Connector and connector assembly

Abstract

To provide a downsized connector capable of connecting a wire to a flexible conductor.SOLUTION: A contact 15 is stored in a contact storage part 13B of a second insulator 13, and an end of a wire C is stored in an opened wire end storage part 12E of a projection 12B of a first insulator 12. The projection 12B is stored in a projection storage part 15B of the contact 15 in such a manner that the opened wire end storage part 12E is opposed to a wire connection piece 15C of the contact 15 while interposing a flexible conductor F1 therebetween. The wire C extends from the wire end storage part 12E and is in contact with a wire contact part 15F of the wire connection piece 15C of the contact 15, and a portion of the flexible conductor F1 is in contact with a conductor contact piece of the contact 15 while being held between an outer side face of the projection 12B and the conductor contact piece of the contact 15, thereby electrically connecting the wire C to the flexible conductor F1 via the contact 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector for connecting electric wires to a sheet-like flexible conductor. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, so-called smart clothing that can obtain a user's biometric information such as heart rate and body temperature simply by wearing it has been attracting attention. This smart clothing has flexible conductors that are placed at measurement locations and use conductive fibers, conductive printing, etc., and by electrically connecting a wearable device as a measuring instrument to the flexible conductors, it becomes possible to transmit the biometric information to the wearable device.

[0003] As a connector useful for connecting a wearable device to a flexible conductor, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector as shown in Fig. 52. This connector includes contacts 2 and a base member 3 that are disposed on either side of a flexible substrate 1 with the flexible substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween.

[0004] A flexible conductor 4 is exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1 facing the contact 2, the contact 2 has a concave protrusion accommodating portion 5 formed to face the flexible conductor 4, and the base member 3 is formed with a protrusion 6 that protrudes toward the rear surface of the flexible substrate 1. When the protrusion 6 of the base member 3 is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 5 of the contact 2 together with the flexible substrate 1, sandwiching the flexible substrate 1 therebetween so that the protrusion 6 is covered by the flexible substrate 1, the protrusion 6 presses the flexible substrate 1 against the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 5 of the contact 2, and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 5 comes into contact with the flexible conductor 4 exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1 with a predetermined contact force, whereby the contact 2 is electrically connected to the flexible conductor 4. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

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

[0006] By fitting a wearable device into the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wearable device can be connected to the flexible conductor. However, if the wearable device is located away from the measurement point, it is necessary to construct an electrical path from the connector attachment position to the measurement point. If such an electrical path is formed using a flexible conductor, there is a problem that the electrical resistance will be high and the cost will be high. Therefore, in order to connect the flexible conductor placed at the measurement location to the wearable device using an inexpensive wire with low electrical resistance, there is a need for the development of a small connector that can connect an electric wire to a flexible conductor placed in clothing.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional connector, and has an object to provide a small connector capable of connecting an electric wire to a flexible conductor. Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly in which a flexible conductor and an electric wire are connected using such a connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector according to the present invention comprises: A connector for connecting an electric wire to a sheet-like flexible conductor having a first surface and a second surface oriented in opposite directions, a housing attached to the flexible conductor and holding an end of the wire; a contact formed from a conductive material and received within a housing; Equipped with The housing is a first insulator disposed on a first surface of the flexible conductor; a second insulator disposed on a second surface of the flexible conductor and attached to the first insulator along a first direction which is a thickness direction of the flexible conductor; having the first insulator has a protrusion protruding in a first direction toward the second insulator, the protrusion having an electric wire end accommodating portion that is open toward a second direction intersecting the first direction; the second insulator has a contact accommodating portion that is recessed in the first direction and accommodates the contact; The contacts each have a plurality of sidewalls extending in a first direction and a protruding receiving portion surrounded by the plurality of sidewalls and recessed in the first direction; the plurality of side walls include one side wall portion made of one wire connection piece having a wire contact portion at a tip end in the first direction that contacts the wire, and at least one side wall portion made of a conductor contact piece that contacts the flexible conductor; the contact is accommodated in the contact accommodating portion, the end of the electric wire is accommodated in the electric wire end accommodating portion of the protrusion, the protrusion is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion of the contact such that the electric wire end accommodating portion, which is open toward the second direction and sandwiches the flexible conductor therebetween, faces the electric wire connecting piece, The electric wire extends in a second direction from the wire end accommodating portion and contacts the wire contact portion of the wire connection piece of the contact, and a portion of the flexible conductor is sandwiched between the outer surface of the protrusion and the conductor contact piece of the contact and contacts the conductor contact piece of the contact, thereby electrically connecting the electric wire to the flexible conductor via the contact.

[0009] the first insulator is disposed around the projection so as to surround the projection and has a first holding surface facing the first surface of the flexible conductor; the second insulator is disposed around the contact accommodating portion so as to surround the contact accommodating portion and has a second holding surface facing the second surface of the flexible conductor; The flexible conductor is preferably held in the housing by being sandwiched between the first holding surface of the first insulator and the second holding surface of the second insulator. The wire contact portion is disposed at a tip of the wire connection piece and includes a slit extending in a first direction, It is preferable that the electric wire connecting piece contacts the electric wire by inserting the electric wire into the slit. At least a portion of the electric wire end accommodating portion preferably has a width dimension slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire in a direction perpendicular to the second direction.

[0010] The contact may have a rectangular bottom plate portion, and the protrusion receiving portion may be configured to be surrounded by the bottom plate portion and a plurality of side wall portions. It is also preferable that the contact has two side wall portions constituting a first side wall pair facing each other in the second direction, and two side wall portions constituting a second side wall pair facing each other in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions.

[0011] One of the two side wall portions constituting the first side wall pair is made of an electric wire connection piece, The two side walls constituting the second side wall pair can each be configured to be made of a conductive contact piece. In this case, the other of the two side walls constituting the first side wall pair is preferably formed of a contact holding piece for fixing the contact to the first insulator and the second insulator. The two side walls constituting the first side wall pair each include a wire connection piece and a conductor contact piece, The two side walls constituting the second side wall pair may each be configured to include a contact holding piece for fixing the contact to the first insulator and the second insulator.

[0012] The first insulator preferably has a concave electric wire connecting piece receiving portion for receiving the tip of the electric wire connecting piece, and a concave contact holding piece receiving portion for receiving the tip of the contact holding piece. In addition, it is preferable that the second insulator has a concave wire connecting piece holding portion that communicates with the contact accommodating portion and holds the wire connecting piece, and a concave contact holding piece holding portion that communicates with the contact accommodating portion and holds the contact holding piece. the electric wire connection piece has a first press-fit portion to be press-fitted into the electric wire connection piece holding portion of the second insulator, The contact retaining piece preferably has a second press-fit portion press-fitted into the contact retaining piece holding portion of the second insulator, and a third press-fit portion press-fitted into the contact retaining piece accommodating portion of the first insulator. The tip of the wire connecting piece and the tip of the contact retaining piece of the contact can be accommodated in the wire connecting piece receiving portion and the contact retaining piece receiving portion of the first insulator through the opening previously formed in the flexible conductor. Alternatively, the tip of the wire connecting piece and the tip of the contact holding piece may be configured to have a blade portion for cutting through the flexible conductor.

[0013] In addition, the two side wall portions constituting the first side wall pair each include a wire connection piece, The two side walls constituting the second side wall pair may each be configured to include a conductive contact piece. In this case, the first insulator preferably has two concave electric wire connecting piece receiving portions each receiving a tip end of an electric wire connecting piece. The second insulator preferably has two concave electric wire connecting piece holding portions which communicate with the contact accommodating portions and which respectively hold the electric wire connecting pieces. The electric wire connecting piece preferably has a first press-fit portion press-fitted into the electric wire connecting piece holding portion of the second insulator, and a fourth press-fit portion press-fitted into the electric wire connecting piece accommodating portion of the first insulator. The tip of the electric wire connecting piece of the contact can be accommodated in the electric wire connecting piece accommodating portion of the first insulator through an opening previously formed in the flexible conductor. Alternatively, the tip of the electric wire connecting piece of the contact may be configured to have a blade portion for cutting through the flexible conductor.

[0014] The contact has a flange that is disposed at a tip of the conductive contact piece in the first direction and extends outward relative to the protruding receiving portion, The second insulator preferably has a stepped flange receiving portion that communicates with the contact receiving portion and receives the flange. The wires can be disposed on a first side of the flexible conductor or can be disposed on a second side of the flexible conductor.

[0015] The connector assembly according to the present invention comprises: A flexible conductor; the connector as described above attached to a flexible conductor; A wire electrically connected to the flexible conductor via a contact by a connector; It is equipped with the following.

