JPH1041019A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connector in which male contacts arranged in a male connector portion are protected. SOLUTION: An electric connector C1 is equipped with a male connector portion 10 in which male contacts 12 are arranged to which female contacts 23 are to be fitted. The electric connecter C1 is composed of an insulating material plate-like locator 15 in which contact holes 15a through which male contacts 12 are to pass are arranged and which is to be mounted so so as to be possible to slide on the male contacts 15a, and elastic bodies 16, 16 which energize the plate-like locator 15 toward the tips of the male contacts 12. Thereby, the male contacts 12 are effectively protected from an external shock by the plate-like locator 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector for protecting male contacts arranged in a male connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a male connector portion of an electrical connector, a plurality of male contacts, usually composed of shaft pins, are arranged. A female contact of a female connector portion is fitted to the male contact or a printed circuit board. For example, female contacts attached to the electronic (electric) component side are fitted to each other to make electrical connection.

An example of such a conventional electrical connector is shown in FIG. In the case of the electrical connector C0, the electrical connector _C0 includes a male connector portion 100 and a female connector portion 200. Each of the connector portions 100, 200 has its housing (exterior generally called a block) 101, 201 formed of an insulating resin material or the like. Become. In the male connector portion 100, a plurality of male contacts 102 each composed of an axial pin are arranged on the bottom surface of the housing 101, and one of the male contacts 102 penetrating this bottom portion is projected outward on the bottom surface side. The female connector housing portion 10 of the housing 101 is a space portion into which the female block portion 202 of the female connector portion 200 is inserted.
3 and the front end thereof is occupied just in line with the opening 103a of the female connector housing 103. A female contact 203 into which the male contact 102 is inserted is arranged in the female block portion 202 of the female connector portion 200, while a female contact 203 is inserted from the female contact 203 side to the opposite side of the female block portion 202. The connection contacts 204 for connection formed and formed (may be formed separately) are arranged.

[0004]

However, in the male connector portion 100 having the above structure, the male contacts 102 are provided.
Are arranged in such a manner as to be exposed at the opening 103a of the female connector accommodating portion 103, and are basically in a free state. Therefore, when an external force is applied in some way during transportation or handling, etc. However, the arrangement interval may be slightly deformed, the tip itself may be bent or deformed, or the tips may come into contact with each other. In particular, in recent years, in the field of electric connectors, the size of components has been reduced, and the diameter of the male contacts 102 has been reduced, and the above-mentioned disorder, deformation, mutual contact, and the like have been likely to occur. ing.

[0005] When the female contact 203 of the female connector portion 200 is fitted to the male contact 102 in an abnormal state having such irregularity or deformation, a contact failure occurs or sometimes the female contact 203 cannot be fitted. In particular, in the case of a contact failure, even if the connection is good at the beginning, the contact failure may occur over time. The occurrence of such a poor contact over time is difficult to detect and often causes a troublesome problem.

If the female connector portion 200 is forcibly fitted with such deviation or deformation, the male contact 102 side is further deformed.
A large load is also applied to the female contact 203 side, which may lead to damage. In such a case, it is extremely difficult to correct the miniaturized male contact 102 or female contact 203 itself while being attached to the electronic component, and a considerable work time is required. If such an abnormality is found, it may happen that the electronic component itself must be discarded. Such discarding of the electronic component itself often results in an increase in the manufacturing cost, since the work steps and the mounted components up to that point are wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation, and has an electrical connector in which a male contact is provided with an insulating plate-like locator in which contact holes are arranged to protect the male contact. Is to be provided.

[0008]

Means (structure) according to the present invention is an electric connector having a male connector portion in which male contacts to which female contacts are fitted are arranged. It comprises an insulating plate-like locator in which contact holes through which the contacts penetrate are arranged and slidably mounted on the male contact, and an elastic body for urging the plate-like locator toward the tip of the male contact. In electrical connector.

[0009]

1 to 4 show an example of an embodiment of an electric connector according to the present invention. Electrical connector C ₁ of this embodiment, similarly to the conventional, the male connector section 10
And the female connector section 20, and each connector section 10, 2
The 0 housings 11 and 21 are formed of an insulating resin material or the like.

In the male connector section 10, reference numeral 12 denotes a male contact composed of a plurality of shaft pins arranged on a bottom portion of the housing 11, and reference numeral 13 denotes a male contact 12 having the male contact 12 erected therein. 1, 14 are space portions of the female connector housing portion 13, particularly space portions on both sides in the arrangement direction of the male contacts 12 (FIG. 1). 2 and 3, the expansion housing portions 15 formed continuously from left and right) are housed in the female connector housing portion 13 and the two expansion housing portions 14 and 14, and as shown in FIGS. An insulating plate-like locator that is arranged so as to be slidably mounted on the male contact 12 in which contact holes 15a through which the
5b and 15b are stopper portions of the plate-like locator 15,
Reference numerals 11a, 11a denote, for example, extending portions of the housing 11, and stopper portions 15b,
The stopper receiving portions 16a and 16b are in contact with the stopper portions 15b and 15b of the plate-like locator 15 and the bottom concave portions 14a and 14a of the two extended storage portions 14 and 14.
An elastic body (e.g., an elastic body such as a sponge, or an elastic body obtained by folding a thin plate made of resin or metal) made of a coil spring inserted between the elastic members and biasing the plate-like locator 15 toward the distal end of the male contact 12. Use is also possible). In the female connector section 20, reference numeral 22 denotes a female block section in which the female contacts 23 into which the male contacts 12 are inserted are arranged in a built-in manner, and 24 is formed continuously on the opposite side to this section (separately formed). Connection contacts for connection arranged in a row.

