ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND CONTACT
The electrical connector's right-angled curvature and staggered positioning of elastic arm sections address the issue of insufficient bending strength and pressure, ensuring reliable and compact contact without interference, enhancing contact reliability and strength.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HIROSE ELECTRIC CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2018-09-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing electrical connectors face issues with insufficient bending strength and contact pressure due to overlapping elastic arm sections, which restrict further bending and increase the degree of bending at the edges, leading to reduced contact reliability and strength.
The electrical connector design features contacts with first and second elastic arm sections forming a right-angled curvature, allowing for staggered positioning in the alignment direction, ensuring sufficient bending without obstruction and increased contact pressure through parallel contact surfaces.
This design maintains contact strength and reliability by allowing significant bending without edge restrictions, ensuring high pressure contact and compact dimensions, while minimizing material usage and avoiding interference between contact sections.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector and a contact, wherein a contact has two contact sections in the connection direction with respect to an associated connecting body. General state of the art
[0002] For example, patent document 1 discloses an electrical connector in which, to increase the reliability of the contact (the connection) with an associated connecting body, two connecting sections are provided on a single contact in the connection direction towards the associated connecting body.
[0003] A contact on the electrical connector from patent document 1 is manufactured such that a strip-shaped metal sheet is bent and curved so that the connection direction is the longitudinal direction of the contact, and has two elastic arm sections. The two elastic arm sections each extend in the longitudinal direction of the contact, and a portion of each forms a base section, the base sections being coupled to one another, and each having a contact section at a front end. The two elastic arm sections are elastically flexible from each other forwards, separated from the base section, and by being, for example, Fig. 4 and Fig. As can be seen from Figure 8 of patent document 1, the two elastic arm sections are bent in such a way that they overlap at the base section. In the contact alignment direction, the two elastic arm sections are located in the same position, and their respective contact sections are positioned at different locations in the longitudinal contact direction. Therefore, when an associated connecting element, for example, a pin-shaped associated contact, moves towards the contact in the connection direction, the associated contact comes into contact with the two contact sections after a time difference, and the contact reliability is increased by means of the two contact points.
[0004] From US patent 2012 / 0252275A1, a connector is known that has multiple contacts, each of which has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a base section. The first terminal extends in one direction to connect to an electrical object of a connection target, and the second terminal extends in the opposite direction to fit into a concave section of a substrate.
[0005] CN 10 1 645 557 A describes an electrical connector for contacting a pin in a wafer module and for electrically connecting the wafer module to a printed circuit board. JP 2005 - 317 262 A discloses a contact connector for cards that has a resilient, elastically displaceable spring in the form of a cantilever. The spring has a plurality of split twisted springs formed by splitting at least their tips. Contacts of these split springs are capable of making contact with card-side contacts. State-of-the-art documents, patent documents
[0006] Patent specification 1: JP 2016 - 317 262 A Brief description of the invention; Problem of the present invention
[0007] However, in patent document 1, the contact sections are arranged such that the respective contact sections formed at the apex of the curved shape of the two elastic arm sections lie at different positions in the longitudinal contact direction. Since the two elastic arm sections are shaped so that, due to the bending, they lie at the same position in the contact alignment direction by overlapping each other at their base sections, they are in a positional relationship such that when one of the elastic arm sections is elastically bent, a section of this one elastic arm section comes into contact with the contact section of the other elastic arm section, thereby creating an obstruction.
[0008] Even if one elastic arm section is bent at its contact point by the contact pressure at a corresponding contact, further bending is prevented after a limited bending due to the obstruction by the other elastic arm section, meaning that sufficient bending cannot be guaranteed. This means that sufficient contact pressure cannot be achieved at the corresponding contact.
[0009] Furthermore, since in patent document 1 the two elastic arm sections are bent by 180° such that they overlap at the surfaces of their base sections in order to keep the dimension (width) of multiple contacts small in the alignment direction, they are positioned in the same location in the contact alignment direction. The degree of bending at the bending edge of the base sections is therefore extremely high, which reduces the strength at the bending edge of the contacts.
[0010] The present invention arose in view of the aforementioned circumstances, and it is based on the objective of providing an electrical connector and contact in which the contacts, with the smallest possible contact width dimension in the contact alignment direction, can ensure the strength of the contacts and sufficient bending without mutual obstruction of the contact sections of two elastic arm sections in the bent state, as well as sufficient pressure contact on an associated connecting body. Means of solving the task
[0011] The present invention provides an electrical connector according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
[0012] In an electrical connector according to the invention and a contact therefor, contacts whose connection direction with an associated connecting body is the contact longitudinal direction and whose direction at a right angle to the contact longitudinal direction is the contact alignment direction are held in several rows by a housing.
