JP6362028B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector configured such that a contact member is connected to or separated from a signal transmission medium by rotation of a cam member.

  In general, various electrical connectors are widely used as means for electrically connecting various signal transmission media such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and a flexible flat cable (FFC) in various electrical devices. It is used. For example, in an electrical connector that is mounted on a printed wiring board and used as in Patent Document 1 below, the signal transmission medium made of the above-described FPC, FFC, or the like passes through an opening of an insulating housing (insulator). The actuator (connection operation means) held in the “initial position (open position)” that opens the signal transmission medium at the time of the insertion is connected to the front side of the electrical connector by the operator's operating force. It is configured to be rotated so as to be pushed down toward the “acting position (closed position)” on the rear side.

  When the above-described actuator (connection operation means) is rotated to the “operation position (closed position)” that holds the signal transmission medium, the cam member that rotates integrally with the actuator moves to one end side of the contact member. The contact member acts so as to push up the portion, and thereby the contact member swings, so that the contact portion provided on the other end portion of the contact member is in pressure contact with the signal transmission medium (FPC, FFC, etc.) At the same time as the general connection is made, the signal transmission medium is fixed. On the other hand, when the rotation operation is performed so that the actuator in such an “operating position (closed position)” is raised upward toward the original “initial position (open position)”, the cam member with respect to the contact member The contact force is released, and the contact member swings away from the signal transmission medium (FPC, FFC, etc.) by its own elastic restoring force. As a result, the signal transmission medium is opened. Thus, the signal transmission medium can be removed.

  The cam member that causes the contact member to swing is formed so that, for example, the cross-sectional shape is substantially elliptical, and the diameter changes between a pair of beams constituting the contact member. For example, in the following Patent Document 4, the applicant of the present invention described that the cam member is camped between a pair of beams between the start and end of rotation of the cam member. An invention has already been proposed for holding a member so that it does not fall off. According to the proposed invention, the cam member is provided with a cam locking projection facing the cam member in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium at one end portion of the contact member, and the cam member is contacted when an external force or the like is applied. Even when the cam member is biased in the direction away from the connector, a configuration is adopted in which a part of the cam member is engaged with the cam locking projection and locked so that the cam member does not fall off the connector. ing.

  According to such a prior proposed invention such as Patent Document 4, the retention of the cam member can be improved and the effect of preventing the drop-off can be obtained. However, in the case where the retention of the cam member is excessively increased. The operation force for starting the rotation of the actuator (connection operation means) in the initial stage, particularly the actuator held so as to stand up at the “initial position (open position)” is directed toward the “action position (closed position)”. Thus, the operation force for starting the rotation in the direction of pushing down is increased. From the viewpoint of productivity, it is preferable to reduce the operation force required in the initial rotation operation of the cam member as much as possible.

JP 2008-300373 A JP 2008-004404 A JP 2008-192408 A JP 2013-54881 A

  Therefore, the present invention can reduce the operation force required to start the rotation operation of the cam member while ensuring good holding performance of the cam member before the rotation operation with a simple configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector.

In the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, there is the signal transmission medium is inserted or removed for the insulating housing, a contact member mounted said insulating housing, in contact with the contact member a arranged cam member as with respect to inside the inserted signal transmission medium of the insulating housing by the cam member is rotated to the acting position from the initial position, the contact member is the signal In the electrical connector configured to swing so as to sandwich the transmission medium, the cam member is in surface contact with the contact member to hold the cam member in the initial position, and the cam holding It extends so as to be continuous from the surface, and is arranged so as to face the contact member in a non-contact state at the initial position. Possess a dynamic allowable surface, the cam holding surface when said cam member is in the initial position, relative to the line segment representing the distance leading to the contact member from a virtual center of rotation in said cam member, said A configuration is adopted that extends on both sides of the direction in which the signal transmission medium is inserted and the direction in which it is removed .

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the cam member is in the initial position (open position), the cam holding surface of the cam member is brought into contact with the contact member, so that the cam member is in the initial position. It is stably held in the (open position). Further, immediately after the cam member at the initial position (open position) starts to rotate, the rotation-permitting surface continuous with the cam holding surface of the cam member is in a non-contact state with respect to the contact member. Since the clearance is formed between the rotation allowing surface and the contact member, the rotation operation force required to start the rotation of the cam member in the initial state (open state) is reduced. The initial rotation of the cam member is easily performed. In addition, the cam member after the initial rotation can be smoothly brought into contact with the contact member, thereby reducing the possibility of occurrence of scraping or damage at the start of rotation of the cam member. The Further, the cam member can be stably held in posture by the cam holding surfaces extending on both sides of the virtual center of rotation.

  At this time, in the present invention, as in claim 2, the rotation-permissible surface forms a gap with the contact member on the upstream side of the cam holding surface in the rotation direction of the cam member. It is desirable to have an opposing arrangement relationship that is substantially parallel to.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the contact member, a portion facing the cam holding surface and the rotation-permitting surface of the cam member at the initial position forms an edge that extends substantially linearly. It is desirable that it be formed.

