JP2019121512A - Electrical connector and electrical connector pair - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electrical connector and an electrical connector pair in which an area occupied by an object to be attached such as a cloth or a substrate can be reduced although it is possible to conduct several signal lines.SOLUTION: In a plug-type snap button 200, a plug contact portion 240 is constituted by a first plug contact 210, a second plug contact 220, and a third plug contact 230. The plug contact portion 240 is held by a plug housing 250 in a state in which the first plug contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230 are stacked in the fitting direction such that projection areas projected in the fitting direction in which the first plug contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230 are insulated from each other and each of the contacts is fitted with the plug housing 250 and a receptacle housing have overlap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector and an electrical connector pair.

  An electrical connector pair comprising a male snap button sewn to a first conductive cloth and a female snap button sewn to a second conductive cloth as disclosed in US Pat. It has been known. By fitting the male snap button and the female snap button, the first cloth and the second cloth are conducted.

JP, 2015-135723, A

  In the above electrical connector pair, each of the male snap button and the female snap button is made of an integral member having conductivity. Thus, each of the male snap button and the female snap button can only serve electrically as a single contact. Therefore, only one signal line can be conducted in the above electrical connector pair.

  On the other hand, in order to conduct a plurality of signal lines with one electrical connector pair, each of the male snap button and the female snap button is arranged with the same number of contacts as the number of signal lines being isolated from each other It is necessary to have the following configuration. This tends to increase the footprint of the male and female snap buttons on the fabric.

  As the area of occupancy increases, the appearance of the male snap button or the female snap button may be impaired, for example, when the object to which it is attached is clothing. Also, in general, it is desirable to reduce the exclusive area as much as possible not only in the case where the object to be attached is a garment, but also in the case of a cloth, a substrate or the like other than a garment.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector and an electrical connector pair in which a proprietary area occupied by an object to be attached such as a cloth or a substrate can be suppressed although it is possible to conduct a plurality of signal lines. is there.

In order to achieve the above object, the electrical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention is
An insulating housing that mates with the mating housing provided in the mating electrical connector;
A contact portion held by the housing and in electrical contact with each of the plurality of mating contacts held by the mating housing at the mating electrical connector when the housing is fitted with the mating housing; , And
The contact portion is configured of a conductive contact provided for making electrical contact with the mating contact for each of the mating contacts,
The plurality of contacts constituting the contact portion are insulated from each other, and a plurality of projected areas obtained by projecting each of the plurality of contacts in the fitting direction in which the housing and the mating housing are fitted have an overlap. The contact portion is held by the housing in a state where the contacts are stacked in the fitting direction.

  In a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, the plurality of contacts intersect each other at the position of the imaginary central axis extending in the fitting direction in the housing and the imaginary extension axes representing the respective longitudinal directions The contact portion may be held by the housing.

  In a state in which the virtual extension axes of the plurality of contacts are arranged at equal intersection angles with respect to the circumferential direction around the virtual center axis in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, the contact portion is It may be held by the housing.

Each of the plurality of contacts has an exposed portion exposed from the housing at a portion other than a portion electrically contacting the mating contact,
An insertion hole for passing a conductive linear material may be formed in the exposed portion.

The electrical connector pair according to the second aspect of the present invention is
The electrical connector according to the first aspect described above;
The mating electrical connector fitted with the electrical connector;
In the mating electrical connector, the plurality of mating contacts are fitted such that projection areas obtained by projecting the plurality of the mating contacts from each other and projecting the plurality of mating contacts in the fitting direction have an overlap. A plurality of the mating contacts are retained in the mating housing in a stacked orientation.

  A virtual center of the housing, in which the part in electrical contact with each other and / or the other part of the at least one of the mating contacts, which is in electrical contact with the other, extends in the mating direction in the housing Due to the shape surrounding the axis, the electrical contact between the contact and the mating contact is achieved even when the housing and the mating housing fitted to each other rotate relative to each other about the virtual central axis. It may be maintained.

  According to the above configuration, since the contact portion is constituted by the plurality of contacts isolated from each other, it is possible to conduct a plurality of signal lines. In addition, since the plurality of contacts are stacked in the fitting direction so that the projection areas obtained by projecting the respective contacts in the fitting direction have an overlap, the area occupied by the object to be attached such as cloth or substrate can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The perspective view of the electrical connector pair which concerns on embodiment. Sectional drawing in the position of the AA-AA line of FIG. 1 of the electrical connector pair which concerns on embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows the manufacturing process of the receptacle type | mold snap button which concerns on embodiment. The top view of the receptacle type snap button concerning an embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows the manufacturing process of the plug-type snap button which concerns on embodiment. The top view of the plug type snap button concerning an embodiment. Sectional drawing in the position of the AA-AA line of FIG. 1 in the state which the receptacle type | mold snap button and the plug type | mold snap button fitted with the electrical connector pair which concerns on embodiment. Sectional drawing in the position of the BB-BB line of FIG. 6 in the state which the receptacle type | mold snap button and the plug type | mold snap button fitted with the electrical connector pair which concerns on embodiment. Sectional drawing of the electrical connector pair which concerns on other embodiment. Sectional drawing of the electrical connector pair which concerns on other embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an electrical connector pair according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical connector pair 300 according to this embodiment includes a receptacle type snap button 100 as a mating electrical connector and a plug type snap button 200 as an electrical connector fitted to the mating electrical connector.

