JP3939469B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly, to an electrical connector in which connection terminals are brought into an electrically connected state by press-contacting each other.
[0002]
[Background Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, an electrical connector used for a power supply unit of an electric tool or the like has a pair of case bodies 52 and 53 formed in a shape that can be fitted into each other, and an insertion portion 52 a of one case body 52. The connection terminal 54 disposed on the other side and the fitting part 53a of the other case body 53 are inserted into the case body 52 and 53, so that the connection terminal 54 is brought into pressure contact with each other to be electrically connected. What is comprised from the spring-like connection terminal 55 is known. For the spring-like connection terminal 55 of the electrical connector 51, a cantilever spring in which a plate-like metal material as shown in FIG. 6 is folded is used. When the pair of case bodies 52 and 53 are joined, the cantilever spring is used. Since it is brought into pressure contact with the connection terminal 54 by the elastic force of the spring, it is electrically connected.
[0003]
However, in such an electrical connector 51, when foreign matter is mixed in, it may be in a pressure contact state while being sandwiched between the connection terminal 54 and the spring-like connection terminal 55, and there is a possibility that it cannot be electrically connected. was there. Further, since the connection terminal 54 and the spring connection terminal 55 are in contact with each other at one point, there is a risk of contact failure due to vibration or the like.
[0004]
In order to eliminate such difficulties, it is conceivable to use a doubly-supported spring that has a stronger resilience than the cantilever spring for the spring connection terminal. However, the insertion pressure when connecting a pair of case bodies must be increased. Therefore, there is a possibility that an excessive force is applied to the case body and the durability is lowered.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and an electrical connector capable of cleaning the connection terminals when combined and improving the contact stability of the connection terminals. The purpose is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electrical connector of the present invention that achieves such an object includes a pair of case bodies formed in a shape that can be fitted into each other, a connection terminal disposed in a fitting portion of one case body, and the other case body. In the electrical connector composed of the spring-like connection terminal that is disposed in the fitting portion and is brought into an electrically connected state by pressure-contacting the connection terminals by fitting the case bodies to each other, the spring-like connection terminal is a plate The metal material is formed into a L-shape at the entrance of the other case body fitting portion and is folded back inside the other case body fitting portion, and the folded piece is connected to the contact of the connection terminal. Sequentially press- contacting mountain-shaped contacts are formed at two locations, and a pair of case bodies are fitted into each other, so that the two end-shaped contact points are positioned in space so that the end faces of the two are L-shaped. Near the club Formed elastic supported by the support arm, further, the folded piece notch over the mountain-like contact to be pressed is provided in the first from the end face of the support arm, and after another fitting the pair of case body, The contact of the connection terminal and the front contact that is pressed against the contact of the connection terminal for the second time are in an electrically connected state.
[0007]
According to such an electrical connector of the present invention, when the pair of case bodies are inserted into each other, the contact point of the connection terminal incorporated in one case body is first the spring property incorporated in the other case body. It is press-contacted to the first mountain contact formed on the connection terminal. After the press contact, the contact of the connection terminal is separated from the first peak contact and is pressed to the second peak contact, and at this point, the pair of case bodies are completely joined. At this time, the contact of the connecting terminal is cleaned by sliding in contact with the first mountain-shaped contact of the spring-like connection terminal, and then electrically connected by pressure-contacting the second mountain-shaped contact. Therefore, it is possible to prevent contact failure due to contamination of foreign matters.
