Contact pin and connector

Abstract

To realize a connector that can be miniaturized, ensures waterproofness, and has stable quality.SOLUTION: A contact pin is made of sheet metal and includes a cylindrical body with a cylindrical terminal connection portion with one end closed, and a crimping portion connected to the other end of the cylindrical body and to which the cable end is crimped and fixed, and the other end of the cylindrical body includes a crushed portion that seals the internal space of the terminal connection portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact pin used in a connector and the connector. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, connectors for electrically connecting devices to each other have been known to have a configuration including rod-shaped contact pins that are inserted into and removed from cylindrical terminals on the mating side.

[0003] Known contact pins include solid metal rods and, as shown in Patent Document 1, formed pins that are formed by bending a metal plate into a cylindrical shape.

[0004] Metal rods are formed by cutting out round metal rods or the like, so there is almost no initial cost (such as mold production costs), but the connection to the cable core wire is done by soldering, which requires skilled techniques, making the connection process time-consuming.In contrast, forming pins, although they incur initial costs for the pin itself, can be formed with a connection part shaped to fit a cylindrical terminal, as well as a connection part suitable for connecting to the core wire, making it easy to connect to the core wire. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6701244 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, known examples of electronic devices having a plurality of contact pins include medical devices carried by patients, such as telemeters that measure electrocardiograms and transmit the results to an external device.

[0007] As a connector for such medical devices, in order to ensure a stable connection with the core wire of the cable, a connector using a forming pin can be considered, which can make a connection with the core wire more easily and reliably than a metal rod. Furthermore, medical devices must be waterproof, assuming they will be carried by patients, and connectors equipped with waterproof forming pins are required.

[0008] The forming pin is a cylindrical body that seals the hollow space between one end that connects to the mating terminal and the other end that connects to the core wire of the cable, thereby preventing water from entering from one end to the other end and ensuring waterproofing. A typical waterproof forming pin has a cylindrical body in which a portion of the peripheral wall on the base end side of the connecting portion that connects to the mating terminal is cut and raised into the hollow portion to close it. A connector in which this forming pin is arranged can prevent water from entering from one end, which is the connection portion of the forming pin, to the other end.

[0009] However, forming pins as contact pins having a waterproof function as in the above configuration have the problem that when the pin outer diameter is reduced, it becomes difficult to cut and raise the small-diameter hollow portion to close it.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has an object to provide a contact pin that can improve waterproofing with a simple configuration, and a connector including the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The contact pin according to the present invention comprises: In a contact pin formed of sheet metal, a cylindrical body having a cylindrical terminal connection portion with one end closed; a crimping portion connected to the other end of the cylindrical body and crimped and fixed to the cable end; and The other end of the cylindrical body has a collapsed portion that seals the internal space of the terminal connection portion.

[0012] One aspect of the connector according to the present invention is A plurality of the contact pins; a connector housing having a connector connecting portion that is removably connected to a mating connector and a connector main body that is continuous with the connector connecting portion and has an end of a cable disposed therein; The configuration has the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a contact pin that can improve waterproofing with a simple configuration, and a connector including the same. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a contact pin according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a contact pin. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is a side view of a contact pin. [Figure 3] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2A. [Figure 4] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow BB in FIG. 2A. [Figure 5] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow CC in FIG. 2A. [Figure 6] 1 is a front view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow DD in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, in the case of a contact pin, the extension direction of the contact pin is referred to as the axial direction, the end portion in the direction connecting with the mating terminal is referred to as the tip end, and the end portion opposite the tip end in the extension direction of the contact pin is referred to as the base end, but the tip end may also be referred to as one end and the base end as the other end.

[0016] 1 to 5 is a forming pin formed by bending a conductive metal plate. The contact pin 1 is provided, for example, in one connector 100 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) that connects devices together, and is connected to a mating terminal provided in the other mating connector (not shown). One end (tip portion 4a) of the contact pin 1 is connected to a cylindrical terminal of the mating connector (not shown), and the other end (connection portion 6 to which a cable is connected) is connected to an end 11a of a cable (e.g., an electrocardiogram cord) 11.