  The receptacle type snap button 100 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape centering on a virtual central axis RV extending in a direction (hereinafter referred to as a fitting direction) in which the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug type snap button 200 are fitted. Have.

  Similarly, the plug-type snap button 200 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape whose central axis is an imaginary central axis PV extending in the fitting direction. The diameter of the plug snap button 200 is approximately equal to the diameter of the receptacle snap button 100. When the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug type snap button 200 are fitted, the virtual center axes RV and PV overlap on the same virtual straight line.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle type snap button 100 is attached to a conductive cloth (hereinafter referred to as a conductive cloth) CL, and the plug type snap button 200 is attached to the substrate BD. The conductive cloth CL constitutes a probe for detecting a biological signal in the wear worn by the user, and the substrate BD carries the biological signal detected by the probe on an electromagnetic wave, and an external device such as a smartphone or a personal computer Configure the transmitter to output to

  The conductive cloth CL has a structure in which a plurality of wires insulated from one another are formed by conductive fibers, and the substrate BD also has a structure on which a plurality of wires insulated from one another are printed. Specifically, in the present embodiment, each of the conductive cloth CL and the substrate BD includes three wires.

  The electrical connector pair 300 plays a role of electrically connecting each of the three wires provided in the conductive cloth CL with each of the three wires provided in the substrate BD. The electrical connector pair 300 also serves as a snap button for mechanically attaching the substrate BD as a transmitter to the conductive cloth CL as a part of the wear.

  That is, the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug type snap button 200 are fitted in the form of a snap fit, and when both are fitted, the substrate for the conductive cloth CL even if the user performs a motion such as running The mechanical and electrical connection of the BD is maintained.

  When washing clothes, etc., the user can remove the transmitter from the wear by releasing the fitting between the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug type snap button 200.

  As described above, according to the electrical connector pair 300, three signal lines can be made conductive. To that end, each of the receptacle-type snap button 100 and the plug-type snap button 200 comprises three contacts isolated from one another. Conventionally, such a configuration provided with a plurality of contacts tends to cause an increase in the area occupied by the conductive cloth CL and the substrate BD as objects to be mounted.

  Therefore, the electrical connector pair 300 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the area occupied by the object to be attached can be suppressed although it is possible to conduct three signal lines. The configuration will be specifically described below.

  First, the configuration of the receptacle type snap button 100 will be described.

  The receptacle type snap button 100 has a receptacle contact portion 140 as a mating contact portion electrically connected to each of the three wires included in the conductive cloth CL, and an insulating counterpart housing for holding the receptacle contact portion 140. And a receptacle housing 150.

  The receptacle contact portion 140 is provided by three of the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 as counterpart contacts, corresponding to the conductive cloth CL including three wires. It is configured. These three are electrically connected to the three wires included in the conductive cloth CL in a one-to-one relationship.

  The receptacle housing 150 holds the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 in a mutually insulated state.

  Only a part of the first receptacle contact 110 and the second receptacle contact 120 is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration of the receptacle type snap button 100 will be described in detail along the manufacturing process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second receptacle contact 120 is disposed above the first receptacle contact 110, and the third receptacle contact 130 is disposed above the second receptacle contact 120. Here, “upper” in FIG. 3 indicates a direction approaching the plug-type snap button 200 shown in FIG. 2 among the fitting directions parallel to the virtual center axis RV.

  A space is secured between the first receptacle contact 110 and the second receptacle contact 120 and between the second receptacle contact 120 and the third receptacle contact 130, respectively.

  As described above, the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 are supported in a stacked state with a gap in the fitting direction. In addition, about the jig used for the support, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, the stacked first receptacle contacts 110, the second receptacle contacts 120, and the third receptacle contacts 130 are accommodated in a mold (not shown), and the resin as the material of the receptacle housing 150 is injected into the mold. As a result, the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 are each partially embedded in the resin.

  Also, the resin enters the gap in the fitting direction between the first receptacle contact 110 and the second receptacle contact 120 and the gap in the fitting direction between the second receptacle contact 120 and the third receptacle contact 130, respectively. The first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 are isolated from each other.

  Next, after the resin is solidified, the mold is removed and the receptacle type snap button 100 in a state where the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 are held by the receptacle housing 150 is obtained. Complete. As described above, the receptacle type snap button 100 is manufactured through an insert molding method.

  The receptacle housing 150 thus molded has a shape that fits with the plug-type snap button 200 shown in FIG. Specifically, the receptacle housing 150 has a recess 151 for receiving the plug-type snap button 200 and a resilient contact portion 152 elastically pressed against the plug-type snap button 200 entering the recess 151.

