Floating connector and contact piece used for floating connector

Abstract

The invention discloses a floating connector and a contact used for the floating connector. The floating connector comprises a fixed shell, a movable shell and a plurality of contact pieces. The fixed housing is provided with an internal space with an upward opening, and at least a part of the movable housing is accommodated in the internal space and is configured to be freely movable relative to the fixed housing. Each contact piece comprises a welding part, a first holding part, a spring part, a second holding part, a contact arm and a contact part. The first holding portion extends from the welding portion and is held by the fixed housing, the second holding portion is held by the movable housing, and the spring portion connects the first holding portion and the second holding portion. The spring portion is formed with a plurality of elongated slits. By means of the long slits, the spring part is easy to elastically deform. The present invention can absorb errors in the mounting position of a connection object, prevent damage to the connector or the connection object, and can be used for transmitting a large current.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a floating connector, in particular to a floating connector for transmitting large current. Background Art

[0002] In order to meet the demand of transmitting power current, a power contact piece with a larger width is used compared with a signal contact piece. However, when a power contact piece with a larger width is used, the resistance force when the movable housing moves relative to the fixed housing will become larger, which will cause problems in use.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-220327 discloses a floating connector with a power supply contact. In order to solve the above problem, it is proposed to use a power supply contact composed of a first contact and a second contact. By making the first contact and the second contact move relative to each other, the above problem of increased resistance can be avoided. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention provides a floating connector and a contact member used for the floating connector to solve the above problems.

[0005] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a floating connector that can absorb the error of the installation position of the connection object and prevent damage to the connector or the connection object.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating connector which can be used to transmit large currents, wherein each contact can transmit a current of up to 9 amperes.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a floating connector is provided, comprising: a fixed shell having an internal space opened upward; a movable shell having an engaging portion engaged with a connection object in a first direction, at least a portion of the movable shell being accommodated in the internal space and configured to be freely movable relative to the fixed shell on a plane perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality of contacts, the plurality of contacts being arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each contact being formed by bending a flat long metal strip, each contact comprising: a welding portion, a first retaining portion, a spring portion, a second retaining portion, a contact arm and a contact portion, the welding portion being located on a bottom surface of the fixed shell, the first retaining portion continuing from the welding portion and being retained by the fixed shell, the second retaining portion being retained by the movable shell, the spring portion being connected to the fixed shell The first holding portion and the second holding portion, the contact arm continues from the second holding portion, the contact portion is formed at the end of the contact arm, the spring portion includes a first straight portion, a first curved portion, an intermediate portion, a second curved portion and a second straight portion, the first straight portion is connected to the first holding portion, the second straight portion is connected to the second holding portion, the intermediate portion is connected to the first straight portion through the first curved portion and is connected to the second straight portion through the second curved portion, the spring portion is formed with a plurality of first elongated slits and a plurality of second elongated slits, the first elongated slit extends in the first straight portion and the first curved portion and extends to the intermediate portion, the second elongated slit extends in the second straight portion and the second curved portion and extends to the intermediate portion, the first elongated slit and the second elongated slit are separated from each other by a slit interruption portion in the intermediate portion.

[0008] According to the floating connector of the present invention, the contact portion is configured to be substantially U-shaped, V-shaped or L-shaped, and the contact portion is formed with a contact slot hole parallel to the extending direction of the contact arm.

[0009] According to the floating connector of the present invention, a positioning hole is formed in the slit interruption portion.

[0010] According to the floating connector of the present invention, the floating connector further comprises a pair of fasteners, which are fixed to the fixed housing at both ends of the fixed housing, respectively, thereby restricting the movable housing to move on a plane perpendicular to the first direction.

[0011] According to the floating connector of the present invention, the length of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.25 times and 0.65 times the length of the middle portion.

