Connector and connector assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a connector capable of electrically connecting a contact and a conductor of an object to be connected even if the conductor is exposed on either the front surface or the back surface of the object to be connected. The inner contact (18) has a first elastic portion (18E) and a second elastic portion (18F) that face the rear surface of the flange (13B) of the plug contact (13) and are elastically deformable in the direction along the fitting axis (C), and a part of the sheet-like conductive member (15) is sandwiched between a first contact portion (S1) on the rear surface of the flange (13B) of the plug contact (13) and the first elastic portion (18E) of the inner contact (18) in the direction along the fitting axis (C). A first contact portion (S1) on the back surface of the flange (13B) is in contact with the surface of the sheet-like conductive member (15), a first elastic portion (18E) is in contact with the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member (15), and a second contact portion (S2) on the back surface of the flange (13B) at a position different from the first contact portion (S1) is in contact with the second elastic portion (18F).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and in particular to a connector connected to a sheet-shaped connection object with a conductor exposed on at least one side.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a connector assembly in which such a connector is connected to a connection object. Background Art

[0003] In recent years, so-called smart clothing that can obtain the user's biological information such as heart rate and body temperature simply by wearing it has attracted attention. The smart clothing has electrodes arranged at the measurement site, and can transmit the biological information to the wearable device by electrically connecting the wearable device as a measurement device to the electrodes.

[0004] The connection between the electrode and the wearable device can be performed by using, for example, a connector connected to a conductor led out from the electrode.

[0005] As such a connector, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses Fig.47 The connector includes a housing 2 and a base member 3 disposed on both sides of the flexible substrate 1 with the flexible substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween, a cylindrical portion 4A of a contact 4 passes through a contact through hole 2A of the housing 2, and a flange 4B of the contact 4 is sandwiched between the housing 2 and a conductor 1A exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1.

[0006] In this state, by pushing the base member 3 into the housing 2, as shown in FIG. Fig.48 As shown, protrusion 3A of base member 3 is inserted into protrusion receiving portion 4C of contact 4 with flexible substrate 1 interposed therebetween, and the inner surface of protrusion receiving portion 4C contacts conductor 1A with a predetermined contact force, thereby electrically connecting contact 4 and conductor 1A.

[0007] In addition, if Fig.47 As shown, the housing 2 and the base member 3 are fixed to each other by pressing the housing fixing column 3B formed to protrude from the base member 3 into the column receiving portion 2B of the housing 2 .

[0008] Prior art literature

[0009] Patent Literature

[0010] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-129244

[0011] By fitting the wearable device to the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wearable device can be connected to the electrode made of a conductor.

[0012] However, in the case where the conductor 1A is exposed on the back surface of the flexible substrate 1 , the connector of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the conductor 1A cannot be electrically connected to the contact 4 . Summary of the invention

[0013] The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a connector and a connector assembly capable of electrically connecting a contact to a conductor of a connection object even if the conductor is exposed on either the front surface or the back surface of the connection object.

[0014] The connector of the present invention has:

[0015] A conductive plug contact having a cylindrical portion extending along the mating axis and a flange extending from an end of the cylindrical portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating axis;

[0016] a bottom insulator having a support surface extending in an orthogonal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction; and

[0017] The conductive inner contact is arranged on the supporting surface.

[0018] The inner contact has: a flat plate-shaped base, arranged on the support surface; and a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion, respectively connected to the base and opposite to the back of the flange, and capable of elastic deformation in the direction along the fitting axis,

[0019] A portion of a sheet-like connection object through which the conductor is exposed on at least one side is sandwiched between a first contact portion on the back side of the flange of the plug contact and a first elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the mating axis, the first contact portion on the back side of the flange contacts the surface of the connection object, the first elastic portion contacts the back side of the connection object, and a second contact portion on the back side of the flange at a position different from the first contact portion contacts the second elastic portion. When the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor; when the conductor is exposed on the back side of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

[0020] It can be configured such that the inner contact is formed of a bent metal plate.

[0021] The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion each have a double-support beam shape curved so as to protrude from the support surface in a direction along the fitting axis further than the base portion at different positions around the fitting axis.

[0022] Alternatively, the inner contact may be formed of a bent metal plate.

[0023] The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion each have a cantilever beam shape curved so as to protrude from the support surface in a direction along the fitting axis further than the base portion at different positions around the fitting axis.

[0024] Preferably, the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion are arranged at positions facing each other across the fitting axis.

[0025] Preferably, the base of the inner contact is arranged to be inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the perpendicular direction so that the second elastic portion is closer to the back surface of the flange than the first elastic portion.

[0026] In this case, the support surface may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction, and the inner contact may be arranged so that the entire base portion contacts the support surface.

[0027] Alternatively, the supporting surface extends in an orthogonal direction, the bottom insulator has a step portion that is adjacent to the supporting surface and is formed at a position opposite to the second contact portion on the back side of the flange, and the inner contact is configured so that a portion on the first elastic portion side contacts the supporting surface and a portion on the second elastic portion side contacts the step portion.

[0028] Preferably, the plug contact has a recessed portion formed inside the cylindrical portion.

[0029] The bottom insulator has a convex portion which protrudes from the support surface along the fitting axis and is inserted into the concave portion of the plug contact.

[0030] The plug contact is fixed to the bottom insulator by pressing the protrusion into the recess.

[0031] Furthermore, preferably, the base of the inner contact has a through hole into which the protrusion of the bottom insulator is inserted, and a protrusion protruding from an edge of the through hole toward the fitting shaft.

