Connector assembly

Abstract

To provide a connector assembly which can improve reliability in electrical connection while allowing a first connector to be easily fitted to a second connector.SOLUTION: When a second connector 21 moves, to a predetermined fitting start position, relative to a first connector 11 along a fitting direction, a second holding member 27 is attracted along the fitting direction to a first holding member by magnetic force. This brings a second contact part 23C into contact with a first contact part 12B so that a second contact 23 is electrically connected to a first contact 12. When the second connector 21 slides, from the fitting start position to a predetermined fitting completion position P2, relative to the first connector 11 along a predetermined direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, the second contact part 23C slides, relative to the first contact part 12B, in the predetermined direction while making contact with the first contact part 12B. This makes a locking part to be fitted into a lock receiving part, thereby the second connector 21 is fitted to the first connector 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are fitted together using magnetic force. [Background technology]

[0002] A connector assembly that utilizes magnetic force to maintain a mated state is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. This connector assembly includes a first connector 1 that is sewn and fixed to clothing or the like, and a second connector 2 that is mated with the first connector 1, as shown in Fig. 35.

[0003] The second connector 2 is arranged on a surface facing the first connector 1, and has a plurality of second contacts 3 consisting of so-called pogo pins, and two plate-shaped yokes 4 attached to a magnet built into the second connector 2 and partially exposed on the surface facing the first connector 1. On the other hand, the first connector 1 has a plate-shaped housing 5, and on the surface of the housing 5 facing the second connector 2, a plurality of first contacts 6 and a plurality of retaining members 7 made of a magnetic metal or a magnet are arranged, as shown in Figure 36.

[0004] When the second connector 2 is mated with the first connector 1, the multiple retaining members 7 of the first connector 1 are attracted to the two yokes 4 of the second connector 2 by magnetic force, and the multiple second contacts 3 of the second connector 2 elastically contact the multiple first contacts 6 of the first connector 1, thereby electrically connecting the multiple first contacts 6 and the multiple second contacts 3 to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-30906 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In this connector assembly of Patent Document 1, the first connector 1 and the second connector 2 can be easily brought into a mated state by utilizing a magnetic force, but the elastic force acting from the plurality of second contacts 3 to the plurality of first contacts 6 is directed in a direction that pulls the second connector 2 away from the first connector 1. For this reason, if an external force such as an impact acts to form a gap between the holding member 7 and the yoke 4, the contact between the first contacts 6 and the second contacts 3 may become unstable, reducing the reliability of the electrical connection, or the mated state of the first connector 1 and the second connector 2 may be canceled.

[0007] Furthermore, if dirt or foreign matter is attached to the surface of at least one of the first contact 6 and the second contact 3, the second contact 3 will elastically contact the first contact 6 when mated, causing the dirt or foreign matter to be pressed between the first contact 6 and the second contact 3, which may result in poor contact and reduced reliability of the electrical connection.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and has an object to provide a connector assembly which can easily bring the first connector and the second connector into a mating state while improving the reliability of the electrical connection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The connector assembly according to the present invention comprises: A connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are fitted together along a fitting direction, The first connector is a first conductive contact having a first contact portion; a first holding member connected to the first contact; Equipped with The second connector is A second insulator; a conductive second contact held by the second insulator and having a second contact portion facing the first contact portion of the first contact along the fitting direction; a second holding member that is held by the second insulator and that is attracted to the first holding member by magnetic force; Equipped with one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion has a planar shape extending in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the fitting direction; One of the first holding member and the second holding member has a lock portion, and the other has a lock receiving portion into which the lock portion fits from a predetermined direction, When the second connector moves relative to the first connector in the mating direction to a predetermined mating start position, the second holding member is attracted to the first holding member in the mating direction, and the second contact portion comes into contact with the first contact portion, thereby electrically connecting the second contact to the first contact, When the second connector slides relative to the first connector in a predetermined direction from the mating start position to a predetermined mating completion position, the second contact portion slides relative to the first contact portion in the predetermined direction while remaining in contact with the first contact portion, and the lock portion fits into the lock receiving portion, thereby mating the second connector with the first connector.

[0010] the first connector includes a first insulator having a projection that projects in a mating direction; The first contact has a cylindrical shape extending along the mating direction and having a recess formed on the inside, and a first contact portion having a planar shape is disposed at one end of the first contact on the second contact side along the mating direction, the first holding member is disposed on the other end side of the first contact along the fitting direction and has a through hole penetrating the first holding member in the fitting direction; It is preferable that the protrusion of the first insulator is inserted sequentially into the through hole of the first holding member and the recess of the first contact while pushing in a sheet-like connection object having a flexible conductor exposed at least on its surface, thereby electrically connecting the first contact to the flexible conductor and connecting the first holding member to the first contact.

[0011] the first holding member is made of a magnetic material and has a cylindrical portion extending along the fitting direction and having a through hole formed therein, and a flange extending in a predetermined direction from an end of the cylindrical portion on the opposite side to the first contact; When the second connector is in the mating start position, the second holding member is preferably attracted to the flange of the first holding member in the mating direction. In addition, it is preferable that when the second connector slides relatively to the first connector in a predetermined direction from the mating start position to the mating completion position, the second retaining member is attracted to the outer surface of the tubular portion of the first retaining member in the predetermined direction. The first holding member may have an annular groove formed along the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, and the annular groove may be configured to form the lock receiving portion.

[0012] The second holding member preferably has a magnet and a holding plate made of a magnetic material and attracted to the magnet by magnetic force. In this case, the magnet has a shape of a curved plate that is curved so as to fit along the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the first holding member and extends in the fitting direction, the retaining plate has a curved portion that curves along an outer periphery of the magnet, a pair of flat portions that extend in the fitting direction at both ends of the curved shape of the curved portion, and a pair of protruding portions that protrude in predetermined directions from ends of the pair of flat portions on the first connector side along the fitting direction, The locking portion may be configured to be formed by a pair of protrusions. Alternatively, the magnet has a cylindrical shape extending in the fitting direction and into which the cylindrical portion of the first holding member is inserted, the retaining plate is a ring member that is disposed on an end of the magnet on the first connector side along the fitting direction and has an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the magnet, and has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the central axis of the cylindrical magnet along a predetermined direction; The locking portion may be formed by the protruding portion.

