Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of electrically connecting a contact to a conductor of a connection target even if the conductor is exposed on either a front face and a rear face of the connection target.SOLUTION: An inner contact 18 comprises: a holding part 18B which is held in a recess 13C of a plug contact 13 and electrically connected to the plug contact in contact with an inner face of the recess; and a cantilever-shaped elastic part 18C which is coupled to the holding part, opposed to a rear face of a flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and elastically deformable in a direction along a fitting axis C. By press-fitting a projection 17C of a bottom insulator 17 into the recess 13, the plug contact 13 is fixed to the bottom insulator 17, a portion of a sheet-shaped conductive member 15 is held between the rear face of the flange of the plug contact and the elastic part of the inner contact, the rear face of the flange is in contact with a front face of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15, and the elastic part is in contact with a rear face of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

[Technical Field]

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

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

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses this type of connector as shown in Figure 26. The connector has a housing 2 and a base member 3 arranged on either side of a flexible substrate 1 with the flexible substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween, with cylindrical portions 4A of contacts 4 passing through contact through holes 2A in the housing 2 and flanges 4B of the contacts 4 sandwiched between the housing 2 and conductors 1A exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1.

[0004] In this state, by pushing the base member 3 toward the housing 2, as shown in Figure 27, the protrusion 3A of the base member 3 is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 4C of the contact 4 with the flexible substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween, and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 4C contacts the conductor 1A with a predetermined contact force, thereby electrically connecting the contact 4 to the conductor 1A. As shown in FIG. 26, housing fixing posts 3B formed on the base member 3 to protrude are press-fitted into post receiving portions 2B of the housing 2, whereby the housing 2 and the base member 3 are fixed to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-129244 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

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

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

[0008] The connector according to the present invention comprises: a cylindrical portion extending along the mating axis and having a recess formed inside, and a conductive plug contact having a flange extending from an end of the cylindrical portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating axis; a bottom insulator having a support surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and a protrusion protruding from the support surface along the fitting axis and press-fitted into the recess; a conductive inner contact disposed on the support surface and partially inserted into the recess; Equipped with the inner contact has a holding portion that is held in the recess and contacts the inner surface of the recess to be electrically connected to the plug contact, and a cantilever-shaped elastic portion that is connected to the holding portion, faces the back surface of the flange, and is elastically deformable in a direction along the fitting axis; The protrusion is press-fitted into the recess, thereby fixing the plug contact to the bottom insulator. A portion of the sheet-like connection object, with a conductor exposed on at least one surface, is sandwiched between the back surface of the flange of the plug contact and the elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the mating axis, and the back surface of the flange comes into contact with the surface of the connection object and the elastic portion comes into contact with the back surface of the connection object, so that when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected directly to the conductor, and when the conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

[0009] The inner contact is made of a bent metal plate. a flat base portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and disposed on a support surface; a flat plate-shaped holding portion connected to the base and cut out in a U-shape so as to surround the protrusion along a plane including the fitting axis; The connector may be configured to have a pair of elastic portions connected to the base and arranged at positions facing each other across the fitting axis.

[0010] the holding portion has a pair of first contact portions spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and each contacting an inner surface of the recess; Preferably, the pair of elastic portions each have a pair of second contact portions disposed at the tip of the elastic portion.

[0011] The holding portion has a pair of pressing portions that face each other across the fitting shaft and each protrude in a direction toward the fitting shaft, Preferably, the inner contact is held in the bottom insulator by the projection being press-fitted between the pair of pressing portions. Furthermore, the protrusion preferably has a pair of insertion grooves into which the pair of pressing portions are inserted.

[0012] The projections each have a plurality of press-fitting portions that protrude radially from a side surface along the circumference of the projection and extend along the fitting axis, Preferably, a plurality of press-fit portions are press-fit into the recess. The bottom insulator has an arrangement surface that extends in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and on which an object to be connected is arranged, The support surface is preferably a bottom surface of a recess formed in the placement surface.

