Electric connector

Abstract

To provide an electric connector that enables the proper and easy insertion and connection of a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side, while preventing the structure from becoming large and complicated.SOLUTION: An electric connector 1 includes a fixed housing 11, a movable housing 12, and a plurality of terminals 13. The movable housing 12 includes a guide portion 31 having an opening 33 for receiving a plurality of mating connection members 101a, and a plurality of insertion holes 34 arranged inside the guide portion 31 and into which the mating connection members 101a are inserted. The inner wall of the guide portion 31 includes a first inclined surface 35 tapering toward the height direction and toward the outside in the width direction at both ends in the width direction. A second inclined surface 36 tapering toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 is provided between adjacent insertion holes 34 in the width direction. The first inclined surface 35 is larger in the width direction and the height direction than the second inclined surface 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector comprising a fixed housing that is installed on a substrate, a movable housing that is attached so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals that support the movable housing so that it can be displaced relative to the fixed housing, into which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connecting members arranged in a line are inserted for connection. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when connecting a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side to a board, an electrical connector is used that is installed on the board and into which the plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members are inserted to connect. Such an electrical connector includes a fixed housing that is installed on the board, a movable housing that is attached so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals that support the movable housing displaceably relative to the fixed housing and are electrically connected to the mating connection members. In such an electrical connector, since the movable housing is supported so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, it is possible to absorb positional deviation between the board and the mating connection member. For example, even if vibration occurs on the board side when the mating connection member is connected to the board via an electrical connector, the vibration generated on the board can be absorbed by the terminal between the board and the mating connection member, and the transmission of the vibration to the mating connection member can be suppressed. For example, the electrical connectors disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known as such electrical connectors.

[0003] The electrical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to include a fixed housing 4 installed on a substrate P, a movable housing 5 attached so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing 4, and a plurality of terminals 3 that support the movable housing 5 relative to the fixed housing 4 and are each electrically connected to a plurality of pin terminals T, which are pin-shaped mating connecting members.

[0004] The electrical connector disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured to include a fixed housing 31 installed on a substrate 24b, a movable housing 32 attached so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 31, and a plurality of connector terminals 33 that support the movable housing 32 relative to the fixed housing 31 and are electrically connected to a plurality of pin terminals 12, which are pin-shaped mating connecting members. The plurality of pin terminals 12 arranged side by side are held in an external connection case 11. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-160698 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-207747 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When multiple pin terminals T arranged side by side are connected to the electrical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the multiple pin terminals T are inserted into multiple insertion openings 26 provided in the movable housing 5. When the multiple pin terminals T are inserted into the multiple insertion openings 26 in the movable housing 5, each pin terminal T is electrically connected to each terminal 3 arranged inside the insertion opening 26. However, when the multiple pin terminals T arranged side by side are inserted into the movable housing 5 at positions shifted from the multiple insertion openings 26 in the movable housing 5, it becomes difficult to properly insert the pin terminals T into the insertion openings 26 of the movable housing 5. In this case, the pin terminals T come into contact with the partition wall 24 between the adjacent insertion openings 26 in the movable housing 5 and the side walls 22, 22 on both sides of the multiple insertion openings 26 in the movable housing 5, which causes a problem that it becomes difficult to properly insert the multiple pin terminals T into the multiple insertion openings 26.

[0007] When a plurality of pin terminals 12 arranged side by side are connected to the electric connector disclosed in Patent Document 2, the plurality of pin terminals 12 are inserted into a plurality of insertion openings 39 provided in the movable housing 32. When the plurality of pin terminals 12 are inserted into the plurality of insertion openings 39 in the movable housing 32, each pin terminal 12 is electrically connected to each connector terminal 33 arranged inside the insertion opening 39. In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, a guide mechanism is provided for guiding the insertion direction of the plurality of pin terminals 12 into the movable housing 32 when the plurality of pin terminals 12 arranged side by side are inserted into the movable housing 32 at positions shifted from the plurality of insertion openings 39 in the movable housing 32. The guide mechanism is provided in the movable housing 32 of the electric connector and the external connection case 11 that holds the plurality of pin terminals 12 arranged side by side. The external connection case 11 is provided with guide protrusions 15 that protrude largely toward the insertion direction into the movable housing 32 on both sides of the plurality of pin terminals 12 as a guide mechanism. The movable housing 32 is provided with a structure that protrudes significantly on both sides of the multiple insertion openings 39 and has surfaces that guide the guide protrusions 15. For this reason, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that the electric connector and the counterpart structure connected to the electric connector become large and complicated.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned situation, the present invention aims to provide an electrical connector that allows the operation of inserting and connecting multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in a row to be performed properly and easily, while preventing the structure from becoming too large and complicated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] (1) In order to achieve the above object, an electrical connector according to one aspect of the present invention relates to an electrical connector into which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side are inserted and connected. The electrical connector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a fixed housing that is installed on a board, a movable housing that is attached to the fixed housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals that support the movable housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing and are electrically connected to the plurality of mating connection members, respectively, the movable housing having a guide portion that is provided with openings through which the plurality of mating connection members are inserted and that guides the plurality of mating connection members inserted into the openings to be received inside the movable housing, and a plurality of the mating connection members that are arranged side by side inside the guide portion and are guided by the guide portion. a plurality of insertion holes into which mating connection members are respectively inserted, and an inner wall of the guide portion is provided with a first inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction at both ends in a width direction in which the plurality of insertion holes are aligned, the first inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the height direction in the opposite direction to an insertion direction in which the plurality of mating connection members are inserted into the guide portion and toward the outside in the width direction to the opening, and a second inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction is provided between adjacent insertion holes in the width direction so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the insertion direction and toward the entrance of the insertion hole into which the mating connection members are inserted, The present invention is characterized in that the dimension of the first inclined surface in the width direction is larger than the dimension of the second inclined surface in the width direction, and the dimension of the first inclined surface in the height direction is larger than the dimension of the second inclined surface in the height direction.

[0010] According to this configuration, when the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side are connected to the electrical connector, the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the openings of the guide section of the movable housing. When the multiple mating connection members inserted into the openings of the guide section of the movable housing are inserted into the openings without any misalignment in their insertion positions, they are inserted into the multiple insertion holes inside the guide section. Then, the multiple mating connection members inserted into the multiple insertion holes are electrically connected to the multiple terminals, respectively. On the other hand, when the multiple mating connection members inserted into the openings of the guide section of the movable housing are inserted into the openings with their insertion positions misaligned in the width direction, a tip of one of the multiple mating connection members on both ends in the width direction abuts against a first inclined surface on one of both ends in the width direction of the inner wall of the guide section. The first inclined surfaces, which are inclined toward the height direction and toward the outside in the width direction at both ends of the inner wall of the guide, are set to have a larger height dimension and a larger width dimension than the second inclined surfaces, which are inclined toward the entrances of the insertion holes between adjacent insertion holes. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members arranged side by side are inserted into the opening of the guide while being shifted in the width direction, the tip end of one of the multiple mating connection members at both ends in the width direction abuts against the first inclined surface at one of the both ends in the width direction of the inner wall of the guide before the tip end of the multiple mating connection members abuts against the second inclined surface leading to the multiple insertion holes. Then, the mating connection member at one of both ends in the width direction is inserted into the inside of the opening while sliding along the first inclined surface. As a result, the multiple mating connection members arranged side by side move together with the mating connection members on one of both ends in the width direction inserted into the opening while sliding along the first inclined surface, and are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion while being guided by the first inclined surface. After the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface, they are then inserted into the multiple insertion holes, respectively.Therefore, even if the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the movable housing with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction, the multiple mating connection members are inserted inside the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface, and are appropriately inserted into the multiple insertion holes. Therefore, the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side into the electric connector and connecting them can be performed appropriately and easily. In addition, according to the above configuration, the movable housing has a simple structure in which the first inclined surface is provided on both ends in the width direction of the guiding portion having the opening, and the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side into the electric connector and connecting them can be performed appropriately and easily. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electric connector and the mating structure connected to the electric connector from becoming large and complicated.

[0011] As described above, with the above configuration, an electrical connector can be provided that enables the operation of inserting and connecting multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in a row to be performed properly and easily, while preventing the structure from becoming too large and complicated.

[0012] (2) The smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the first inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction may be larger than the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the second inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction.

[0013] When the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the first inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction is the same as the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the second inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction, the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface, and when they reach the same height position as the second inclined surface, they are then guided along the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface and inserted into the multiple insertion holes, respectively. In contrast, according to the above configuration, the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the first inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction is set to be larger than the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the second inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction. As a result, even if the multiple mating connection members are inserted inside the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface and reach the same height position as the second inclined surface, they continue to be guided along the first inclined surface without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes. In this way, the multiple mating connection members inserted into the opening of the movable housing are guided along the first inclined surface and inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface. This makes it even easier to properly insert and connect the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side.

[0014] (3) The inner wall of the guide section is provided with a third inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction at both ends in the front-to-rear direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the width direction and the height direction, so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the height direction and outward in the front-to-rear direction to the opening, and the dimension of the third inclined surface in the height direction may be greater than the dimension of the second inclined surface in the height direction.

[0015] According to this configuration, when the multiple mating connection members inserted into the opening of the guide section of the movable housing are inserted into the opening with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction, the tip ends of the multiple mating connection members abut against the third inclined surface on one of both ends in the front-rear direction of the inner wall of the guide section. The third inclined surface provided on both ends in the front-rear direction of the inner wall of the guide section, inclined toward the height direction and toward the outside in the front-rear direction, has a larger height dimension than the second inclined surface inclined toward the entrance of the insertion hole between adjacent insertion holes. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members arranged side by side are inserted into the opening of the guide section with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction, the tip ends of the multiple mating connection members abut against the third inclined surface on one of both ends in the front-rear direction of the inner wall of the guide section before they reach the same height position as the second inclined surface leading to each of the multiple insertion holes. The multiple mating connection members arranged side by side are inserted into the inside of the opening while sliding along the third inclined surface, and are inserted into the inside of the guide portion while being guided by the third inclined surface. When the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guide portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface, they are then inserted into the multiple insertion holes. Therefore, even if the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the movable housing with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction, the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guide portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface, and are appropriately inserted into the multiple insertion holes. Therefore, the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side into the electrical connector and connecting them can be appropriately and easily performed.

[0016] (4) In order to achieve the above object, an electrical connector according to one aspect of the present invention relates to an electrical connector into which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows are inserted for connection. The electrical connector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a fixed housing that is installed on a board, a movable housing that is attached to the fixed housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals that support the movable housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing and are electrically connected to the plurality of mating connection members, respectively, the movable housing is provided with a guide portion that is provided with openings into which the plurality of mating connection members are inserted and that guides the plurality of mating connection members inserted into the openings to be received inside the movable housing, and a plurality of insertion holes that are provided in two rows inside the guide portion and into which the plurality of mating connection members guided by the guide portion are respectively inserted, and an inner wall of the guide portion is provided with a plurality of insertion holes arranged in a direction in which the plurality of insertion holes are arranged in two rows. At both ends in a certain width direction, a first inclined surface is provided which is inclined with respect to the height direction so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the opening, toward the height direction which is the opposite direction to the insertion direction in which the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the guide portion, and toward the outside in the width direction, and a second inclined surface is provided between adjacent insertion holes in the width direction so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the insertion direction and toward the entrance of the insertion hole into which the mating connection members are inserted, and the dimension of the first inclined surface in the width direction is larger than the dimension of the second inclined surface in the width direction, and the dimension of the first inclined surface in the height direction is larger than the dimension of the second inclined surface in the height direction.