  The resilient contact portion 152 rises around the recess 151 so as to define the recess 151, and has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. The elastic contact portion 152 has elasticity in the radial direction centering on the virtual center axis PV. In order to give the elastic contact portion 152 appropriate elasticity, the elastic contact portion 152 is formed with a plurality of slits 153 extending in parallel with the virtual central axis RV at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the virtual central axis RV There is.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the resilient contact portion 152 has a bulging portion 154 having a shape that bulges radially inward toward the virtual central axis RV. The bulge 154 is pressed radially inward against the plug-type snap button 200 and snap-fits with the plug-type snap button 200.

  Referring back to FIG. 3, the shapes of the first receptacle contacts 110, the second receptacle contacts 120, and the third receptacle contacts 130, and the relative arrangement of the receptacle housings 150 will be described in detail.

  Each of the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 has a shape in which one direction is a longitudinal direction in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction.

  The first receptacle contact 110 is disposed such that a virtual extension axis RL1 representing its longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the virtual center axis RV.

  The first receptacle contact 110 has a thin plate-like main body portion 111 extending along the imaginary extension axis line RL1, and a contact portion 112 rising upward at the longitudinal middle portion of the main body portion 111. The contact portion 112 has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. The contact portion 112 is exposed from the receptacle housing 150 to make electrical contact with the plug-type snap button 200 shown in FIG.

  The main body portion 111 has exposed portions 113 exposed from the receptacle housing 150 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The exposed portion 113 has a downwardly curved shape so as to be in contact with the conductive cloth CL shown in FIG. 2 as an attachment object. Here, in FIG. 3, “downward” indicates a direction away from the plug-type snap button 200 shown in FIG. 2 among the fitting directions parallel to the virtual central axis RV. In each exposed portion 113, an insertion hole 114 penetrating in the fitting direction is formed. The significance of the insertion hole 114 will be described later.

  The second receptacle contacts 120 are stacked above the first receptacle contacts 110 such that projection areas obtained by projecting the second receptacle contacts 120 and the first receptacle contacts 110 in the fitting direction overlap each other.

  Specifically, the second receptacle contact 120 has the virtual extension axis RL2 indicating the longitudinal direction thereof at the position of the virtual central axis RV in a plan view orthogonal to the virtual central axis RV and parallel to the fitting direction. The first receptacle contacts 110 are stacked above the first receptacle contacts 110 so as to intersect the imaginary extension axis RL1 of the first receptacle contacts 110.

  The second receptacle contact 120 has a thin plate-like main body portion 121 extending along the virtual extension axis line RL2, and a contact portion 122 rising upward at a longitudinal middle portion of the main body portion 121. The contact portion 122 has a shape surrounding the virtual central axis RV and the contact portion 112 of the first receptacle contact 110 in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. The contact portion 122 is exposed from the receptacle housing 150 for electrical contact with the plug-type snap button 200 shown in FIG.

  The main body portion 121 has exposed portions 123 exposed from the receptacle housing 150 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The exposed portion 123 has a downwardly curved shape so as to be in contact with the conductive cloth CL shown in FIG. 2 as an attachment object. In each exposed portion 123, an insertion hole 124 penetrating in the fitting direction is formed. The significance of the insertion hole 124 will be described later.

  Further, in order to stabilize the posture by suppressing the wobble with respect to receptacle housing 150, main body portion 121 intersects virtual extension axis line RL2 in plan view parallel to the fitting direction, specifically, The first receptacle contact 110 has an overhang 125 extending in a direction parallel to the imaginary extension axis RL1. The overhang portion 125 is buried in the receptacle housing 150 at the time of insert molding.

  The third receptacle contacts 130 are formed on the second receptacle contacts 120 such that projection areas obtained by projecting the third receptacle contacts 130, the second receptacle contacts 120 and the first receptacle contacts 110 in the fitting direction overlap each other. Stacked upwards.

  Specifically, in the third receptacle contact 130, the virtual extension axis RL3 representing the longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to the virtual central axis RV and at the position of the virtual central axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction The second receptacle contacts 120 are stacked above the second receptacle contacts 120 so as to intersect the imaginary extension axes RL1 of the first receptacle contacts 110 and the imaginary extension axes RL2 of the second receptacle contacts 120.

  The third receptacle contact 130 has a thin plate-like main body portion 131 extending along the virtual extension axis line RL3, and a contact portion 132 rising upward at a longitudinal middle portion of the main body portion 131. The contact portion 132 has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis RV, the contact portion 112 of the first receptacle contact 110, and the contact portion 122 of the second receptacle contact 120 in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. The contact portion 132 is exposed from the receptacle housing 150 to make electrical contact with the plug-type snap button 200 shown in FIG.

  The body portion 131 has exposed portions 133 exposed from the receptacle housing 150 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The exposed portion 133 has a downwardly curved shape so as to be in contact with the conductive cloth CL shown in FIG. 2 as an attachment object. In each exposed portion 133, an insertion hole 134 penetrating in the fitting direction is formed. The significance of the insertion hole 134 will be described later.

