Connector

Abstract

The invention provides a connector capable of absorbing position offset of a counterpart side and maintaining stable connection. A connector (1) is provided with a housing (30) and a terminal fitting (10) housed in the housing (30). The terminal fitting (10) is provided with a box part (10A), and the opposite side terminal (50) is inserted into the box part (10A). A connection part (10H) connected to the circuit board (S); and a spring part (10G) which extends from the connection part (10H), is provided so as not to be in contact with the housing (30), and supports the box part (10A) so as to be displaceable.

Description

connector Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector for connecting substrates to each other. This electrical connector is mounted on a circuit board and connects the circuit board and the other circuit board by engaging with a counterpart connector mounted on the other circuit board. In this electrical connector, a movable housing is provided via terminal parts relative to a fixed housing fixed to the circuit board. The movable housing can move relative to the fixed housing by elastically deforming the terminal parts, thereby absorbing positional displacement of the counterpart connector. (Prior art documents, patent documents)

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-64443 The invention aims to solve the following problem:

[0004] The movable housing has a structure in which a sidewall made of synthetic resin is laterally held by the terminals. Therefore, for example, when the sidewall expands due to temperature or humidity changes, the terminals are pressed outward by the sidewall, which may result in changes in the contact pressure with the terminals of the other side connector.

[0005] The connector of the present invention is based on the above-described situation, and its purpose is to provide a connector capable of absorbing positional offset on the other side and maintaining a stable connection. Solution to the problem

[0006] The connector of the present invention includes a housing; and a terminal part housed in the housing, the terminal part having a box portion into which a counter-side terminal is inserted; a connecting portion for connection to a circuit board; and a spring portion extending from the connecting portion and configured not to contact the housing, supporting the box portion for displacement. Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it can absorb positional shifts on the other side and maintain a stable connection. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 is a side sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a top view of the terminal component. Figure 3 is a sectional view AA in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the housing of the terminal component cut off. Figure 5 is a top view of the connector. Figure 6 is a side sectional view showing the opposite terminal being inserted into the terminal component. Detailed Implementation

[0009] (Description of embodiments of the present invention) First, embodiments of the present invention will be described. (1) A connector comprising a housing; and a terminal part housed in the housing, the terminal part having a housing portion into which a counter-side terminal is inserted; a connecting portion connected to a circuit board; and a spring portion extending from the connecting portion and configured not to contact the housing, supporting the housing portion for displacement.

[0010] In the terminal component of (1), for example, if the housing is made of a material that is subject to temperature or humidity changes, the spring part is not in contact with the housing, so it is not affected by the housing that is deformed due to temperature or humidity changes, and can absorb the positional displacement of the opposite terminal and maintain a stable connection between the terminal component and the opposite terminal.

[0011] (2) In the connector described in (1), the housing is a cylindrical shape with openings at both ends, and when the housing is viewed from the opening direction, the spring portion and the connecting portion are positioned on the outer side of the opening.

[0012] According to the terminal parts in (2), the spring part is positioned further outward than the opening. For example, when using a laser to inspect the irregularities inside the housing, the spring part and the connecting part do not block the laser, making inspection easier.

[0013] (3) In the terminal part of (2), the housing has a through hole formed in such a way that it faces one of the openings of the housing portion, and when viewed from the direction of the opening, at least a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the through hole is located inside the outer peripheral surface of the housing portion.

[0014] According to the terminal parts in (3), when the opposite terminal is inserted into the housing, the opposite terminal is less likely to collide with the opening end of the housing.

[0015] (4) In any of the connectors described in (1) to (3), the spring portion has a plurality of bends connected in a strip.

[0016] According to the terminal parts of (4), the excess length of the spring part can be extended, so it is easy to elastically deform and easy to maintain the function of supporting the box part to be able to move.

[0017] (Details of Embodiments of the Invention) <Embodiment 1> Embodiment 1, which embodies the connector 1 of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the figures, "front side", "rear side", "upper side", "lower side", "right side", and "left side" are represented by "F", "B", "U", "D", "R", and "L", respectively. It should be noted that the reference for direction is specified for convenience and may not necessarily be consistent with the direction in which the connector 1, including the terminal part 10, is mounted in a vehicle or the like. For example, the up-down direction is not limited to the direction of gravity.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, connector 1 can connect to the counterpart terminal 50 (not shown) of a counterpart connector, which is housed in the housing 30, via the terminal part 10. Connector 1 includes a pair of terminal parts 10 and housing 30. Connector 1 is mounted on a circuit board S.