[0013] The electrical connector is characterized in that the contacts form a one-piece element made of curved sheet metal, have a first elastic arm section and a second elastic arm section arranged adjacent to each other in the contact alignment direction, and form a base section in which a first base section of the first elastic arm section and a second base section of the second elastic arm section are each coupled to each other in a state of curvature in which they form a right angle to each other at rolled sheet surfaces that are perpendicular with respect to the sheet thickness direction, wherein an attachment section is provided which is arranged on the base section in a direction opposite to the first elastic arm section and the second elastic arm section in order to attach an electrically conductive strip body, wherein the first elastic arm section has a first straight section,which extends from the first base section in one direction in the longitudinal contact direction, a first contact section extending from the first straight section in the first direction to a free end to make contact with an associated connecting body, and forming a surface parallel to the rolled sheet surfaces of the first base section, the first straight section and the first contact section in the contact alignment direction, wherein the second elastic arm section has a second straight section extending from the second base section in the longitudinal contact direction further forward in one direction than the first straight section, and a second contact section at the front end of the second straight section, which is curved in the contact alignment direction in the sheet thickness direction and is arranged in the longitudinal contact direction in the sheet thickness direction further forward in one direction than the first contact section,wherein the first contact section and the second contact section both come into contact with an associated connecting body on the rolled sheet surface, wherein a straight line in the connection direction, which passes through the second contact section, which has a positional ratio to the first contact section, such that when the associated connecting body moves in the connection direction after contact with the second contact section, contact with the first contact section also occurs, also passes through the first contact section.
[0014] Since, in the present invention with the aforementioned structure, the first base section and the second base section are in a right-angled state of curvature, the strength at the base section can be ensured, while the contact thickness (dimension in the contact alignment direction) can be limited to the width of the first elastic arm plus the sheet thickness of the second elastic arm, so that, compared to a prior art contact, no excessive increase in size takes place.
[0015] Although the first and second contact sections are both located in the contact alignment direction where the contact width overlaps an associated connecting body, they are located in different positions in the contact longitudinal direction. Since other points besides the first and second contact sections are located in different positions in the contact alignment direction, there is no mutual obstruction in the elastically bent state. Therefore, the first and second contact sections can bend significantly without any restriction, thus ensuring high pressure contact on the associated connecting body.
[0016] Since the rolled sheet surfaces of the first contact section and the second contact section both form a contact surface with the associated connecting body, the contact width on the associated connecting body and thus the contact surface increases, resulting in trouble-free contact.
[0017] In the present invention, it is possible that the second contact section of the second elastic arm section is oriented at its free end in a direction which is a direction extending away from the first contact section of the first elastic arm section in the longitudinal contact direction.
[0018] In a flat state before the contact material is bent, a part forming the second contact section of the second elastic arm section can therefore be arranged in relation to the part forming the second straight section such that it does not extend in the longitudinal contact direction, but rather in a perpendicular direction (contact alignment direction), thereby reducing the contact dimension in the longitudinal contact direction.Since the utilization of the contact material is influenced by the dimension in the longitudinal contact direction, the utilization is increased by having the second contact section extend not in the longitudinal contact direction, but in a direction at a right angle to it, and by having a part formed by the second contact section positioned further forward in the direction at a right angle to it than an extension area of the first elastic arm section in the longitudinal contact direction, thereby freeing up space originally occupied by the second contact section, so that the part of material arranged in this space can be used as the part formed by the second contact section, so that even in the direction at a right angle, not an excessive amount of contact material is required for the second contact section.
[0019] In both the first and second contact sections, a contact surface can be arranged with respect to the associated connecting body on one of the rolled sheet surfaces of the contact material. The contact material is normally formed by stamping, which is why a notch is created on the upper of the front and rear rolled sheet surfaces at the stamping edge, and a burr is created on the other. Since, as described above, the contact surface of the first contact section and the second contact section with the associated connecting body can be arranged on one of the surfaces where the notch is formed, good contact with the associated connecting body is possible without impairment by a burr.
[0020] In the embodiment above, it is also possible that the second contact section of the second elastic arm section is oriented in the opposite direction at its free end, which is a direction running in the longitudinal contact direction towards the first contact section of the first elastic arm section.
[0021] Since, in such a design, a front end of the second contact section, which comes into contact with the associated connecting body before the first contact section (a part that first comes into contact with the associated connecting body), forms a convex curved section, the edge of the front end does not abut the associated connecting body, so that the associated connecting body can be safely guided on the convex surface.