  Further, in order to stabilize the posture by suppressing the wobble with respect to receptacle housing 150, main body portion 131 intersects virtual extension axis line RL3 in plan view parallel to the fitting direction, specifically, An overhanging portion 135 is provided to project in a direction parallel to the imaginary extension axis line RL2 of the two receptacle contacts 120. The overhang portion 135 is buried in the receptacle housing 150 at the time of insert molding.

  As described above, in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, the projection areas obtained by projecting the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 in the fitting direction have an overlap. The receptacle contact portion 140 is held by the receptacle housing 150 with the virtual extension axes RL1, RL2 and RL3 intersecting each other at the position of the virtual center axis RV.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the virtual extension axes RL1, RL2, and RL3 have an equal crossing angle θ = 60 in the circumferential direction around the virtual central axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. It is placed at a distance of °.

  That is, the intersection angle of the imaginary extension axes RL1 and RL2, the intersection angle of the imaginary extension axes RL1 and RL3, and the intersection angle of the imaginary extension axes RL2 and RL3 are all θ = 60 °. Here, in the present specification, the crossing angle means the smaller one of the angles α and 180 ° -α formed by two straight lines crossing each other (however, in the case of α = 90 °), The crossing angle is 90 °).

  As described above, since the virtual extension axes RL1, RL2, and RL3 are disposed at equal intersection angles θ = 60 °, the insertions formed in each of the pair of exposed portions 113 of the first receptacle contacts 110 A virtual central axis line is the hole 114, the insertion hole 124 formed in each of the pair of exposed portions 123 of the second receptacle contact 120, and the insertion hole 134 formed in each of the pair of exposed portions 133 of the third receptacle contact 130. It is equally distributed in the circumferential direction around the RV.

  The insertion holes 114, 124 and 134 are used for mounting the receptacle type snap button 100. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a conductive yarn (hereinafter referred to as a conductive yarn) CT as a conductive linear material is inserted into the insertion hole 134, and the conductive yarn CT inserted into the insertion hole is used as a receptacle. The mold snap button 100 is sewn to the conductive cloth CL.

  Although only the insertion hole 134 of the insertion holes 114, 124 and 134 shown in FIG. 4 appears in FIG. 2, the conductive yarn CT is similarly inserted through the insertion holes 114 and 124, The receptacle type snap button 100 is sewn to the conductive cloth CL by the inserted conductive thread CT. Since the insertion holes 114, 124, and 134 are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the virtual center axis RV, the receptacle type snap button 100 can be stably and stably attached to the conductive cloth CL.

  The conductive yarn CT shown in FIG. 2 plays not only the role of mechanically fixing the receptacle type snap button 100 to the conductive cloth CL but also the role of electrically connecting it.

  That is, the first receptacle contact 110 is electrically connected to the wiring provided in the conductive cloth CL through the conductive yarn CT inserted into the insertion hole 114. The second receptacle contact 120 is electrically connected to the wiring of the conductive cloth CL through the conductive thread CT inserted into the insertion hole 124. The third receptacle contact 130 is electrically connected to the wiring of the conductive cloth CL through the conductive thread CT inserted into the insertion hole 134.

  Further, as described above, each of the exposed portion 113 of the first receptacle contact 110, the exposed portion 123 of the second receptacle contact 120, and the exposed portion 133 of the third receptacle contact 130 is curved downward in FIG. . For this reason, they themselves are in direct electrical contact with the wiring of the conductive cloth CL.

  Thus, each of the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 is electrically connected to the wiring of the conductive cloth CL directly and indirectly through the conductive thread CT. Ru. Therefore, the reliability of the electrical connection between the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 and the wiring is enhanced.

  Next, the configuration of the plug-type snap button 200 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the plug-type snap button 200 includes a plug housing 250 as an insulating housing fitted with the receptacle housing 150 and a plug contact portion 240 as a contact portion held by the plug housing 250. .

  The plug contact portion 240 is in electrical contact with each of the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 when the plug housing 250 is fitted with the receptacle housing 150.

  Specifically, the plug contact portion 240 electrically contacts the first plug contact 210 and the second receptacle contact 120 as conductive contacts provided to electrically contact the first receptacle contact 110. A second plug contact 220 as a conductive contact provided for the purpose, and a third plug contact 230 as a conductive contact provided for electrical contact with the third receptacle contact 130. .

  The first plug contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230 which constitute the plug contact portion 240 are electrically connected to the three wirings provided in the substrate BD in a one-to-one relationship. .

  The plug housing 250 holds the first plug contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230 in a mutually insulated state. Note that FIG. 2 shows only a part of the first plug contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230.

  The configuration of the plug-type snap button 200 will be described in detail below along the manufacturing process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the third plug contact 230 is disposed above the second plug contact 220 with a space, and the first plug contact 210 is disposed above the third plug contact 230 with a space. Be done. Here, “upper” in FIG. 5 indicates a direction approaching the receptacle type snap button 100 shown in FIG. 2 among the fitting directions parallel to the virtual central axis PV.