[0013] The second insulator is a concave second holding member accommodating portion in which the second holding member is accommodated; a first contact accommodating portion having a recessed shape in which at least a portion of the first contact is accommodated; having the second holding member accommodating portion and the first contact accommodating portion are in communication with each other and are each open toward the first connector in a mating direction; The second contact is preferably held by the second insulator such that at least a portion of the second contact protrudes into the first contact receiving portion.

[0014] It is preferable that the second contact has a plunger arranged so as to be elastically movable forward and backward along the fitting direction, and a second contact portion arranged at a tip of the plunger projects into the first contact receiving portion. Moreover, the first contact accommodating portion has an elliptical shape that is long in a predetermined direction when viewed from the fitting direction, The first contact can be configured so that when the second connector is in the mating start position, the first contact is located at one end of the first contact accommodating portion in a predetermined direction, and when the second connector is in the mating completion position, the first contact is located at the other end of the first contact accommodating portion in the predetermined direction.

[0015] the first connector includes a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of first holding members corresponding to the plurality of first contacts; the second connector includes a plurality of second insulators, a plurality of second contacts respectively held by the plurality of second insulators, and a plurality of second holding members respectively held by the plurality of second insulators and corresponding to the plurality of second contacts; One of the plurality of first holding members and the plurality of second holding members has a plurality of locking portions, and the other has a plurality of lock receiving portions; When the second connector is positioned in the fully mated position and mated with the first connector, the multiple second contacts are electrically connected to the multiple first contacts, respectively, and the multiple locking portions can be configured to fit into the multiple lock receiving portions, respectively. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to this invention, when the second connector moves relative to the first connector in the mating direction to a predetermined mating start position, the second retaining member is attracted to the first retaining member in the mating direction by magnetic force, and the second contact portion comes into contact with the first contact portion, thereby electrically connecting the second contact to the first contact, and when the second connector slides relative to the first connector in a predetermined direction from the mating start position to the predetermined mating completion position, the second contact portion slides relative to the first contact portion in the predetermined direction while remaining in contact with the first contact portion, and the lock portion fits into the lock receiving portion, thereby mating the second connector with the first connector, thereby making it possible to easily mated the first connector and second connector while improving the reliability of the electrical connection. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state before a first connector and a second connector of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment are fitted together. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of the first connector in the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view showing a first contact used in the first connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view showing a first holding member used in the first connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a perspective view showing a first insulator used in the first connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a first connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of the second connector in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 4 is a perspective view showing a second contact used in the second connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a perspective view showing a magnet of a second holding member used in the second connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10]13 is a perspective view showing a holding plate of a second holding member used in the second connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a perspective view showing a second holding member used in the second connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 4 is a perspective view of the second connector in the first embodiment, seen obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 13] 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a second connector in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing aligned first and second connectors of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 15] 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second connector is located at a mating start position relative to a first connector of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 15. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 18] 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second connector is located at a mating completion position with respect to a first connector of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 18. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 19. [Figure 21] 1 is a perspective view showing a mated state of a first connector and a second connector of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 22] 10 is a bottom view showing the second connector in the middle of manufacturing the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 23] 11 is a perspective view showing a state before a first connector and a second connector of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment are fitted together. FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is an assembly diagram of the second connector in the second embodiment. [Diagram 25] 13 is a perspective view showing a magnet of a second holding member used in the second connector in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 26]13 is a perspective view showing a holding plate of a second holding member used in the second connector in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 27] 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a second connector in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 11 is a partial bottom view showing the second connector in the second embodiment. [Figure 29] 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing aligned first and second connectors of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 30] 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second connector is located at a mating start position relative to a first connector of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 31] 31 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 30. [Diagram 32] 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second connector is located at a mating completion position with respect to a first connector of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 33] 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 32. [Diagram 34] 13 is a bottom view showing the second connector in the middle of manufacturing the connector assembly according to the second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 35] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state before a first connector and a second connector in a conventional connector are mated. [Diagram 36] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first connector in a conventional connector, as viewed obliquely from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First embodiment 1 shows a connector assembly according to embodiment 1. The connector assembly includes a first connector 11 and a second connector 21 into which the first connector 11 fits along a fitting direction. The first connector 11 is used, for example, as a clothing-side connector for connecting a wearable device, and has six first contacts 12 each protruding toward the second connector 21. The six first contacts 12 are arranged in two rows and attached to a sheet-like conductive member 14 via a reinforcing sheet 13.

[0019] For convenience, the reinforcing sheet 13 and the sheet-like conductive member 14 extend along the XY plane, the arrangement direction of each of the two rows of first contacts 12 is called the Y direction, and the direction from the first connector 11 to the second connector 21 is called the +Z direction. The Z direction is the mating direction in which the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 are mated with each other.

[0020] 2 shows an assembly diagram of the first connector 11. Six first holding members 15 are arranged on the -Z direction sides of the six first contacts 12, a reinforcing sheet 13 and a sheet-like conductive member 14 are arranged in sequence on the -Z direction sides of the six first holding members 15, and six first insulators 16 are arranged on the -Z direction sides of the sheet-like conductive member 14.

[0021] The sheet-like conductive member 14 has an insulating sheet body 14A, six through holes 14B formed in the sheet body 14A and corresponding to the six first contacts 12, and six flexible conductors 14C exposed on at least the surface of the sheet body 14A on the +Z direction side around the corresponding through holes 14B. The sheet body 14A may be, for example, a cloth or knitted fabric for clothing, and the flexible conductors 14C may be formed by sewing the sheet body 14A with embroidery thread made of conductive thread.

[0022] The reinforcing sheet 13 is intended to reinforce the sheet main body 14A of the sheet-like conductive member 14 on which the first connector 11 is mounted, and is made of an insulating material and has six through holes 13A corresponding to the six first contacts 12. The sheet-shaped conductive member 14 and the reinforcing sheet 13 are flexible.

