Connector, connector assembly, and connection method

The connector assembly with elastically deformable pressing portions addresses the issues of size and reliability in connecting electric wires to flexible conductors by ensuring a secure and compact electrical connection, reducing resistance and cost.

JP7822294B2Active Publication Date: 2026-03-02JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS IND LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2022156650
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-09-29
Publication Date
2026-03-02
Estimated Expiration
2042-09-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing connectors for connecting electric wires to flexible conductors in smart clothing result in increased device size and reduced reliability due to detachable connection points, leading to high electrical resistance and cost.

Method used

A connector assembly comprising an insulator with elastically deformable pressing portions that sandwich a connection object between the conductor portion and the pressing portion, ensuring reliable electrical connection while minimizing device size.

Benefits of technology

The solution achieves miniaturization and enhances connection reliability by using an insulator with elastically deformable pressing portions to securely connect electric wires to flexible conductors on a sheet-like object, reducing electrical resistance and cost.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of reliably electrically connecting a conductor part of an electric wire to an exposed contact part on the back surface of a sheet-shaped object to be connected, while at the same time reducing the size of the connector.SOLUTION: After placing a conductor part 31A of a sheathed wire 31 on a conductor part placement surface S of a connector 11 from the -Y direction, an object to be connected 21 is placed on the connector 11 so that an opening 21B of the object to be connected 21 is positioned directly above a spring part 13B of a metal terminal 13 of the connector 11. By pulling the object to be connected 21 in the +Y direction, a contact part 21C exposed on the back surface of the object to be connected 21 is electrically connected to the conductor part 31A of the sheathed wire 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector and connector assembly for electrically connecting a conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on the back surface of a sheet-like connection object. The present invention also relates to a connection method for electrically connecting a conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on the back surface of a sheet-like connection object. [Background technology]

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

[0003] However, if the wearable device is located far from the measurement location, an electrical path must be constructed from the electrode placed at the measurement location to the connector attachment position. If such an electrical path is formed using a flexible conductor, the electrical resistance will be high and the cost will be high. Therefore, in order to connect electrodes made of flexible conductors to wearable devices using inexpensive wires with low electrical resistance, there is a need for the development of a small connector that can connect wires to flexible conductors placed in clothing.

[0004] As a connector for connecting an electric wire to a flexible conductor, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector as shown in Fig. 19. This connector has a first connector 2 connected to an end of a substrate 1 and a second connector 4 attached to the tip of an electric wire 3, and by fitting the second connector 4 into the first connector 2, the electric wire 3 can be connected to the flexible conductor of the substrate 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-214087 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in order to connect the electric wire 3 to the flexible conductor of the substrate 1, it is necessary to fit the first connector 2 and the second connector 4, which are separately attached to the end of the substrate 1 and the tip of the electric wire 3, respectively, into each other, which results in an increase in size of the device and a problem of reduced reliability of the electrical connection due to the presence of a detachable connection point between the first connector 2 and the second connector 4.

[0007] This invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and aims to provide a connector and connector assembly that can be made compact while reliably electrically connecting the conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on the back surface of a sheet-like connection object. Another object of the present invention is to provide a connection method for electrically connecting a conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on the back surface of a sheet-like connection object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector according to the present invention comprises: A connector for connecting a conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on the back surface of a sheet-like connection object, an insulator that forms at least a part of a conductor portion placement surface on which a conductor portion of the electric wire is placed; a pressing portion that is held by the insulator and that protrudes from the conductor portion arrangement surface in a direction perpendicular to the conductor portion arrangement surface and extends in a predetermined first direction along the conductor portion arrangement surface; Equipped with the pressing portion is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the conductor arrangement surface, The conductor portion of the electric wire extending along the conductor portion arrangement surface from a first direction is arranged between the conductor portion arrangement surface and the pressing portion, and the connection object is sandwiched between the pressing portion passed through an opening of the connection object extending along the conductor portion arrangement surface from a second direction opposite to the first direction and the conductor portion of the electric wire, so that the contact portion of the connection object comes into contact with and is electrically connected to the conductor portion of the electric wire.

