JP2021180100A - Connector having stationary housing and movable housing - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve drawbacks of a conventional connector such that since a movable housing is substantially supported by a stationary housing only with a terminal, the terminal is severely deteriorated and the terminal has insufficient durability with respect to large impact or vibration.SOLUTION: A connector includes a stationary housing, a movable housing having an insertion space into which at least a part of a mating terminal is inserted, and a terminal. The terminal has a stationary part fixed to the stationary housing, and a connection part at least partially arranged in the insertion space when the movable housing is mounted on the stationary housing in a state of being movable to the stationary housing, and capable of being connected with at least a part of the mating terminal inserted into the insertion space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a connector with a fixed housing and a movable housing.

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional connector of the above type.
In this conventional connector, a movable housing is held on one end side of the terminal and a fixed housing is held on the other end side of the terminal, and the movable housing can be moved with respect to the fixed housing by elastic deformation of the terminal. It has become.
This movement of the movable housing relative to the fixed housing helps to allow misalignment with the mating connector due to vibration or impact when connected to the mating connector.

Patent No. 5606588

In the above-mentioned conventional configuration, since the movable housing is substantially supported by the fixed housing only by the terminals, there is a problem that a large load is easily applied to the terminals and the proof stress of the terminals against a large impact or vibration is not sufficient. rice field.
An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In order to solve the above problems, the connector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a fixed housing, a movable housing having an insertion space into which at least a part of the mating terminal is inserted, and a terminal, and the terminal is the terminal. A fixing portion fixed to the fixed housing and a connecting portion in which at least a part of the movable housing is positioned in the insertion space when the movable housing is placed on the fixed housing in a movable state with respect to the fixed housing. It is characterized by having the connection portion which can be connected to at least a part of the mating terminal inserted into the insertion space.
According to the connector of this aspect, since the movable housing is only mounted on the mounting surface of the fixed housing and is not supported by the terminals, the terminals are not heavily loaded, and therefore the terminals are deteriorated. Can be reduced. Further, even in this case, since the movable housing is in a slidable state on the mounting surface of the fixed housing, the position shift between the movable housing and the mating connector due to vibration or impact when connected to the mating connector is caused. It can also be tolerated.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional connector.

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of a connector according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a bottom perspective view of the connector according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a connector according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the connector by one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the state after attaching a fixing metal fitting and a terminal to a fixed housing, and before attaching a movable housing. It is a perspective view of each terminal. It is a side view of each terminal. It is a front view of each terminal. It is a perspective view of a movable housing. It is a side view of a movable housing. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. It is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11, and is the figure which showed the same state as FIG.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the materials, sizes, shapes, relative positions of the components, etc. described in the following embodiments are arbitrary and can be changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied or various conditions. Further, unless otherwise specified, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described below.

1 to 3 are an upper perspective view, a bottom perspective view, and a plan view of the connector 1 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively, and FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the connector 1. ..

The connector 1 includes a fixed housing 2, a movable housing 4, a terminal 6, and a fixing bracket 8. The connector 1 can be connected to a mating connector (not shown). At the time of connection, at least a part of the mating terminal of the mating connector is inserted into the insertion space 40 of the movable housing 4 in the insertion direction "α" along the "α1" direction, and at least a part of the terminal 6 positioned in the insertion space 40. Is electrically connected to. The mating terminal is also removed from the insertion space 40 in the direction opposite to "α1", i.e., in the "α2" direction. Since "α2" is along the "α1" direction, in this case, the insertion direction "α" is also the removal direction. The movable housing 4, the terminal 6, and the fixing bracket 8 are all along the insertion direction "α" from the insertion side "m" (see FIG. 4) of the mating terminal to the opposite side "n", that is, the fixed housing. It is mounted facing the side of 2. Therefore, these series of operations can be continuously performed, and therefore, the assembly work of the connector 1 can be facilitated.

