Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of electrically connecting a contact to a conductor of an object to be connected, regardless of whether the conductor is exposed on the front or back surface of the object to be connected.SOLUTION: An inner contact 18 includes a first elastic portion 18E and a second elastic portion 18F that each face the back surface of a flange 13B of a plug contact 13 and are elastically deformable in a direction along the mating axis C, and a part of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is sandwiched between a first contact portion S1 on the back surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the first elastic portion 18E of the inner contact 18 in the direction along the mating axis C, such that the first contact portion S1 on the back surface of the flange 13B contacts the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the first elastic portion 18E contacts the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and a second contact portion S2 at a position different from the first contact portion S1 on the back surface of the flange 13B contacts the second elastic portion 18F.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 25

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector to be connected to a sheet-like connection object having a conductor exposed on at least one surface thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, so-called smart clothing, which can obtain a user's biometric information such as heart rate and body temperature simply by wearing it, has been attracting attention. This smart clothing is equipped with electrodes placed at measurement locations, and by electrically connecting a wearable device as a measuring instrument to the electrodes, it becomes possible to transmit the biometric information to the wearable device. The electrodes and the wearable device can be connected, for example, by using a connector that is connected to a conductor extending from the electrode.

[0003] As an example of this type of connector, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector as shown in Fig. 47. The connector has a housing 2 and a base member 3 arranged on either side of a flexible substrate 1 with the flexible substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween, with a cylindrical portion 4A of a contact 4 passing through a contact through hole 2A in the housing 2 and a flange 4B of the contact 4 being sandwiched between the housing 2 and a conductor 1A exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1.

[0004] In this state, by pushing the base member 3 towards the housing 2, as shown in Figure 48, the protrusion 3A of the base member 3 is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 4C of the contact 4 with the flexible substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween, and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 4C contacts the conductor 1A with a predetermined contact force, thereby electrically connecting the contact 4 to the conductor 1A. As shown in FIG. 47, a housing fixing post 3B formed on the base member 3 to protrude therefrom is press-fitted into a post receiving portion 2B of the housing 2, whereby the housing 2 and the base member 3 are fixed to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-129244 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] By fitting a wearable device into the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wearable device can be connected to an electrode made of a conductor. However, when the conductor 1A is exposed on the rear surface of the flexible substrate 1, the connector of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the conductor 1A cannot be electrically connected to the contact 4.

[0007] This invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a connector that can electrically connect contacts to conductors of an object to be connected, regardless of whether the conductors are exposed on the front or back surface of the object to be connected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector according to the present invention comprises: a conductive plug contact having a cylindrical portion extending along a mating axis and a flange extending from an end of the cylindrical portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating axis; a bottom insulator having a support surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the substrate or in a direction inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the substrate; a conductive inner contact disposed on the support surface; Equipped with the inner contact has a flat base portion disposed on the support surface, and a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion each connected to the base portion, facing the rear surface of the flange, and elastically deformable in a direction along the fitting axis; A portion of a sheet-like connection object having a conductor exposed on at least one surface is sandwiched between a first contact portion on the back surface of the flange of the plug contact and the first elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the mating axis, such that the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the surface of the connection object, the first elastic portion contacts the back surface of the connection object, and a second contact portion at a position different from the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the second elastic portion, so that when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor, and when the conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

[0009] The inner contact is made of a bent metal plate. The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion can be configured to have a doubly supported beam shape that is curved at different positions around the mating axis so as to protrude further from the support surface in a direction along the mating axis than the base.

[0010] Alternatively, the inner contact is made of a bent metal plate, The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion may be configured to have a cantilever shape bent at different positions around the mating axis so as to protrude further from the support surface in a direction along the mating axis than the base portion.

[0011] The first elastic portion and the second elastic portion are preferably disposed at positions facing each other with the fitting shaft therebetween. The base portion of the inner contact is preferably disposed obliquely with respect to the orthogonal direction so that the second elastic portion is closer to the rear surface of the flange than the first elastic portion. In this case, the support surface extends in a direction inclined relative to the orthogonal direction, and the inner contact can be arranged so that the entire base is in contact with the support surface. Alternatively, the support surface may extend in a perpendicular direction, the bottom insulator may have a step portion formed adjacent to the support surface and at a position facing the second contact portion on the back surface of the flange, and the inner contact may be positioned so that the portion on the first elastic portion side contacts the support surface and the portion on the second elastic portion side contacts the step portion.

[0012] The plug contact has a recess formed inside the cylindrical portion, the bottom insulator has a protrusion that protrudes from the support surface along the fitting axis and is inserted into the recess of the plug contact; It is preferable that the plug contact is fixed to the bottom insulator by press-fitting the protrusion into the recess. Furthermore, the base of the inner contact has a through hole into which the protrusion of the bottom insulator is inserted and a protrusion protruding from an edge of the through hole toward the fitting shaft, It is preferable that the position of the inner contact relative to the bottom insulator be fixed by inserting the convex portion of the bottom insulator into the through hole and receiving the projection in the projection receiving portion of the bottom insulator.