[0013] The connector further includes a top insulator having a contact through-hole formed therein, the through-hole being smaller than the flange and through which the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes, It is preferable that the cylindrical portion of the plug contact is passed through the contact through hole and that the top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator so that the flange of the plug contact, the connection object, and the elastic portion of the inner contact are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this invention, the inner contact has a holding portion that is held in the recess of the plug contact and is in contact with the inner surface of the recess to be electrically connected to the plug contact, and a cantilever-shaped elastic portion that is connected to the holding portion, faces the back surface of the flange, and is elastically deformable in a direction along the fitting axis, and when the protrusion of the bottom insulator is pressed into the recess of the plug contact, the plug contact is fixed to the bottom insulator, and a part of the connection object is sandwiched between the back surface of the flange of the plug contact and the elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the fitting axis, and the back surface of the flange comes into contact with the surface of the connection object and the elastic portion comes into contact with the back surface of the connection object, so that when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor directly, and when the conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact, and therefore it is possible to electrically connect the contact to the conductor of the connection object whether the conductor is exposed on the front or back surface of the connection object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment, seen obliquely from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an assembly diagram of a connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a top insulator used in the connector of the embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a plug contact used in a connector according to an embodiment; [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a plug contact used in a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bottom insulator used in the connector of the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a perspective view showing a protrusion of a bottom insulator used in the connector of the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a plan view showing a protrusion of a bottom insulator used in the connector of the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view of an inner contact used in a connector according to an embodiment, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 10] 1 is a perspective view of an inner contact used in a connector according to an embodiment, as viewed obliquely from behind. [Figure 11] 1 is a front view showing an inner contact used in a connector according to an embodiment; [Figure 12] 1 is a perspective view of a connection object to be connected to a connector according to an embodiment, viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 13] 1 is a perspective view of a connection object to be connected to a connector according to an embodiment, viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 14] 1 is a perspective view showing a reinforcing sheet used in a connector according to an embodiment; [Figure 15] 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which an inner contact is aligned with a bottom insulator according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an inner contact is arranged in a bottom insulator according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17]1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which an inner contact is arranged in a bottom insulator according to an embodiment. [Figure 18] 10 is a plan view showing a state in which an inner contact is arranged on a bottom insulator according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connection object is placed on the bottom insulator and plug contacts are aligned in the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 20] 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which a protrusion of a bottom insulator is being press-fitted into a plug contact in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 21] 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protrusion of the bottom insulator has been press-fitted into the plug contact in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 22] 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protrusion of the bottom insulator has been press-fitted into the plug contact in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 23] 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment connected to a connection object, viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 24] 1 is a partial front cross-sectional view showing the state inside a plug contact in a connector according to an embodiment connected to a connection object. [Figure 25] 1 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the state inside a plug contact in a connector according to an embodiment connected to a connection object. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional connector. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a connector 11 according to an embodiment. The connector 11 is used, for example, as a clothing connector for mating with a wearable device, and has a housing 12 made of an insulating material. Four plug contacts 13 are held in the housing 12, and the housing 12 also holds a reinforcing sheet 14 and a sheet-like conductive member 15 in a stacked state. The sheet-like conductive member 15 constitutes a connection object to which the connector 11 is connected. The four plug contacts 13 are arranged in two parallel rows and are disposed so as to protrude perpendicularly from the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0017] For convenience, the reinforcing sheet 14 and the sheet-like conductive member 15 extend along the XY plane, the arrangement direction of the four plug contacts 13 is called the Y direction, and the direction in which each of the four plug contacts 13 protrudes is called the +Z direction. The Z direction is the mating direction in which the connector 11 mates with a mating connector.

[0018] 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the connector 11. The connector 11 has a top insulator 16 and a bottom insulator 17, and the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 form the housing 12.

[0019] Four plug contacts 13 are arranged on the -Z direction side of top insulator 16, reinforcing sheet 14 is arranged on the -Z direction side of plug contacts 13, and sheet-like conductive member 15 is arranged on the -Z direction side of reinforcing sheet 14. Furthermore, four inner contacts 18 are arranged on the -Z direction side of sheet-like conductive member 15, and bottom insulator 17 is arranged on the -Z direction side of inner contacts 18. The four inner contacts 18 correspond to the four plug contacts 13, respectively.

[0020] 3, the top insulator 16 has a recess 16A that opens toward the +Z direction, and four contact through holes 16B formed in the recess 16A. The recess 16A constitutes a mating connector accommodating portion that accommodates a portion of a mating connector (not shown), and the four contact through holes 16B correspond to the four plug contacts 13. In addition, a plurality of bosses 16C that protrude in the -Z direction are formed on the surface of the top insulator 16 facing the -Z direction.