[0023] 3, the first contact 12 is made of a conductive material such as metal and has a tubular shape extending along the Z direction, specifically, a cylindrical shape, with a recess 12A formed on the inside that is open toward the -Z direction. A first contact portion 12B is formed on the upper portion of the first contact 12, which has a circular planar shape extending along the XY plane and faces the +Z direction.

[0024] 4, the first holding member 15 is made of a magnetic material and has a cylindrical portion 15A extending along the Z direction and a flange 15B extending from the -Z direction end of the cylindrical portion 15A along the XY plane to the outside of the cylindrical portion 15A. A through hole 15C is formed in the cylindrical portion 15A and passes through the first holding member 15 in the Z direction. The through hole 15C has an inner diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the recess 12A of the first contact 12. Further, at the −Z direction end of the cylindrical portion 15A in contact with the flange 15B, an annular groove 15D is formed along the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 15A.

[0025] 5, the first insulator 16 is formed of, for example, an insulating resin, and has a disk-shaped base 16A extending along the XY plane, and a protrusion 16B protruding in the +Z direction from the center of the base 16A. A plurality of ribs 16C are formed on the protrusion 16B, each protruding radially and extending in the Z direction. The protrusion 16B has a size that allows the sheet-like conductive member 14 to be compressed in the thickness direction when the sheet-like conductive member 14 is inserted into the through-hole 15C of the cylindrical portion 15A of the first holding member 15 and the recess 12A of the first contact 12 while being pressed.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to one first contact 12 of a first connector 11 assembled using such a first contact 12, a first holding member 15, a reinforcing sheet 13, a sheet-like conductive member 14 and a first insulator 16.

[0027] With the reinforcing sheet 13 placed on top of the sheet-like conductive member 14 with the through holes 14B and 13A aligned, and the first holding member 15 and the first contact 12 sequentially arranged coaxially on the reinforcing sheet 13 with the through holes 13A aligned, the protrusion 16B of the first insulator 16 is pushed in the +Z direction from the -Z direction side of the sheet-like conductive member 14 through the through holes 14B of the sheet-like conductive member 14. The protrusion 16B is inserted sequentially into the through holes 15C of the first holding member 15 and the recesses 12A of the first contacts 12 while pushing in the sheet-like conductive member 14 located around the through holes 14B.

[0028] As a result, the sheet-like conductive member 14 is sandwiched between the rib 16C of the projection 16B and the inner surface of the through hole 15C of the first holding member 15, and between the rib 16C of the projection 16B and the inner surface of the recess 12A of the first contact 12, and compressed in a direction along the XY plane. As a result, the flexible conductor 14C exposed on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 14 comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess 12A with a predetermined contact pressure, and the first contact 12 is electrically connected to the flexible conductor 14C.

[0029] Furthermore, the first holding member 15 and the first contacts 12 are connected to each other in the Z direction via the projections 16B of the first insulator 16 and the sheet-like conductive member 14. The base portion 16A of the first insulator 16 is in contact with the rear surface of the sheet-shaped conductive member 14 on the -Z direction side. Each of the six first contacts 12 of the first connector 11 is electrically connected to a corresponding flexible conductor 14C and coupled to a corresponding first holding member 15 by the connection structure shown in FIG.

[0030] 7 shows an assembly diagram of the second connector 21. Six second contacts 23 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the substrate 22, six second insulators 24 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the six second contacts 23, six magnets 25 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the six second insulators 24, and six holding plates 26 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the six magnets 25. The six second contacts 23 are arranged at positions corresponding to the six first contacts 12 of the first connector 11.

[0031] 8, the second contact 23 is a so-called pogo pin, and has a barrel 23A extending in the Z direction, and a plunger 23B arranged inside the barrel 23A so as to be elastically movable back and forth along the Z direction. More specifically, a spring member (not shown) is arranged inside the barrel 23A, and the spring member applies an elastic force in the -Z direction to the plunger 23B. A pin-shaped second contact portion 23C facing the -Z direction is formed on the -Z direction end of the plunger 23B.

[0032] 9, magnet 25 has a curved plate shape that is curved in the XY plane and extends in the Z direction, and is magnetized so that magnetic field lines act mainly in the +Y direction. The curved shape of magnet 25 in the XY plane has a curvature that fits along the outer periphery of tubular portion 15A of first holding member 15 of first connector 11. 10, holding plate 26 is made of a magnetic material and has curved portion 26A that is curved in the XY plane and extends in the Z direction, and a pair of flat portions 26B that extend in the Z direction at both ends of the curved shape of curved portion 26A. Curved portion 26A is curved to fit along the outer periphery of magnet 25, and holding plate 26 has a shape that covers the curved surface of magnet 25 facing the -Y direction and the side surface in the +X direction and the side surface in the -X direction.

[0033] 11, magnet 25 is disposed inside holding plate 26, and in a state in which the curved surface of magnet 25 facing the -Y direction and the side surfaces in the +X direction and the -X direction are covered by holding plate 26, holding plate 26 made of a magnetic material is attracted to magnet 25 by magnetic force. Magnet 25 and holding plate 26 as described above form second holding member 27. The −Z direction end of magnet 25 protrudes further in the −Z direction than the −Z direction end of holding plate 26.

[0034] A pair of protruding portions 26C protruding in the +Y direction along the surface of the flat portion 26B is formed at the -Z direction ends of the pair of flat portions 26B of the holding plate 26. Specifically, the pair of protruding portions 26C each protrudes in a direction toward the center of the curved shape of the curved portion 26A. Each of the protruding portions 26C has a height dimension in the Z direction that is slightly smaller than the width in the Z direction of the annular groove 15D of the first holding member 15 shown in FIG. 4, and can be fitted into the annular groove 15D of the first holding member 15.

[0035] A lock receiving portion of the first connector 11 is formed by annular groove 15D of the first holding member 15 shown in Fig. 4, and a lock portion of the second connector 21 is formed by a pair of protrusions 26C of the second holding member 27 shown in Fig. 11. The pair of protrusions 26C of the second holding member 27 are fitted into the annular groove 15D of the first holding member 15 along the Y direction (predetermined direction), thereby locking the engagement between the first connector 11 and the second connector 21.

