JPH09259959A - Tube type elastomer connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elastomer connector capable of facilitating electrical connection of a pin terminal and a lead wire and having its flexibility capable of adopting various connection form by using a tube-shaped conductive elastomer. SOLUTION: Of this connector 1 a connector main body 2 is made of a rectangular tube 3 molded by means of a conductive elastomer and of an insulation cover 4 of electric insulation elastomer covered at the outer circumference of the tube 3. Here, an opening ends 3a and 3b of the tube 3 are formed at an engagement connection portion at which the pin terminal or the lead wire are pressed-in, engaged, and electrically connected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an elastomer connector, and more particularly to a tube type elastomer connector using a tube-shaped conductive elastomer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional elastomer connector is typically a laminated connector formed by alternately laminating and bonding thin films of conductive rubber and insulating rubber, and mainly sandwiches and presses between two printed wiring boards. Therefore, it is used to electrically connect mutually conductive patterns. However, such a laminated elastomer connector cannot be applied to the connection of pin terminals and lead wires.

On the other hand, in order to connect an electronic component such as an LED (light emitting diode) to a circuit of a printed wiring board, a method of directly soldering the lead wire to the circuit has been adopted. The method not only adversely affects the LEDs due to solder heat, but also uses L for testing.
In the case where the circuit is replaceably connected like the ED, there is a problem that the replacement work requires time and effort.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and facilitates electrical connection of pin terminals and lead wires by using a tube-shaped conductive elastomer, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly flexible tube-type elastomer connector that can adopt the above-mentioned connection form.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an elastomer connector according to the present invention comprises an elongated tube whose connector body is formed of a conductive elastomer, and an electrically insulating elastomer coated on the outer peripheral portion of the tube. The insulating end of the tube is formed, and the open end of the tube is formed into a fitting connection portion for press-fitting and fitting a pin terminal or a lead wire to electrically connect.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a tube-type elastomer connector 1 according to the present invention, in which a connector body 2 is formed of a conductive elastomer, for example, a long and thin elongated elastic rubber made of silicone rubber filled with carbon powder as a conductive filler. In consideration of compatibility between the tube 3 and the electrically insulating elastomer covering the outer peripheral portion of the tube 3, for example, the tube 3, an insulating cover 4 formed of the same electrically insulating rubber such as silicone rubber without a conductive filler. And has flexibility as a whole. The open end portions 3a and 3b at both ends of the tube 3 serve as fitting connection portions for press-fitting and fitting a pin terminal or a lead wire, which will be described later, to electrically connect.
In addition, a conductive metal thin wire 5 of gold, silver, copper or the like is embedded in the tube 3 over the entire length and substantially parallel to the axis. The conductive thin metal wire 5 is buried in order to reduce the electric resistance value of the tube 3, and does not necessarily have to be buried when the tube 3 is short. However, when the tube 3 becomes long, it is difficult to put it into practical use without embedding the conductive metal thin wire 5. When the conductive thin metal wire 5 is embedded in the tube 3, it is preferable to arrange the conductive metal thin wire 5 as close as possible to the inner peripheral surfaces of the opening ends 3a and 3b, which are fitting connection portions. It is desirable that the thin metal wire 5 has a thickness of 1 to 200 μm.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the open end portion 3a of the tube 3 serving as a fitting connection portion of a pin terminal or a lead wire,
3b is formed thicker than the other parts of the tube 3 so as to increase the pressure contact holding force of the pin terminal or the lead wire, while the tube 3 main body is made thin so that the co-connector main body 2 is sufficiently flexible. It is possible to ensure a good mating connection state with the pin terminal or the lead wire while providing the property.

FIG. 4 shows an example of use of the tube type elastomer connector 1 having the above structure. Each pin terminal 12 of the pin header 11 mounted on the printed wiring board 10 is electrically connected to a circuit (not shown) of the printed wiring board 10. In the example shown on the right side of FIG.
An LED (light emitting diode) 13 is connected to a pair of pin terminals 12 and 12 by using two tube connectors 1, and one open end 3a of each tube 3 is fitted and connected to the pin terminal 12. At the same time, LE on the other open end 3b
The lead wire 14 of D13 is fitted and connected to be electrically connected. In this case, the LED 13 has its lead wire 14
Is simply press-fitted into the open end 3b of the tube connector 1, so that the replacement work can be easily performed.

In the usage example shown on the left side of FIG. 4, one relatively short tube connector 1'is curved so that the open end portions 3a, 3b at both ends are fitted to the pair of pin terminals 12, 12. An example is shown in which connection is made and jumper connection is made.

[0011]

As described above, in the tube type elastomer connector of the present invention, electrical connection with pin terminals and lead wires can be made very easily, and detaching work is also easy. Moreover, since the opening end of the tube, which is the fitting connection portion, elastically adheres to the pin terminal and the lead wire, it is also excellent in terms of vibration resistance, waterproofness, and corrosion resistance. Also, since the connector body has the same flexibility as an electric wire, it can be connected in the same way as an ordinary electric wire, and since it does not require soldering like an electric wire, Wiring work can be done easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tube type elastomer connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the connector.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part showing another embodiment of the connector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a usage example of the connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tube Type Elastomer Connector 2 Connector Body 3 Tubes 3a, 3b Open End of Tube 3 4 Insulation Cover 5 Conductive Metal Fine Wire 12 Pin Terminal 13 LED (Light Emitting Diode) 14 Lead Wire

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connector body comprises an elongated tube formed of a conductive elastomer, and an insulating cover of an electrically insulating elastomer covering the outer peripheral portion of the tube,
A tube type elastomer connector in which an open end of the tube is formed in a fitting connection portion for press-fitting and fitting a pin terminal or a lead wire to electrically connect. 2. The tube type elastomer connector according to claim 1, wherein the fitting connection portion is formed by making an opening end portion of the tube thicker than a tube body. 3. The tube type elastomer connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a conductive metal thin wire is embedded in the tube over the entire length thereof.