JPH0449758B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a so-called two-piece connector, which is a pair of electrical connectors, and particularly to a connector characterized by the conductive contacts provided therein and the supporting structure thereof.

(Prior art) A pair of conductive contacts included in a pair of connectors depends on the type of connector, the structure of the insulator, etc., but if they have the same shape and size, the manufacturing process, cost, quality control, and insulator This is extremely useful in work such as incorporating it into a housing.

Conventionally, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-12141 proposes a pair of connectors having conductive contacts formed to have the same shape and dimensions. The conductive contact of this connector is made of an elastic band-like piece, and has an elastic deformable portion having a protruding contact point at the tip and a contact slope with the mating conductive contact, and a fixed portion having a contact plane with the mating conductive contact. , the proximal end of the fixed portion is fixed to an insulator, thereby being held in a cantilever shape.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the known conductive contact,
The contact slope of the elastically deformable portion bends the elastic strip made of a metal plate at a certain angle at a certain angle toward the non-contact surface with the mating conductive contact, and the contact also bends the elastic strip formed from the strip at a certain angle. The tip portions are respectively formed to be curved toward the non-contact surface with the mating conductive contact.

According to such a known conductive contact, between the contact plane with the mating conductive contact in the fixing part and the non-contact surface with the mating contact in the contact point, in other words, when the known conductive contact is placed horizontally, The height between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface must be several times the thickness (plate thickness) of the elastic strip. Therefore, a pair of conductive contacts held by a pair of insulators have their central axes separated by a large distance, occupying a large space on each insulator, and increasing the density of mounting on the insulator and making the connector lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller. cannot meet the demands of

Moreover, in the conductive contact, the elastically deformable portion and the fixed portion are formed to have the same thickness, so when both conductive contacts come into contact with each other, load (stress) is concentrated on the fixed portion where the contact contacts. There is a risk that the fixed part may be deformed and contact reliability may not be obtained.

Further, the contact plane of the fixed part of the conductive contact extending from the conductive contact holding part in the insulator is an extremely important part with which the contact point of the mating conductive contact comes into contact; No structure is provided to support the back surface (the surface that does not come in contact with the mating conductive contact). For this reason, the fixed part on which the contact plane is located deforms when incorporating the conductive contact into the insulator, or deforms over time due to the pressure force exerted by the contact, resulting in a given contact with the contact. may not be achieved.

The purpose of this invention is to make a pair of conductive contacts included in a pair of connectors as small as possible (thinner or smaller), and to fully meet the demands for higher mounting density on insulators and for connectors to be lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector that can improve contact reliability between conductive contacts.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In the present invention, a pair of conductive contacts included in a pair of connectors are formed into a substantially straight beam shape having the same shape and size.

The beam-shaped conductive contact is provided with an elastically deformable portion having an arcuate protruding contact point at its tip, and a fixed portion.

The elastically deformable portion is provided with a contact slope whose angle gradually increases toward the fixed portion, and the fixed portion is provided with a contact plane.

The insulator is provided with a conductive contact support plane area which abuts the back side of the fixing part where the contact plane is located.

What should be particularly noted in this invention is that
In contrast to the known conductive contacts, the contacts and the contact slopes are not formed by bending or curving the material of the conductive contact, so that the conductive contact as a whole is shaped like a substantially straight beam. That is to say. Further, in such a conductive contact, when the first and second insulators are combined, the distance between the central axes of the first and second conductive contacts varies from 0 dimension (the central axes are on a coaxial line) to these conductive contacts. The fixing portion is attached to each of the first and second insulators so that the conductive contacts overlap each other, and are most preferably at zero dimension. This means that it is maintained.

(Function) In the present invention having the above configuration, when a pair of connectors are combined, the contacts of the pair of conductive contacts move while sliding relative to each other and overcome each other.

Further, each of the contacts moves along the contact slope of the mating conductive contact while slidingly contacting the other,
As the elastically deformable portion moves, the elastically deformable portion is deflected toward the back side against the elastic force.