[0016] The flexible conductor extends in a sheet shape over a predetermined area, When viewed from a first direction, the wire contact portion of the contact has Predefined area It is preferable that the stimuli are arranged so as to overlap with each other. The flexible conductor may have a pad shape. The electric wire is a coated electric wire in which a conductor portion is covered with an insulating portion, The wire contact portion of the contact may be configured to contact the conductor portion. In this case, it is preferable that the end of the electric wire is accommodated in the electric wire end accommodating portion of the projection of the first insulator with the conductor portion covered with the insulating portion. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to this invention, the contact is accommodated in the contact accommodating portion of the second insulator, the end of the electric wire is accommodated in the wire end accommodating portion of the protrusion of the first insulator, the protrusion is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion of the contact so that the flexible conductor is sandwiched therebetween and the wire end accommodating portion faces the wire connection piece of the contact, the electric wire extends from the wire end accommodating portion and contacts the wire contact portion of the wire connection piece of the contact, and a part of the flexible conductor is sandwiched between the outer surface of the protrusion and the conductor contact piece of the contact and contacts the conductor contact piece of the contact, thereby electrically connecting the electric wire to the flexible conductor via the contact, and it is possible to realize a small-sized connector that can connect an electric wire to a flexible conductor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first insulator of the connector used in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a perspective view showing a second insulator of the connector used in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a contact of the connector used in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment during assembly. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view showing an electric wire connected to a contact of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. [Figure 11]11 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is an assembly diagram of a connector assembly according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a first insulator of the connector used in the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second insulator of the connector used in the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a contact of a connector used in the second embodiment. [Figure 17] 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment in the middle of assembly. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a front view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment in the middle of assembly. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a second embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a second embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a third embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is an assembly diagram of a connector assembly according to a third embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a first insulator of the connector used in the third embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second insulator of the connector used in the third embodiment. [Diagram 25] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a contact of a connector used in embodiment 3. [Figure 26] 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to a third embodiment during assembly. FIG. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a third embodiment in the middle of being assembled. [Figure 28]FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a third embodiment. [Figure 29] FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 30] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. [Diagram 31] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to the fourth embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below. [Diagram 32] FIG. 13 is an assembly diagram of a connector assembly according to the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 33] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a first insulator of the connector used in embodiment 4. [Diagram 34] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a second insulator of the connector used in the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 35] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a contact of a connector used in embodiment 4. [Diagram 36] 13 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment during assembly. FIG. [Figure 37] 13 is a front cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment during assembly. FIG. [Figure 38] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 39] FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment. [Diagram 40] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a fifth embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. [Diagram 41] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to the fifth embodiment, as viewed obliquely from below. [Diagram 42] FIG. 13 is an assembly diagram of a connector assembly according to a fifth embodiment. [Diagram 43] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a first insulator of the connector used in embodiment 5. [Diagram 44] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a second insulator of the connector used in the fifth embodiment. [Diagram 45]FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a contact of a connector used in embodiment 5. [Diagram 46] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a connector assembly according to a fifth embodiment during assembly. [Figure 47] FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 48] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing electric wires connected to contacts of a connector assembly according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 49] FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 50] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a contact of a connector used in embodiment 6. [Figure 51] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a contact of a connector used in embodiment 7. [Figure 52] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing contacts, protrusions, and a flexible substrate in a conventional connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First embodiment 1 and 2 show a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. In this connector assembly, an electric wire C is connected to a flexible conductor F1 using a connector 11. The flexible conductor F1 is, for example, a pad-shaped conductor made by twisting conductive fibers together and extending in a sheet shape over a predetermined area, and has a first surface F1A and a second surface F1B facing in opposite directions.

[0020] The connector 11 is attached to the flexible conductor F1 and has a first insulator 12 arranged on a first face F1A of the flexible conductor F1 and a second insulator 13 arranged on a second face F1B of the flexible conductor F1. The electric wire C connected to the flexible conductor F1 extends along the first surface F1A of the flexible conductor F1, and an end of the electric wire C is inserted into the inside of the connector 11 through the first insulator 12.

[0021] Here, for convenience, the plane in which the flexible conductor F1 extends will be referred to as the XY plane, the thickness direction of the flexible conductor F1 from the second surface F1B to the first surface F1A of the flexible conductor F1 will be referred to as the +Z direction, and the direction in which the electric wire C extends on the first surface F1A of the flexible conductor F1 toward the connector 11 will be referred to as the +Y direction.

[0022] 3 is an assembly diagram of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment. In the center of the flexible conductor F1, there are formed two long holes F11 (openings) each extending in the X direction and spaced apart from each other in the Y direction, and two round holes F12 sandwiching the two long holes F11 and spaced apart from each other in the X direction. These long holes F11 and round holes F12 each penetrate the flexible conductor F1 in the Z direction.

[0023] The first insulator 12 and the second insulator 13 of the connector 11 are attached so as to overlap each other in the Z direction with the flexible conductor F1 sandwiched therebetween to form a housing 14. The connector 11 has contacts 15 accommodated in the housing 14. The +Y direction end of the electric wire C is connected to a contact 15 inside the housing 14.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the first insulator 12 is made of an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a circular first holding surface 12A extending in a plane along the XY plane and facing the -Z direction, and a rectangular prism-shaped protrusion 12B protruding in the -Z direction (first direction) from the center of the first holding surface 12A. On the first holding surface 12A, protrusions 12C and 12D that extend elongatedly along the X direction and protrude in the -Z direction are formed at positions adjacent to the -Y direction (second direction) side and +Y direction side of the protrusion 12B, respectively. These protrusions 12C and 12D are inserted into two long holes F11 of the flexible conductor F1, protrude in the -X direction and +X direction more than the protrusion 12B, and have a protrusion height that is lower than the protrusion height of the protrusion 12B in the -Z direction.

[0025] The projection 12B is formed with a groove-shaped electric wire end accommodating portion 12E that is open toward the -Y and -Z directions. The electric wire end accommodating portion 12E accommodates the +Y direction end of the electric wire C that is connected to the flexible conductor F1 by the connector 11. In addition, a wire accommodating groove 12F extending in the Y direction and recessed in the +Z direction is formed in the convex portion 12C adjacent to the -Y direction side of the protrusion 12B and in the first retaining surface 12A located on the -Y direction side of the convex portion 12C, and the wire accommodating groove 12F is connected to the wire end accommodating portion 12E.

[0026] Here, the X-direction width dimension W1 of at least a portion of the electric wire end accommodating portion 12E and the electric wire accommodating groove 12F is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire C. As a result, when assembling the connector assembly, by pushing the electric wire C into the electric wire end accommodating portion 12E and the electric wire accommodating groove 12F, the +Y-direction end of the electric wire C and the portion of the electric wire C connected to the +Y-direction end can be temporarily held inside the electric wire end accommodating portion 12E and the electric wire accommodating groove 12F. The width dimension W1 in the X direction may be formed slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire C throughout the electric wire end accommodating portion 12E and the electric wire accommodating groove 12F. However, even if protrusions having a width dimension smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire C are arranged at multiple locations on the inner wall portions of the electric wire end accommodating portion 12E and the electric wire accommodating groove 12F, which have a width dimension equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the electric wire C, the electric wire C can be temporarily held.

[0027] The protruding portions 12C and 12D are respectively formed with a concave electric wire connecting piece accommodating portion 12G and a concave contact holding piece accommodating portion 12H that extend in the X direction and are recessed in the +Z direction. Furthermore, on the first holding surface 12A, two pin insertion holes 12J recessed in the +Z direction are formed on both sides of the protrusion 12B in the X direction with the protrusion 12B therebetween.

[0028] 5, the second insulator 13 is made of an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a circular second holding surface 13A extending in a plane along the XY plane and facing the +Z direction, and a concave contact accommodating portion 13B recessed in the -Z direction from the center of the second holding surface 13A. On the -Y and +Y sides of the contact accommodating portion 13B, concave wire connecting piece holding portion 13C and concave contact holding piece holding portion 13D are formed, respectively, which extend in the X direction and are recessed in the -Z direction from the second holding surface 13A. These wire connecting piece holding portion 13C and contact holding piece holding portion 13D are connected to the contact accommodating portion 13B.

[0029] In addition, the second holding surface 13A located at the -X direction end and the +X direction end of the contact accommodating portion 13B each has a flange accommodating portion 13E having a stepped shape recessed in the -Z direction and communicating with the contact accommodating portion 13B. Furthermore, two positioning pins 13F protruding in the +Z direction are formed on both sides of the contact accommodating portion 13B in the X direction on the second holding surface 13A, sandwiching the contact accommodating portion 13B therebetween. The two positioning pins 13F are inserted into the two pin insertion holes 12J of the first insulator 12 through the two round holes F12 of the flexible conductor F1, thereby aligning the first insulator 12 and the second insulator 13 with the flexible conductor F1.

[0030] 6, the contact 15 is formed from a conductive material, for example, a single bent metal plate, and has a rectangular bottom plate portion 15A and four side wall portions S that extend in the +Z direction from four edges of the bottom plate portion 15A and are separated from one another. The contact 15 also has a protrusion accommodating portion 15B that is formed by being surrounded by the bottom plate portion 15A and the four side wall portions S and is recessed in the -Z direction.

[0031] Of the four side wall portions S, two side wall portions S facing each other in the Y direction constitute a first side wall pair, and two side wall portions S facing each other in the X direction constitute a second side wall pair. Furthermore, of the two side wall portions S constituting the first side wall pair, the side wall portion S located on the -Y direction side is formed from a wire connection piece 15C, the side wall portion S located on the +Y direction side is formed from a contact holding piece 15D, and the two side wall portions S constituting the second side wall pair are both formed from a conductor contact piece 15E. The conductor contact piece 15E has a Z-direction height corresponding to the Z-direction depth of the contact accommodating portion 13B of the second insulator 13, and the wire connection piece 15C and the contact holding piece 15D extend longer in the +Z direction than the conductor contact piece 15E.

[0032] An electric wire contact portion 15F consisting of a slit extending in the Z direction is formed at the tip of the electric wire connection piece 15C in the +Z direction. The electric wire contact portion 15F is for contacting the electric wire C, and an opening end 15G that communicates with the slit and opens in the +Z direction is formed at the +Z direction end of the slit. The opening end 15G has a tapered shape in which the width in the X direction gradually increases as it approaches the +Y direction. A first press-fit portion 15H protruding in the X direction is formed on both edges in the X direction of the wire connecting piece 15C located on the -Z direction side of the wire contact portion 15F.

[0033] The contact holding piece 15D is for fixing the contact 15 to the first insulator 12 and the second insulator 13. A second press-in portion 15J protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 15D at the middle portion in the Z direction of the contact holding piece 15D, and a third press-in portion 15K protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 15D near the +Z direction end portion of the contact holding piece 15D.

[0034] The conductor contact piece 15E comes into contact with and is electrically connected to the flexible conductor F1, and a flange 15L is formed at the +Z end of the conductor contact piece 15E, which extends outward from the protrusion accommodating portion 15B and along the XY plane.