[0032] The convex portion of the bottom insulator has a concave protrusion receiving portion,

[0033] The position of the inner contact relative to the bottom insulator is fixed by inserting the convex portion of the bottom insulator into the through hole and accommodating the protrusion in the protrusion accommodating portion of the bottom insulator.

[0034] The inner contact may include a plurality of first elastic portions and a plurality of second elastic portions respectively connected to the base portion.

[0035] Preferably, the top insulator is provided, the top insulator having a contact through hole through which the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes and which is smaller than the flange.

[0036] The top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator in such a manner that the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes through the contact through hole and the flange of the plug contact, the connection object, and the inner contact are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

[0037] The connector assembly of the present invention comprises:

[0038] connection object; and

[0039] The above connector connected to the connection object,

[0040] The connection object has a connection portion formed at a position corresponding to the first elastic portion of the inner contact and an opening portion formed at a position corresponding to the second elastic portion of the inner contact.

[0041] The connecting portion of the object to be connected is sandwiched between the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange and the first elastic portion of the inner contact as a part of the object to be connected, and the second contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the second elastic portion of the inner contact via the opening.

[0042] Effects of the present invention:

[0043] According to the present invention, the inner contact comprises: a flat plate-shaped base portion arranged on a supporting surface of a bottom insulator; a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion respectively connected to the base portion and facing the back surface of the flange and capable of elastic deformation in a direction along the fitting axis; a part of a connection object is sandwiched between a first contact portion on the back surface of the flange of the plug contact and the first elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the fitting axis, the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the surface of the connection object, the first elastic portion contacts the back surface of the connection object, and a second contact portion on the back surface of the flange at a position different from the first contact portion contacts the second elastic portion, whereby when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is directly electrically connected to the conductor; when the conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact, so that even if the conductor is exposed on either the surface or the back surface of the connection object, the contact can be electrically connected to the conductor of the connection object. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to Embodiment 1 as viewed obliquely from above.

[0045] Figure 2 This is an assembly diagram of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment.

[0046] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing a top insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0047] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing a plug contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0048] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing a plug contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0049] Figure 6This is a perspective view showing a bottom insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0050] Figure 7 This is a perspective view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0051] Figure 8 This is a plan view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0052] Fig. 9 This is a perspective view showing an inner contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0053] Fig.10 This is a plan view showing an inner contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0054] Fig.11 This is a front view showing an inner contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0055] Fig.12 This is a perspective view of an object to be connected to the connector according to the first embodiment, as seen from obliquely above.

[0056] Fig.13 This is a perspective view of an object to be connected to the connector according to the first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below.

[0057] Fig.14 This is a partial plan view showing a connection target object to be connected to the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0058] Fig.15 yes Fig.14 AA line section view.

[0059] Fig.16 This is a perspective view showing a reinforcing sheet used in the connector according to the first embodiment.

[0060] Fig.17 This is a perspective view showing a state in which the inner contact and the bottom insulator are aligned in the first embodiment.

[0061] Fig.18 This is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inner contact and the bottom insulator are aligned in the first embodiment.

[0062] Fig.19 This is a perspective view showing a state where inner contacts are arranged on the bottom insulator in the first embodiment.

[0063] Fig. 20 This is a front cross-sectional view showing a state where the inner contact is arranged on the bottom insulator in the first embodiment.

[0064] Fig.21This is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connection target object and the bottom insulator are aligned in the first embodiment.

[0065] Fig. 22 This is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where the protrusion of the bottom insulator in the first embodiment starts to be pressed into the plug contact.

[0066] Fig.23 This is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protrusions of the bottom insulator according to the first embodiment are pressed into the plug contacts.

[0067] Fig.24 This is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment as viewed diagonally from below.

[0068] Fig.25 This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the connector assembly according to the first embodiment.

[0069] Fig.26 This is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment as viewed obliquely from above.

[0070] Fig. 27 This is an assembly diagram of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment.

[0071] Fig.28 This is a perspective view showing a bottom insulator used in the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0072] Fig.29 This is a perspective view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0073] Fig.30 This is a plan view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0074] Fig.31 This is a perspective view showing an inner contact used in the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0075] Fig.32 This is a plan view showing an inner contact used in the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0076] Fig.33 This is a front view showing an inner contact used in the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0077] Fig.34 This is a perspective view of an object to be connected to the connector according to the second embodiment, as seen from obliquely above.

[0078] Fig.35 This is a perspective view of an object to be connected to the connector according to the second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below.

[0079] Fig.36This is a partial plan view showing a connection target object to be connected to the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0080] Fig.37 yes Fig.36 BB line cross-sectional view.

[0081] Fig.38 This is a perspective view showing a state in which the inner contact and the bottom insulator are aligned in the second embodiment.

[0082] Fig.39 This is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the inner contact and the bottom insulator are aligned in the second embodiment.

[0083] Fig.40 This is a perspective view showing a state where inner contacts are arranged on a bottom insulator in the second embodiment.

[0084] Fig.41 This is a front cross-sectional view showing a state where an inner contact is arranged on a bottom insulator in the second embodiment.

[0085] Fig.42 It is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where a connection target object and a bottom insulator are aligned in the second embodiment.

[0086] Fig.43 This is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where the protrusions of the bottom insulator according to the second embodiment begin to be pressed into the plug contacts.

[0087] Fig.44 It is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protrusions of the bottom insulator according to the second embodiment are pressed into the plug contacts.

[0088] Fig.45 This is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment as viewed obliquely from below.

[0089] Fig.46 This is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to the second embodiment.

[0090] Fig.47 This is an exploded perspective view of a conventional connector.

[0091] Fig.48 It is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector.

