Connector and electronic device

Abstract

A connector 10 according to the present disclosure is connected to an object 50 being connected, the connector 10 comprising an insulator 20 that has a side wall 23b, and a plurality of contacts 30 that are attached to the side wall 23b. The contacts 30 each have a held part 32 that is held by the side wall 23b, a first elastic contact piece 34 that comes into contact with the object 50 being connected, a second elastic contact piece 35 that comes into contact with the object 50 being connected, and a first linking part 33 that links the first and second elastic contact pieces 34, 35 and the held part 32. The first and second elastic contact pieces 34, 35 branch out in mutually different directions from the first linking part 33.

Description

Connectors and electronic devices CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-006806, filed on January 19, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a connector and an electronic device.

[0003] In recent years, there has been a demand for lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller electronic devices, such as wearable devices. Accordingly, there is also a demand for smaller connectors installed inside such electronic devices. In addition, technologies related to connectors that are mounted on different circuit boards and electrically connect these circuit boards are widely known.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal made of a strip-shaped metal plate with rolled surfaces on both sides, in which a portion of the terminal is plastically deformed by pressing in a direction parallel to the rolled surfaces, and a contact protrusion is disposed that protrudes in the normal direction to the rolled surfaces. This terminal exhibits a high wiping effect, reduces conduction resistance, and improves reliability.

[0005] Patent No. 5578833

[0006] A connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a connector to be connected to a connection object, and includes an insulator having a side wall and a plurality of contacts attached to the side wall. The contacts have a held portion held by the side wall, a first resilient contact piece that contacts the connection object, a second resilient contact piece that contacts the connection object, and a first connecting portion that connects the first and second resilient contact pieces to the held portion. The first and second resilient contact pieces branch off from the first connecting portion in different directions.

[0007] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the connector described above.

[0008] 6 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, a connector module according to an embodiment in a state where the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, a connector module according to an embodiment in a state where the first connector and the second connector are separated from each other. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the first connector alone of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the first connector of FIG. 3, exploded. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the V-V arrow of FIG. 3. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the second connector alone of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing, as viewed from above, the second connector of FIG. 6, exploded. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the VIII-VIII arrow of FIG. 2. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IX-IX arrow of FIG. 1.

[0009] In the connector using the terminals described in Patent Document 1, the terminals are punched from a rolled metal plate and then bent in the thickness direction by pressing. This type of terminal shape tends to make the connector larger in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the retained portion of the terminal that is retained in the insulator must protrude in the longitudinal direction of the connector, and the insulators interposed between adjacent terminals, i.e., contacts, make it difficult to miniaturize the connector in the longitudinal direction. For these reasons, it has been difficult to meet the recent demand for miniaturization of connectors.

[0010] In addition, in the terminal described in Patent Document 1, of the two contact portions that exist when the connector is mated with the connection object, only one contact portion is included in the component that undergoes elastic deformation, making it difficult to improve the contact reliability between the connector and the connection object.

[0011] A connector and an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure enable both miniaturization and contact reliability to be achieved.

[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-down directions refer to the directions of the arrows in the drawings. The directions of the arrows are consistent between different drawings in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 8 and 9 . The directions of the arrows are consistent between different drawings in FIGS. 6 and 7 . For the purpose of simplifying the illustration, circuit boards CB1 and CB2, which will be described later, are omitted in some drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the connector module 1 according to one embodiment, showing a state in which a first connector 10 and a second connector 50 are connected to each other, as viewed from above. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the connector module 1 according to one embodiment, showing a state in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are separated from each other, as viewed from above.

[0014] 2 , the connector module 1 includes a first connector 10 and a second connector 50 that are matable with each other. The first connector 10 is connected to a connection object, with the second connector 50 serving as the connection object. The first connector 10 includes an insulator 20 and a plurality of contacts 30 attached to the insulator 20. The first connector 10 includes a first metal fitting 40a and a second metal fitting 40b attached to the insulator 20.

[0015] The second connector 50 mates with the first connector 10. The second connector 50 has an insulator 60 that mates with the insulator 20 when the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other. The second connector 50 has contacts 70 attached to the insulator 60. The contacts 70 come into contact with the contacts 30 when the insulators 20 and 60 are mated with each other. The second connector 50 has a metal fitting 80 attached to the insulator 60. The metal fitting 80 comes into contact with the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b in the mated state. At this time, the first metal fitting 40a elastically deforms.

[0016] In the following, for example, the first connector 10 according to one embodiment will be described as a receptacle connector. For example, the second connector 50 will be described as a plug connector. The first connector 10 in which the contacts 30 elastically deform in a mated state in which the insulators 20 and 60 are mated with each other will be described as a receptacle connector. The second connector 50 in which the contacts 70 do not elastically deform in a mated state will be described as a plug connector. The types of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are not limited to these. For example, the first connector 10 may function as a plug connector, and the second connector 50 may function as a receptacle connector.

[0017] In the following description, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are assumed to be mounted on the circuit boards CB1 and CB2, respectively. When the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are connected to each other, they electrically connect the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. The circuit boards CB1 and CB2 may be rigid boards or any other circuit boards. For example, at least one of the circuit boards CB1 and CB2 may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPC).

[0018] In the following description, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are connected to each other in a direction perpendicular to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. As an example, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are connected to each other in the up-and-down direction. The connection method is not limited to this. The first connector 10 and the second connector 50 may also be connected to each other in a direction parallel to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. The first connector 10 and the second connector 50 may also be connected to each other so that one is perpendicular to the circuit board on which they are mounted and the other is parallel to the circuit board on which they are mounted.

[0019] In the present disclosure, the "mating direction" corresponds to the up-down direction, for example. The "removal direction" corresponds to the up direction, for example. The "insertion direction" corresponds to the down direction, for example. The "short direction" corresponds to the front-rear direction, for example. The "first direction" corresponds to the front-rear direction, for example. The "longitudinal direction" corresponds to the left-right direction, for example. The "arrangement direction" corresponds to the left-right direction, for example. The "second direction" corresponds to the left-right direction, for example.

[0020] The "mating side" corresponds to the lower side, for example. The "removal side" corresponds to the upper side, for example. The "inside" corresponds to the direction toward the center of the first connector 10 or the second connector 50. For example, the inside in the front-to-rear direction corresponds to the direction toward the center of the first connector 10 or the second connector 50 in the front-to-rear direction. This is not limited to this, and the inside does not have to be a direction completely toward the center in the front-to-rear direction, but may correspond to a direction toward the center at a slight angle. The same applies to other directions. The "outside" is the opposite of the inside.

[0021] Figure 3 is an external perspective view showing the first connector 10 shown in Figure 1 as viewed from above. As an example, the first connector 10 is obtained by integrally molding the second metal fitting 40b and the insulator 20 by insert molding, and then press-fitting the contacts 30 and the first metal fitting 40a into the insulator 20. The contacts 30 are press-fitted into the insulator 20 from below. The first metal fitting 40a is press-fitted into the insulator 20 from above.

[0022] Figure 4 is an external perspective view of the first connector 10 shown in Figure 3 , disassembled and viewed from above. In reality, the second metal fitting 40b and the insulator 20 are integrally molded by insert molding, but for ease of understanding, Figure 4 shows the insulator 20 and the second metal fitting 40b as virtually separated components. Accordingly, for example, the second metal fitting holding portion 25 of the insulator 20 (described below) is given such a name for convenience, but in reality, the second metal fitting 40b and the insulator 20 are integrally molded by insert molding. Please note that the second metal fitting holding portion 25 and other components are not inherent components of the insulator 20.

[0023] The insulator 20 constituting the first connector 10 is made, for example, of an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The insulator 20 extends in a plate shape in the left-right direction. The insulator 20 has a bottom plate portion 21 constituting the lower portion. The insulator 20 has a mating protrusion 22 that protrudes upward from the center of the bottom plate portion 21 in the front-rear and left-right directions. The insulator 20 has an outer peripheral wall 23 that surrounds the mating protrusion 22. The outer peripheral wall 23 is located on the outer periphery of the first connector 10. The outer peripheral wall 23 surrounds the mating protrusion 22 from four directions: front-rear, left-right, and right-left. The outer peripheral wall 23 has short side walls 23a and long side walls 23b. The short side walls 23a extend in the front-rear direction. The long side walls 23b extend in the left-right direction.

[0024] The insulator 20 has contact mounting grooves 24 arranged inside the longitudinal walls 23b, on the inner surfaces of the longitudinal walls 23b in the front-rear direction, the bottom plate portion 21, and on the inner surfaces of the mating protrusions 22 in the front-rear direction. The contacts 30 are mounted in the contact mounting grooves 24. A plurality of the contact mounting grooves 24 are arranged corresponding to the number of the contacts 30. The plurality of contact mounting grooves 24 are arranged along the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts 30.