  Further, as in claim 4, a cam action surface having a cam function is provided on the upstream side of the rotation permissible surface in the rotation direction of the cam member, and the cam action It is desirable that the surface is in an arrangement relationship in which the cam member contacts the contact member after the cam member rotates from the initial position toward the operating position over a predetermined rotation angle.

  According to the invention having the configuration described above, the cam function by the cam action surface of the cam member is smoothly started after the initial rotation of the cam member is easily performed.

  Furthermore, as in claim 5, the cam holding surface extends over a length equal to or less than ½ of the length of the cam holding surface and the rotation allowing surface facing the contact member at the initial position. It is desirable to exist.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention , the signal transmission medium is inserted into the cam holding surface with respect to a line segment representing a distance from the virtual center of rotation of the cam member at the initial position to the contact member. It is desirable to extend over approximately the same length on both sides of the direction and the direction of removal .

  According to the present invention having such a configuration as described in claims 5 and 6, the cam member's posture maintaining action by the cam holding surface can be obtained substantially evenly in the direction of rotation of the cam member. The turning operation starts smoothly.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the contact member includes a cam restricting portion extending in a substantially flat shape corresponding to the cam holding surface.

  According to the present invention having the configuration described in claim 7, since the cam holding surface of the cam member is in a stable contact state with the cam regulating surface of the contact member, the initial position of the cam member is determined. The holding action in is reliably obtained.

As described above, the electrical connector according to the present invention has a cam member disposed so as to contact the contact member attached to the insulating housing so as to contact the contact member and bring the cam member into an initial position (open position). A cam holding surface, and a rotation allowing surface that extends from the cam holding surface so as to face the contact member in a non-contact state . When the cam member is in the initial position, the cam holding surface is stably held in the initial position by the cam holding surface while the cam holding surface is extended to the both sides. By reducing the rotational operation force required to start the rotation of the cam member in the initial state by forming a gap between the contact member and the rotation allowing surface continuous with the cam holding surface of the member. In addition, since the cam member can be smoothly brought into contact with the contact member to reduce the possibility of the cam member being scraped or damaged, it is possible to use a simple configuration before rotating operation. While maintaining good cam member retention, it is possible to reduce the operating force required to start the rotation of the cam member, and to greatly improve the quality and reliability of the electrical connector at low cost. be able to.

1 illustrates an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an overall configuration from the front side in a state in which a signal transmission medium is not inserted in a state where an actuator is set at an initial position (open position). FIG. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory view when the electrical connector in the initial position (open position) shown in FIG. 1 is seen from the rear side. FIG. 2 is an external perspective explanatory view showing the entire configuration in a state where the actuator of the electrical connector in the initial position (open position) shown in FIG. 1 is rotated so as to push down to the operating position (closed position) from the front side. It is front explanatory drawing when the electrical connector in the open state shown by FIG.1 and FIG.2 is seen from the front side. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory diagram along the line V-V in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a partial vertical cross-sectional explanatory view showing an enlarged view of the cam member and its peripheral portion shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 5 in a state where the actuator of the electrical connector in the initial position (open position) is rotated to push down to the operating position (closed position). FIG. 8 is a partial vertical cross-sectional explanatory view showing an enlarged view of the cam member and its peripheral portion shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 5 in a state where an operation force is applied to the actuator of the electrical connector in the initial position (open position) to start rotation. FIG. 10 is a partial vertical cross-sectional explanatory view showing an enlarged view of the cam member and its peripheral portion shown in FIG. 9. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory drawing showing the terminal part of the signal transmission medium inserted in the electrical connector represented to FIGS.

  In the following, the present invention is applied to an electrical connector that is mounted on a wiring board and used for connecting a signal transmission medium such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC). The embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overall configuration]
That is, the electrical connector 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 is provided with an actuator 12 as a connection operation means on the rear end edge portion (right end edge portion in FIG. 5) of the insulating housing 11. The actuator 12 described above has a so-called back flip type structure, and the above-described actuator 12 is a connector front end side (left end side in FIG. 5) into which a terminal portion of a signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC) F is inserted. It is configured to be turned so as to be pushed down toward the opposite connector rear side (right side in FIG. 5).

  At this time, the insulating housing 11 is formed of a hollow frame-like insulating member extending in an elongated shape, and the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11 is hereinafter referred to as a “connector longitudinal direction”. However, the direction from “connector front” to “connector rear” in which the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC or the like) F is inserted is referred to as “medium insertion direction”, and the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC or the like) F A direction from the “connector rear” to the “connector front” in which the terminal portion is removed is referred to as “medium removal direction”.