[0092] Reference numerals

[0093] 1 flexible substrate, 1A conductor, 2 housing, 2A contact through hole, 2B column receiving portion, 3 base member, 3A protrusion, 3B housing fixing column, 4 contact, 4A cylindrical portion, 4B flange, 4C protrusion receiving portion, 11, 21 connector, 12, 22 housing, 13 plug contact, 13A cylindrical portion, 13B flange, 13C recess, 14 reinforcing sheet, 14A opening, 14B notch, 15, 25 sheet-like conductive member, 15A, 25A contact configuration area, 15B, 25B opening, 15C, 15E wiring layer, 15D, 15F, 15H insulating layer, 15G through hole, 16 top insulator, 16A recessed portion, 16B through hole for contact, 16C protrusion, 17, 27 bottom insulator, 17A, 27A flat plate portion, 17B, 27B inner contact accommodating portion, 17C protrusion, 17D through hole, 17E, 27E supporting surface, 17F protrusion accommodating portion, 18, 28 inner contact, 18A base portion, 18B annular portion, 18C through hole, 18D protrusion, 18E, 28E first elastic portion, 18F, 28F second elastic portion, 27G step portion, 28B arm portion, C fitting shaft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0095] Implementation Method 1

[0096] Figure 1 The connector assembly of Embodiment 1 is shown. The connector assembly includes, for example, a connector 11 used as a connector on the clothing side for fitting a wearable device, and the connector 11 has a housing 12 made of an insulating material. Four plug contacts 13 are held in the housing 12, and a reinforcing sheet 14 and a sheet-like conductive component 15 are held in a mutually overlapping state by the housing 12. The sheet-like conductive component 15 constitutes a connection object to which the connector 11 is connected.

[0097] The four plug contacts 13 are arranged in two rows parallel to each other so as to protrude perpendicularly to the sheet-like conductive member 15 .

[0098] Here, for convenience, the direction in which the reinforcing sheet 14 and the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 extend along the XY plane and the four plug contacts 13 are arranged is called the Y direction, and the direction in which the four plug contacts 13 protrude is called the +Z direction. The Z direction is the mating direction in which the connector 11 is mated with the mating connector.

[0099] Figure 2 The connector 11 has a top insulator 16 and a bottom insulator 17 , and the housing 12 is formed by the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 .

[0100] Four plug contacts 13 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the top insulator 16, a reinforcing sheet 14 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts 13, and a sheet-shaped conductive member 15 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the reinforcing sheet 14. Furthermore, four inner contacts 18 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15, and a bottom insulator 17 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four inner contacts 18. The four inner contacts 18 correspond to the four plug contacts 13, respectively.

[0101] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the top insulator 16 has a recess 16A opened toward the +Z direction and four contact through holes 16B formed in the recess 16A. The recess 16A constitutes a mating connector receiving portion for receiving a part of a mating connector (not shown), and the four contact through holes 16B correspond to the four plug contacts 13. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 16C are formed on the surface of the top insulator 16 facing the -Z direction, each of which protrudes toward the -Z direction.

[0102] The four plug contacts 13 are each formed of a conductive material such as metal, and are connected to corresponding contacts of a mating connector when a portion of a mating connector (not shown) is accommodated in the recess 16A of the top insulator 16 .

[0103] like Figure 4 As shown, the plug contact 13 includes a cylindrical tube portion 13A extending in the Z direction along the fitting axis C and a flange 13B extending along the XY plane from the −Z direction end of the tube portion 13A.

[0104] like Figure 5 As shown, a recessed portion 13C opened toward the -Z direction is formed inside the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0105] The fitting axis C is an axis that passes through the center of the cylindrical portion 13A and extends in the fitting direction between the connector 11 and the mating connector.

[0106] Furthermore, although the cylindrical portion 13A has a cylindrical shape, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a circle, and may have various cross-sectional shapes such as an ellipse or a polygon, as long as the recessed portion 13C is provided inside.

[0107] In addition, the four plug contacts 13 can all be used as terminals for transmitting electrical signals.

[0108] like Figure 6 As shown, the bottom insulator 17 has a flat plate portion 17A, and four concave inner contact accommodating portions 17B are formed on the flat plate portion 17A, each of which is open toward the +Z direction. The four inner contact accommodating portions 17B correspond to the four plug contacts 13. Four convex portions 17C are formed on the four inner contact accommodating portions 17B, each of which protrudes from the center of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B toward the +Z direction.

[0109] Furthermore, a plurality of through holes 17D corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed in the flat plate portion 17A.

[0110] like Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , the bottom surface of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 forms a flat supporting surface 17E facing the +Z direction. The supporting surface 17E is composed of an inclined surface that progresses toward the -Z direction as it goes toward the +X direction. In addition, the supporting surface 17E is inclined to such an extent that a height difference corresponding to the thickness of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is generated between a portion located on the +X direction side of the protrusion 17C and a portion located on the -X direction side of the protrusion 17C.

[0111] The convex portion 17C protrudes from the support surface 17E in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C. Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , the convex portion 17C has a prism shape with a substantially hexagonal cross section. The convex portion 17C has a maximum diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the concave portion 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13. In addition, a concave protrusion receiving portion 17F is formed on the side facing the +Y direction and the side facing the -Y direction of the convex portion 17C. The protrusion receiving portion 17F extends from the +Z direction end of the convex portion 17C toward the base end of the convex portion 17C in the -Z direction, but does not reach the support surface 17E, and ends at a position closer to the +Z direction side than the support surface 17E by a predetermined distance.

[0112] like Figures 9 to 11 As shown, the inner contact 18 is composed of a bent piece of conductive metal plate, and has: a flat base 18A extending along the XY plane; and an annular portion 18B, which is connected to the +X direction end and the -X direction end of the base 18A and extends in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the base 18A in a manner surrounding the base 18A.