[0017] The mating terminal to which the tip 4a of the contact pin 1 is connected is, for example, a cylindrical terminal that opens in the axial direction of the tip 4a. By inserting the tip 4a into the cylindrical interior of the mating terminal, the contact pin 1 and the mating terminal are electrically connected to each other.

[0018] The contact pin 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape of a predetermined length with a hollow portion 45 (see Figure 3), and has a terminal connection portion 4 to be connected to the mating terminal, a cable connection portion 6 to be connected to the end of the cable, and a crushed portion 5 arranged between the terminal connection portion 4 and the cable connection portion 6.

[0019] The contact pin 1 is integrally formed with a terminal connection portion 4, a crushed portion 5, and a cable connection portion 6, in that order from the tip portion 4a (one end portion) side. Note that the contact pin 1 is preferably formed by processing a single piece of sheet metal, for example.

[0020] The terminal connection part 4 is a cylindrical body formed by bending a metal sheet into a long cylindrical shape so that its tip end (one end) 4a is closed, and extends in the axial direction. The terminal connection part 4 is formed by bending a strip of metal sheet into a cylindrical shape with ends spaced apart in the width direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, bent toward each other and butting together to form a cylindrical shape, forming a butted part 4b. By abutting or joining the ends at the butted part 4b, the terminal connection part 4 is formed into a cylindrical shape with a hollow part 45.

[0021] In this embodiment, the butt joint 4b of the end of the metal sheet is located at the top of the cylindrical terminal connection part 4, but this is not limiting, and the butt joint 4b may be located at any part of the cylindrical peripheral wall as long as the terminal connection part 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The tip part 4a of the terminal connection part 4 has a shape that narrows towards the tip side.

[0022] The axial diameter (outer diameter) M (see FIG. 2B) of the cylindrical main body portion of the terminal connection portion 4, which connects with the mating terminal, is, for example, less than the minimum diameter φ1.0 [mm] that is considered to be a small diameter for a typical general-purpose forming pin (a terminal formed by processing sheet metal into a cylindrical shape). The diameter M of the terminal connection portion 4 is more preferably φ0.9 to 0.5 [mm], even more preferably φ0.8 to 0.6 [mm], and may be φ0.7 [mm]. Furthermore, the outer shape of the cylindrical body 3 of the contact pin 1 is smaller than the minimum diameter φ1.0 [mm] of the main body portion (cylindrical body) of a general-purpose forming pin. This allows the contact pins 1 to be arranged in the connector with a narrow pitch between the terminals (pins), even when a large number of contact pins are arranged in the connector (see FIG. 6), thereby enabling the connector itself to be miniaturized even with a large number of pins.

[0023] Specifically, when a plurality of contact pins 1 are provided in a connector 100 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) of a medical device, due to the characteristics of the medical device, they must be arranged at a predetermined interval in the connector body (connector housing 110) to ensure voltage resistance between terminals. Even in this case, the contact pins 1 of this embodiment can be arranged in the connector body without increasing the size of the connector itself. This prevents the external dimensions of the product having the connector from increasing in size in accordance with the size of the connector 100 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), allowing for the miniaturization of the medical device.

[0024] The cable connection portion (crimping portion) 6 is provided continuous with the terminal connection portion 4 via the crushed portion 5. The cable connection portion 6 has a linking portion 62 continuous with the crushed portion 5, a core wire connection portion (crimping portion) 7, and a cable main body fixing portion (coating fixing portion) 8.

[0025] The core wire connecting portion 7 is a portion that receives and connects the core wire 112 exposed from the sheath of the cable body 114 by step stripping at the end 11a of the cable 11 (see FIG. 1). The core wire connecting portion 7 is provided to rise from both sides of a bottom plate portion 72 that extends in the longitudinal direction and has an arc-shaped cross section, and has a pair of plastically deformable wall portions 74, 76. The core wire connecting portion 7 is formed by folding the pair of wall portions 74, 76 over the core wire 112 placed on the bottom plate portion 72 and sandwiching it between the bottom plate portion 72, and the wall portions 74, 76 are crushed and crimped to the core wire 112, electrically connecting and wiring the core wire 112 (see FIG. 1).