[0025] The insulator 20 has a second metal fitting holding portion 25 that extends from the left-right end of the fitting protrusion 22 through the bottom plate portion 21 to the short wall 23a. The second metal fitting holding portion 25 has a first portion 251 that is recessed at the left-right end of the fitting protrusion 22. The second metal fitting holding portion 25 has a second portion 252 that is disposed so as to penetrate the bottom plate portion 21. The second metal fitting holding portion 25 has a third portion 253 that is recessed in the underside of the short wall 23a. A second metal fitting 40b is attached to the second metal fitting holding portion 25. The second metal fitting holding portion 25 extends in the left-right direction so as to connect the fitting protrusion 22 and the short wall 23a.

[0026] The insulator 20 has first metal fitting attachment portions 26 that are disposed across the short-side wall 23a and the left and right ends of the long-side wall 23b. A first metal fitting 40a is attached to the first metal fitting attachment portions 26.

[0027] The first metal fitting mounting portion 26 is located in the center of the short wall 23a in the front-to-rear direction and has a first wall portion 261 that protrudes outward in the left-to-right direction. The third portion 253 of the second metal fitting holding portion 25 is recessed in the underside of the first wall portion 261. The first metal fitting mounting portion 26 has a second wall portion 262 that is located on the short wall 23a at a corner of the insulator 20. The first metal fitting mounting portion 26 has a third wall portion 263 that is spaced apart from the second wall portion 262 in the left-to-right direction and is located on the long wall 23b. The first wall portion 261, the second wall portion 262, and the third wall portion 263 form the outermost rectangular shape of the insulator 20 in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions.

[0028] The first metal fitting mounting portion 26 has a first mounting groove 264 disposed between the first wall portion 261 and the second wall portion 262. The first metal fitting mounting portion 26 has a second mounting groove 265 disposed between the second wall portion 262 and the third wall portion 263.

[0029] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the V-V arrow in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 5, the insulator 20 has a first groove 27a recessed into the inner surface of the longitudinal wall 23b in a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction. The first groove 27a is disposed on the inner surface of the longitudinal wall 23b in the front-rear direction as part of the contact mounting groove 24. The insulator 20 has a second groove 27b recessed into the insulator 20 so as to face the first groove 27a along the first direction. The second groove 27b is disposed on the inner surface of the mating protrusion 22 in the front-rear direction as part of the contact mounting groove 24.

[0030] The configuration of the contact 30 will be mainly described with reference to FIGS.

[0031] The contacts 30 are formed, for example, from a thin plate of spring-elastic copper alloy such as phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or titanium copper, or a Corson copper alloy, using a progressive die (stamping) to the shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . The contacts 30 are fabricated solely by punching, without bending in the thickness direction. The contacts 30 are flat in a second direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the multiple contacts 30. The method for fabricating the contacts 30 is not limited to this, and may include a step of bending the contacts in the thickness direction after punching. The surfaces of the contacts 30 are plated with gold, tin, or the like after forming a base with nickel.

[0032] The contact 30 has a mounting portion 31 that extends outward in an L-shape in the front-to-rear direction. The contact 30 has a held portion 32 that continues upward from the upper end of the mounting portion 31. The held portion 32 has an extending portion that extends linearly from the upper end of the mounting portion 31 and a protrusion that protrudes outward in the front-to-rear direction from the extending portion.

[0033] The contact 30 has a first connecting portion 33 that extends linearly inward in the front-to-rear direction from the held portion 32. The contact 30 has a first resilient contact piece 34 and a second resilient contact piece 35 that branch off in different directions from the first connecting portion 33. The first connecting portion 33 connects the first resilient contact piece 34 and the second resilient contact piece 35 to the held portion 32.

[0034] The first resilient contact piece 34 extends linearly from the first connecting portion 33 so as to be inclined inward in the front-rear direction along the removal direction. The first resilient contact piece 34 has a first contact portion 34a located at the tip of the first resilient contact piece 34. Since the first resilient contact piece 34 is inclined inward in the front-rear direction along the removal direction, the first contact portion 34a can be largely elastically displaced outward in the front-rear direction as the first resilient contact piece 34 elastically deforms.

[0035] The second resilient contact piece 35 is arranged in a J-shape. The second resilient contact piece 35 extends inward in the front-rear direction from the first connecting portion 33 while bending in the direction opposite to the removal direction, and then bends toward the removal direction and extends in the removal direction.

[0036] The second resilient contact piece 35 has a resilient portion 35a configured as a free end and a second connecting portion 35b connecting the resilient portion 35a to the first connecting portion 33. The second connecting portion 35b extends from the first connecting portion 33 in a direction opposite to the removal direction. The second connecting portion 35b forms an obtuse angle with the first resilient contact piece 34 and extends from the first connecting portion 33 in a direction opposite to the first resilient contact piece 34.

[0037] The second connecting portion 35b is located closer to the mating side than the first connecting portion 33 and extends inward in the front-to-rear direction from the first connecting portion 33. The elastic portion 35a extends from the second connecting portion 35b in the removal direction. The elastic portion 35a bends from the second connecting portion 35b in the removal direction and extends in the removal direction. The elastic portion 35a has a second contact portion 35c located at the tip of the second elastic contact piece 35.

[0038] The held portion 32 protrudes in the removal direction further than the first resilient contact piece 34 and the second resilient contact piece 35. The removal-side tip of the held portion 32 is located closer to the removal side than the removal-side tips of the first resilient contact piece 34 and the second resilient contact piece 35. In the removal direction, a first distance L1 from the mounting portion 31 to the first connecting portion 33 is greater than a second distance L2 from the mounting portion 31 to the second connecting portion 35b. In a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction, a width W2 of the second contact portion 35c is greater than a width W1 of the first contact portion 34a.

[0039] The configuration of the first metal fitting 40a will be mainly described with reference to FIG.

[0040] The first metal fitting 40a is formed by stamping a thin plate of any metal material into the shape shown in Fig. 4. The method for forming the first metal fitting 40a includes a step of punching and then bending the plate in the thickness direction. However, the method is not limited to this, and the first metal fitting 40a may also be formed by a step including drawing.

[0041] The first metal fitting 40a has a first base portion 41a extending in the front-rear direction. The first metal fitting 40a has a second base portion 42a extending from each of the front-rear end portions of the first base portion 41a to one side in the left-right direction. The first metal fitting 40a has protruding pieces 43a extending linearly downward from the front and rear portions of the first base portion 41a. A recess is formed by the opposing edges of a pair of protruding pieces 43a spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction and the left-right end edges of the first base portion 41a. The first metal fitting 40a has a first mounting portion 44a located at the lower end of the protruding piece 43a. The first metal fitting 40a has a first locking portion 45a that is wider in the front-rear direction than other portions of the protruding piece 43a.

[0042] The first metal fitting 40a has a bent portion 46a that bends from the center in the front-to-rear direction to one side in the left-to-right direction at one edge of the first base 41a in the left-to-right direction. The first metal fitting 40a has a second locking portion 47a that extends downward from the outer edge in the front-to-rear direction of the second base 42a over substantially the entire left-to-right direction. The second locking portion 47a has a portion that is wider in the left-to-right direction than the second base 42a. The first metal fitting 40a has a second mounting portion 48a that extends over substantially the entire left-to-right direction at the lower end of the second locking portion 47a.

[0043] The first metal fitting 40a has an extension portion 49a that extends inward from the edge of the second base portion 42a opposite the second locking portion 47a. The extension portion 49a extends while bending obliquely downward from a portion located on one side in the left-right direction at the inner edge of the second base portion 42a in the front-to-rear direction. The extension portion 49a slopes inward in the front-to-rear direction from above to below. The extension portion 49a can elastically deform toward the second locking portion 47a along the front-to-rear direction when contact pressure is applied from a free state in which no contact pressure is applied due to contact with the second connector 50. The extension portion 49a has spring elasticity.

[0044] The first metal fitting 40a has a first engagement portion 49a1 located on the front-to-rear surface of the extending portion 49a facing away from the second locking portion 47a. The first engagement portion 49a1 has a convex portion that protrudes on the surface of the extending portion 49a in the opposite direction from the second locking portion 47a. The first metal fitting 40a has a second engagement portion 49a2 located on the surface of the extending portion 49a directly below the first engagement portion 49a1. The second engagement portion 49a2 has a concave portion that is recessed toward the second locking portion 47a on the surface of the extending portion 49a.

[0045] The configuration of the second metal fitting 40b will be mainly described with reference to FIG.