[0113] The base 18A has a through hole 18C through which the fitting axis C passes and into which the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is inserted, and a pair of protrusions 18D formed to protrude toward the fitting axis C from the edge portions on the +Y direction side and the edge portions on the -Y direction side of the through hole 18C.

[0114] The annular portion 18B is curved in a manner of undulating in the Z direction while following the outer periphery of the base portion 18A, and a pair of first elastic portions 18E and a pair of second elastic portions 18F are formed in the annular portion 18B at different rotational positions around the fitting axis C. The first elastic portions 18E and the second elastic portions 18F are curved in a manner of protruding in the +Z direction more than the base portion 18A and are elastically deformable in the Z direction. The first elastic portions 18E and the second elastic portions 18F each have a double-support beam shape constituting a part of the annular portion 18B, and are arranged at intervals of 90 degrees around the fitting axis C. In addition, the pair of first elastic portions 18E are arranged on the +X direction side portion of the annular portion 18B, and the pair of second elastic portions 18F are arranged on the -X direction side portion of the annular portion 18B so as to face the pair of first elastic portions 18E across the fitting axis C.

[0115] The sheet-like conductive member 15 has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of wiring layers each formed of a conductor and a plurality of insulating layers are stacked.

[0116] like Fig.12 As shown, four circular contact arrangement areas 15A for arranging four plug contacts 13 are divided on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the +Z direction. An opening 15B penetrating the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction is formed in each contact arrangement area 15A, and the wiring layer 15C is exposed in the +Z direction so as to be adjacent to the +X direction side of the opening 15B. The insulating layer 15D is exposed in the area other than the four contact arrangement areas 15A.

[0117] The opening 15B penetrates the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction, so that Fig.13 As shown, on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the −Z direction, the openings 15B can be observed at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 15A.

[0118] On the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the −Z direction, the wiring layer 15E is exposed in the −Z direction adjacent to the +X direction side of the openings 15B formed at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 15A, and the insulating layer 15F is exposed in other regions.

[0119] A plurality of through holes 15G corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed in the peripheral portion of the sheet-like conductive member 15 .

[0120] like Fig.14 As shown, in the circular contact arrangement area 15A, a region of the wiring layer 15C extending in a U shape with a predetermined width inside the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement area 15A is exposed in the +Z direction. An opening 15B is formed in the region other than the exposed portion of the wiring layer 15C in the contact arrangement area 15A.

[0121] Also, similarly to the wiring layer 15C, on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the −Z direction, a region of the wiring layer 15E extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along the inner side of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 15A is exposed in the −Z direction.

[0122] In addition, if Fig.15 As shown, the wiring layer 15C exposed toward the +Z direction and the wiring layer 15E exposed toward the −Z direction are stacked with the insulating layer 15H interposed therebetween.

[0123] like Fig.16 As shown, the reinforcing sheet 14 is used to reinforce the object to which the connector 11 is mounted, such as clothing (not shown), and is made of an insulating material and has an opening 14A formed in the center. Furthermore, a plurality of cutouts 14B corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed along the periphery of the opening 14A of the reinforcing sheet 14.

[0124] The four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator 16, the four plug contacts 13, the four contact arrangement areas 15A of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the four inner contacts 18, and the four inner contact accommodating portions 17B of the bottom insulator 17 are arranged at positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0125] Furthermore, the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16, the plurality of cutouts 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the plurality of through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17 are arranged at positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0126] When assembling the connector 11, first, Fig.17 and Fig.18 As shown, the inner contact 18 is aligned on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact receiving portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the base 18A and the annular portion 18B of the inner contact 18 are located on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact receiving portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17, and the through hole 18C formed in the base 18A is located on the +Z direction side of the protrusion 17C protruding from the inner contact receiving portion 17B.

[0127] Next, the inner contact 18 is pushed toward the bottom insulator 17 in the -Z direction while the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is inserted into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 18. At this time, the inner contact 18 is pushed in with the pair of protrusions 18D protruding into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 18 inserted into the pair of protrusion receiving portions 17F of the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17.

[0128] Since the projection receiving portion 17F of the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 does not reach the support surface 17E of the inner contact receiving portion 17B, but ends at a position closer to the +Z direction side than the support surface 17E by a predetermined distance, if the inner contact 18 is pushed into the bottom insulator 17 until the base 18A of the inner contact 18 contacts the support surface 17E, Fig.19 and Fig. 20 As shown, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is press-fitted into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 18. As a result, the inner contact 18 is accommodated in the inner contact accommodation portion 17B and fixed to the bottom insulator 17.

[0129] Furthermore, if Fig.21 As shown, the sheet-like conductive member 15 is aligned on the +Z direction side of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the contact arrangement region 15A and the opening 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15 are located on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17.

[0130] The support surface 17E of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 is inclined so as to advance toward the −Z direction as it moves toward the +X direction, and the inner contact 18 whose base 18A contacts the support surface 17E is also held in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B in a state inclined relative to the XY plane like the support surface 17E.

[0131] By moving the sheet-like conductive member 15 relatively toward the bottom insulator 17 in the -Z direction, as shown in FIG. Fig. 22 As shown, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is inserted into the opening 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15 .

[0132] Here, the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 are exposed in the +Z direction and the -Z direction, respectively, on the +X direction side of the opening 15B. Therefore, in the inner contact 18 held in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17, the pair of first elastic portions 18E arranged on the +X direction side with respect to the fitting axis C are located on the -Z direction side of the exposed portion of the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the pair of second elastic portions 18F arranged on the -X direction side with respect to the fitting axis C are exposed in the +Z direction through the opening 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0133] The corresponding plug contact 13 is aligned on the +Z direction side of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the concave portion 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13 is located on the +Z direction side of the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17.