[0021] Each of the four plug contacts 13 is formed from a conductive material such as metal, and is connected to a corresponding contact of the mating connector (not shown) when a part of the mating connector is accommodated in the recess 16A of the top insulator 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the plug contact 13 has a cylindrical portion 13A extending in the Z direction along the fitting axis C, and a flange 13B extending along the XY plane from the -Z direction end of the cylindrical portion 13A. 5, a recess 13C that is open toward the −Z direction is formed inside the cylindrical portion 13A. The recess 13C has an inner diameter D1 near the −Z direction end of the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0022] The fitting axis C passes through the center of the cylindrical portion 13A and extends in the fitting direction of the connector 11 and the mating connector. Furthermore, although the tubular portion 13A has a cylindrical shape, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a circle, and it may have various cross-sectional shapes such as an ellipse or a polygon, as long as it has a recess 13C inside. All four plug contacts 13 can be used as terminals for transmitting electrical signals.

[0023] 6, the bottom insulator 17 has a flat plate portion 17A extending along the XY plane, and a flat arrangement surface S on which the sheet-like conductive member 15 is arranged is formed by the surface of the flat plate portion 17A facing the +Z direction. Four recessed portions 17B, each opening toward the +Z direction, are formed on the arrangement surface S of the flat plate portion 17A. The four recessed portions 17B correspond to the four plug contacts 13. Four protrusions 17C are formed on each of the four recessed portions 17B, protruding in the +Z direction from the center of the recessed portion 17B. Furthermore, a plurality of through holes 17D corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed in the flat plate portion 17A.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the bottom surface of the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 forms a flat support surface 17E that extends along the XY plane and faces the +Z direction. The protrusion 17C protrudes from the support surface 17E in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C, and has a rectangular column shape with a substantially hexagonal cross section. Six press-fit portions 17F are formed on the side surface along the periphery of the protrusion 17C, each protruding in a radial direction from the fitting axis C as the center and extending along the fitting axis C.

[0025] Furthermore, a pair of insertion grooves 17G are formed on the side surface of the protrusion 17C at positions different from the press-fit portion 17F, each extending along the fitting axis C. These insertion grooves 17G are for holding the inner contacts 18, with one insertion groove 17G opening in the +Y direction and the other insertion groove 17G opening in the -Y direction.

[0026] The distance D2 between the pair of press-fit portions 17F arranged in opposite directions across the fitting axis C is set slightly larger than the inner diameter D1 of the recess 13C of the plug contact 13 shown in FIG. Therefore, when assembling the connector 11, the plug contacts 13 can be fixed to the bottom insulator 17 by press-fitting the projections 17C of the bottom insulator 17 into the recesses 13C of the plug contacts 13. The bottoms of a pair of insertion grooves 17G formed on the side surfaces of the protrusion 17C are spaced apart from each other by a distance Y1 along the Y direction.

[0027] 9 and 10, the inner contact 18 is made of a single bent conductive metal plate and has a base 18A extending along the XY plane, a holding portion 18B connected to the base 18A, and a pair of elastic portions 18C connected to the base 18A. When the connector 11 is assembled, the base 18A is placed on the support surface 17E of the corresponding recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17, and the holding portions 18B are inserted into the corresponding recessed portions 13C of the plug contact 13.

[0028] The base 18A is a flat plate member that extends in an approximately semicircular shape along the XY plane while curving around the mating axis C, and a holding portion 18B is connected to both ends of the base 18A in the Y direction, and a pair of elastic portions 18C is connected to both ends of the base 18A in the Y direction.

[0029] The holding portion 18B is a flat plate-like member that extends along the YZ plane and is cut out in a substantially U-shape so as to surround the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17. A pair of first contact portions P1 that are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction and face in opposite directions are arranged at the +Y direction end and the -Y direction end of the holding portion 18B at a predetermined height in the Z direction. The holding portion 18B also has a pair of pressing portions 18D that are located on the -Z direction side of the pair of first contact portions P1, face each other across the fitting axis C, and each protrude toward the fitting axis C. When the connector 11 is assembled, with the pair of pressing portions 18D inserted into the pair of insertion grooves 17G of the protrusions 17C of the bottom insulator 17, the protrusions 17C are press-fit between the pair of pressing portions 18D.