[0017] According to this configuration, when the pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows are connected to the electrical connector, the mating connection members are inserted into the openings of the guide section of the movable housing. When the mating connection members inserted into the openings of the guide section of the movable housing are inserted into the openings without any misalignment of the insertion positions, they are inserted into the insertion holes inside the guide section, respectively. Then, the mating connection members inserted into the insertion holes, respectively, are electrically connected to the terminals, respectively. On the other hand, when the mating connection members inserted into the openings of the guide section of the movable housing are inserted into the openings with the insertion positions misaligned in the width direction, the tip of the mating connection member on one of both ends in the width direction of the mating connection members arranged in two rows abuts against a first inclined surface on one of both ends in the width direction of the inner wall of the guide section. The first inclined surfaces, which are inclined toward the height direction and toward the outside in the width direction at both ends of the inner wall of the guide section in the width direction, are set to have a larger height dimension and a larger width dimension than the second inclined surfaces, which are inclined toward the entrances of the insertion holes between adjacent insertion holes in the width direction. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening of the guide section while being shifted in the width direction, the tip end of one of the multiple mating connection members at both ends in the width direction abuts against the first inclined surface at one of the both ends in the width direction of the inner wall of the guide section before the tip end of the multiple mating connection members abuts against the second inclined surface leading to the multiple insertion holes. Then, the mating connection member at one of both ends in the width direction is inserted into the inside of the opening while sliding along the first inclined surface. As a result, the multiple mating connection members arranged in two rows move together with the mating connection members on one of both ends in the width direction inserted into the opening while sliding along the first inclined surface, and are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion while being guided by the first inclined surface. After the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface, they are then inserted into the multiple insertion holes, respectively.Therefore, even if the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the movable housing with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction, the multiple mating connection members are inserted inside the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface, and are appropriately inserted into the multiple insertion holes. Therefore, the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows into the electric connector and connecting them can be performed appropriately and easily. In addition, according to the above configuration, the movable housing has a simple structure in which the first inclined surface is provided on both ends in the width direction of the guiding portion having the opening, and the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows into the electric connector and connecting them can be performed appropriately and easily. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electric connector and the mating structure connected to the electric connector from becoming large and complicated.

[0018] As described above, with the above configuration, an electrical connector can be provided that enables the operation of inserting and connecting a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows to be performed appropriately and easily, while preventing the structure from becoming large and complicated.

[0019] (5) The smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the first inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction may be larger than the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the second inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction.

[0020] When the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the first inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction is the same as the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the second inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction, the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface, and when they reach the same height position as the second inclined surface, they are then guided along the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface and inserted into the multiple insertion holes, respectively. In contrast, according to the above configuration, the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the first inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction is set to be larger than the smaller of the angles formed by the inclination direction of the second inclined surface with respect to the height direction and the width direction. As a result, even if the multiple mating connection members are inserted inside the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface and reach the same height position as the second inclined surface, they continue to be guided along the first inclined surface without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes. In this way, the multiple mating connection members inserted into the opening of the movable housing are guided along the first inclined surface and inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface. This makes it even easier to properly insert and connect the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows.

[0021] (6) The inner wall of the guide portion is provided with a third inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction at both ends in the front-to-rear direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the width direction and the height direction, so as to extend tapered toward the opening toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction, and a fourth inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction is provided between adjacent insertion holes in the front-to-rear direction, so as to extend tapered toward the insertion direction toward the entrance of the insertion port, and the dimension of the third inclined surface in the front-to-rear direction may be greater than the dimension of the fourth inclined surface in the front-to-rear direction, and the dimension of the third inclined surface in the height direction may be greater than the dimension of the fourth inclined surface in the height direction.

[0022] According to this configuration, when the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening of the guide section of the movable housing with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction, the tip ends of the mating connection members arranged in one row in the front-rear direction among the multiple mating connection members arranged in two rows abut against the third inclined surface on one of both ends in the front-rear direction of the inner wall of the guide section. Note that the third inclined surface provided at both ends in the front-rear direction of the inner wall of the guide section, inclined toward the height direction and toward the outside in the front-rear direction, has a larger dimension in the height direction and a larger dimension in the front-rear direction than the fourth inclined surface inclined toward the entrance of the insertion hole between adjacent insertion holes in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening of the guide section in a state of being shifted in the front-rear direction, the leading ends of the multiple mating connection members arranged in one row in the front-rear direction abut against the third inclined surface on one of the two ends in the front-rear direction of the inner wall of the guide section before the leading ends of the multiple mating connection members abut against the fourth inclined surface leading to each of the multiple insertion holes. Then, the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the opening while sliding along the third inclined surface. As a result, the multiple mating connection members arranged in two rows move together with the mating connection members arranged in one row in the front-rear direction that are inserted into the opening while sliding along the third inclined surface, and are inserted into the inside of the guide section while being guided by the third inclined surface. When the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guide section while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface, they are then inserted into the multiple insertion holes, respectively. Therefore, even if the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the movable housing with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction, the multiple mating connection members are inserted inside the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface, and are properly inserted into the multiple insertion holes. This makes it possible to properly and easily insert the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows into the electrical connector and connect them.

[0023] (7) The smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the third inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the front-to-rear direction may be larger than the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the fourth inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the front-to-rear direction.

[0024] When the smaller of the angles formed by the direction in which the third inclined surface is inclined with respect to the height direction and the front-rear direction is the same as the smaller of the angles formed by the direction in which the fourth inclined surface is inclined with respect to the height direction and the front-rear direction, the multiple mating connection members are inserted into the inside of the guiding part while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface, and when they reach the same height position as the fourth inclined surface, they are then guided along the third inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface and inserted into the multiple insertion holes, respectively. In contrast, according to the above configuration, the smaller of the angles formed by the direction in which the third inclined surface is inclined with respect to the height direction and the front-rear direction is set to be larger than the smaller of the angles formed by the direction in which the fourth inclined surface is inclined with respect to the height direction and the front-rear direction. As a result, even if the multiple mating connection members are inserted inside the guiding portion while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface and reach the same height position as the fourth inclined surface, they continue to be guided along the third inclined surface without almost coming into sliding contact with the fourth inclined surface and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes. In this way, the multiple mating connection members inserted into the opening of the movable housing are guided along the third inclined surface without almost coming into sliding contact with the fourth inclined surface and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes. This makes it even smoother and easier to properly insert and connect the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the present invention, an electrical connector can be provided that allows the operation of inserting and connecting multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in a row to be performed appropriately and easily, while preventing the structure from becoming too large and complicated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, together with a board and a mating connector. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical connector, showing a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the electrical connector; [Diagram 5] 5(A) is a side view of the electrical connector, and FIG. 5(B) is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line AA of FIG. 5(A). [Figure 6] 6(A) is a front view of the electrical connector, and FIG. 6(B) is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line BB in FIG. 6(A). [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an electrical connector and a mating connector are connected, taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the electrical connector; FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electrical connector and the mating connector are connected, taken along a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the electrical connector. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fixed housing of the electrical connector. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a movable housing of the electrical connector. [Figure 11] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5(B). [Figure 12] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6(B). [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a terminal of an electrical connector. [Figure 14] 1 is a side view showing a state immediately before a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members of a mating connector are inserted into the electrical connector, in which the fixed housing of the electrical connector is omitted. FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which multiple pin-shaped mating connection members of the mating connector are being inserted into the electrical connector, taken at a position corresponding to the CC arrow position in FIG. 14. [Figure 17] 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which multiple pin-shaped mating connection members of the mating connector are being inserted into the electrical connector, taken at a position corresponding to the CC arrow position in FIG. 14. [Figure 18] 1 is a front view showing a state immediately before a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members of a mating connector are inserted into the electrical connector, in which the fixed housing of the electrical connector is omitted. FIG. [Figure 19] 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 18. [Figure 20] 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which multiple pin-shaped mating connection members of the mating connector are in the middle of being inserted into the electrical connector, taken at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow DD in FIG. 18. [Figure 21] 11 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, together with a board and a mating connector. FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector. [Diagram 23] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical connector, showing a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the electrical connector; [Figure 24] FIG. 24(A) is a front view of the electrical connector, and FIG. 24(B) is a side view of the electrical connector. [Diagram 25] 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 24(A). [Figure 26] 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 24(B). [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 26. [Figure 28] FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 25. [Figure 29]1 is a side view showing a state immediately before a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members of a mating connector are inserted into the electrical connector, in which the fixed housing of the electrical connector is omitted. FIG. [Diagram 30] 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG. 29. [Diagram 31] 30 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which multiple pin-shaped mating connection members of the mating connector are in the middle of being inserted into the electrical connector, taken at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow GG in FIG. 29. [Diagram 32] 30 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which multiple pin-shaped mating connection members of the mating connector are in the middle of being inserted into the electrical connector, taken at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow GG in FIG. 29. [Diagram 33] 1 is a front view showing a state immediately before a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members of a mating connector are inserted into the electrical connector, in which the fixed housing of the electrical connector is omitted. FIG. [Diagram 34] 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH in FIG. 33. [Diagram 35] 34 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which multiple pin-shaped mating connection members of the mating connector are in the middle of being inserted into the electrical connector, taken at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow HH in FIG. 33. [Diagram 36] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector according to a modified example together with a board. [Figure 37] FIG. [Figure 38] 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 37. [Figure 39] 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line JJ in FIG. 37. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The present invention is applicable to a wide variety of applications as an electrical connector that includes a fixed housing that is installed on a substrate, a movable housing that is attached to the fixed housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals that support the movable housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and into which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connecting members arranged side by side are inserted for connection.

[0028] (First embodiment) [Outline of electrical connector configuration] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with a board 100 and a mating connector 101. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the electrical connector 1 is installed on the board 100 and electrically connected to the board 100, and also shows a state in which the mating connector 101 is not connected to the electrical connector 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electrical connector 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the electrical connector 1, including a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the electrical connector 1. FIG. 5(A) is a side view of the electrical connector 1, and FIG. 5(B) is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector 1 taken along the line AA in FIG. 5(A). FIG. 6(A) is a front view of the electrical connector 1, and FIG. 6(B) is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector 1 taken along the line BB in FIG. 6(A). FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are connected, taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the electrical connector 1. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are connected, taken along a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the electrical connector 1. Note that Figs. 7 and 8 show cross-sectional views of the electrical connector 1, and only a portion of the mating connector 101 is shown in cross-sectional view.

[0029] 1 to 8 is configured as an electrical connector that is electrically connected to a mating connector 101 having a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side. The electrical connector 1 is configured as an electrical connector into which the plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side in the mating connector 101 are inserted and connected.

[0030] 1 to 8, the electrical connector 1 includes a fixed housing 11, a movable housing 12, a plurality of terminals 13, a movement restricting member 14, and a pair of fixing metal fittings 15. The fixed housing 11 and the movable housing 12 are made of an insulating resin material. The plurality of terminals 13 are made of a conductive metal material. The movement restricting member 14 and the pair of fixing metal fittings 15 are made of a metal material. The fixed housing 11 is configured to be installed on a board 100. The movable housing 12 is configured to be attached to the fixed housing 11 so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 11. The plurality of terminals 13 are configured to support the movable housing 12 so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 11 and to be electrically connected to the plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a, respectively. The movable housing 12 is inserted and attached to the fixed housing 11 in a loosely fitted state. Then, the movement restricting member 14 is attached to the fixed housing 11 in a state in which the movable housing 12 is inserted and attached to the fixed housing 11 in a loosely fitted state. The movement restricting member 14 is provided so as to be able to come into contact with the movable housing 12 which is inserted and attached in a loosely fitted state into the fixed housing 11. By coming into contact with the movable housing 12, the movement restricting member 14 restricts the amount of displacement of the movable housing 12 relative to the fixed housing 11 and prevents the movable housing 12 from falling off from the fixed housing 11.