[0026] The cable main body fixing portion (sheath fixing portion) 8 fixes the outer peripheral portion of the cable end portion 11a (the cable main body 114, which is the sheath portion of the cable 11). The cable main body fixing portion 8 has a pair of plastically deformable wall portions 84, 86 rising from both sides of a bottom surface portion 82 that has an arc-shaped cross section and extends in the longitudinal direction. The cable 11 is led rearward from the base end portion 64 (see FIG. 2A).

[0027] The pair of walls 84, 86 are formed in an arc shape corresponding to the outer diameter of the cable body 114 (outer diameter of the coating), and have an opening larger than the opening formed between the walls 74, 76 of the core wire connecting portion 7.

[0028] A recess 87 is formed on the inner surface of the pair of wall portions 84, 86 and the bottom surface portion 82. When the cable main 114 is placed inside and the pair of wall portions 84, 86 are bent and the cable main 114 is tightened by the walls 84, 86, the recess 87 deforms and bites into the cable main 114 (covering portion). This causes the cable main 114 to be firmly crimped and fixed to the cable main fixing portion 8. In particular, the edge portion that forms the step of the recess 87 has a shape that extends perpendicular to the axial direction, and therefore provides resistance to movement of the cable main 114 in the axial direction (extension direction), and the cable main fixing portion 8 can fix the cable main 114 in a state where it is difficult to come loose.

[0029] Here, when forming contact pins with a diameter of less than 1.0 mm by processing a metal rod (rod-shaped pin), the rod-shaped contact pin can be obtained simply by cutting the metal rod to a predetermined length, and the pin itself is easy to manufacture. However, the cable connection portion (connection portion with the cable) at the other end of the metal rod contact pin 1 has the same diameter as the terminal connection portion at one end, so it becomes a columnar body with a diameter of less than 1.0 mm, which is generally considered to be thin. This requires the work of connecting the columnar cable connection portion 6 with a diameter of less than 1.0 mm to the cable 11 by soldering, which requires specific skills and is generally difficult to do.

[0030] In contrast, with the contact pin 1 of the present invention, even if the diameter of the terminal connection portion 4, i.e., the cylindrical main body portion, is less than φ1.0 [mm], the cable 11 is connected by crimping at the cable connection portion 6, and the core wire of the cable 11 and the cable main body 114 are fixed. This makes it easy to connect the contact pin 1 to the cable 11 at the cable connection portion 6 (core wire connection portion 7 and cable main body fixing portion 8).

[0031] In this way, the connection between the contact pin 1 and the cable 11, i.e., the connection between the cable connection part 6 and the core wire of the cable 11, can be made by crimping without using solder, unlike the connection between a metal round bar contact pin and a core wire. This ensures stable quality without being dependent on the skill of the worker. Furthermore, the connection time can be shortened compared to soldering, thereby shortening the work time for product assembly.

[0032] The crushed portion 5 is formed by crushing a portion of the cylindrical body 3 in the contact pin 1, and closes and seals the hollow portion 45 within the terminal connection portion 4 between the terminal connection portion 4 and the cable connection portion 6 (specifically, the connecting portion 62).

[0033] The crushed portion 5 may be formed in a part of the terminal connection portion 4, i.e., in a part of the tubular body 3 including the terminal connection portion 4. The crushed portion 5 seals the hollow portion 45 of the terminal connection portion 4 on the base end side of the terminal connection portion 4, and closes the terminal connection portion 4 so that the hollow portion 45 does not communicate with the cable connection portion 6 side and the hollow portion 45 does not open to the cable connection portion 6 side.

[0034] Specifically, the crushed portion 5 is provided so as to tightly contact opposing inner surfaces at the base end of the cylindrical body 3, thereby dividing the hollow portion 45 on the base end side. As shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 5, the crushed portion 5 is formed at the base end of the cylindrical body 3, and specifically, is provided between the terminal connection portion 4 and the cable connection portion 6, which are parts of the cylindrical body 3.