[0008]
Further, in the electrical connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the folded piece of the spring-like connection terminal is provided with a notch extending from the end face of the support arm to the mountain-shaped contact that is pressed in the second time. As a result, the folded piece including the second mountain-shaped contact that is press-contacted for the second time is divided into two along the insertion direction of the pair of case bodies. Even if the contact and one of the divided crest contacts become defective in contact, the other crest contact can maintain the contact state with the contact of the connection terminal.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the electrical connector of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the electrical connector of the present invention is arranged in a pair of case bodies 2 and 3 formed in a shape that can be fitted into each other, and an insertion portion 2a of one case body 2. The connecting terminal 4 provided and the spring disposed in the fitting portion 3a of the other case body 3 so that the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 are fitted to each other so as to be in pressure contact with the connection terminal 4 to be electrically connected. Connection terminal 5. Note that a plurality of connection terminals 4 and spring connection terminals 5 are provided for each case body 2 and 3 (FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D).
[0011]
The fitting portions 2a and 3a of the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 are each formed in a U-shape, the guide rib 2b is formed in the fitting portion 2a of one case body 2, and the other case body 3 has A guide slit 3b that fits into the guide rib 2b is cut out (FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C). Thereby, if a pair of case bodies 2 and 3 are inserted mutually so that the guide rib 2b and the guide slit 3b may fit, the connection terminal 4 and the spring connection terminal 5 can be made to contact. When the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 are joined, a space of a predetermined size is formed in the pair of case bodies 2 and 3. This is for disposing a spring-like connection terminal 5 having a shape to be described later.
[0012]
The connection terminal 4 is formed in an L shape, and is provided with a plate-like contact 4a whose end face is folded at a predetermined angle on one piece. The L-shaped connection terminal 4 is incorporated in the one case body 2 so that the contact point 4a is positioned on the surface of the fitting portion 2a of the one case body 2. The metal material of the connection terminal 4 is preferably brass from the viewpoint of cost, but is not limited to this, and any metal material having good conductivity may be used.
[0013]
The spring connection terminal 5 is composed of a double-supported spring in which a plate-like metal material is folded. Specifically, mountain-shaped contacts 5b and 5c that are sequentially connected to the contacts 4a of the connection terminals 4 incorporated in one case body 2 are formed at two predetermined positions of the folded piece 5a. The folded piece 5a is formed with a support arm 5d that elastically supports the two mountain-shaped contacts 5b and 5c by positioning the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 to each other. After the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 are fitted to each other, the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4 and the mountain contact 5c pressed against the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4 for the second time are electrically connected. It arrange | positions so that it may be in a state.
[0014]
Such a folded piece 5a is formed, for example, in a substantially M shape when viewed from the side.
[0015]
Further, the folded piece 5a is provided with a notch 5e extending from the end surface of the support arm 5d to the mountain contact 5c. By this notch 5e, the folded piece 5a is divided into two along the direction in which the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 are inserted, so that the two divided mountain contacts 5c are individually spring-deformed.
[0016]
As the metal material of the spring-like connection terminal 5, the phosphor bronze for the spring is preferable from the viewpoint of the spring characteristics, but is not limited to this, and if the metal material has good spring characteristics and conductivity, It can be anything.
[0017]
The operation of the springy connection terminal 5 when the electrical connector 1 configured in this manner is coupled will be described with reference to FIG.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the spring-like connection terminal 5 incorporated in the other case body 3 before the electrical connector 1 is coupled has the folded end 5d of the folded piece 5a positioned in the space. When the other case body 3 and the one case body 2 are inserted into each other, as shown in FIG. 4B, the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4 incorporated in the one case body 2 is Then, it is press-contacted to the first mountain-shaped contact 5b formed on the spring connection terminal 5 incorporated in the other case body 3. At this time, the support arm 5d of the folded piece 5a is pressed against one portion 5f of the spring-like connection terminal 5 fixed to the fitting portion 3a of the other case body 3, so that the two mountain contacts 5b and 5c are connected. It will be elastically supported so that it may be located on space. When the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4 and the mountain-shaped contact 5b of the spring-like connection terminal 5 are pressed into each other and further inserted into each other until the other case body 3 and one case body 2 come into contact with each other, FIG. As shown in (c), the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4 is separated from the first crest contact 5b of the spring connection terminal 5 and is pressed into contact with the second crest contact 5c. A couple of bonds are completed.