[0012] According to the floating connector of the present invention, the length of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.4 and 0.5 times the length of the middle portion.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a contact piece for a floating connector is provided, wherein the floating connector includes a fixed housing and a movable housing that can move relative to the fixed housing, the contact piece is formed by bending a flat long metal strip, and the contact piece includes: a welding portion, a first holding portion, a spring portion, a second holding portion, a contact arm and a contact portion, the first holding portion is continued from the welding portion and is held by the fixed housing, the second holding portion is held by the movable housing, the spring portion connects the first holding portion and the second holding portion, the contact arm is continued from the second holding portion, the contact portion is formed at the end of the contact arm, the spring portion includes a first straight portion, a first curved portion, and a second curved portion. The spring portion comprises a curved portion, an intermediate portion, a second curved portion and a second straight portion, the first straight portion is connected to the first retaining portion, the second straight portion is connected to the second retaining portion, the intermediate portion is connected to the first straight portion through the first curved portion and is connected to the second straight portion through the second curved portion, the spring portion is formed with a plurality of first elongated slits and a plurality of second elongated slits, the first elongated slits extend in the first straight portion and the first curved portion and extend to the intermediate portion, the second elongated slits extend in the second straight portion and the second curved portion and extend to the intermediate portion, and the first elongated slits and the second elongated slits are separated from each other by a slit interruption portion in the intermediate portion.

[0014] According to the contact piece for the floating connector of the present invention, the contact portion is configured to be substantially U-shaped, V-shaped or L-shaped, and the contact portion is formed with a contact slot hole parallel to the extending direction of the contact arm.

[0015] According to the contact piece for the floating connector of the present invention, a positioning hole is formed in the slit interruption portion.

[0016] According to the contact for a floating connector of the present invention, the length of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.25 and 0.65 times the length of the middle portion.

[0017] According to the contact for a floating connector of the present invention, the length of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.4 and 0.5 times the length of the middle portion.

[0018] A person skilled in the art will be able to best understand the technical features and other purposes and advantages of the present invention after referring to the specification and drawings of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional diagram of a floating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention installed on a substrate.

[0020] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional exploded view of a floating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the floating connector 1 .

[0022] Figure 4 A three-dimensional diagram of a contact.

[0023] Figure 5 A cross-sectional side view of a contact.

[0024] Description of Reference Numerals

[0025] 1: Floating connector

[0026] 10:Fix the housing

[0027] 20: Movable shell

[0028] 21: Chimeric part

[0029] 30: Contact

[0030] 310: Welding Department

[0031] 321: First holding part

[0032] 322: Second holding part

[0033] 330: Middle

[0034] 331: First straight line

[0035] 332: Second straight line

[0036] 334: first bend

[0037] 335: Second bend

[0038] 336: First elongated slit

[0039] 337: Second long slit

[0040] 338: Positioning hole

[0041] 340: Contact arm

[0042] 350:Contact Department

[0043] 351: Contact slot

[0044] 40:Substrate

[0045] 50: Fasteners. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The floating connector according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings, the same elements are marked with the same reference numerals. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional diagram of a floating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention installed on a substrate. Figure 2 1 is a perspective exploded view of a floating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The floating connector is indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole. The floating connector 1 includes a fixed housing 10, a movable housing 20, a plurality of contacts 30 and a pair of fasteners 50. The floating connector 1 is mounted on a substrate 40. In this embodiment, the floating connector 1 has 16 contacts 30. The number of contacts 30 may be increased or decreased as required.

[0048] The fixed housing 10 has an internal space that opens upward. The movable housing 20 has a fitting portion 21 that fits with a connection object (not shown) in a first direction (z-axis direction). At least a portion of the movable housing 20 is accommodated in the internal space of the fixed housing 10. The outer dimensions of the at least a portion of the movable housing 20 and the inner dimensions of the internal space of the fixed housing 10 are set so that there is a certain gap between the movable housing 20 and the fixed housing 10, allowing the movable housing 20 to move freely relative to the fixed housing 10 on a plane (xy plane) perpendicular to the first direction. In a modified example of the present invention, the movable housing can be completely accommodated in the internal space of the fixed housing.

[0049] The pair of fasteners 50 are respectively fixed at both ends of the fixed housing 10. Each fastener is configured in a U-shape and has a pair of parallel legs. The pair of parallel legs are formed with a barb structure and inserted into a groove or opening formed in the fixed housing 10 in an interference fit manner. The movement of the movable housing 20 in the first direction is stopped by the pair of fasteners 50 to prevent the movable housing 20 from detaching from the fixed housing 10. In this way, the movable housing 20 is restricted to move relative to the fixed housing 10 on a plane (xy plane) perpendicular to the first direction. The ends of the pair of parallel legs will be welded to the pads of the substrate 40.

[0050] The contacts 30 are arranged in two rows along a second direction (x-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction, and one end of each contact 30 is soldered to a solder pad formed on the substrate 40 .