[0036] 12 and 13 show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view corresponding to one second contact 23 of the second connector 21. A second insulator 24 is disposed on the -Z direction side of the substrate 22. The second insulator 24 has a cylindrical outer shape, and inside the second insulator 24, a first contact accommodating portion 24A that is concave and opens toward the -Z direction, and a second holding member accommodating portion 24B that is concave and opens toward the -Z direction are formed. The first contact accommodating portion 24A and the second holding member accommodating portion 24B are disposed adjacent to each other inside the second insulator 24 and communicate with each other.

[0037] Specifically, first contact accommodating portion 24A has an elliptical shape that is long in the Y direction (predetermined direction) when viewed from the -Z direction, and second holding member accommodating portion 24B is disposed adjacent to the -Y direction end of first contact accommodating portion 24A. Since first contact accommodating portion 24A has an elliptical shape that is long in the Y direction, second connector 21 is configured to be slidable in the Y direction (predetermined direction) relative to first connector 11 with first contact 12 of first connector 11 accommodated in first contact accommodating portion 24A from the -Z direction. In addition, a second contact accommodating hole 24C is formed at the bottom of the first contact accommodating portion 24A, which is located on the central axis extending in the Z direction of the second insulator 24 having a cylindrical outer shape and which penetrates the second insulator 24 in the Z direction.

[0038] 12, a wiring portion 22A is formed on the rear surface of the substrate 22 on the -Z direction side, and the second contact 23 is mounted on the substrate 22 so as to be connected to the wiring portion 22A and is accommodated in the second contact accommodating hole 24C of the second insulator 24. As shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 protrudes into the first contact accommodating portion 24A of the second insulator 24 through the second contact accommodating hole 24C, and the second contact portion 23C formed at the end of the plunger 23B in the -Z direction is exposed in the first contact accommodating portion 24A.

[0039] 13, all of the six second insulators 24 of the second connector 21 are disposed on the −Z direction side of the substrate 22, and accommodate the second contacts 23 corresponding to the second contact accommodating holes 24C of the second insulators 24, and accommodate the second holding members 27 corresponding to the second holding member accommodating portions 24B of the second insulators 24. With the holding plate 26 adhesively fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the second holding member accommodating portion 24B of the second insulator 24 and the +Z direction end of the magnet 25 adhesively fixed to the bottom surface on the +Z direction side of the second holding member accommodating portion 24B of the second insulator 24, the holding plate 26 made of a magnetic material is attracted to the magnet 25 by magnetic force. However, the orientation of the six second insulators 24 in the XY plane is uniform, and each of the first contact accommodating portions 24A has an oval shape that is elongated in the Y direction, and the second retaining member accommodating portion 24B is positioned adjacent to the -Y direction end of the first contact accommodating portion 24A.

[0040] When mating the second connector 21 with the first connector 11, as shown in FIG. 14, the second connector 21 is placed on the +Z direction side of the first connector 11, and the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 are aligned with each other so that the +Y direction end of the first contact accommodating portion 24A, which has an oval shape that is long in the Y direction of the second insulator 24, is aligned on the +Z direction side of the +Y direction end of the first contact 12.

[0041] In this state, by moving the second connector 21 relatively in the -Z direction toward the first connector 11, the first contact 12 of the first connector 11 is accommodated in the first contact accommodating portion 24A of the second insulator 24 of the second connector 21, as shown in Figure 15.

[0042] When the second connector 21 is moved relatively in the -Z direction until the -Z direction end of the magnet 25 of the second holding member 27 of the second connector 21 hits the flange 15B of the first holding member 15 of the first connector 11, the second contact portion 23C formed on the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 of the second connector 21 contacts the planar first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 of the first connector 11, and a part of the plunger 23B resiliently retreats into the barrel 23A. In this way, the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C contact each other in the Z direction with a predetermined contact pressure, and the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 are electrically connected to each other.

[0043] In addition, when the -Z direction end of the magnet 25 of the second retaining member 27 abuts against the flange 15B of the first retaining member 15 which is formed from a magnetic material, the magnet 25 is attracted to the flange 15B by magnetic force, thereby maintaining the contact state between the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C in the Z direction. The position of second connector 21 relative to first connector 11 at this time will be referred to as mating start position P1.

[0044] With the +Y end of the first contact accommodating portion 24A of the second insulator 24 and the +Y end of the first contact 12 aligned in the Z direction, the second connector 21 moves relatively in the -Z direction, so that the first contact 12 is accommodated in a position offset toward the +Y direction in the first contact accommodating portion 24A having an oval shape that is long in the Y direction, as shown in Fig. 16. Therefore, the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 is eccentric with respect to the circular first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12.

[0045] As a result, a gap is formed between the -Y direction end of the first contact 12 and the second retaining member 27, and as shown in Figure 17, the protrusion 26C protruding toward the +Y direction from the -Z direction end of the retaining plate 26 of the second retaining member 27 does not interfere with the first contact 12 and the tubular portion 15A of the first retaining member 15, and the second connector 21 can move relatively in the -Z direction to the mating start position P1.

[0046] As shown in Figures 15 to 17, when the second connector 21 is located at the mating start position P1, the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C are in contact in the Z direction with a predetermined contact pressure, so that the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 are electrically connected to each other, but the second connector 21 is located at the mating start position P1 relative to the first connector 11 only by the magnetic force acting between the magnet 25 of the second retaining member 27 and the flange 15B of the first retaining member 15.

[0047] Furthermore, with the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 elastically retracted, the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 are connected to each other, so that a force acts from the second contact 23 to the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 in a direction pulling them away from each other in the Z direction. Therefore, when an external force such as an impact acts between the first connector 11 and the second connector 21, causing the second connector 21 to move in the +Z direction relative to the first connector 11, the contact between the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 may become unstable, which may reduce the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0048] 18, the second connector 21 is slid in the +Y direction relative to the first connector 11 until the second holding member 27 of the second connector 21 comes into contact with or close to the cylindrical portion 15A of the first holding member 15 of the first connector 11. Specifically, the second connector 21 slides relative to the first connector 11 until the magnet 25 of the second holding member 27 comes into contact with or close to the -Y direction end of the cylindrical portion 15A of the first holding member 15.