[0013] The inner contact may also have a plurality of first resilient portions and a plurality of second resilient portions each coupled to the base.

[0014] a top insulator having a contact through hole formed therein, the contact through hole being smaller than the flange and through which the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes; It is preferable that the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes through the contact through hole and the top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator so that the flange of the plug contact, the connection object, and the inner contact are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

[0015] The connector assembly according to the present invention comprises: A connection object; The above connector connected to the connection object Equipped with the connection object has a connection portion formed at a position corresponding to the first elastic portion of the inner contact and an opening portion formed at a position corresponding to the second elastic portion of the inner contact, The connection portion of the connection object is sandwiched between a first contact portion on the rear surface of the flange and a first elastic portion of the inner contact as part of the connection object, and a second contact portion on the rear surface of the flange contacts the second elastic portion of the inner contact through the opening. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to this invention, the inner contact has a flat base that is placed on the support surface of the bottom insulator, and first and second elastic portions that are each connected to the base, face the back surface of the flange, and are elastically deformable in a direction along the mating axis, and a part of the connection object is sandwiched between a first contact portion on the back surface of the flange of the plug contact and the first elastic portion of the inner contact in the direction along the mating axis, the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the surface of the connection object, the first elastic portion contacts the back surface of the connection object, and the second contact portion at a position different from the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the second elastic portion, so that when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor directly, and when the conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact, so that it is possible to electrically connect the contact to the conductor of the connection object regardless of whether the conductor is exposed on the front or back surface of the connection object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view showing a top insulator used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a plug contact used in the connector of embodiment 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a plug contact used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a perspective view showing a bottom insulator used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a perspective view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 4 is a plan view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a perspective view showing an inner contact used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is a plan view showing an inner contact used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 2 is a front view showing an inner contact used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 2 is a perspective view of a connection object to be connected to the connector of the first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 13] 2 is a perspective view of a connection object to be connected to the connector of the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 14] 2 is a partial plan view showing a connection object to be connected to the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] 2 is a perspective view showing a reinforcing sheet used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an inner contact is aligned with the bottom insulator in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 18] 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which an inner contact is aligned with the bottom insulator in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an inner contact is arranged on the bottom insulator in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 20]4 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which an inner contact is disposed in the bottom insulator according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 21] 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connection object is aligned with the bottom insulator in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 22] 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where a protrusion of a bottom insulator starts to be press-fitted into a plug contact in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 23] 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a protrusion of a bottom insulator has been press-fitted into a plug contact in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 24] 1 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of the first embodiment as viewed obliquely from below. [Diagram 25] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. [Figure 26] 11 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is an assembly diagram of a connector assembly according to the second embodiment. [Figure 28] 11 is a perspective view showing a bottom insulator used in the connector of the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 29] 11 is a perspective view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 30] 11 is a plan view showing a convex portion of a bottom insulator used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 31] 11 is a perspective view showing an inner contact used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 32] 11 is a plan view showing an inner contact used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 33] 11 is a front view showing an inner contact used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 34] 11 is a perspective view of a connection object to be connected to a connector according to a second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Diagram 35]11 is a perspective view of a connection object to be connected to a connector according to a second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Diagram 36] 11 is a partial plan view showing a connection object to be connected to a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 37] 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 36. [Figure 38] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which an inner contact is aligned with a bottom insulator in accordance with a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 39] 13 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which an inner contact is aligned with a bottom insulator in accordance with a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 40] 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which an inner contact is arranged in a bottom insulator according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 41] 11 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which an inner contact is arranged in a bottom insulator according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 42] 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connection object is aligned with the bottom insulator in the second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 43] 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where a protrusion of a bottom insulator starts to be press-fitted into a plug contact in the second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 44] 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a protrusion of a bottom insulator has been press-fitted into a plug contact in the second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 45] 11 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of the second embodiment as viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Diagram 46] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a second embodiment. [Figure 47] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional connector. [Figure 48] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector. 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 Fig. 1 shows a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. The connector assembly includes a connector 11 used, for example, as a clothing connector for mating with a wearable device, and the connector 11 has a housing 12 made of an insulating material. Four plug contacts 13 are held in the housing 12, and a reinforcing sheet 14 and a sheet-like conductive member 15 are further held by the housing 12 in a state in which they are stacked on top of each other. The sheet-like conductive member 15 constitutes a connection object to which the connector 11 is connected. The four plug contacts 13 are arranged in two parallel rows and are disposed so as to protrude perpendicularly from the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0019] For convenience, the reinforcing sheet 14 and the sheet-like conductive member 15 extend along the XY plane, the arrangement direction of the four plug contacts 13 is called the Y direction, and the direction in which each of the four plug contacts 13 protrudes is called the +Z direction. The Z direction is the mating direction in which the connector 11 is mated with a mating connector.

[0020] An assembly diagram of the connector assembly is shown in Fig. 2. The connector 11 has a top insulator 16 and a bottom insulator 17, and the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 form the housing 12.