[0022] In the present invention, a reinforcing rib is preferably formed at least on the second base section of the first elastic arm section and the second base section of the second elastic arm section. By forming a rib at least on the second base section according to this embodiment, the second base section, and thus the entire base section, is reinforced, and if the rib is provided projecting on the outer surface in the contact alignment direction, the holding strength is increased when the housing maintains contact at the base section. Effect of the invention
[0023] As described above, in the present invention, rolled sheet surfaces on the material of the first base section of the first elastic arm section and the second base section of the second elastic arm section are curved such that they form a right angle, whereby the rolled sheet surfaces from the first base section of the first elastic arm section to the first contact section form parallel surfaces in the contact alignment direction, wherein the second elastic arm section has a second straight section which extends from the second base section in the longitudinal contact direction further forward in one direction than the first straight section, and a second contact section at the front end of the second straight section which is curved in the contact alignment direction in the sheet thickness direction and is arranged in the longitudinal contact direction in the sheet thickness direction further forward in one direction than the first contact section.wherein the first contact section and the second contact section both come into contact with an associated connecting body on the rolled sheet surface, wherein the second contact section has a positional ratio to the first contact section such that when the associated connecting body moves in the joining direction, contact with the first contact section also occurs after contact with the second contact section, which is why the degree of processing between the first base section and the second base section is not high during bending, so that there is no local decrease in strength at the bending edge, but rather the bending increases the strength of the two base sections, and also the contact dimension in the contact alignment direction is no more than the width of the first base section plus the sheet thickness of the second base section and is therefore small overall,Furthermore, the second straight section is offset from the first straight section in the contact alignment direction, and the second contact section is positioned forward in the longitudinal contact direction relative to the first contact section, so that in the elastically bent state of the second elastic arm section there is no obstruction at the first contact section, thus ensuring sufficient bending and therefore sufficient contact pressure at the associated connecting body. Brief description of the characters
[0024] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective external view of a connector as a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view showing the individual elements of the connector Fig. 1 represents each other separately; Fig. 3 a sectional view of a state before the connector was connected Fig. 1 and an associated connector; Fig. 4(A) a perspective view in which a contact of the connector is shown Fig. 1 was pulled out; Fig. 4(B) a perspective view of a contact as a variation example of the contact from Fig. 4(A); and Fig. 5 a perspective view of a contact of another embodiment. Embodiments of the invention
[0025] An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.
[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective external view of an electrical connector I (hereinafter referred to as “connector I”) as a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] The connector I has a housing 10 made of an electrically insulating material, a shielded enclosure 20 made of sheet metal placed on it, a contact holding body 30 made of an electrically insulating material inserted into the housing 10 and contacts 40 which are held by the contact holding body 30. Fig. Figure 2 is an expanded view before the individual elements are assembled. Fig. Figure 3 shows the assembled state of the elements before connecting them to a connector I with an associated connector II as the associated connecting body, as well as the associated connector II in sectional view.
[0028] The present invention is characterized by the contacts 40, which is why the description begins with the contacts 40. The contacts 40 have, as shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, there are two types of contacts, contacts 40A and contacts 40B, whose essential elements are identical and which differ only in the length of a connecting section at their rear end (rear end in a direction away from the associated connector II). The reference symbols for contacts 40B correspond to those used for describing contacts 40A, except that the A is replaced by a B, and their description is omitted.The two types of contacts 40A and contacts 40B are arranged alternately in rows and are held integrally by the contact holder 30, in which two contact holders 30 as a pair of upper and lower contact holders are installed in the housing 10 in two stages in a manner reversed relative to each other, wherein the two types of contacts 40A, 40B held by the contact holders 30 are arranged alternately in a contact arrangement direction Y by the respective contact holder 30 and when the contact holders 30 are attached to the housing 10 the contacts 40A, 40B are positioned in a staggered manner (the contacts 40B are arranged in the connector height direction Z of the contacts 40A).
[0029] Contacts 40A and 40B are each made of sheet metal, and the connection direction with the associated connector II (see Fig. 3) as the associated connecting body, its contact longitudinal direction is X, while one direction at right angles to the contact longitudinal direction X is the contact alignment direction Y and the other is the connector height direction Z (vertical direction of the upper and lower contact retaining body 30), wherein the contacts 40A and the contacts 40B are arranged alternately in contact alignment direction Y with respect to a single contact retaining body 30.
[0030] The contact retaining bodies 30, which hold the contacts 40A and the contact 40B in alternating positions, form two steps in the connector height direction Z and are held as a pair of contact retaining bodies 30 symmetrical with respect to the connector height direction Z in a common housing 10. In this way, the contacts 40A and contacts 40B, arranged in two steps, are staggered relative to each other when held by the housing 10, as mentioned above.