[0049] At this time, since the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 of the first connector 11 has a planar shape extending along the XY plane, the second contact portion 23C of the second contact 23 slides in the +Y direction relative to the first contact portion 12B while remaining in contact with the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12. Therefore, the electrical connection state between the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 is maintained. Furthermore, even if dirt or foreign matter is attached to the surface of at least one of the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 and the second contact portion 23C of the second contact 23, the second contact portion 23C slides in the +Y direction relative to the first contact portion 12B, creating a wiping effect that effectively removes the dirt or foreign matter, improving the contact stability between the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C.

[0050] As the second connector 21 slides in the +Y direction relative to the first connector 11, as shown in FIG. 19, the first contact 12 is positioned on the -Y direction side within the first contact accommodating portion 24A, which has an oval shape that is long in the Y direction, and the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 is positioned at the center of the circular first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12. Also, as shown in Figure 20, a pair of protrusions 26C protruding toward the +Y direction from the -Z direction ends of a pair of flat portions 26B of the retaining plate 26 of the second retaining member 27 fit into annular groove 15D formed in the tubular portion 15A of the first retaining member 15.

[0051] In other words, when the locking portion consisting of a pair of protrusions 26C fits into the lock receiving portion consisting of the annular groove 15D, the second connector 21 is prevented from moving in the +Z direction relative to the first connector 11, and the electrical connection state of the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 is maintained due to the mutual contact of the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C. In this manner, the second connector 21 is mated with the first connector 11. The position of second connector 21 relative to first connector 11 at this time is referred to as mating completion position P2.

[0052] In addition, when the magnet 25 of the second retaining member 27 comes into contact with or close to the -Y direction end of the tubular portion 15A of the first retaining member 15, a magnetic force acts between the magnet 25 and the tubular portion 15A formed from a magnetic material, attracting them to each other in the Y direction, thereby maintaining the second connector 21 in the completed mating position P2 relative to the first connector 11. When the second connector 21 is positioned in the mating completion position P2, the second contacts 23 of the second connector 21 are electrically connected to the corresponding flexible conductors 14C of the sheet-shaped conductive member 14 via the first contacts 12 of the first connector 11.

[0053] The six second insulators 24 of the second connector 21 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the substrate 22 with their orientation in the XY plane being uniform. Therefore, by moving the substrate 22 in the -Z direction relative to the first connector 11, it is possible to create a state in which the second connector 21 is positioned at the mating start position P1 relative to the first connector 11 in each of the six second insulators 24, and further, by sliding the substrate 22 in the +Y direction relative to the first connector 11, it is possible to create a state in which the second connector 21 is positioned at the mating completion position P2 relative to the first connector 11 in each of the six second insulators 24. In this way, as shown in FIG. 21, first connector 11 and second connector 21 are fitted together.

[0054] Since the six second insulators 24 of the second connector 21 need to be oriented in the same direction in the XY plane, for example, as shown in Fig. 22, the six second insulators 24 can be resin-molded in a state in which they are connected to one another via a connecting member C. The six second insulators 24 are molded while being connected to one another while maintaining their relative positions when placed on the board 22, and are placed on the board 22 by accommodating the six second contacts 23 mounted on the board 22 in the six second insulators 24 while still connected to one another. Furthermore, a corresponding second holding member 27 is accommodated in each of the second insulators 24. Thereafter, by cutting off the connecting member C from the six second insulators 24, it is possible to manufacture the second connectors 21 in which the orientations of the second insulators 24 are uniform.

[0055] Embodiment 2 23 shows a connector assembly according to embodiment 2. The connector assembly is the connector assembly according to embodiment 1, except that a first connector 11 is fitted into a second connector 31 instead of the second connector 21, and the first connector 11 is the same as that used in embodiment 1.

[0056] 24 shows an assembly diagram of the second connector 31. Six second contacts 23 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the substrate 22, six second insulators 34 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the six second contacts 23, six magnets 35 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the six second insulators 34, and six holding plates 36 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the six magnets 35. The substrate 22 and the six second contacts 23 are all the same as those used in the first embodiment.

[0057] 25, magnet 35 has a cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction, and a through hole 35A penetrating magnet 35 in the Z direction is formed inside magnet 35. Magnet 35 is magnetized so that magnetic field lines act mainly in the +Y direction. 26, the holding plate 36 is made of a magnetic material and is formed of a ring member extending in a plane along the XY plane. The holding plate 36 is formed with a through hole 36A penetrating the holding plate 36 in the Z direction.

[0058] 27 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to one second contact 23 of the second connector 31. A second insulator 34 is disposed on the -Z direction side of the substrate 22. The second insulator 34 has a cylindrical outer shape, and inside the second insulator 34, a concave first contact accommodating portion 34A that is open toward the -Z direction and a concave second holding member accommodating portion 34B that is open toward the -Z direction are formed. The second holding member accommodating portion 34B is disposed outside the first contact accommodating portion 34A so as to surround the first contact accommodating portion 34A, and is in communication with the first contact accommodating portion 34A.

[0059] In addition, a second contact accommodating hole 34C is formed at the bottom of the first contact accommodating portion 34A, which is located on the central axis extending in the Z direction of the second insulator 34 having a cylindrical outer shape and penetrates the second insulator 34 in the Z direction. The second contact 23 mounted on the substrate 22 is accommodated in the second contact accommodating hole 34C of the second insulator 34, the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 protrudes into the first contact accommodating portion 34A of the second insulator 34 through the second contact accommodating hole 34C, and the second contact portion 23C formed at the -Z direction end of the plunger 23B is exposed in the first contact accommodating portion 34A.

[0060] A cylindrical magnet 35 is accommodated in the second holding member accommodating portion 34B of the second insulator 34. A holding plate 36 made of a ring member made of a magnetic material is fixed by press-fitting or adhesive to the open end in the -Z direction of the second holding member accommodating portion 34B of the second insulator 34, and is attracted to the -Z direction end of the magnet 35 by magnetic force. The magnet 35 and holding plate 36 form a second holding member 37.