[0021] Four plug contacts 13 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the top insulator 16, a reinforcing sheet 14 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts 13, and a sheet-like conductive member 15 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the reinforcing sheet 14. Furthermore, four inner contacts 18 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and a bottom insulator 17 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four inner contacts 18. The four inner contacts 18 correspond to the four plug contacts 13, respectively.

[0022] 3, the top insulator 16 has a recess 16A that opens toward the +Z direction, and four contact through holes 16B formed in the recess 16A. The recess 16A constitutes a mating connector accommodating portion that accommodates a part of a mating connector (not shown), and the four contact through holes 16B correspond to the four plug contacts 13. In addition, a plurality of bosses 16C that protrude in the -Z direction are formed on the surface of the top insulator 16 facing the -Z direction.

[0023] Each of the four plug contacts 13 is formed from a conductive material such as metal, and is adapted to connect to a corresponding contact of a mating connector (not shown) when a part of the mating connector is accommodated in the recess 16A of the top insulator 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the plug contact 13 has a cylindrical tubular portion 13A extending in the Z direction along the fitting axis C, and a flange 13B extending along the XY plane from the -Z direction end of the tubular portion 13A. As shown in FIG. 5, a recess 13C that is open toward the -Z direction is formed inside the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0024] The fitting axis C passes through the center of the cylindrical portion 13A and extends in the fitting direction of the connector 11 and the mating connector. Further, although the tubular portion 13A has a cylindrical shape, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a circle, and it may have various cross-sectional shapes such as an ellipse or a polygon, so long as it has a recess 13C on the inside. All four plug contacts 13 can be used as terminals for transmitting electrical signals.

[0025] 6, the bottom insulator 17 has a flat plate portion 17A, in which four concave inner contact accommodating portions 17B each opening toward the +Z direction are formed. The four inner contact accommodating portions 17B correspond to the four plug contacts 13. The four inner contact accommodating portions 17B each have four protruding portions 17C formed therein that protrude in the +Z direction from the center of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B. Further, a plurality of through holes 17D corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed in the flat plate portion 17A.

[0026] 7, the bottom surface of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 forms a flat support surface 17E facing the +Z direction. The support surface 17E is an inclined surface that slopes in the -Z direction as it approaches the +X direction. Note that the support surface 17E is inclined to such an extent that a height difference equivalent to the thickness of the sheet-like conductive member 15 occurs between a portion located on the +X direction side of the protrusion 17C and a portion located on the -X direction side of the protrusion 17C.

[0027] The protrusion 17C protrudes from the support surface 17E in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C, and has a prismatic shape with a substantially hexagonal cross section as shown in FIG. 8. The protrusion 17C has a maximum diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the recess 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13. A concave protrusion accommodating portion 17F is formed on each of the side surface facing the +Y direction and the side surface facing the -Y direction of the protrusion 17C. The protrusion accommodating portion 17F extends in the -Z direction from the +Z direction end of the protrusion 17C toward the base of the protrusion 17C, but does not reach the support surface 17E, and terminates at a position a predetermined distance from the support surface 17E in the +Z direction.

[0028] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the inner contact 18 is made of a bent conductive metal plate and has a flat base 18A extending along the XY plane, and an annular portion 18B that is connected to the +X direction end and the -X direction end of the base 18A and extends annularly along the outer periphery of the base 18A to surround the base 18A. The base 18A has a through hole 18C through which the mating axis C passes and into which the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is inserted, and a pair of protrusions 18D protruding toward the mating axis C from the +Y direction edge and the -Y direction edge of the through hole 18C, respectively.

[0029] The annular portion 18B is curved to undulate in the Z direction along the outer periphery of the base portion 18A, and a pair of first elastic portions 18E and a pair of second elastic portions 18F are formed in the annular portion 18B at different rotation positions around the fitting axis C. The first elastic portions 18E and the second elastic portions 18F are curved to protrude in the +Z direction from the base portion 18A and are elastically deformable in the Z direction. The first elastic portions 18E and the second elastic portions 18F each have a double-supported beam shape constituting a part of the annular portion 18B, and are arranged at 90 degree intervals around the fitting axis C. The pair of first elastic portions 18E are arranged on the +X direction side of the annular portion 18B, and the pair of second elastic portions 18F are arranged on the -X direction side of the annular portion 18B so as to face the pair of first elastic portions 18E across the fitting axis C.

[0030] The sheet-shaped conductive member 15 has a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of wiring layers, each made of a conductor, and a plurality of insulating layers are laminated. 12, four circular contact arrangement regions 15A for arranging four plug contacts 13 are defined on the surface facing the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 15. In each contact arrangement region 15A, an opening 15B penetrating the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction is formed, and the wiring layer 15C is exposed in the +Z direction so as to be adjacent to the +X direction side of the opening 15B. In the region other than the four contact arrangement regions 15A, the insulating layer 15D is exposed.