[0031] The electrical connector 1 is mechanically and electrically connected to the board 100 by being installed and mounted on the board 100. When the electrical connector 1 is connected to the board 100, each of the multiple terminals 13 of the electrical connector 1 is soldered to the board 100, and a pair of fixing brackets 15 of the electrical connector 1 is also soldered to the board 100. The electrical connector 1 is mechanically and electrically connected to a mating connector 101 in a state where it is installed on the board 100. When the electrical connector 1 is connected to the mating connector 101 in a state where it is installed on the board 100, the board 100 and the mating connector 101 are electrically connected via the electrical connector 1.

[0032] In Fig. 1, the board 100 on which the electrical connector 1 is mounted is shown in a schematic cutaway state, with only a portion of the board 100 being shown, showing only the portion on which the electrical connector 1 is mounted and the portion adjacent thereto. The board 100 on which the electrical connector 1 is mounted is configured as a board having a conductive circuit pattern provided on its surface. In Fig. 1, the conductive circuit pattern on the board 100 is not shown. The board 100 is used, for example, as a board provided in an in-vehicle device (not shown).

[0033] The mating connector 101 connected to the electrical connector 1 has a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in a row, and a mating housing 101b that holds the plurality of mating connection members 101a. Note that in FIG. 1, the mating housing 101b is shown with only a portion thereof cut away. The plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a are arranged in a row at equal intervals and held by the mating housing 101b. The mating connector 101 is connected to, for example, a power supply unit (not shown) that supplies power to an in-vehicle device on which the board 100 is provided.

[0034] The plurality of mating connection members 101a in the mating connector 101 are formed in a pin shape using a metal material having electrical conductivity, and in this embodiment, are provided as male pin terminals. When the mating connector 101 is connected to the electrical connector 1, the plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in a row in the mating connector 101 are inserted into the movable housing 12 in the electrical connector 1. The plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a inserted into the movable housing 12 contact the plurality of terminals 13 in the electrical connector 1 on the inside of the movable housing 12. The plurality of mating connection members 101a and the plurality of terminals 13 come into contact with each other on the inside of the movable housing 12, so that the plurality of mating connection members 101a and the plurality of terminals 13 are electrically connected to each other. In this way, the electrical connector 1 is configured so that the plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in a row are inserted and connected.

[0035] The electrical connector 1 will be described in more detail below. In the following description, the insertion direction X1, height direction X2, width direction X3, and front-rear direction X4 in the electrical connector 1 are defined as shown by arrows X1, X2, double-ended arrows X3, and double-ended arrows X4 in Figs. 1 to 8 and the drawings described later. The insertion direction X1 is configured as a direction in which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a are inserted into and connected to the movable housing 12 in the electrical connector 1. The plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a are inserted into guide portions 31 of the movable housing 12, which will be described later, in the movable housing 12. The insertion direction X1 is also configured as a direction in which the movable housing 12 is inserted into and attached to the fixed housing 11. The height direction X2 is configured as a direction opposite to the insertion direction X1. That is, the height direction X2 is a direction parallel to and opposite to the insertion direction X1, and is configured as a direction opposite to the direction in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12. The width direction X3 is configured as a direction in which a plurality of insertion holes 34, which are provided side by side inside a guide portion 31, described later, in the movable housing 12 and into which a plurality of mating connection members 101a are respectively inserted, are arranged. The width direction X3, which is the direction in which the plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged inside the guide portion 31 of the movable housing 12, is also configured as a pitch direction in which a plurality of terminals 13 are arranged in a row in the fixed housing 11. The front-rear direction X4 is configured as a direction perpendicular to both the height direction X2 and the width direction X3. In other words, the front-rear direction X4 is configured as a direction perpendicular to the height direction X2 and the insertion direction X1, as well as perpendicular to the width direction X3.

[0036] [Fixed housing] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the fixed housing 11 of the electrical connector 1. The fixed housing 11 shown in Figs. 1 to 9 is configured so that the movable housing 12 is inserted and attached, and so that the fixed housing 11 holds a plurality of terminals 13. Furthermore, the fixed housing 11 is configured so that it is installed on a board 100 via the plurality of terminals 13 and a pair of fixing metal fittings 15.

[0037] The fixed housing 11 has a terminal retaining wall 21 that retains a plurality of terminals 13, a rear wall 22 that faces the terminal retaining wall 21 in the front-rear direction X4, and a pair of side walls 23 and 24 that extend perpendicular to the terminal retaining wall 21 and the rear wall 22. The terminal retaining wall 21, the side wall 23, the rear wall 22, and the side wall 24 are arranged so as to form a rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction X1, and are integrally provided so as to constitute four outer peripheral surfaces of the fixed housing 11. For this reason, the fixed housing 11 has a basic outer shape that is approximately rectangular parallelepiped.

[0038] The terminal holding wall 21 is provided as a wall portion on one end side in the front-rear direction X4 of the fixed housing 11, and is configured to hold the multiple terminals 13. The terminal holding wall 21 is provided with multiple terminal fixing portions 25 into which fixing portions 39 (described later) of the multiple terminals 13 are press-fitted and fixed. The multiple terminal fixing portions 25 are provided on the terminal holding wall 21 at the end side in the insertion direction X1, and are arranged side by side along the width direction X3. Each of the multiple terminal fixing portions 25 has a pair of press-fit grooves into which the fixing portions 39 (described later) of the multiple terminals 13 are press-fitted. The fixing portions 39 of the terminals 13 are press-fitted into the pair of press-fit grooves of the terminal fixing portion 25, so that the terminals 13 are held in a fixed state to the terminal holding wall 21.

[0039] Further, the terminal holding wall 21 is provided with a plurality of slits 26. The plurality of slits 26 are arranged in the terminal holding wall 21 along the width direction X3, and are provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of terminal fixing portions 25 in a direction parallel to the insertion direction X1. The plurality of slits 26 each penetrate the terminal holding wall 21 in a direction parallel to the front-rear direction X4, and are provided so as to extend along a direction parallel to the insertion direction X1. In each of the plurality of slits 26, a part of a movable spring portion 41 (to be described later) of each of the plurality of terminals 13 held by the terminal holding wall 21 is disposed.

[0040] 3 to 5, 6(B), and 7 to 9, the fixed housing 11 is provided with a plurality of partition walls 27 extending from the terminal holding wall 21 toward the inside of the fixed housing 11. The partition walls 27 are arranged side by side along the width direction X3 inside the fixed housing 11. The partition walls 27 are arranged side by side along the width direction X3 inside the fixed housing 11. The partition walls 27 are arranged side by side along the width direction X4 inside the fixed housing 11. The partition walls 27 are arranged as inner walls that partition the plurality of terminals 13 arranged side by side along the width direction X3 inside the fixed housing 11. That is, in the fixed housing 11, the partition walls 27 partition the adjacent terminals 13 among the plurality of terminals 13 arranged side by side along the width direction X3.

[0041] 2 to 4, 6, 8, and 9, the fixed housing 11 is provided with a pair of mounting grooves 28 to which the movement restricting member 14 is attached. The pair of mounting grooves 28 are provided at the fixed housing 11 at both ends in the height direction X2 on both ends in the width direction X3. The movement restricting member 14 is fixed and attached to the fixed housing 11 by press-fitting both ends in the width direction X3 into the pair of mounting grooves 28. The movement restricting member 14 is provided as a flat plate-like member, and serves to restrict the amount of displacement of the movable housing 12, which is inserted and attached to the fixed housing 11 in a loosely fitted state, relative to the fixed housing 11, and to prevent the movable housing 12 from falling off the fixed housing 11. With the movable housing 12 inserted into the fixed housing 11, the movement restricting member 14 is press-fitted and fixed into the mounting grooves 28 of the fixed housing 11. In this state, the movement restricting member 14 is provided so as to abut against a protrusion 32 (described later) of the movable housing 12 in the height direction X2. When the movement restricting member 14 attached to the fixed housing 11 abuts against the protrusion 32 of the movable housing 12 inserted into the fixed housing 11, the amount of displacement of the movable housing 12 in the height direction X2 is restricted, and the movable housing 12 is prevented from falling off from the fixed housing 11.

[0042] 3 to 9, the fixed housing 11 is formed with an insertion opening 29 into which the movable housing 12 is inserted with a loose fit. The insertion opening 29 is provided as a hole that opens the inside of the fixed housing 11 to the outside and is provided as a hole that opens in the height direction X2. The insertion opening 29 is provided as an inner area of ​​the fixed housing 11 surrounded by a plurality of partition walls 27 protruding from the terminal holding wall 21 to the inside of the fixed housing 11, the side wall 23, the rear wall 22, and the side wall 24.

[0043] 2, 3, 5(A), and 6, the fixed housing 11 is configured so that the fixing metal fittings 15 are attached to the side walls 23 and 24. The side walls 23 and 24 are provided with press-fit grooves into which the fixing metal fittings 15 are press-fitted at the ends in the insertion direction X1. The fixing metal fittings 15 are attached to the side walls 23 and 24 by being press-fitted into the press-fit grooves provided in the side walls 23 and 24, respectively. The fixing metal fittings 15 are provided with press-fit portions 15b which are press-fitted into the press-fit grooves of the side walls 23 and 24, and soldering portions 15a which are provided as portions bent relative to the press-fit portions 15b and fixed to the board 100 by soldering.

[0044] [Movable housing] Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the movable housing 12 of the electrical connector 1. The movable housing 12 shown in Figs. 1 to 8 and 10 is inserted into the insertion opening 29 of the fixed housing 11 in a loosely fitted state, and is attached so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 11. The movable housing 12 is supported so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 11 via a plurality of terminals 13. The movable housing 12 is provided with a main body 30 inserted into the insertion opening 29 of the fixed housing 11, and a guide portion 31 that guides the plurality of mating connection members 101a to be received inside the movable housing 12 when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12. The guide portion 31 is provided integrally with the main body 30 at an end side in the height direction X2 of the main body 30.

[0045] The main body 30 is formed as a part having a basic external shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped extending long along the width direction X3, and is configured to be inserted in a loose-fitting state into an insertion opening 29 formed in the fixed housing 11. Since the main body 30 is inserted in a loose-fitting state into the insertion opening 29 of the fixed housing 11, the main body 30 is arranged inside the insertion opening 29 so as to be relatively displaceable. Note that when inserted into the insertion opening 29, the main body 30 is supported by the fixed housing 11 via the multiple terminals 13.

[0046] Further, the cross-sectional area of ​​the insertion opening 29 into which the main body 30 is inserted, taken along a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction X1, is set to be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the portion of the main body 30 inserted into the insertion opening 29, taken along a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction X1. Therefore, when the main body 30 inserted into the insertion opening 29 is displaced in the width direction X3 and the front-rear direction X4 within the insertion opening 29, the amount of displacement in the width direction X3 and the front-rear direction X4 is restricted to be equal to or less than a predetermined amount of displacement. Thus, in the electrical connector 1, the insertion opening 29 of the fixed housing 11 is provided to restrict the amount of displacement of the main body 30 of the movable housing 12 relative to the fixed housing 11 in both the width direction X3 and the front-rear direction X4.

[0047] 5 and 7, when the main body 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 29 of the fixed housing 11 and supported by the fixed housing 11 via the terminals 13, a gap is formed between both ends of the main body 30 in the width direction X3 and the pair of side walls 23 and 24. That is, a gap is formed between one end of the main body 30 in the width direction X3 and the side wall 23, and a gap is also formed between the other end of the main body 30 in the width direction X3 and the side wall 24. When the main body 30 is displaced in the width direction X3, the end of the main body 30 in the width direction X3 comes into contact with the side wall 23 or the side wall 24, and the amount of displacement of the main body 30 in the width direction X3 is restricted. As a result, the amount of displacement of the main body 30 inserted into the insertion opening 29 relative to the fixed housing 11 in the width direction X3 is restricted. That is, when the main body 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 29, the amount of displacement of the movable housing 12 relative to the fixed housing 11 in the width direction X3 is restricted.