[0031] On each of the two contact retaining bodies 30, two types of contacts 40A, 40B are arranged alternately in the contact alignment direction, but in Fig. Figure 2 shows an upper contact 40A and a lower contact 40B, located in the same position in the contact alignment direction, in a separate state before being held by the contact retaining body 30. Since the two contact retaining bodies 30 are arranged symmetrically in the vertical direction as mentioned above, the separately shown contacts 40A and 40B have a vertically symmetrical shape and are opposite each other.
[0032] The description now follows using one of the two types of contacts 40A and 40B, which differ only in the length of their connecting sections and are otherwise identical, with contact 40A having a base section 41A, which is curved at right angles with respect to the rolled sheet surface of the contact material (metal sheet) and forms an L-shape, a first base section A-1 and a second base section 41A-2, which are at right angles to each other (see Fig. 4(A)). The contact 40A has a first elastic arm section 42A extending from the first base section 41A-1 in one direction in the longitudinal contact direction X, a second elastic arm section 43A extending from the second base section 41A-2 independently of the first elastic arm section 42A in the same direction in the longitudinal contact direction X as the first elastic arm section 42A, and an attachment section 44A arranged in the other direction with respect to the base section 41A in the longitudinal contact direction X. The other contact 40B differs from contact 40A in that the mounting section 44B of contact 40B is longer relative to the mounting section 44A of contact 40A, and apart from the fact that a coupling section 45B of contact 40B, described later, has a higher step in the connector height direction Z than the coupling section 45A of contact 40A (see Fig. 3), it has the same shape as contact 40A (however, it is in Fig. 2 (shown in reverse due to the vertically symmetrical arrangement). Since contact 40B differs from contact 40A only in that it is longer in the longitudinal contact direction than the mounting section 44A of contact 40A, only the design of contact 40A is described in detail below, while the description of contact 40B, which differs only in its mounting section 44B, is omitted.
[0033] The contact 40A held by the contact holder 30 Fig. 1 and the contact 40A released from the contact holder 30 Fig. 2 are in Fig. 4(A) with regard to the position from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown in the reversed position in the vertical direction. The following refers to contact 40A with reference to Fig. 4(A) described.
[0034] The first elastic arm section 42A of the contact 40A has, in a direction in the longitudinal contact direction X facing the associated connecting body, a first straight section 42A-1 extending from the first base section 41A-1 and a first contact section 42A-2 formed at a free end arranged in this direction. The first straight section 42A-1 is connected via an inclined arm section 42A-3, which extends from the first straight section 42A-1 to the first contact section 42A-2 in Fig. 4(A) is inclined upwards and coupled to the first contact section 42A-2. The first contact section 42A-2 is formed with a curved section which, with respect to the inclined arm section 42A-3, slopes towards the free end in Fig. 4(A) is curved downwards. The apex of the curved section forms a contact point with the associated connecting body. The first straight section 42A-1 and the first contact section 42A-2 are not curved in the contact alignment direction Y and, viewed from above, form a straight line in the contact longitudinal direction X. The top surface of the first straight section 42A-1 and the first contact section 42A-2 is formed by the same rolled sheet surface as the first base section 41A-1. That is, the same rolled sheet surface extends over the entire area from the first base section 41A-1 to the first contact section 42A-2.
[0035] The first base section 41A-1 forms a flat plate shape in which the rolled sheet surface is arranged on a surface spreading in the contact longitudinal direction X and in the contact alignment direction Y, wherein a lateral projection section 41A-1-1 is provided on a section thereof projecting downwards in the contact alignment direction Y to a second elastic arm section 43A described below.
[0036] On the second base section 41A-2, which is curved at right angles to the first base section 41A-1, a rib 41A-2A is formed, projecting outwards from the side surface (away from the first base section 41A-1) and extending in the longitudinal contact direction X. A second elastic arm section 43A, extending in a direction in the longitudinal contact direction X from the second base section 41A-2, has a second straight section 43A-1, which extends in the longitudinal contact direction X without changing the orientation of the rolled sheet surface on the second base section 41A-2, and a second contact section 43A-2 provided on the side of the free end thereof. At the lower edge of the second base section 41A-2 a window section 41A-2-1 is formed, and the lateral projection section 41A-1-1 of the first base section 41A-1 projects into the window section 41A-2-1.A locking lug 41A-2B is provided at the upper edge of the second base section 41A-2 to prevent it from being pulled out of the housing 10.
