JPH10335014A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector which can be fixed and used at an arbitrary or specified angle by adopting a configuration which allows a cable to be inserted in an actuator at an arbitrary angle. SOLUTION: A housing 30 which defines a cable insertion path 31 is fixed to a base 20 which secures and holds connector terminals 12 in a rotatable manner, an actuator 40 is fitted to the hosing 30 in a slidably free manner between a cable insertion position and a cable connection position; and when the actuator 40 is slidably displaced to the cable connection position, the flat cable 50 which is inserted in the cable insertion path 31 up to an insertion limit where a top of the flat cable 50 reaches the connector terminals 12 in the cable insertion position is crimped and held to the connector terminals 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector in which a cable is inserted into an actuator at an arbitrary angle and can be used at an arbitrary angle or fixed at a specific angle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a conventional connector used for electrically and mechanically connecting a cable such as a flat cable to a circuit board or the like. In the connector 1 shown in the figure, a cable insertion path 3a for inserting a flat cable 4 is formed in a central portion of a housing 3 for aligning and holding a plurality of connector terminals 2 inserted and soldered to a substrate or the like. I have. The connector terminal 2
The distal end is bent downward at a substantially right angle on the upper surface of the bottom of the housing 3 and extends as a lead that is connected by soldering to the substrate. More specifically, the upper end of the lead portion of the connector terminal 2 is bent horizontally toward the inside of the housing 3,
After extending along the bottom 3b, it is raised along the vertical wall of the step 3c, and is further bent horizontally along the horizontal wall of the step 3c. An actuator 5 having a tongue 5a is slidably disposed in the cable insertion path 3a.
The distal end of the inserted flat cable 4 is pressed against the connector terminal 2 by pushing the actuator 5 into the housing 3.

That is, when connecting the flat cable 4 to the connector 1, first, the flat cable 4 is inserted into the cable insertion path 3a of the housing 3 from the tip end side. Next, when the actuator 5 is pushed in the cable insertion direction (the direction of the arrow A in the figure), the tongue 5
Since a presses the front end of the flat cable 4 from the back surface side, the front end of the flat cable 4 is sandwiched between the tongue 5a and the connector terminal 2, and is electrically and mechanically connected to the connector terminal 2.

[0004]

The above conventional connector 1
Is a configuration in which the flat cable 4 is inserted into the housing 3 and is held between the tongue 5a and the connector terminal 2 to obtain an electrical and mechanical connection. there were. That is, first, the housing 3
However, when the flat cable 4 is fixed to another circuit, the insertion angle of the flat cable 4 is limited only to a specific direction, so that an arbitrary insertion angle cannot be obtained. For this reason, for example, when the horizontal connector 1 for horizontally inserting the flat cable 4 is used, the flat cable 4 must be inserted horizontally, and the hand holding the flat cable 4 at the time of insertion tends to interfere with other circuits. In addition, since the flat cable 4 cannot be easily inserted, the operation itself is troublesome, and there is a problem that a defect such as incomplete insertion or damage to a terminal portion is often caused.

Further, since the connection angle of the flat cable 4 is fixed, it is necessary to prepare, for example, two types of connectors 1 having the same number of contacts, that is, a horizontal type and a vertical type. If a cable insertion angle of, for example, 30 degrees or 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal is required, a connector having such a special insertion angle must be specially ordered, and the free design of electronic equipment must be customized. There was a problem that this would make it even more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to insert a cable into an actuator at an arbitrary angle so that the cable can be used at an arbitrary angle or fixed at a specific angle. It is.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a base for fixing and holding a connector terminal, and a housing defining a cable insertion path and rotatably mounted on the base. And the housing is slidably engaged between a cable insertion position and a cable connection position with respect to the housing, and is inserted into the cable insertion path up to an insertion limit at which the tip reaches the connector terminal at the cable insertion position. An actuator for holding the cable by pressing it against the connector terminal together with the sliding displacement to the cable connection position.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided the above-mentioned connector terminal, wherein the cable connection portion has an annular shape around a rotation center axis of the housing, and the cable is inserted into the cable insertion path to the insertion limit, The present invention is characterized in that it contacts the annular cable connection portion regardless of the rotation angle of the housing. Also, the actuator slides in the cable insertion path of the housing and presses the cable against the tongue, and a pair of legs which slide on the side walls of the housing and are locked at the cable connection position. And characterized in that:

Further, according to the present invention, the connector terminal has a flat shape in which a cable connection portion is in contact with an imaginary circumference around a rotation center axis of the housing, and is inserted into the cable insertion path to the insertion limit. Wherein the cable contacts the flat cable connection portion when the housing is rotated to a predetermined rotation posture. Also, the actuator slides in the cable insertion path of the housing and presses the cable against the tongue, and a pair of arms engaged with both side walls of the housing and locked at the cable connection position. And a unit.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the connector of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a flat cable connecting step of the connector shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the connector of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a flat cable connecting step of the connector shown in FIG. .

In a connector 11 shown in FIG. 1, a housing 30 is rotatably mounted on a base 20 for fixing and holding a connector terminal 12, and an actuator 40 having a cable insertion hole 41 is engaged and held in the housing 30. Make up the configuration. The base 20 has the left and right ends of the housing support shaft 21 held by a pair of semi-disk-shaped bearing protrusions 22.
A portion of the housing support shaft protruding from the bearing protrusion 22 is used as a rotation shaft for the housing 30. A plurality of connector terminals 12 are wound around the circumference of the housing support shaft 21 at substantially equal intervals. The distal ends of these connector terminals 12 are
It extends alternately by different distances along the bottoms 23 of the zeros, is bent vertically in the middle, penetrates the bottoms 23, and hangs below the base 23 as leads arranged in two rows. The hanging portion is fixed on the substrate by soldering, and is mechanically and electrically connected to another circuit.

The housing 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a rectangular cross section through which a cable insertion path 31 is inserted at the center, and a housing support shaft 2 is attached to ears 32 extending from left and right side walls.
A shaft hole 33 into which 1 is fitted is formed. Grooves 34 are formed on the left and right side walls to guide the claw portions 45 of the actuator 40 in sliding contact with each other. ,
36 are protrudingly provided. Meanwhile, the actuator 40
Is a cable insertion hole 41 for the flat cable 50.
Are integrally formed with a top plate portion 42 formed in the center, a tongue portion 43 extending downward from the top plate portion 42, and a pair of left and right leg portions 44 on both sides of the tongue portion 43 and facing each other. . At the tip of the leg portion 44, a claw portion 4 to be locked to the locking projections 35, 36 is provided.
5 are integrally formed. The legs 44 are connected to the housing 30.
Guides the insertion of the actuator 40 with respect to
At the insertion limit, the actuator 40 is
Works securely. The tongue 43 inserted into the housing 30 presses the terminal portion at the tip of the flat cable 50 against the connector terminal 12, and the flat cable 50
And the connector terminals 12 are firmly and electrically connected to each other.

When connecting the flat cable 50 to the connector 11, first, the housing 30 is connected to the base 20.
Is adjusted so that the flat cable 50 can be easily inserted. Next, the flat cable 50 is inserted into the housing 30 from the distal end side through the cable insertion hole 41 of the actuator 40. At this time, the tip of the flat cable 50 is inserted along the wall surface of the tongue 43. When the insertion is continued in this manner, and as shown in FIG. 2A, when the tip of the flat cable 50 reaches the insertion limit where it comes into contact with the connector terminal 12 in the housing 30,
In this state, the housing 30 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2A, that is, in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2B. Here, the housing 30 is rotated substantially 90 degrees, and in that state, the actuator 40 is pushed into the housing 30 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. As a result, the tongue portion 43 which has been slightly separated from the connector terminal 12 until then is provided.
Of the flat cable 50 is inserted between the connector terminal 12 and the deepest portion of the housing 30. As a result, the tip of the flat cable 50 is
As a result, the flat cable 50 and the connector terminal 12 are electrically connected to each other while being pressed from the rear side.