[0030] The pair of elastic portions 18C each have a cantilever shape that extends in the +X direction from the corresponding Y-direction end of base portion 18A, rises in the +Z direction, and is bent so as to return to the +Z-direction side of the corresponding Y-direction end of base portion 18A. Due to this shape, the pair of elastic portions 18C are each configured to be elastically deformable in the Z direction, and a pair of second contact portions P2 facing in the +Z direction are disposed at the tips of the pair of elastic portions 18C.

[0031] As shown in Figure 11, the Y-direction spacing Y2 between the pair of first contact portions P1 is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter D1 of the recess 13C at the portion where the pair of first contact portions P1 come into contact when the retaining portion 18B is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13. Therefore, when the retaining portion 18B of the inner contact 18 is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13, the pair of first contact portions P1 are configured to elastically displace in the direction toward the mating axis C and contact the inner surface of the recess 13C with a predetermined contact pressure.

[0032] In addition, the Y-direction distance Y3 between a pair of opposing pressing portions 18D is set to be slightly smaller than the Y-direction distance Y1 between the bottoms of a pair of insertion grooves 17G formed in the protrusions 17C of the bottom insulator 17 shown in Figure 8. Therefore, when assembling the connector 11, the inner contact 18 can be fixed to the bottom insulator 17 by inserting a pair of pressing portions 18D of the inner contact 18 into a pair of insertion grooves 17G of the protrusions 17C of the bottom insulator 17 while pressing the inner contact 18 against the bottom insulator 17, and pressing the protrusions 17C between the pair of pressing portions 18D.

[0033] The sheet-shaped conductive member 15 has a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of wiring layers each made of a conductor and a plurality of insulating layers are stacked. 12, four contact arrangement regions 15A for arranging four plug contacts 13 are defined on the surface facing the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 15. A circular opening 15B penetrating the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction is formed in the center of each contact arrangement region 15A, and the wiring layer 15C is exposed in the +Z direction around the opening 15B so as to surround the opening 15B. In regions other than the four contact arrangement regions 15A, the insulating layer 15D is exposed.

[0034] Since the openings 15B penetrate the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction, as shown in Figure 13, the openings 15B can also be seen on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the -Z direction, at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement areas 15A.

[0035] On the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the -Z direction, a wiring layer 15E is exposed in the -Z direction around the openings 15B formed at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement areas 15A, surrounding the openings 15B, and an insulating layer 15F is exposed in other areas. 12 and 13, the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 has a peripheral portion formed with a plurality of through holes 15G corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16. As shown in FIG.

[0036] 14, the reinforcing sheet 14 is intended to reinforce the mounting object, such as clothing (not shown), on which the connector 11 is mounted, and is made of an insulating material with an opening 14A formed in the center. Furthermore, along the periphery of the opening 14A in the reinforcing sheet 14, a plurality of notches 14B are formed corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16.

[0037] The four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator 16, the four plug contacts 13, the four contact arrangement areas 15A of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the four inner contacts 18, and the four recessed portions 17B of the bottom insulator 17 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction. In addition, the multiple bosses 16C of the top insulator 16, the multiple notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the multiple through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the multiple through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0038] 15, when assembling the connector 11, the inner contact 18 is first aligned with the +Z side of the corresponding recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the base portion 18A and the pair of elastic portions 18C of the inner contact 18 are located on the +Z side of the corresponding recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17, and the holding portion 18B is located on the +Z side of the protrusion 17C protruding from the recessed portion 17B.

[0039] 16, while the protrusions 17C of the bottom insulator 17 are inserted into the inside of the substantially U-shaped holding portion 18B of the inner contact 18, the inner contact 18 is pushed in the -Z direction toward the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17, the inner contact 18 is pushed in with the pair of pressing portions 18D protruding inside the holding portion 18B of the inner contact 18 inserted into the pair of insertion grooves 17G of the protrusions 17C of the bottom insulator 17.