[0031] Since the openings 15B penetrate the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction, as shown in Figure 13, the openings 15B are visible on the back surface facing the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 15 at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement areas 15A. On the back surface facing the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the wiring layer 15E is exposed toward the -Z direction adjacent to the +X direction side of the opening 15B formed at a position corresponding to the four contact arrangement areas 15A, and in other areas the insulating layer 15F is exposed. The sheet-shaped conductive member 15 has a periphery formed with a plurality of through holes 15G corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16.

[0032] 14, in the circular contact arrangement region 15A, the wiring layer 15C has a region that extends in a U shape with a predetermined width along the inside of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 15A and is exposed in the +Z direction. An opening 15B is formed in the contact arrangement region 15A in a region other than the portion where the wiring layer 15C is exposed. Also, similar to the wiring layer 15C, on the back surface facing the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the wiring layer 15E has a region extending in a U-shape with a predetermined width exposed in the -Z direction along the inside of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 15A. As shown in FIG. 15, the wiring layer 15C exposed toward the +Z direction and the wiring layer 15E exposed toward the -Z direction are laminated with an insulating layer 15H interposed therebetween.

[0033] 16, the reinforcing sheet 14 is for reinforcing an object to be mounted, such as clothing (not shown), on which the connector 11 is mounted, and is made of an insulating material and has an opening 14A formed in the center. Furthermore, along the periphery of the opening 14A of the reinforcing sheet 14, a plurality of notches 14B corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed.

[0034] The four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator 16, the four plug contacts 13, the four contact arrangement areas 15A of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the four inner contacts 18, and the four inner contact accommodating portions 17B of the bottom insulator 17 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction. In addition, the multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16, the multiple notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the multiple through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the multiple through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0035] 17 and 18, when assembling the connector 11, the inner contact 18 is first aligned with the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the base 18A and the annular portion 18B of the inner contact 18 are located on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17, and the through hole 18C formed in the base 18A is located on the +Z direction side of the protrusion 17C protruding from the inner contact accommodating portion 17B.

[0036] Next, while inserting the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 18, the inner contact 18 is pushed in the -Z direction towards the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the inner contact 18 is pushed in with a pair of projections 18D protruding into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 18 inserted into a pair of projection accommodating portions 17F of the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17.

[0037] Since the protrusion accommodating portion 17F of the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 does not reach the support surface 17E of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B and terminates at a position a predetermined distance on the +Z direction side from the support surface 17E, when the inner contact 18 is pressed into the bottom insulator 17 until the base 18A of the inner contact 18 contacts the support surface 17E, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is pressed into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 18, as shown in Figures 19 and 20. As a result, the inner contact 18 is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B and fixed to the bottom insulator 17.

[0038] 21 , the sheet-like conductive member 15 is aligned to the +Z direction side of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the contact arrangement region 15A and the opening 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15 are positioned on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. In addition, the support surface 17E of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 is inclined so that it progresses in the -Z direction as it approaches the +X direction, and the inner contact 18, whose base 18A is in contact with the support surface 17E, is also held in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane, just like the support surface 17E.

[0039] By relatively moving the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 17, the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is inserted into the opening portion 15B of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 as shown in FIG.

[0040] Here, the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 are exposed in the +Z and -Z directions on the +X direction side of the opening 15B, respectively. Therefore, in the inner contact 18 held in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17, a pair of first elastic portions 18E arranged on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C are located on the -Z direction side of the exposed portion of the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and a pair of second elastic portions 18F arranged on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C are exposed in the +Z direction through the opening 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0041] Furthermore, the corresponding plug contact 13 is aligned with the +Z direction side of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the recess 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13 is located on the +Z direction side of the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17.

[0042] Next, the plug contact 13 is relatively pressed in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 17, and the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is press-fitted into the concave portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13 as shown in FIG.

[0043] As a result, on the +X side of the mating axis C, a pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18 are pushed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 via the sheet-like conductive member 15, thereby elastically deforming, and on the -X side of the mating axis C, a pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 are pushed in the -Z direction directly by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13, thereby elastically deforming.

[0044] Furthermore, by pressing the bottom insulator 17 against the top insulator 16, the multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16 sequentially penetrate the multiple notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the multiple through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the multiple through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17. Then, as shown in Fig. 24, by thermally deforming the tips of the multiple bosses 16C protruding toward the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator 17, the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 are fixed to each other, completing the assembly of the connector 11 connected to the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0045] In the connector 11 assembled in this manner, as shown in FIG. 25, the sheet-like conductive member 15 is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and a pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18 on the +X side of the mating axis C. As a result, the first contact portion S1 formed by the surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 on the -Z direction side comes into contact with the wiring layer 15C of the sheet-like conductive member 15 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact 13 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15C. Also, the surfaces of the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18 on the +Z direction side come into contact with the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the inner contact 18 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15E.

[0046] On the other hand, on the -X side of the mating axis C, a second contact portion S2 formed by the -Z side surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 at a position different from the first contact portion S1 directly contacts a pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 with a predetermined contact pressure, electrically connecting the plug contact 13 to the inner contact 18.

[0047] Therefore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is directly electrically connected to the plug contact 13, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is electrically connected to the plug contact 13 via the inner contact 18. That is, both the wiring layers 15C and 15E are connected to the plug contact 13.