Eventually, each of the contacts rides on the contact plane of the mating conductive contact and comes into elastic contact, and an electrical connection is achieved.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are cross-sectional views perpendicular to the length direction of a pair of connectors 1 and 101 constituting a two-piece connector according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, one connector 1 includes a housing 2 as an insulator and a plurality of conductive contacts 3. As shown in FIG. Housing 2 is
The whole is formed from an insulating material into a horizontally elongated substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and includes a base 4, a pair of side walls 5 extending from both sides of the base 4, and a partition wall 6 extending from the base 4 in the middle of the both sides 5 for a longer length than the both sides. and each cavity 7 is defined by each of these walls. The partition wall 6 has a base end region 8 whose both sides are flat, and a plurality of grooves 10 extending in the length direction of the housing 2 (width direction of the base end region 8) at a given pitch on both sides. It has an extension area 9. Each groove 10 is defined by both side walls 11 extending in the length direction thereof. Extension area 9
Both side portions 12 of the tip are formed in an arc shape.
The base 4 has grooves 10 along both sides of the base region 8.
A plurality of conductive contact holding holes 13 are formed at a given pitch, the pitch of which matches that of the conductive contact holding holes 13 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the other connector 101
is composed of a housing 102 as an insulator and a plurality of conductive contacts 103. The housing 102 is generally shaped into a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped, and has a base 104 and a pair of side walls 105 extending from both sides of the base 104, each of which defines a cavity 1.
07 is defined. Both side walls 105 have a thick proximal region 108 and an extension region 109 in which a plurality of grooves 110 whose pitches match the grooves 10 are formed on each inner surface. Each groove 110 is defined by both side walls 111 extending in the length direction thereof. The distal end sides 112 of the extension region 109 are
It is formed in an arc shape. A plurality of conductive contact holding holes 113 are formed in the base portion 104 along each side surface of the base end region 108 so as to match the pitch of each groove 110 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conductive contacts 3, 103 are formed into a substantially straight beam shape of the same shape and size from this kind of known metal plate material, and the elastic deformable portions 3b, 103b and the fixed part 3
c and 103c, respectively. The elastic deformable portions 3b, 103b have contact points 3a, 10 which are raised in an arc shape on the tip contact surface side with the mating conductive contact.
3a. The thickness (height) dimension T ₁ of the tips of the elastic deformable parts 3b, 103b including the contacts 3a, 103a is that of the fixed parts 3c, 103c T ₂
not greater than Elastic deformable portion 3b, 103b
is from the rear end of the contact 3a, 103a to the fixed part 3c, 103 on the contact surface with the mating conductive contact.
It has contact slopes 3b' and 103b' whose angle gradually increases near the tip of c. Fixed part 3c, 10
3c is the contact point 3 of the mating conductive contact near the tip.
Contact plane 3c', 103 where a, 103a contacts
It has c′. The contact slopes 3b', 103b' are formed by crushing, edging, or cutting the metal material of the elastically deformable portions 3b, 103b.
Although the width is the same as 03c, the overall thickness (height) is smaller and the elastic strength is lower than that of fixed parts 3c and 103c.
It's lower than that. Contact slope 3b', 103
The angle of b' depends on the elastic strength of the material of the conductive contacts 3, 103 and the height of the contacts 3a, 103a, but generally a range of 3° to 15° is appropriate.
In this embodiment, it is 4°.

The conductive contacts 3, 103 are connected to the fixed parts 3c, 1
The rear end portions of 03c are integrally fixed to the holding holes 13, 113, and the back surfaces of these tip portions abut against the support plane areas 14, 114 of the proximal end areas 8, 108, thereby creating a cantilever shape. The elastically deformable portion 3 is held (this holding will be further described below with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4) and includes the contacts 3a and 103a.
b, 103b are arranged on the grooves 10, 110 so that they can be elastically displaced in the depth direction, and
By being blocked by the side walls 11, 111, the housings 2, 102 are located so that they cannot be elastically displaced in the lateral direction. Each conductive contact 3,103
In the holding state, the contact slope 3b' and the contact plane 3c' of the conductive contact 3 face the inner surface of the side wall 5, and the contact slope 103b' and the contact plane 103c' of the conductive contact 103 face each other.

Although not shown, the fixing portion 3 of each conductive contact 3, 103 protrudes from the outside of the base 4, 104.
c and 103c are connected to each other, and these legs may be bent at a right angle, for example, depending on how they are arranged on a printed wiring board or the like. Therefore, in the present invention, each conductive contact has a "substantially straight beam shape" at least in the portions located in the housing 2, 102 area, that is, at least the elastically deformable portions 3b, 103b and the fixed portion 3c. ，
103c is substantially (arc-shaped contact point 3a, 103
a, contact slopes 3b', 103b')) means a straight beam shape.

The housings 2, 102 have end walls 15, 115 at both longitudinal ends thereof, as in this type of well-known connector housing.

FIG. 3 shows the connectors 1 and 10 having the above configuration.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the first combination state. In this combined state, the side wall 105 is located in the cavity 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the cavity 1
The partition wall 6 is located at 07, and each contact 3,
103 make contact and electrical connection is achieved. Of course, the connectors 1, 1 in this combined state
01 can be relatively removed.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a pair of conductive contacts 3, 103 in FIG. 3.