[0040] Here, the Y-direction spacing Y3 between a pair of pressing portions 18D of the inner contact 18 shown in Figure 11 is set to be slightly smaller than the Y-direction spacing Y1 between the bottoms of a pair of insertion grooves 17G of the bottom insulator 17 shown in Figure 8, so by pressing the inner contact 18 against the bottom insulator 17, the protrusion 17C is pressed into between the pair of pressing portions 18D, and the inner contact 18 is fixed to the bottom insulator 17.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 17, the inner contact 18 is pushed toward the bottom insulator 17 until the base 18A and the pair of elastic portions 18C of the inner contact 18 come into contact with the support surface 17E of the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17. Furthermore, the elastic portion 18C of the inner contact 18 has a Z-direction height that is greater than the depth dimension of the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17, and therefore a pair of second contact portions P2 located at the tips of the pair of elastic portions 18C protrude in the +Z direction from the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 and are located on the +Z direction side of the placement surface S of the bottom insulator 17.

[0042] In this way, as shown in FIG. 18, the inner contact 18 is housed in the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 and supported on the support surface 17E.

[0043] 19 , the sheet-like conductive member 15 is placed on the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the corresponding protrusions 17C of the bottom insulator 17 and the holding portions 18B of the inner contacts 18 fixed to the protrusions 17C are inserted into the openings 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the contact arrangement regions 15A are positioned on the +Z direction side of the corresponding recessed portions 17B of the bottom insulator 17.

[0044] However, since a pair of second contact portions P2 of the inner contact 18 protrude in the +Z direction from the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 and the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 is positioned on top of the pair of second contact portions P2, the contact arrangement area 15A of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 is raised in the +Z direction above the arrangement surface S of the bottom insulator 17.

[0045] Furthermore, the corresponding plug contact 13 is aligned with the +Z direction side of the sheet-like conductive member 15. At this time, the recess 13C of the plug contact 13 is positioned on the +Z direction side of the holding portion 18B of the inner contact 18 fixed to the corresponding protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17. In addition, the Y-direction spacing Y2 between the pair of first contact portions P1 of the inner contact 18 shown in Figure 11 is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter D1 of the recess 13C of the plug contact 13 shown in Figure 5, so as shown in Figure 19, the plug contact 13 is in a state where the -Z-direction end of the recess 13C is caught on the pair of first contact portions P1.

[0046] In this state, the plug contact 13 is pushed relatively in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator 17. As a result, as shown in Fig. 20 , the plug contact 13 moves in the -Z direction while compressing and deforming the holding portion 18B of the inner contact 18 in the Y direction, and the holding portion 18B of the inner contact 18 and the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 are inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13, and the back surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 comes into contact with the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 on the +Z direction side.

[0047] Furthermore, when the plug contact 13 is pushed in the -Z direction, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 pushes the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the -Z direction, compressing the pair of elastic portions 18C in the Z direction via the pair of second contact portions P2, and the plug contact 13 and the sheet-like conductive member 15 move in the -Z direction, until the sheet-like conductive member 15 comes into contact with the placement surface S of the bottom insulator 17.

[0048] As described above, the distance D2 between the pair of press-fit portions 17F of the protrusion 17C arranged in opposite directions across the mating axis C is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter D1 of the recess 13C of the plug contact 13. Therefore, when the plug contact 13 is pressed toward the bottom insulator 17 as shown in Figures 19 to 22, the protrusion 17C is pressed into the recess 13C, and the plug contact 13 is fixed to the bottom insulator 17.

[0049] In this state, the reinforcing sheet 14 and the top insulator 16 are sequentially arranged from the +Z direction side relative to the sheet-like conductive member 15. At this time, the tubular portions 13A of the plug contacts 13 corresponding to the four contact through holes 16B of the top insulator 16 are inserted from the -Z direction, and the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator 16 sequentially penetrate the plurality of notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the plurality of through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17. Then, as shown in Fig. 23 , by thermally deforming the tips of the plurality of bosses 16C protruding toward the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator 17, the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 are fixed to each other, and the assembly of the connector 11 is completed.

[0050] 24, in the connector 11 assembled in this manner, the sheet-like conductive member 15 is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of elastic portions 18C of the inner contact 18. Furthermore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the +Z direction faces the back surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the -Z direction faces the pair of second contact portions P2 of the pair of elastic portions 18C of the inner contact 18.

[0051] Therefore, the back surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 comes into contact with the wiring layer 15C of the sheet-like conductive member 15 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact 13 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15C. Also, the pair of second contact portions P2 of the pair of elastic portions 18C of the inner contact 18 come into contact with the wiring layer 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the inner contact 18 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15E.