[0048] In this way, according to the connector 11, by using the inner contact 18, it is possible to electrically connect both the wiring layer 15C made of a conductor arranged on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the wiring layer 15E made of a conductor arranged on the back side to one plug contact 13. Therefore, if the connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member whose conductor is exposed only on the front side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member, and if the connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member whose conductor is exposed only on the back side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member.

[0049] Furthermore, by connecting the connector 11 to a sheet-like conductive member having conductors exposed on both the front and back sides, such as the sheet-like conductive member 15 in this embodiment 1, the plug contacts 13 can be electrically connected to both the conductors on the front and back sides of the sheet-like conductive member. For example, if a multi-layered sheet-like conductive member is used as the connection target, in which conductors constituting a shielding layer are exposed on both the front and back sides, and a conductor constituting a signal wiring layer is laminated between these shielding layers while being insulated from both shielding layers, a shielding effect for the signal wiring layer is exerted by connecting the plug contacts 13 connected to the shielding layers on the front and back sides to the ground potential, and it becomes possible to perform highly accurate signal transmission while suppressing the influence of disturbances due to electromagnetic waves, etc.

[0050] In the above-described first embodiment, the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is press-fitted into the concave portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13, thereby holding the plug contact 13 in the bottom insulator 17. As a result, the pair of first elastic portions 18E and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 are maintained in an elastically deformed state, and the contact pressure between the wiring layer 15C of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the flange 13B of the plug contact 13, the contact pressure between the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18, and the contact pressure between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18 are each guaranteed.

[0051] However, by fixing the top insulator 16 to the bottom insulator 17 using multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16, the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 can be pressed toward the bottom insulator 17 by the top insulator 16, thereby fixing the plug contact 13 to the bottom insulator 17.

[0052] However, as in embodiment 1, a configuration in which the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is pressed into the concave portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13 allows the plug contact 13 to be forcibly fixed to the bottom insulator 17 at locations closer to the contact portions between the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact 18, and the contact portions between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact 18, rather than fixation using multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16, thereby making it possible to improve the reliability of the electrical connection between the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the plug contact 13.

[0053] Furthermore, in the above embodiment 1, the inner contact 18 has a pair of first elastic portions 18E and a pair of second elastic portions 18F, but this is not limited to the above, and the inner contact 18 may have one first elastic portion 18E and one second elastic portion 18F, or may have three or more first elastic portions 18E and three or more second elastic portions 18F.

[0054] Embodiment 2 26 shows a connector assembly according to embodiment 2. In the connector assembly, a connector 21 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member 25 as a connection object. Connector 21 has a housing 22 instead of housing 12 in connector 11 of embodiment 1. An assembly diagram of the connector assembly is shown in Fig. 27. The connector 21 has a top insulator 16 and a bottom insulator 27, and the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 27 form a housing 22.

[0055] Four plug contacts 13 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the top insulator 16, a reinforcing sheet 14 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts 13, and a sheet-like conductive member 25 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the reinforcing sheet 14. Furthermore, four inner contacts 28 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and a bottom insulator 27 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four inner contacts 28. That is, the connector 21 of embodiment 2 is configured to be connected to the sheet-shaped conductive member 25 using a bottom insulator 27 and four inner contacts 28 instead of the bottom insulator 17 and four inner contacts 18 in the connector 11 of embodiment 1.

[0056] The top insulator 16, the plug contact 13 and the reinforcing sheet 14 are the same as those used in the first embodiment.

[0057] 28, the bottom insulator 27 has a flat plate portion 27A, and four concave inner contact accommodating portions 27B each opening toward the +Z direction are formed in the flat plate portion 27A. The four inner contact accommodating portions 27B correspond to the four plug contacts 13. Similar to the bottom insulator 17 in embodiment 1, each of the four inner contact accommodating portions 27B has four convex portions 17C protruding in the +Z direction from the center of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B, and the flat portion 27A has a plurality of through holes 17D formed therein corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16.

[0058] 29, the bottom surface of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27 forms a flat support surface 27E that extends along the XY plane and faces the +Z direction. A step portion 27G is formed at the -X direction end of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B, which is adjacent to the support surface 27E and is located on the +Z direction side from the support surface 27E by a height equivalent to the thickness of the sheet-like conductive member 25.

[0059] Like the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 in the first embodiment, the protrusion 17C protrudes from the support surface 27E in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C, and has a prismatic shape with a substantially hexagonal cross section as shown in Fig. 30. In addition, concave protrusion accommodating portions 17F are formed on the side surface facing the +Y direction and the side surface facing the -Y direction of the protrusion 17C, respectively.

[0060] As shown in Figures 31 to 33, the inner contact 28 consists of a bent conductive metal plate, and has a flat base 18A extending along the XY plane, and four arms 28B each connected to the outer periphery of the base 18A.