The flat cable 50 is connected to the connector 1
When the actuator 40 is to be detached from the actuator 1, the actuator 40 is slid in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.
The pressing on the flat cable 50 may be released, and the flat cable 50 may be pulled out.

As described above, according to the connector 11,
A housing 30 that defines a cable insertion path 31 is rotatably assembled to a base 20 that fixes and holds the connector terminal 12, and an actuator 40 is slid relative to the housing 30 between a cable insertion position and a cable connection position. When the flat cable 50 inserted into the cable insertion path 31 up to the insertion limit at which the distal end reaches the connector terminal 12 at the cable insertion position is slidably displaced, the connector is displaced when the actuator 40 is slid to the cable connection position. It can be held in pressure contact with the terminal 12. Therefore, by rotating the housing 30 at an arbitrary rotation angle with respect to the base 20, the flat cable 5 can be freely rotated without interfering with other circuit elements around the connector 11.
0 can be inserted, thereby greatly improving workability at the time of cable connection. In addition, since the connection angle between the housing 30 and the flat cable 50 can be freely set in a state where the connector terminal 12 and the flat cable 50 are connected by slidingly displacing the actuator 40, two types of connectors, a vertical type and a horizontal type, are prepared. There is no need to perform this operation, and the number of types of connectors can be reduced, thereby reducing the time and effort for component management. Moreover, the vertical type (90 degrees) and the horizontal type (0
Degrees), such as 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 1
A special connection angle, such as 20 degrees, is one type of connector 11
Therefore, a very wide versatility can be obtained, and the degree of freedom in designing electronic devices or electric devices can be greatly expanded.

The flat cable 50 in which the connector terminal 12 has a cable connection portion formed in an annular shape around the rotation center axis of the housing 30 and is inserted into the cable insertion path 31 to the insertion limit is connected to the rotation of the housing 30. Since the configuration is such that the flat cable 50 and the connector terminal 12 can be connected at an arbitrary angle, regardless of the moving angle, the flat cable 50 can be connected to the connector terminal 12 at any angle.
Since any kind of angle deviating from (degree) can be handled by one kind of connector 11, it is possible to obtain an extremely wide versatility without selecting an applicable object.

The actuator 40 slides in the cable insertion path 31 of the housing 30 and presses the flat cable 50 against the tongue 43, and slides on both side walls of the housing 30 to be locked at the cable connection position. A pair of legs 4
4, a tongue 43 for pressing the connector terminal 12 and the flat cable 50 and a leg 44 for guiding the sliding of the tongue 43 and engaging the cable at the cable connection position.
The flat cable 50 can be reliably inserted and pressed and held by the actuator 40 having the tongue portion 43, and the tongue portion 43 is released from the locking function of the actuator 40 with respect to the housing 30.
The flat cable 50 is devoted solely to the press-contact holding of the flat cable 50 to prevent the flat cable 50 from being unnecessarily detached by an external force.

In the above embodiment, the case where the connector terminal 12 is wound counterclockwise in the state shown in FIG. 2B with respect to the housing support shaft 21 is taken as an example, but the connector 51 shown in FIG. As described above, the connector terminal 52 can be wound around the housing support shaft 61 in the clockwise direction in the same figure, and the horizontal portion reaching the lead can be separated from the bottom of the base 60. In this case, the upper end of the terminal at the tip of the flat cable 50 is pressed by the connector terminal 52.
That is, by changing the direction in which the connector terminal 50 is wound around the housing support shaft 61, it is possible to manufacture the upper surface pressure-contact type connector 51 different from the lower surface pressure-contact type connector 11.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the connector terminals 12 and 52 whose one ends are wound around the housing support shafts 21 and 61 in an annular shape is used as an example, but the connection angle with the flat cable 40 is fixed. If so, the cable connection portion of the connector terminal does not necessarily have to be annular. Therefore, a connector terminal 112 having no annular portion, such as the connector 111 shown in FIG. 4, can be employed. The connector 111 shown in FIG.
A short-axis housing support shaft 121 is protruded from an ear 132 of 30, and a shaft hole 133 that engages with the housing support shaft 121 is formed in the base 120. Notches 124 are formed on both sides of the base 120 so that the arms 144 at both ends of the actuator 140 engage with each other, and a locking projection 125 for fixing the actuator 140 protrudes near the notch 124. .