  Inside the insulating housing 11, a plurality of conductive contacts 13 and 14 are mounted as contact members having two different shapes formed by thin metal members having an appropriate shape. The conductive contacts 13 and 14 are arranged so as to form a so-called multipolar shape at an appropriate interval along the longitudinal direction of the connector inside the insulating housing 11, and the conductive contacts on one side having different shapes. 13 and the conductive contacts 14 on the other side are alternately arranged in the connector longitudinal direction, which is the direction of the multipolar arrangement. Each of these conductive contacts 13 and 14 is mounted by solder bonding to a conductive path (not shown) formed on a main printed wiring board (not shown) for either signal transmission or ground connection. It is designed to be used in the

  Further, as described above, a signal transmission medium F comprising a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), or the like is provided on the front end edge portion (left end edge portion in FIG. 5) of the insulating housing 11. Is inserted in the connector longitudinal direction so as to form an elongated opening, and the rear edge portion of the connector in the front-rear direction (the right edge portion in FIG. 5). ) Is provided with a component attachment port 11b for mounting the above-described one-side conductive contact 13, actuator (connection operation means) 12, and the like so as to extend in the same elongated shape.

[About conductive contacts]
At this time, the above-described one-side conductive contact (contact member) 13 is inserted toward the front side (the left side in FIG. 5) from the component attachment port 11b provided on the connector rear end side of the insulating housing 11. Although mounted, the conductive contact (contact member) 14 on the other side is inserted toward the rear side (right side in FIG. 5) from the medium insertion port 11a provided on the connector front end side of the insulating housing 11. It is installed by. In this way, the contact protrusions 13a1 and 13b1 of the conductive contacts 13 and 14 mounted in the insulating housing 11 so as to form a staggered arrangement in the connector longitudinal direction are connected to the insulating housing 11 through the medium insertion port 11a. It is arranged at a position corresponding to a wiring pattern Fa (see FIG. 11) of a signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC) F inserted therein. The wiring pattern Fa formed on these signal transmission media F is obtained by arranging signal transmission conductive paths (signal line pads) or shield conductive paths (shield line pads) at appropriate pitch intervals.

  Although these conductive contacts 13 and 14 have different shapes as described above, both the conductive contacts 13 and 14 have the same configuration with respect to the main part of the present invention described later. Only one of the conductive contacts 13 will be described, and the description of the other conductive contact 14 will be omitted.

  That is, each of the conductive contacts (contact members) 13 described above is formed from a pair of elongated beam members extending substantially in parallel along the connector front-rear direction, which is the insertion / removal direction of the signal transmission medium F (left-right direction in FIG. 5). Each has a movable contact beam (second contact beam) 13a and a fixed contact beam (first contact beam) 13b. The movable contact beam 13a and the fixed contact beam 13b are arranged to face each other at an appropriate interval in the vertical direction in the figure in the internal space of the insulating housing 11 described above. The fixed contact beam 13b is fixed so as to be substantially stationary along the inner wall surface of the bottom plate of the insulating housing 11, and extends substantially parallel to the upper position of the fixed contact beam 13b in the figure. The movable contact beam 13a is integrally connected to the fixed contact beam 13b via the connection support beam 13c.

  The connecting strut beam 13c is formed of a narrow plate-like member, and is arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction in the drawing at a midway position (substantially central position) in the extending direction of the contact beams 13a and 13b. Yes. Then, the movable contact beam 13a connected to the upper end portion of the connecting support beam 13c in the figure can be elastically displaced with respect to the fixed contact beam 13b described above based on the elastic flexibility of the connecting support beam 13c. Each movable contact beam 13a is configured to be swingable so as to bend the entire connecting column beam 13c. The swing of the movable contact beam 13a at that time is performed in the vertical direction within the plane of FIG.

  Further, a wiring pattern formed on the upper surface side of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC or the like) F on the front end side portion (left end side portion in FIG. 5) of the movable contact beam (second contact beam) 13a described above. An upper terminal contact convex portion 13a1 connected to one of the (fading path for signal transmission or shielding) Fa is provided so as to form a downward protruding shape in the figure.

  On the other hand, the fixed contact beam (first contact beam) 13b is arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction along the inner wall surface of the bottom plate of the insulating housing 11 as described above. A wiring pattern formed on the lower side of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC or the like) F in the front side portion (the left side portion in FIG. 5) in FIG. A lower terminal contact convex portion 13b1 connected to any one of Fa is provided so as to form an upwardly protruding shape in the figure. These lower terminal contact convex portions 13b1 are arranged so as to face the positions immediately below the upper terminal contact convex portions 13a1 on the movable contact beam 13a side described above, and the upper terminal contact convex portions 13a1 and the lower terminal contact portions are in contact with each other. The signal transmission medium F is sandwiched between the convex portion 13b1.

  Note that the upper terminal contact convex portion 13a1 of the movable contact beam 13a and the lower terminal contact convex portion 13b1 of the fixed contact beam 13b are positioned at the connector front side (left side in FIG. 5) or the connector rear side ( It is also possible to displace them to the right side in FIG. In addition, the fixed contact beam 13b is basically fixed so as to be stationary, but the tip portion can be elastically displaced for the purpose of facilitating insertion of a signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC, etc.) F. The front end portion of the fixed contact beam 13b can be formed so as to slightly lift from the inner wall surface of the bottom plate of the insulating housing 11.