As is clear from FIGS. 3 and 4, when the connectors 1 and 101 are combined, the central axes 17 and 117 of the conductive contacts 3 and 103 are located on the coaxial line, and these conductive contacts overlap each other. . The fixing portions 3c, 103c of the conductive contacts 3, 103 are held in the housings 2, 102 as described above so that the central axes 17, 117 are located on the same axis. As described above, the conductive contacts 3, 103 are substantially straight beam-shaped, so
In order for these to elastically overlap each other and come into contact with each other with the required pressure, as is clear from FIG. (if any) to less than the thickness dimension T ₂ of the thickest part, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows the conductive contacts 3,
103 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the 103. FIG. Even if the center axes 17, 117 are coaxial as described above, the conductive contacts 3, 103 have arc-shaped contacts 3a, 103a and contact slopes 3b', 10 at their tips.
3b', they smoothly slide into contact with each other as described below.

When the connectors 1 and 101 are combined with each other, the conductive contacts 3 and 103 first move over each other while the contacts 3a and 103a are in relative sliding contact, as shown in FIGS. 5a, b, and c. Next, as shown in FIG. 5d, the contact 3a moves while relatively sliding along the contact slope 103b' of the conductive contact 103, and the contact 103a moves along the contact slope 3b' of the conductive contact 3. With the movement, the elastically deformable portions 3b and 103b including the contacts 3a and 103a are displaced toward the bottom surfaces of the grooves 10 and 110 against their respective elastic forces. At this time, due to the presence of the contact slopes 3b' and 103b', load (stress) is not concentrated on the fixed portions 3c and 103c and these portions are not deformed. Eventually, as shown in FIG. 5e, the contact point 3a rides on the contact plane 103c' and the contact point 103a rides on the contact plane 3c' to come into elastic contact.

In the process leading to the final contact, the contact points 3a, 1
03a are mutually contacting slopes 3b', 103
b' and the contact planes 3c' and 103c', so
Their contact surfaces are cleaned and good electrical contact is achieved. Moreover, in the final contact state, the contact points 3a and 103a of each other are in contact with the contact planes 3c' and 103c' of the other party, that is, they are in contact at mutually independently spaced parts (two-point contact). Increased reliability. Further, the conductive contact support plane area 1 in the housing 2, 102
4, 114 are formed with grooves 10, 110, and conductive contacts 3, 103 are formed on these grooves.
Since the elastically variable portions 3b, 103b are located, when the elastically variable portions 3b, 103b are pressed by the contacts 3a, 103a of the mating conductive contact,
The contacts 3a, 1 are freely displaced to the grooves 10, 110.
In addition to smoothing the sliding of 03a,
There is no lateral displacement during the pressing and sliding process. When the elastic deformable portions 3b, 103b are pressed, they are displaced into the grooves 10, 110 and the side walls 1
This is because displacement in the lateral direction is prevented at 1,111. Therefore, the contact points 3a, 103a are on the contact slope 3
b', 103b' in a straight line to come into precise contact with the contact planes 3c', 103c', which are the most important contact areas.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the connector according to the present invention having the above configuration and operation, the following effects unique to the present invention are achieved.

a The pair of conductive contacts are formed into a substantially straight beam shape with the same shape and size, and when the pair of insulators are combined, the distance between the center axes of these conductive contacts varies from 0 dimension to Because the thickness is less than the maximum thickness of each of these conductive contacts, the bulk is equal to the thickness of the material of the conductive contact, even though it has an arcuate protruding contact point and a contact slope. Therefore, it occupies minimal space in the insulator. Therefore, it is possible to fully meet the demands for higher density mounting of conductive contacts on insulators and for connectors to be lighter, thinner, shorter and smaller.

b The insulator is provided with a conductive contact support plane area that extends forward, and the non-contact surface (back surface) of the conductive contact with the mating conductive contact is in contact with and supported by this, so that the contact does not make contact. It is no exaggeration to say that the fixed part, which has a contact plane, is the most important area in which to achieve an electrical connection, and is deformed when the conductive contact is assembled into the insulator, or deformed over time due to the pressure force exerted by the contact. By doing so, there is no risk that a given contact will not be achieved, and contact reliability can be increased.

c The conductive contact is formed into a substantially straight beam shape, and the height of the tip of the elastic deformable part including the arcuate protruding contact point is not larger than that of the fixed part, so the insulator When assembling the insulator, it can be inserted and fixed into the conductive contact holding hole of the insulator from either the front end or the rear end, and the assembling is easy and work efficiency can be improved.