[0061] Two of the four arms 28B extend in the +Y and -Y directions, respectively, from the +X end of the base 18A, rise in the +Z direction, and are bent so as to return to the +X end of the base 18A. These two arms 28B form a pair of first elastic parts 28E that have a cantilever shape bent so as to protrude in the +Z direction from the base 18A on the +X side of the fitting axis C, and are elastically deformable in the Z direction.

[0062] Similarly, the remaining two of the four arms 28B extend in the +Y and -Y directions, respectively, from the -X direction end of the base 18A, rise in the +Z direction, and are bent so as to return to the -X direction end of the base 18A again. These two arms 28B form a pair of second elastic parts 28F that have a cantilever shape bent so as to protrude in the +Z direction from the base 18A at different rotational positions from the pair of first elastic parts 28E around the fitting axis C, specifically, on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C, and are elastically deformable in the Z direction.

[0063] The base 18A, like the base 18A of the inner contact 18 in embodiment 1, has a through hole 18C through which the mating axis C passes, and a pair of protrusions 18D protruding toward the mating axis C from the +Y direction edge and the -Y direction edge of the through hole 18C, respectively.

[0064] The sheet-shaped conductive member 25 has a similar configuration to the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 used in the first embodiment, except that the contact arrangement region and the shape of the openings are different. 34, four contact arrangement regions 25A for arranging four plug contacts 13 are defined on the surface facing the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 25. In each contact arrangement region 25A, an opening 25B penetrating the sheet-like conductive member 25 in the Z direction is formed, and the wiring layer 15C is exposed in the +Z direction so as to be adjacent to the +X direction side of the opening 25B. In the region other than the four contact arrangement regions 25A, the insulating layer 15D is exposed.

[0065] Since the openings 25B penetrate the sheet-like conductive member 25 in the Z direction, as shown in Figure 35, the openings 25B are visible on the back surface facing the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 25 at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement areas 25A. On the back surface facing the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 25, the wiring layer 15E is exposed toward the -Z direction adjacent to the +X direction side of the opening 25B formed at a position corresponding to the four contact arrangement areas 25A, and in other areas the insulating layer 15F is exposed. The sheet-shaped conductive member 25 has a peripheral portion formed with a plurality of through holes 15G corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16.

[0066] 36, the contact arrangement region 25A is composed of a semicircular portion located on the +X direction side and a rectangular portion adjacent to the semicircular portion on the -X direction side and having rounded corners, and the wiring layer 15C is exposed in the +Z direction in a region extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along the inside of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 25A. An opening 25B is formed in the contact arrangement region 12A in a region other than the portion where the wiring layer 15C is exposed.

[0067] Also, similar to the wiring layer 15C, on the back surface facing the -Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 25, the wiring layer 15E has a region that extends in a U-shape with a predetermined width along the inside of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement area 25A, exposed in the -Z direction. As shown in FIG. 37, the wiring layer 15C exposed toward the +Z direction and the wiring layer 15E exposed toward the -Z direction are stacked with an insulating layer 15H interposed therebetween.

[0068] The four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator 16, the four plug contacts 13, the four contact arrangement areas 25A of the sheet-like conductive member 25, the four inner contacts 28, and the four inner contact accommodating portions 27B of the bottom insulator 27 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction. In addition, the multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16, the multiple notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the multiple through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and the multiple through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 27 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0069] 38 and 39, when assembling the connector 21, the inner contact 28 is first aligned with the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27. At this time, the base 18A and four arms 28B of the inner contact 28 are located on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27, and the through hole 18C formed in the base 18A is located on the +Z direction side of the protrusion 17C protruding from the inner contact accommodating portion 27B.

[0070] Next, while inserting the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 28, the inner contact 28 is pushed in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 27. At this time, the inner contact 28 is pushed in with the pair of projections 18D protruding into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 28 inserted into the pair of projection accommodating portions 17F of the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27, and the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is press-fitted into the through hole 18C of the inner contact 28, as shown in Figures 40 and 41. As a result, the inner contact 28 is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B and fixed to the bottom insulator 27.

[0071] 42, the sheet-like conductive member 25 is aligned to the +Z direction side of the bottom insulator 27. At this time, the contact arrangement region 25A and the opening 25B of the sheet-like conductive member 25 are located on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27.

[0072] Since a step portion 27G is formed at the -X end of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27, the +X side portion of the inner contact 28 accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B is located on the support surface 27E of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B, but the -X side portion of the inner contact 28 is located on the step portion 27G. Therefore, the inner contact 28 is held in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0073] By relatively moving the sheet-shaped conductive member 25 in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 27, the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is inserted into the opening portion 25B of the sheet-shaped conductive member 25 as shown in FIG.

[0074] Here, the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 25 are exposed in the +Z and -Z directions, respectively, on the +X direction side of the opening 25B. Therefore, in the inner contact 28 held in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27, a pair of first elastic portions 28E arranged on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C are located on the -Z direction side of the exposed portion of the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and a pair of second elastic portions 28F arranged on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C are exposed in the +Z direction through the opening 25B of the sheet-like conductive member 25.