  In this way, the second plug contact 220, the third plug contact 230, and the first plug contact 210 are supported in a stacked state with a gap in the fitting direction. In addition, about the jig used for the support, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, the stacked second plug contacts 220, the third plug contacts 230, and the first plug contacts 210 are accommodated in a mold (not shown), and resin which is a material of the plug housing 250 is injected into the mold. As a result, the second plug contact 220, the third plug contact 230, and the first plug contact 210 are partially embedded in the resin.

  Also, the resin enters the space in the fitting direction between the second plug contact 220 and the third plug contact 230 and the space in the fitting direction between the third plug contact 230 and the first plug contact 210, respectively. The two plug contacts 220, the third plug contacts 230, and the first plug contacts 210 are isolated from each other.

  Next, after the resin is solidified, the mold is removed and the plug-type snap button 200 in a state in which the second plug contact 220, the third plug contact 230, and the first plug contact 210 are held by the plug housing 250 is obtained. Complete. As described above, the plug-type snap button 200 is manufactured through an insert molding method.

The plug housing 250 thus molded has a shape to be fitted with the receptacle type snap button 100 shown in FIG. Specifically, the plug housing 250
It has an entrance 251 for entering the recess 151 of the receptacle housing 150.

  The entry portion 251 has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis PV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. The entry portion 251 has elasticity in the radial direction centering on the virtual center axis PV. In order to provide the entry portion 251 with appropriate elasticity, the entry portion 251 is formed with a plurality of slits 252 extending in parallel with the virtual center axis PV at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the virtual center axis PV.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the radial direction about the virtual center axis PV, the entry portion 251 is in the opposite direction to the direction in which the bulging portion 154 in the receptacle housing 150 bulges, that is, the radial direction away from the virtual center axis PV It has a bulging portion 253 of an outwardly bulging shape. The bulged portion 253 bulges to a degree such that the bulged portion 253 contacts the bulged portion 154 of the receptacle housing 150 when fitted with the receptacle housing 150. When the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are fitted, the bulging portion 253 is pressed radially outward against the root of the resilient contact portion 152.

  Hereinafter, referring back to FIG. 5, the shapes of the first pluglable contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230, and the relative arrangement in the plug housing 250 will be described in detail. .

  Each of the first pluggable contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230 has a shape in which one direction is a longitudinal direction in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction.

  The second plug contact 220 is arranged such that a virtual extension axis PL2 representing its longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the virtual central axis PV.

  The second plug contacts 220 are a plurality of, specifically two, raised upwards at a thin plate-like main body portion 221 extending along the virtual extension axis PL2 and an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 221. And a contact portion 222.

  The two contact portions 222 face each other across the virtual central axis PV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. Specifically, the two contact portions 222 face in a direction parallel to an imaginary extension axis PL3 representing the longitudinal direction of the third plug contact 230. Each contact 222 is exposed from the plug housing 250 for electrical contact with the receptacle snap button 100 shown in FIG.

  The main body portion 221 has exposed portions 223 exposed from the plug housing 250 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The exposed portion 223 has a downwardly curved shape so as to contact the substrate BD shown in FIG. 2 as an attachment object. Here, in FIG. 5, “downward” indicates a direction away from the receptacle type snap button 100 shown in FIG. 2 among the fitting directions parallel to the virtual central axis PV. In each exposed portion 223, an insertion hole 224 penetrating in the fitting direction is formed. The significance of the insertion hole 224 will be described later.

  Further, in order to stabilize the posture by suppressing the wobble with respect to the plug housing 250, the main body portion 221 intersects the virtual extension axis line PL2 in plan view parallel to the fitting direction, specifically, An overhanging portion 225 overhangs in a direction parallel to the virtual extension axis PL1 of the first plug contact 210. The overhanging portion 225 is buried in the plug housing 250 at the time of insert molding.

  The third plug contacts 230 are stacked above the second plug contacts 220 such that projection areas obtained by projecting the third plug contacts 230 and the second plug contacts 220 in the fitting direction overlap each other.

  Specifically, in the third plug contact 230, the virtual extension axis PL3 representing the longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to the virtual central axis PV and at the position of the virtual central axis PV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction The second plug contacts 220 are stacked above the second plug contacts 220 so as to intersect the imaginary extension axis PL 2 of the second plug contacts 220.

  The third plug contacts 230 are a plurality of, specifically two, rising upward at a thin plate-like main body portion 231 extending along the virtual extension axis PL3 and an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 231. And a contact portion 232.

  The two contact portions 232 face each other across the virtual center axis PV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. The two contact portions 232 face each other in a direction crossing the direction in which the two contact portions 222 of the second plug contact 220 face each other, specifically, in a direction perpendicular to each other. Each contact 232 is exposed from the plug housing 250 for electrical contact with the receptacle snap button 100 shown in FIG.

  The main body portion 231 has exposed portions 233 exposed from the plug housing 250 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The exposed portion 233 has a downwardly curved shape so as to contact the substrate BD shown in FIG. 2 as an attachment object. In each exposed portion 233, an insertion hole 234 penetrating in the fitting direction is formed. The significance of the insertion hole 234 will be described later.