  Further, at the rear end side portion (right end side portion in FIG. 5) of each of the fixed contact beams 13b described above, there is a board connecting portion 13b2 that is soldered to a conductive path formed on a main printed wiring board (not shown). Each is provided.

  Furthermore, a cam rotation recess 13b3 formed so as to form a concave curved shape is provided in the rear end side portion (right end side portion in FIG. 5) of the fixed contact beam 13b described above. The opening / closing cam member 15 is slidably disposed so as to be received by the moving recess 13b3. On the other hand, on the rear end side portion (the right end side portion in FIG. 5) of the movable contact beam 13a, a cam restricting edge portion (cam restricting portion) 13a3 made of a flat surface extending in a substantially linear shape is provided on the movable contact. It is provided so as to form the lower edge of the beam 13a.

  A cam restricting edge portion (cam restricting portion) 13a3 formed at the rear end portion of the movable contact beam 13a is an edge that always contacts the open / close cam member 15 provided in the actuator (connection operation means) 12. And is formed integrally on the rotating shaft of the actuator (connection operating means) 12 between the cam regulating end edge 13a3 and the cam rotating recess 13b3 described above. An opening / closing cam member 15 is rotatably held.

[About cam members]
The above-described opening / closing cam member 15 of the actuator (connection operation means) 12 is formed to have a substantially elliptical longitudinal cross section, and a pair of cam action surfaces 15a, 15a is formed. Each of the cam action surfaces 15a has a curved side surface shape substantially along the cam rotation recess 13b3 of the fixed contact beam 13b described above, and one of the cam action surfaces 15a and 15a (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 6). 8 is accommodated so as to be slidable inside the cam rotation recess 13b3 of the fixed contact beam 13b.

  Further, the other of the above-described cam action surfaces 15a, 15a (the upper portion in FIGS. 6 and 8) is a cam that extends substantially linearly to the rear edge portion of the movable contact beam 13a as described above. It arrange | positions so that it can contact from the downward side with respect to the control edge part (cam control part) 13a3. On the other side (upper side) of the cam action surface 15a, the actuator (connection operation means) 12 changes from the "initial position (open position)" (see FIG. 5) to the "action position (closed position)" (see FIG. 7). It is arranged so as to be slidably in contact with the cam regulating end edge portion (cam regulating portion) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a when it is turned and operated. The opening / closing cam member 15 is rotatably supported by the contact arrangement relationship of the opening / closing cam member 15 with respect to the cam rotation recess 13b3 and the cam restriction end edge portion (cam restriction portion) 13a3. Is configured to be rotated around a virtual rotation center 15 d of the opening / closing cam member 15.

[About the actuator]
Thus, the entire actuator (connection operation means) 12 rotatably arranged at the rear end portion (the right end portion in FIGS. 5 and 7) of the insulating housing 11 extends in an elongated shape along the connector longitudinal direction. The insulating housing 11 is arranged over the same length as the entire width. The actuator 12 is attached so as to be rotated around the virtual rotation center 15d of the opening / closing cam member 15 as described above, but the portion corresponding to the outer side in the rotation radius direction at that time ( The right end side portion in FIG. 7 is the opening / closing operation unit 12a. Then, by applying an appropriate turning operation force by the operator to the opening / closing operation portion 12a, the entire actuator 12 is in an “upright position (open position) in a substantially upright state as shown in FIG. ”And“ acting position (closed position) ”in a state of being tilted almost horizontally toward the rear side of the connector as shown in FIG. 7.

  At this time, a slit-like through-hole portion 12b for avoiding interference with the conductive contact 13 (14) is formed in a portion where the opening / closing operation portion 12a is connected to the above-described opening / closing cam member 15, As described above, when the actuator 12 is rotated to the “initial position (open position)” (see FIG. 5), the rear end of the movable contact beam 13a of the conductive contact 13 is located inside the slit-like through hole 12b. The part comes in.

  Then, the operator opens the opening / closing operation portion 12a of the actuator (connection operation means) 12 from the “initial position (open position)” (see FIG. 5) to the “acting position (closed position)” (see FIG. 7) with the fingertip. When the turning operation is performed so as to push down, the rotation radius of the above-described opening / closing cam member 15 is configured to change in an increasing direction between the fixed contact beam 13b and the movable contact beam 13a. As the diameter of the opening / closing cam member 15 increases, the cam regulating end edge portion 13a3 provided on the rear end side of the movable contact beam 13a is displaced so as to be lifted upward in the drawing, and the cam regulation is accordingly performed. The upper terminal contact convex portion 13a1 provided on the side opposite to the end edge portion 13a3 (connector front end side) is pushed downward.