[0009] It is preferable that the metal terminal is provided with a metal terminal held by an insulator, the metal terminal having a flat portion extending along the conductor portion arrangement surface and a cantilever-shaped spring portion protruding from the end of the flat portion in a direction perpendicular to the flat portion in the second direction and extending toward the first direction, and that the surface of the flat portion, together with the insulator, form the conductor portion arrangement surface, and that a pressing portion is formed by the spring portion. Furthermore, it is preferable that the spring portion has a slit extending in the first direction from the connection portion with the flat plate portion, and the conductor portion of the electric wire is arranged between the conductor portion arrangement surface and the pressing portion while passing through the slit.

[0010] The flat plate portion preferably has at least one projection that projects in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion and that contacts the conductor portion of the electric wire. Furthermore, it is preferable that the end of the spring portion in the first direction be curved in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion. The metal terminals are preferably insert-molded into the insulator.

[0011] It is preferable that, with the pressing portion passed through the opening of the connection object, the contact portion of the connection object displaced in the second direction relative to the pressing portion comes into contact with the conductor portion of the electric wire. It is preferable that the insulator has a convex portion that is arranged at a distance from the pressing portion in the second direction and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the conductor portion arrangement surface, and the convex portion is inserted into an opening of the connection object that has been displaced toward the second direction relative to the pressing portion. The insulator preferably has a wire receiving groove formed at an end of the insulator in the first direction and receiving the wire.

[0012] the conductor portion arrangement surface extends in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; a plurality of pressing portions arranged in a third direction and each held by an insulator; The conductor portions of the plurality of electric wires may be configured to be electrically connected to the plurality of contact portions of the connection object by the plurality of pressing portions.

[0013] The connector assembly according to the present invention comprises: The above connector and A connection object; Electric wires and Equipped with The connection object has a contact portion arranged on the back surface of the end portion of the connection object in the first direction, and an opening portion arranged adjacent to the contact portion on the second direction side.

[0014] The connection method according to the present invention comprises: A connection method for connecting a conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on a back surface of a sheet-like connection object, comprising: a conductor portion of an electric wire extending from a predetermined first direction toward a second direction opposite to the first direction is arranged on a conductor portion arrangement surface of the connector; a pressing portion that protrudes from the conductor portion arrangement surface in a direction perpendicular to the conductor portion arrangement surface and extends toward the first direction is passed through an opening of the connection object that extends along the conductor portion arrangement surface from the second direction; This method involves displacing the connection object in a second direction relative to the pressing portion, so that the connection object is sandwiched between the conductor portion of the electric wire and the pressing portion, and the contact portion of the connection object comes into contact with and electrically connected to the conductor portion of the electric wire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to this invention, the conductor portion of the electric wire extending from a first direction along the conductor portion arrangement surface of the insulator is arranged between the conductor portion arrangement surface and the pressing portion, and the connection object is sandwiched between the pressing portion passed through an opening of the connection object extending along the conductor portion arrangement surface from a second direction opposite to the first direction and the conductor portion of the electric wire, thereby making it possible to achieve miniaturization while reliably electrically connecting the conductor portion of the electric wire to the contact portion exposed on the back surface of the connection object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connector used in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the connector used in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the connector used in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a metal terminal used in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a metal terminal used in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the connector used in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged front view showing the connector used in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a sheet-like connection object used in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view of a sheet-like connection object used in the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of electric wires are arranged in the connector. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 14]1 is a partially enlarged front cross-sectional view showing a connector in which a conductor portion of an electric wire is arranged. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a sheet-shaped connection object is placed on the connector. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sheet-like connection object is placed on the connector. FIG. [Figure 18] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly according to a first embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A connector assembly according to an embodiment is shown in Fig. 1. The connector assembly is configured such that conductor portions 31A of a plurality of coated electric wires 31 are connected to a sheet-like connection target 21 using a connector 11. The connector 11 includes an insulator 12 that is made of an insulating resin material and has a substantially flat plate shape, and a plurality of metal terminals 13 that are held by the insulator 12 .

[0018] The multiple covered electric wires 31 are arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction, and each extends parallel to the surface of the insulator 12 of the connector 11 in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. Each covered electric wire 31 has a structure in which the outer periphery of a conductor portion 31A is covered with an insulating covering portion 31B. The connector 11 electrically connects the conductor portions 31A of the multiple covered electric wires 31 to multiple contact portions (described later) exposed on the back surface of the connection target 21. The conductor portion 31A of the covered electric wire 31 may be either a so-called solid wire, which is composed of a single conductor, or a so-called twisted wire, which is composed of multiple conductors twisted together.