The connector 1 is usually used in a state of being attached to a substrate or a housing (not shown). The attachment to the board or the like can be performed through the fixing bracket 8 attached to the fixing housing 2. The fixing bracket 8 includes a base 80 and a screwing portion 82, and the fixing metal fitting 8 forms a substantially L-shape in side view as a whole. Press-fitting projections 80a projecting outward are provided on both sides of the base 80, respectively. On the other hand, recessed grooves 26a are provided on both sides of the outer peripheral surface 26 of the fixed housing 2. By press-fitting the base 80 into the groove 26a along the "α1" direction, the fixing bracket 8 is fixed to the fixing housing 2 by using the press-fitting projection 80a. Further, the screwed portion 82 of the fixing bracket 8 is positioned along the substrate surface, and the screw is hooked on the semicircular notch 82a provided in the screwed portion 82 with a part of the screw (not shown). By screwing the connector 1 to the substrate, the connector 1 can be attached to the substrate or a housing (not shown) through the fixing bracket 8.

FIG. 5 shows a state after the fixing bracket 8 and the terminal 6 are attached to the fixed housing 2 and before the movable housing 4 is attached, by the same perspective view as in FIG. Further, FIGS. 6 to 8 show a perspective view, a side view, and a front view of each terminal 6, respectively.

In this embodiment, a total of three terminals 6 are provided. Of course, the number of terminals 6 is not limited to this. For example, it may be less than three or more. The arrangement direction “γ” of the terminals 6 coincides with the longitudinal direction “γ” of the fixed housing 2.

Each terminal 6 has a base (corresponding to the "fixed portion" in the claims) 64 and one end of the base 64 along the short direction "β" orthogonal to both the insertion direction "α" and the longitudinal direction "γ". It includes a substrate fixing portion 66 provided on the side, and a curved portion 68 and a connecting portion 62 provided on the other end side of the base portion 64. The base portion 64 and the substrate fixing portion 66 on one end side are used in a fixed state. On the other hand, the curved portion 68 and the connecting portion 62 on the other end side are supported in a cantilever shape and are used in a state of being elastically deformable so as to allow a positional deviation from the mating terminal.

The base portion 64 is a portion fixed to the fixed housing 2. Similar to the base 80 of the fixing bracket 8, each of both side portions has a press-fitting projection 64a projecting outward. A concave groove 25a is provided on the inner peripheral surface 25 of the fixed housing 2, particularly on the inner surface on one side along the longitudinal direction “γ”. By press-fitting the base portion 64 of each terminal 6 into each groove 25a along the insertion direction "α", each terminal 6 is fixed to the fixed housing 2 by using the press-fitting projection 64a.

The substrate fixing portion 66 is a portion forming a substantially L-shape in a side view with the base portion 64, and is positioned along the substrate surface when the base portion 64 is press-fitted into the groove 25a. The board fixing portion 66 is fixed to the board by using solder or the like.

The connecting portion 62 includes two branch pieces 621 and one straight piece 622 connected in the connecting portion 60. The branch piece 621 and the straight piece 622 each form a "<" shape in the side view, and the mating terminal inserted into the insertion space 40 between the convex portions formed by the pieces 621 and 622, respectively. It constitutes a contact 62a that elastically sandwiches at least a part of the contact.

The curved portion 68 is a portion connecting between the base portion 64 and the connecting portion 62, and imparts elasticity to the connecting portion 62. By providing the curved portion 68, it is possible to allow a positional deviation between the connector and the mating connector due to vibration or impact when the connector is connected to the mating connector. The curved portion 68 includes a first U-shaped portion 681, an inverted U-shaped portion 682, and a second U-shaped portion 683 in this order. By providing these a plurality of portions, it is possible to effectively tolerate the positional deviation in the lateral direction "β".

9 and 10 show a perspective view and a side view of the movable housing 4, respectively.
The movable housing 4 is provided corresponding to each terminal 6, and here, a total of three movable housings 4 are provided. Each movable housing 4 has a substantially rectangular shape that is vertically long as a whole, and has an insertion space 40 in a direction along the insertion direction “α”. At least a part of the mating terminal can be inserted into and removed from the insertion space 40 through the insertion port 41. In order to facilitate the insertion of the mating terminal, the insertion port 41 is provided with a taper 41a that tapers from the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal toward the opposite side "n". The movable housing 4 is provided in a state of penetrating in the insertion direction "α" through the insertion space 40. However, it does not necessarily have to penetrate in the insertion direction "α", and it is sufficient if each terminal 6 is provided so as to be connectable to the mating terminal. For example, each terminal 6 may be guided to the insertion space 40 by providing a through hole along the direction intersecting the insertion direction “α”.