[0134] Next, the plug contact 13 is pushed inward in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 17, as shown in FIG. Fig.23As shown, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is press-fitted into the recess 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13 .

[0135] As a result, on the +X direction side relative to the mating axis C, the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18 are pressed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 via the sheet-like conductive component 15 and elastically deformed, and on the -X direction side relative to the mating axis C, the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 are directly pressed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and elastically deformed.

[0136] Furthermore, by pressing the bottom insulator 17 against the top insulator 16, the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 sequentially penetrate the plurality of cutouts 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the plurality of through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17. Fig.24 As shown, by thermally deforming the front ends of the plurality of protrusions 16C protruding toward the −Z direction side of the bottom insulator 17 , the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 are fixed to each other, thereby completing the assembly of the connector 11 connected to the sheet-like conductive member 15 .

[0137] In the connector 11 thus assembled, as Fig.25 As shown, the sheet-like conductive member 15 is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18 on the +X direction side relative to the fitting axis C.

[0138] As a result, the first contact portion S1 formed by the surface on the -Z direction side of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 contacts the wiring layer 15C of the sheet-like conductive member 15 at a predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact 13 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15C. In addition, the surfaces on the +Z direction side of the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18 contact the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 at a predetermined contact pressure, and the inner contact 18 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15E.

[0139] On the other hand, on the -X direction side relative to the mating axis C, a second contact portion S2 formed by a surface on the -Z direction side of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 at a position different from the first contact portion S1 directly contacts a pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 at a predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact 13 and the inner contact 18 are electrically connected.

[0140] Therefore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is directly electrically connected to the plug contact 13, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is electrically connected to the plug contact 13 via the inner contact 18. That is, both the wiring layers 15C and 15E are connected to the plug contact 13.

[0141] Thus, according to the connector 11 , by using the inner contact 18 , both the wiring layer 15C composed of conductors arranged on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the wiring layer 15E composed of conductors arranged on the back side can be electrically connected to one plug contact 13 .

[0142] Therefore, if the connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive component in which the conductor is exposed only on the surface side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the surface side of the sheet-like conductive component. In addition, if the connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive component in which the conductor is exposed only on the back side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the back side of the sheet-like conductive component.

[0143] Furthermore, as in the sheet-like conductive component 15 in the first embodiment, if the connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive component in which the conductor is exposed on the front side and the back side, respectively, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to both the conductor on the front side and the conductor on the back side of the sheet-like conductive component. For example, if a sheet-like conductive component having a multilayer structure in which the conductors constituting the shielding layer are exposed on the front side and the back side, respectively, and the conductors constituting the signal wiring layer are stacked between these shielding layers in a state of being insulated from the shielding layers on both sides is used as a connection object, by connecting the plug contact 13 connected to the shielding layer on the front side and the back side to the ground potential, the shielding effect on the signal wiring layer can be exerted, and high-precision signal transmission can be performed while suppressing the influence of interference caused by electromagnetic waves, etc.

[0144] In the first embodiment, the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is pressed into the concave portion 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13, whereby the plug contact 13 is held by the bottom insulator 17. As a result, the pair of first elastic portions 18E and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 are maintained in an elastically deformed state, and the contact pressure between the wiring layer 15C of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the flange 13B of the plug contact 13, the contact pressure between the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18, and the contact pressure between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 are ensured, respectively.

[0145] However, the top insulator 16 may be fixed to the bottom insulator 17 using the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 , thereby pressing the flanges 13B of the plug contacts 13 toward the bottom insulator 17 via the top insulator 16 , thereby fixing the plug contacts 13 to the bottom insulator 17 .

[0146] However, as in the first embodiment, the structure in which the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is pressed into the recess 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13 can forcibly fix the plug contact 13 to the bottom insulator 17 at a location close to the contact portion between the wiring layers 15C, 15E of the sheet-like conductive component 15 and the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18, and the contact portion between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18, compared with the fixation using the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the sheet-like conductive component 15 and the plug contact 13.

[0147] In the first embodiment, the inner contact 18 has a pair of first elastic portions 18E and a pair of second elastic portions 18F, but is not limited thereto and may have one first elastic portion 18E and one second elastic portion 18F, or may have three or more first elastic portions 18E and three or more second elastic portions 18F.

[0148] Implementation Method 2

[0149] Fig.26 A connector assembly according to Embodiment 2 is shown. The connector assembly is a connector in which a connector 21 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member 25 as a connection object. The connector 21 includes a housing 22 instead of the housing 12 in the connector 11 according to Embodiment 1.

[0150] Fig. 27 The connector 21 has a top insulator 16 and a bottom insulator 27 , and the housing 22 is formed by the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 27 .

[0151] Four plug contacts 13 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the top insulator 16, a reinforcing sheet 14 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts 13, and a sheet-like conductive member 25 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the reinforcing sheet 14. Furthermore, four inner contacts 28 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and a bottom insulator 27 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four inner contacts 28.

[0152] That is, the connector 21 of the second embodiment is configured such that the bottom insulator 27 and the four inner contacts 28 are connected to the sheet-like conductive member 25 instead of the bottom insulator 17 and the four inner contacts 18 in the connector 11 of the first embodiment.

[0153] The top insulator 16, the plug contact 13, and the reinforcing plate 14 are respectively the same as those used in the first embodiment.

[0154] like Fig.28As shown, the bottom insulator 27 has a flat plate portion 27A, and four concave inner contact accommodating portions 27B are formed on the flat plate portion 27A. The four inner contact accommodating portions 27B correspond to the four plug contacts 13.