[0035] The crushed portion 5 is formed by crushing a part of the cylindrical body 3 including the terminal connection portion 4 on the side of the cable connection portion 6, and is in a crushed (squashed) state. The crushed portion 5 is continuous with the terminal connection portion 4 on the tip side of the cylindrical body 3, and the bottom surface portion 52 and the opposing surface portion 54 are in close contact with each other on the base end side, thereby separating a part of the hollow portion 45 on the base end side.

[0036] The crushed portion 5 is formed at the base end of the cylindrical body 3 by a bottom surface portion 52 and an opposing surface portion 54 which have portions that are pressed together.

[0037] The opposing surface portion 54 is a portion of the cylindrical body 3 that faces the bottom surface portion 52 in the radial direction, and is disposed at an angle from the upper surface portion of the cylindrical terminal connection portion 4, with the base end abutting against the bottom surface portion 52. The opposing surface portion 54 is formed in the same manner as the butting portion 4b, and has an butting portion 56 where the ends of the sheet metal abut against each other when the sheet metal is bent into a cylindrical shape.

[0038] The butt joint 56 is located on the central axis of the opposing surface 54 when viewed from above. As a result, when a load is applied from above to the opposing surface 54 to form the crushed portion 5, the load is particularly likely to be applied to the butt joint 56, and the crushed portion 5 is formed in a well-balanced manner with respect to the central axis.

[0039] The crushed portion 5 is formed by crushing a part of the cylindrical body in one direction (for example, from the opposing surface portion 54 toward the bottom surface portion 52), specifically, by crushing the opposing surface portion 54 and the bottom surface portion 52 so that they are in surface contact.

[0040] In this way, the contact pin 1 is a forming pin having a terminal connection portion 4 with a hollow portion 45 and a cable connection portion 6 that is connected to the cable 11 by crimping, and the crushed portion 5 seals the hollow portion 45 of the terminal connection portion 4. Therefore, compared to conventional forming pins with waterproofing, the contact pin 1 does not require a cut-and-raised portion to close the hollow portion in the cylindrical body, which allows for a smaller diameter of the terminal connection portion 4. Therefore, the contact pin 1 itself can be made smaller with a simple structure while ensuring waterproofing and maintaining stable connection quality with the core wire.

[0041] (connector) Fig. 6 is a front view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in Fig. 6, showing a perspective view of the main components of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector 100 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is provided at the end of a medical device, for example, a cable 11 that is an electrocardiogram cord, and is connected to a transmitter carried by a patient.

[0042] When a medical device is carried by a patient, for example, it is used in the patient's living area, so it is required to be at least waterproof and withstand voltage. Therefore, the connector 100 used in the medical device is also required to be waterproof and withstand voltage.

[0043] Connector 100 is a plug connector provided at the tip of cable 11, and has contact pins 1 and a connector housing 110 in which the contact pins 1 are arranged. Although not shown, in connector 100, a plurality of contact pins 1 are arranged side by side within connector housing 110. Connector housing 110 has a plug housing (connector connection portion) 120 that is removably connected to a mating connector, and a molded portion 130 that is continuous with plug housing 120.

[0044] In the connector 100, a first O-ring (annular, waterproof elastic member) 152 is provided on the outer periphery of the plug housing 120 to seal against water between the plug housing 120 and a mating connector (e.g., a socket housing of the mating connector) that fits into the plug housing 120.

[0045] Furthermore, one end of covers 141 and 142 engages with the outer surface of the base end of plug housing 120. Covers 141 and 142 are split into halves, and are formed into a cylindrical shape (a rectangular cylindrical shape in FIG. 7) when combined.

[0046] The covers 141, 142 house the molded section 130, and their rear ends engage with the front end of a bushing 160 that sandwiches the molded section 130 in the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the contact pins 1 extend). A second O-ring 154 is interposed between the base end of the plug housing 120 and one end of the covers 141, 142. The cable 11 is inserted into the bushing 160, which engages with the base end of the covers 141, 142 while maintaining watertightness through elastic deformation. The contact pins 1 are formed integrally with the molded section 130. That is, the covers 141, 142 house the plug housing 120 in the opening on the front end side via the second O-ring 154, and house the molded section 130 in the interior with enhanced watertightness by fitting the plug housing 120 in the opening on the base end side, with the elastically deformable bushing 160 fitted in.