[0035] Here, a description will be given of a method of assembling the connector assembly according to embodiment 1. First, as shown in Fig. 7, the contacts 15 are accommodated in the contact accommodating portions 13B of the second insulator 13, and the flexible conductor F1 is positioned on the second holding surface 13A of the second insulator 13.

[0036] At this time, the wire connecting piece 15C and the contact retaining piece 15D of the contact 15 are pressed into the wire connecting piece holding portion 13C and the contact retaining piece holding portion 13D of the second insulator 13, and the first press-fit portion 15H of the wire connecting piece 15C and the second press-fit portion 15J of the contact retaining piece holding portion 13D shown in Figure 6 are pressed into the inner walls of the wire connecting piece holding portion 13C and the contact retaining piece holding portion 13D, thereby fixing the contact 15 in the contact accommodating portion 13B of the second insulator 13.

[0037] Furthermore, the conductor contact piece 15E of the contact 15 has a Z-direction height corresponding to the Z-direction depth of the contact accommodating portion 13B of the second insulator 13. However, the wire connection piece 15C and the contact retaining piece 15D extend longer in the +Z direction than the conductor contact piece 15E, and therefore the wire connection piece 15C and the contact retaining piece 15D of the contact 15 accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 13B protrude in the +Z direction further than the second retaining surface 13A of the second insulator 13.

[0038] However, when the two positioning pins 13F of the second insulator 13 are passed through the two round holes F12 of the flexible conductor F1 shown in Figure 3, the second insulator 13 and the flexible conductor F1 are aligned with each other, and the wire connection piece 15C and the contact retaining piece 15D of the contact 15 protrude toward the +Z direction side of the flexible conductor F1 through the two long holes F11 of the flexible conductor F1.

[0039] The +Y-direction end of the electric wire C is pushed into the electric wire end accommodating portion 12E of the first insulator 12, and the portion of the electric wire C connected to the +Y-direction end is pushed into the electric wire accommodating groove 12F, so that the electric wire C is temporarily held in the first insulator 12. The electric wire C is made of a so-called covered conductor wire, and has a structure in which, for example, the outer periphery of a conductor portion C1 made of multiple thin conductor wires twisted together is covered with an insulating portion C2. The electric wire contact portion 15F made of a slit in the electric wire connection piece 15C of the contact 15 shown in Fig. 6 has a slit width in the X direction that is slightly narrower than the diameter of the conductor portion C1 of the electric wire C.

[0040] In this state, the first insulator 12 is moved in the −Z direction and pressed against the flexible conductor F1 and the second insulator 13 while the first holding surface 12A of the first insulator 12 faces the first surface F1A of the flexible conductor F1.

[0041] As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the convex portions 12C and 12D of the first insulator 12 are inserted into the two long holes F11 of the flexible conductor F1, and the protrusion 12B of the first insulator 12 is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 15B of the contact 15 accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 13B of the second insulator 13 while pushing the portion of the flexible conductor F1 located between the two long holes F11 in the -Z direction.

[0042] In addition, the +Z direction ends of the wire connecting piece 15C and the contact holding piece 15D of the contact 15 protruding toward the +Z direction side of the flexible conductor F1 are accommodated in the wire connecting piece accommodating portion 12G and the contact holding piece accommodating portion 12H of the first insulator 12, respectively.

[0043] 9, the electric wire C temporarily held in the first insulator 12 is pushed into the wire contact portion 15F consisting of a slit in the wire connection piece 15C of the contact 15, and since the wire contact portion 15F has a slit width in the X direction that is slightly narrower than the diameter of the conductor portion C1 of the electric wire C, the insulating portion C2 covering the outer periphery of the conductor portion C1 of the electric wire C is broken by the edge of the slit, and the wire contact portion 15F comes into contact with the conductor portion C1 of the electric wire C. As a result, the conductor portion C1 of the electric wire C is electrically connected to the contact 15.

[0044] 10, the flexible conductor F1 is sandwiched between the outer surfaces of the protrusion 12B facing the -X and +X directions and a pair of conductor contact pieces 15E of the contact 15. As a result, the flexible conductor F1 comes into contact with the conductor contact pieces 15E of the contact 15 with a predetermined contact pressure and is electrically connected to the contact 15. As a result, the electric wire C is electrically connected to the flexible conductor F1 via the contact 15.

[0045] In addition, the +Z direction end of the contact retaining piece 15D of the contact 15 is accommodated in the contact retaining piece accommodating portion 12H of the first insulator 12, and the third press-in portion 15K of the contact retaining piece 15D shown in Figure 6 is pressed into the inner wall of the contact retaining piece accommodating portion 12H, thereby fixing the first insulator 12 to the contact 15.

[0046] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the two positioning pins 13F of the second insulator 13 are inserted into the two pin insertion holes 12J of the first insulator 12 through the two round holes F12 of the flexible conductor F1, thereby aligning the first insulator 12 and the second insulator 13 with the flexible conductor F1, and the flexible conductor F1 is held in the connector 11 by being sandwiched between the first holding surface 12A of the first insulator 12 and the second holding surface 13A of the second insulator 13. The flange 15L of the contact 15 is accommodated in the flange accommodating portion 13E of the second insulator 13.

[0047] As shown in Figure 8, a wire end accommodating portion 12E that accommodates the +Y direction end of the electric wire C is arranged on the protrusion 12B of the first insulator 12 that is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 15B of the contact 15, and the wire contact portion 15F of the contact 15 is connected to the electric wire C at a position that overlaps with the flexible conductor F1 in the Z direction, thereby realizing a small-sized connector 11 that can connect the electric wire C to the flexible conductor F1.

[0048] Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, the electric wires C connected to the flexible conductor F1 extend along the first surface F1A facing the +Z direction of the flexible conductor F1, but the present invention is not limited to this. 11 and 12 show a connector assembly according to embodiment 2. In this connector assembly, an electric wire C is connected to a flexible conductor F2 using a connector 21. The flexible conductor F2 has a first surface F2A facing the +Z direction and a second surface F2B facing the -Z direction, and the electric wire C connected to the flexible conductor F2 extends along the second surface F2B of the flexible conductor F2.

[0049] The connector 21 has a first insulator 22 arranged on a first surface F2A of the flexible conductor F2, and a second insulator 23 arranged on a second surface F2B of the flexible conductor F2.

[0050] 13 is an assembly diagram of a connector assembly according to embodiment 2. The flexible conductor F2 has the same configuration as the flexible conductor F1 used in embodiment 1, except that one H-shaped hole F21 (opening) is formed instead of the two long holes F11 in the flexible conductor F1.

[0051] The first insulator 22 and the second insulator 23 of the connector 21 are attached so as to overlap each other in the Z direction with the flexible conductor F2 sandwiched therebetween to form a housing 24. The connector 21 has contacts 25 accommodated in the housing 24. The electric wire C is the same as the electric wire C used in the first embodiment.

[0052] 14, the first insulator 22 has substantially the same configuration as the first insulator 12 of the connector 11 in embodiment 1. That is, the first insulator 22 has a first holding surface 22A extending in a plane along the XY plane, a protrusion 22B protruding in the -Z direction from the center of the first holding surface 22A, and convex portions 22C and 22D formed to protrude from the first holding surface 22A at positions adjacent to the -Y and +Y sides of the protrusion 22B, respectively.

[0053] Protrusion 22B has a groove-shaped wire end accommodating portion 22E that is open toward the -Y and -Z directions, and convex portions 22C and 22D have wire connection piece accommodating portion 22G and contact holding piece accommodating portion 22H, respectively, that extend in the X direction and are recessed in the +Z direction. Furthermore, adjacent to the -Y direction side and +Y direction side of the electric wire connecting piece accommodating portion 22G, an electric wire accommodating groove 22F extending in the Y direction and recessed in the +Z direction is formed. The electric wire accommodating groove 22F communicates with the electric wire end portion accommodating portion 22E. Furthermore, on the first holding surface 22A, two pin insertion holes 22J recessed in the +Z direction are formed on both sides of the protrusion 22B in the X direction with the protrusion 22B therebetween.

[0054] 15, the second insulator 23 has substantially the same configuration as the second insulator 13 of the connector 11 in the first embodiment, and has a second holding surface 23A extending in a planar shape along the XY plane, and a concave contact accommodating portion 23B recessed in the -Z direction from the center of the second holding surface 23A. On the -Y and +Y sides of the contact accommodating portion 23B, there are formed a wire connecting piece holding portion 23C and a contact holding piece holding portion 23D, which extend in the X direction and are recessed in the -Z direction, respectively. The wire connecting piece holding portion 23C and the contact holding piece holding portion 23D are in communication with the contact accommodating portion 23B.

[0055] In addition, the second holding surface 23A located at the -X direction end and the +X direction end of the contact accommodating portion 23B each has a flange accommodating portion 23E having a stepped shape recessed in the -Z direction and communicating with the contact accommodating portion 13B. Furthermore, on the second holding surface 23A, two positioning pins 23F are formed on both sides of the contact accommodating portion 23B in the X direction, with the contact accommodating portion 23B in between, and protruding in the +Z direction.

[0056] Further, a wire accommodating groove 23G extending in the Y direction and recessed in the -Z direction is formed on the second holding surface 23A located on the -Y direction side of the contact accommodating portion 23B, and the wire accommodating groove 23G is connected to the contact accommodating portion 23B. That is, in embodiment 2, a wire accommodating groove 23G for accommodating an electric wire C extending along the second surface F2B of the flexible conductor F2 shown in FIG. 12 is formed in the second holding surface 23A of the second insulator 23.

[0057] 16, the contact 25 has substantially the same configuration as the contact 15 of the connector 11 in embodiment 1. The contact 25 has a rectangular bottom plate portion 25A, four side wall portions S extending in the +Z direction from the four edges of the bottom plate portion 25A and separated from one another, and a protrusion accommodating portion 25B formed by being surrounded by the bottom plate portion 25A and the four side wall portions S.