  Thus, when the actuator (connection operation means) 12 has completely rotated to the “acting position (closed position)” which is the final rotation position (see FIG. 7), the upper terminal contact convex portion of the movable contact beam 13a described above. 13a1 and the lower terminal contact convex portion 13b1 of the fixed contact beam 13b are pressed against the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC) F inserted between them from above and below to sandwich the signal transmission medium F. It will be. At that time, the upper terminal contact convex portion 13a1 and the lower terminal contact convex portion 13b1 are particularly formed with respect to the wiring pattern (signal transmission and shield conductive path) Fa of the signal transmission medium F as shown in FIG. It is configured to be pressed and thereby electrically connected.

  Further, as described above, the actuator 12 is rotated so as to push down from the “initial position (open position)” (see FIG. 5) to the “acting position (closed position)” (see FIG. 7). In this state, the lower surface side portion of the opening / closing operation portion 12a of the actuator 12 is arranged so as to face the main wiring board (not shown), but the opening / closing operation portion of the actuator 12 at that time A protective protrusion 12c that protrudes toward the main wiring board is provided on the lower surface portion of 12a. A plurality of the protective protrusions 12c are arranged at a predetermined interval in the direction of the multipolar arrangement of the conductive contacts 13 and 14 described above (connector longitudinal direction), and each of the protective protrusions 12c is formed as a substantially rectangular columnar block body. The protective protrusion 12c is configured to be integrally rotated with the rotation operation of the actuator 12.

  In addition, inclined surface portions 12d and 12d that gently descend from the main operation portion at the center portion are provided at both ends of the opening / closing operation portion 12a provided in the actuator 12 in the connector longitudinal direction. The inclined surface portions 12d and 12d are formed so as to descend outward in the connector longitudinal direction, which is the direction in which the actuator 12 extends, and extend at an appropriate angle with respect to the connector longitudinal direction. It is formed as follows. Further, a flat surface portion extending in the connector longitudinal direction, which is the direction in which the actuator 12 extends, is provided between the inclined surface portions 12d and 12d so as to be elongated.

  In this way, the inclined surface portions 12d and 12d arranged on both ends in the connector longitudinal direction are formed so as to be smoothly continuous from both ends of the flat surface portion provided on the center side in the connector longitudinal direction. The corner portion is not formed at the boundary portion between the portions. Therefore, when the actuator 12 is rotated from the “initial position (open position)” to the “operating position (closed position)”, the actuator 12 is set to the “initial position (open position)” (see FIG. 5). In this state, the front wall surface on the front side which is the front end surface (left side end surface in FIG. 5) is pressed backward by the operator's fingertips, but as described above, on both end portions of the opening / closing operation portion 12a of the actuator 12 If the inclined surface portion 12d is provided, it becomes difficult for the operator to apply a pressing force to the portion where the inclined surface portion 12d on both ends in the longitudinal direction is provided, and the pressing force is applied to the longitudinal center portion of the actuator 12. Tend to be.

  On the other hand, the pressing force applied to the inclined surface portions 12d on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the actuator 12 is applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inclined surfaces constituting the inclined surface portion 12d. It acts from the both end sides toward the center side. Therefore, the operator's entire pressing force acts almost uniformly on the entire length of the actuator 12, and a situation occurs in which the actuator 12 is pressed in a twisted state as in the prior art. When the entire actuator 12 is rotated while maintaining a substantially flat surface, the signal transmission medium (FPC, FFC, or the like) F by the rotation of the actuator 12 is favorably performed.

[Cam drop-off prevention means at cam operating position]
As described above, the movable contact beam 13a extends in an elongated shape along the connector front-rear direction. In the connector extending direction, the movable contact beam 13a is disposed on the front side of the connector with the connecting column beam 13c interposed therebetween. It has the area | region extended to both of the back side. A signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC or the like) F is inserted into a region on the front side of the connector among regions extending on both sides of the movable support beam 13a in the movable contact beam 13a and the rear of the connector. The cam member 15 described above is rotatably mounted on the side region.

  The movable contact beam 13a in the mounting region of the cam member 15 has a cam regulating end edge (cam regulating portion) 13a3 extending substantially horizontally in a substantially straight line so as to form a lower end edge thereof. Is provided. The cam restricting edge portion (cam restricting portion) 13a3 is formed so as to continuously extend toward a region on the front side of the connector where the signal transmission medium F is disposed.

  Here, a cam locking projection 13a2 that protrudes toward the lower fixed contact beam 13b is formed at the rear end portion of the cam regulating end edge (cam regulating portion) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a. . When the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the cam locking projection 13a2 is disposed at a position slightly rearward from the opening / closing cam member 15 of the actuator 12. In addition, the cam locking projection 13 a 2 is disposed so as to face the opening / closing cam member 15 in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium F.