d The elastic deformable part is formed on a contact slope whose angle increases from the rear end of the contact to the vicinity of the tip of the fixed part, so it can be easily displaced toward the non-contact side with the mating conductive contact by pressure from the contact. At the same time, it is possible to prevent contact wear and stress concentration deformation of the fixed portion, which reduce contact reliability, as much as possible, and to reduce the relative insertion/extraction force of the conductive contact.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view perpendicular to the length direction of a first connector according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view perpendicular to the length direction of the second connector according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first and second connectors in a fitted state. FIG. 4 is a side view of the contact state of the first and second conductive contacts. Figures 5 a to e are
The first when combining the first and second connectors
and a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the second conductive contact. 1,101: first and second connectors, respectively;
2, 102: first and second insulators, 3, 1, respectively
03: First and second conductive contacts, respectively
a, 103a: Contact point, 3b, 103b: Elastic deformable portion, 3b', 103b': Contact slope, 3c, 103
c: Fixed part, 3c', 103c': Contact plane, 4,1
04: Base, 5,105: Side wall, 6: Partition wall,
8,108: proximal region, 9,109: extension region, 1
0, 110: groove, 13, 113: conductive contact holding hole, 14, 114: conductive contact support plane area, 17, 117: center axis, T ₂ : thickness of maximum thickness portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of first and second connectors that are combinable with each other and include first and second insulators and first and second conductive contacts each held in a cantilevered manner. consisting of the first and second
In a two-piece connector in which opposing surfaces of the conductive contacts slide relative to each other along their respective lengths and make contact, the first and second insulators have a conductive contact holding hole and a conductive contact holding hole along the conductive contact holding hole. and a conductive contact supporting plane area extending forwardly, the first and second conductive contacts being formed into substantially straight beams having the same shape and size, and having an elastically deformable shape. and a fixing part, the elastically deformable part has a contact point protruding in an arc shape on the contact surface side with the mating conductive contact at the tip thereof, and the elastically deformable part including the contact point The height of the tip portion is not larger than that of the fixed portion, and the elastically deformable portion gradually extends from the rear end of the contact toward the vicinity of the tip of the fixed portion on the contact surface side with the mating conductive contact. The fixing part has a contact slope with a high angle, and the fixing part has a contact plane near the tip thereof, with which the contact of the mating conductive contact comes into contact, and the rear end of the fixing part of the first and second conductive contacts are integrally fixed in the conductive contact holding holes of the first and second insulators, respectively, and the tips of the fixing portions of the first and second conductive contacts are non-contact with the mating conductive contacts. On the contact surface side, the elastic deformable portions of the first and second conductive contacts are in contact with the conductive contact support flat areas of the first and second insulators, respectively, and the elastically deformable portions of the first and second conductive contacts move forward from the conductive contact support flat areas. , and extends elastically displaceably toward the non-contact surface side, and when the opposing surfaces of the first and second conductive contacts are in contact with each other by the combination of the first and second connectors, the conductive contacts The distance between the center axes of the conductive contacts is in a range from 0 dimension to less than the thickness dimension of the maximum thickness portion of each of the conductive contacts. 2. The first and second insulators are a first housing and a second housing that can be fitted into and removed from each other, and the first housing has a base and a pair of housings that extend forward from both sides of the base. and a partition wall extending forward from the base at a central portion of the side walls, a pair of first cavities being defined by the walls, and the partition walls are arranged on both sides of the base end. The surface has the conductive contact support plane area and an extension area extending forward from the support plane area and having a plurality of grooves formed at a given pitch, and the base portion is attached to the conductive contact support plane area. The second housing has a plurality of conductive contact holding holes whose pitches match the grooves along the line, and the second housing includes a base and a pair of conductive contact holding holes extending forward from the base and fitting into and disengaging from the first cavity. opposing side walls, each of which defines a second cavity into which the partition wall is fitted and removed; an extension region extending forward from the support flat area and having a plurality of grooves whose pitches match the respective grooves; A plurality of the conductive contact holding holes are provided with matching pitches, and the rear end portions of the fixing portions of the first and second conductive contacts are integrally formed with the conductive contact holding holes of the first and second housings, respectively. and the tips of the fixed portions of the first and second conductive contacts are respectively fixed to the conductive contact support plane areas of the first and second housings on non-contact surfaces with the mating conductive contacts. abutting each other, and the elastically deformable portions of the first and second conductive contacts extend forward along the grooves of the conductive contact support plane area and elastically displaceable into the grooves. ing. A connector according to claim 1.