[0019] For convenience, the insulator 12 of the connector 11 extends along the XY plane, the arrangement direction of the multiple covered electric wires 31 is called the X direction, the direction in which each covered electric wire 31 extends toward the connector 11 is called the +Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the XY plane is called the Z direction.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, insulator 12 of connector 11 has a rectangular shape that extends along the XY plane and is elongated in the X direction, and has flat surface 12A that extends along the XY plane and faces the +Z direction.

[0021] Wall portions 12B protruding in the +Z direction are formed at the −X direction end, +X direction end, and −Y direction end of insulator 12, and a plurality of wire accommodating grooves 12C arranged in the X direction are formed at the −Y direction end of insulator 12. The plurality of wire accommodating grooves 12C correspond to the plurality of insulated electric wires 31, extend in the Y direction across wall portions 12B, are recessed from flat surface 12A in the −Z direction, and have a groove width in the X direction corresponding to the diameter of the insulated electric wire 31.

[0022] Further, in the vicinity of the end portion in the +Y direction of the insulator 12, a plurality of protrusions 12D are formed, which are arranged in the X direction and each protrude in the +Z direction. The insulator 12 has a through hole 12E formed therein, which penetrates the insulator 12 in the Z direction, at a position adjacent to the -Y direction side of the plurality of protrusions 12D arranged in the X direction. The through hole 12E extends in the X direction so as to cover the entirety of the plurality of protrusions 12D arranged in the X direction.

[0023] Furthermore, a plurality of metal terminals 13 are exposed on the flat surface 12A at positions adjacent to the through-hole 12E on the −Y direction side. As shown in Figure 3, the multiple wire accommodating grooves 12C, the multiple protrusions 12D, and the multiple metal terminals 13 are each arranged in the X direction at an arrangement pitch P1, and when viewed from the Z direction, the corresponding wire accommodating grooves 12C, protrusions 12D, and metal terminals 13 are arranged in a straight line along the Y direction.

[0024] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, metal terminal 13 is made of a bent metal plate and has a flat plate portion 13A extending along the XY plane, a spring portion 13B connected to the +Y direction end of flat plate portion 13A, and a bottom plate portion 13D connected to the -Y direction end of flat plate portion 13A via step portion 13C and extending along the XY plane. The flat plate portion 13A has a surface 13E facing the +Z direction, and two protrusions 13F are formed on the surface 13E so as to protrude in the +Z direction. The two protrusions 13F each extend along the X direction and are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction.

[0025] Spring portion 13B forms a pressing portion that presses sheet-like connection object 21 against conductor portion 31A drawn out from coated electric wire 31, and is formed from rising portion 13G that rises from the +Y direction end of flat plate portion 13A toward the +Z direction, and arm portion 13H that bends from the +Z direction end of rising portion 13G and extends in the -Y direction. Due to such rising portion 13G and arm portion 13H, spring portion 13B has a cantilever shape that protrudes from flat plate portion 13A in the +Z direction and extends in the -Y direction (first direction).

[0026] A slit 13J is formed in the center of the spring portion 13B in the X direction, from the −Z direction end of the rising portion 13G connected to the flat plate portion 13A to near the −Y direction end of the arm portion 13H. Furthermore, a curved portion 13K that curves toward the +Z direction is formed at the −Y direction end of the spring portion 13B. Furthermore, the bottom plate portion 13D is disposed at a position shifted toward the −Z direction side from the flat plate portion 13A due to the presence of the step portion 13C.

[0027] 7 and 8, the metal terminal 13 is held by the insulator 12 so that the surface 13E of the flat portion 13A is flush with the flat surface 12A of the insulator 12 and is exposed in the +Z direction. The flat surface 12A of the insulator 12 and the surface 13E of the flat portion 13A of the metal terminal 13 form a conductor portion arrangement surface S on which the conductor portion 31A of the coated electric wire 31 is arranged. The conductor portion arrangement surface S extends in the X direction (third direction) along the flat surface 12A of the insulator 12.

[0028] The spring portion 13B of the metal terminal 13 protrudes in the +Z direction from the conductor portion arrangement surface S, and the +Y direction end of the spring portion 13B is located above a through hole 12E that penetrates the insulator 12 in the Z direction. The stepped portion 13C of the metal terminal 13 is embedded in the insulator 12, and the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 13D on the -Z direction side is flush with the lower surface of the insulator 12 and is exposed in the -Z direction from the insulator 12. The bottom of the wire accommodating groove 12C of the insulator 12 is formed by the bottom plate portion 13D of the metal terminal 13.