[0058] Of the four side wall portions S, the two side wall portions S that face each other in the Y direction and constitute a first side wall pair are formed from an electric wire connection piece 25C and a contact holding piece 25D, and the two side wall portions S that face each other in the X direction and constitute a second side wall pair are both formed from a conductor contact piece 25E. An electric wire contact portion 25F consisting of a slit extending in the Z direction is formed at the +Z direction tip of the electric wire connection piece 25C, and a tapered opening end 25G opening in the +Z direction is formed at the +Z direction end of the slit.

[0059] A first press-fit portion 25H protruding in the X direction is formed on both edges in the X direction of the wire connecting piece 25C located on the -Z direction side of the wire contact portion 25F. A second press-in portion 25J protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 25D at the middle portion in the Z direction of the contact holding piece 25D, and a third press-in portion 25K protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 25D near the +Z direction end portion of the contact holding piece 25D. A flange 25L is formed at the end of the conductive contact piece 25E in the +Z direction, facing outward from the protrusion accommodating portion 25B and extending along the XY plane.

[0060] Here, a description will be given of a method of assembling the connector assembly according to embodiment 2. First, as shown in Fig. 17, the contact 25 is accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 23B of the second insulator 23, and the vicinity of the +Y direction end of the electric wire C is placed on the electric wire connecting piece 25C of the contact 25.

[0061] At this time, the wire connecting piece 25C and the contact retaining piece 25D of the contact 25 are pressed into the wire connecting piece holding portion 23C and the contact retaining piece holding portion 23D of the second insulator 23, and the first press-fit portion 25H of the wire connecting piece 25C and the second press-fit portion 25J of the contact retaining piece holding portion 23D shown in Figure 16 are pressed into the inner walls of the wire connecting piece holding portion 23C and the contact retaining piece holding portion 23D, thereby fixing the contact 25 in the contact accommodating portion 23B of the second insulator 23. As shown in FIG. 18, the electric wire C is not inserted into the electric wire contact portion 25F formed by the slit of the electric wire connecting piece 25C of the contact 25, but is disposed on the tapered opening end 25G.

[0062] In this state, with the flexible conductor F2 sandwiched between them, the first holding surface 22A of the first insulator 22 is opposed to the first surface F2A of the flexible conductor F2, and the first insulator 22 is moved in the -Z direction to press the first insulator 22 together with the flexible conductor F2 against the second insulator 23.

[0063] As a result, as shown in Figure 19, the convex portions 22C and 22D of the first insulator 22 are inserted into the H-shaped hole F21 of the flexible conductor F2, and the protrusion 22B of the first insulator 22 is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 25B of the contact 25 accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 23B of the second insulator 23 while pushing the flexible conductor F2 adjacent to the hole F21 in the -Z direction.

[0064] In addition, the +Z direction ends of the wire connecting piece 25C and the contact holding piece 25D of the contact 25 protruding toward the +Z direction side of the flexible conductor F2 are accommodated in the wire connecting piece accommodating portion 22G and the contact holding piece accommodating portion 22H of the first insulator 22, respectively.

[0065] At this time, the wire C that was placed on the open end 25G of the wire connection piece 25C of the contact 25 is pushed into the wire contact portion 25F consisting of a slit in the wire connection piece 25C by the wire accommodating groove 22F of the first insulator 22, and is electrically connected to the contact 25.

[0066] 20, the flexible conductor F2 is sandwiched between the outer surfaces of the protrusion 22B facing the -X and +X directions and a pair of conductor contact pieces 25E of the contact 25. As a result, the flexible conductor F2 comes into contact with the conductor contact pieces 25E of the contact 25 with a predetermined contact pressure and is electrically connected to the contact 25. As a result, the electric wire C extending along the second surface F2B of the flexible conductor F2 is electrically connected to the flexible conductor F2 via the contact 25.

[0067] Furthermore, the +Z direction end of the contact retaining piece 25D of the contact 25 is accommodated in the contact retaining piece accommodating portion 22H of the first insulator 22, and the third press-in portion 25K of the contact retaining piece 25D shown in Figure 16 is pressed into the inner wall of the contact retaining piece accommodating portion 22H, thereby fixing the first insulator 22 to the contact 25.

[0068] Also, as shown in FIG. 20, the two positioning pins 23F of the second insulator 23 are inserted into the two pin insertion holes 22J of the first insulator 22 through the two round holes F12 of the flexible conductor F2, thereby aligning the first insulator 22 and the second insulator 23 with the flexible conductor F2, and the flexible conductor F2 is held in the connector 21 by being sandwiched between the first holding surface 22A of the first insulator 22 and the second holding surface 23A of the second insulator 23. The flange 25L of the contact 25 is accommodated in the flange accommodating portion 23E of the second insulator 23.

[0069] In this way, even if the electric wire C extends along the second surface F2B of the flexible conductor F2, the electric wire C can be connected to the flexible conductor F2 by the small connector 21.

[0070] Third embodiment The flexible conductor F1 used in embodiment 1 has two long holes F11 and two round holes F12 in the area sandwiched between the first insulator 12 and the second insulator 13, and the flexible conductor F2 used in embodiment 2 has one H-shaped hole F21 and two round holes F12 in the area sandwiched between the first insulator 22 and the second insulator 23, but a connector assembly can be formed even if these holes are not present.

[0071] 21 shows a connector assembly according to embodiment 3. In this connector assembly, an electric wire C is connected to a flexible conductor F3 using a connector 31. The flexible conductor F3 has a first surface F3A facing the +Z direction and a second surface F3B facing the -Z direction, and the electric wire C connected to the flexible conductor F3 extends along the first surface F3A of the flexible conductor F3.

[0072] 22 is an assembly diagram of the connector assembly according to embodiment 3. The flexible conductor F3 is the flexible conductor F1 used in embodiment 1, except that the two long holes F11 and the two round holes F12 are omitted, and the flexible conductor F3 does not have any openings such as through holes penetrating between the first surface F3A and the second surface F3B.

[0073] The connector 31 has a first insulator 32 arranged on a first surface F3A of the flexible conductor F3 and a second insulator 33 arranged on a second surface F3B of the flexible conductor F3. The first insulator 32 and the second insulator 33 are attached to overlap each other in the Z direction with the flexible conductor F3 sandwiched therebetween to form a housing 34. Furthermore, the connector 31 has contacts 35 accommodated in the housing 34. The electric wire C is the same as the electric wire C used in the first and second embodiments.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 23, the first insulator 32 is formed from an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a first holding surface 32A extending planarly along the XY plane, and a rectangular prism-shaped protrusion 32B protruding in the -Z direction from the center of the first holding surface 32A. Protrusion 32B has an electric wire end accommodating portion 32E that is open toward the -Y and -Z directions, and a electric wire accommodating groove 32F that extends in the Y direction and is recessed in the +Z direction is formed on first retaining surface 32A located on the -Y direction side of protrusion 32B, and wire accommodating groove 32F is connected to electric wire end accommodating portion 32E. In addition, the first retaining surface 32A is formed with a wire connection piece accommodating portion 32G and a contact retaining piece accommodating portion 32H, which extend in the X direction and are recessed in the +Z direction, at a position adjacent to the -Y direction side and a position adjacent to the +Y direction side of the protrusion 32B, respectively.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 24, the second insulator 33 is formed from an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a second holding surface 33A extending planarly along the XY plane, and a contact accommodating portion 33B recessed in the -Z direction from the center of the second holding surface 33A.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 25, the contact 35, like the contact 15 of the connector 11 in embodiment 1, has a rectangular bottom plate portion 35A, four side wall portions S extending in the +Z direction from the four edges of the bottom plate portion 35A and separated from one another, and a protrusion accommodating portion 35B formed by being surrounded by the bottom plate portion 35A and the four side wall portions S.

[0077] Of the four side walls S, two side walls S that face each other in the Y direction and constitute a first side wall pair are formed from the wire connection piece 35C and the contact holding piece 35D, and two side walls S that face each other in the X direction and constitute a second side wall pair are both formed from the conductor contact piece 35E. The conductor contact piece 35E has a Z-direction height that corresponds to the Z-direction depth of the contact accommodating portion 33B of the second insulator 33, but the wire connection piece 35C and the contact holding piece 35D extend longer in the +Z direction than the conductor contact piece 35E.

[0078] An electric wire contact portion 35F consisting of a slit extending in the Z direction is formed at the +Z direction tip of the electric wire connection piece 35C, and a tapered opening end 35G opening in the +Z direction is formed at the +Z direction end of the slit. A first press-fit portion 35H protruding in the X direction is formed on both edges in the X direction of the wire connecting piece 35C located on the -Z direction side of the wire contact portion 35F.

[0079] A second press-in portion 35J protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 35D at the middle portion in the Z direction of the contact holding piece 35D, and a third press-in portion 35K protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 35D near the +Z direction end portion of the contact holding piece 35D.

[0080] At the +Z direction end of the electric wire connecting piece 35C, blade portions 35M that are sharpened in the +Z direction are formed on both sides in the X direction of the opening end 35G with the opening end 35G therebetween. Similarly, a blade portion 35M that is sharpened in the +Z direction is formed on the +Z end of the contact holding piece 35D. These blades 35M are for cutting the flexible conductor F3.

[0081] Here, there will be described a method of assembling the connector assembly according to embodiment 3. First, the contacts 35 are received in the contact receiving portions 33B of the second insulator 33 as shown in FIG.

[0082] At this time, the wire connecting piece 35C and the contact retaining piece 35D of the contact 35 are pressed into the wire connecting piece holding portion 33C and the contact retaining piece holding portion 33D of the second insulator 33, and the first press-fit portion 35H of the wire connecting piece 35C and the second press-fit portion 35J of the contact retaining piece holding portion 33D shown in Figure 25 are pressed into the inner walls of the wire connecting piece holding portion 33C and the contact retaining piece holding portion 33D, thereby fixing the contact 35 in the contact accommodating portion 33B of the second insulator 33.