[0019] (Structure of the circuit board) The circuit board S is flat. Electronic components (not shown) are mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the circuit board S. A pair of through holes H are formed in the circuit board S along the thickness direction. A conductive portion La is provided on the lower surface of the circuit board S, surrounding the through holes H. A connecting portion 10H of a terminal part 10, which is inserted through the through holes H and protrudes from the lower surface of the circuit board S, is fixed to the conductive portion La by solder.

[0020] (Structure of Terminal Part) Terminal part 10 is formed by stamping or other processes on a conductive metal plate. Terminal part 10 is a so-called female terminal part. A pair of terminal parts 10 are identical, only their arrangement differs. Therefore, the description of terminal part 10 will refer to one terminal part 10. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, terminal part 10 has a housing portion 10A, multiple inclined portions 10C, multiple elastic contact portions 10D, multiple protrusions 10E, a spring portion 10G, and a connecting portion 10H.

[0021] The housing 10A is cylindrical in shape, with its axis pointing vertically, and has openings at the top and bottom (i.e., both ends) (see Figure 4). The upper end of the housing 10A has an insertion port 10J for inserting the opposite terminal 50 (see Figures 3 and 4). That is, the housing 10A has an insertion port 10J for inserting the opposite terminal 50.

[0022] The inclined portion 10C is connected to the upper ends of a pair of opposing walls in the wall portion of the housing portion 10A, and one of each is provided (see Figure 4). Each inclined portion 10C is connected to the opening edge (the upper opening edge) of the insertion port 10J and extends inclinedly upward in the left-right direction (see Figure 4). The inclined portion 10C has a guide surface 10L, which extends upward (in front of the opening direction of the insertion port 10J), is connected to the opening edge, and is widened.

[0023] Three elastic contact portions 10D are formed in each wall portion of the housing portion 10A that is connected to the inclined portion 10C. Each elastic contact portion 10D is part of the wall portion and is formed by cutting up the wall portion and protruding inward from the wall portion. Each elastic contact portion 10D is formed in a cantilever shape extending upward (see Figures 3 and 4). In other words, each elastic contact portion 10D is elongated in the insertion / removal direction of the opposite terminal 50. The elastic contact portion 10D can elastically deform towards the inside and outside of the housing portion 10A with its lower end as the base point. Each elastic contact portion 10D is arranged in a circumferential direction of the housing portion 10A. Each elastic contact portion 10D is formed at an inward tilt, protruding inward from the wall portion of the housing portion 10A (see Figure 1). The top end portion (upper end portion) of each elastic contact portion 10D is inclined outward in the left-right direction and upward (see Figure 1).

[0024] Two protrusions 10E are formed inwardly protruding from the wall portion of the housing portion 10A, where the elastic contact portion 10D is disposed. Each protrusion 10E is part of the wall portion and is formed by hammering out the wall portion. The lower end of each protrusion 10E is flush with the upper end of the opening 10P that opens along the upper end of the elastic contact portion 10D (see Figure 3). That is, the protrusion 10E is formed at the edge of the opening 10P formed by cutting through the elastic contact portion 10D. In other words, the protrusion 10E is disposed in the wall portion closer to the insertion port 10J than the elastic contact portion 10D. The protrusions 10E are arranged in a circumferential direction in the housing portion 10A (see Figure 2). Each protrusion 10E is formed inwardly protruding from the wall portion of the housing portion 10A (see Figure 2). The upper part of each protrusion 10E faces the opposite wall portion and slopes downward (see Figure 1). When viewed from above, the box portion 10A is arranged such that each protrusion 10E corresponds to an adjacent elastic contact portion 10D (see Figure 2). The distance between the protrusions 10E facing each other in the left-right direction is greater than the distance between the elastic contact portions 10D facing each other in the left-right direction (see Figure 2).

[0025] A spring portion 10G is formed in the housing portion 10A by connecting to the lower edge of one of a pair of wall portions on which an elastic contact portion 10D is formed. The spring portion 10G is formed as a strip, in an S-shape, extending toward the opposite wall portion away from the housing portion 10A (see Figure 4). Specifically, the spring portion 10G has two bent portions 10M that are connected in a strip shape (see Figure 4). When the housing portion 10A is viewed from above, the spring portion 10G is positioned further outward than the opening of the housing portion 10A (see Figure 2). At the lower end of the spring portion 10G, a pair of locking tabs 10N are formed in a way that protrudes in the width direction.