[0155] Similar to the bottom insulator 17 in the first embodiment, four protrusions 17C protruding from the center of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B in the +Z direction are formed in each of the four inner contact accommodating portions 27B, and a plurality of through holes 17D corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed in the flat plate portion 27A.

[0156] like Fig.29 As shown in FIG. 1 , a flat support surface 27E extending along the XY plane and facing the +Z direction is formed on the bottom surface of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27. A step portion 27G is formed at the end in the -X direction of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B. The step portion 27G is adjacent to the support surface 27E and is located at a height corresponding to the thickness of the sheet-like conductive member 25 on the +Z direction side relative to the support surface 27E.

[0157] The convex portion 17C is similar to the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 in the first embodiment, and protrudes from the support surface 27E in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C. Fig.30 As shown in FIG. 1 , the convex portion 17C has a prism shape having a substantially hexagonal cross section. In addition, concave protrusion receiving portions 17F are formed on the side surface facing the +Y direction and the side surface facing the −Y direction of the convex portion 17C.

[0158] like Figure 31 to Figure 33 As shown, the inner contact 28 is formed of a single conductive metal plate that is bent, and includes a flat plate-shaped base portion 18A extending along the XY plane and four arm portions 28B respectively connected to the outer periphery of the base portion 18A.

[0159] Two of the four arm portions 28B are bent so as to extend from the +X direction end of the base portion 18A in the +Y direction and the -Y direction, respectively, rise in the +Z direction, and return to the +X direction end of the base portion 18A again. A pair of first elastic portions 28E are formed by the two arm portions 28B on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C. The pair of first elastic portions 28E have a cantilever beam shape bent so as to protrude in the +Z direction more than the base portion 18A and are elastically deformable in the Z direction.

[0160] Similarly, the remaining two arm portions 28B of the four arm portions 28B are bent so as to extend from the -X direction end of the base portion 18A in the +Y direction and the -Y direction, respectively, rise in the +Z direction, and return to the -X direction end of the base portion 18A again. By these two arm portions 28B, a pair of second elastic portions 28F are formed at mutually different rotational positions around the fitting axis C from the pair of first elastic portions 28E, specifically, closer to the -X direction side than the fitting axis C. The pair of second elastic portions 28F have a cantilever beam shape bent so as to protrude further in the +Z direction than the base portion 18A, and are elastically deformable in the Z direction.

[0161] The base 18A is similar to the base 18A of the inner contact 18 in the first embodiment and includes a through hole 18C through which the fitting axis C passes and a pair of protrusions 18D formed to protrude toward the fitting axis C from the edges on the +Y direction side and the -Y direction side of the through hole 18C.

[0162] The sheet-like conductive member 25 has the same structure as the sheet-like conductive member 15 used in the first embodiment, except that the shapes of the contact arrangement region and the opening are different.

[0163] That is, Fig.34 As shown, four contact arrangement areas 25A for arranging four plug contacts 13 are divided on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 25 facing the +Z direction. An opening 25B penetrating the sheet-like conductive member 25 in the Z direction is formed in each contact arrangement area 25A, and the wiring layer 15C is exposed in the +Z direction so as to be adjacent to the +X direction side of the opening 25B. The insulating layer 15D is exposed in the area other than the four contact arrangement areas 25A.

[0164] The opening 25B penetrates the sheet-like conductive member 25 in the Z direction, so that Fig.35 As shown, on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 25 facing the −Z direction, the openings 25B can be observed at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 25A.

[0165] On the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 25 facing the −Z direction, the wiring layer 15E is exposed in the −Z direction adjacent to the +X direction side of the openings 25B formed at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 25A, and the insulating layer 15F is exposed in other regions.

[0166] A plurality of through holes 15G corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed in the peripheral edge portion of the sheet-like conductive member 25 .

[0167] like Fig.36As shown, the contact arrangement area 25A is composed of a semicircular portion located on the +X direction side and a rectangular portion adjacent to the -X direction side of the semicircular portion and having rounded corners, and a region of the wiring layer 15C extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along the inner side of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement area 25A is exposed in the +Z direction. An opening 25B is formed in the region other than the exposed portion of the wiring layer 15C in the contact arrangement area 25A.

[0168] Also, similarly to the wiring layer 15C, on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 25 facing the −Z direction, a region of the wiring layer 15E extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along the inner side of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 25A is exposed in the −Z direction.

[0169] In addition, if Fig.37 As shown, the wiring layer 15C exposed toward the +Z direction and the wiring layer 15E exposed toward the −Z direction are stacked with the insulating layer 15H interposed therebetween.

[0170] The four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator 16, the four plug contacts 13, the four contact arrangement regions 25A of the sheet-like conductive member 25, the four inner contacts 28, and the four inner contact accommodating portions 27B of the bottom insulator 27 are arranged at positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0171] Furthermore, the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16, the plurality of cutouts 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the plurality of through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 27 are arranged at positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0172] When assembling the connector 21, first, Fig.38 and Fig.39 As shown, the inner contact 28 is aligned on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27. At this time, the base 18A and the four arm portions 28B of the inner contact 28 are located on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27, and the through hole 18C formed in the base 18A is located on the +Z direction side of the protrusion 17C protruding from the inner contact accommodating portion 27B.

[0173] Next, the inner contact 28 is pushed toward the bottom insulator 27 in the -Z direction while the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is inserted into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 28. At this time, the inner contact 28 is pushed in with the pair of protrusions 18D protruding into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 28 inserted into the pair of protrusion receiving portions 17F of the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27. Fig.40 and Fig.41As shown, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is press-fitted into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 28. As a result, the inner contact 28 is accommodated in the inner contact accommodation portion 27B and fixed to the bottom insulator 27.