[0083] The conductor contact piece 35E of the contact 35 has a Z-direction height corresponding to the Z-direction depth of the contact accommodating portion 33B of the second insulator 33, but the wire connection piece 35C and the contact retaining piece 35D extend longer in the +Z direction than the conductor contact piece 35E, and therefore protrude in the +Z direction further than the second retaining surface 33A of the second insulator 33.

[0084] Therefore, when the second insulator 33 is moved relative to the second surface F3B of the flexible conductor F3 from the -Z direction, the wire connection piece 35C and the contact holding piece 35D, which protrude in the +Z direction beyond the second holding surface 33A of the second insulator 33, come into contact with the second surface F3B of the flexible conductor F3, and when the second insulator 33 is pressed toward the flexible conductor F3, the flexible conductor F3 is cut by the blade portion 35M formed at the +Z direction ends of the wire connection piece 35C and the contact holding piece 35D.

[0085] As a result, the flexible conductor F3 is positioned on the second retaining surface 33A of the second insulator 33, and as shown in Figure 27, the +Z direction ends of the wire connection piece 35C and the contact retaining piece 35D pass through the cut portion of the flexible conductor F3 and protrude in the +Z direction beyond the flexible conductor F3.

[0086] In addition, the +Y direction end of the electric wire C is pushed into the electric wire end accommodating portion 32E of the first insulator 32, and the portion of the electric wire C connected to the +Y direction end is pushed into the electric wire accommodating groove 32F, so that the electric wire C is temporarily held in the first insulator 32.

[0087] In this state, while aligning the first holding surface 32A of the first insulator 32 against the first surface F3A of the flexible conductor F3, the first insulator 32 is moved in the -Z direction and pressed against the second insulator 33 on which the flexible conductor F3 is arranged.

[0088] As a result, as shown in Figure 28, the protrusion 32B of the first insulator 32 is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 35B of the contact 35 accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 33B of the second insulator 33 while pushing in the -Z direction the portion of the flexible conductor F3 located between the cut point by the blade portion 35M of the wire connecting piece 35C of the contact 35 and the cut point by the blade portion 35M of the contact holding piece 35D.

[0089] In addition, the +Z direction ends of the wire connecting piece 35C and the contact holding piece 35D of the contact 35 protruding toward the +Z direction side of the flexible conductor F3 are accommodated in the wire connecting piece accommodating portion 32G and the contact holding piece accommodating portion 32H of the first insulator 32, respectively.

[0090] At this time, the electric wire C temporarily held by the first insulator 32 is pushed into the electric wire contact portion 35F formed by the slit of the electric wire connecting piece 35C of the contact 35, and is electrically connected to the contact 35.

[0091] 29, the flexible conductor F3 is sandwiched between the outer surfaces of the protrusion 32B facing the -X and +X directions and a pair of conductor contact pieces 35E of the contact 35. As a result, the flexible conductor F3 comes into contact with the conductor contact pieces 35E of the contact 35 with a predetermined contact pressure and is electrically connected to the contact 35. As a result, the electric wire C is electrically connected to the flexible conductor F3 via the contact 35.

[0092] Furthermore, the +Z direction end of the contact retaining piece 35D of the contact 35 is accommodated in the contact retaining piece accommodating portion 32H of the first insulator 32, and the third press-in portion 35K of the contact retaining piece 35D shown in Figure 25 is pressed into the inner wall of the contact retaining piece accommodating portion 32H, thereby fixing the first insulator 32 to the contact 35.

[0093] In this way, even if the flexible conductor F3 does not have any openings such as through holes, the small connector 31 can connect the electric wire C to the flexible conductor F3.

[0094] Fourth embodiment In the contacts 15, 25, and 35 used in the first to third embodiments, of the four side wall portions S, the two side wall portions S facing each other in the Y direction are formed from wire connection pieces 15C, 25C, and 35C and contact holding pieces 15D, 25D, and 35D, and the two side wall portions S facing each other in the X direction are both formed from conductor contact pieces 15E, 25E, and 35E, but this is not limited to this.

[0095] 30 and 31 show a connector assembly according to embodiment 4. In this connector assembly, an electric wire C is connected to a flexible conductor F4 using a connector 41. The flexible conductor F4 has a first surface F4A facing the +Z direction and a second surface F4B facing the -Z direction, and the electric wire C connected to the flexible conductor F4 extends along the second surface F4B of the flexible conductor F4.

[0096] The connector 41 has a first insulator 42 arranged on a first surface F4A of the flexible conductor F4 and a second insulator 43 arranged on a second surface F4B of the flexible conductor F4.

[0097] 32 is an assembly diagram of a connector assembly according to embodiment 4. The flexible conductor F4 has the same configuration as the flexible conductor F1 used in embodiment 1, except that one substantially U-shaped hole F41 (opening) is formed instead of the two long holes F11 in the flexible conductor F1 used in embodiment 1.

[0098] The first insulator 42 and the second insulator 43 of the connector 41 are attached so as to overlap each other in the Z direction with the flexible conductor F4 sandwiched therebetween to form a housing 44. The connector 41 has contacts 45 accommodated in the housing 44. The electric wire C is the same as the electric wire C used in the first to third embodiments.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 33, the first insulator 42 is formed from an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a first holding surface 42A extending planarly along the XY plane, and a protrusion 42B having an approximately rectangular prism shape protruding in the -Z direction from the center of the first holding surface 42A. The protrusion 42B has an electric wire end accommodating portion 42E that is open toward the -Y direction and the -Z direction.

[0100] In addition, on the first retaining surface 42A, at a position adjacent to the -Y direction side of the protrusion 42B, an electric wire connection piece accommodating portion 42G extending in the X direction and recessed in the +Z direction is formed, and at positions adjacent to the -X direction side and adjacent to the +X direction side of the protrusion 42B, a contact retaining piece accommodating portion 42H extending in the Y direction and recessed in the +Z direction is formed, respectively. Furthermore, adjacent to the -Y direction side and +Y direction side of the electric wire connecting piece accommodating portion 42G, an electric wire accommodating groove 42F extending in the Y direction and recessed in the +Z direction is formed. The electric wire accommodating groove 42F communicates with the electric wire end portion accommodating portion 42E. Furthermore, two pin insertion holes 42J recessed in the +Z direction are formed on the first holding surface 42A on both sides of the protrusion 42B in the X direction with the protrusion 42B therebetween.

[0101] 34, the second insulator 43 is made of an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a second holding surface 43A extending in a plane along the XY plane, and a contact accommodating portion 43B recessed in the -Z direction from the center of the second holding surface 43A. A wire connecting piece holding portion 43C extending in the X direction and recessed in the -Z direction is formed on the -Y direction side of the contact accommodating portion 43B, and a contact holding piece holding portion 43D extending in the Y direction and recessed in the -Z direction is formed on the -X direction side and +X direction side of the contact accommodating portion 43B. The wire connecting piece holding portion 43C and the contact holding piece holding portion 43D are connected to the contact accommodating portion 43B.

[0102] A columnar portion 43H extending in the Z direction is formed in the contact accommodating portion 43B. The columnar portion 43H extends in the +Z direction from the bottom of the contact accommodating portion 43B while being spaced apart from the inner wall of the contact accommodating portion 43B, and protrudes in the +Z direction beyond the second holding surface 43A. A wire end guide groove 43J is formed in the columnar portion 43H, extending in the Z direction over the entire length of the columnar portion 43H and opening toward the -Y direction.

[0103] Further, second holding surface 43A located at the end of contact accommodating portion 43B in the +Y direction is formed with flange accommodating portion 43E having a stepped shape recessed in the -Z direction and communicating with contact accommodating portion 43B. Furthermore, on the second holding surface 43A, two positioning pins 43F are formed on both sides of the contact accommodating portion 43B in the X direction, each protruding in the +Z direction.

[0104] Further, a wire accommodating groove 43G extending in the Y direction and recessed in the -Z direction is formed on the second holding surface 43A located on the -Y direction side of the contact accommodating portion 43B, and the wire accommodating groove 43G is connected to the contact accommodating portion 43B.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 35, the contact 45 has a rectangular bottom plate portion 45A, four side wall portions S extending in the +Z direction from the four edges of the bottom plate portion 45A and separated from one another, and a protrusion accommodating portion 45B formed by being surrounded by the bottom plate portion 45A and the four side wall portions S.

[0106] Of the four side wall portions S, the two side wall portions S that face each other in the Y direction and constitute a first side wall pair are formed from a wire connection piece 45C and a conductor contact piece 45E, and the two side wall portions S that face each other in the X direction and constitute a second side wall pair are both formed from a contact retaining piece 45D. A wire contact portion 45F consisting of a slit extending in the Z direction is formed at the +Z direction tip of the wire connection piece 45C, and a tapered opening end 45G opening in the +Z direction is formed at the +Z direction end of the slit.

[0107] A second press-in portion 45J protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 45D near the -Z direction end of the contact holding piece 45D, and a third press-in portion 45K protruding in the X direction is formed on both X-direction edges of the contact holding piece 45D near the +Z direction end of the contact holding piece 45D. A flange 45L is formed at the end of the conductive contact piece 45E in the +Z direction, extending outward from the protrusion accommodating portion 45B and along the Y plane. Further, a rectangular through hole 45M is formed in the bottom plate portion 45A. The through hole 45M is for allowing the columnar portion 43H of the second insulator 43 to pass therethrough when assembling the connector assembly.

[0108] Here, a method of assembling the connector assembly according to the fourth embodiment will be described. First, as shown in Fig. 36 and Fig. 37, the contact 45 is accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 43B of the second insulator 43. At this time, the columnar portion 43H of the second insulator 43 is passed through the through hole 45M formed in the bottom plate portion 45A of the contact 45, and the flange 45L formed on the end portion in the +Z direction of the conductor contact piece 45E of the contact 45 is accommodated in the flange accommodating portion 43E of the second insulator 43.