[0048] 6 and 8, when the main body 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 29 of the fixed housing 11 and supported by the fixed housing 11 via the terminals 13, gaps are formed between both ends of the main body 30 in the front-rear direction X4 and the partition walls 27 and the rear wall 22. That is, a gap is formed between one end of the main body 30 in the front-rear direction X4 and the partition walls 27, and a gap is also formed between the other end of the main body 30 in the front-rear direction X4 and the rear wall 22. When the main body 30 is displaced in the front-rear direction X4, the end of the main body 30 in the front-rear direction X4 comes into contact with the partition walls 27 or the rear wall 22, and the amount of displacement of the main body 30 in the front-rear direction X4 is restricted. As a result, the amount of displacement of the main body 30 inserted into the insertion opening 29 relative to the fixed housing 11 in the front-rear direction X4 is restricted. That is, when the main body 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 29, the amount of displacement of the movable housing 12 relative to the fixed housing 11 in the front-rear direction X4 is restricted.

[0049] 5 to 8, the main body 30 is provided with a plurality of retaining chambers 30a that respectively accommodate and retain mating connection parts 40 (described later) of the plurality of terminals 13. The plurality of retaining chambers 30a are provided as a plurality of spatial regions inside the main body 30, and are arranged side by side in the width direction X3 inside the main body 30. Each of the plurality of retaining chambers 30a is provided as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped spatial region inside the main body 30, and opens toward the insertion direction X1. The mating connection parts 40 of each terminal 13 are inserted into each retaining chamber 30a from the opening of each retaining chamber 30a toward the height direction X2. The mating connection parts 40 of each terminal 13 are inserted into each retaining chamber 30a in a press-fit state, and are retained in each retaining chamber 30a.

[0050] The main body 30 is provided with a protruding portion 32 protruding along the front-rear direction X4. The protruding portion 32 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending long along the width direction X3, and is provided as a portion protruding in a protruding manner from the main body 30 along the front-rear direction X4. When the main body 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 29, the protruding portion 32 is provided protruding from the main body 30 toward the terminal holding wall 21 to which the terminal 13 is fixed in the fixed housing 11 in the front-rear direction X4. The terminal 13 is provided with a fixing portion 39 as a portion fixed to the terminal holding wall 21 of the fixed housing 11. Therefore, when the main body 30 is inserted into the insertion opening 29, the protruding portion 32 is provided protruding from the main body 30 in the front-rear direction X4 toward the side to which the fixing portion 39 of the terminal 13 in the fixed housing 11 is fixed.

[0051] The protrusion 32 protruding from the main body 30 in the front-rear direction X4 is disposed between the partition walls 27 of the fixed housing 11 and the movement restricting member 14 attached to the fixed housing 11 so as to protrude in the front-rear direction X4 when the movable housing 12 is attached to the fixed housing 11. Therefore, the protrusion 32 faces the partition walls 27 of the fixed housing 11 in the insertion direction X1, and faces the movement restricting member 14 in the height direction X2. A gap is formed between the protrusion 32 and the partition walls 27 of the fixed housing 11, and a gap is also formed between the protrusion 32 and the movement restricting member 14. When the protrusion 32, which displaces together with the movable housing 12, displaces in the insertion direction X1, the protrusion 32 comes into contact with the partition walls 27, and the amount of displacement of the movable housing 12 provided with the protrusion 32 in the insertion direction X1 is restricted. Furthermore, when the convex portion 32, which displaces together with the movable housing 12, displaces in the height direction X2, the convex portion 32 comes into contact with the movement restricting member 14, and the amount of displacement in the height direction X2 of the movable housing 12 on which the convex portion 32 is provided is restricted. Therefore, when the movable housing 12, which is inserted by the main body portion 30 into the insertion opening 29 of the fixed housing 11, is displaced in the height direction X2, which is the direction in which the movable housing 12 comes out of the insertion opening 29, the convex portion 32 of the movable housing 12 comes into contact with the movement restricting member 14, the amount of displacement of the movable housing 12 in the height direction X2 is restricted, and the movable housing 12 is prevented from coming out of the fixed housing 11.

[0052] 1 to 8 and 10, the guiding portion 31 is provided integrally with the main body 30 at an end side in the height direction X2 of the main body 30, and is provided as a part of the movable housing 12 at the end side in the height direction X2. The guiding portion 31 is provided as a part that guides the plurality of mating connection members 101a to be received inside the movable housing 12 when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12. The guiding portion 31 is provided with an opening 33 into which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted. The opening 33 opens toward the height direction X2, which is the opposite direction to the insertion direction X1, which is the direction in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guiding portion 31, and opens in a state of being expanded across the width direction X3. The guiding portion 31 is configured to guide the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 to be received inside the movable housing 12.

[0053] Further, inside the guiding portion 31, a plurality of insertion holes 34 into which the plurality of mating connection members 101a guided by the guiding portion 31 are respectively inserted are provided in a row. The plurality of insertion holes 34 are provided in a row along the width direction X3 inside the guiding portion 31. The direction in which the plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged in the movable housing 12 constitutes the width direction X3 of the electrical connector 1. The plurality of insertion holes 34 are provided in a row at equal intervals in the width direction X3. The pitch dimension, which is the interval dimension at which the plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction X3, is set to be the same as the interval dimension at which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction X3 in the mating connector 101.

[0054] Further, each of the multiple insertion holes 34 opens along the height direction X2 inside the opening 33 of the guiding portion 31. Each of the multiple insertion holes 34 communicates with a multiple holding chamber 30a arranged side by side in the width direction X3 inside the main body 30 of the movable housing 12 in the insertion direction X1. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guiding portion 31 of the movable housing 12, they are inserted into the guiding portion 31 from the opening 33. The multiple mating connection members 101a inserted from the opening 33 are inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34 arranged side by side in the width direction X3 inside the opening 33 and opened in the height direction X2. When each of the multiple mating connection members 101a is inserted into the insertion hole 34, it passes through the insertion hole 34 and is inserted into the holding chamber 30a (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 8). The mating connection member 101a inserted into the holding chamber 30a comes into contact with the mating connection portion 40 of the terminal 13 held in the holding chamber 30a. When the mating connection member 101a inserted into each insertion hole 34 comes into contact with the mating connection portion 40 of each terminal 13, each mating connection member 101a and each terminal 13 are electrically connected to each other.

[0055] Here, the configuration of the guiding section 31 will be described in more detail. FIG. 11 is a view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 5(B). FIG. 12 is a view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 6(B). Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 to 8, and 10 to 12, the inner wall of the guiding section 31 is provided with first inclined surfaces 35 at both ends in the width direction X3 in which the multiple insertion holes 34 are arranged. The first inclined surfaces 35 are provided as surfaces inclined with respect to the height direction X2 so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the height direction X2, which is the opposite direction to the insertion direction X1 in which the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guiding section 31, and toward the outside in the width direction X3 to the opening 33. The first inclined surfaces 35 are provided on both ends in the width direction X3 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31, and each of the first inclined surfaces 35 on both ends in the width direction X3 is provided so as to be continuous with each of the multiple insertion holes 34 arranged at both ends in the width direction X3.

[0056] 2, 4 to 8, 10 to 12, a second inclined surface 36 is provided on the inside of the guide portion 31 between the adjacent insertion holes 34 in the width direction X3. The second inclined surface 36 provided between the adjacent insertion holes 34 in the width direction X3 is provided as a surface inclined with respect to the height direction X2 so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the insertion direction X1 and toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 into which the mating connection member 101a is inserted. For the insertion holes 34 arranged at both ends in the width direction X3, the insertion holes 34 are arranged adjacent to each other only on one side in the width direction X3, so that the second inclined surface 36 is provided correspondingly only on one side in the width direction X3. For the insertion holes 34 arranged at positions other than both ends in the width direction X3, the insertion holes 34 are arranged adjacent to each other on both sides in the width direction X3, so that the second inclined surface 36 is provided correspondingly on both sides in the width direction X3. The second inclined surfaces 36 are provided so as to be continuous with the insertion holes 34. Between adjacent insertion holes 34, the second inclined surfaces 36 continuous with the adjacent insertion holes 34 are provided side by side in the width direction X3.

[0057] 5(B), 7, and 11, the first inclined surface 35 provided on both ends of the width direction X3 on the inner wall of the guide portion 31 is set so that its dimension in the width direction X3 is larger than the dimension in the width direction X3 of the second inclined surface 36 provided between the adjacent insertion holes 34. In addition, in FIG. 11, the dimension W1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the width direction X3 is indicated by a double-ended arrow W1, and the dimension W2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the width direction X3 is indicated by a double-ended arrow W2. The dimension W1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the width direction X3 is set larger than the dimension W2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the width direction X3.

[0058] 5(B), 7, and 11, the first inclined surface 35 is set so that its dimension in the height direction X2 is larger than the dimension in the height direction X2 of the second inclined surface 36. In addition, in FIG. 11, the dimension H1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H1, and the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H2. The dimension H1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the height direction X2 is set larger than the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2.

[0059] 5(B), 7, and 11, the smaller angle between the direction in which the first inclined surface 35 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is set to be larger than the smaller angle between the direction in which the second inclined surface 36 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3. In FIG. 11, the smaller angle θ1 between the direction in which the first inclined surface 35 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is indicated by the symbol θ1. In FIG. 11, the smaller angle θ2 between the direction in which the second inclined surface 36 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is indicated by the symbol θ2. The smaller angle θ1 between the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 constitutes the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 35 tapering toward the height direction X2 at both ends of the width direction X3 inside the guide portion 31. The smaller angle θ2 between the inclination direction of the second inclined surface 36 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 constitutes the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 36 tapering toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 between adjacent insertion holes 34. The angle θ1, which is the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 35, is set to be larger than the angle θ2, which is the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 36.

[0060] 2, 4 to 8, and 10 to 12, the inner wall of the guide section 31 is provided with third inclined surfaces 37 at both ends in the front-rear direction X4, which is a direction perpendicular to the width direction X3 and the height direction X2. The third inclined surfaces 37 are provided as surfaces inclined with respect to the height direction X2 so as to taper and widen toward the opening 33 toward the outside in the front-rear direction X4 as well as toward the height direction X2. The third inclined surfaces 37 are provided on both ends in the front-rear direction X4 on the inner wall of the guide section 31, respectively, and are provided so as to be continuous with each of the multiple insertion holes 34 aligned in the width direction X3.

[0061] 6(B), 8, and 12, the third inclined surface 37 provided on both ends of the inner wall of the guide portion 31 in the front-rear direction X4 is set so that its dimension in the height direction X2 is larger than the dimension in the height direction X2 of the second inclined surface 36 provided between adjacent insertion holes 34. In addition, in FIG. 12, the dimension H3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H3, and the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H2. The dimension H3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the height direction X2 is set larger than the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2.

[0062] [Terminal] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a terminal 13 of the electrical connector 1, and is a perspective view showing an enlarged one of the multiple terminals 13 in the electrical connector 1. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 and 13, the electrical connector 1 is provided with multiple terminals 13, and the multiple terminals 13 are arranged side by side in the width direction X3 in the electrical connector 1. Each of the multiple terminals 13 is fixed at one end to the fixed housing 11, and held at the other end by the movable housing 12, and the portion between both ends is configured to be elastically deformable. As a result, the multiple terminals 13 are configured to support the movable housing 12 so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 11. Also, each of the multiple terminals 13 is configured to be mounted and fixed to the board 100 by soldering at one end, and to be in contact with and electrically connected to each of the multiple mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 at the other end.