[0029] 9, the height H1 in the Z direction from the surface on the +Z direction side of the bottom plate portion 13D of the metal terminal 13 that forms the bottom of the wire accommodating groove 12C of the insulator 12 to the conductor portion arrangement surface S is set to be approximately equal to the thickness of the insulating coating portion 31B that covers the outer periphery of the conductor portion 31A of the insulated wire 31. Therefore, when the insulated wire 31 is accommodated in the wire accommodating groove 12C with the conductor portion 31A pulled out from the tip of the insulated wire 31, the insulating coating portion 31B is arranged on the bottom plate portion 13D of the metal terminal 13, and the conductor portion 31A pulled out from the insulating coating portion 31B is arranged on the conductor portion arrangement surface S.

[0030] For example, the connector 11 having such a configuration in which the plurality of metal terminals 13 and the insulator 12 are integrated can be produced by insert molding.

[0031] A sheet-like connection object 21 is shown in Fig. 10. The connection object 21 has a multi-layer structure in which, for example, at least one wiring layer made of a conductor and a plurality of insulating layers are stacked. The connection object 21 extends along the XY plane, and the surface facing the +Z direction is covered with an insulating layer 21A. Further, a plurality of openings 21B are formed near the -Y direction end of the connection object 21, arranged in the X direction and each penetrating the connection object 21 in the Z direction. The openings 21B have a size that allows the spring portions 13B of the metal terminals 13 that protrude in the +Z direction from the conductor portion arrangement surface S of the connector 11 to pass through in the Z direction.

[0032] 11, a plurality of contact portions 21C are exposed on the back surface of the connection object 21 facing the -Z direction, and are arranged in the X direction along the -Y direction end of the connection object 21. The plurality of contact portions 21C correspond to the plurality of openings 21B, and the plurality of openings 21B are arranged adjacent to the plurality of contact portions 21C on the +Y direction side. That is, the contact portions 21C corresponding to the -Y direction side of the openings 21B are arranged adjacent to each other at the same X direction position as the openings 21B. The openings 21B and contact portions 21C are arranged in the X direction at an arrangement pitch P1, similar to the wire receiving grooves 12C, protrusions 12D and metal terminals 13 of the connector 11. The plurality of contact portions 21C are formed from a part of one wiring layer of the connection object 21, and are connected to a plurality of wiring portions (not shown) covered by the insulating layer 21D.

[0033] When assembling the connector assembly, first, as shown in Figure 12, multiple coated electric wires 31 are arranged in the X direction, the insulating coating portion 31B of each coated electric wire 31 is accommodated in the corresponding wire accommodating groove 12C of the insulator 12 of the connector 11, and the conductor portion 31A pulled out from the insulating coating portion 31B is placed on the conductor portion arrangement surface S of the connector 11 from the -Y direction.

[0034] At this time, as shown in Figure 13, the conductor portion 31A extends in the +Y direction on the conductor portion arrangement surface S formed by the flat surface 12A of the insulator 12 and the surface 13E of the flat portion 13A of the metal terminal 13, and is positioned on two protrusions 13F of the metal terminal 13. As shown in FIG. 14, the conductor portion 31A is disposed between the conductor portion arrangement surface S and the spring portion 13B in a state in which the conductor portion 31A penetrates the slit 13J formed in the spring portion 13B of the metal terminal 13 in the Y direction.

[0035] 15, the sheet-like connection object 21 extending from the +Y direction (second direction) toward the conductor portion arrangement surface S of the connector 11 is placed on the connector 11 with its back surface facing the conductor portion arrangement surface S. The connection object 21 is aligned with the connector 11 so that the multiple openings 21B are positioned directly above the spring portions 13B of the multiple metal terminals 13 of the connector 11, as shown in FIG.

[0036] At this time, as shown in Figure 17, the portion of the connection object 21 on the +Y side of the opening 21B contacts the convex portion 12D of the insulator 12 of the connector 11, and the portion on the -Y side of the opening 21B is positioned on the conductor portion 31A arranged on the conductor portion arrangement surface S. In addition, a curved portion 13K formed at the -Y direction end of the spring portion 13B of the metal terminal 13 of the connector 11 and curved toward the +Z direction is positioned on the +Z direction side of the connection object 21 through the opening 21B of the connection object 21.