[0109] In addition, a pair of contact retaining pieces 45D of the contact 45 are pressed into the contact accommodating portion 43B of the second insulator 43, and the second press-in portion 45J of the contact retaining piece retaining portion 43D shown in Figure 35 is pressed into the inner wall of the contact accommodating portion 43B, thereby fixing the contact 45 in the contact accommodating portion 43B of the second insulator 43.

[0110] Furthermore, the vicinity of the +Y direction end of the electric wire C is disposed on the electric wire connecting piece 45C of the contact 45. The electric wire C is disposed on the tapered opening end 45G without being inserted into the electric wire contact portion 45F formed by the slit of the electric wire connecting piece 45C of the contact 45, and the +Y direction end of the electric wire C is inserted into the electric wire end guide groove 43J of the columnar portion 43H of the second insulator 43 from the -Y direction.

[0111] In this state, with the flexible conductor F4 sandwiched between them, the first holding surface 42A of the first insulator 42 is opposed to the first surface F4A of the flexible conductor F4, and the first insulator 42 is moved in the -Z direction to press the first insulator 42 together with the flexible conductor F4 against the second insulator 43.

[0112] As a result, as shown in Figures 38 and 39, the protrusion 42B of the first insulator 42 is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 45B of the contact 45 accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 43B of the second insulator 43 while pushing the portion adjacent to the hole F41 of the flexible conductor F4 in the -Z direction.

[0113] In addition, the +Z direction ends of the wire connecting piece 45C and the contact holding piece 45D of the contact 45 protruding toward the +Z direction side of the flexible conductor F4 are accommodated in the wire connecting piece accommodating portion 42G and the contact holding piece accommodating portion 42H of the first insulator 42, respectively.

[0114] At this time, the wire C that was positioned on the open end 45G of the wire connection piece 45C of the contact 45 is pushed into the wire contact portion 45F consisting of a slit in the wire connection piece 45C by the wire accommodating groove 42F of the first insulator 42, and is electrically connected to the contact 45.

[0115] Furthermore, the protrusion 42B of the first insulator 42 pushes the flexible conductor F4 in the -Z direction while being accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 45B of the contact 45, so that the flexible conductor F4 is sandwiched between the outer surface of the protrusion 42B facing the +Y direction and the conductor contact piece 45E of the contact 45. As a result, the flexible conductor F4 comes into contact with the conductor contact piece 45E of the contact 45 with a predetermined contact pressure and is electrically connected to the contact 45. As a result, the electric wire C extending along the second surface F4B of the flexible conductor F4 is electrically connected to the flexible conductor F4 via the contact 45.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 39, the +Z direction ends of a pair of contact retaining pieces 45D of the contact 45 are each accommodated in the corresponding contact retaining piece accommodating portion 42H of the first insulator 42, and the third press-in portion 45K of the contact retaining piece 45D shown in FIG. 35 is pressed into the inner wall of the contact retaining piece accommodating portion 42H, thereby fixing the first insulator 42 to the contact 45.

[0117] Also, as shown in FIG. 39, the two positioning pins 43F of the second insulator 43 are inserted into the two pin insertion holes 42J of the first insulator 42 through the two round holes F12 of the flexible conductor F4, thereby aligning the first insulator 42 and the second insulator 43 with the flexible conductor F4, and the flexible conductor F4 is held in the connector 41 by being sandwiched between the first retaining surface 42A of the first insulator 42 and the second retaining surface 43A of the second insulator 43.

[0118] In this way, even if, of the four side wall portions S of the contact 45, two side wall portions S that face each other in the Y direction and constitute a first side wall pair are formed from the wire connection piece 45C and the conductor contact piece 45E, and two side wall portions S that face each other in the X direction and constitute a second side wall pair are both formed from the contact retaining piece 45D, it is possible to electrically connect the electric wire C to the flexible conductor F4 using the small connector 41.

[0119] Fifth embodiment In the contacts 15, 25, 35, and 45 used in the first to fourth embodiments, one of the four side wall portions S is formed from a wire connecting piece 15C, 25C, 35C, or 45C, but this is not limited to this, and two of the four side wall portions S can each be formed from a wire connecting piece.

[0120] 40 and 41 show a connector assembly according to embodiment 5. In this connector assembly, an electric wire C is connected to a flexible conductor F5 using a connector 51. The flexible conductor F5 has a first surface F5A facing the +Z direction and a second surface F5B facing the -Z direction, and the electric wire C connected to the flexible conductor F5 extends along the first surface F5A of the flexible conductor F5. The connector 51 has a first insulator 52 arranged on a first surface F5A of the flexible conductor F5 and a second insulator 53 arranged on a second surface F5B of the flexible conductor F5.

[0121] 42 is an assembly diagram of the connector assembly according to the embodiment 5. The flexible conductor F5 has the same configuration as the flexible conductor F1 used in the embodiment 1. A first insulator 52 and a second insulator 53 of the connector 51 are attached so as to overlap each other in the Z direction with a flexible conductor F5 sandwiched therebetween to form a housing 54. The connector 51 has contacts 55 accommodated in the housing 54. The electric wire C is the same as the electric wire C used in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 43, the first insulator 52 is formed from an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a first holding surface 52A extending planarly along the XY plane, a substantially rectangular prism-shaped protrusion 52B protruding in the -Z direction from the center of the first holding surface 52A, and a pair of convex portions 52C protruding from the first holding surface 52A at positions adjacent to the -Y and +Y sides of the protrusion 52B, respectively.

[0123] The protrusion 52B is formed with a groove-shaped electric wire end accommodating portion 52E that extends in the Y direction and is open toward the -Z direction so as to divide the protrusion 52B in two. Further, the first holding surface 52A and the pair of protruding portions 52C are formed with electric wire accommodating grooves 52F that communicate with the electric wire end portion accommodating portions 52E, extend in the Y direction, and are recessed in the +Z direction. The X-direction width dimension of at least a portion of the electric wire end accommodating portion 52E and the electric wire accommodating groove 52F is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire C. As a result, when assembling the connector assembly, by pushing the electric wire C into the electric wire end accommodating portion 52E and the electric wire accommodating groove 52F, the +Y-direction end of the electric wire C and the portion of the electric wire C connected to the +Y-direction end can be temporarily held inside the electric wire end accommodating portion 52E and the electric wire accommodating groove 52F.

[0124] Further, each of the pair of protruding portions 52C is formed with an electric wire connecting piece accommodating portion 52G that extends in the X direction and is recessed in the +Z direction. Furthermore, two pin insertion holes 52J recessed in the +Z direction are formed on the first holding surface 52A on both sides of the protrusion 52B in the X direction with the protrusion 52B therebetween.

[0125] 44, the second insulator 53 is made of an insulating material such as insulating resin, and has a second holding surface 53A extending in a plane along the XY plane, and a concave contact accommodating portion 53B recessed in the -Z direction from the center of the second holding surface 53A. On the -Y and +Y sides of the contact accommodating portion 53B, electric wire connecting piece holding portions 53C extending in the X direction and recessed in the -Z direction are formed. These electric wire connecting piece holding portions 53C are in communication with the contact accommodating portion 53B.

[0126] In addition, the second holding surfaces 53A located at the -X direction end and the +X direction end of the contact accommodating portion 53B each have a flange accommodating portion 53E having a stepped shape recessed in the -Z direction and communicating with the contact accommodating portion 53B. Furthermore, on the second holding surface 53A, two positioning pins 53F are formed on both sides of the contact accommodating portion 53B in the X direction, each protruding in the +Z direction.

[0127] As shown in FIG. 45, the contact 55 is formed, for example, from a single bent metal plate, and has a rectangular bottom plate portion 55A, four side wall portions S extending in the +Z direction from the four edges of the bottom plate portion 55A and separated from one another, and a protrusion accommodating portion 55B formed by being surrounded by the bottom plate portion 55A and the four side wall portions S.

[0128] Of the four side wall portions S, the two side wall portions S that face each other in the Y direction and form a first side wall pair are both formed from wire connection pieces 55C, and the two side wall portions S that face each other in the X direction and form a second side wall pair are both formed from conductor contact pieces 55E. The two wire connection pieces 55C have the same configuration, and a wire contact portion 55F consisting of a slit extending in the Z direction is formed at the +Z direction tip of the wire connection piece 55C, and a tapered opening end 55G opening in the +Z direction is formed at the +Z direction end of the slit.

[0129] A first press-fit portion 55H protruding in the X direction is formed on both X direction edges of the wire contact portion 55F near the -Z direction end of the wire contact portion 55F, and a fourth press-fit portion 55J protruding in the X direction is formed on both X direction edges of the wire contact portion 55F in the Z direction intermediate portion of the wire contact portion 55F. The fourth press-fit portion 55J is located on the -Z direction side of the wire contact portion 55F and on the +Z direction side of the first press-fit portion 55H. Furthermore, a flange 55L is formed at the +Z end of each of the conductor contact pieces 55E, facing outward with respect to the protrusion accommodating portion 55B and extending along the XY plane.

[0130] Here, a description will be given of a method of assembling the connector assembly according to embodiment 5. First, as shown in Fig. 46, the contacts 55 are accommodated in the contact accommodating portions 53B of the second insulator 53, and the flexible conductor F5 is positioned on the second holding surface 53A of the second insulator 53. At this time, the two wire connecting pieces 55C of the contact 55 are each pressed into the corresponding wire connecting piece holding portion 53C of the second insulator 53, and the first press-in portion 55H of the wire connecting piece 55C shown in FIG. 45 is pressed into the inner wall of the wire connecting piece holding portion 53C, thereby fixing the contact 55 in the contact accommodating portion 53B of the second insulator 53.