[0047] The contact pin 1 is arranged across the connector housing 110 and the molded section 130. In the connector housing 110, the contact pin 1 has a terminal connection section 4 arranged in a terminal insertion hole 122 in the plug housing 120, and a cable connection section 6 arranged in the molded section 130. The cable connection section 6 is embedded in the molded section 130 by insert molding. The crushed section 5 is arranged in a space formed in the plug housing, and the flat joint between the crushed section 5 and the cable connection section 6 is also arranged in the space.

[0048] In connector 100, even if water seeps along contact pins 1 from the plug tip (plug housing 120) side of connector 100 to the inside of the connector (molded portion 130) side, terminal connection portion 4 is sealed by crushed portion 5. This prevents water from traveling to cable connection portion 6. Crushed portion 5 prevents water from seeping into terminal connection portion 4, particularly from the inside of terminal connection portion 4, along contact pins 1, and into cable connection portion 6. This improves the waterproofness of connector 100.

[0049] Furthermore, when the contact pin 1 is insert-molded together with the molded portion 130, the crushed portion 5 prevents the resin from flowing into the hollow portion 45 of the terminal connection portion 4. According to the connector 100 having the contact pin 1, the connector itself can be made smaller as the contact pin 1 itself is made smaller, and the connector has stable connection quality with ensured waterproofing.

[0050] Furthermore, when the contact pin 1 is insert-molded together with the molded portion 130 with the terminal connecting portion 4 fixed to the plug housing 120, resin does not seep into the terminal connecting portion 4. Furthermore, when the connector 100 is insert-molded, resin does not leak from the inside of the terminal connecting portion 4 into the terminal insertion hole 122 of the plug housing 120.

[0051] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Note that the above description is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, the description of the configuration of the above device and the shape of each part is one example, and it is clear that various modifications and additions to these examples are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0052] The contact pin and connector according to the present invention can be miniaturized, has a simple structure, ensures waterproofness, and has stable quality, and is useful as a connector for medical equipment that is waterproof and has voltage resistance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 contact pin 3 Cylindrical body 4-terminal connection 4a Tip (one end) 4b Butt joint 5 Crushed part 6 Cable connection part (crimping part) 7 Core wire connection part (crimping part) 8 Cable body fixing part (crimping part) 11 Cable 11a Cable end 45 Hollow part 52 Bottom part 54 Opposite surface part 56 Butt joint 72 Bottom plate part 74, 76, 84, 86 wall 82 Bottom part 87 Recess 100 Connectors 110 Connector housing 112 core wire 114 Cable body 120 Plug housing (connector connection part) 122 Terminal insertion hole 130 Mold section 141, 142 Cover 152 First O-ring 154 Second O-ring 160 Bush

Claims

1. In a contact pin formed of sheet metal, a cylindrical body having a cylindrical terminal connection portion with one end closed; a crimping portion connected to the other end of the cylindrical body and crimped and fixed to the cable end; and the other end of the cylindrical body has a crushed portion that seals the internal space of the terminal connection portion; Contact pin.

2. The crushed portion is provided in a crushed state of the cylindrical body so as to seal the base end of the terminal connection portion. The contact pin according to claim 1 .

3. The outer diameter of the terminal connection portion is less than 1.0 mm. The contact pin according to claim 1 .

4. The crimping portion includes a core wire fixing portion that clamps and crimps the core wire; a coating fixing portion disposed on a base end side of the core wire and configured to clamp and crimp and fix a coating portion that covers the core wire; having The contact pin according to claim 1 .

5. The crushed portion is formed by butting ends of a cylindrically formed metal plate in the terminal connection portion against the opposing inner surfaces of the metal plate. The contact pin according to claim 1 .

6. A plurality of contact pins according to claim 1; a connector housing having a connector connecting portion that is removably connected to a mating connector and a connector main body that is continuous with the connector connecting portion and has an end of a cable disposed therein; having connector.

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