A window 44a communicating with the insertion space 40 is provided on at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the movable housing 4, for example, the front surface 44, and a window 45a communicating with the insertion space 40 is provided on the back surface 45 facing the insertion space 40. It is provided. These windows 44a and 45a communicate with the insertion space 40, respectively. These windows 44a and 45a prevent the terminal 6 located in the insertion space 40 from colliding with the connection portion 62.

The outer side of the front surface 44, which protrudes outward toward one side (front side) in the lateral direction "β" on the side "n" opposite to the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal from the window 44a. Similarly, the protrusion 441 is located on the back surface 45 on the side "n" opposite to the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal from the window 45a, and on the other side (rear side) in the lateral direction "β". Externally projecting portions 451 that project outward toward the outside are provided respectively.

By utilizing a part of the outer peripheral surface of the movable housing 4, the outward protrusion 441 partially forms a plate body constituting the left and right side surfaces 46A and 46B of the movable housing 4, respectively. It is configured by using it. On the insertion side of the mating terminal of the outward protrusion 441, a regulation surface 441a spanned along the longitudinal direction "γ" is further formed so as to straddle these plates. Further, the bottommost plate surface 46a of each plate body constituting the side surfaces 46A and 46B is a mounting surface mounted on a predetermined portion of the fixed housing 2 when the movable housing 4 is attached to the fixed housing 2. Functions as. A taper 46b is formed on the bottom side of the one-sided end of the outward protrusion 441. By providing the taper 46b, it is possible to facilitate the attachment of the movable housing 4 to the fixed housing 2.

On the other hand, the outward protrusion 451 does not utilize the outer peripheral surface of the movable housing 4, and more specifically, is configured separately from the plate body constituting the back surface 45 on the other side of the movable housing 4. There is. The outward protrusion 451 is located on the back surface 45 in the vicinity of the central position in the longitudinal direction “γ”. A regulation surface 451a extending in the longitudinal direction "γ" is formed on the insertion side of the mating terminal of the outward protrusion 451. Further, the bottommost plate surface 45b of the plate body constituting the back surface 45 functions as a mounting surface to be mounted on a predetermined portion of the fixed housing 2 when the movable housing 4 is attached to the fixed housing 2. At the other end of the outward protrusion 451, a taper 45c is formed on the bottom side thereof. By providing the taper 45c, it is possible to facilitate the attachment of the movable housing 4 to the fixed housing 2.

11 to 13 show cross-sectional views taken along the line AA, BB, and CC of FIG. 3, respectively. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 and shows the same state as in FIG.

The number of movable housings 4 corresponding to the terminals 6 is the same as the number of terminals 6, and here, a total of three are provided. The arrangement direction "γ" of the movable housing 4 coincides with the longitudinal direction "γ" of the fixed housing 2 as in the arrangement direction of the terminals 6. In other words, at each terminal 6, the lateral direction "β" passing through the base portion 64, the substrate fixing portion 66, the curved portion 68, and the connecting portion 62 intersects the arrangement direction "γ" of the movable housing 4, and therefore. Even if the curved portion 68 and the connecting portion 62 are displaced, the adjacent movable housings 4 do not collide with each other.