[0037] The second straight section 43A-1 extends further forward in one direction in the longitudinal contact direction X than the first elastic arm section 42A and is coupled to the second contact section 43A-2 via the two-stage curved section 43A-3. The two-stage curved section 43A-3 is wider than the front end of the first elastic arm section, is curved with respect to the rolled sheet surface of the second straight section 43A-1, and points towards the first elastic arm section 42A in the contact alignment direction Y, whereupon its upper edge curves with respect to the rolled sheet surface and is inclined in one direction in the longitudinal contact direction X, transitioning into the second contact section 43A-2.The second contact section 43A-2 extends from the upper edge of the two-stage curved section 43A-3 and, like the first contact section 42A-2 of the first elastic arm section 42A, is curved in one direction in the longitudinal contact direction X and extends to the free end. The second contact section 43A-2, like the first contact section 42A-2, forms a convex shape that creates a contact point with the associated connecting body. Due to the curvature at the second base section 41A-2 and the two-stage curved section 43A-3, the second contact section 43A-2 is formed on the same side of the rolled sheet surface as the first contact section 42A-2.The second contact section 43A-2 is located in the contact alignment direction Y at approximately the same position as the first contact section 42A-2, and in the connector height direction B, the vertices of the second contact section 43A-2 and the first contact section 42A-2 are located at approximately the same position. In other words, the associated connecting body, whose connection direction is the contact longitudinal direction X, comes into contact with the second contact section 43A-2 during the connection process and then subsequently also comes into contact with the first contact section 42A-2.In the present embodiment, the contact width of the second contact section 43A-2 (width dimension in the contact alignment direction Y) is provided to extend to approximately the same position in the contact alignment direction Y as the first contact section 42A-2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the contact widths of the first contact section 42A-2 and the second contact section 43A-2 can also have an overlapping area in the contact alignment direction Y. That is, the second contact section 43A-2 and the first contact section 42A-2 can have a positional relationship in the contact alignment direction Y, wherein, during the connection process, the associated connecting element comes into contact first with the second contact section 43A-2 and then also with the first contact section 42A-2, regardless of the contact width (contact length in the contact width direction).
[0038] At contact 40A, a crank-shaped coupling section 45A is connected in a different direction (the clockwise direction). Fig. 4(A)) An attachment section 44A extending in the longitudinal contact direction X from the first base section 41A-1 in the opposite direction to one direction. Attachment section 44A is provided in Fig. 4(A) On the underside surface, a recessed curved surface extending in the longitudinal contact direction X is formed, and an electrically conductive strip body, such as a cable core, is soldered to the recessed curved surface. Since, as already mentioned, the mounting section 44B of contact 40B is longer in the longitudinal contact direction X than the mounting section 44A of contact 40A, and the coupling section 45B is larger in the contact height direction Z than the coupling section 45A, the mounting section 44A and the mounting section 44B are sufficiently far apart even when contacts 40A and contacts 40B are staggered, which facilitates the soldering of the electrically conductive strip body to the mounting section 44A and the mounting section 44B.
[0039] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, contacts 40A and 40B are alternately arranged in the contact alignment direction Y by contact retainers 30 and are held on a portion of the base sections 41A by being integrally formed with the contact retainer 30. When the contact retainers 30, which hold contacts 40A and 40B, are installed in the housing 10 described below, two contact retainers 30 are prepared and assembled as shown in Figure 2. Fig. 2 two-stage arranged top and bottom in opposite positions to each other, and the two stages of contacts 40A, 40B held by the contact retaining bodies 30 are arranged in a staggered arrangement.
[0040] The contact retaining bodies 30 themselves have an elongated, essentially cuboid shape, and, for example, at the rear edge of the upper section of the top in Fig. 2 arranged contact retaining body 30 (edge lying on the top surface towards the mounting section 44A of the contact 40A) a stop projection 31 is provided in the contact alignment direction Y, while on the other side end surface in the contact alignment direction Y a claw-shaped locking stud 32 is provided for engagement with the housing 10.
[0041] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the housing 10 also has a front tube section 11 approximately in the shape of a rectangular tube (the left rectangular tube section in Figure 3). Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) and a rear tube section 12 with an outer shape that is larger than the front tube section 11. At a boundary position between the front tube section 11 and the rear tube section 12 in the longitudinal contact direction X, a partition wall 13 is provided, which divides the interior of the housing 10 into two parts.