[0131] Furthermore, the conductor contact piece 55E of the contact 55 has a Z-direction height corresponding to the Z-direction depth of the contact accommodating portion 53B of the second insulator 53. However, the wire connection piece 55C extends longer in the +Z direction than the conductor contact piece 55E. Therefore, the two wire connection pieces 55C of the contact 55 accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 53B protrude in the +Z direction beyond the second retaining surface 53A of the second insulator 53, and protrude toward the +Z direction side of the flexible conductor F5 through the two long holes F11 of the flexible conductor F5. In addition, the +Y direction end of the electric wire C is pushed into the electric wire end accommodating portion 52E and the electric wire accommodating groove 52F of the first insulator 52, whereby the first insulator 52 temporarily holds the electric wire C.

[0132] In this state, the first insulator 52 is moved in the -Z direction and pressed against the flexible conductor F5 and the second insulator 53 while the first holding surface 52A of the first insulator 52 faces the first surface F5A of the flexible conductor F5. As a result, as shown in Figure 47, the two convex portions 52C of the first insulator 52 are inserted into the two long holes F11 of the flexible conductor F5, and the protrusion 52B of the first insulator 52 is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 55B of the contact 55 accommodated in the contact accommodating portion 53B of the second insulator 53 while pushing the portion of the flexible conductor F5 located between the two long holes F11 in the -Z direction.

[0133] Further, the +Z direction ends of the two wire connecting pieces 55C of the contact 55 protruding toward the +Z direction side of the flexible conductor F5 are accommodated in the corresponding wire connecting piece accommodating portions 52G of the first insulator 52, respectively. At this time, the electric wire C temporarily held in the first insulator 52 is pushed into the electric wire contact portion 55F consisting of the slits of the two electric wire connection pieces 55C of the contact 55, as shown in FIG. 48, and is electrically connected to the contact 55 by coming into contact with each of the two electric wire contact portions 55F.

[0134] Moreover, the protrusion 52B of the first insulator 52 is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 55B of the contact 55 while pushing the flexible conductor F5 in the -Z direction, so that the flexible conductor F5 is sandwiched between the outer surfaces of the protrusion 52B facing the -X and +X directions and a pair of conductor contact pieces 55E of the contact 55, as shown in Fig. 49. As a result, the flexible conductor F5 comes into contact with the conductor contact pieces 55E of the contact 55 with a predetermined contact pressure and is electrically connected to the contact 55. As a result, the electric wire C is electrically connected to the flexible conductor F5 via the contact 55.

[0135] The +Z direction ends of the two wire connection pieces 55C of the contact 55 are each accommodated in the corresponding wire connection piece accommodating portion 52G of the first insulator 52, and the fourth press-in portion 55J of the wire connection piece 55C shown in FIG. 45 is pressed into the inner wall of the wire connection piece accommodating portion 52G, thereby fixing the first insulator 52 to the contact 55.

[0136] Also, as shown in FIG. 49, the two positioning pins 53F of the second insulator 53 are inserted into the two pin insertion holes 52J of the first insulator 52 through the two round holes F12 of the flexible conductor F5, thereby aligning the first insulator 52 and the second insulator 53 with the flexible conductor F5, and the flexible conductor F5 is held in the connector 51 by being sandwiched between the first holding surface 52A of the first insulator 52 and the second holding surface 53A of the second insulator 53. The flange 55L of the contact 55 is accommodated in the flange accommodating portion 53E of the second insulator 53.

[0137] As shown in FIG. 47, a wire end accommodating portion 52E that accommodates the +Y direction end of the electric wire C is arranged on the protrusion 52B of the first insulator 52 that is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion 55B of the contact 55, and the wire contact portion 55F of the contact 55 is connected to the electric wire C at a position that overlaps with the flexible conductor F5 in the Z direction, thereby realizing a compact connector 51 that can connect the electric wire C to the flexible conductor F5. Furthermore, the contact 55 in embodiment 5 has two wire connection pieces 55C, and the wire C contacts each of the wire contact portions 55F consisting of slits in the two wire connection pieces 55C. This improves the reliability of the electrical connection between the wire C and the contact 55, and as a result, it becomes possible to connect the wire C to the flexible conductor F5 with high reliability.

[0138] In the contact 55 of embodiment 5, as in the contact 35 of embodiment 3 described above, by forming blade portions pointed toward the +Z direction at the +Z direction ends of the two wire connection pieces 55C, it is possible to cut the flexible conductor F5 with the blade portions of the wire connection pieces 55C and connect the electric wire C to the flexible conductor F5 via the connector 51, even if the flexible conductor F5 does not have any openings such as through holes.

[0139] Sixth embodiment As shown in FIG. 6, in the contact 15 used in the first embodiment, four side wall portions S consisting of one wire connection piece 15C, one contact holding piece 15D, and two conductor contact pieces 15E extend in the +Z direction from the four edges of the rectangular bottom plate portion 15A and are separated from each other, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0140] 50, the contact 65 in the sixth embodiment has a rectangular bottom plate portion 65A extending along the XY plane, with a wire connection piece 65C extending in the +Z direction along the XZ plane from the edge of the bottom plate portion 65A in the -Y direction, and a contact holding piece 65D extending in the +Z direction along the XZ plane from the edge of the bottom plate portion 65A in the +Y direction. Furthermore, a conductor contact piece 65E extends in the -Y direction along the YZ plane from each of the -X direction end and the +X direction end of the contact holding piece 65D. The two conductor contact pieces 65E are not connected to the bottom plate portion 65A and the wire connection piece 65C, and a gap is formed between the bottom plate portion 65A and the wire connection piece 65C.

[0141] One wire connection piece 65C, one contact holding piece 65D, and two conductor contact pieces 65E form four side wall portions S extending in the +Z direction, and the bottom plate portion 65A and the four side wall portions S form a protrusion accommodating portion 65B that is recessed in the -Z direction. In the first and second embodiments, even if a contact 65 shown in FIG. 50 is used instead of the contacts 15, 25, it is possible to connect the electric wire C to the flexible conductors F1, F2.

[0142] Similarly, in embodiment 3, instead of conductor contact piece 35E extending in the +Z direction from the -X direction edge and +X direction edge of bottom plate portion 35A of contact 35 shown in FIG. 25, conductor contact piece 35E can also extend in the -Y direction along the YZ plane from the -X direction end and +X direction end of contact holding piece 35D, respectively. Furthermore, in embodiment 4, instead of contact holding piece 45D extending in the +Z direction from the -X direction edge and +X direction edge of bottom plate portion 45A of contact 45 shown in FIG. 35, contact holding piece 45D can also extend in the -Y direction along the YZ plane from the -X direction end and +X direction end of conductor contact piece 45E, respectively.

[0143] Also in embodiment 5, instead of conductor contact piece 55E extending in the +Z direction from the -X direction edge and the +X direction edge of bottom plate portion 55A of contact 55 shown in FIG. 45, conductor contact piece 55E can be extended in the -Y direction along the YZ plane from the -X direction end and the +X direction end of one of the two wire connection pieces 55C, for example, the wire connection piece 55C located on the +Y direction side.

[0144] Seventh embodiment As shown in FIG. 6, the contact 15 used in the first embodiment has a rectangular bottom plate portion 15A and four side wall portions S extending in the +Z direction from the four edges of the bottom plate portion 15A and separated from each other, but is not limited to this.

[0145] 51, contact 75 in embodiment 7 has one wire connection piece 75C extending along the XZ plane, two conductor contact pieces 75E extending in the +Y direction along the YZ plane from a -X direction end and a +X direction end of wire connection piece 75C, respectively, and one contact holding piece 75D extending in the +X direction along the XZ plane from the +Y direction end of conductor contact piece 75E located on the -X direction side of the two conductor contact pieces 75E. Furthermore, the +Y direction end of the conductor contact piece 75E located on the +X direction side of the two conductor contact pieces 75E is not connected to the contact holding piece 75D, and a gap is formed between it and the contact holding piece 75D.

[0146] The contact 75 does not have a bottom plate portion extending along the XY plane, but one wire connection piece 75C, two conductor contact pieces 75E, and one contact holding piece 75D each form four side wall portions S extending in the +Z direction, and these four side wall portions S form a protrusion accommodating portion 75B that is recessed in the -Z direction. In the first and second embodiments, even if a contact 75 shown in FIG. 51 is used instead of the contacts 15, 25, it is possible to connect the electric wire C to the flexible conductors F1, F2.

[0147] Also in the third embodiment, bottom plate portion 35A of contact 35 shown in FIG. 25 can be omitted, and two conductor contact pieces 35E can be extended in the +Y direction along the YZ plane from the -X direction end and +X direction end of wire connection piece 35C, respectively, and one contact holding piece 35D can be extended in the +X direction along the XZ plane from the +Y direction end of conductor contact piece 35E located on the -X direction side of the two conductor contact pieces 35E. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, bottom plate portion 45A of contact 45 shown in FIG. 35 can be omitted, and two contact holding pieces 45D can be extended in the +Y direction along the YZ plane from the -X direction end and +X direction end of wire connection piece 45C, respectively, and one conductor contact piece 45E can be extended in the +X direction along the XZ plane from the +Y direction end of contact holding piece 45D located on the -X direction side of the two contact holding pieces 45D.

[0148] Also in the fifth embodiment, bottom plate portion 55A of contact 55 shown in FIG. 45 can be omitted, and two conductor contact pieces 55E can be extended in the +Y direction along the YZ plane from the -X direction end and +X direction end of wire connection piece 55C located on the -Y direction side of the two wire connection pieces 55C, respectively, and another wire connection piece 55C can be extended in the +X direction along the XZ plane from the +Y direction end of conductor contact piece 55E located on the -X direction side of the two conductor contact pieces 55E.