[0019]
In this way, the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4 is slid in a pressure contact state with the first mountain-shaped contact 5b of the spring-like connection terminal 5 and cleaned, and then the second mountain-shaped contact 5c. Since it is electrically connected, it is possible to prevent contact failure due to contamination of foreign matters. Further, the mountain-shaped contact 5c is elastically supported by the support arm 5d of the folded piece 5a, and the folded piece 5a is divided into two from the end surface of the support arm 5d to the mountain-shaped contact 5c. Even if the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4 and one of the divided crest contacts 5c become defective in contact, the other crest contact 5c can maintain a contact state with the contact 4a of the connection terminal 4. Thereby, contact stability can be improved. Further, since the folded piece 5a is divided into two parts, the insertion pressure when the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 are joined can be made weaker than that of the conventional double-supported spring. It is possible to prevent the durability of the connection terminal 4 and the pair of case bodies 2 and 3 from being lowered.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the electrical connector of the present invention, the contact of the connection terminal is cleaned by sliding in contact with the first mountain-shaped contact of the spring-like connection terminal. Since it can be pressed and electrically connected to the first mountain-shaped contact, it is possible to prevent contact failure due to contamination of foreign matters. Further, since the folded piece is divided into two parts over the mountain contact point (second mountain contact point) pressed from the end surface of the support arm for the second time, the contact of the connection terminal by vibration or the like, Even if one of the divided crest contacts becomes poor in contact, the other crest contact can maintain the contact state with the contact of the connection terminal, so that contact stability can be improved. Since the pressure contact force with respect to the contact of the connection terminal can be weakened as compared with the double-supported spring, the pair of case bodies can be easily and reliably coupled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a preferred embodiment of an electrical connector according to the present invention, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view and (b) is a partial detail view.
2A and 2B are explanatory views showing an external appearance of the electrical connector of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a top view, FIG. 2B is a front view, FIG. 2C is a side view, and FIG.
3 is an explanatory view showing an external appearance of the electrical connector of FIG. 1, wherein (a) is a perspective view of one case body, (b) is a perspective view of the other case body, and (c) is a perspective view of the other case body. The perspective view of the state seen from the direction different from (b).
FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory views showing a coupling state of the electrical connector of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a sectional view before coupling, FIG. 4B is a sectional view during coupling, and FIG. 4C is a sectional view after coupling;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a conventional electrical connector.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing connection terminals and spring connection terminals used in a conventional electrical connector.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrical connector 2 ... One case body 2a ... Insertion part 3 ... The other case body 3a ... Insertion part 4 ... Connection terminal 5 ... Spring connection terminal 5a ..Folded pieces 5b, 5c ... mountain contact 5d ... support arm 5e ... notch

Claims (1)

A pair of case bodies formed in a shape that can be fitted into each other, a connection terminal disposed in a fitting portion of one case body, and each case body disposed in a fitting portion of the other case body In an electrical connector composed of spring-like connection terminals that are brought into electrical connection by being pressed against the connection terminals by interfitting with each other,
The spring connection terminal is composed of a doubly-supported spring in which a plate-like metal material is formed in an L shape at the entrance of the fitting portion of the other case body, and is folded back inside the fitting portion of the other case body, The folded piece is formed with two mountain-shaped contacts that are sequentially press-contacted with the contact of the connection terminal, and the two mountain-shaped contacts are inserted into the space by fitting the pair of case bodies to each other. the end face of its own so as to position the bent portion elastically supported by the support arm in the vicinity of the formation of the L-shaped further, the mountain-like contact said the folded piece which is pressed against the first from the end face of the support arm notched is provided over the, and after fitting the pair of casing members to each other, and the contact of the connection terminal, electrically from said mountain shaped contact which is pressed a second time against the contacts of the connection terminal Close to Electrical connector, characterized in that a state.

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