[0042] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the cross-section of the front tube section 11 is that of a slightly trapezoidal angular tube surface. On the upper and lower inner wall surfaces of the front tube section 11, a contact groove 14A extends in the longitudinal contact direction X for receiving the first elastic arm section 42A and the second elastic arm section 43A of the contact 40A, and a contact groove 14B extends in the longitudinal contact direction X for receiving the first elastic arm section 42B and the second elastic arm section 43B of the contact 40B. These grooves are arranged in a row in the contact alignment direction Y. The two types of contact grooves 14A and 14B have the same shape.
[0043] The rear tube section 12 has a partition 15 that vertically divides the interior of the rear tube section 12 into two parts and extends in the longitudinal contact direction X. The upper and lower spaces formed by the partition 15 are vertically symmetrical and form two insertion sections 16 for the insertion of the contact retaining elements 30, which are arranged oppositely to each other in the vertical direction. The partition 15 projects further in the longitudinal contact direction X than the insertion sections 16. [The last sentence appears to be incomplete and requires context.] Fig. On the front and rear inner walls of the insertion sections 16, a detent section (not shown) is provided for engagement with the detent lugs 32 of the contact retaining bodies 30. When the two contact retaining bodies 30 are inserted into the insertion sections 16 in opposite positions, the stop projection 31 of the contact retaining bodies 30 comes into contact with the right end of the housing 10 and is positioned in the longitudinal contact direction X, and the detent lug 32 engages with the detent section on the housing and prevents withdrawal.
[0044] A locking claw 17 for engaging with the shielded enclosure 20 is provided on the upper and lower outer surface of the rear tube section 12 of the housing 10, and a flange-shaped edge section 18 is provided at both ends in the contact alignment direction Y, which projects slightly in the vertical direction and forwards.
[0045] The shielded enclosure 20, mounted on the housing 10, is shaped such that it faces the outer circumferential surface of the front tube section 11 of the housing 10, the front surface of the rear tube section 12 (the surface surrounding the front tube section 11 and the top and bottom surfaces), and has a tube section 21 and a frame section 22 in the shape of a horizontal "U". The tube section 21, which is shaped such that it faces the outer circumferential surface of the front tube section 11 of the housing 10, is slightly narrowed inwards at an opening circumferential edge 21-1, forms a projecting edge and engages with the front outer circumferential edge of the front tube section 11 of the housing 10.The frame section 22 has a front plate section 22-1, which faces the front surface of the rear tube section 12 of the housing 10, and a flat plate section 22-2, which faces the top and bottom surfaces of the rear tube section 12, and a locking window 22-3 is formed on the flat plate section 22-2 to engage with the locking claw 17 of the housing 10 in the longitudinal contact direction X. In this way, the shielded enclosure 20 is formed, as shown in . Fig. 3 can be seen, placed on the housing 10 and performs a shielding function for the contacts 40A, 40B inside the housing 10.
[0046] In the present invention, contact 40A can be used instead of the configuration made of Fig. 4(A) also as in Fig. 5 shown, executed. Fig. 4(A) the first contact section 42A-2 of the first elastic arm section 42A and the second contact section 43A-2 of the second elastic arm section 43A have a free end in one direction in the longitudinal contact direction X, but in the example from Fig. 5 are the first elastic arm section 42A and its first contact section 42A-2, the same as in Fig. 4(A), while the free end of the second contact section 43A'-2 of the second elastic arm section 43A' in the opposite direction to Fig. 4(A), which runs in the other direction in the contact longitudinal direction X and is opposite the first contact section 42A-2.
[0047] In the second elastic arm section 43A' from Fig. 5 has a two-stage curved section 43A'-3, which forms the leading end of a second straight section 43A'-1, which, like in Fig. 4(A) is, coupled to a second contact section 43A'-2, a different shape than the two-stage curvature section 43A-3 of the second elastic arm section 43A made of Fig. 4(A). The two-stage curvature section 43A'-3 from Fig. 5 is curved at the front end of the second straight section 43A'-1 at the lower edge of the second straight section 43A'-1, forms an intermediate section 43A'-4 with a rolled sheet surface parallel to the first base section 41A-1, curves upwards at an edge of the intermediate section 43A'-4 at a part forming an end side in the contact longitudinal direction X, with respect to the rolled sheet surface, and curves in the other direction in the contact longitudinal direction, thus forming a second contact section 42A'-2, wherein a free end of the second contact section 43A'-2 is turned in the other direction, and this free end and the free end of the first contact section 42A-2 point in opposite directions.