[0052] In addition, the retaining portion 18B of the inner contact 18 is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13, and a pair of first contact portions P1 formed on the retaining portion 18B contact the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact 13 with a predetermined contact pressure, thereby electrically connecting the inner contact 18 to the plug contact 13.

[0053] Therefore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is electrically connected directly to the plug contact 13, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is electrically connected to the plug contact 13 via the inner contact 18. That is, both the wiring layers 15C and 15E are connected to the plug contact 13. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled connector 11 seen from a different direction than that of FIG. 24, that is, from the side.

[0054] In this way, according to the connector 11, by using the inner contact 18, it is possible to electrically connect both the wiring layer 15C made of a conductor arranged on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the wiring layer 15E made of a conductor arranged on the back side to one plug contact 13. Therefore, if the connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member whose conductors are exposed only on the front side, the plug contacts 13 can be electrically connected to the conductors on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member, and if the connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member whose conductors are exposed only on the back side, the plug contacts 13 can be electrically connected to the conductors on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member.

[0055] Furthermore, when connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member having conductors exposed on both the front and back sides, such as sheet-like conductive member 15 in this embodiment, plug contacts 13 can be electrically connected to both the conductors on the front and back sides of the sheet-like conductive member. For example, if the connection target is a multilayered sheet-like conductive member in which conductors constituting shielding layers are exposed on both the front and back sides and conductors constituting signal wiring layers are stacked between these shielding layers while being insulated from both shielding layers, connecting plug contacts 13 connected to the shielding layers on the front and back sides to ground potential will provide a shielding effect for the signal wiring layers, enabling high-precision signal transmission with suppressed effects of disturbances such as electromagnetic waves.

[0056] 27, it is not necessary to bend a portion of the sheet-like conductive member 15 at a substantially right angle to wrap it into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13. Instead, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the wiring layers 15C, 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 with the sheet-like conductive member 15 extending along the XY plane sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and a pair of elastic portions 18C of the inner contact 18. This makes it possible to prevent breaks in the wiring layers 15C, 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 due to bending, and also makes it possible to electrically connect the plug contact 13 to a connection object that is difficult to bend.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is press-fitted into the recess 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact 13, thereby fixing the plug contact 13 to the bottom insulator 17, and therefore it is possible to electrically connect the plug contact 13 to the wiring layers 15C, 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15 without using the top insulator 16.

[0058] In addition, the plug contact 13 can be fixed to the bottom insulator 17 by passing the boss 16C of the top insulator 16 through the through hole 17D of the bottom insulator 17 and thermally deforming the tip of the boss 16C, or by adhesively fixing the top insulator 16 to the bottom insulator 17 using an adhesive, thereby pressing the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 with the top insulator 16 and fixing the plug contact 13 to the bottom insulator 17.

[0059] However, it is difficult to locate the boss 16C that penetrates the through hole 17D near the plug contact 13, and it is also difficult to use adhesive near the plug contact 13 to prevent poor contact due to the adhesive seeping in. This causes warping of the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 due to the reaction force of the contact load in the mating direction, which increases the gap between the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the pair of elastic portions 18C of the inner contact 18, potentially compromising the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0060] In contrast to this, in the above embodiment, the plug contact 13 is fixed to the bottom insulator 17 by press-fitting the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13, thereby preventing the bottom insulator 17 from warping and ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the bases 18A of the inner contacts 18 are disposed on the flat support surface 17E that is formed on the bottom surface of the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator 17 and extends along the XY plane. Therefore, the inner contacts 18 are stably supported within the connector 11, improving the reliability of the electrical connection of the plug contacts 13 to the wiring layers 15C, 15E of the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the inner contact 18 has a pair of elastic portions 18C, but this is not limited to this, and the inner contact 18 may have one elastic portion 18C, or may have three or more elastic portions 18C.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the plug contacts 13 arranged in the contact arrangement area 15A of the sheet-like conductive member 15 are connected to both the wiring layer 15C exposed on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 15, but for example, it is also possible to connect only the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 to the plug contacts 13 arranged in the contact arrangement area 15A.

[0064] The sheet-shaped conductive member 15 used in the above embodiment has a multi-layer structure, but is not limited to this, and may have a conductor exposed on at least one surface. In addition, in the above embodiment, two layers of conductors consisting of wiring layer 15C and wiring layer 15E of sheet-like conductive member 15 are connected to one plug contact 13, but this is not limited to this, and three or more layers of conductors can also be connected to one plug contact 13.