[0026] The connecting portion 10H is formed by connecting to the lower edge of the spring portion 10G and extending downward (see Figure 4). That is, the spring portion 10G extends from the connecting portion 10H and is disposed between the housing portion 10A and the connecting portion 10H. The connecting portion 10H is formed by folding back to overlap in the thickness direction (see Figures 2 and 4). When the housing portion 10A is viewed from above, the connecting portion 10H and the spring portion 10G are positioned outside the opening of the housing portion 10A (see Figure 2).

[0027] (Structure of the Housing) The housing 30 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in Figure 1, the housing 30 is cylindrical and extends vertically. The housing 30 has a partition wall 30A. The partition wall 30A is arranged to divide the space inside the housing 30 into a left side and a right side. Terminal parts 10 are respectively arranged in the left and right side spaces inside the housing 30 divided by the partition wall 30A. These spaces are storage spaces A for accommodating the terminal parts 10. At the upper end of the housing 30, through holes 30B are formed corresponding to each storage space A.

[0028] The lower part of the housing 30 protrudes outward in the left and right directions, forming a pair of protrusions 30C, with the storage space A expanding outward in the left and right directions. A pair of locking grooves 30D are formed within each protrusion 30C. In one of the protrusions 30C, the pair of locking grooves 30D are formed such that a pair of wall portions extending upward from the lower end in a direction that intersects the left-right and up-down directions in the plate thickness direction. Only one of the pair of locking grooves 30D is shown in Figure 1.

[0029] (An example of assembling terminal parts into the housing) As shown in Figure 1, the posture of each terminal part 10 is adjusted so that the connecting portion 10H is lower than the housing portion 10A, and the terminal parts 10 are stored in the storage spaces A from below the housing 30. At this time, the connecting portions 10H of each terminal part 10 are set to face away from each other, and the terminal parts 10 are stored in the storage spaces A. Then, the locking tab 10N is pressed into the locking groove 30D of the housing 30 from below. In this way, the assembly of the housing 30 and the terminal parts 10 is completed, and the connector 1 is completed. The insertion hole 30B of the housing 30 is formed in such a way that it faces the insertion port 10J, which is one of the openings of the housing portion 10A. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, when the connector 1 is viewed from above (opening direction), a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 30B is located inside the outer peripheral surface of the housing portion 10A. In detail, the portion of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 30B that is located above the wall of the box portion 10A, where the elastic contact portion 10D is disposed, is generally located inside the outer circumferential surface of the box portion 10A.

[0030] In the completed connector 1, the terminal part 10 is disposed separately from the inner surface of the housing 30. That is, the terminal part 10, except for the locking tab 10N, is in a non-contact state with respect to the housing 30. In addition, the spring part 10G is configured not to contact the housing 30. Therefore, the housing part 10A of the terminal part 10 can be rocked left and right in a range that does not contact the inner surface of the housing 30, with the end of the spring part 10G connected to the locking tab 10N as the base point (see Figure 6). That is, the spring part 10G is configured not to contact the housing 30 and supports the housing part 10A so that it can be displaced.

[0031] (An example of assembling a connector to a circuit board) The connecting portion 10H of the terminal part 10 is inserted into the through hole H of the circuit board S. At this time, the connecting portion 10H is inserted from the upper surface side of the circuit board S relative to the through hole H. Then, while keeping the lower end face of the housing 30 in contact with the upper surface of the circuit board S, the connecting portion 10H is connected to the conductive portion La of the circuit board S using solder and fixed. In this way, the connector 1 is assembled to the circuit board S (see Figure 1).

[0032] As shown in Figure 6, the opposing terminal 50 is inserted from above into the insertion hole 30B of the housing 30 and connected to the terminal part 10. At this time, with the axis of the opposing terminal 50 inclined relative to the axis of the housing portion 10A of the terminal part 10, the opposing terminal 50 contacts the guide surface 10L of the inclined portion 10C and presses the housing portion 10A against its own inclined side. As a result, the spring portion 10G elastically deforms, and the housing portion 10A tilts. Then, the opposing terminal 50 is inserted into the insertion port 10J and contacts the protrusion 10E. The opposing terminal 50 then presses the protrusion 10E against its own inclined side. As a result, the spring portion 10G further elastically deforms, and the housing portion 10A tilts. At this time, the protrusion 10E prevents the tip of the opposing terminal 50 from colliding with the tip of the elastic contact portion 10D. When the opposing terminal 50 is further inserted, it contacts each elastic contact portion 10D. Each elastic contact portion 10D is elastically deformed by being pressed outward in the left-right direction by the opposite terminal 50. In this way, even if the axial direction of the opposite terminal 50 is tilted relative to the axial direction of the housing portion 10A, the opposite terminal 50 and the terminal part 10 can be connected well.