[0061] The holding plate 36 made of a ring member has an outer diameter equal to that of the cylindrical magnet 35, and the inner diameter of the through hole 36A of the holding plate 36 is smaller than that of the through hole 35A of the magnet 35. As shown in FIG. 27, a step D1 is formed between the inner surface of the through hole 36A of the holding plate 36 and the inner surface of the through hole 35A of the magnet 35, and the edge of the through hole 36A of the holding plate 36 protrudes into the through hole 35A of the magnet 35. The holding plate 36 has a thickness in the Z direction that is slightly smaller than the width in the Z direction of the annular groove 15D of the first holding member 15 shown in FIG. 4, and the edge of the through hole 36A of the holding plate 36 protruding into the through hole 35A of the magnet 35 can fit into the annular groove 15D of the first holding member 15. The through holes 36A of the holding plate 36 are large enough to allow the first contacts 12 and the cylindrical portions 15A of the first holding members 15 to pass therethrough in the Z direction.

[0062] 28, first contact accommodating portion 34A has an elliptical shape that is long in the Y direction (predetermined direction) when viewed from the -Z direction. Therefore, with first contacts 12 of first connector 11 accommodated in first contact accommodating portion 34A from the -Z direction, second connector 31 can slide in the Y direction (predetermined direction) relative to first connector 11. The second holding member 37 is disposed at a position eccentric in the +Y direction with respect to the second insulator 34 having a cylindrical outer shape.

[0063] All six second insulators 34 of the second connector 31 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the substrate 22, as shown in FIG. 27, and accommodate second contacts 23 corresponding to the second contact accommodating holes 34C of the second insulators 34, and accommodate second retaining members 37 corresponding to the second retaining member accommodating portions 34B of the second insulators 34. However, the six second insulators 34 are oriented in the same direction within the XY plane, and as shown in FIG. 28, each of the first contact accommodating portions 34A has an elliptical shape that is long in the Y direction.

[0064] When mating the second connector 31 with the first connector 11, as shown in FIG. 29, the second connector 31 is placed on the +Z direction side of the first connector 11, and the first connector 11 and the second connector 31 are aligned with each other so that the +Y direction end of the first contact accommodating portion 34A, which is an oval shape that is long in the Y direction of the second insulator 34, is aligned on the +Z direction side of the +Y direction end of the first contact 12.

[0065] In this state, by moving the second connector 31 relatively in the -Z direction toward the first connector 11, the first contact 12 of the first connector 11 is accommodated in the first contact accommodating portion 34A of the second insulator 34 of the second connector 31, as shown in Figure 30.

[0066] When the second connector 31 is moved relatively in the -Z direction until the holding plate 36 of the second holding member 37 of the second connector 31 hits the flange 15B of the first holding member 15 of the first connector 11, the second contact portion 23C formed on the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 of the second connector 31 comes into contact with the planar first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 of the first connector 11, and a part of the plunger 23B resiliently retreats into the barrel 23A. In this way, the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C come into contact with each other in the Z direction with a predetermined contact pressure, and the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 are electrically connected to each other.

[0067] In addition, when the retaining plate 36, which is located at the -Z direction end of the magnet 35 of the second retaining member 37, abuts against the flange 15B of the first retaining member 15, which is formed from a magnetic material, the magnet 35 is attracted to the flange 15B via the retaining plate 36 by magnetic force, thereby maintaining the contact state between the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C in the Z direction. The position of second connector 31 relative to first connector 11 at this time will be referred to as mating start position P1.

[0068] With the +Y direction end of the first contact accommodating portion 34A of the second insulator 34 and the +Y direction end of the first contact 12 aligned in the Z direction, the second connector 31 moves relatively in the -Z direction, so that the first contact 12 is accommodated in a position biased toward the +Y direction within the first contact accommodating portion 34A, which has an oval shape that is long in the Y direction, as shown in Figure 31.

[0069] As a result, a gap is formed between the -Y direction end of the first contact 12 and the -Y direction end within the first contact accommodating portion 34A, and as shown in Figure 30, the edge of the through hole 36A of the retaining plate 36 of the second retaining member 37 does not interfere with the first contact 12 and the tubular portion 15A of the first retaining member 15, and the second connector 31 can move relatively in the -Z direction to the mating start position P1.

[0070] As shown in Figure 30, when the second connector 31 is located at the mating start position P1, the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C are in contact in the Z direction with a predetermined contact pressure, so that the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 are electrically connected to each other, but the second connector 31 is located at the mating start position P1 relative to the first connector 11 only by the magnetic force acting between the magnet 35 of the second retaining member 37 and the flange 15B of the first retaining member 15.

[0071] Furthermore, with the plunger 23B of the second contact 23 elastically retracted, the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 are connected to each other, so that a force acts from the second contact 23 to the first connector 11 and the second connector 31 in a direction pulling them away from each other in the Z direction. Therefore, when an external force such as an impact acts between the first connector 11 and the second connector 31 and the second connector 31 moves in the +Z direction relative to the first connector 11, the contact between the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 may become unstable, which may reduce the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0072] 32, the second connector 31 is slid in the +Y direction relative to the first connector 11 until the second holding member 37 of the second connector 31 comes into contact with or comes into close proximity to the cylindrical portion 15A of the first holding member 15 of the first connector 11. Specifically, the second connector 31 slides relative to the first connector 11 until the inner surface of the magnet 35 of the second holding member 37 comes into contact with or comes into close proximity to the -Y direction end of the cylindrical portion 15A of the first holding member 15.

[0073] At this time, since the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 of the first connector 11 has a planar shape extending along the XY plane, the second contact portion 23C of the second contact 23 slides in the +Y direction relative to the first contact portion 12B while remaining in contact with the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12. Therefore, the electrical connection state between the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 is maintained. Furthermore, in embodiment 2, a wiping effect is generated by the second contact portion 23C sliding in the +Y direction relative to the first contact portion 12B, so that even if dirt or foreign matter is attached to the surface of at least one of the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 and the second contact portion 23C of the second contact 23, the dirt or foreign matter is effectively removed, improving the contact stability between the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C.