[0046] The second metal fitting 40b is formed by stamping a thin plate of any metal material into the shape shown in Fig. 4. The processing method for the second metal fitting 40b includes processes based on punching and bending in the plate thickness direction. However, the processing method is not limited to this, and the second metal fitting 40b may be processed by a process including drawing so that the front-rear, left-right, and upper surfaces of the first base portion 41b (described later) are continuous without gaps.

[0047] The second metal fitting 40b is fabricated to have a crank-like shape. More specifically, a first base portion 41b and a second base portion 42b (described later) are fabricated integrally to have a crank-like shape.

[0048] The second metal fitting 40b has a first base 41b. The first base 41b extends linearly from below to above and bends toward one side in the left-right direction at its upper end. The first base 41b is arranged in an inverted L shape. The second metal fitting 40b has a second base 42b that extends linearly from the lower end of the first base 41b to the other side in the left-right direction. The front-to-rear width of the second base 42b is the same as the front-to-rear width of the first base 41b that is continuous with the second base 42b.

[0049] The second metal fitting 40b has a wide portion 43b that extends in a bifurcated manner to the other side in the left-right direction from the other end of the second base portion 42b so as to widen in the front-to-rear direction. The second metal fitting 40b has a mounting portion 44b that extends linearly to the other side in the left-to-right direction from the center in the front-to-rear direction of the bifurcated wide portion 43b. The mounting portion 44b bends diagonally downward from the wide portion 43b and then extends linearly to the other side in the left-to-right direction. The mounting portion 44b is located one step below the second base portion 42b and the wide portion 43b.

[0050] As shown in Figure 5, the contact 30 is press-fitted into the insulator 20 from below. At this time, the retained portion 32 is positioned in the portion of the contact mounting groove 24 that is located inside the longitudinal wall 23b, and engages with the inner wall surface on the outer side in the front-to-rear direction inside the longitudinal wall 23b. The retained portion 32 is retained by the longitudinal wall 23b, which serves as a side wall. This allows the contact 30 to be retained in the contact mounting groove 24. The contact 30 is attached to the longitudinal wall 23b.

[0051] When the contact 30 is held in the contact mounting groove 24 of the insulator 20, at least a portion of the tip of the mounting portion 31 located on the outside in a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction faces the longitudinal wall 23b, which serves as a side wall, in the removal direction. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the entire tip of the mounting portion 31 faces the longitudinal wall 23b in the removal direction. A space S is disposed between the mounting portion 31 and the longitudinal wall 23b in the removal direction. The mounting portion 31 and the longitudinal wall 23b are spaced apart from each other in the removal direction.

[0052] The removal-side end of the held portion 32 is disposed near a through-hole on the upper surface of the longitudinal wall 23b, which penetrates the longitudinal wall 23b in accordance with the arrangement of the contact mounting groove 24. The first connecting portion 33 faces the insulator 20 in the removal direction. The first connecting portion 33 is disposed inside the longitudinal wall 23b so that a portion of the longitudinal wall 23b is in contact with or separated from the first connecting portion 33 above.

[0053] At least a portion of the first resilient contact piece 34 is accommodated in the first groove 27a and faces the insulator 20 in the removal direction. Substantially the entire portion of the first resilient contact piece 34, excluding the inner half of the first contact portion 34a in the front-to-rear direction, is accommodated in the first groove 27a. At this time, this portion of the first resilient contact piece 34 is disposed inside the longitudinal wall 23b such that a part of the longitudinal wall 23b is interposed above and spaced apart from it.

[0054] The front-rear tip of the first resilient contact piece 34 protrudes toward the second groove 27b from the side surface of the longitudinal wall 23b, which serves as the side wall in which the first groove 27a is recessed. The front-rear tip of the first resilient contact piece 34 corresponds, for example, to the first contact portion 34a. The first contact portion 34a protrudes toward the second groove 27b, i.e., toward the inside in the front-rear direction, from the inner surface of the longitudinal wall 23b in which the first groove 27a is recessed. The inner half of the first contact portion 34a in the front-rear direction is located inside the inner surface of the longitudinal wall 23b in the front-rear direction.

[0055] Of the first resilient contact piece 34, an inner half of the first contact portion 34a in the front-rear direction is exposed from the contact mounting groove 24 between the fitting convex portion 22 and the longitudinal wall 23b. The first resilient contact piece 34 is resiliently deformable in the front-rear direction in the contact mounting groove 24, more specifically, in the first groove portion 27a.

[0056] At least a portion of the second resilient contact piece 35 is accommodated in the second groove 27b and faces the insulator 20 in the removal direction. Substantially the entire second resilient contact piece 35, excluding the outer half of the second contact portion 35c in the front-rear direction, is accommodated in the second groove 27b. At this time, this portion of the second resilient contact piece 35 is disposed inside the mating protrusion 22 such that a part of the mating protrusion 22 is positioned above it at a distance.

[0057] The front-rear direction tip of the second resilient contact piece 35 protrudes toward the first groove portion 27a beyond the side surface of the insulator 20 in which the second groove portion 27b is recessed. The front-rear direction tip of the second resilient contact piece 35 corresponds to the second contact portion 35c, for example. The second contact portion 35c protrudes toward the first groove portion 27a beyond the front-rear direction inner surface of the fitting protrusion 22 in which the second groove portion 27b is recessed, i.e., outward in the front-rear direction. The outer front-rear direction half of the second contact portion 35c is located outward in the front-rear direction beyond the front-rear direction inner surface of the fitting protrusion 22.

[0058] Of the second resilient contact pieces 35, the outer half of the second contact portion 35c in the front-rear direction is exposed from the contact mounting groove 24 between the fitting convex portion 22 and the longitudinal wall 23b. The second resilient contact pieces 35 are elastically deformable in the front-rear direction in the contact mounting groove 24, more specifically in the second groove portion 27b. In the second resilient contact pieces 35, the elastic portion 35a is more easily elastically deformed than the second connecting portion 35b. The second connecting portion 35b may be elastically deformable like the elastic portion 35a, or may not be elastically deformable like the elastic portion 35a.

[0059] The protruding width T2 of the tip end of the second resilient contact piece 35 in the front-rear direction is larger than the protruding width T1 of the tip end of the first resilient contact piece 34. More specifically, the protruding width T2 of the outer half of the second contact portion 35c protruding from the second groove portion 27b in the front-rear direction is larger than the protruding width T1 of the inner half of the first contact portion 34a protruding from the first groove portion 27a in the front-rear direction.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4 , the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are different members. The first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are separate from each other. The first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b face each other in the left-right direction while separated from each other. The strengths of the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are different from each other. The strength of one of the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b is higher than the strength of the other. For example, the strength of the second metal fitting 40b may be higher than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a. For example, the strength of the material of the second metal fitting 40b may be higher than the strength of the material of the first metal fitting 40a. In the present disclosure, "strength" includes, for example, tensile strength.

[0061] The material of the second metal fitting 40b may be different from the material of the first metal fitting 40a. For example, the material of the second metal fitting 40b may be stainless steel, and the material of the first metal fitting 40a may be phosphor bronze. Without being limited to this, the materials of the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b may be selected from a group of candidate materials in any combination such that the strength of the second metal fitting 40b is greater than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a. In the present disclosure, the "group of candidate materials" includes, for example, stainless steel, phosphor bronze, iron, Corson copper, titanium copper, beryllium copper, and aluminum.

[0062] The material of the second metal fitting 40b may be the same as the material of the first metal fitting 40a, as long as the strength of the second metal fitting 40b is higher than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a. For example, even if the second metal fitting 40b is made of the same material, such as phosphor bronze, the strength of the second metal fitting 40b may be higher than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a because the alloy number, type symbol, temper, etc. are different. For example, even if the second metal fitting 40b is made of the same material, such as phosphor bronze, the strength of the second metal fitting 40b may be higher than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a because the plate thickness of the second metal fitting 40b is greater than the plate thickness of the first metal fitting 40a.

[0063] For example, the strength of the contact 30 may be approximately the same as the strength of the first metal fitting 40a. The strength of the second metal fitting 40b may be higher than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a as well as the contact 30. The material of the first metal fitting 40a, the material of the second metal fitting 40b, and the material of the contact 30 may be selected from a group of candidate materials in any combination that satisfies the above-described strength relationship between the first metal fitting 40a, the second metal fitting 40b, and the contact 30.

[0064] The pair of second metal fittings 40b are attached to both ends of the mating protrusion 22 in the longitudinal direction of the first connector 10. The second metal fittings 40b extend along the longitudinal direction of the first connector 10 from the mating protrusion 22 to the short wall 23a to which the first metal fittings 40a are attached.