  Further, in order to stabilize the posture by suppressing the wobble with respect to the plug housing 250, the main body portion 231 intersects the virtual extension axis PL3 in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, specifically, It has an overhanging portion 235 projecting in a direction parallel to the virtual extension axis PL1 of the first plug contact 210. The overhanging portion 235 is buried in the plug housing 250 at the time of insert molding.

  The first plug contacts 210 are formed in the third plug contacts 230 so that projected areas obtained by projecting the first plug contacts 210, the third plug contacts 230, and the second plug contacts 220 in the fitting direction overlap each other. Stacked upwards.

  Specifically, in the first plug contact 210, the virtual extension axis PL1 representing the longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to the virtual central axis PV and at the position of the virtual central axis PV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction It is stacked above the third plug contact 230 so as to intersect the imaginary extension axis PL2 of the second plug contact 220 and the imaginary extension axis PL3 of the third plug contact 230.

  The first plug contact 210 has a thin plate-like main body portion 211 extending along the virtual extension axis PL <b> 1, and a contact portion 212 rising upward at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 211. The contact portion 212 has a bar shape extending along the virtual central axis PV. The contact portion 212 is exposed from the plug housing 250 to make electrical contact with the receptacle snap button 100 shown in FIG.

  The main body portion 211 has exposed portions 213 exposed from the plug housing 250 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The exposed portion 213 has a downwardly curved shape so as to contact the substrate BD shown in FIG. 2 as an attachment object. In each exposed portion 213, an insertion hole 214 penetrating in the fitting direction is formed. The significance of the insertion hole 214 will be described later.

  Further, in order to stabilize the posture by suppressing the wobble with respect to the plug housing 250, the main body portion 211 intersects the virtual extension axis PL1 in plan view parallel to the fitting direction, specifically, a virtual It has an overhanging portion 215 that overhangs in the direction orthogonal to the extension axis line PL1. The overhanging portion 215 is buried in the plug housing 250 at the time of insert molding.

  As described above, in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, projection areas obtained by projecting the first plug contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230 in the fitting direction have an overlap. The plug contact portion 240 is held by the plug housing 250 with the virtual extension axes PL1, PL2 and PL3 intersecting each other at the position of the virtual center axis PV.

  As shown in FIG. 6, specifically, virtual extension axes PL1, PL2, and PL3 have an equal crossing angle θ = 60 in the circumferential direction around virtual central axis PV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. It is placed at a distance of °. That is, the intersection angle of the virtual extension axes PL1 and PL2, the intersection angle of the virtual extension axes PL1 and PL3, and the intersection angle of the virtual extension axes PL2 and PL3 are all θ = 60 °.

  As described above, since the virtual extension axes PL1, PL2, and PL3 are arranged at an equal intersection angle θ = 60 °, the pair of exposed portions 213 of the first plug contact 210 and the second plug contact 220 The pair of exposed portions 223, the pair of exposed portions 233 of the third plug contact 230, and the circumferential direction around the virtual center axis PV are equally disposed.

  The exposed portions 213, 223, and 233 are used to attach the plug-type snap button 200. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the exposed portion 233 which is curved toward the substrate BD is mechanically and electrically connected to the substrate BD by the solder SL.

  Although only the exposed portion 233 of the exposed portions 213, 223, and 233 shown in FIG. 6 appears in FIG. 2, the exposed portions 213 and 223 are similarly curved toward the substrate BD. Are soldered to the substrate BD. Since the exposed portions 213, 223, and 233 are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the virtual center axis PV, the plug-type snap button 200 can be stably and stably attached to the substrate BD.

  In FIG. 6, the insertion holes 214, 224, and 234 have the meaning of making the mounting mode of the plug-type snap button 200 versatile. That is, even when the object to be mounted on the plug type snap button 200 is not the substrate BD but the conductive cloth CL described above, the insertion holes 214 and 224 are the same as in the case of the receptacle type snap button 100 shown in FIG. , And 234 can be sewn to the conductive cloth CL by the conductive thread CT.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the aspect at the time of the fitting with the plug type | mold snap button 200 and the receptacle type | mold snap button 100 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the plug-type snap button 200 and the receptacle-type snap button 100 are fitted, the entry portion 251 of the plug housing 250 enters the recess 151 of the receptacle housing 150.

  Then, the bulging portion 253 of the entry portion 251 presses the root of the resilient contact portion 152 defining the recess 151 radially outward away from the virtual central axis RV, while the bulging portion of the resilient contact portion 152 A portion 154 presses the root of the entry portion 251 radially inward toward the virtual center axis PV. As a result, the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are fitted in a snap fit manner.

  As described above, the entry portion 251 has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis PV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, and the resilient contact portion 152 also has an imaginary center axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. It has a surrounding shape. Therefore, while the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are snap-fitted, the ingress portion 251 and the resilient contact portion 152 slide in the circumferential direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the circumferential direction) around the imaginary central axes PV and RV. As such, circumferential relative rotation is possible.