[0174] Furthermore, if Fig.42 As shown, the sheet-like conductive member 25 is aligned on the +Z direction side of the bottom insulator 27. At this time, the contact arrangement region 25A and the opening 25B of the sheet-like conductive member 25 are located on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27.

[0175] In addition, a step portion 27G is formed at the -X direction end of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27, so that the +X direction side portion of the inner contact 28 accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B is located on the support surface 27E of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B, but the -X direction side portion of the inner contact 28 is located on the step portion 27G. Therefore, the inner contact 28 is held in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B in a state of being inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0176] By moving the sheet-like conductive member 25 relatively toward the bottom insulator 27 in the -Z direction, as shown in FIG. Fig.43 As shown, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is inserted into the opening 25B of the sheet-like conductive member 25 .

[0177] Here, the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 25 are exposed in the +Z direction and the -Z direction, respectively, on the +X direction side of the opening 25B. Therefore, in the inner contact 28 held in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27, the pair of first elastic portions 28E arranged on the +X direction side with respect to the fitting axis C are located on the -Z direction side of the exposed portion of the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and the pair of second elastic portions 28F arranged on the -X direction side with respect to the fitting axis C are exposed in the +Z direction through the opening 25B of the sheet-like conductive member 25.

[0178] The corresponding plug contact 13 is aligned with the +Z direction side of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27. At this time, the concave portion 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13 is located on the +Z direction side of the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27.

[0179] Next, the plug contact 13 is pushed inward in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 27, as shown in FIG. Fig.44 As shown, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is press-fitted into the recess 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13 .

[0180] As a result, on the +X direction side relative to the mating axis C, the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28 are pressed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 via the sheet-like conductive component 25 and elastically deformed, and on the -X direction side relative to the mating axis C, the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28 are directly pressed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and elastically deformed.

[0181] That is, on the +X direction side relative to the mating axis C, the sheet-like conductive component 25 is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28, and on the -X direction side relative to the mating axis C, the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 is in contact with the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28.

[0182] Furthermore, by pressing the bottom insulator 27 against the top insulator 16, the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 sequentially penetrate the plurality of cutouts 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the plurality of through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 27. Fig.45 As shown, by thermally deforming the front ends of the plurality of protrusions 16C protruding toward the −Z direction side of the bottom insulator 27 , the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 27 are fixed to each other, thereby completing the assembly of the connector 21 connected to the sheet-like conductive member 25 .

[0183] In the connector 21 thus assembled, as shown in FIG. Fig.46 As shown, the sheet-like conductive member 25 is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28 on the +X direction side relative to the fitting axis C.

[0184] As a result, the first contact portion S1 formed by the surface on the -Z direction side of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 contacts the wiring layer 15C of the sheet-like conductive member 25 at a predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact 13 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15C. In addition, the surfaces on the +Z direction side of the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28 contact the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 25 at a predetermined contact pressure, and the inner contact 28 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15E.

[0185] On the other hand, on the -X direction side relative to the mating axis C, a second contact portion S2 formed by a surface on the -Z direction side of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 at a position different from the first contact portion S1 directly contacts a pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28 at a predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact 13 and the inner contact 28 are electrically connected.

[0186] Therefore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 25 is directly electrically connected to the plug contact 13, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 25 is electrically connected to the plug contact 13 via the inner contact 28. That is, both the wiring layers 15C and 15E are connected to the plug contact 13.

[0187] In this way, according to the connector 21, by using the inner contact 28, as with the connector 11 of the first embodiment, both the wiring layer 15C composed of the conductor arranged on the surface side of the sheet-like conductive component 25 and the wiring layer 15E composed of the conductor arranged on the back side can be electrically connected to one plug contact 13.

[0188] Therefore, if the connector 21 is connected to a sheet-like conductive component in which the conductor is exposed only on the surface side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the surface side of the sheet-like conductive component. In addition, if the connector 21 is connected to a sheet-like conductive component in which the conductor is exposed only on the back side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the back side of the sheet-like conductive component.

[0189] Furthermore, as in the sheet-like conductive component 25 in the second embodiment, if the connector 21 is connected to a sheet-like conductive component in which the conductor is exposed on the front side and the back side, respectively, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to both the conductor on the front side and the conductor on the back side of the sheet-like conductive component. For example, if a sheet-like conductive component having a multilayer structure in which the conductors constituting the shielding layer are exposed on the front side and the back side, respectively, and the conductors constituting the signal wiring layer are stacked between these shielding layers in a state of being insulated from the shielding layers on both sides is used as a connection object, by connecting the plug contact 13 connected to the shielding layer on the front side and the back side to the ground potential, the shielding effect on the signal wiring layer can be exerted, and high-precision signal transmission can be performed while suppressing the influence of interference caused by electromagnetic waves, etc.

[0190] In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the protrusions 17C of the bottom insulator 27 are pressed into the recesses 13C of the cylindrical portions 13A of the plug contacts 13, thereby holding the plug contacts 13 on the bottom insulator 27. However, the plug contacts 13 may be held on the bottom insulator 27 by fixing the top insulator 16 to the bottom insulator 27 using the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16.

[0191] However, in the structure in which the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is pressed into the recess 13C of the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13, the plug contact 13 can be forcibly fixed to the bottom insulator 27 at a location close to the contact portion between the wiring layers 15C, 15E of the sheet-like conductive component 25 and the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28, and the contact portion between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the sheet-like conductive component 25 and the plug contact 13.

[0192] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment 2, the inner contact 28 has a pair of first elastic portions 28E and a pair of second elastic portions 28F, but is not limited to this, and may have one first elastic portion 28E and one second elastic portion 28F, and may have more than three first elastic portions 28E and more than three second elastic portions 28F.