[0065] For example, the second metal fitting 40b is molded integrally with the second metal fitting holding portion 25 of the insulator 20 by insert molding. At this time, the first base portion 41b is molded integrally with the fitting convex portion 22 from the top surface to the side surfaces at the left and right ends of the fitting convex portion 22. For example, the first base portion 41b is molded integrally with the first portion 251 of the second metal fitting holding portion 25. The first base portion 41b covers the entire left and right ends of the fitting convex portion 22 from the outside.

[0066] The second base portion 42b is molded integrally with the bottom plate portion 21. The second base portion 42b is molded integrally with a part of the second portion 252 of the second metal fitting holder 25. The wide portion 43b is molded integrally with the remaining part of the second portion 252 of the second metal fitting holder 25. The mounting portion 44b is molded integrally with the third portion 253 of the second metal fitting holder 25. In this state, the left-right tip of the mounting portion 44b is exposed outward in the left-right direction from the first wall portion 261 of the short wall 23a.

[0067] When the second metal fitting 40b and the insulator 20 are integrally molded by insert molding, the second base portion 42b and the wide portion 43b extend along the longitudinal direction of the first connector 10. The second base portion 42b and the wide portion 43b extend from the mating protrusion 22 to the short wall 23a to which the first metal fitting 40a is attached. The lower surface of the mounting portion 44b is located one step lower than the bottom surface of the bottom plate portion 21 of the insulator 20. The mounting portion 44b is located directly below the short wall 23a in the left-right direction.

[0068] The first metal fitting 40a is press-fitted from above the insulator 20. The first metal fitting 40a is attached to the outer peripheral wall 23 so that a recess, which is formed by the opposing edges of a pair of protruding pieces 43a spaced apart in the front-rear direction and the left-right edge of the first base portion 41a, sandwiches the first wall portion 261.

[0069] At this time, the first locking portion 45a locks onto the first wall portion 261 of the first metal fitting mounting portion 26 on the outside in the left-right direction of the short wall 23a. The pair of protruding pieces 43a, which are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction, are attached to the first mounting groove 264. Similarly, the second locking portion 47a locks onto the second wall portion 262 and the third wall portion 263 of the first metal fitting mounting portion 26 on the outside in the front-to-rear direction of the long wall 23b. The second locking portion 47a is attached to the second mounting groove 265. In this way, the first metal fitting 40a is held by the first metal fitting mounting portion 26.

[0070] The first base portion 41a and the second base portion 42a of the first fitting 40a are disposed along the outer peripheral wall 23. More specifically, the first base portion 41a is disposed along the short wall 23a. The second base portion 42a is disposed along the long wall 23b. The extension portion 49a extends from the second base portion 42a toward the inside of the outer peripheral wall 23. The extension portion 49a is located on the long wall 23b.

[0071] The convex portion included in the first engaging portion 49a1 of the extending portion 49a protrudes from the surface of the extending portion 49a on the side opposite the outer peripheral wall 23. In the pair of extending portions 49a arranged in the front-rear direction, the convex portions of the pair of first engaging portions 49a1 face each other in the front-rear direction via the left-right ends of the fitting convex portion 22. The pair of first engaging portions 49a1 are arranged in the same left-right and up-down positions on the first fitting 40a.

[0072] The recesses included in the second engaging portions 49a2 of the extending portion 49a are arranged from the surface of the extending portion 49a toward the outer peripheral wall 23. In a pair of extending portions 49a arranged in the front-rear direction, the recesses of the pair of second engaging portions 49a2 face each other in the front-rear direction across the left-right ends of the fitting protrusion 22. The pair of second engaging portions 49a2 are arranged in the same left-right and up-down positions on the first metal fitting 40a.

[0073] When the first metal fitting 40a is held by the first metal fitting mounting portion 26 of the insulator 20, it covers the entire short wall 23a and the left and right ends of the long wall 23b. In this case, the first metal fitting 40a surrounds the first base portion 41b, second base portion 42b, and wide portion 43b of the second metal fitting 40b from both the front and rear sides and the outside in the left and right directions. More specifically, the second base portion 42a of the first metal fitting 40a is disposed on both the front and rear sides of the first base portion 41b, second base portion 42b, and wide portion 43b of the second metal fitting 40b. The first base portion 41a, protruding piece 43a, and bent portion 46a of the first metal fitting 40a are disposed so as to overlap in the left and right direction with the outer left and right ends of the wide portion 43b of the second metal fitting 40b and the mounting portion 44b.

[0074] The first mounting portion 44a is disposed along the outer surface of the short wall 23a in the left-right direction. The first mounting portion 44a extends downward below the lower end of the short wall 23a. The first mounting portion 44a is disposed on both sides of the mounting portion 44b of the second metal fitting 40b in the short direction of the first connector 10. The pair of first mounting portions 44a is positioned so as to sandwich the mounting portion 44b of the second metal fitting 40b from both sides in the front-rear direction. For example, the pair of first mounting portions 44a are disposed at positions symmetrical in the front-rear direction with respect to the mounting portion 44b of the second metal fitting 40b.

[0075] The second mounting portion 48a is disposed along the outer surface of the longitudinal wall 23b in the front-rear direction. The second mounting portion 48a extends downward below the lower end of the longitudinal wall 23b. The second mounting portion 48a is disposed on both sides of the second metal fitting 40b in the short direction of the first connector 10. The pair of second mounting portions 48a is positioned to sandwich the first base portion 41b, the second base portion 42b, and the wide portion 43b of the second metal fitting 40b from both sides in the front-rear direction. For example, the pair of second mounting portions 48a are disposed at positions symmetrical in the front-rear direction with respect to the first base portion 41b, the second base portion 42b, and the wide portion 43b.

[0076] In the first connector 10 configured as described above, the mounting portions 31 of the contacts 30 are soldered to a circuit pattern arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1. The first mounting portion 44a and second mounting portion 48a of the first metal fitting 40a and the mounting portion 44b of the second metal fitting 40b are soldered to the pattern arranged on the mounting surface. By mounting each mounting portion on the circuit board CB1 in this manner, the first connector 10 is mounted on the circuit board CB1. Electronic components separate from the first connector 10, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a controller, and a memory, are mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1.

[0077] The configuration of the second connector 50 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

[0078] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the second connector 50 alone as seen from above in Fig. 1. The second connector 50 is obtained, for example, by integrally molding the contacts 70, the metal fittings 80, and the insulator 60 by insert molding.

[0079] Figure 7 is an external perspective view showing the second connector 50 of Figure 6 in an exploded top view. In reality, the contacts 70, metal fittings 80, and insulator 60 are integrally molded by insert molding, but for ease of understanding, Figure 7 shows the insulator 60, contacts 70, and metal fittings 80 as virtually separated components. Accordingly, for example, the contact holding portion 64 of the insulator 60, which will be described later, is given this name for convenience. However, it should be noted that these components are actually formed by insert molding the contacts 70, metal fittings 80, and insulator 60 integrally, and are not inherent components of the insulator 60.

[0080] The insulator 60 is a plate-shaped member extending in the left-right direction, for example, injection-molded from an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The insulator 60 has a bottom plate portion 61 that forms the lower portion. The insulator 60 has an annular outer peripheral wall 62 that protrudes upward along the front-rear, front-rear, left-right periphery of the bottom plate portion 61. The outer peripheral wall 62 has short walls 62a and long walls 62b. The short walls 62a extend in the front-rear direction. The long walls 62b extend in the left-right direction. The insulator 60 has a fitting recess 63 that is surrounded from four directions (front-rear, front-rear, left-right, and right-left) by the outer peripheral wall 62.

[0081] The insulator 60 has contact holding portions 64 arranged across the longitudinal walls 62b and the bottom plate portion 61. Contacts 70 are attached to the contact holding portions 64. A plurality of contact holding portions 64 are arranged corresponding to the number of contacts 70. The plurality of contact holding portions 64 are arranged along the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts 70.

[0082] The insulator 60 has metal fitting holders 65 arranged from the left and right ends of the long side walls 62b to the short side walls 62a. Metal fittings 80 are attached to the metal fitting holders 65.

[0083] The metal fitting holding portion 65 has a first wall portion 651 disposed on the short wall 62a at a corner of the insulator 60. The metal fitting holding portion 65 has a second wall portion 652 disposed on the long wall 62b, spaced apart from the first wall portion 651 in the left-right direction. The first wall portion 651 and the second wall portion 652 form the outermost rectangular shape of the insulator 60 in the front-rear and left-right directions. The metal fitting holding portion 65 has a first mounting groove 653 disposed between the pair of first wall portions 651. The metal fitting holding portion 65 has a second mounting groove 654 disposed between the first wall portion 651 and the second wall portion 652.

[0084] The configuration of the contact 70 will be mainly described.