[0037] 18, by pulling the connection object 21 in the +Y direction, the connection object 21 is displaced in the +Y direction relative to the connector 11. Here, since the curved portion 13K of the spring portion 13B of the metal terminal 13 of the connector 11 is positioned on the +Z direction side of the connection object 21 through the opening 21B, the portion of the connection object 21 adjacent to the -Y direction side of the opening 21B, which displaces in the +Y direction relative to the spring portion 13B, enters the -Z direction side of the spring portion 13B while pushing the spring portion 13B apart.

[0038] As a result, the connection object 21 is sandwiched between the spring portion 13B passed through the opening 21B and the conductor portion 31A placed on the conductor portion placement surface S, and due to the elastic force of the spring portion 13B, the contact portion 21C exposed on the back surface of the connection object 21 comes into contact with the conductor portion 31A with a predetermined contact pressure, and is electrically connected to the conductor portion 31A.

[0039] As the connection object 21 is displaced in the +Y direction, the opening 21B of the connection object 21 moves to the position of the protrusion 12D of the insulator 12 of the connector 11, and the protrusion 12D is inserted into the opening 21B. In this way, the assembly of the connector assembly is completed.

[0040] The connector 11 has a simple structure in which a plurality of metal terminals 13 are held by a substantially flat insulator 12, making it possible to realize a thin connector 11 and a thin connector assembly.

[0041] Furthermore, the conductor portion 31A pulled out from the coated electric wire 31 is positioned between the conductor portion placement surface S and the spring portion 13B while passing through the slit 13J formed in the spring portion 13B of the metal terminal 13, thereby preventing the conductor portion 31A from shifting position relative to the metal terminal 13 and further preventing the conductor portion 31A from coming into contact with an adjacent metal terminal 13 and causing a short circuit. Furthermore, since the metal terminal 13 is held by the insulator 12 so that the +Y-direction end of the spring portion 13B is positioned above the through-hole 12E of the insulator 12, it is possible to visually confirm through the through-hole 12E from the -Z-direction side of the connector 11 that the +Y-direction end of the conductor portion 31A of the coated electric wire 31 passes through the slit 13J of the spring portion 13B of the metal terminal 13, as shown in Figures 17 and 18. This improves the reliability of the connection of the plurality of coated electric wires 31 to the connection object 21.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the multiple metal terminals 13 are held in the insulator 12 by insert molding, but this is not limited to this, and the multiple metal terminals 13 can also be held in the insulator 12 by, for example, press-fitting.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the spring portion 13B of the metal terminal 13 held by the insulator 12 forms a pressing portion that presses the sheet-shaped connection object 21 against the conductor portion 31A of the insulated electric wire 31, but this is not limited to this, and the connection object 21 can also be configured to be pressed against the conductor portion 31A of the insulated electric wire 31 using a cantilever-shaped pressing portion formed integrally with the insulator 12 using the insulating resin material that constitutes the insulator 12.

[0044] The sheet-like connection object 21 may be either a flexible substrate or a rigid (hard) substrate. In the above embodiment, the conductor portions 31A of the plurality of insulated electric wires 31 are placed on the conductor portion placement surface S of the connector 11 from the -Y direction, and then the connection object 21 is placed on the connector 11 so that the plurality of openings 21B of the connection object 21 are positioned directly above the spring portions 13B of the plurality of metal terminals 13 of the connector 11, and the connection object 21 is pulled in the +Y direction, whereby the plurality of contact portions 21C exposed on the back surface of the connection object 21 are electrically connected to the conductor portions 31A of the plurality of insulated electric wires 31. Therefore, even if a flexible substrate is used as the connection object 21, there is no need to reinforce the flexible substrate with a reinforcing plate or the like, and it is possible to reliably electrically connect the plurality of contact portions of the flexible substrate to the conductor portions 31A of the plurality of insulated electric wires 31.