The fixed housing 2 has a storage space 20 having a substantially concave cross section. The insertion side "m" of the mating terminal in the accommodation space 20 is open, and through this open side, at least a part of the movable housing 4, more specifically, the movable housing 4 provided with outward protrusions 441 and 451. The bottom side of the space is accommodated in the accommodation space 20. In order to facilitate accommodation in the accommodation space 20, a taper 25b is provided at a predetermined position of the upper opening 21 of the fixed housing 2 corresponding to the taper 46b provided in the outward protrusions 441 and 451. Even after this accommodation, the tip end side of the movable housing 4, that is, the side provided with the insertion port 41 remains exposed to the outside of the accommodation space 20. When at least a part of the movable housing 4 is accommodated in the accommodation space 20 at the bottom of the fixed housing 2 on the side "n" opposite to the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal of the accommodation space 20. A mounting portion 24 on which the movable housing 4 is mounted is formed. However, the bottom portion of the fixed housing 2 is not completely closed, and an opening 22 communicating with the accommodation space 20 is formed in order to allow the curved portion 68 of the terminal 6 to escape.

The mounting portion 24 includes a mounting table 241 on the front side and a mounting table 242 on the back side. The mounting surfaces 241a and 242a are formed on the mounting tables 241 and 242, respectively.

The connection portion 62 of the terminal 6 attached to the fixed housing 2 has an insertion space from the side “n” opposite to the insertion side “m” of the mating terminal with respect to the mounting surfaces 241a and 242a in the insertion direction “α”. It extends to 40. The connecting portion 60 of the connecting portion 62, particularly a part of the connecting portion 60 located on the side "n" opposite to the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal from the mounting surface 241a and 242a in the insertion direction "α". Is provided with a step portion 60a for avoiding a collision with the fixed housing 2. As shown in the embodiment, the step portion 60a may be formed by utilizing the difference in length in the longitudinal direction “γ” between the connecting portion 60 and the curved portion 68. The step portion 60a also functions as a supported portion that is supported by colliding with the supported surface 69 provided at the bottom of the fixed housing 2. At the time of connection with the mating terminal, a large force may be exerted on the connecting portion 62 toward the side "n" opposite to the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal, but the supported portion 60a is connected to the fixed housing 2. By supporting by colliding, it is possible to obtain a proof stress against such a force.

When at least a part of the movable housing 4 is accommodated in the accommodation space 20, the plate surface 46a of the plate body constituting the side surfaces 46A and 46B of the movable housing 4 is placed on the mounting surface 241a of the fixed housing 2. Will be done. Further, at this time, the plate surface 45b of the plate body constituting the back surface 45 of the movable housing 4 is mounted on the mounting surface 242a. In this case, the movable housing 4 is slidably mounted on the fixed housing 2 and is not fixed to the fixed housing 2. Therefore, even if some misalignment occurs between the mating terminal and the connector 1, the connector 1 and the mating connector can be connected while allowing such misalignment.

Further, when at least a part of the movable housing 4 is accommodated in the accommodation space 20 and the movable housing 4 is mounted on the mounting surfaces 241a and 242a of the fixed housing in a slidable state, the connection portion 62 of the terminal 6 is mounted. Almost the entire portion is positioned in the insertion space 40 in a state of penetrating the bottom opening 42 of the movable housing 4. As a result, the movement of the movable housing 4 with respect to the fixed housing 2 is restricted to a predetermined range by the connecting portion 62 located in the insertion space 40 of the movable housing 4. As described above, in this configuration, the connection portion 62 of the terminal 6 is positioned in the insertion space 40 in a state of being substantially independent of the movable housing 4. Here, the "substantially independent state" means that the connection portion 62 of the terminal 6 is not fixed to any part of the movable housing 4, and therefore, the movable housing 4 is the terminal 6 within the above-mentioned predetermined range. It means that the movement is virtually unregulated by. Since the movement of each movable housing 4 is restricted by the connecting portion 62 when the movable housing 4 exceeds the predetermined range, it is not always necessary to provide a partition wall separating the movable housings 4 from each other.

An inner peripheral surface 25 of the fixed housing 2 along the insertion direction "α" forming the accommodation space 20, for example, an inner side wall facing the inner side wall in the lateral direction "β", for example, near the upper opening 21 of the accommodation space 20. , Inwardly projecting portions 211 and 212 protruding inward of the accommodation space 20 are provided.