[0063] Specifically, each of the multiple terminals 13 is configured to include a board connection portion 38, a fixed portion 39, a mating connection portion 40, and a movable spring portion 41. In the terminal 13, the board connection portion 38, the fixed portion 39, the movable spring portion 41, and the mating connection portion 40 are arranged integrally in this order. The board connection portion 38 and the fixed portion 39 are provided on one end side of the terminal 13, and the mating connection portion 40 is provided on the other end side of the terminal 13.

[0064] 1 to 4, 6, 8, and 13, the board connection portion 38 is provided as one end of the terminal 13, and is provided as a portion that is connected to the board 100. The board connection portion 38 is fixed to the surface of the board 100 by soldering, and is thereby electrically and mechanically connected to the board 100.

[0065] 2 to 4, 6, 8, and 11, the fixing portion 39 is provided as a portion attached and fixed to the fixed housing 11, and is provided as a portion disposed adjacent to the board connecting portion 38 on one end side of the terminal 13. The fixing portion 39 is fixed to the terminal holding wall 21 by being press-fitted into the terminal fixing portion 25 of the terminal holding wall 21 of the fixed housing 11. The fixing portion 39 is provided with a pair of press-fitting claw portions protruding on both sides in the width direction. When the fixing portion 39 is press-fitted into the terminal fixing portion 25, the pair of press-fitting claw portions of the fixing portion 39 are inserted into a pair of press-fitting grooves of the terminal fixing portion 25 and pressed in. When the fixing portion 39 is press-fitted into the terminal fixing portion 25, the fixing portion 39 is fixed to the terminal fixing portion 25, and the terminal 13 is fixed to the terminal holding wall 21 of the fixed housing 11.

[0066] 4 to 8 and 13, the mating connection part 40 is provided as a part on the other end side of the terminal 13, is held by the movable housing 12, and is provided as a part connected to the mating connection member 101a of the mating connector 101. The mating connection part 40 is provided as a connecting part of a female terminal, and has a cylindrical part 40a, a spring contact part 40b, and a press-fit part 40c.

[0067] The cylindrical portion 40a of the mating connection part 40 is provided as a part formed by bending into a square tube shape. When the mating connection part 40 is held by the movable housing 12, the cylindrical portion 40a is inserted into and held in the holding chamber 30a of the main body part 30 of the movable housing 12. The cylindrical portion 40a is open in the height direction X2, and when the cylindrical portion 40a is inserted into the holding chamber 30a, the opening of the cylindrical portion 40a is disposed facing the insertion hole 34. When the terminal 13 is connected to the mating connection member 101a, the mating connection member 101a inserted from the insertion hole 34 is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical portion 40a in the holding chamber 30a.

[0068] The spring contact portion 40b of the mating connection portion 40 is provided in the shape of a leaf spring bent inside the cylindrical portion 40a, and is configured to have a contact portion that comes into contact with and is electrically connected to the mating connection member 101a. When the terminal 13 is connected to the mating connection member 101a, the spring contact portion 40b comes into contact with and is electrically connected to the mating connection member 101a that is inserted from the insertion hole 34 of the movable housing 12 and inserted inside the cylindrical portion 40a.

[0069] The press-fit portion 40c of the mating connection portion 40 is provided adjacent to the cylindrical portion 40a, and is provided as a portion to be press-fitted into the main body portion 30 of the movable housing 12. When the cylindrical portion 40a is inserted into the retaining chamber 30a of the main body portion 30 of the movable housing 12, the press-fit portion 40c is press-fitted into the inner wall of the retaining chamber 30a. By press-fitting the press-fit portion 40c into the main body portion 30, the mating connection portion 40 is firmly held to the main body portion 30 of the movable housing 12.

[0070] 2 to 4, 6, 8, and 13, the movable spring portion 41 is provided in the terminal 13 as a spring portion that integrally connects the fixed portion 39 and the mating connection portion 40 and supports the mating connection portion 40 so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed portion 39. The movable spring portion 41 is provided as a long and narrow leaf spring portion that extends while bending multiple times. In this embodiment, the movable spring portion 41 extends from the fixed portion 39 in the height direction X2, then bends at a substantially right angle toward the rear wall 22 in the front-rear direction X4, then bends at a substantially right angle toward the insertion direction X1, and further bends at a semicircular arc over a distance of approximately 180 degrees from the insertion direction X1 to the height direction X2, and is provided so as to be continuous with the mating connection portion 40.

[0071] Moreover, the movable spring portions 41 of the terminals 13 arranged at positions other than both ends in the width direction X3 in the electrical connector 1 are arranged in the fixed housing 11 so as to extend while bending multiple times between adjacent partition walls 27 in the width direction X3. Moreover, the movable spring portions 41 of the terminals 13 arranged at positions at both ends in the width direction X3 in the electrical connector 1 are arranged in the fixed housing 11 so as to extend while bending multiple times between the side wall 23 and the partition wall 27, or between the side wall 24 and the partition wall 27.

[0072] [Connection between the board and the mating connector using an electrical connector] Next, the connection between the board 100 and the mating connector 101 by the above-mentioned electrical connector 1 will be described. The board 100 has, for example, a conductive circuit pattern (not shown) on its surface, and the electrical connector 1 is mounted and connected to the board 100. When the electrical connector 1 is placed on the board 100, the board connection parts 38 of the multiple terminals 13 of the electrical connector 1 are soldered to the board 100, and the pair of fixing metal fittings 15 of the electrical connector 1 are also soldered to the board 100. In this way, the electrical connector 1 and the board 100 are connected.

[0073] When the electrical connector 1 is connected to the board 100, the mating connector 101 is connected to the electrical connector 1. As a result, the board 100 and the mating connector 101 are electrically connected via the electrical connector 1. When the mating connector 101 is connected to the electrical connector 1, a plurality of mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are inserted into the movable housing 12. The plurality of mating connection members 101a are first inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding portion 31 of the movable housing 12. The plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding portion 31 are respectively inserted into a plurality of insertion holes 34 arranged side by side inside the guiding portion 31. The mating connection members 101a inserted into the insertion holes 34 come into contact with the spring contact portions 40b of the mating connection portions 40 of the terminals 13 held inside the movable housing 12, and are electrically connected to the terminals 13. As a result, the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are connected, and the board 100 and the mating connector 101 are electrically connected via the electrical connector 1.

[0074] In the electrical connector 1, the movable housing 12 to which a plurality of mating connection members 101a of a mating connector 101 are connected is supported via a plurality of terminals 13 so as to be displaceable relative to a fixed housing 11 connected to a board 100. Therefore, even if a positional deviation occurs between the board 100 and the mating connector 101, the positional deviation is absorbed by the relative displacement between the movable housing 12 and the fixed housing 11. For example, even if vibration occurs on the board 100 side, the vibration generated on the board 100 side is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the movable spring portion 41 of the terminal 13 between the board 100 and the mating connector 101, and the transmission of the vibration to the mating connector 101 is suppressed.

[0075] [Connection operation between the mating connection component and the electrical connector] Here, the operation when the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side in the mating connector 101 are inserted into the electric connector 1 and connected will be further described. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the electric connector 1, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 in the electric connector 1. At this time, the multiple mating connection members 101a may be inserted in a state where the insertion position is shifted with respect to the movable housing 12. FIG. 14 is a side view showing a state immediately before the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are inserted into the electric connector 1, and the fixed housing 11 is omitted for the electric connector 1. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the CC arrow in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show a case where the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 in a state where the insertion position is shifted in the width direction X3.

[0076] 14 and 15, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding section 31 of the movable housing 12. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 at positions shifted in the width direction X3 without overlapping with the plurality of insertion holes 34 in the insertion direction X1. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding section 31 are inserted into the openings 33 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, a tip of one of the mating connection members 101a on both ends in the width direction X3 among the plurality of mating connection members 101a abuts against a first inclined surface 35 on one end of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 in the width direction X3. The dimension H1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the height direction X2 is set to be larger than the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2, and further, the dimension W1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the width direction X3 is set to be larger than the dimension W2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the width direction X3. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 while being shifted in the width direction X3, the tip end of the multiple mating connection members 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 of the multiple mating connection members 101a abuts against the first inclined surface 35 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the tip end of the multiple mating connection members 101a abuts against the second inclined surface 36 leading to the multiple insertion holes 34.

[0077] 16 and 17 are cross-sectional views showing a state in which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are being inserted into the electrical connector 1, and are cross-sectional views at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow CC in FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a view showing a state in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are further inserted into the guide portion 31 from the state shown in FIG. 15, and FIG. 17 is a view showing a state in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are further inserted into the guide portion 31 from the state shown in FIG. 16. Referring to FIG. 16, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the opening 33 and one of the mating connection members 101a on both ends in the width direction X3 abuts against the first inclined surface 35, the mating connection member 101a on one of the both ends in the width direction X3 is inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35. As a result, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged side by side move in the insertion direction X1 together with the mating connection members 100 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 inserted into the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35. Therefore, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are inserted while being guided by the first inclined surface 35 into the inside of the guiding portion 31. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, when the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted to the inner side of the guiding portion 31 while being guided by the first inclined surface 35, they are then guided to the multiple insertion holes 34, respectively. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are guided to the multiple insertion holes 34, they are inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34, respectively. Then, the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34 respectively pass through the multiple insertion holes 34 and come into contact with the spring contact portions 40b of the mating connection portions 40 of the terminals 13 held inside the movable housing 12, and are electrically connected to the terminals 13 (see Figure 7).

[0078] Next, a case will be described where a plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4. Fig. 18 is a front view showing a state immediately before a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are inserted into the electrical connector 1, and shows the electrical connector 1 with the fixed housing 11 omitted. Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in Fig. 18. Figs. 18 and 19 show a case where a plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4.

[0079] 18 and 19, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding section 31 of the movable housing 12. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 at positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4 without overlapping with the plurality of insertion holes 34 in the insertion direction X1. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding section 31 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the leading ends of the plurality of mating connection members 101a come into contact with the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 in the front-rear direction X4. The dimension H1 of the third inclined surface 37 in the height direction X2 is set to be larger than the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 while being shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the tip ends of the multiple mating connection members 101a abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends in the front-rear direction X4 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the tip ends of the multiple mating connection members 101a reach the same height as the second inclined surface 36 leading to each of the multiple insertion holes 34.

[0080] 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are being inserted into the electrical connector 1, and is a cross-sectional view at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow DD in FIG. 18. Referring to FIG. 20, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the opening 33 and come into contact with the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends in the front-rear direction X4, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the third inclined surface 37. As a result, the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged side by side move in the insertion direction X1 while sliding along the third inclined surface 37. Therefore, the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are inserted into the inside of the guide portion 31 while being guided by the third inclined surface 37. Then, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted to the back side of the guiding portion 31 while being guided by the third inclined surface 37, and then are guided to the plurality of insertion holes 34, respectively. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a are guided to the plurality of insertion holes 34, they are inserted directly into the plurality of insertion holes 34, respectively. Then, the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the plurality of insertion holes 34, respectively, pass through the plurality of insertion holes 34, respectively, and come into contact with the spring contact portion 40b of the mating connection portion 40 of the terminal 13 held inside the movable housing 12, and are electrically connected to the terminal 13 (see FIG. 8).