[0045] Furthermore, by forming the insulator 12 of the connector 11 from a flexible material such as rubber and using a flexible substrate as the connection object 21, it is possible to construct a connector assembly that can deform, for example, along the arrangement direction of the multiple coated electric wires 31.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the conductor portions 31A of the multiple coated electric wires 31 are connected to the multiple contact portions 21C of the connection object 21, but this is not limited to this, and a connector assembly can also be constructed in a similar manner in which the conductor portion 31A of a single coated electric wire 31 is connected to the contact portion 21C of the connection object 21. In addition, although a coated electric wire 31 is used as the electric wire to be connected to the connection object 21, an electric wire having only a conductor portion 31A whose outer periphery is not covered by an insulating coating portion 31B can also be connected to the connection object 21. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 board, 2 first connector, 3 electric wire, 4 second connector, 11 connector, 12 insulator, 12A flat surface, 12B wall portion, 12C electric wire accommodating groove, 12D convex portion, 12E through hole, 13 metal terminal, 13A flat plate portion, 13B spring portion, 13C step portion, 13D bottom plate portion, 13E surface, 13F protrusion, 13G rising portion, 13H arm portion, 13J slit, 13K curved portion, 21 connection object, 21A, 21D insulating layer, 21B opening, 21C contact portion, 31 coated electric wire, 31A conductor portion, 31B insulating coating portion, P1 arrangement pitch, S conductor portion arrangement surface, H1 height.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on the back surface of a sheet-like connection object, an insulator that forms at least a part of a conductor portion arrangement surface on which the conductor portion of the electric wire is arranged; a pressing portion that is held by the insulator, that protrudes from the conductor portion arrangement surface in a direction perpendicular to the conductor portion arrangement surface, and that extends in a predetermined first direction along the conductor portion arrangement surface; Equipped with the pressing portion is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the conductor portion arrangement surface, A connector in which the conductor portion of the electric wire extending along the conductor portion arrangement surface from the first direction is arranged between the conductor portion arrangement surface and the pressing portion, and the connection object is sandwiched between the pressing portion, which is passed through an opening of the connection object extending along the conductor portion arrangement surface from a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the conductor portion of the electric wire, thereby causing the contact portion of the connection object to come into contact with and be electrically connected to the conductor portion of the electric wire.

2. a metal terminal held by the insulator; the metal terminal has a flat portion extending along the conductor portion arrangement surface, and a cantilever-shaped spring portion protruding from an end of the flat portion in the second direction in a direction perpendicular to the flat portion and extending toward the first direction, a surface of the flat plate portion, together with the insulator, forms the conductor portion arrangement surface; The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing portion is formed by the spring portion.

3. the spring portion has a slit extending in the first direction from a connection portion with the flat plate portion, The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the conductor portion of the electric wire is disposed between the conductor portion disposing surface and the pressing portion in a state where the conductor portion passes through the slit.

4. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the flat plate portion has at least one projection that projects in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion and that contacts the conductor portion of the electric wire.

5. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein an end of the spring portion in the first direction is curved in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion.

6. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the metal terminals are insert-molded into the insulator.

7. 2. A connector as described in claim 1, wherein when the pressing portion is passed through the opening of the connection object, the contact portion of the connection object displaced toward the second direction relative to the pressing portion contacts the conductor portion of the electric wire.

8. the insulator has a protrusion that is disposed apart from the pressing portion in the second direction and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the conductor portion arrangement surface, The connector according to claim 7 , wherein the protrusion is inserted into the opening of the connection object displaced in the second direction relative to the pressing portion.

9. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulator has a wire receiving groove formed at an end of the insulator in the first direction and receiving the wire.

10. the conductor portion arrangement surface extends in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; a plurality of the pressing portions arranged in the third direction and each held by the insulator, The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the conductor portions of the plurality of electric wires are electrically connected to the plurality of contact portions of the connection object by the plurality of pressing portions.

11. The connector according to claim 1; The connection object; The electric wire Equipped with The connection object is a connector assembly having the contact portion arranged on the back surface of the end of the connection object in the first direction and the opening portion arranged adjacent to the second direction side of the contact portion.

12. A connection method for connecting a conductor portion of an electric wire to a contact portion exposed on a back surface of a sheet-like connection object, comprising: The conductor portion of the electric wire extending from a predetermined first direction toward a second direction opposite to the first direction is arranged on a conductor portion arrangement surface of the connector; a pressing portion that protrudes from the conductor portion arrangement surface in a direction perpendicular to the conductor portion arrangement surface and extends toward the first direction is passed through an opening of the connection object that extends along the conductor portion arrangement surface from the second direction; A connection method in which the connection object is sandwiched between the conductor portion of the electric wire and the pressing portion by displacing the connection object toward the second direction relative to the pressing portion, and the contact portion of the connection object comes into contact with and is electrically connected to the conductor portion of the electric wire.

Citation Information

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