[0048] In the second contact section 43A'-2 formed in this way, the top surface is the rolled sheet surface, wherein the rolled sheet surface of the two-stage curvature section 43A'-3 is formed on the surface opposite the top surface of the first contact section 42A-2 due to its curvature. According to the second contact section 43A'-2 made of Fig. 5 is the part of the second contact section 43A'-2 that is closest to the associated connecting body in the longitudinal contact direction X, i.e. the part where there is a possibility of impact at the beginning of the connection of the associated connecting body, is curved towards the associated connecting body and is guided by the inclined surface of the second contact section 43A'-2 before it can impact the associated connecting body, thus ensuring a trouble-free connection without damage to the contact due to an impact.
[0049] In the example from Fig. 5 a pressure contact groove 44A-1 is formed on the mounting section 44A, and an opposite inner edge of the pressure contact groove 44A-1 forms a pressure contact blade, and the cable core is connected to the pressure contact groove 44A-1 by a pressure contact.
[0050] Next, with reference to Fig. 3. A corresponding connector II is briefly described as a corresponding connecting body for connecting to the connector I.
[0051] In Fig. 3 the associated connector II is formed by holding an associated contact 60 and a shielded enclosure 70 made of sheet metal on a housing 50 made of electrically insulating material.
[0052] The housing 50 comprises an approximately cuboid main body 51 and a central plate section 52, which extends from the main body 51 to the connector I in the longitudinal contact direction X and spreads out in the contact alignment direction Y. A contact groove 53 for receiving the contacts 60 described below extends along the upper and lower surfaces of the central plate section 52 in the longitudinal contact direction X, and the contact groove 53 also extends through the main body 51. A short post 54 or the like is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 50 for positioning relative to a printed circuit board (not shown).
[0053] The contact 60 is formed by bending a band-shaped metal tab and is essentially L-shaped. The essentially L-shaped contact 60 has on the bottom surface side of the housing 50 (in Fig. 3 on the left surface) a connecting section 61 and a contact section 62 received in the contact groove 53, and a front-end guide section 63 is formed, the free end of which is inclined and curved such that it lies closer to the bottom of the contact groove 53 than the contact section 62, with the front-end guide section 63 being guided at its inclined section at the beginning of the connection with the contacts 40A, 40B of the connector I. The majority of the contact section 62 floats in the contact groove 53 and can deform elastically towards the bottom of the contact groove 53. The connecting section 61 is connected, for example, by soldering to a printed circuit board (not shown).The shielded metal housing 70 comprises a tube section 71 held on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 51 of the housing 50 and a hollow tube section 72 extending from the held tube section 71 in the opposite direction along the contact longitudinal direction X, i.e., towards the connector I. At an end position in the opposite direction to the main body 51 of the housing 50, the hollow tube section 72 has a small, stepped outer shape relative to the held tube section 71 and thus extends in the opposite direction. The inner surface of the hollow tube section 72 is inserted from the outside onto the front tube section 11 of the housing 10 of the connector I and surrounds the front tube section 11, with a small gap between the upper and lower surfaces and the front tube section 11.A curved contact projection section 72A is provided on the upper and lower inner surfaces of the hollow tube section 72 by means of embossing or the like on the upper and lower walls of the hollow tube section 72. When the contact projection section 72A is placed against the front tube section 11, a slight elastic bending is created on the upper and lower walls of the hollow tube section 72, thereby ensuring contact with the front tube section 11.
[0054] The associated connector II, as the associated connecting body, is connected to the connector I as follows.
[0055] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the front tube section 11 of connector I and the hollow tube section 72 of the associated connector II are turned towards each other, and connector I and the associated connector II are arranged close together in the longitudinal contact direction X.
[0056] When, in this state, the outer circumferential surface of the tube section 21 of the shielded housing 20 is inserted into the hollow tube section 72 of the shielded housing 70 of the associated connector II, such that the outer circumferential surface of the front tube section 11 of the housing 10 of the connector I is covered, the first contact sections 42A-2; 42B-2 and the second contact sections 43A-2; 43B-2 of the contacts 40A; 40B of the connector I are brought into contact by the elastic force of the contact sections 62; 62 of the contacts 60; 60 of the associated connector II with contact pressure.
[0057] When contacts 40A; 40B of connector I and contacts 60; 60 of the associated connector II make contact, at the beginning of the assembly of connector I and the associated connector II, the first contact sections 42A-2 and the second contact sections 43A-2 of contacts 40A are at the front and rear in the contact longitudinal direction X and are in the same position in the contact alignment direction Y (this also applies to contacts 40B), and when connector I is further inserted into the associated connector II, the contacts 60 of the associated connector II first come into contact with the second contact sections 43A-2, 43B-2 of contacts 40A; 40B of connector I and then also come into contact with the first contact sections 42A-2; 42B-2.