[0075] Furthermore, the corresponding plug contact 13 is aligned with the +Z direction side of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27. At this time, the recess 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13 is located on the +Z direction side of the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 27.

[0076] Next, the plug contact 13 is relatively pressed in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 27, and the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is press-fitted into the concave portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13 as shown in FIG.

[0077] As a result, on the +X side of the mating axis C, a pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28 are pushed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 via the sheet-like conductive member 25, thereby elastically deforming, and on the -X side of the mating axis C, a pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28 are pushed in the -Z direction directly by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13, thereby elastically deforming. That is, on the +X side of the mating axis C, the sheet-like conductive member 25 is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and a pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28, and on the -X side of the mating axis C, the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 contacts a pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28.

[0078] Furthermore, by pressing the bottom insulator 27 against the top insulator 16, the multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16 sequentially penetrate the multiple notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the multiple through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 25, and the multiple through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 27. Then, as shown in Fig. 45, by thermally deforming the tips of the multiple bosses 16C protruding toward the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator 27, the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 27 are fixed to each other, completing the assembly of the connector 21 connected to the sheet-like conductive member 25.

[0079] In the connector 21 assembled in this manner, as shown in FIG. 46, the sheet-like conductive member 25 is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and a pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28 on the +X direction side of the mating axis C. As a result, the first contact portion S1 formed by the surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 on the -Z direction side comes into contact with the wiring layer 15C of the sheet-like conductive member 25 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact 13 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15C. Also, the surfaces of the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28 on the +Z direction side come into contact with the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 25 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the inner contact 28 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15E.

[0080] On the other hand, on the -X side of the mating axis C, a second contact portion S2 formed by the -Z side surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 at a position different from the first contact portion S1 directly contacts a pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28 with a predetermined contact pressure, electrically connecting the plug contact 13 to the inner contact 28.

[0081] Therefore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member 25 is directly electrically connected to the plug contact 13, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 25 is electrically connected to the plug contact 13 via the inner contact 28. That is, both the wiring layers 15C and 15E are connected to the plug contact 13.

[0082] In this way, according to connector 21, by using inner contact 28, it is possible to electrically connect both wiring layer 15C made of a conductor arranged on the front side of sheet-like conductive member 25 and wiring layer 15E made of a conductor arranged on the back side to one plug contact 13, as in connector 11 of embodiment 1. Therefore, if the connector 21 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member whose conductor is exposed only on the front side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member, and if the connector 21 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member whose conductor is exposed only on the back side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member.

[0083] Furthermore, by connecting the connector 21 to a sheet-like conductive member having conductors exposed on both the front and back sides, such as the sheet-like conductive member 25 in this embodiment 2, the plug contacts 13 can be electrically connected to both the conductors on the front and back sides of the sheet-like conductive member. For example, if a multi-layered sheet-like conductive member is used as the connection target, in which conductors constituting a shielding layer are exposed on both the front and back sides, and a conductor constituting a signal wiring layer is laminated between these shielding layers while being insulated from both shielding layers, a shielding effect for the signal wiring layer is exhibited by connecting the plug contacts 13 connected to the shielding layers on the front and back sides to the ground potential, and it becomes possible to perform highly accurate signal transmission while suppressing the influence of disturbances due to electromagnetic waves, etc.

[0084] In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the plug contact 13 is held in the bottom insulator 27 by pressing the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 into the concave portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13. However, the plug contact 13 can also be held in the bottom insulator 27 by fixing the top insulator 16 to the bottom insulator 27 using multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16.

[0085] However, if the convex portion 17C of the bottom insulator 27 is pressed into the concave portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13, the plug contact 13 can be forcibly fixed to the bottom insulator 27 at locations close to the contact portions between the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 25 and the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact 28, as well as the contact portion between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact 28, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the sheet-like conductive member 25 and the plug contact 13.

[0086] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment 2, the inner contact 28 has a pair of first elastic portions 28E and a pair of second elastic portions 28F, but this is not limited to the above, and the inner contact 28 may have one first elastic portion 28E and one second elastic portion 28F, or may have three or more first elastic portions 28E and three or more second elastic portions 28F.

[0087] In the above-mentioned second embodiment, the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator 27 has the support surface 27E extending along the XY plane and the step portion 27G adjacent to the support surface 27E, so that the inner contact 28 is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane, but this is not limited thereto. As in the first embodiment, the inner contact accommodating portion 27B has a support surface inclined with respect to the XY plane, and the inner contact 28 is disposed on the support surface, so that the inner contact 28 can be accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane.

[0088] Conversely, in embodiment 1, the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 may be configured to have a support surface extending along the XY plane and a step portion adjacent to the support surface, so that the inner contact 18 is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B in a state inclined with respect to the XY plane. However, the base 18A of the inner contact 18 must have sufficient rigidity not to deform when pressed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 while spanning the support surface extending along the XY plane and the step portion.

[0089] In the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the plug contacts 13 arranged in the contact arrangement areas 15A, 25A of the sheet-like conductive members 15, 25 are connected to both the wiring layer 15C exposed on the front side of the sheet-like conductive members 15, 25 and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet-like conductive members 15, 25. However, for example, only the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet-like conductive members 15, 25 can be connected to the plug contacts 13 arranged in the contact arrangement areas 15A, 25A.