[0051] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the floating connector 1. Figure 3 As shown, the movable housing 20 is held by the contact 30 in a floating manner relative to the fixed housing 10 .

[0052] Figure 4 A three-dimensional diagram of a contact. Figure 5It is a cross-sectional side view taken along the central axis of the contact. In order to transmit large currents, wide contacts are used. The contact 30 is formed by bending a flat, elongated metal strip. The flat, elongated metal strip means that the width of the contact is significantly greater than its thickness. In the present embodiment, the ratio of the width to the thickness of the contact 30 (especially the spring portion of the contact 30) is between about 12 and about 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In other variations of the present invention, the ratio of the width to the thickness of the contact (especially the spring portion of the contact) may be greater than 7.

[0053] The contact member 30 includes, in order: a welding portion 310, a first holding portion 321, a spring portion, a second holding portion 322, a contact arm 340 and a contact portion 350. The spring portion includes a first straight portion 331, a first curved portion 334, an intermediate portion 330, a second curved portion 335 and a second straight portion 332. The first straight portion 331 is connected to the first holding portion 321, and the second straight portion 332 is connected to the second holding portion 322. The intermediate portion 330 is connected to the first straight portion 331 through the first curved portion 334 and is connected to the second straight portion 332 through the second curved portion 335.

[0054] The welding portion 310 is located on the bottom surface of the fixed housing 10 and is welded to the welding pad of the substrate 40. The first retaining portion 321 is continued from the welding portion 310. The first retaining portion 321 is formed with a barb structure and is inserted into a groove or opening formed in the fixed housing 10 in an interference fit manner, so that the first retaining portion 321 is fixed to the fixed housing 10. Similarly, the second retaining portion 322 is formed with a barb structure and is inserted into a groove or opening formed in the movable housing 20 in an interference fit manner, so that the second retaining portion 322 is fixed to the movable housing 20.

[0055] The spring portion connects the first holding portion 321 and the second holding portion 322. The spring portion is formed with a plurality of first elongated slits 336 and a plurality of second elongated slits 337. The first elongated slits 336 extend from the first straight portion 331 and the first curved portion 334 and extend to the middle portion 330. The second elongated slits 337 extend from the second straight portion 332 and the second curved portion 335 and extend to the middle portion 330. The first elongated slits 336 and the second elongated slits 337 are separated from each other by a slit interruption portion in the middle portion 330. A positioning hole 338 is formed in the slit interruption portion. The contact arm 340 continues from the second holding portion 322, and the contact portion 350 is formed at the end of the contact arm 340.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the contact portion 350 is configured to be substantially L-shaped, and the contact portion 350 is formed with a contact slot 351 parallel to the extending direction of the contact arm 340. The contact portion may also be configured to be U-shaped or V-shaped. The formation of the contact slot 351 allows the contact portion 350 to be easily elastically deformed. When the contact piece of the floating connector of the embodiment of the present invention is skewed relative to the contact piece of the connection object, the contact portion 350 can be deformed conformably to ensure sufficient contact area between the contact piece of the floating connector and the contact piece of the connection object.

[0057] The use of a wide contact piece will increase the resistance force when the movable housing moves relative to the fixed housing. Therefore, a long slit is formed in the spring portion of the contact piece to partially weaken the spring portion so that the spring portion is easily elastically deformed. In this way, the resistance force when the movable housing moves relative to the fixed housing is reduced.

[0058] Compared to a configuration in which an elongated slit extends over the entire spring portion, a configuration in which a slit interruption portion is provided in the middle portion of the spring portion has a more stable structure and is less prone to distortion. Before the contact blank is bent, the first elongated slit and the second elongated slit are formed by punching. The positioning hole 338 serves as a means for positioning the contact blank when the contact blank is punched. The slit interruption portion allows the formation of the positioning hole. Therefore, a configuration in which a slit interruption portion is provided in the middle portion of the spring portion has better manufacturability. However, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which a positioning hole is provided in the slit interruption portion. In other variations of the present invention, the slit interruption portion may not have a positioning hole.