[0058] In the present invention, the first contact sections 42A-2; 42B-2 and the second contact sections 43A-2, 43B-2 of the contacts 40A; 40B are located in the contact alignment direction Y at approximately the same position, but in the contact longitudinal direction X at different positions, so that the second contact sections 43A-2; 43B-2 do not obstruct the first elastic arm sections 42A; 42B, even when the second contact sections 43A-2; 43B-2 come into contact with the contacts 60 of the associated connector II and deform strongly elastically in the connector height direction Z, thereby ensuring a high degree of deformation, i.e. a strong contact pressure at the contacts 60 of the associated connector II.
[0059] However, since the base sections 41A are formed by bending the rolled sheet surface of the contact material at right angles, the position of the first elastic arm sections 42A; 42B and the second elastic arm sections 43A; 43B differs in the contact alignment direction Y, so that the contact width dimension of the contacts 40A; 40B (dimension in the contact alignment direction Y) is limited to the width dimension of the first elastic arm sections 42A; 42B plus the sheet thickness dimension of the second elastic arm sections 43A; 43B and the contact width dimension is thus kept small, so that a high contact arrangement density and thus a more compact width dimension of the connector is achieved in the connector I. Explanation of reference symbols 10 cases 40 (40A; 40B) Contact 41A (41B) Base section 41A-1 (41B-1) first base section 41A-2 (41B-2) second base section 42A (42B) first elastic arm section 42A-1 (42B-1) first straight section 42A-2 (42B-2) first contact section 43A (43B) second elastic arm section 43A-1 (43B-1) second straight section 43A-2 (43B-2) second contact section 44A (44B) Mounting section I Connector II associated connecting body (associated connector) X Contact longitudinal direction Y Contact alignment direction Z connector height direction
Claims
Electrical connector (I), wherein contacts (40, 40A, 40B), whose connection direction with an associated connecting body (II) is the contact longitudinal direction (X) and whose direction at a right angle to the contact longitudinal direction (X) is the contact alignment direction (Y), are held in several rows by a housing (10), characterized in that the contacts (40, 40A, 40B) form a one-piece element made of curved sheet metal, have a first elastic arm section (42A, 42B) and a second elastic arm section (43A, 43B) arranged adjacent to each other in the contact alignment direction (Y) and extending in one direction in the contact longitudinal direction (X), and form a base section (41A, 41B) in which a first base section (41A-1, 41B-1) of the first elastic arm section (42A, 42B) and a second Base section (41A-2, 41B-2) of the second elastic arm section (43A, 43B) each in a state of curvature,in which they are coupled to each other at right angles with respect to the sheet thickness direction on rolled sheet surfaces, wherein an attachment section (44A, 44B) is provided which is arranged on the base section (41A, 41B) in a direction opposite to the first elastic arm section (42A, 42B) and the second elastic arm section (43A, 43B) in order to attach an electrically conductive strip body, wherein the first elastic arm section (42A, 42B) has a first straight section (42A-1, 42B-1) extending from the first base section (41A-1, 41B-1) in one direction in the longitudinal contact direction (X), and a first contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) extending from the first straight section (42A-1, 42B-1) in the first direction to a free end, in order to to come into contact with an associated connecting body (II), and forms a surface which connects to the rolled sheet surfaces of the first base section (41A-1,41B-1), of the first straight section (42A-1, 42B-1) and of the first contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) is parallel in the contact alignment direction (Y), wherein the second elastic arm section (43A, 43B) has a second straight section (43A-1, 43B-1) which extends from the second base section (41A-2, 41B-2) in the contact longitudinal direction (X) further forward in one direction than the first straight section (42A-1, 42B-1), and a second contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) at the front end of the second straight section (43A-1, 43B-1) which is curved in the contact alignment direction (Y) in the sheet thickness direction and is curved in the contact longitudinal direction (X) in the sheet thickness direction further forward in one direction than the first The contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) is arranged. Electrical connector (I) according to claim 1, wherein the second contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) of the second elastic arm section (43A, 43B) is oriented at its free end in a direction which is a direction extending away from the first contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) of the first elastic arm section (42A, 42B) in the contact longitudinal direction (X). Electrical connector (I) according to claim 1, wherein the second contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) of the second elastic arm section (43A, 43B) is oriented at its free end in the opposite direction, which is a direction extending in the contact longitudinal direction (X) to the first contact section (42A-2, 42B-2) of the first elastic arm section (42A, 42B). Electrical connector (I) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a reinforcing rib is formed at least on the second base section (41A-2, 41B-2) of the first base section (41A-1, 41B-1) of the first elastic arm section (42A, 42B) and the second base section (41A-2, 41B-2) of the second elastic arm section (43A, 43B).