[0085] The contact 70 is made by stamping a thin plate of, for example, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or copper alloy containing titanium copper, or a Corson copper alloy, into the shape shown in Fig. 7. The surface of the contact 70 is plated with gold, tin, or the like after forming a base with nickel.

[0086] Each contact 70 has a mounting portion 71 that extends outward in an L-shape in the front-to-rear direction. The contact 70 has an extending portion 72 that is connected to the mounting portion 71. The extending portion 72 has a larger left-to-right width than the mounting portion 71 and extends linearly upward from the upper end of the mounting portion 71. The contact 70 has a folded portion 73 that folds upward from the upper end of the extending portion 72 in an inverted J-shape. In the arrangement direction of the multiple contacts 70, the width of the extending portion 72 is larger than the width of the folded portion 73. The left-to-right width of the extending portion 72 is larger than the left-to-right width of the folded portion 73.

[0087] The contact 70 has a first contact portion 74 arranged on the folded portion 73. The first contact portion 74 is configured to include a surface on the folded portion 73 that faces outward in the front-to-rear direction of the second connector 50. The first contact portion 74 is arranged at a free end of the folded portion 73 that faces the mounting portion 71 in the up-down direction and is recessed one step inward in the front-to-rear direction. The contact 70 has a second contact portion 75 arranged on the extending portion 72 at a position facing the first contact portion 74. The second contact portion 75 is configured to include a surface on the extending portion 72 that faces inward in the front-to-rear direction of the second connector 50.

[0088] The configuration of the metal fitting 80 will be mainly described.

[0089] The metal fitting 80 is formed by stamping a thin plate of any metal material into the shape shown in Fig. 7. The method for processing the metal fitting 80 includes a step of punching the plate and then bending it in the thickness direction.

[0090] The metal fitting 80 has a first base portion 81 extending in the front-rear direction. The metal fitting 80 has a second base portion 82 extending to one side in the left-right direction from each of both front-rear end portions of the first base portion 81. The metal fitting 80 has a first protruding piece 83 extending downward in an L-shape from substantially the entire edge portion on the other side in the left-right direction of the first base portion 81. The metal fitting 80 has a contact portion 831 that includes a left-right surface of the first protruding piece 83 that faces the other side in the left-right direction. The metal fitting 80 has a first mounting portion 84 located at the lower end of the first protruding piece 83. The metal fitting 80 has a bent portion 85 that bends from the center in the front-rear direction to one side in the left-right direction at one edge portion of the first base portion 81 on one side in the left-right direction.

[0091] The metal fitting 80 has a second protruding piece 86 that extends downward from the outer edge in the front-to-rear direction of the second base 82 over substantially the entire left-to-right direction. The metal fitting 80 has an engaging portion 861 that is arranged on the surface of the second protruding piece 86 that faces outward in the front-to-rear direction. The engaging portion 861 has a recess that is recessed inward in the front-to-rear direction on that surface of the second protruding piece 86. The metal fitting 80 has a second mounting portion 87 that is located at the lower end of the second protruding piece 86.

[0092] As can be seen from Figure 6, the contact 70 is molded integrally with the contact holding portion 64 of the insulator 60 by insert molding. The contact 70 is attached to the longitudinal wall 62b. In this case, the first contact portion 74 is disposed along the outer surface of the longitudinal wall 62b in the front-rear direction. The second contact portion 75 is disposed along the inner surface of the longitudinal wall 62b in the front-rear direction. The mounting portion 71 penetrates the bottom plate portion 61 and extends outward in the front-rear direction. The front-rear tip of the mounting portion 71 is located outward in the front-rear direction from the longitudinal wall 62b.

[0093] The metal fitting 80 is molded integrally with the metal fitting holding portion 65 of the insulator 60 by insert molding. The metal fitting 80 is attached to the outer peripheral wall 62. The first protruding piece 83 is attached to the first mounting groove 653. The second protruding piece 86 is attached to the second mounting groove 654. The first base portion 81 and the bent portion 85 are attached to the upper surface and the inner surface in the left and right directions of the short wall 62a, respectively. As described above, the metal fitting 80 is held by the metal fitting holding portion 65.

[0094] The first base portion 81 and the second base portion 82 of the metal fitting 80 are disposed along the outer peripheral wall 62. More specifically, the first base portion 81 is disposed along the short wall 62a. The second base portion 82 is disposed along the long wall 62b.

[0095] The recesses included in the engaging portions 861 of the second protruding pieces 86 are arranged from the surface of the second protruding pieces 86 toward the outer peripheral wall 62. In a pair of second protruding pieces 86 arranged in the front-to-rear direction, the recesses of the pair of engaging portions 861 are arranged along the outer surfaces of the opposing outer peripheral walls 62 in the front-to-rear direction. The pair of engaging portions 861 are arranged at the same left-right and up-down positions on the metal fitting 80.

[0096] When the metal fitting 80 is held by the metal fitting holding portion 65 of the insulator 60, it covers substantially the entire short wall 62a and the left and right ends of the long wall 62b. The first mounting portion 84 is arranged along the outer surface of the short wall 62a in the left and right direction. The first mounting portion 84 is located one step below the lower end of the short wall 62a. The second mounting portion 87 is arranged along the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 62 in the front-to-rear direction. The second mounting portion 87 extends downward below the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 62.

[0097] In the second connector 50 configured as described above, the mounting portions 71 of the contacts 70 are soldered to the circuit pattern arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB2. The first mounting portion 84 and the second mounting portion 87 of the metal fitting 80 are soldered to the pattern arranged on the mounting surface. In this manner, the second connector 50 is mounted on the circuit board CB2. An electronic component separate from the second connector 50, such as a sensor, is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB2.

[0098] The configuration of the connector module 1 in a mated state in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are mated with each other will be mainly described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the VIII-VIII arrow in Figure 2. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IX-IX arrow in Figure 1.

[0099] For example, with the second connector 50 shown in FIG. 6 reversed in its up-down direction, the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 are placed facing each other in the up-down direction while their front-to-back and left-to-right positions are approximately aligned. The second connector 50 is then moved downward. This connects the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 to each other, achieving a connected state of the connector module 1. At this time, the insulator 60 is mated with the first connector 10. The insulator 20 is mated with the second connector 50. The mating protrusion 22 of the insulator 20 and the mating recess 63 of the insulator 60 are mated with each other.

[0100] 9 , in the mated state, the first resilient contact piece 34 of the contact 30 comes into contact with the second connector 50 as the connection object. More specifically, the first contact portion 34a of the first resilient contact piece 34 comes into contact with the second connector 50 as the connection object. The first contact portion 34a comes into contact with the first contact portion 74 of the contact 70. When the first resilient contact piece 34, which has spring elasticity, comes into contact with the first contact portion 74 of the contact 70, it elastically deforms outward in the front-to-rear direction in the first groove portion 27a.

[0101] Even if the first resilient contact pieces 34 are elastically deformed by contact with the second connector 50 as the connection object, they are separated from the longitudinal wall 23 b in the mated state. On the other hand, during the mating process of the insulator 20 mating with the second connector 50 as the connection object, the first resilient contact pieces 34 are elastically deformed by contact with the second connector 50 and come into contact with the longitudinal wall 23 b.

[0102] In the mated state, the second resilient contact piece 35 of the contact 30 comes into contact with the second connector 50 as the connection object. More specifically, the resilient portion 35a of the second resilient contact piece 35 comes into contact with the second connector 50 as the connection object. The second contact portion 35c of the resilient portion 35a comes into contact with the second connector 50 as the connection object. The second contact portion 35c comes into contact with the second contact portion 75 of the contact 70. When the second resilient contact piece 35, which has spring resilience, comes into contact with the second contact portion 75 of the contact 70, it resiliently deforms inward in the front-to-rear direction in the second groove portion 27b.

[0103] Even when the second resilient contact pieces 35 are elastically deformed by contact with the second connector 50 as the connection object, they separate from and do not come into contact with the inner wall of the mating convex portion 22. However, without being limited to this, the second resilient contact pieces 35 may be elastically deformed by contact with the second connector 50 and come into contact with the inner wall of the mating convex portion 22 in a mated state in which the insulator 20 is mated with the second connector 50 as the connection object.

[0104] The contact 30 contacts the contact 70 on both the inside and outside of the second connector 50, with the center line of the longitudinal wall 62b in the front-to-rear direction as the boundary. The contact 30 and the contact 70 contact at two locations, including one location by the first resilient contact piece 34 and the first contact portion 74 located on the outside, and one location by the second resilient contact piece 35 and the second contact portion 75 located on the inside.

[0105] 1 and 2, in the mated state, the first fitting 40a and the fitting 80 come into contact with each other. For example, the extending portion 49a of the first fitting 40a and the second protruding piece 86 of the fitting 80 come into contact with each other. At this time, the first engaging portion 49a1 of the extending portion 49a and the engaging portion 861 of the second protruding piece 86 engage with each other based on the concave-convex structure.