[0193] In the second embodiment, the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27 has the support surface 27E extending along the XY plane and the step portion 27G adjacent to the support surface 27E, and the inner contact 28 is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As in the first embodiment, the inner contact accommodating portion 27B may have the support surface inclined with respect to the XY plane, and the inner contact 28 may be arranged on the support surface, and the inner contact 28 may be accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0194] Furthermore, in contrast, in the first embodiment, the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 may include a support surface extending along the XY plane and a step portion adjacent to the support surface, whereby the inner contact 18 may be accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0195] However, the base portion 18A of the inner contact 18 needs to have rigidity not to be deformed when pressed in the −Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 while being placed on the support surface and the step portion extending along the XY plane.

[0196] In the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the plug contact 13 arranged in the contact configuration area 15A, 25A of the sheet-like conductive component 15, 25 is connected to both the wiring layer 15C exposed on the surface side of the sheet-like conductive component 15, 25 and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet-like conductive component 15, 25, but, for example, the wiring layer 15E exposed only on the back side of the sheet-like conductive component 15, 25 can also be connected to the plug contact 13 arranged in the contact configuration area 15A, 25A.

[0197] The sheet-like conductive members 15 and 25 used in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments have a multilayer structure, but are not limited thereto, and may have any structure as long as they have a conductor exposed on at least one side.

[0198] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, two layers of conductors formed of the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet-like conductive members 15 and 25 are connected to one plug contact 13 , but the present invention is not limited thereto, and three or more layers of conductors may be connected to one plug contact 13 .

[0199] Furthermore, the connectors 11 and 21 in the first and second embodiments have four plug contacts 13 , but the number of plug contacts 13 is not limited as long as at least one plug contact 13 electrically connected to the conductor exposed on at least one surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 or 25 is provided.

[0200] In the first and second embodiments, the reinforcing sheet 14 is disposed between the bottom insulator 17 , 27 and the top insulator 16 . However, the reinforcing sheet 14 may be omitted when it is not necessary to reinforce the object such as clothing to which the connector 11 , 21 is mounted.

Claims

1. A connector, characterized in that: have: A conductive plug contact having a cylindrical portion extending along a mating axis and a flange extending from an end of the cylindrical portion in a direction orthogonal to the mating axis; a bottom insulator having a support surface extending in the orthogonal direction or in a direction inclined relative to the orthogonal direction; as well as The conductive inner contact is arranged on the support surface, The inner contact has: a flat plate-shaped base, arranged on the support surface; and a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion, respectively connected to the base and opposite to the back surface of the flange, and capable of elastic deformation in a direction along the fitting axis, A portion of a sheet-like connection object through which a conductor is exposed on at least one side is sandwiched between a first contact portion on the back side of the flange of the plug contact and the first elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the mating axis, the first contact portion on the back side of the flange contacts the surface of the connection object, the first elastic portion contacts the back side of the connection object, and a second contact portion on the back side of the flange at a position different from the first contact portion contacts the second elastic portion. When the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is directly electrically connected to the conductor; when the conductor is exposed on the back side of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner contact is formed by a bent metal plate. The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion each have a double-support beam shape curved so as to protrude from the support surface in a direction along the fitting axis further than the base portion at different positions around the fitting axis.

3. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner contact is formed by a bent metal plate. The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion each have a cantilever beam shape bent so as to protrude from the support surface in a direction along the fitting axis further than the base portion at different positions around the fitting axis.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion are arranged at positions facing each other across the fitting axis.

5. The connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The base portion of the inner contact is arranged to be inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction such that the second elastic portion is closer to the back surface of the flange than the first elastic portion.

6. The connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The support surface extends in a direction inclined relative to the orthogonal direction, The inner contact is arranged so that the entire base portion contacts the support surface.

7. The connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The support surface extends in the orthogonal direction, The bottom insulator has a step portion, the step portion being adjacent to the support surface and formed at a position opposite to the second contact portion on the back surface of the flange, The inner contact is arranged such that a portion on the first elastic portion side contacts the support surface, and a portion on the second elastic portion side contacts the step portion.

8. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The plug contact has a recessed portion formed inside the cylindrical portion, The bottom insulator has a convex portion that protrudes from the support surface along the fitting axis and is inserted into the concave portion of the plug contact. The plug contact is fixed to the bottom insulator by the protrusion being pressed into the recess.

9. The connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The base of the inner contact has a through hole into which the protrusion of the bottom insulator is inserted, and a protrusion protruding from an edge of the through hole toward the fitting shaft. The convex portion of the bottom insulator has a concave protrusion receiving portion, The position of the inner contact relative to the bottom insulator is fixed by inserting the convex portion of the bottom insulator into the through hole and accommodating the protrusion in the protrusion accommodating portion of the bottom insulator.

10. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The inner contact has a plurality of the first elastic portions and a plurality of the second elastic portions respectively coupled to the base portion.

11. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The connector includes a top insulator having a contact through hole formed therein through which the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes and which is smaller than the flange. The top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator such that the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes through the contact through hole and the flange of the plug contact, the connection object, and the inner contact are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

12. A connector assembly, characterized in that: have: the connection object; and The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 11 connected to the connection object, The connection object has a connection portion formed at a position corresponding to the first elastic portion of the inner contact and an opening portion formed at a position corresponding to the second elastic portion of the inner contact. The connecting portion of the object to be connected is sandwiched between the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange and the first elastic portion of the inner contact as a part of the object to be connected. The second contact portion on the rear surface of the flange contacts the second elastic portion of the inner contact via the opening.

Images