[0074] As the second connector 31 slides in the +Y direction relative to the first connector 11, as shown in Figure 33, the first contact 12 is positioned on the -Y direction side within the first contact accommodating portion 34A, which has an oval shape that is long in the Y direction, and as shown in Figure 32, the edge portion 36B at the -Y direction end of the through hole 36A of the retaining plate 36 that protrudes inward into the through hole 35A of the magnet 35 of the second retaining member 37 fits into the annular groove 15D formed in the tubular portion 15A of the first retaining member 15.

[0075] The edge 36B at the -Y direction end of the through hole 36A of the retaining plate 36 forms a locking portion in the second connector 31, and this locking portion fits into the lock receiving portion of the first connector 11 consisting of an annular groove 15D along the Y direction (predetermined direction), thereby preventing the second connector 31 from moving in the +Z direction relative to the first connector 11, and maintaining the electrical connection state of the first contact 12 and the second contact 23 due to the mutual contact of the first contact portion 12B and the second contact portion 23C. In this manner, the second connector 31 is fitted to the first connector 11. The position of second connector 31 relative to first connector 11 at this time will be referred to as a mating completion position P2.

[0076] Furthermore, as the inner surface of the magnet 35 of the second retaining member 37 comes into contact with or is close to the -Y direction end of the tubular portion 15A of the first retaining member 15, a magnetic force acts between the magnet 35 and the tubular portion 15A formed from a magnetic material, attracting them to each other in the Y direction, thereby maintaining the second connector 31 in the completed mating position P2 relative to the first connector 11.

[0077] The six second insulators 34 of the second connector 31 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the substrate 22 with their orientation in the XY plane being uniform. Therefore, by moving the substrate 22 relatively in the -Z direction toward the first connector 11, each of the six second insulators 34 can be positioned such that the second connector 31 is at the mating start position P1 relative to the first connector 11, and further, by sliding the substrate 22 in the +Y direction relative to the first connector 11, each of the six second insulators 34 can be positioned such that the second connector 31 is at the mating completion position P2 relative to the first connector 11. In this manner, the first connector 11 and the second connector 31 are fitted together.

[0078] Since the six second insulators 34 of the second connector 31 need to be oriented in the same direction in the XY plane, for example, as shown in Fig. 34, the six second insulators 34 can be resin-molded in a state in which they are connected to one another via a connecting member C. The six second insulators 34 are molded while being connected to one another while maintaining their relative positions when placed on the board 22, and are placed on the board 22 by accommodating the six second contacts 23 mounted on the board 22 in the six second insulators 34 while still connected to one another. Furthermore, a corresponding second holding member 37 is accommodated in each of the second insulators 34. Thereafter, by cutting off the connecting member C from the six second insulators 34, it is possible to manufacture the second connectors 31 in which the orientations of the second insulators 34 are uniform.

[0079] The first contacts 12 of the first connector 11 used in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments have a cylindrical shape extending along the Z direction, and are connected to the flexible conductor 14C of the sheet-like conductive member 14 in a recess 12A formed on the inside, and are overlapped coaxially in the Z direction with the first holding member 15 in which an annular groove 15D serving as a lock receiving portion is formed. Therefore, while a lock receiving portion is formed for each first contact 12, the first contacts 12 can be arranged in a small space in the XY plane.

[0080] Furthermore, instead of maintaining the connected state of the plurality of first contacts 12 and the plurality of second contacts 23 by one set of a locking portion and a lock receiving portion, a first holding member 15 having a lock receiving portion and a second holding member 27 or 37 having a locking portion are disposed for each pair of first contacts 12 and second contacts 23 that are connected to each other. Therefore, for example, when a foreign object is caught between some of the plurality of first contacts 12 and the plurality of second contacts 23, a malfunction such as locking the engagement between the first connector 11 and the second connector 21 or 31 does not occur, and the plurality of first contacts 12 and the plurality of second contacts 23 can be connected with high reliability.

[0081] The six first contacts 12 of the first connector 11 are attached to the sheet-like conductive member 14 via the reinforcing sheet 13, and the six first insulators 16 corresponding to the six first contacts 12 are separated from one another. Therefore, the first connector 11 has flexibility, and by using, for example, the fabric or knit of clothing as the sheet body 14A, the first connector 11 can be attached to clothing without reducing comfort.

[0082] Furthermore, a rigid circuit board can be used as the substrate 22 in the second connector 21 or 31, but a so-called FPC (flexible printed circuit board) having an insulating film can also be used as the substrate 22. In the second connectors 21 and 31, six second insulators 24 and 34 are arranged separately from each other on the substrate 22, and thus the second connectors 21 and 31 having flexibility are configured by using an FPC as the substrate 22. By fitting such flexible second connectors 21 and 31 into the first connector 11, it becomes possible to configure a bendable connector assembly even after fitting, and this is suitable as a connector assembly for connecting a wearable device to so-called smart clothing that can acquire biometric information of a user, such as heart rate and body temperature, simply by wearing the clothing.

[0083] In the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 has a planar shape extending along the XY plane, and the second contact portion 23C of the second contact 23 has a pin shape, but the same effect can be obtained even if the first contact portion 12B of the first contact 12 has a pin shape and the second contact portion 23C of the second contact 23 has a planar shape extending along the XY plane.

[0084] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the first retaining member 15 of the first connector 11 has a lock receiving portion (annular groove 15D) and the second retaining members 27, 37 of the second connectors 21, 31 have a locking portion (protrusion 26C, edge portion 36B of through hole 36A of retaining plate 36) protruding in the Y direction, but the same effect can be obtained even if, conversely, the first retaining member 15 of the first connector 11 has a locking portion protruding in the Y direction and the second retaining members 27, 37 of the second connectors 21, 31 have a locking receiving portion.