[0106] The extension portion 49a, which has spring elasticity, is elastically deformed outward in the front-to-rear direction upon contact with the second protruding piece 86. In the fitted state, the extension portion 49a comes into contact with the metal fitting 80 and is elastically deformed toward the outer peripheral wall 23 of the insulator 20. The first metal fitting 40a and the metal fitting 80 are in contact at two locations, on both the front and rear sides, by the extension portion 49a and the second protruding piece 86.

[0107] In the mated state, the first metal fitting 40a and the metal fitting 80 come into contact with each other. For example, the bent portion 46a of the first metal fitting 40a and the first protruding piece 83 of the metal fitting 80 come into contact with each other. At this time, the inner surface of the bent portion 46a in the left-right direction and the surface included in the contact portion 831 of the first protruding piece 83 come into contact with each other. The first metal fitting 40a and the metal fitting 80 come into contact at one point in the left-right direction by the bent portion 46a and the first protruding piece 83.

[0108] 3, the upper surfaces of the second base portion 42b and the wide portion 43b of the second fitting 40b are flush with the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 21. The upper surfaces of the second base portion 42b and the wide portion 43b are exposed upward from the second portion 252 of the bottom plate portion 21. In the fitted state, the second fitting 40b and the fitting 80 come into contact with each other. For example, the upper surfaces of the second base portion 42b and the wide portion 43b of the second fitting 40b come into contact with the surface of the first base portion 81 of the fitting 80. The second fitting 40b and the fitting 80 come into contact at one point in the vertical direction, with the upper surfaces of the second base portion 42b and the wide portion 43b and the surface of the first base 81.

[0109] The first connector 10 according to the embodiment described above enables both miniaturization and contact reliability. In the first connector 10, the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35 branch off in different directions from the first connecting portion 33, allowing them to elastically deform independently of each other. The first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35 are bifurcated across the first connecting portion 33, allowing them to elastically deform independently of each other. The first connector 10 has a two-point contact structure with the contacts 70 of the second connector 50 based on the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35, which elastically deform independently of each other. Therefore, the first connector 10 can improve contact reliability between the contacts 30 and the contacts 70 even when miniaturized.

[0110] The first connector 10 has the first coupling portion 33 facing the insulator 20 in the removal direction, which reduces the likelihood of the contacts 30 coming out of the first connector 10 in the removal direction when the second connector 50 is removed as a connection object. This allows the first connector 10 to maintain its reliability as a product, including the above-mentioned contact reliability.

[0111] In the first connector 10, at least a portion of the first resilient contact piece 34 is accommodated in the first groove 27a and faces the insulator 20 in the removal direction. This allows the first connector 10 to reduce the likelihood of the contacts 30 coming out of the first connector 10 in the removal direction when the second connector 50, which serves as a connection object, is removed. This allows the first connector 10 to maintain its reliability as a product, including the above-mentioned contact reliability. In addition, the first connector 10 can be made smaller in size in the first direction by overlapping at least a portion of the first resilient contact piece 34 of the contact 30 with the longitudinal wall 23b of the insulator 20.

[0112] In the first connector 10, at least a portion of the second resilient contact piece 35 is accommodated in the second groove 27b and faces the insulator 20 in the removal direction. This allows the first connector 10 to reduce the likelihood of the contacts 30 coming out of the first connector 10 in the removal direction when the second connector 50 is removed as a connection object. This allows the first connector 10 to maintain its reliability as a product, including the above-mentioned contact reliability. In addition, the first connector 10 can be made smaller in size in the first direction by overlapping at least a portion of the second resilient contact piece 35 of the contact 30 with the mating protrusion 22 of the insulator 20.

[0113] In the first connector 10, the tip of the second resilient contact piece 35 protrudes toward the first groove 27a beyond the side surface of the mating convex portion 22, allowing the second resilient contact piece 35 to be subjected to large elastic displacement. More specifically, the second contact portion 35c of the second resilient contact piece 35 is exposed from the second groove 27b, allowing the second resilient contact piece 35 to be continuously in contact with the contact 70 during mating, thereby allowing for large elastic displacement. Therefore, the first connector 10 can improve the contact reliability between the contacts 30 and 70 even when miniaturized. The first connector 10, together with the configuration described below in which the spring of the resilient portion 35a in the mating direction is long, synergistically achieves the effects of large elastic displacement and improved contact reliability.

[0114] In the first connector 10, the tip end of the first resilient contact piece 34 protrudes toward the second groove 27b beyond the side surface of the longitudinal wall 23b, thereby enabling large elastic displacement of the first resilient contact piece 34. More specifically, the first contact portion 34a of the first resilient contact piece 34 is exposed from the first groove 27a, so that the first resilient contact piece 34 continuously contacts the contact 70 during mating, enabling large elastic displacement. Therefore, the first connector 10 can improve the contact reliability between the contact 30 and the contact 70 even when miniaturized.

[0115] In the first connector 10, the protruding width T2 of the tip end of the second resilient contact piece 35 is larger than the protruding width T1 of the tip end of the first resilient contact piece 34, thereby enabling the second resilient contact piece 35 to be elastically displaced more significantly relative to the first resilient contact piece 34. More specifically, because the protruding width T2 is larger than the protruding width T1, the second resilient contact piece 35 continuously contacts the contact 70 over a larger area during mating, enabling greater elastic displacement. Therefore, the first connector 10 can improve the contact reliability between the contacts 30 and 70 even when miniaturized. The first connector 10, together with the configuration described below in which the spring of the resilient portion 35a in the mating direction is long, synergistically achieves the effects of large elastic displacement and improved contact reliability.

[0116] In the first connector 10, the second connecting portion 35b extends from the first connecting portion 33 in the direction opposite to the removal direction, and the elastic portion 35a extends from the second connecting portion 35b in the removal direction. This allows the first connector 10 to increase the spring length of the elastic portion 35a in the first elastic contact piece 35 in the mating direction. By increasing the spring length of the elastic portion 35a in the mating direction, the second contact portion 35c can be greatly elastically displaced in the front-to-rear direction in response to elastic deformation of the second elastic contact piece 35. Therefore, the first connector 10 can improve the contact reliability between the contacts 30 and the contacts 70 even when miniaturized.

[0117] In the first connector 10, the width W2 of the second contact portion 35c is larger than the width W1 of the first contact portion 34a in the first direction perpendicular to the removal direction, thereby enabling the second resilient contact piece 35 to undergo greater elastic displacement. More specifically, the larger width W2 of the second resilient contact piece 35 allows continuous contact with the contact 70 over a larger area during mating, enabling greater elastic displacement. Therefore, the first connector 10 can improve the contact reliability between the contacts 30 and 70 even when miniaturized. The first connector 10, together with the above-described configuration in which the spring of the resilient portion 35a in the mating direction is long, synergistically achieves the effects of greater elastic displacement and improved contact reliability.

[0118] In the first connector 10, because the first distance L1 is greater than the second distance L2, even when the connector is made low-profile, solder wicking from the mounting portion 31 toward the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35 can be reduced. In the first connector 10, the height from the mounting portion 31 to the first connecting portion 33 is greater than the height of the second connecting portion 35b. Therefore, the first connector 10 can reduce the possibility that solder will wick up to the first connecting portion 33 and reach the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35 via the first connecting portion 33.

[0119] At least a portion of the tip of the mounting portion 31 located outside in a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction faces the longitudinal wall 23b in the removal direction. This prevents the tip of the mounting portion 31 from significantly protruding outward in the front-to-rear direction relative to the longitudinal wall 23b. Therefore, the first connector 10 can be made smaller in size in the first direction by overlapping the tip of the mounting portion 31 of the contact 30 with the longitudinal wall 23b of the insulator 20.

[0120] In the removal direction, a space S is disposed between the mounting portion 31 and the longitudinal wall 23b serving as a side wall. This makes it possible to dispose the mounting portion 31 inside the first connector 10 and realize a reduction in the size of the first connector 10 in the first direction, while providing a space above the mounting portion 31 as the space S into which the solder can enter.

[0121] In the first connector 10, the retained portions 32 protrude in the removal direction beyond the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35, thereby reducing a decrease in contact reliability due to deformation and breakage of the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35. In the first connector 10, when the contacts 30 are press-fitted into the insulator 20 from below, the tips of the retained portions 32 are inserted into the insulator 20 before the tips of the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35. Therefore, when the contacts 30 are press-fitted into the insulator 20, the possibility of the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35 accidentally contacting the insulator 20 is reduced. As a result, the possibility of deformation and breakage of the contacts 30 at the first resilient contact pieces 34 and the second resilient contact pieces 35 is reduced, allowing the first connector 10 to maintain contact reliability.