  When the actuator 12 is rotated to the “action position (closed position)” (see FIGS. 7 and 8), the above-described opening / closing cam member 15 is in a vertically long state, and is in the vertically long shape. The cam action surface 15a on the upper side (upper side in FIG. 8) of the opened / closed cam member 15 is disposed so as to face and oppose the cam locking projection 13a2. Accordingly, in such an arrangement relationship of “acting position (closed position)”, an external force applied to the actuator 12 on the rear side (right side in FIG. 7) is applied, so that the opening / closing cam member 15 is displaced rearward. Then, the cam action surface 15a of the actuator 12 comes into contact with the cam locking projection 13a2, thereby preventing the actuator 12 from falling off to the rear side.

[Cam drop-off prevention means at the initial cam position]
Further, in the present embodiment, the following configuration is employed as a means for preventing the actuator 12 from dropping when the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

  As described above, the pair of cam action surfaces 15 a and 15 a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the opening / closing cam member 15 provided as a part of the rotating shaft of the actuator 12. In the “initial position (open position)” of the actuator 12 (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6), the open / close cam member 15 is laid down substantially horizontally in the connector longitudinal direction. ing. Accordingly, the cam action surfaces 15a, 15a in this case are arranged so as to face the connector front-rear direction, and both cams are opposed to the cam regulation end edge (cam regulation part) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a described above. The action surfaces 15a and 15a are in a non-contact state, so that the cam function of the open / close cam member 15 is not performed.

  On the other hand, a cam engagement surface 15b, a cam holding surface 15c, and a rotation allowing surface 15e are formed continuously at a position corresponding to a portion between the pair of cam action surfaces 15a and 15a. The cam engagement surface 15b, the cam holding surface 15c, and the rotation allowing surface 15e are located outside the opening / closing cam member 15 when the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6). It is formed in the upper part of the peripheral portion, and the direction in which the actuator 12 is rotated from the “initial position (open position)” to the “operation position (closed position)” (hereinafter referred to as “initial rotation operation direction”). .)) Is arranged so as to form a continuous uneven shape from the downstream side toward the upstream side.

  Among them, the cam holding surface 15c is located on the upper side at a position directly above the aforementioned virtual center 15d of rotation when the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6). It is formed from a protruding step surface. The step surface constituting the cam holding surface 15c is a flat surface extending substantially horizontally, and is a cam regulating end extending substantially linearly at the rear end portion of the movable contact beam 13a. With respect to the edge portion (cam restricting portion) 13a3, it is arranged so as to come into surface contact from the lower side.

  Further, the cam engagement surface 15b disposed on the downstream side of the “initial rotation operation direction” with respect to the cam holding surface 15c is from the rear end portion (right end portion in FIG. 5) of the cam holding surface 15c. It is formed from a flat surface that is bent substantially perpendicularly downward and extends into a standing wall shape. The cam engaging surface 15b having such an upright flat surface is disposed so as to face the above-described cam locking projection 13a2 of the movable contact beam 13a from the front side of the connector in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium F. Is done.

  When the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” and an external force is applied to the actuator 12 toward the connector rear side (right side in FIG. 5), first, the fixed contact beam 13b. The cam action surface 15a of the open / close cam member 15 accommodated in the cam rotation recess 13b3 is formed so as to be displaced toward the rear side of the connector and to form a step on the rear side of the cam rotation recess 13b3. It tries to ride on the upper edge of the fixed contact beam 13b. That is, in this case, the opening / closing cam member 15 tends to be displaced obliquely upward toward the rear side, and the cam engagement surface 15b of the actuator 12 is movable by such a displacement of the opening / closing cam member 15. It will press-contact with the cam latching protrusion 13a2 of the contact beam 13a so that it may push up from the front side. As a result, the cam locking projection 13a2 applies a locking action to the cam engagement surface 15b of the opening / closing cam member 15, and the actuator 12 including the opening / closing cam member 15 falls off to the rear side of the connector body. Things are prevented.

  Note that the cam engagement surface 15b of the opening / closing cam member 15 is opposed to the upper edge of the fixed contact beam 13b described above when the actuator 12 is in the “operating position (closed position)” (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Thus, they are arranged so as to face each other from above. When the actuator 12 is excessively rotated beyond the “operation position (closed position)”, the cam engagement surface 15b of the opening / closing cam member 15 is fixed to the fixed contact beam 13b together with the opening / closing operation portion 12a. The actuator 12 is prevented from over-rotation by the stopper function of both members.

  Thus, even when an external force or the like acts in a direction to push the opening / closing cam member 15 outward from the connector when the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)”, the opening / closing cam member 15 is removed from the cam rotation recess 13b3. The cam engagement surface 15b of the open / close cam member 15 is brought into contact with the cam engagement protrusion 13a2 of the movable contact beam 13a, and the actuator 12 is prevented from falling off.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, when the actuator 12 is pushed outward, first, the cam holding surface 15c of the opening / closing cam member 15 is a cam regulating edge (cam) provided at the rear end portion of the movable contact beam 13a. It will come into contact with the restricting portion) 13a3. As a result, the state in which the opening / closing cam member 15 is pressed against the cam rotation recess 13b3 is maintained, the opening / closing cam member 15 is held in its original position, and the above-described cam engaging surface of the opening / closing cam member 15 is maintained. The dropout of the actuator 12 is more reliably prevented by cooperation with 15b.