[0081] [Actions and Effects of the First Embodiment] According to the first embodiment, when the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are connected to the electrical connector 1, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding portion 31 of the movable housing 12. When the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding portion 31 of the movable housing 12 are inserted into the openings 33 without being misaligned, they are inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34 inside the guiding portion 31, respectively. Then, the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34, respectively, are electrically connected to the multiple terminals 13, respectively. On the other hand, when the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding section 31 of the movable housing 12 are inserted into the openings 33 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, the tip ends of the multiple mating connection members 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 of the multiple mating connection members 101a abut against the first inclined surfaces 35 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31. The first inclined surfaces 35, which are inclined toward the height direction X2 and toward the outside in the width direction X3 at both ends in the width direction X3 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31, are set to have a larger dimension in the height direction X2 and a larger dimension in the width direction X3 than the second inclined surfaces 36 inclined toward the entrances of the insertion holes 34 between adjacent insertion holes 34. For this reason, when the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 while being shifted in the width direction X3, the tip end of one of the multiple mating connection members 101a at both ends in the width direction X3 abuts against the first inclined surface 35 at one of both ends in the width direction X3 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the tip ends of the multiple mating connection members 101a abut against the second inclined surface 36 leading to the multiple insertion holes 34. Then, the mating connection member 101a at one of both ends in the width direction X3 is inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35. As a result, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in a line move together with the mating connection member 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 that is inserted into the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35, and are inserted into the inside of the guide portion 31 while being guided by the first inclined surface 35.When the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35, they are then inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34. Therefore, even if the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35, and are appropriately inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34. Therefore, the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side into the electric connector 1 and connecting them can be performed appropriately and easily. Also, according to the first embodiment, the movable housing 12 has a simple structure in which the first inclined surface 35 is provided on both ends in the width direction X3 of the guiding portion 31 in which the opening 33 is provided, and the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side into the electric connector 1 and connecting them can be performed appropriately and easily. Therefore, the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 101 connected to the electrical connector 1 can be prevented from becoming large and complicated in structure.

[0082] As described above, according to the first embodiment, an electrical connector 1 can be provided that can properly and easily perform the task of inserting and connecting multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in a row, and that can prevent the structure from becoming too large and complicated.

[0083] In addition, when the magnitude of the smaller angle θ1 between the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is the same as the magnitude of the smaller angle θ2 between the inclination direction of the second inclined surface 36 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 and reach the same height position as the second inclined surface 36, and then are guided along the first inclined surface 35 and the second inclined surface 36 to be inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. In contrast, according to the first embodiment, the magnitude of the smaller angle θ1 between the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is set to be larger than the magnitude of the smaller angle θ2 between the inclination direction of the second inclined surface 36 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3. As a result, even if the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted inside the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 and reach the same height position as the second inclined surface 36, they continue to be guided along the first inclined surface 35 without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface 36 and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. In this way, the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 of the movable housing 12 are guided along the first inclined surface 35 without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface 36 and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. This makes it possible to more smoothly and easily perform the operation of properly inserting and connecting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side.

[0084] According to the first embodiment, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 of the movable housing 12 are inserted into the opening 33 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the tips of the plurality of mating connection members 101a abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends in the front-rear direction X4 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31. The third inclined surface 37 inclined toward the height direction X2 and toward the outside in the front-rear direction X4 on both ends in the front-rear direction X4 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 is set to have a larger dimension in the height direction X2 than the second inclined surface 36 inclined toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 between adjacent insertion holes 34. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 in a state of being shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the multiple mating connection members 101a abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends in the front-rear direction X4 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the multiple mating connection members 101a reach the same height position as the second inclined surface 36 leading to each of the multiple insertion holes 34. Then, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged side by side are inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the third inclined surface 37, and are inserted into the inside of the guiding section 31 while being guided by the third inclined surface 37. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding section 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37, they are then inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34, respectively. Therefore, even when the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37, and are properly inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34. Therefore, the operation of inserting and connecting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged side by side into the electrical connector 1 can be properly and easily performed.

[0085] Second embodiment Next, an electrical connector 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description of the second embodiment, elements configured similarly to the above-described first embodiment and elements configured corresponding to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings or by quoting the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0086] In the above-described first embodiment, the electrical connector 1 is configured such that the terminals 13 are arranged in a single row along the width direction X3, and the pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in a single row are inserted into and connected to the terminals 13. However, the electrical connector 2 of the second embodiment is different from the electrical connector 1 of the first embodiment in that the terminals 13 are arranged in two rows along the width direction X3, and the pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into and connected to the terminals 13.

[0087] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the electrical connector 2 according to the second embodiment together with a board 101 and a mating connector 101. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the electrical connector 2. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the electrical connector 2, including a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the width direction X3 of the electrical connector 2. FIG. 24(A) is a front view of the electrical connector 2, and FIG. 24(B) is a side view of the electrical connector 2. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 24(A). FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 24(B).

[0088] 21 to 26, the electrical connector 2 according to the second embodiment is configured as an electrical connector that is electrically connected to a mating connector 101 having a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows. The electrical connector 2 is configured as an electrical connector into which the plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows in the mating connector 101 are inserted and connected.

[0089] The electrical connector 2 according to the second embodiment, like the electrical connector 1 of the first embodiment, includes a fixed housing 51 installed on a substrate 100, a movable housing 52 attached so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 51, and a plurality of terminals 13 that support the movable housing 52 so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 51 and are electrically connected to a plurality of mating connection members 101a, respectively. However, in the electrical connector 2, the plurality of terminals 13 are arranged in two rows along the width direction X3, and the plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted and connected, so that the configurations of the fixed housing 51 and the movable housing 52 are partially different from those of the electrical connector 1 of the first embodiment described above.

[0090] In the following description of the electrical connector 2, the insertion direction X1, height direction X2, width direction X3, and front-rear direction X4 in the electrical connector 2 are defined as shown by arrows X1, X2, double-ended arrows X3, and double-ended arrows X4 in Figs. 21 to 26 and the drawings described later. The insertion direction X1 is configured as a direction in which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a are inserted into and connected to the movable housing 52 in the electrical connector 2. The plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guide portions 31 in the movable housing 52 with respect to the movable housing 52. The insertion direction X1 is also configured as a direction in which the movable housing 52 is inserted into and attached to the fixed housing 51. The height direction X2 is configured as a direction opposite to the insertion direction X1. That is, the height direction X2 is a direction parallel to and opposite to the insertion direction X1, and is configured as a direction opposite to the direction in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52. The width direction X3 is configured as a direction in which the multiple insertion holes 34 arranged in two rows inside the guide portion 31 of the movable housing 52 are arranged in two rows. The multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34 arranged in two rows. The width direction X3, which is the direction in which the multiple insertion holes 34 are arranged in two rows inside the guide portion 31 of the movable housing 52, is also configured as a pitch direction in which the multiple terminals 13 are arranged in two rows in the fixed housing 51. The front-rear direction X4 is configured as a direction perpendicular to both the height direction X2 and the width direction X3. In other words, the front-rear direction X4 is configured as a direction perpendicular to the height direction X2 and the insertion direction X1, and also perpendicular to the width direction X3.

[0091] 21 to 26, the fixed housing 51 installed on the board 100 is configured substantially similarly to the fixed housing 11 of the electrical connector 1, but unlike the fixed housing 11, the rear wall 22 is not provided, and a pair of terminal holding walls 21 is provided. That is, the fixed housing 51 is configured to have a pair of terminal holding walls 21 arranged opposite to each other in the front-rear direction X4 and extending parallel to each other, and a pair of side walls 23 and 24 extending perpendicularly to the pair of terminal holding walls 21. One of the pair of terminal holding walls 21 is provided as a wall portion that holds a plurality of terminals 13 in one row of the plurality of terminals 13 arranged in two rows along the width direction X3. The other of the pair of terminal holding walls 21 is provided as a wall portion that holds a plurality of terminals 13 in the other row of the plurality of terminals 13 arranged in two rows along the width direction X3.

[0092] The movable housing 52, which is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing 51, is configured in a manner substantially similar to the movable housing 12 of the electrical connector 1, but differs from the movable housing 12 in that the main body portion 30 and the guide portion 31 are configured so as to be connected by inserting therein the mating connecting members 101a arranged in two rows.

[0093] In the main body 30 of the movable housing 52, the multiple holding chambers 30a are arranged in two rows along the width direction X3. In the main body 30 of the movable housing 52, the multiple holding chambers 30a in each row of the multiple holding chambers 30a arranged in two rows are arranged corresponding to the multiple insertion holes 34 arranged in two rows in the guide portion 31. In addition, the multiple holding chambers 30a in one row of the multiple holding chambers 30a arranged in two rows in the main body 30 of the movable housing 52 are configured to hold the mating connection parts 40 of the multiple terminals 13 in one row of the multiple terminals 13 arranged in two rows in the electric connector 2. In addition, the multiple holding chambers 30a in the other row of the multiple holding chambers 30a arranged in two rows in the main body 30 of the movable housing 52 are configured to hold the mating connection parts 40 of the multiple terminals 13 in the other row of the multiple terminals 13 arranged in two rows in the electric connector 2.

[0094] 21 to 26, the guide portion 31 of the movable housing 52 is integrally provided with the main body 30 at an end side in the height direction X2 of the main body 30, and is provided as a part of the movable housing 52 at the end side in the height direction X2. The guide portion 31 is provided as a part that guides the multiple mating connection members 101a to be received inside the movable housing 12 when the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12. The guide portion 31 is provided with an opening 33 into which the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted. The opening 33 opens toward the height direction X2, which is the opposite direction to the insertion direction X1, which is the direction in which the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guide portion 31, and opens in a state of being expanded over the width direction X3. The guide portion 31 is configured to guide the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 to be received inside the movable housing 12.

[0095] Further, inside the guiding portion 31, a plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged in two rows, into which the plurality of mating connection members 101a guided by the guiding portion 31 are inserted, respectively. The plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged in two rows along the width direction X3 inside the guiding portion 31. The direction in which the plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged in two rows in the movable housing 52 constitutes the width direction X3 of the electrical connector 2. The plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged in two rows at equal intervals in the width direction X3. A pitch dimension, which is a distance dimension in which the plurality of insertion holes 34 are arranged in two rows at equal intervals in the width direction X3, is set to be the same as a distance dimension in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are arranged in two rows at equal intervals in the width direction X3 in the mating connector 101.

[0096] Further, each of the multiple insertion holes 34 opens along the height direction X2 inside the opening 33 of the guide portion 31. Each of the multiple insertion holes 34 communicates with a multiple holding chamber 30a arranged in two rows in the width direction X3 inside the main body 30 of the movable housing 52 in the insertion direction X1. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guide portion 31 of the movable housing 52, they are inserted into the guide portion 31 from the opening 33. The multiple mating connection members 101a inserted from the opening 33 are inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34 arranged in two rows in the width direction X3 inside the opening 33 and opened in the height direction X2. When each of the multiple mating connection members 101a is inserted into the insertion hole 34, it passes through the insertion hole 34 and is inserted into the holding chamber 30a. The mating connection member 101a inserted into the holding chamber 30a comes into contact with the mating connection portion 40 of the terminal 13 held in the holding chamber 30a. When the mating connection member 101a inserted into each insertion hole 34 comes into contact with the mating connection portion 40 of each terminal 13, each mating connection member 101a and each terminal 13 are electrically connected to each other.

[0097] Here, the configuration of the guiding portion 31 of the movable housing 52 will be described in more detail. FIG. 27 is a view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 26. FIG. 28 is a view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 25. Referring to FIGS. 21 to 23, 26, and 27, the inner wall of the guiding portion 31 is provided with first inclined surfaces 35 at both ends in the width direction X3, which is the direction in which the multiple insertion holes 34 are arranged in two rows. The first inclined surfaces 35 are provided as surfaces inclined with respect to the height direction X2 so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the height direction X2, which is the opposite direction to the insertion direction X1, which is the direction in which the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guiding portion 31, and toward the outside in the width direction X3 to the opening 33. The first inclined surfaces 35 are provided on both ends in the width direction X3 on the inner wall of the guiding portion 31, and each of the first inclined surfaces 35 on both ends in the width direction X3 is provided so as to be continuous with the insertion holes 34 arranged on both ends in the width direction X3 among the multiple insertion holes 34.