When the flat cable 50 is connected to the connector 111, as shown in FIG. 5A, the flat cable 50 is inserted into the actuator 140 from the distal end side with the housing 130 standing upright with respect to the base 120. Insert into the hole 141. When the distal end of the flat cable 50 reaches the insertion limit, the housing 130 is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Next, when the actuator 140 is slid in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5B, the tongue 143 of the actuator 140 presses the tip of the flat cable 50, and the flat cable 50 is moved to the tongue 143 and the connector terminal 112.
Is sandwiched between. Thereby, the flat cable 5
0 and the connector terminal 112 are electrically connected to each other, and at the same time, the arm 144 engaging with the notch 124 of the base 120 is locked over the locking projection 125, and the connection state is mechanically fixed. .

As described above, in the connector 111, the cable connecting portion of the connector terminal 112 is
When the flat cable 50 having a flat shape in contact with an imaginary circumference around the rotation center axis of the flat cable 50 and inserted into the cable insertion path 131 to the insertion limit rotates the housing 130 to a predetermined rotation posture. Since the flat cable 50 is in contact with the flat cable connection portion, the connection angle between the flat cable 50 and the connector terminal 112 is limited to only a predetermined angle.
Can be set at any angle.
Therefore, although the connector terminal 112 is fixed at a predetermined connection angle corresponding to the application place, the flat cable 50 can be inserted at an arbitrary angle that does not interfere with other peripheral circuits, thereby simplifying the cable connection operation. it can.

An actuator 140 slides in the cable insertion path 131 of the housing 130 to press the flat cable 50 against the tongue 143.
0 and a pair of arms 144 which are engaged with both side walls and are locked at the cable connection position.
A tongue 143 for pressing the cable with the flat cable 50;
An actuator 14 having an arm 144 for guiding the sliding of the tongue 143 and engaging in locking at the cable connection position.
With 0, the flat cable 50 can be reliably inserted and pressed and held.

In the above embodiment, since the connection angle is horizontal, the connector 111 having the base 120 having a horizontal bottom is illustrated. However, if a connection angle of 30 degrees is required, for example, With respect to horizontal
It is only necessary to incline by the degree, and the bottom of the base 120 may have an angle corresponding to the application.

In each of the above embodiments, the connector 11 using the flat cable 50 as the cable,
Although the cables 51 and 111 are taken as an example, the cable used may be a cable other than the flat cable 50.

[0025]

As described above, according to the connector of the present invention, the base for fixing and holding the connector terminal is provided with:
A housing defining a cable insertion path is rotatably assembled, and an actuator is slidably engaged with the housing between a cable insertion position and a cable connection position, and a tip reaches the connector terminal at the cable insertion position. When the actuator is slid to the cable connection position, the cable inserted into the cable insertion path up to the insertion limit is pressed against the connector terminal and held, so that the housing can be rotated at any angle with respect to the base. By rotating the cable, the cable can be inserted at a free angle that does not interfere with other circuit elements around the connector,
This greatly improves the workability when connecting the cable, and allows the connection angle between the housing and the cable to be freely set while the actuator is slid and displaced to connect the connector terminal to the cable. This eliminates the need to prepare two types of connectors, a horizontal type and a horizontal type, so that the number of types of connectors can be reduced to reduce the trouble of parts management, and that various angles deviating from the vertical type (90 degrees) and the horizontal type (0 degrees) Special connector angles such as 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 120 degrees can be handled by one type of connector, so it is possible to obtain extremely wide versatility and greatly expand the degree of freedom in designing electronic or electrical equipment. It has excellent effects such as being able to perform.