[0122] In the first connector 10, the first resilient contact pieces 34 elastically deform during mating and come into contact with the longitudinal walls 23b, thereby reducing the risk of the first resilient contact pieces 34 being excessively elastically deformed outward in the front-to-rear direction during mating, which would cause deterioration as a spring. Therefore, even after transitioning from the mid-mating state to the mated state, the contact pressure exerted by the contacts 30 on the contacts 70 can be maintained. Therefore, the first connector 10 can maintain contact reliability between the contacts 30 and 70 even when miniaturized.

[0123] In the first connector 10, the contacts 30 are flat in a second direction parallel to the arrangement direction, so that the width of the contacts 30 in the second direction and the spacing between adjacent contacts 30 can be narrowed, thereby achieving miniaturization in the second direction.

[0124] The first connector 10 has a convex portion in the first engaging portion 49a1, so that when mated with the second connector 50, the convex portion of the first engaging portion 49a1 engages with the engaging portion 861 of the metal fitting 80 of the second connector 50, thereby improving the clicking sensation. In addition, the first connector 10 can improve the removal force when removing the second connector 50 from the first connector 10 in the mated state.

[0125] The first metal fitting 40a has an elastically deformable extension portion 49a that comes into contact with the metal fitting 80 in the mated state, and the elastic force of the extension portion 49a enables the first metal fitting 40a to stably maintain a connected state with the metal fitting 80. Therefore, electrical continuity between the first metal fitting 40a and the metal fitting 80 is stably maintained in the mated state.

[0126] In the first connector 10, the second metal fitting 40b attached to the mating protrusion 22 and the first metal fitting 40a attached to the outer peripheral wall 23 are different components. This reduces the impact of contact between the metal fitting and the second connector 50 during mating, compared to conventional techniques in which the metal fittings are manufactured as a single unit. For example, even if the metal fitting and the second connector 50 come into contact with each other on one side of the mating protrusion 22 or the outer peripheral wall 23, the impact of that contact on the other side is reduced. This reduces damage to the metal fittings, including the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b. Reducing damage to the metal fittings also reduces damage to the insulator 20 to which the metal fittings are attached. As a result, the reliability of the first connector 10 as a product is improved.

[0127] Even if mating is performed with the second connector 50 misaligned relative to the first connector 10, and the second connector 50 comes into contact with the first metal fitting 40a on the outer peripheral wall 23 during mating, causing the first metal fitting 40a and the outer peripheral wall 23 to deform and tilt outward in the left-right direction, the impact on the mating protrusion 22 is mitigated. Because the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are made of different materials, the deformation of the second metal fitting 40b is mitigated. Even if the second connector 50 comes into contact with the second metal fitting 40b on the mating protrusion 22 during mating, causing the second metal fitting 40b and the mating protrusion 22 to deform and tilt inward in the left-right direction, the impact on the outer peripheral wall 23 is mitigated. Because the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are made of different materials, the deformation of the first metal fitting 40a is mitigated. In this way, the metal fittings on one side of the mating protrusion 22 and the outer peripheral wall 23 exhibit independent and separate behaviors. Therefore, the transmission of behavior to the other side is mitigated. As a result, the entire metal fitting can stably perform its desired function, reducing breakage.

[0128] As described above, by reducing damage to the metal fittings and the insulator 20, longitudinal positional deviation of the first connector 10 during and after mating between the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 is reduced. This allows electrical continuity between the contacts 30 and 70 to be accurately achieved according to the original design. In addition, rattle of the connector module 1 after mating is reduced. The function of regulating the position of one of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 relative to the other is maintained. As a result, one connector is less likely to come loose from the other, improving the reliability of the connector module 1 as a product.

[0129] In the first connector 10, the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are made of different materials, which makes it possible to make one of the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b stronger than the other. In the first connector 10, the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are attached to different locations, such as the mating protrusion 22 and the outer peripheral wall 23, for different purposes, and it is possible to manufacture each metal fitting with appropriate strength suited to the location and purpose. For example, if the metal fittings are manufactured as a single unit, as in the prior art, when the strength of the metal fitting must be reduced on one side of the mating protrusion 22 or the outer peripheral wall 23, the strength of the metal fitting on the other side will inevitably be reduced as well.

[0130] For example, the main purpose of the second metal fitting 40b attached to the mating protrusion 22 is to improve the robustness of the mating protrusion 22. On the other hand, one purpose of the first metal fitting 40a attached to the outer peripheral wall 23 is to achieve electrical continuity by contacting the metal fitting 80 in the mated state. For this purpose, an elastically deformable extension 49a is disposed on the first metal fitting 40a.

[0131] Therefore, it is preferable that the first metal fitting 40a be made of a material strong enough to provide springiness, while the second metal fitting 40b be made of a material with even higher strength. In the first connector 10, the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b can be made with appropriate strengths suited to their respective purposes. For example, if the metal fittings were made integrally as in the prior art, the placement of elastically deformable contact pieces on the outer peripheral wall would inevitably reduce the strength of the entire metal fitting and the robustness of the mating protrusions.

[0132] By using a material different from that of the first metal fitting 40a, the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b can be easily manufactured so that one of them has a higher strength than the other. For example, it is possible to appropriately select the material of each metal fitting according to the above-mentioned purpose of the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b.

[0133] Because the strength of the material of the second metal fitting 40b is greater than the strength of the material of the first metal fitting 40a, the robustness of the mating protrusion 22 to which the second metal fitting 40b is attached is improved. Therefore, damage to the mating protrusion 22 of the insulator 20 to which the second metal fitting 40b is attached is reduced. As a result, the reliability of the first connector 10 as a product is improved.

[0134] Because the thickness of the second metal fitting 40b is greater than the thickness of the first metal fitting 40a, even if the first metal fitting 40a and the second metal fitting 40b are made of the same material, the strength of the second metal fitting 40b is greater than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a, thereby improving the robustness of the mating protrusion 22 to which the second metal fitting 40b is attached in the same manner as described above.

[0135] In the first connector 10, the second metal fitting 40b has a mounting portion 44b that is mounted on the circuit board CB1, thereby improving the robustness of the second metal fitting 40b. Even if a load is applied to the second metal fitting 40b, deformation is reduced, and the shape and dimensional accuracy of the first connector 10 are maintained even during mating. For example, the robustness of the mating protrusion 22 to which the second metal fitting 40b is attached is improved. Therefore, damage such as deformation of the mating protrusion 22 is reduced, and the above-mentioned effects regarding longitudinal positional deviation and rattle of the first connector 10 are achieved.

[0136] Because the mounting portion 44b includes a bottom surface facing the circuit board CB1, external forces acting on the second metal fitting 40b can be absorbed by the mounting portion 44b. Mounting the mounting portion 44b on the circuit board CB1 fixes the second metal fitting 40b to the circuit board CB1, and even if an external force acts on the second metal fitting 40b, the impact is absorbed by the mounting portion 44b. This improves the robustness of the second metal fitting 40b along the longitudinal direction of the first connector 10. This also improves the robustness of the mating protrusion 22 along the longitudinal direction of the first connector 10.

[0137] Because the first base portion 41b and the second base portion 42b are integrally fabricated to have a crank shape, the entire second metal fitting 40b is integrated with the insulator 20 along the shape of the end portion of the fitting protrusion 22 and the bottom plate portion 21. This improves the holding strength of the second metal fitting 40b to the insulator 20.

[0138] The first mounting portions 44a of the first metal fitting 40a are arranged on both sides of the second metal fitting 40b in the short direction of the first connector 10. The second mounting portions 48a of the first metal fitting 40a are arranged on both sides of the second metal fitting 40b in the short direction of the first connector 10. As a result, the mounting strength of the first metal fitting 40a to the circuit board CB1 is improved. This improves the robustness of the first metal fitting 40a and the short wall 23a in the left-right direction.

[0139] Because the pair of first mounting portions 44a are positioned at approximately the same left-right position as the mounting portion 44b, the three mounting portions are positioned on a straight line along the front-to-rear direction. This improves the mounting strength of the first connector 10 to the circuit board CB1. For example, even if the second connector 50 is mated with the first connector 10 misaligned at a predetermined angle about the vertical axis, the first connector 10 remains mounted to the circuit board CB1. Similarly, even if the circuit board CB1 on which the first connector 10 is mounted rotates after mating, the first connector 10 remains mounted to the circuit board CB1. This improves the robustness of the first connector 10 mounted to the circuit board CB1.