[0149] In addition, in the above embodiments 1 to 5, in order to improve the waterproofness of the connectors 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 and to improve the holding force of the flexible conductors F1 to F5 by the connectors 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, the first holding surfaces 12A, 22A, 32A, 42A, 52A of the first insulators 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 and the first surfaces F1A, F2A, F3A, F4A, F5A of the flexible conductors F1 to F5, and the second holding surfaces 13A, 23A, 33A, 43A, 53A of the second insulators 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 and the second surfaces F1B, F2B, F3B, F4B, F5B of the flexible conductors F1 to F5 can be bonded with an adhesive, respectively.

[0150] In the first to fifth embodiments, the flexible conductors F1 to F5 are made by twisting together conductive fibers, but the present invention is not limited to this and the flexible conductors can be made from a conductive paste applied by printing or the like to the surface of an insulating sheet-like substrate. Such flexible conductors can be formed on one or both sides of the sheet-like substrate. When a flexible conductor is formed on only one side of the sheet-like substrate, the first insulators 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 are arranged on the sheet-like substrate side and the second insulators 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 are arranged on the flexible conductor side, thereby allowing the flexible conductor to be electrically connected to the conductor contact pieces 15E, 25E, 35E, 45E, 55E of the contacts 15, 25, 35, 45, 55. [Explanation of symbols]

[0151] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 flexible board, 2 contact, 3 base member, 4 flexible conductor, 5 protrusion accommodating portion, 6 protrusion, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 connector, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 first insulator, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 second insulator, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 housing, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 contact, 12A, 22A, 32A, 42A, 52A first retaining surface, 12B, 22B, 32B, 42B, 52B protrusion, 12C, 12D, 22C, 22D, 52C convex portion, 12E, 22E, 32E, 42E, 52E wire end accommodating portion, 12F, 22F, 32F, 42F, 52F Wire receiving groove, 12G, 22G, 32G, 42G, 52G Wire connection piece receiving portion, 12H, 22H, 32H, 42H Contact retaining piece receiving portion, 12J, 22J, 42J, 52J Pin insertion hole, 13A, 23A, 33A, 43A, 53A Second retaining surface, 13B, 23B, 33B, 43B, 53B Contact receiving portion, 13C, 23C, 43C, 53C Wire connection piece receiving portion, 13D, 23D, 43D Contact retaining piece receiving portion, 13E, 23E, 43E, 53E Flange receiving portion, 13F, 23F, 43F, 53F Positioning pin, 15A, 25A, 35A, 45A, 55A Bottom plate portion, 15B, 25B, 35B, 45B, 55B Protrusion receiving portion, 15C, 25C, 35C, 45C, 55C Wire connection piece, 15D, 25D, 35D, 45D Contact retaining piece, 15E, 25E, 35E, 45E, 55E Conductor contact piece, 15F, 25F, 35F, 45F, 55F Wire contact portion, 15G, 25G, 35G, 45G, 55G Open end, 15H, 25H, 35H, 55H First press-fit portion, 15J, 25J, 35J, 45J Second press-fit portion, 15K, 25K, 35K, 45K Third press-fit portion, 15L, 25L, 35L, 45L, 55L Flange, 35M Blade portion, 43H Columnar portion, 43J wire end guide groove, 55J 4th press-fit portion, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 flexible conductor, F1A, F2A, F3A, F4A, F5A 1st surface, F1B, F2B, F3B, F4B, F5B 2nd surface, F11 oblong hole (opening), F12 round hole, F21, F41 hole (opening), C wire, C1 conductor portion, C2 insulation portion, W1 width dimension, S side wall portion.

Claims

1. 1. A connector for connecting an electric wire to a sheet-like flexible conductor having a first surface and a second surface oriented in opposite directions, comprising: a housing attached to the flexible conductor and holding an end of the wire; a contact formed from a conductive material and received within the housing; Equipped with The housing includes: a first insulator disposed on the first surface of the flexible conductor; a second insulator disposed on the second surface of the flexible conductor and attached to the first insulator along a first direction that is a thickness direction of the flexible conductor; having the first insulator has a protrusion protruding in the first direction toward the second insulator, the protrusion having an electric wire end accommodating portion that is open toward a second direction intersecting the first direction, the second insulator has a contact accommodating portion that is recessed in the first direction and accommodates the contact; Each of the contacts has a plurality of sidewall portions extending in the first direction, and a protruding receiving portion surrounded by the plurality of sidewall portions and recessed in the first direction, the plurality of side wall portions include at least one side wall portion made of an electric wire connection piece having an electric wire contact portion at a tip end in the first direction that contacts the electric wire, and at least one side wall portion made of a conductor contact piece that contacts the flexible conductor, the contact is accommodated in the contact accommodating portion, the end of the electric wire is accommodated in the electric wire end accommodating portion of the protrusion, and the protrusion is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion of the contact such that the electric wire end accommodating portion, which is open toward the second direction and sandwiches the flexible conductor therebetween, faces the electric wire connecting piece; a connector characterized in that the electric wire extends from the wire end accommodating portion in the second direction and contacts the wire contact portion of the wire connection piece of the contact, and a portion of the flexible conductor is sandwiched between the outer surface of the protrusion and the conductor contact piece of the contact and contacts the conductor contact piece of the contact, thereby electrically connecting the electric wire to the flexible conductor via the contact.

2. the first insulator has a first holding surface that is disposed around the protrusion so as to surround the protrusion and faces the first surface of the flexible conductor; the second insulator is disposed around the contact accommodating portion so as to surround the contact accommodating portion and has a second holding surface facing the second surface of the flexible conductor; The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible conductor is held in the housing by being sandwiched between the first holding surface of the first insulator and the second holding surface of the second insulator.

3. The wire contact portion is formed of a slit disposed at a tip of the wire connection piece and extending in the first direction, The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric wire is inserted into the slit, so that the electric wire connecting piece comes into contact with the electric wire.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a portion of the wire end accommodating portion has a width dimension in a direction perpendicular to the second direction that is slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the wire.

5. The contact has a rectangular bottom plate portion, 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion accommodating portion is surrounded by the bottom plate portion and the plurality of side wall portions.

6. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the contact has two side wall portions constituting a first side wall pair facing each other in the second direction, and two side wall portions constituting a second side wall pair facing each other in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

7. One of the two side wall portions constituting the first side wall pair is made of the wire connection piece, The connector according to claim 6 , wherein the two side walls constituting the second side wall pair are each formed of the conductive contact piece.

8. The connector as described in claim 7, wherein the other of the two side wall portions constituting the first side wall pair comprises a contact retaining piece for fixing the contact to the first insulator and the second insulator.

9. The two side wall portions constituting the first side wall pair are each composed of the electric wire connection piece and the conductor contact piece, 7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein the two side walls constituting the second side wall pair are each formed of a contact retaining piece for fixing the contact to the first insulator and the second insulator.

10. 10. A connector according to claim 8, wherein the first insulator has a concave wire connecting piece accommodating portion for accommodating a tip of the wire connecting piece, and a concave contact holding piece accommodating portion for accommodating a tip of the contact holding piece.

11. The connector as described in claim 10, wherein the second insulator has a concave wire connection piece holding portion that communicates with the contact accommodating portion and holds the wire connection piece, and a concave contact retention piece holding portion that communicates with the contact accommodating portion and holds the contact retention piece.

12. the electric wire connection piece has a first press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the electric wire connection piece holding portion of the second insulator, The connector as described in claim 11, wherein the contact retaining piece has a second press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the contact retaining piece holding portion of the second insulator, and a third press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the contact retaining piece accommodating portion of the first insulator.

13. A connector as described in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the tip of the wire connection piece and the tip of the contact retaining piece of the contact are accommodated in the wire connection piece accommodating portion and the contact retaining piece accommodating portion of the first insulator through an opening pre-formed in the flexible conductor.

14. 13. The connector according to claim 10, wherein a tip of the wire connecting piece and a tip of the contact holding piece of the contact have a blade portion for cutting the flexible conductor.

15. The two side wall portions constituting the first side wall pair each include the electric wire connection piece, The connector according to claim 6 , wherein the two side walls constituting the second side wall pair are each formed of the conductive contact piece.

16. 16. The connector according to claim 15, wherein the first insulator has two concave electric wire connecting piece receiving portions for receiving the ends of the electric wire connecting pieces, respectively.

17. 17. The connector according to claim 16, wherein the second insulator has two concave electric wire connecting piece holding portions that communicate with the contact accommodating portions and that respectively hold the electric wire connecting pieces.

18. The connector as described in claim 17, wherein the wire connection piece has a first press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the wire connection piece holding portion of the second insulator, and a fourth press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the wire connection piece accommodating portion of the first insulator.

19. A connector as described in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the tip of the wire connection piece of the contact is accommodated in the wire connection piece accommodating portion of the first insulator through an opening pre-formed in the flexible conductor.

20. 19. The connector according to claim 16, wherein a tip of the wire connecting piece of the contact has a blade portion for cutting the flexible conductor.

21. The contact has a flange that is disposed at a tip of the conductive contact piece in the first direction and extends outward relative to the protruding accommodating portion, 21. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the second insulator has a stepped flange receiving portion that communicates with the contact receiving portion and receives the flange.

22. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the wire is disposed on the first surface of the flexible conductor.

23. The connector of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the wire is disposed on the second surface of the flexible conductor.

24. The flexible conductor; The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 23 attached to the flexible conductor; the wire electrically connected to the flexible conductor via the contact by the connector; A connector assembly comprising:

25. A connector assembly as described in Claim 24, wherein the flexible conductor extends in a sheet-like manner over a predetermined area, and when viewed from the first direction, the wire contact portion of the contact is positioned in a position overlapping the predetermined area.

26. 26. A connector assembly according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the flexible conductor has a pad shape.

27. The electric wire is a coated electric wire in which a conductor portion is covered with an insulating portion, The connector assembly according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the wire contact portion of the contact contacts the conductor portion.

28. 28. The connector assembly according to claim 27, wherein an end of the electric wire is accommodated in the electric wire end accommodating portion of the projection of the first insulator with the conductor portion covered by the insulating portion.

Images