[0098] 21 to 23, 26, and 27, a second inclined surface 36 is provided on the inside of the guide portion 31 between the adjacent insertion holes 34 in the width direction X3. The second inclined surface 36 provided between the adjacent insertion holes 34 in the width direction X3 is provided as a surface inclined with respect to the height direction X2 so as to extend in a tapered shape toward the insertion direction X1 and toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 into which the mating connection member 101a is inserted. For the insertion holes 34 arranged at both ends in the width direction X3, the insertion holes 34 are arranged adjacent to each other only on one side in the width direction X3, so that the second inclined surface 36 is provided correspondingly only on one side in the width direction X3. For the insertion holes 34 arranged at positions other than both ends in the width direction X3, the insertion holes 34 are arranged adjacent to each other on both sides in the width direction X3, so that the second inclined surface 36 is provided correspondingly on both sides in the width direction X3. The second inclined surfaces 36 are provided so as to be continuous with the insertion holes 34. Between adjacent insertion holes 34, the second inclined surfaces 36 continuous with the adjacent insertion holes 34 are provided side by side in the width direction X3.

[0099] 26 and 27, the first inclined surface 35 provided on both ends of the inner wall of the guide portion 31 in the width direction X3 is set so that its dimension in the width direction X3 is larger than the dimension in the width direction X3 of the second inclined surface 36 provided between adjacent insertion holes 34. In addition, in FIG. 27, the dimension W1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the width direction X3 is indicated by a double-ended arrow W1, and the dimension W2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the width direction X3 is indicated by a double-ended arrow W2. The dimension W1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the width direction X3 is set larger than the dimension W2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the width direction X3.

[0100] 26 and 27, the first inclined surface 35 is set so that its dimension in the height direction X2 is larger than the dimension in the height direction X2 of the second inclined surface 36. In addition, in Fig. 11, the dimension H1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H1, and the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H2. The dimension H1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the height direction X2 is set larger than the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2.

[0101] 26 and 27, the smaller angle between the direction in which the first inclined surface 35 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is set to be larger than the smaller angle between the direction in which the second inclined surface 36 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3. In FIG. 27, the smaller angle θ1 between the direction in which the first inclined surface 35 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is indicated by the symbol θ1. In FIG. 27, the smaller angle θ2 between the direction in which the second inclined surface 36 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is indicated by the symbol θ2. The smaller angle θ1 between the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 constitutes the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 35 tapering toward the height direction X2 at both ends of the width direction X3 inside the guide portion 31. The smaller angle θ2 between the inclination direction of the second inclined surface 36 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 constitutes the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 36 tapering toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 between adjacent insertion holes 34. The angle θ1, which is the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 35, is set to be larger than the angle θ2, which is the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 36.

[0102] 21 to 23 and 25 to 28, the inner wall of the guiding section 31 is provided with third inclined surfaces 37 at both ends in the front-rear direction X4, which is a direction perpendicular to the width direction X3 and the height direction X2. The third inclined surfaces 37 are provided as surfaces inclined with respect to the height direction X2 so as to taper and extend toward the height direction X2 and toward the outside in the front-rear direction X4 to the opening 33. The third inclined surfaces 37 are provided on both ends in the front-rear direction X4 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31, respectively, and are provided so as to be continuous with each of the multiple insertion holes 34 in each row of the multiple insertion holes 34 arranged in two rows in the width direction X3.

[0103] 21 to 23, 25, and 28, a fourth inclined surface 53 is provided on the inside of the guide portion 31 between adjacent insertion holes 34 in the front-rear direction X4. The fourth inclined surface 53 provided between adjacent insertion holes 34 in the front-rear direction X4 is provided as a surface inclined with respect to the height direction X2 so as to extend in a tapered shape toward the insertion direction X1 and toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 into which the mating connection member 101a is inserted. The fourth inclined surface 53 is provided so as to be continuous with the insertion hole 34. Then, between adjacent insertion holes 34 in the front-rear direction X4, the fourth inclined surfaces 53 continuous with each of the adjacent insertion holes 34 are provided side by side in the front-rear direction X4.

[0104] 25 and 28, the third inclined surface 37 provided on both ends in the front-rear direction X4 on the inner wall of the guide portion 31 is set so that its dimension in the front-rear direction X4 is larger than the dimension in the front-rear direction X4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 provided between the insertion holes 34 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction X4. In addition, in FIG. 28, the dimension Y3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the front-rear direction X4 is indicated by a double-ended arrow Y3, and the dimension Y4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 in the front-rear direction X4 is indicated by a double-ended arrow Y4. The dimension Y3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the front-rear direction X4 is set larger than the dimension Y4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 in the front-rear direction X4.

[0105] 25 and 28, the third inclined surface 37 is set so that its dimension in the height direction X2 is larger than the dimension in the height direction X2 of the fourth inclined surface 53. In addition, in Fig. 28, the dimension H3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H3, and the dimension H4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 in the height direction X2 is indicated by a double-ended arrow H4. The dimension H3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the height direction X2 is set larger than the dimension H4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 in the height direction X2.

[0106] 25 and 28, the smaller of the angles formed by the direction in which the third inclined surface 37 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4 is set to be larger than the smaller of the angles formed by the direction in which the fourth inclined surface 53 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4. In addition, in FIG. 28, the smaller angle θ3 formed by the direction in which the third inclined surface 37 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4 is indicated by the symbol θ3. In addition, in FIG. 28, the smaller angle θ4 formed by the direction in which the fourth inclined surface 53 inclines with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4 is indicated by the symbol θ4. The smaller angle θ3 between the direction in which the third inclined surface 37 is inclined with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4 constitutes the inclination angle of the third inclined surface 37 tapering toward the height direction X2 at both ends in the front-rear direction X4 inside the guide portion 31. The smaller angle θ4 between the direction in which the fourth inclined surface 53 is inclined with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4 constitutes the inclination angle of the fourth inclined surface 53 tapering toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 between adjacent insertion holes 34 in the front-rear direction X4. The angle θ3, which is the inclination angle of the third inclined surface 37, is set to be larger than the angle θ4, which is the inclination angle of the fourth inclined surface 53.

[0107] Here, the operation when the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows in the mating connector 101 are inserted into the electric connector 2 and connected will be further described. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the electric connector 2, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52 in the electric connector 2. At this time, the multiple mating connection members 101a may be inserted in a state where the insertion position is shifted with respect to the movable housing 52. FIG. 29 is a side view showing a state immediately before the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are inserted into the electric connector 2, and the fixed housing 51 is omitted for the electric connector 2. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG. 29. FIGS. 29 and 30 show a case where the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52 in a state where the insertion position is shifted in the width direction X3.

[0108] 29 and 30, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding section 31 of the movable housing 52. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 at positions shifted in the width direction X3 without overlapping with the plurality of insertion holes 34 in the insertion direction X1. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding section 31 are inserted into the openings 33 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, the tip portions of the mating connection members 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 among the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows come into contact with the first inclined surface 35 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31. The dimension H1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the height direction X2 is set to be larger than the dimension H2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the height direction X2, and further, the dimension W1 of the first inclined surface 35 in the width direction X3 is set to be larger than the dimension W2 of the second inclined surface 36 in the width direction X3. Therefore, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 while being shifted in the width direction X3, the tip end of the mating connection member 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 of the plurality of mating connection members 101a abuts against the first inclined surface 35 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the tip end of the plurality of mating connection members 101a abuts against the second inclined surface 36 leading to the plurality of insertion holes 34.

[0109] 31 and 32 are cross-sectional views showing a state in which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are being inserted into the electrical connector 2, and are cross-sectional views at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow GG in FIG. 29. FIG. 31 is a view showing a state in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are further inserted into the guide portion 31 from the state shown in FIG. 30, and FIG. 32 is a view showing a state in which the plurality of mating connection members 101a are further inserted into the guide portion 31 from the state shown in FIG. 31. Referring to FIG. 31, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening 33 and the mating connection members 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 abut against the first inclined surface 35, the mating connection members 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 are inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35. As a result, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows move in the insertion direction X1 together with the mating connection members 100 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 inserted into the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35. Therefore, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted while being guided by the first inclined surface 35 into the inside of the guiding portion 31. Then, as shown in FIG. 32, when the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted to the back side of the guiding portion 31 while being guided by the first inclined surface 35, they are then guided to the multiple insertion holes 34, respectively. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are guided to the multiple insertion holes 34, they are inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34, respectively. Then, the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34 respectively pass through the multiple insertion holes 34 and come into contact with the spring contact portions 40b of the mating connection portions 40 of the terminals 13 held inside the movable housing 12, and are electrically connected to the terminals 13.

[0110] Next, a case will be described where a plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the movable housing 52 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4. Fig. 33 is a front view showing a state immediately before a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are inserted into the electrical connector 2, and shows the electrical connector 2 with the fixed housing 51 omitted. Fig. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH in Fig. 33. Figs. 33 and 34 show a case where a plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the movable housing 52 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4.

[0111] 33 and 34, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 of the movable housing 52. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 12 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the opening 33 at positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4 without overlapping with the plurality of insertion holes 34 in the insertion direction X1. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 are inserted into the opening 33 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the leading ends of the mating connection members 101a arranged in one row in the front-rear direction X4 among the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one side of both ends in the front-rear direction X4 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31. The dimension H3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the height direction X2 is set to be larger than the dimension H4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 in the height direction X2, and further, the dimension Y3 of the third inclined surface 37 in the front-rear direction X4 is set to be larger than the dimension Y4 of the fourth inclined surface 53 in the front-rear direction X4. Therefore, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 while being shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the tip ends of the mating connection members 101a arranged in a row on one side in the front-rear direction X4 abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends in the front-rear direction X4 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the tip ends of the plurality of mating connection members 101a reach the same height as the fourth inclined surface 53 leading to each of the plurality of insertion holes 34.

[0112] Fig. 35 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members 101a of the mating connector 101 are being inserted into the electrical connector 2, and is a cross-sectional view at a position corresponding to the position of the arrow HH in Fig. 33. Referring to Fig. 35, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the opening 33, and the mating connection members 101a arranged in one row in the front-rear direction X4 among the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends in the front-rear direction X4, the mating connection members 101a arranged in one row in the front-rear direction X4 are inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the third inclined surface 37. As a result, the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows move in the insertion direction X1 together with the mating connection members 101a arranged in one row in the front-rear direction X4 that are inserted into the opening 33 while sliding along the third inclined surface 37. Therefore, the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the guiding portion 31 while being guided by the third inclined surface 37. Then, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inner side of the guiding portion 31 while being guided by the third inclined surface 37, they are then guided into the plurality of insertion holes 34. When the plurality of mating connection members 101a are guided into the plurality of insertion holes 34, they are inserted into the plurality of insertion holes 34 as they are. Then, the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the plurality of insertion holes 34 pass through the plurality of insertion holes 34, respectively, and come into contact with the spring contact portion 40b of the mating connection portion 40 of the terminal 13 held inside the movable housing 52, and are electrically connected to the terminal 13.