[0059] The length l of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion 330 is between 0.25 times and 0.65 times the length L of the middle portion 330, and preferably between 0.4 times and 0.5 times the length L of the middle portion 330. The ratio of the length l to the length L can be set expediently by numerical simulation. The ratio of the length l to the length L can also be determined according to the width / thickness ratio of the contact piece, the degree of deformation of the contact piece, or the amount of movement of the movable housing. In principle, the portion that is subjected to less stress when the movable housing moves relative to the fixed housing (generally, the middle of the spring portion) may not be formed with a long slit and serve as a slit interruption portion. Alternatively, the long slit is formed only in the portion that is subjected to greater stress (generally, the curved portion and the portion adjacent to the curved portion).

[0060] Although the present invention is described with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications are possible for those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is subject to the text of the appended claims, that is, equivalent changes and modifications made without departing from the claims of the present invention should still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A floating connector, comprising: A fixed shell having an inner space opening upward; A movable housing having an engaging portion engaged with a connection object in a first direction, at least a portion of the movable housing being accommodated in the internal space and configured to be freely movable relative to the fixed housing in a plane perpendicular to the first direction, A plurality of contact members are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each contact member is formed by bending a flat long metal strip, and each contact member comprises: a welding portion, a first holding portion, a spring portion, a second holding portion, a contact arm and a contact portion, The welding portion is located on the bottom surface of the fixed shell. The first holding portion is continued from the welding portion and is held by the fixed housing. The second holding portion is held by the movable housing, The spring portion connects the first holding portion and the second holding portion, The contact arm continues from the second holding portion, The contact portion is formed at the end of the contact arm, The spring portion includes a first straight portion, a first curved portion, an intermediate portion, a second curved portion and a second straight portion. The first straight portion is connected to the first holding portion, the second straight portion is connected to the second holding portion, the intermediate portion is connected to the first straight portion through the first curved portion and is connected to the second straight portion through the second curved portion, The spring portion is formed with a plurality of first elongated slits and a plurality of second elongated slits, wherein the first elongated slits extend in the first straight portion and the first curved portion and extend to the middle portion, and the second elongated slits extend in the second straight portion and the second curved portion and extend to the middle portion, and the first elongated slits and the second elongated slits are separated from each other by a slit interruption portion in the middle portion. 2 . The floating connector according to claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is configured to be substantially U-shaped, V-shaped or L-shaped, and the contact portion is formed with a contact slot hole parallel to an extending direction of the contact arm.

3. The floating connector according to claim 1, wherein: A positioning hole is formed in the slit interruption portion.

4. The floating connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two fasteners, the two fasteners being fixed to the fixed housing at two ends of the fixed housing respectively, thereby restricting the movable housing to move in a plane perpendicular to the first direction. 5 . The floating connector according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.25 and 0.65 times the length of the middle portion. 6 . The floating connector as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a length of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.4 and 0.5 times the length of the middle portion.

7. A contact for a floating connector, wherein the floating connector comprises a fixed housing and a movable housing capable of moving relative to the fixed housing, The contact piece is formed by bending a flat and long metal strip, and comprises: a welding portion, a first holding portion, a spring portion, a second holding portion, a contact arm and a contact portion. The first holding portion is continued from the welding portion and is held by the fixed housing. The second holding portion is held by the movable housing, The spring portion connects the first holding portion and the second holding portion, The contact arm continues from the second holding portion, The contact portion is formed at the end of the contact arm, The spring portion includes a first straight portion, a first curved portion, an intermediate portion, a second curved portion and a second straight portion. The first straight portion is connected to the first holding portion, the second straight portion is connected to the second holding portion, the intermediate portion is connected to the first straight portion through the first curved portion and is connected to the second straight portion through the second curved portion, The spring portion is formed with a plurality of first elongated slits and a plurality of second elongated slits, wherein the first elongated slits extend in the first straight portion and the first curved portion and extend to the middle portion, and the second elongated slits extend in the second straight portion and the second curved portion and extend to the middle portion, and the first elongated slits and the second elongated slits are separated from each other by a slit interruption portion in the middle portion.

8. The contact for a floating connector according to claim 7, wherein the contact portion is configured to be substantially U-shaped, V-shaped or L-shaped, and the contact portion is formed with a contact slot hole parallel to the extending direction of the contact arm.

9. The contact for a floating connector according to claim 7, wherein: A positioning hole is formed in the slit interruption portion.

10. The contact for a floating connector according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the length of the slit interruption portion in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.25 and 0.65 times the length of the middle portion. 11 . The contact for a floating connector as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a length of the slit interruption portion in a longitudinal direction of the middle portion is between 0.4 and 0.5 times the length of the middle portion.

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