As described above, the male connector portion 10 mainly includes the housing 11, the male contacts 12, the plate-like locator 15, and the elastic members 16 and 16.
In a simplified form, the number of male contacts 12 is illustrated as five, but in an actual product, the total number of contacts, the number of arrangements, the pitch thereof, and the like may be appropriately designed depending on the application. In the case of the male connector section 10, for example, the length of the male contacts 12 in the arrangement direction can be provided as about 80 mm, the width can be about 50 mm, and the height (thickness) can be about 20 to 30 mm. The material of the housing 11 (same for the housing 21) is plastic, especially when heat resistance is required.
Polyamide resin (for example, 46PA), polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LC
P), and considering the cost and moldability, it is preferable to use 46PA of the polyamide resin. And
In specific molding, molding may be performed by injection molding or the like.

The male contact 12 has a fixed portion fixed to the housing 11 as described above, a contact portion fitted (contacted) with the mating female contact portion 23, and a tail portion connected to a substrate or the like. Three-part housing 1
When fixing to the housing 1, it may be performed by press-fitting into a small hole formed in the housing 11 in advance. Further, as the material to be used, any material may be used as long as it is a metal having good conductivity, and in general, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, brass, and the like are mentioned. In view of workability and conductivity, brass is preferable. . In actual molding,
It may be formed by pressing or the like.

The insulator of the plate-like locator 15 is not particularly limited. For example, a plate-like body made of an insulating resin material, a hard insulating paper material, a hard insulating cloth hardened with resin or glue, or the like. Examples include a composite plate-like body obtained by combining these materials and other materials, a metal plate-like body whose surface is subjected to insulation treatment, and a plate-like body of an insulating ceramic material. Further, the positions of the stopper portions 15b, 15b of the plate-like locator 15 are not limited to the left and right in FIG. Of course, in that case, the extended storage portions 14
Are not limited to the left and right sides in FIG. 1 but are provided in corresponding directions. Stopper receiving portion 11a, 1 on housing 11 side
The same applies to 1a.

In the electrical connector C ₁ of the present invention thus constructed, the male connector 10 before the female connector 20 is fitted is provided with a plate-like locator 15 as shown in FIG. Is elastically urged by the restoring force of the elastic bodies 16, 16, and the stopper portions 15 b, 15 b are in contact with the stopper receiving portions 11 a, 11 a of the housing 11. As a result, the tip of the male contact 12 (including the portion near the tip) is housed in the contact hole 15 a of the plate-like locator 15. In this case, the tip may be substantially flush with the surface (exposed surface) of the plate-like locator 15, but it is preferable that the tip slightly falls into the contact hole 15a in view of the protection function described later.

Normally, the male connector section 10 is transported or handled in the above-described state.
At this time, even if an external force acts in the form of a collision with an external object, the external force acts only on the surface of the plate-like locator 15 and does not directly act on the male contact 12. 12 is protected.

That is, when an external force acts on the surface of the plate-like locator 15 in an oblique direction (non-vertical direction), the plurality of male contacts 12 stored in the contact holes 15a of the plate-like locator 15 Since the plate-like locator 15 exerts a kind of braking action, the plate-like locator 15 hardly moves and functions as a protection plate (protector). Also, at this time, the impact force of the external force is dispersed by the plurality of male contacts 12, so that the impact force on each one male contact 12 is significantly reduced. Protection is achieved.

On the other hand, with respect to the surface of the plate-like locator 15,
When an external force acts from the vertical direction, the plate-like locator 1
5 itself is guided by a plurality of male contacts 12 and is in a slidable state.
The individual male contacts 12 themselves are stored in the contact holes 15a of the plate-like locator 15, and are supported from the inner wall surface side of the contact holes 15a. Present. That is, the male contacts 12 are not easily misaligned or bent, and as a result, the male contacts 12 are protected. Also, at this time, the impact force of the external force is dispersed by the plurality of male contacts 12 and the impact force is greatly reduced, so that the male contact 12 from this surface is similar to the case of the impact from the oblique direction. Protection is also achieved.