When at least a part of the movable housing 4 is accommodated in the accommodation space 20, in other words, when the outward protrusions 441 and 451 provided on the bottom side of the movable housing 4 are accommodated in the accommodation space 20, the insertion direction “α”. , The outward protrusions 441, 451 of the movable housing 4 are located on the side "n" opposite to the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal, rather than the inward protrusions 211, 212 provided in the fixed housing 2. To position. As a result, the regulation surfaces 441a and 451a formed by the outward protrusions 441 and 451 of the movable housing 4 and the regulation surfaces 211a and 212a formed by the inward protrusions 211 and 212 of the fixed housing 2 thrust against each other. Even if a force is applied to the movable housing 4 to move the fixed housing 2 to the insertion side "m" of the mating terminal, the restricting surfaces are engaged with each other, so that the movable housing is in the combined state. 4 does not easily escape from the accommodation space 20 of the fixed housing 2.

It should be understood that the above description relates to preferred embodiments and is merely representative of the article. It can be acknowledged that modifications and modifications of different embodiments will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in the light of the teachings described above. Accordingly, exemplary and alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the articles and methods described in the appended claims.
For example, in the present embodiment, the movable housing 4 is mounted using the mounting surface of the mounting portion 24 provided on the fixed housing 2, but the movable housing 4 is mounted on the fixed housing 2 and on the fixed housing 2. On the other hand, it is sufficient if it is placed in a movable state, and it is not always necessary to place it using the mounting surface.
Further, in the present embodiment, the mounting surfaces 45b and 46a are described as having a substantially "U" shape separated from each other on the β-γ surface, but the movable housing 4 has the present configuration. It suffices if it is placed in a predetermined portion of the fixed housing 2 so as to achieve the function, and it is not always necessary to have such a shape. For example, the β-γ surface may have a substantially “B” shape, and it is not always necessary to provide a plurality of mounting surfaces, and one mounting surface may be used.

1 Connector 2 Fixed housing 20 Accommodation space 21 Upper opening 24 Mounting part 241 Front side mounting table 241a Mounting surface 242 Back side mounting table 242a Mounting surface 25 Inner peripheral surface 211, 212 Inward protrusions 211a, 212a Restricted surface 4 Movable housing 40 Insertion space 441 External protrusion 441a Restriction surface 451 External protrusion 451a Restriction surface 6 Terminal 62 Connection 64 Base 68 Curved 8 Fixing bracket

Claims (7)

With a fixed housing
A movable housing with an insertion space into which at least part of the mating terminal is inserted,
With terminals,
The terminal has a fixed portion fixed to the fixed housing and at least a part thereof is positioned in the insertion space when the movable housing is mounted on the fixed housing in a movable state with respect to the fixed housing. A connector comprising a connection portion, which is a connection portion which can be connected to at least a part of the mating terminal inserted into the insertion space. The movable housing penetrates through the insertion space in an insertion direction along the direction in which the mating terminal is inserted.
The connection portion extends from the mounting surface of the fixed housing on which the movable housing is mounted to the insertion space from the side opposite to the insertion side of the mating terminal in the insertion direction. The connector described in. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the connector has a supported portion that can be supported by the fixed housing on a side opposite to the insertion side of the mating terminal in the insertion direction with respect to the above-mentioned mounting surface. The fixed housing has a storage space having a substantially concave cross section, which forms a mounting surface of the fixed housing on which the movable housing is mounted and has an open insertion side of the mating terminal, and the storage space is front. It is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the movable housing when it is slidably mounted on the mounting surface.
An inwardly projecting portion protruding inward of the accommodation space is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed housing along the insertion direction forming the accommodation space.
At least an outer peripheral surface of the movable housing located on the side opposite to the insertion side of the mating terminal from the inward protrusion in the insertion direction when at least a part of the movable housing is accommodated in the accommodation space. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an outward protrusion is provided on a part of the surface so as to be able to engage with the inward protrusion in the insertion direction. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of movable housings are arranged on a mounting surface of the fixed housing on which the movable housing is mounted, and there is no partition wall between them. .. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the direction of the terminal passing through the fixing portion and the connecting portion intersects with the arrangement direction of the movable housing. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein both the terminal and the movable housing are attached from the insertion side of the mating terminal toward the fixed housing side along the insertion direction.

Images