[0085] In the above embodiments 1 and 2, the first connector 11 has six first contacts 12 and the second connectors 21, 31 have six second contacts 23, but the number of first contacts 12 and second contacts 23 is not limited to six, and it is sufficient that one or more first contacts 12 and second contacts 23 are arranged in the first connector 11 and the second connectors 21, 31, respectively. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1 first connector, 2 second connector, 3 second contact, 4 yoke, 5 housing, 6 first contact, 7 holding member, 11 first connector, 12 first contact, 12A recess, 12B first contact portion, 13 reinforcing sheet, 13A, 14B, 15C, 35A, 36A through hole, 14 sheet-like conductive member, 14A sheet body, 14C flexible conductor, 15 first holding member, 15A cylindrical portion, 15B flange, 15D groove (lock receiving portion), 16 first insulator, 16A base, 16B protrusion, 16C rib, 21, 31 second connector, 22 board, 23 second contact, 23A barrel, 23B plunger, 23C second contact portion, 24, 34 second insulator, 24A, 34A first contact accommodating portion, 24B, 34B Second retaining member accommodating portion, 24C, 34C second contact accommodating hole, 25, 35 magnet, 26, 36 retaining plate, 26A curved portion, 26B flat portion, 26C protruding portion (locking portion), 27, 37 second retaining member, 36B edge portion (locking portion), P1 mating start position, P2 mating completion position, C connecting member, D1 step.

Claims

1. A connector assembly in which a first connector and a second connector are fitted together along a fitting direction, The first connector is a first conductive contact having a first contact portion; a first retaining member connected to the first contact; Equipped with The second connector is A second insulator; a conductive second contact held by the second insulator and having a second contact portion facing the first contact portion of the first contact along the fitting direction; a second holding member that is held by the second insulator and that is attracted to the first holding member by magnetic force; Equipped with one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion has a planar shape extending in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, one of the first holding member and the second holding member has a lock portion, and the other has a lock receiving portion into which the lock portion fits from the predetermined direction; when the second connector moves relatively to the first connector in the mating direction to a predetermined mating start position, the second holding member is attracted to the first holding member in the mating direction, and the second contact portion comes into contact with the first contact portion, thereby electrically connecting the second contact to the first contact, When the second connector slides relative to the first connector in the predetermined direction from the mating start position to a predetermined mating completion position, the second contact portion slides relative to the first contact portion in the predetermined direction while remaining in contact with the first contact portion, and the lock portion fits into the lock receiving portion, thereby mating the second connector with the first connector.

2. the first connector includes a first insulator having a projection that projects in the fitting direction, the first contact has a cylindrical shape extending along the fitting direction and having a recess formed on the inside, and the first contact portion having the planar shape is disposed at one end of the first contact on the second contact side along the fitting direction, the first holding member is disposed on the other end side of the first contact along the fitting direction and has a through hole penetrating the first holding member in the fitting direction, 2. A connector assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the first insulator is inserted sequentially into the through hole of the first retaining member and the recess of the first contact while pushing in a sheet-like connection object having a flexible conductor exposed at least on its surface, thereby electrically connecting the first contact to the flexible conductor and connecting the first retaining member to the first contact.

3. the first holding member is made of a magnetic material, and has a cylindrical portion extending along the fitting direction and having the through hole formed therein, and a flange extending in the predetermined direction from an end of the cylindrical portion on an opposite side to the first contact, The connector assembly according to claim 2 , wherein when the second connector is located at the mating start position, the second holding member is attracted to the flange of the first holding member along the mating direction.

4. 4. The connector assembly as described in claim 3, wherein when the second connector slides relative to the first connector along the specified direction from the mating start position to the mating completion position, the second retaining member is attracted to the outer surface of the tubular portion of the first retaining member along the specified direction.

5. The first holding member has an annular groove formed along an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, 4. The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein said lock receiving portion is formed by said annular groove.

6. 4. The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the second holding member comprises a magnet and a holding plate made of a magnetic material and attracted to the magnet by magnetic force.

7. The magnet has a shape of a curved plate that is curved so as to fit along an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the first holding member and extends in the fitting direction, the retaining plate has a curved portion that curves along an outer periphery of the magnet, a pair of planar portions that extend in the fitting direction at both ends of the curved shape of the curved portion, and a pair of protruding portions that protrude in the predetermined direction from ends of the pair of planar portions on the first connector side along the fitting direction, 7. The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein said locking portion is formed by said pair of protrusions.

8. the magnet has a cylindrical shape extending in the fitting direction and into which the tubular portion of the first holding member is inserted, the retaining plate is a ring member that is disposed at an end of the magnet on the side of the first connector along the fitting direction and has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the magnet, and has a protruding portion that protrudes toward a central axis of the cylindrical magnet along the predetermined direction, 7. The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein said locking portion is formed by said protruding portion.

9. The second insulator is a concave second holding member accommodating portion in which the second holding member is accommodated; a first contact accommodating portion having a concave shape in which at least a portion of the first contact is accommodated; having the second holding member accommodating portion and the first contact accommodating portion are in communication with each other and are each open toward the first connector in the fitting direction; 2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second contact is held by the second insulator such that at least a portion of the second contact protrudes into the first contact receiving portion.

10. 10. A connector assembly as described in claim 9, wherein the second contact has a plunger arranged so as to be elastically movable back and forth along the mating direction, and the second contact portion arranged at the tip of the plunger protrudes into the first contact accommodating portion.

11. The first contact accommodating portion has an elliptical shape that is long in the predetermined direction when viewed from the fitting direction, 10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein when the second connector is located in the mating start position, the first contact is located at one end of the first contact accommodating portion in the predetermined direction, and when the second connector is located in the mating completion position, the first contact is located at the other end of the first contact accommodating portion in the predetermined direction.

12. the first connector includes a plurality of the first contacts and a plurality of the first holding members corresponding to the plurality of the first contacts; the second connector includes a plurality of the second insulators, a plurality of the second contacts respectively held by the plurality of the second insulators, and a plurality of the second holding members respectively held by the plurality of the second insulators and corresponding to the plurality of the second contacts, one of the first holding members and the second holding members has a plurality of locking portions, and the other of the first holding members and the second holding members has a plurality of lock receiving portions; A connector assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein when the second connector is positioned in the completed mating position and mated with the first connector, the second contacts are electrically connected to the first contacts, respectively, and the locking portions are fitted into the lock receiving portions, respectively.

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