The male connector 10 having such a function
Is attached to a desired electronic component.
As shown in FIG. 1, the female connector portion 20 is moved in the direction of arrow A, and the female block portion 22 is pushed while contacting the surface (exposed surface) of the plate-like locator 15 as shown in FIG. . In this case, the surface portion of the plate-like locator 15
Opening 13a of female connector housing 13 of housing 11
From the surface of the part, as shown in FIG.
It is preferable that the female block portion 22 has a guide function for facilitating the fitting. When the female block portion 22 of the female connector portion 20 is pushed while being brought into contact with the surface of the plate-like locator 15 as described above, the plate-like locator 15 resists the restoring force of the elastic bodies 16 and 16, as shown in FIG.
In the direction of arrow B, and, as shown in FIG.
It is in contact with the bottom surface of the housing 11. At the same time, the female block portion 22 of the female connector portion 20 is stored in the female connector storage portion 13 of the housing 11, and each female contact 23 of the female block portion 22 contacts the corresponding male contact 12. Once inserted, an electrical connection is made, similar to a normal electrical connector.

Of course, from this state, the female connector 2
0, the plate-like locator 15 becomes elastic
6 automatically and instantaneously returns to the original state shown in FIG. 1 above, and the male contact 12 is ready for protection.

In the above-described embodiment, the male contact 12 is formed of a shaft pin, and the portion protruding outward is of a vertical straight type. Regardless, the present invention can of course be applied to, for example, an L-shaped type bent in the hook direction, or an SMT type bent into a substantially S shape (step shape). In the above-described embodiment, the portion fitted to the male connector portion 10 is the female connector portion 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the female contact portion attached to a part of the electronic component is not limited thereto. May be a female block part having Furthermore, the male contact in the claims of the present invention is not limited to the so-called narrow male contact 12 composed of the shaft pin shown in the above embodiment, but may be a knife-type or fork-type in the connector housing. Even in the case of an electrical connector in which a plurality of vertical contacts made of a thin plate or a tubular body are arranged, in the case of the vertical contacts, as in the present invention, inconsistency or deformation easily occurs. Also includes contacts.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, the electrical connector according to the present invention has the following excellent effects.

(1) First, since an insulating plate-like locator is slidably mounted on the male contacts arranged in the male connector portion, the male contacts are protected from external force due to collision of an external object. Effectively protected. Therefore, during normal transportation or handling, the arrangement intervals of the male contacts are hardly deformed by a slight deviation or the tip itself is bent. As a result, poor contact and inability to fit, which may occur in the conventional electrical connector, are effectively prevented. Needless to say, it is possible to prevent the electronic components from being disposed at the stage where the electric connector has already been attached and the considerable work has progressed. Further, even if the diameter of the male contact portion is further reduced due to the downsizing of components in the future, the use of the plate-shaped locator can more effectively prevent the male contact from being deformed or deformed.

(2) Also, since the tips of the male contacts are housed in the contact holes of the plate-like locator,
Adjacent male contacts are separated from each other, and the deformation of the contacts so that they abut each other is completely eliminated.

(3) Further, since the inner wall surface of the contact hole of the plate-like locator has a kind of support function for restricting the movement of the male contact in the width direction of the shaft, the resistance of the male contact to an external force is provided. The force (strength) can be improved. The inner wall surface of the contact hole also has a kind of guide function for positioning the standing position with respect to the male contact, so that a smooth and highly accurate connection with the female contact of the female connector portion can be obtained. .

(4) Further, since the plate-like locator has a structure that is always urged by the elastic body, the fitting of the female connector or the like can be performed without any trouble similarly to the conventional electric connector. When the fitting is released, the plate-like locator automatically and instantly returns to the original position, so that no special operation is required and good usability is obtained.

(5) If a stopper portion is provided on the plate-like locator side and a stopper receiving portion is provided on a part of the housing side, the stroke of the plate-like locator can be easily regulated.

(6) Further, according to the present invention, the female connector portion having the female contact and the electronic component side may be the same as the conventional one,
Also, the male contact has few changed portions, and good productivity can be obtained. For example, on the female contact side, an existing mold or the like may be used, or an existing product may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional side view showing an electric connector according to the present invention and showing a male connector before a female connector is fitted.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing a plate-like locator employed in the male connector of the electrical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the plate-like locator of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional side view showing a state where the female connector portion is fitted to the male connector portion in the electric connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical sectional side view showing a male connector portion of the conventional electrical connector before a female connector portion is fitted.

[Explanation of symbols]

C ₁ electrical connector 10 male connector section 11 housing 11a stopper receiving section 12 male contact 13 female connector storage section 13a opening 14 expansion storage section 15 insulating locator 15a contact hole 15b stopper section 16 elastic body 20 female connector section 21 Housing 22 Female block 23 Female contact

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrical connector having a male connector portion in which male contacts to which female contacts are fitted are arranged, wherein contact holes through which the male contacts are arranged are arranged so as to be slidable with the male contacts. An electrical connector comprising: an insulating plate-like locator to be mounted; and an elastic body for urging the plate-like locator toward the distal end of the male contact.