[Cam posture holding means at the initial cam position]
Further, in the present embodiment, the following configuration is employed as the posture holding means of the actuator 12 when the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

  First, as described above, the cam holding surface 15c provided on the opening / closing cam member 15 is located on the opening / closing cam member 15 when the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6). A cam holding surface 15c formed of a flat surface with respect to the cam regulating end edge portion 13a3 provided so as to form a part of the edge and extending substantially linearly at the rear end portion of the movable contact beam 13a. However, it is press-contacted in a planar shape from the lower side. That is, since the cam holding surface 15c of the opening / closing cam member 15 contacts the movable contact beam 13a in a surface contact state, the acting force for maintaining the posture of the actuator 12 to maintain the open state is the opening / closing cam member 15. Therefore, the opening / closing cam member 15 is held in the “initial position (open position)” posture.

  Here, from the cam holding surface 15c of the opening / closing cam member 15 described above, the rotation-permitting surface 15e having a flat surface is continuously provided on the upstream side (left side in FIG. 6) in the “initial rotation operation direction” described above. However, it extends so as to form a descending step. The rotation allowing surface 15e extends from the upstream end (left side in FIG. 6) in the “initial rotation operation direction” of the cam holding surface 15c so as to be curved and recessed downward. It extends so as to form a flat surface later. On the upstream side (the left side in FIG. 6) of the “initial rotation operation direction” with respect to the rotation allowing surface 15e, the one cam action surface 15a is disposed so as to be continuous.

  The rotation allowing surface 15e provided to form a flat surface in this way is the above-described movable contact beam 13a when the actuator 12 is in the “initial position (open position)” (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The cam regulating end edge portion (cam regulating portion) 13a3 extends substantially horizontally in a non-contact state spaced apart in parallel to each other, and the rotation permitting surface 15e and the cam regulation of the movable contact beam 13a. An elongated gap is formed between the end edge portion (cam restricting portion) 13a3, and the two are opposed to each other substantially in parallel via the gap. An elongated gap formed between the movable contact beam 13a and the rotation allowing surface 15e is formed on the movable contact beam 13a from the cam holding surface 15c toward the front side of the connector (left side in FIG. 6). It is formed so as to extend in a strip shape along the extending direction (left-right direction in FIG. 6).

  As described above, the rotation-allowing surface 15e formed between the cam holding surface 15c and the cam action surface 15a on one side (the connector front side) is such that the opening / closing cam member 15 is in the “initial position (open position)”. Even if it is rotated from the beginning, the movable contact beam 13a is not contacted, and the opening / closing cam member 15 is initially moved over a predetermined angle θ as shown in FIGS. When rotated, the cam action surface 15a on one side (the front side of the connector) comes into contact with the cam regulation end edge (cam regulation part) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a. The rotation angle θ (hereinafter referred to as “initial rotation operation angle”) at which the cam action surface 15a on one side (connector front side) starts to contact from the “initial position (open position)” is, for example, 5 ° to 5 °. It is set to 15 °.

  Here, the cam holding surface 15c and the rotation allowing surface 15e in the present embodiment are set to have the following length relationship. That is, as described above, in the state where the opening / closing cam member 15 is in the “initial position (open position)”, the cam holding surface 15c is disposed directly above the virtual center 15d of the rotation of the opening / closing cam member 15, In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, a line segment representing the distance from the rotation virtual center 15d of the opening / closing cam member 15 to the cam regulating end edge (cam regulating portion) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a ( The cam holding surface 15c is formed so as to extend symmetrically and has a substantially equal length “B” on one side of the center line. The total length is “2B”.

  Further, the length “2B” of the cam holding surface 15c is such that the cam holding surface 15c and the rotation allowing surface 15e are opposed to the cam restricting edge portion (cam restricting portion) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a. The length “A” is set to be ½ or less (2B ≦ A / 2).

  According to this embodiment having such a configuration, when the open / close cam member 15 is in the “initial position (open position)”, the cam holding surface 15c of the open / close cam member 15 contacts the movable contact beam 13a. Therefore, the opening / closing cam member 15 itself is stably held at the “initial position (open position)”.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the cam regulation end edge portion 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a is formed as a cam regulation portion extending in a substantially planar shape corresponding to the cam holding surface 15c of the opening / closing cam member 15. The cam holding surface 15c of the open / close cam member 15 is in a stable contact state with the movable contact beam 13a so that the posture holding action of the open / close cam member 15 at the “initial position (open position)” can be reliably obtained. It has become.