[0033] Next, the effects of Implementation Method 1 will be explained.

[0034] The connector 1 includes a housing 30 and a terminal part 10 housed in the housing 30. The terminal part 10 has a housing portion 10A into which a counter-side terminal 50 is inserted; a connecting portion 10H that is connected to the circuit board S; and a spring portion 10G that extends from the connecting portion 10H and is configured not to contact the housing 30, supporting the housing portion 10A so that it can be moved.

[0035] According to this structure, for example, if the housing 30 is made of a material that is subject to temperature or humidity changes, the spring part 10G is not in contact with the housing 30, so it will not be affected by the housing 30 that is deformed due to temperature or humidity changes. It can absorb the positional displacement of the opposite terminal 50 and maintain a stable connection between the terminal part 10 and the opposite terminal 50.

[0036] The housing section 10A is a cylindrical shape with openings at both ends. When viewed from the opening direction, the spring section 10G and the connecting section 10H are positioned further outward than the openings. According to this structure, the spring section 10G is positioned further outward than the openings. For example, when using a laser to inspect the irregularities inside the housing section 10A, the spring section 10G and the connecting section 10H do not obstruct the laser beam, making inspection easier.

[0037] The housing 30 has a through hole 30B, which is formed with an opening facing the housing portion 10A. When the connector 1 is viewed from the opening direction, a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 30B is located further inward than the outer circumferential surface of the housing portion 10A. According to this structure, when the opposite-side terminal 50 is inserted into the housing portion 10A, the opposite-side terminal 50 is less likely to collide with the opening end of the housing portion 10A.

[0038] The spring section 10G has multiple bent sections 10M connected in a strip. With this structure, the excess length of the spring section 10G can be increased, so it is easy to elastically deform and easily maintain the function of supporting the box section 10A in a movable manner.

[0039] (Other Embodiments) It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is intended to include all modifications of the same meaning and scope as those expressed in the claims.

[0040] The number of inclined portions, elastic contact portions, protrusions, and bent portions of spring portions are not limited to the numbers described in the above embodiments.

[0041] Unlike the embodiments described above, the spring portion can also be bent into a Z-shape or a crank shape. Alternatively, the spring portion can be configured with multiple bent portions arranged side-by-side in a strip-like shape.

[0042] Unlike the embodiments described above, the box section can also be formed into a polygonal cylindrical or cylindrical shape. Alternatively, one end of the box section can be closed.

[0043] Unlike the above embodiment, the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole can also be configured such that, when viewed from the opening direction, the entire inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole is located inside the outer circumferential surface of the box portion. Alternatively, the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole can be located outside the outer circumferential surface of the box portion.

[0044] Terminal parts can also be set as male terminal parts.

[0045] Unlike the embodiments described above, the spring portion and the connecting portion may also be positioned further inside the opening edge when the box is viewed from the opening direction. (Explanation of reference numerals in the drawings)

[0046] 1 Connector; 10 Terminal parts; 10A Housing part; 10C Inclined part; 10D Elastic contact part; 10E Protrusion; 10G Spring part; 10H Connecting part; 10J Insertion port; 10L Guide surface; 10M Bending part; 10N Locking tab; 10P Opening part; 30 Housing; 30A Partition wall; 30B Through hole; 30C Protrusion; 30D Locking groove; 50 Counter-side terminal; A Storage space; H Through hole; La Conductive part; S Circuit board.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a housing; and a terminal part housed in the housing, the terminal part having a housing portion into which a counter-side terminal is inserted; a connecting portion for connection to a circuit board; and a spring portion extending from the connecting portion and configured not to contact the housing, supporting the housing portion for displacement.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, The box section is a cylindrical shape with openings at both ends. When viewed from the opening direction, the spring section and the connecting section are positioned on the outer side of the openings.

3. The wiring component according to claim 2, wherein, The housing has a through hole formed in such a way that it faces one of the openings of the housing portion, and when viewed from the direction of the opening, at least a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the through hole is located inside the outer circumferential surface of the housing portion.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The spring portion has multiple bends that are connected in a strip.

Images