  Next, an aspect of the electrical contact between the plug contact portion 240 and the receptacle contact portion 140 when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are fitted will be described.

  As described above, although the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are relatively rotatable in the circumferential direction, in FIGS. 7A and 7B, as shown in FIG. 1, as in FIG. The cross section of the electrical connector pair 300 in a state where the positions of the exposed portions 113 and 213, the exposed portions 123 and 223, and the exposed portions 133 and 233 are aligned in the circumferential direction, respectively, is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are fitted, the first receptacle contact 110 and the first plug contact 210 make electrical contact. As described above, the contact portion 112 shown in FIG. 3 of the first receptacle contact 110 has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, and is shown in FIG. 5 of the first plug contact 210 The contact portion 212 is inscribed in the contact portion 112 in a state surrounded by the contact portion 112 shown in FIG. 3 of the first receptacle contact 110.

  Therefore, when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 which are fitted to each other rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction, the electrical contact between the first receptacle contact 110 and the first plug contact 210 is maintained.

  Further, when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are fitted, the second receptacle contact 120 and the second plug contact 220 also make electrical contact. As described above, the contact portion 122 shown in FIG. 3 of the second receptacle contact 120 has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, and is shown in FIG. 5 of the second plug contact 220 The contact portion 222 is inscribed in the contact portion 122 in a state of being surrounded by the contact portion 122 shown in FIG. 3 of the second receptacle contact 120.

  Therefore, when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 which are fitted to each other rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction, the electrical contact between the second receptacle contact 120 and the second plug contact 220 is also maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are fitted, the third receptacle contact 130 and the third plug contact 230 also make electrical contact. As described above, the contact portion 132 shown in FIG. 3 of the third receptacle contact 130 has a shape surrounding the virtual center axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, and is shown in FIG. 5 of the third plug contact 230 The contact portion 232 is inscribed in the contact portion 132 in a state of being surrounded by the contact portion 132 shown in FIG. 3 of the third receptacle contact 130.

  Therefore, when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 which are fitted to each other rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction, the electrical contact between the third receptacle contact 130 and the third plug contact 230 is also maintained.

  According to the electrical connector pair 300 described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  The receptacle type snap button 100 comprises three, a first receptacle contact 110, a second receptacle contact 120, and a third receptacle contact 130, which are isolated from each other. Thus, the receptacle type snap button 100 can conduct three signal lines. In addition, the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 are stacked in the fitting direction such that projection areas projected in the fitting direction have an overlap. Therefore, for example, the receptacle type snap button 100 occupies the conductive cloth CL as compared to the case where the first receptacle contact 110, the second receptacle contact 120, and the third receptacle contact 130 are arranged in the in-plane direction of the conductive cloth CL. The exclusive area can be reduced.

  The plug-type snap button 200 includes three, a first plug contact 210, a second plug contact 220, and a third plug contact 230, which are isolated from each other. For this reason, the plug-type snap button 200 can conduct three signal lines. In addition, the first plug contacts 210, the second plug contacts 220, and the third plug contacts 230 are stacked in the fitting direction such that projection areas obtained by projecting the respective ones in the fitting direction have an overlap. Therefore, for example, as compared with the case where the first plug contact 210, the second plug contact 220, and the third plug contact 230 are arranged in the in-plane direction of the substrate BD, the exclusive area occupied by the plug snap button 200 on the substrate BD Can be reduced.

  According to the electrical connector pair 300, since three wires can be conducted, when the number of wires connecting the wear and the transmitter is sufficient, mechanical and electrical connection between the wear and the transmitter can be obtained. , One electrical connector pair 300 can also be responsible. For this reason, compared with the technique of Patent Document 1 in which three electrical connectors are required in this case, attachment and detachment of the transmitter to the wear can be performed quickly and easily. However, multiple electrical connector pairs 300 may be used to connect the wear to the transmitter, such as to enhance the mechanical connection of the transmitter to the wear.

  The electrical contact between the receptacle contact portion 140 and the plug contact portion 240 is maintained even when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 which are fitted to each other relatively rotate in the circumferential direction. For this reason, even when the user wearing the wear constituted by the conductive cloth CL exercises intensely, the continuity between the probe and the transmitter is unlikely to be cut off.

  Moreover, when fitting the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug type snap button 200, the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug type snap button 200 are fitted because it is not necessary to align the circumferential positions of the two. It is easy to perform the matching operation.

  Since the receptacle type snap button 100 has the insertion holes 114, 124 and 134, it can be attached to the conductive cloth CL by sewing using the conductive thread CT. The receptacle-type snap button 100 can be sewn by an automatic sewing machine used for sewing a ready-made snap button by aligning the external dimensions of the receptacle-type snap button 100 with the outline of the ready-made snap button it can.