  Further, immediately after the opening / closing cam member 15 in the “initial position (open position)” starts the initial rotation, a rotation allowable surface 15e continuous with the cam holding surface 15c of the opening / closing cam member 15 is provided. The movable contact beam 13a is maintained in a non-contact state, and a gap is formed between the rotation allowing surface 15e and the cam regulating end edge (cam regulating portion) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a. Since the rotation resistance is reduced by the gap, the initial rotation operation of the opening / closing cam member 15 is easily performed.

  At this time, the cam holding surface 15c is directly above the imaginary virtual center 15d of the opening / closing cam member 15 and extends symmetrically with respect to the imaginary virtual center 15d. The holding operation of the opening / closing cam member 15 by the holding surface 15c can be efficiently obtained, and the opening / closing cam member 15 can be obtained substantially evenly in the rotation direction, so that the initial rotation operation described above can be started smoothly. ing.

  Further, the opening / closing cam member 15 after such an initial rotation operation is easily performed, the cam action surface 15a of the opening / closing cam member 15 smoothly contacts the movable contact beam 13a. As a result, the cam function is started smoothly, and the possibility of occurrence of scraping or damage at the start of rotation of the opening / closing cam member 15 is reduced.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the cam regulating end edge portion (cam regulating portion) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a with which the cam action surface 15a of the open / close cam member 15 abuts is formed so as to extend substantially linearly. However, the cam regulation end edge portion (cam regulation portion) 13a3 of the movable contact beam 13a is slightly curved so that the cam action surface 15a of the opening / closing cam member 15 is not scraped or damaged. Is also possible.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and a flexible flat cable (FFC) are used as a signal transmission medium fixed to the electrical connector. The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a medium for use is used.

  Furthermore, although the actuator according to the above-described embodiment is disposed at the rear end portion of the insulating housing, the electrical connector in which the actuator is disposed at the front end side portion, or between the front end side portion and the rear end side portion. The present invention can be similarly applied to an electrical connector in which an actuator is disposed in a portion.

  Moreover, although the electrical connector according to the above-described embodiment uses conductive contacts having different shapes, the present invention can be similarly applied even if conductive contacts having the same shape are used. is there.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a wide variety of electrical connectors used in various electrical devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrical connector 11 Insulation housing 11a Medium insertion port 11b Component attachment port 12 Actuator (connection operation means)
12a Opening / closing operation part 12b Slit-like through-hole part 12c Protective protrusion 12d Inclined surface part 13, 14 Conductive contact (contact member)
13a Movable contact beam (second contact beam)
13a1 Upper terminal contact convex portion 13a2 Cam locking projection 13a3 Cam restricting edge (cam restricting portion)
13b Fixed contact beam (first contact beam)
13b1 Lower terminal contact convex portion 13b2 Substrate connecting portion 13b3 Cam rotation concave portion 13c Connecting strut beam 15 Opening / closing cam member 15a Cam action surface 15b Cam engagement surface 15c Cam holding surface 15d Virtual center of rotation 15e Rotation allowable surface F Signal transmission Medium (FPC or FFC, etc.)
Fa wiring pattern

Claims (7)

Be one signal transmission medium is inserted or removed for the insulating housing,
Wherein comprising a contact member attached to the insulating housing, and a cam member arranged to contact with the contact member,
When the cam member is rotated from the initial position to the operating position with respect to the signal transmission medium inserted into the insulating housing, the contact member is swung so as to sandwich the signal transmission medium. In the electrical connector configured,
The cam member is in surface contact with the contact member and extends from the cam holding surface to hold the cam member at the initial position, and extends from the cam holding surface to the contact member at the initial position. a rotation allowing surface disposed so as to face in a non-contact state, was closed Te,
The cam holding surface when the cam member is in the initial position is a direction in which the signal transmission medium is inserted with respect to a line segment representing a distance from a virtual center of rotation of the cam member to the contact member. and electrical connectors characterized that you have extend on either side of the direction to be pulled out.   The rotation-permitting surface is in a substantially parallel facing relationship so as to form a gap with the contact member on the upstream side of the cam holding surface in the rotation direction of the cam member. The electrical connector according to claim 1.   The contact member is formed so that a portion facing the cam holding surface and the rotation allowing surface of the cam member at the initial position forms an end edge extending substantially linearly. The electrical connector according to claim 1. A cam action surface having a cam function is provided on the upstream side of the rotation permission surface in the rotation direction of the cam member,
2. The cam action surface is in an arrangement relationship in which the cam member contacts the contact member after the cam member is rotated from the initial position toward the action position by a predetermined rotation angle. Electrical connector as described.   The cam holding surface extends over a length of ½ or less of the length of the cam holding surface and the rotation allowing surface facing the contact member at the initial position. The electrical connector according to claim 1. The cam holding surface is on both sides of the direction in which the signal transmission medium is inserted and the direction in which the signal transmission medium is removed with respect to a line segment representing a distance from the virtual center of rotation of the cam member at the initial position to the contact member. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connectors extend over substantially the same length.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact member includes a cam restricting portion extending in a substantially flat shape corresponding to the cam holding surface.

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