is formed by winding a band-shaped metal in a flatwise direction so as to intersect a predetermined plane (XY plane) or winding it in a spring shape. . The spring portion 76 according to the present embodiment is orthogonal to a predetermined plane (XY plane), and the winding axis of the spring portion 76 is in the vertical direction (Z direction), that is, the direction orthogonal to the predetermined plane (XY plane). It extends.

  The number of turns of the spring portion 76 shown in the drawing is less than one turn, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of turns of the spring portion 76 is increased to a plurality of times as long as the spring force can be secured. Or may be reduced to 1/2 volume or less. However, in order to properly return the relative positional relationship between the second part 74 and the first part 72 to the initial state when the load on the first part 72 or the second part 74 is removed, the number of turns of the spring portion 76 is set to It is preferable that it is 3/4 or more. In other words, the spring portion 76 according to the present embodiment appropriately sets the relative positional relationship between the second part 74 and the first part 72 to the initial state when the load on the first part 72 or the second part 74 is removed. Can be returned. Therefore, for example, when a force (load) that moves the connector body 20 in a predetermined plane (XY plane) is applied to the connector body 20, the connector body is removed when the force (load) is removed. 20 can return to the initial position.

  As can be understood from FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the spring portion 76 has the same size as the first portion 72 in the vertical direction (Z direction). As best shown in FIG. 5, the size of the spring portion 76 in the vertical direction (Z direction) is smaller than the size (height) of the inner wall 45 of the housing portion 44. For this reason, the spring portion 76 is located away from the flange cover 52 of the shell 50 in a state where the first portion 72 is placed on the bottom portion 46 of the accommodating portion 44. Thereby, the possibility that the situation where the spring part 76 cannot contact the flange cover 52 of the shell 50 and cannot exhibit spring property can be reduced.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the first portion 72 and the second portion 74 are cylindrical, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first portion 72 may be, for example, a rectangular tube according to the inner wall 45 of the housing portion 44, and similarly, the second portion 74 may be a rectangular tube according to the shaft member 80.

  Moreover, although the 1st site | part 72 pressed against the inner wall 45, for example, a slit etc. may be formed in the wall of the accommodating part 44, and it may be inserted and fixed there.

  Further, for example, the second portion 74 may be held and fixed to the shaft member 80 as a small piece, or the second portion 74 of the support member 70 may be directly fixed to the substrate 100 without the shaft member 80. It's also good.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described in the case of using a connector or a board, the present invention is not limited to the connector or the board, and a connection member is attached to an object such as a panel. You may apply to the general connection member with the other party to fit.

10 Connector (connection member)
20 Connector body (main body)
30 contacts 40 housing 42 flange portion 44 accommodating portion 45 inner wall 46 bottom portion 48 communication hole 50 shell 52 flange cover 54 opening portion 60 mounting member 70 support member 72 first portion 74 second portion 76 spring portion 80 shaft member 82 bolt 82a head 84 Nut 100 Substrate (object)
110 holes 200 FPC

Claims (10)

A connecting member comprising a main body and an attachment member for attaching the main body to an object so that the main body is movable within a predetermined plane,
The attachment member includes a first part that moves together with the main body in the predetermined plane, a second part that moves together with the object in the predetermined plane, and a spring that connects the first part and the second part. A support member having a portion,
The spring part is a connection member formed by winding a band-shaped metal around the direction intersecting the predetermined plane. The connection member according to claim 1,
The spring member is a connection member formed by winding around a direction orthogonal to the predetermined plane. The connection member according to claim 1 or 2,
The band-shaped metal constituting the spring portion is a connection member that is orthogonal to the predetermined plane. The connection member according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The support member is a connection member obtained by processing a single metal plate. The connection member according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The attachment member further includes a shaft member that passes through a hole provided in the object and moves the second portion of the support member together with the object in the predetermined plane. The connection member according to claim 5,
The second member has a cylindrical shape,
The shaft member is a connection member inserted and held in the cylindrical second member. The connection member according to claim 5 or 6,
The shaft member comprises a bolt and a nut,
The distance from the bolt head to the nut is a connecting member that is larger than the sum of the size in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane and the size of the object at the portion of the main body to which the mounting member is mounted. The connection member according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The main body of the connection member is a connector main body,
The connector main body includes a plurality of contacts, a housing that holds the contacts, and a shell that at least partially covers the housing,
The housing is formed with an accommodating portion for accommodating the support member,
The first portion is a connector that is pressed against the inner wall of the housing portion by the elasticity of the support member itself, and is thus movable together with the housing. The connector according to claim 8, wherein
In the direction orthogonal to the predetermined plane, the size of the inner wall of the housing portion is larger than the size of the spring portion. The connector according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
The housing has a flange portion formed with the accommodating portion,
The shell has a flange cover that at least partially covers the flange portion;
The connector in which the hole smaller than the cross-sectional size in the said predetermined plane of the said accommodating part is formed in the said flange cover.

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