[0113] According to the second embodiment described above, when the pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are connected to the electrical connector 2, the mating connection members 101a are inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding portion 31 of the movable housing 52. When the mating connection members 101a inserted into the openings 33 of the guiding portion 31 of the movable housing 52 are inserted into the openings 33 without being misaligned, the mating connection members 101a are inserted into the insertion holes 34 on the inner side of the guiding portion 31. Then, the mating connection members 101a inserted into the insertion holes 34 are electrically connected to the terminals 13, respectively. On the other hand, when the plurality of mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 of the movable housing 52 are inserted into the opening 33 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, the tip end of the mating connection member 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 among the plurality of mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows abuts against the first inclined surface 35 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31. The first inclined surface 35 provided at both ends in the width direction X3 of the inner wall of the guiding section 31 toward the height direction X2 and toward the outside in the width direction X3 has a larger dimension in the height direction X2 and a larger dimension in the width direction X3 than the second inclined surface 36 inclined toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 between adjacent insertion holes 34 in the width direction X3. For this reason, when the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 while being shifted in the width direction X3, the tip end of the multiple mating connection members 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 abuts against the first inclined surface 35 on one of both ends in the width direction X3 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the tip ends of the multiple mating connection members 101a abut against the second inclined surface 36 leading to the multiple insertion holes 34. Then, the mating connection member 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 is inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35.As a result, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows move together with the mating connection members 101a on one of both ends in the width direction X3 inserted into the opening 33 while sliding along the first inclined surface 35, and are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided by the first inclined surface 35. When the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35, they are then inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34. Therefore, even if the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52 with their insertion positions shifted in the width direction X3, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35, and are appropriately inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34. Therefore, the work of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows into the electrical connector 2 and connecting them can be performed appropriately and easily. Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the movable housing 52 has a simple structure in which the first inclined surfaces 35 are provided on both ends in the width direction X3 of the guide portion 31 in which the opening 33 is provided, and this allows the work of inserting and connecting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows to the electrical connector 2 appropriately and easily. This makes it possible to prevent the electrical connector 2 and the mating connector 101 connected to the electrical connector 2 from becoming large and complicated in structure.

[0114] As described above, according to the second embodiment, an electrical connector 2 can be provided that can properly and easily perform the task of inserting and connecting multiple pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows, while preventing the structure from becoming too large and complicated.

[0115] In addition, when the magnitude of the smaller angle θ1 between the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is the same as the magnitude of the smaller angle θ2 between the inclination direction of the second inclined surface 36 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 and reach the same height position as the second inclined surface 36, and then are guided along the first inclined surface 35 and the second inclined surface 36 to be inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. In contrast, according to the second embodiment, the magnitude of the smaller angle θ1 between the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3 is set to be larger than the magnitude of the smaller angle θ2 between the inclination direction of the second inclined surface 36 with respect to the height direction X2 and the width direction X3. As a result, even if the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted inside the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the first inclined surface 35 and reach the same height position as the second inclined surface 36, they continue to be guided along the first inclined surface 35 without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface 36 and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. In this way, the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 of the movable housing 52 are guided along the first inclined surface 35 without almost coming into sliding contact with the second inclined surface 36 and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. This makes it possible to more smoothly and easily perform the operation of properly inserting and connecting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows.

[0116] According to the second embodiment, when the pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening 33 of the guide section 31 of the movable housing 52 with the insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the tip ends of the mating connection members 101a arranged in one row in the front-rear direction X4 among the two rows of the mating connection members 101a abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one of both ends in the front-rear direction X4 on the inner wall of the guide section 31. The third inclined surface 37 inclined toward the height direction X2 and toward the outside in the front-rear direction X4 on both ends in the front-rear direction X4 of the inner wall of the guide section 31 is set to have a larger dimension in the height direction X2 and a larger dimension in the front-rear direction X4 than the fourth inclined surface 53 inclined toward the entrance of the insertion hole 34 between adjacent insertion holes 34 in the front-rear direction X4. Therefore, when the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows are inserted into the opening 33 of the guiding section 31 in a state shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the leading ends of the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in a row on one side in the front-rear direction X4 abut against the third inclined surface 37 on one side of both ends in the front-rear direction X4 on the inner wall of the guiding section 31 before the leading ends of the multiple mating connection members 101a abut against the fourth inclined surface 53 leading to each of the multiple insertion holes 34. Then, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the opening 33 while sliding along the third inclined surface 37. As a result, the multiple mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows move together with the mating connection members 101a arranged in a row on one side in the front-rear direction X4 that are inserted into the opening 33 while sliding along the third inclined surface 37, and are inserted into the inside of the guiding section 31 while being guided by the third inclined surface 37. The multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37, and then are inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34, respectively. Therefore, even if the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the movable housing 52 with their insertion positions shifted in the front-rear direction X4, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37, and are appropriately inserted into the multiple insertion holes 34.Therefore, the operation of inserting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows into the electrical connector 2 for connection can be performed appropriately and easily.

[0117] In addition, when the magnitude of the smaller angle θ3 between the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37 with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4 is the same as the magnitude of the smaller angle θ4 between the inclination direction of the fourth inclined surface 53 with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4, the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the inside of the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37 and reach the same height position as the fourth inclined surface 53, and then are guided along the third inclined surface 37 and the fourth inclined surface 53 to be inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. In contrast, according to the second embodiment, the magnitude of the smaller angle θ3 between the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37 with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4 is set to be larger than the magnitude of the smaller angle θ4 between the inclination direction of the fourth inclined surface 53 with respect to the height direction X2 and the front-rear direction X4. As a result, even if the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted inside the guiding portion 31 while being guided along the inclination direction of the third inclined surface 37 and reach the same height position as the fourth inclined surface 53, they continue to be guided along the third inclined surface 37 without almost coming into sliding contact with the fourth inclined surface 53 and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. In this way, the multiple mating connection members 101a inserted into the opening 33 of the movable housing 52 are guided along the third inclined surface 37 without almost coming into sliding contact with the fourth inclined surface 53 and are inserted into each of the multiple insertion holes 34. This makes it possible to more smoothly and easily perform the operation of properly inserting and connecting the multiple pin-shaped mating connection members 101a arranged in two rows.

[0118] (Modification) Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, the following modifications may be made.

[0119] In the above-described first embodiment, the insertion direction X1 and height direction X2 of the electrical connector 1 are configured to be perpendicular to the flat surface of the substrate 100 when the electrical connector 1 is installed on the substrate 100, but this need not be the case. A configuration in which the insertion direction X1 and height direction X2 of the electrical connector are configured to be parallel to the flat surface of the substrate 100 when the electrical connector is installed on the substrate 100 may also be implemented, and for example, modified examples such as those shown in Figures 36 to 39 may be implemented.

[0120] Fig. 36 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector 1a according to a modified example together with a board. Fig. 37 is a front view of the electrical connector 1a. Fig. 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 37. Fig. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in Fig. 37. In the following description of the modified example, elements configured similarly to the first embodiment and elements configured corresponding to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals in the drawings or by quoting the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0121] 36 to 39, the electrical connector 1a according to the modified example has an insertion direction X1, which is a direction in which the multiple mating connection members 101a are inserted into the guide portions 31 of the movable housing 12, and a height direction X2, which is the opposite direction to the insertion direction X1, which are parallel to the surface of the flat substrate 100 when the electrical connector 1a is installed on the substrate 100. Also, in the electrical connector 1a, a front-rear direction X4, which is perpendicular to both the width direction X3, which is the direction in which the multiple insertion holes 34 are arranged, and the height direction X2, is perpendicular to the surface of the flat substrate 100.

[0122] As in the modified example shown in Figures 36 to 39, a configuration may be implemented in which the insertion direction X1 and height direction X2 of the electrical connector 1a are configured to be parallel to the surface of the substrate 100 that spreads out flatly when the electrical connector 1a is installed on the substrate 100. [Industrial Applicability]

[0123] The present invention can be widely applied as an electrical connector comprising a fixed housing installed on a substrate, a movable housing attached so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals supporting the movable housing so that it can be displaced relative to the fixed housing, into which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connecting members arranged in a line are inserted for connection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 1, 1a, 2 Electrical Connector 11, 51 Fixed housing 12, 52 Movable housing 13 Terminals 31 Guidance part 33 Aperture 34 Insertion hole 35 First inclined surface 36 Second inclined surface 37 Third Slope 53 The Fourth Slope 100 Substrates 101a Counterpart connecting member

Claims

1. An electrical connector into which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members arranged side by side are inserted and connected, a fixed housing that is installed on a substrate, a movable housing that is attached to the fixed housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals that support the movable housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing and are electrically connected to the respective counterpart connection members, the movable housing is provided with a guide portion having openings into which the plurality of mating connection members are inserted and guiding the plurality of mating connection members inserted into the openings to be received inside the movable housing, and a plurality of insertion holes provided side by side inside the guide portion and into which the plurality of mating connection members guided by the guide portion are respectively inserted, a first inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the height direction and extends in a tapered manner toward the opening toward the outside in the width direction, the first inclined surface being inclined at both ends in the width direction, the first inclined surface being inclined with respect to the height ... a second inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction is provided between the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the width direction so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the insertion direction and toward an entrance of the insertion hole into which the mating connection member is inserted, a dimension of the first inclined surface in the width direction is larger than a dimension of the second inclined surface in the width direction, An electrical connector, characterized in that a dimension of the first inclined surface in the height direction is greater than a dimension of the second inclined surface in the height direction.

2. 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, An electrical connector, characterized in that the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the first inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction is larger than the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the second inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction.

3. 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, The inner wall of the guide portion is provided with a third inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the height direction at both ends in the front-rear direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the width direction and the height direction, so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the height direction and toward the outside in the front-rear direction to the opening, An electrical connector, characterized in that the dimension of the third inclined surface in the height direction is greater than the dimension of the second inclined surface in the height direction.

4. An electrical connector into which a plurality of pin-shaped mating connection members arranged in two rows are inserted and connected, a fixed housing that is installed on a board, a movable housing that is attached to the fixed housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing, and a plurality of terminals that support the movable housing so as to be displaceable relative to the fixed housing and are electrically connected to the respective counterpart connection members, the movable housing is provided with a guide portion having openings into which the plurality of mating connection members are inserted and guiding the plurality of mating connection members inserted into the openings to be received inside the movable housing, and a plurality of insertion holes arranged in two rows inside the guide portion and into which the plurality of mating connection members guided by the guide portion are respectively inserted, a first inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction, which is the opposite direction to an insertion direction in which the plurality of mating connection members are inserted into the guide portion, and which is inclined with respect to the height direction so as to taper and widen to the opening toward the outside in the width direction, on both ends in the width direction, which is the direction in which the plurality of insertion holes are arranged in two rows; a second inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction is provided between the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the width direction so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the insertion direction and toward an entrance of the insertion hole into which the mating connection member is inserted, a dimension of the first inclined surface in the width direction is larger than a dimension of the second inclined surface in the width direction, An electrical connector, characterized in that a dimension of the first inclined surface in the height direction is greater than a dimension of the second inclined surface in the height direction.

5. 5. The electrical connector of claim 4, An electrical connector, characterized in that the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the first inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction is larger than the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the second inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the width direction.

6. 6. The electrical connector according to claim 4 or 5, The inner wall of the guide portion is provided with a third inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the height direction at both ends in the front-rear direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the width direction and the height direction, so as to extend in a tapered manner toward the height direction and toward the outside in the front-rear direction to the opening, A fourth inclined surface is provided between the insertion holes adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, the fourth inclined surface being inclined with respect to the height direction so as to extend in a tapered shape toward the insertion direction and toward the entrance of the insertion hole, a dimension of the third inclined surface in the front-rear direction is larger than a dimension of the fourth inclined surface in the front-rear direction, An electrical connector, wherein a dimension of the third inclined surface in the height direction is greater than a dimension of the fourth inclined surface in the height direction.

7. 7. The electrical connector of claim 6, An electrical connector, characterized in that the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the third inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the front-to-back direction is larger than the smaller of the angles formed between the direction in which the fourth inclined surface inclines with respect to the height direction and the front-to-back direction.

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