[0090] Although the sheet-shaped conductive members 15, 25 used in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments have a multi-layer structure, the present invention is not limited to this and may be any member having a conductor exposed on at least one surface. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, two layers of conductors consisting of wiring layer 15C and wiring layer 15E of sheet-shaped conductive member 15, 25 are connected to one plug contact 13, but this is not limited to this, and three or more layers of conductors can also be connected to one plug contact 13.

[0091] Furthermore, although the connectors 11, 21 in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 have four plug contacts 13, the number of plug contacts 13 is not limited, and it is sufficient to have at least one plug contact 13 that is electrically connected to a conductor exposed on at least one surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15, 25. In the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the reinforcing sheet 14 is disposed between the bottom insulator 17, 27 and the top insulator 16, but when there is no need to reinforce the mounting object, such as clothing, to which the connectors 11, 21 are attached, the reinforcing sheet 14 can be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 flexible substrate, 1A conductor, 2 housing, 2A contact through hole, 2B post receiving portion, 3 base member, 3A projection, 3B housing fixing post, 4 contact, 4A cylindrical portion, 4B flange, 4C projection receiving portion, 11, 21 connector, 12, 22 housing, 13 plug contact, 13A cylindrical portion, 13B flange, 13C recess, 14 reinforcing sheet, 14A opening, 14B notch, 15, 25 sheet-like conductive member, 15A, 25A contact arrangement area, 15B, 25B opening, 15C, 15E wiring layer, 15D, 15F, 15H insulating layer, 15G through hole, 16 top insulator, 16A recess, 16B contact through hole, 16C boss, 17, 27 bottom insulator, 17A, 27A Flat plate portion, 17B, 27B inner contact accommodating portion, 17C convex portion, 17D through hole, 17E, 27E support surface, 17F protrusion accommodating portion, 18, 28 inner contact, 18A base portion, 18B annular portion, 18C through hole, 18D protrusion, 18E, 28E first elastic portion, 18F, 28F second elastic portion, 27G step portion, 28B arm portion, C mating shaft.

Claims

1. a conductive plug contact having a cylindrical portion extending along a mating axis and a flange extending from an end of the cylindrical portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating axis; a bottom insulator having a support surface extending in the orthogonal direction or in a direction inclined relative to the orthogonal direction; a conductive inner contact disposed on the support surface; Equipped with the inner contact has a flat base portion disposed on the support surface, and a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion each connected to the base, facing a rear surface of the flange, and elastically deformable in a direction along the fitting axis; A portion of a sheet-like connection object having a conductor exposed on at least one surface is sandwiched between a first contact portion on the back surface of the flange of the plug contact and the first elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the mating axis, the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the surface of the connection object, the first elastic portion contacts the back surface of the connection object, and a second contact portion at a position different from the first contact portion on the back surface of the flange contacts the second elastic portion, so that when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected directly to the conductor, and when the conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

2. The inner contact is made of a bent metal plate, The connector as described in claim 1, wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion each have a doubly supported beam shape that is curved so as to protrude in a direction along the mating axis from the support surface further than the base at different positions around the mating axis.

3. The inner contact is made of a bent metal plate, The connector as described in claim 1, wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion each have a cantilever shape bent at different positions around the mating axis so as to protrude from the support surface in a direction along the mating axis further than the base.

4. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion are disposed at positions opposing each other with the fitting shaft therebetween.

5. The connector according to claim 4 , wherein the base portion of the inner contact is disposed obliquely with respect to the orthogonal direction such that the second elastic portion is closer to the rear surface of the flange than the first elastic portion.

6. The support surface extends in a direction inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction, The connector according to claim 5 , wherein the inner contact is disposed so that the entire base portion is in contact with the support surface.

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

8. The plug contact has a recess formed inside the cylindrical portion, the bottom insulator has a protrusion that protrudes from the support surface along the fitting axis and is inserted into the recess of the plug contact, 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug contact is fixed to the bottom insulator by press-fitting the protrusion into the recess.

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

10. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner contact has a plurality of the first elastic portions and a plurality of the second elastic portions each connected to the base.

11. a top insulator having a contact through hole formed therein and smaller than the flange, the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passing therethrough; A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cylindrical portion of the plug contact is passed through the contact through hole and the top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator so as to sandwich the flange of the plug contact, the connection object, and the inner contact between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

12. The connection object; The connector according to claim 1 connected to the connection object. Equipped with the connection object has a connection portion formed at a position corresponding to the first elastic portion of the inner contact, and an opening portion formed at a position corresponding to the second elastic portion of the inner contact, the connection portion of the connection object is sandwiched between the first contact portion on the rear surface of the flange and the first elastic portion of the inner contact as a part of the connection object, A connector assembly in which the second contact portion on the rear surface of the flange contacts the second elastic portion of the inner contact through the opening.

Images