[0065] Furthermore, although the connector 11 in the above embodiment has four plug contacts 13, the number of plug contacts 13 is not limited, and it is sufficient to have at least one plug contact 13 that is electrically connected to a conductor exposed on at least one surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15. In the above embodiment, a reinforcing sheet 14 is arranged between the bottom insulator 17 and the top insulator 16, but if there is no need to reinforce the mounting object, such as clothing, to which the connector 11 is attached, the reinforcing sheet 14 can be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 flexible substrate, 1A conductor, 2 housing, 2A contact through hole, 2B post accommodating portion, 3 base member, 3A protrusion, 3B housing fixing post, 4 contact, 4A cylindrical portion, 4B flange, 4C protrusion accommodating portion, 11 connector, 12 housing, 13 plug contact, 13A cylindrical portion, 13B flange, 13C recess, 14 reinforcing sheet, 14A opening, 14B notch, 15 sheet-like conductive member, 15A contact arrangement area, 15B opening, 15C, 15E wiring layer, 15D, 15F insulating layer, 15G through hole, 16 top insulator, 16A recess, 16B contact through hole, 16C boss, 17 bottom insulator, 17A flat portion, 17B recess, 17C protrusion, 17D Through hole, 17E support surface, 17F press-fit portion, 17G insertion groove, 18 inner contact, 18A base portion, 18B holding portion, 18C elastic portion, 18D pressing portion, C mating axis. D1 inner diameter, D2, Y1, Y2, Y3 spacing, S arrangement surface, P1 first contact portion, P2 second contact portion.

Claims

1. a cylindrical portion extending along a mating axis and having a recess formed on the inside thereof, and a conductive plug contact having a flange extending from an end of the cylindrical portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating axis; a bottom insulator having a support surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis, and a protrusion protruding from the support surface along the fitting axis and press-fitted into the recess; a conductive inner contact disposed on the support surface and partially inserted into the recess; Equipped with the inner contact has a holding portion that is held in the recess and contacts the inner surface of the recess to be electrically connected to the plug contact, and a cantilever-shaped elastic portion that is connected to the holding portion, faces the back surface of the flange, and is elastically deformable in a direction along the fitting axis, The protrusion is press-fitted into the recess, thereby fixing the plug contact to the bottom insulator, A connector in which a portion of a sheet-like connection object having a conductor exposed on at least one surface is sandwiched between the back surface of the flange of the plug contact and the elastic portion of the inner contact in a direction along the mating axis, and the back surface of the flange comes into contact with the surface of the connection object and the elastic portion comes into contact with the back surface of the connection object, so that when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected directly to the conductor, and when the conductor is exposed on the back surface of the connection object, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

2. the inner contact is made of a bent metal plate, a flat base portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and disposed on the support surface; the holding portion is connected to the base portion and has a flat plate shape cut out in a U shape so as to surround the protrusion along a plane including the fitting axis; The connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of the elastic portions connected to the base and positioned opposite each other across the fitting shaft.

3. the holding portion has a pair of first contact portions spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and each contacting an inner surface of the recess, 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein each of the pair of elastic portions has a pair of second contact portions disposed at a tip end of the elastic portion.

4. the holding portion has a pair of pressing portions that face each other across the fitting shaft and that protrude in a direction toward the fitting shaft, 4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the inner contact is held by the bottom insulator by the projection being press-fitted between the pair of pressing portions.

5. The connector according to claim 4 , wherein the protrusion has a pair of insertion grooves into which the pair of pressing portions are inserted.

6. The protrusion has a plurality of press-fit portions that protrude radially from a side surface along a periphery of the protrusion and extend along the fitting axis, The connector of claim 1 , wherein the press-fit portions are press-fit into the recesses.

7. the bottom insulator has an arrangement surface that extends in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and on which the connection object is arranged, 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the support surface is a bottom surface of a recess formed in the placement surface.

8. a top insulator having a contact through hole formed therein, the contact through hole being smaller than the flange and through which the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes; A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tubular portion of the plug contact is passed through the contact through hole and the top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator so that the flange of the plug contact, the connection object, and the elastic portion of the inner contact are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

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