Further, according to the present invention, the cable in which the connector terminal has a cable connection portion formed in an annular shape around the rotation center axis of the housing and the cable inserted into the cable insertion path up to the insertion limit is rotated by the rotation of the housing Because it is configured to contact the ring-shaped cable connection part regardless of the angle, the connection between the cable and the connector terminal is possible at any angle, and any angle that deviates from the vertical type (90 degrees) and the horizontal type (0 degrees) Since a single type of connector can be used, there is an effect that an extremely wide versatility can be obtained without selecting an application object.

[0027] Further, a tongue portion in which the actuator slides in the cable insertion path of the housing and presses the cable, and a pair of leg portions which slide in contact with both side walls of the housing and are locked at the cable connection position. With the actuator having a tongue for pressing the connector terminal and the cable and a leg for guiding the sliding of the tongue and locking at the cable connection position, the insertion and the press-contact holding of the cable are performed. Since the tongue is released from the function of locking the actuator to the housing, the tongue is devoted solely to the press-contact holding of the cable to the connector terminal, preventing unnecessary detachment of the cable due to external force. It has effects such as being able to do.

Further, according to the present invention, a cable in which a connector terminal has a flat shape in which a cable connecting portion is in contact with an imaginary circumference around a rotation center axis of a housing, and a cable inserted into a cable insertion path to an insertion limit, When the housing is turned to a predetermined rotation position, the connection between the cable and the connector terminal is limited to only a predetermined angle because the cable is connected to the flat-shaped cable connection portion. The insertion angle can be any angle, so the connector terminal is fixed at a predetermined connection angle corresponding to the application place, but the cable can be inserted at any angle that does not interfere with the surrounding circuits and other circuits, This has the effect of simplifying the connection work.

Also, the actuator has a tongue which slides in the cable insertion path of the housing and presses the cable against the cable.
A tongue for engaging the connector terminal with the cable, and a cable for guiding the sliding of the tongue to have a pair of arms engaged with both side walls of the housing and locked at the cable connection position. With the actuator having the arm portion that is engaged at the connection position, the insertion and the press-contact holding of the cable can be reliably performed, and the tongue portion is released from the locking function of the actuator with respect to the housing. It is possible to prevent the cable from being unnecessarily detached due to an external force, for example, by focusing only on the press-contact holding of the cable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a flat cable connecting step of the connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a flat cable connecting step of the connector shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a conventional connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 51, 111 Connector 12, 52, 112 Connector terminal 20, 60, 120 Base 21, 61, 121 Housing support shaft 30, 130 Housing 33, 133 Shaft hole 35, 36 Locking projection 31, 131 Cable insertion path 40, 140 Actuator 41, 141 Cable insertion hole 43, 143 Tongue 44 Leg 50 Flat cable 124 Notch 125 Locking projection 144 Arm

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A base for fixing and holding a connector terminal, a housing defining a cable insertion path and rotatably assembled to the base, and a cable insertion position and a cable connection position with respect to the housing. The cable is slidably engaged between the cable insertion positions, and the cable inserted into the cable insertion path up to the insertion limit at which the tip reaches the connector terminal at the cable insertion position, along with the sliding displacement to the cable connection position, A connector comprising: an actuator that presses and holds the connector terminal. 2. The connector terminal, wherein a cable connection portion has an annular shape around a rotation center axis of the housing,
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the cable inserted into the cable insertion path up to the insertion limit abuts on the annular cable connection portion regardless of a rotation angle of the housing. 3. 3. The actuator has a tongue portion which slides in the cable insertion path of the housing and presses the cable, and a pair of the tongues which are brought into sliding contact with both side walls of the housing and locked at the cable connection position. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 4. The connector terminal according to claim 1, wherein the cable connection portion has a flat shape in contact with an imaginary circumference around a rotation center axis of the housing, and the cable inserted into the cable insertion path up to the insertion limit is provided. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein when the housing is turned to a predetermined turning posture, the housing comes into contact with the flat cable connection portion. 5. The actuator is engaged at both ends of the housing with the tongue that slides in the cable insertion path of the housing and presses the cable, and is locked at the cable connection position. 5. The connector according to claim 4, comprising a pair of arms.