  In the present embodiment, the plug-type snap button 200 is attached to the substrate BD, but since the plug-type snap button 200 also has the insertion holes 214, 224, and 234, the plug-type snap button 200 is attached It can also be attached. By aligning the external dimensions of the plug-type snap button 200 with the external shape of the ready-made snap button, it is possible to use an off-the-shelf automatic sewing machine.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the modifications described below are also possible.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle type snap button 100 is attached to the conductive cloth CL and the plug type snap button 200 is attached to the substrate BD. However, the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug There are no particular limitations on the mounting object to which the mold snap button 200 is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the plug type snap button 200 can be attached to the conductive cloth CL by the conductive thread CT, and as shown in FIG. 8B, the receptacle type snap button 100 can be attached to the substrate BD by the solder SL. .

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the contact portions 112, 122, and 132 are shaped so as to surround the virtual central axis RV in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction. At least one of portions 112 and 212 is shaped to surround virtual central axis RV or PV in plan view, and at least one of contact portions 122 and 222 is shaped to surround virtual central axis RV or PV in plan view, contact If at least one of the portions 132 and 232 is shaped so as to surround the virtual central axis RV or PV in plan view, the receptacle contact portion 140 and the plug may be rotated even when the plug housing 250 and the receptacle housing 150 are relatively rotated in the circumferential direction. Electrical contact with the contact portion 240 can be maintained.

  In the above embodiment, the number of contacts provided in each of the receptacle type snap button 100 and the plug type snap button 200 is three, but may be two or four or more. The number of contacts provided in each of receptacle-type snap button 100 and plug-type snap button 200 can be arbitrarily designed according to the number of wires conducted by electrical connector pair 300.

  The present invention is capable of various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. The above embodiments are for explaining the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is indicated not by the embodiments but by the claims. Various modifications that are made within the scope of the claims and the equivalents of the invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

100 ... receptacle type snap button (other electrical connector),
110: First receptacle contact (other contact),
111, 121, 131 ... main body,
112, 122, 132 ... contacts (electrically contacting parts),
113, 123, 133 ... exposed portion,
114, 124, 134 ... insertion holes,
120 ... 2nd receptacle contact (other contact),
125, 135 ... overhangs,
130 ... 3rd receptacle contact (other contact),
140 ... receptacle contact portion (other contact portion),
150 ... receptacle housing (other housing),
151: Recess,
152: Elastic contact,
153 ... slit,
154 bulging part,
200 ... plug type snap button (electrical connector),
210 ... first plug contact (contact),
211, 221, 231 ... main part,
212, 222, 232 ... contacts (electrically contacting parts),
213, 223, 233 ... exposed portion,
214, 224, 234 ... insertion holes,
215, 225, 235 ... overhang portion,
220 ... second plug contact (contact),
230 ... third plug contact (contact),
240 ... plug contact portion (contact portion),
250 ... plug housing (housing),
251 ... entry point,
252 ... slit,
253 ... bulging part,
300 ... electrical connector pair,
RV, PV ... virtual central axis,
RL1, RL2, RL3, PL1, PL2, PL3 ... virtual extension axis,
CL ... Conductive cloth (attachment object),
CT ... conductive yarn (conductive linear material),
BD ... board (mounting target),
SL ... Solder.

Claims (6)

An insulating housing that mates with the mating housing provided in the mating electrical connector;
A contact portion held by the housing and in electrical contact with each of the plurality of mating contacts held by the mating housing at the mating electrical connector when the housing is fitted with the mating housing; , And
The contact portion is configured of a conductive contact provided for making electrical contact with the mating contact for each of the mating contacts,
The plurality of contacts constituting the contact portion are insulated from each other, and a plurality of projected areas obtained by projecting each of the plurality of contacts in the fitting direction in which the housing and the mating housing are fitted have an overlap. The contact portion is held by the housing in a state where the contacts are stacked in the fitting direction,
Electrical connector. In a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, the plurality of contacts intersect each other at the position of the imaginary central axis extending in the fitting direction in the housing and the imaginary extension axes representing the respective longitudinal directions And the contact portion is held by the housing,
The electrical connector according to claim 1. In a state in which the virtual extension axes of the plurality of contacts are arranged at equal intersection angles with respect to the circumferential direction around the virtual center axis in a plan view parallel to the fitting direction, the contact portion is Held in the housing,
The electrical connector according to claim 2. Each of the plurality of contacts has an exposed portion exposed from the housing at a portion other than a portion electrically contacting the mating contact,
In the exposed portion, a through hole for passing a conductive linear material is formed.
The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An electrical connector according to claim 1;
The mating electrical connector fitted with the electrical connector;
In the mating electrical connector, the plurality of mating contacts are fitted such that projection areas obtained by projecting the plurality of the mating contacts from each other and projecting the plurality of mating contacts in the fitting direction have an overlap. A plurality of said mating contacts being held in said mating housing, stacked in a direction;
Electrical connector pair. A virtual center of the housing, in which the part in electrical contact with each other and / or the other part of the at least one of the mating contacts that is in electrical contact with the other extends in the mating direction in the housing in a plan view parallel to the mating direction Due to the shape surrounding the axis, the electrical contact between the contact and the mating contact is achieved even when the housing and the mating housing fitted to each other rotate relative to each other about the virtual central axis. Maintained,
The electrical connector pair according to claim 5.