[0140] By attaching the pair of first metal fittings 40a to the pair of short walls 23a, respectively, the robustness of the short walls 23a is improved at both left and right ends of the outer peripheral wall 23. This reduces damage to the short walls 23a of the insulator 20 to which the pair of first metal fittings 40a are attached. As a result, the reliability of the first connector 10 as a product is improved.

[0141] The first contact portion 74 of the second connector 50 is recessed inward in the front-to-rear direction at the free end of the folded portion 73, so that in the mated state shown in Fig. 9, the stepped portion of the first contact portion 74 and the front-to-rear tip of the first resilient contact piece 34 engage with each other. This increases the removal force required to remove one of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 from the other in the mated state. This makes it more difficult for one connector to come off the other, improving the reliability of the connector module 1 as a product.

[0142] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms other than the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the foregoing description is illustrative and not limiting. The scope of the disclosure is defined not by the foregoing description but by the appended claims. All modifications within the range of equivalents of any modifications are intended to be embraced therein.

[0143] For example, the shape, size, arrangement, orientation, and number of each of the components described above are not limited to those described above and illustrated in the drawings, and may be arbitrarily configured as long as the function can be realized.

[0144] The assembly method of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 described above is not limited to the above description. The assembly method of the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 may be any method as long as the first connector 10 and the second connector 50 can be assembled in a manner that allows the respective functions to be performed. For example, in the first connector 10, at least one of the contacts 30 and the first metal fittings 40a may be integrally molded with the insulator 20 by insert molding rather than press fitting. The second metal fittings 40b may be attached to the insulator 20 by press fitting rather than insert molding. For example, in the second connector 50, at least one of the contacts 70 and the metal fittings 80 may be attached to the insulator 60 by press fitting rather than insert molding.

[0145] In the above embodiment, the first connecting portion 33 is described as facing the insulator 20 in the removal direction, but this is not limiting. The first connecting portion 33 does not have to face the insulator 20 in the removal direction.

[0146] In the above embodiment, the insulator 20 has been described as having the first groove portion 27 a recessed on the inner side of the longitudinal wall 23 b in the first direction, but this is not limited thereto. The insulator 20 does not necessarily have to have such a first groove portion 27 a.

[0147] In the above embodiment, at least a portion of the first resilient contact piece 34 is accommodated in the first groove portion 27a and faces the insulator 20 in the removal direction, but this is not limiting. The entire first resilient contact piece 34 does not have to be accommodated in the first groove portion 27a, and does not have to face the insulator 20 in the removal direction.

[0148] In the above embodiment, the insulator 20 has the second groove 27b recessed in the insulator 20 so as to face the first groove 27a along the first direction, but this is not limiting. The insulator 20 does not necessarily have to have such a second groove 27b.

[0149] In the above embodiment, at least a portion of the second resilient contact piece 35 is accommodated in the second groove portion 27b and faces the insulator 20 in the removal direction, but this is not limiting. The entire second resilient contact piece 35 does not have to be accommodated in the second groove portion 27b, and does not have to face the insulator 20 in the removal direction.

[0150] In the above embodiment, the tip of the second resilient contact piece 35 protrudes toward the first groove 27a from the side surface of the insulator 20 where the second groove 27b is recessed, but this is not limiting. The tip of the second resilient contact piece 35 does not have to protrude toward the first groove 27a from the side surface.

[0151] In the above embodiment, the tip of the first resilient contact piece 34 is described as protruding toward the second groove 27b from the side surface of the longitudinal wall 23b in which the first groove 27a is recessed, but this is not limiting. The tip of the first resilient contact piece 34 does not have to protrude toward the second groove 27b from the side surface.

[0152] In the above embodiment, the protruding width T2 of the tip of the second resilient contact piece 35 is greater than the protruding width T1 of the tip of the first resilient contact piece 34. However, this is not limiting. The protruding width T2 of the tip of the second resilient contact piece 35 may be equal to or less than the protruding width T1 of the tip of the first resilient contact piece 34.

[0153] In the above embodiment, the second resilient contact piece 35 has been described as having the resilient portion 35a and the second connecting portion 35b, but this is not limiting. The second resilient contact piece 35 does not necessarily have to have the second connecting portion 35b. The resilient portion 35a may be directly connected to the first connecting portion 33 without the second connecting portion 35b.

[0154] In the above embodiment, the width W2 of the second contact portion 35c is greater than the width W1 of the first contact portion 34a in the first direction perpendicular to the removal direction, but this is not limiting. The width W2 may be equal to or less than the width W1.

[0155] In the above embodiment, the first contact portion 34a is described as being located at the tip of the first resilient contact piece 34, but this is not limited to this. The first contact portion 34a may be located at any position other than the tip of the first resilient contact piece 34. The number of first contact portions 34a located on the first resilient contact piece 34 is also not limited to one, and may be multiple.

[0156] In the above embodiment, the second contact portion 35c is described as being located at the tip of the second resilient contact piece 35, but this is not limitative. The second contact portion 35c may be located at any position other than the tip of the second resilient contact piece 35. The number of second contact portions 35c located on the second resilient contact piece 35 is also not limited to one, and may be multiple.

[0157] In the above embodiment, the first distance L1 from the mounting portion 31 to the first connecting portion 33 in the removal direction is greater than the second distance L2 from the mounting portion 31 to the second connecting portion 35b. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first distance L1 may be equal to or less than the second distance L2.

[0158] In the above embodiment, at least a portion of the tip of the mounting portion 31 located on the outside in the first direction perpendicular to the removal direction faces the longitudinal wall 23b in the removal direction. However, this is not limited to this. The entire tip of the mounting portion 31 does not have to face the longitudinal wall 23b in the removal direction. For example, the entire tip of the mounting portion 31 may protrude outward in the front-to-rear direction relative to the longitudinal wall 23b.

[0159] In the above embodiment, the space S is disposed between the mounting portion 31 and the longitudinal wall 23b in the removal direction, but this is not limiting. The space S does not have to be disposed in the first connector 10. For example, the mounting portion 31 and the longitudinal wall 23b may be in contact with each other in the removal direction.

[0160] In the above embodiment, the held portion 32 is described as protruding in the removal direction further than the first resilient contact piece 34 and the second resilient contact piece 35, but this is not limiting. The held portion 32 does not have to protrude in the removal direction further than at least one of the first resilient contact piece 34 and the second resilient contact piece 35.

[0161] In the above embodiment, the first resilient contact piece 34 is elastically deformed by contact with the second connector 50 and comes into contact with the longitudinal wall 23b during mating, but this is not limiting. The first resilient contact piece 34 does not have to come into contact with the longitudinal wall 23b during mating, just as it does in the mated state.

[0162] In the above embodiment, the contacts 30 are described as being flat in the second direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the multiple contacts 30. However, this is not limiting. The contacts 30 do not have to be flat in the second direction. For example, the contacts 30 may be shaped to have a locking portion that expands in the second direction, like the conventional terminal described in Patent Document 1, by performing a process of bending the contacts 30 in the plate thickness direction after punching.

[0163] In the above embodiment, the second connecting portion 35b is described as forming an obtuse angle with respect to the first resilient contact piece 34 and extending from the first connecting portion 33 in the opposite direction to the first resilient contact piece 34, but this is not limiting. The second connecting portion 35b may also form a right angle or an acute angle with respect to the first resilient contact piece 34.

[0164] In the above embodiment, the first resilient contact pieces 34 are described as being inclined inward in the front-rear direction along the removal direction, but this is not limiting. The first resilient contact pieces 34 may be inclined outward in the front-rear direction along the removal direction, or may not be inclined inward or outward.

[0165] In the above embodiment, the contacts 30 are arranged in two rows in the front-rear direction, but this is not limiting, and the contacts 30 may be arranged in a single row in the front-rear direction.

[0166] In the above embodiment, the extension portions 49a are described as being arranged in pairs on the first fitting 40a, but this is not limiting. The extension portions 49a may be arranged in two or more pairs at any position on the first fitting 40a, or any number of extension portions 49a greater than or equal to one may be arranged at any position without being arranged in pairs.

[0167] In the above embodiment, the extension portion 49a is described as being located on the long wall 23b, but this is not limiting. The extension portion 49a may be located on the short wall 23a instead of or in addition to the long wall 23b.

[0168] In the above embodiment, the first and second fittings 40a and 40b are described as being separate from each other, but this is not limiting. The first and second fittings 40a and 40b may be connected rather than separate from each other. In this case, the first and second fittings 40a and 40b may be manufactured so that their respective strengths differ from each other within the integrated fitting as a whole. For example, the integrated fitting including the first and second fittings 40a and 40b may be manufactured from a functionally gradient material. More specifically, the material of the second fitting 40b may be different from that of the first fitting 40a so that its strength is higher than that of the material of the first fitting 40a. For example, the integrated fitting including the first and second fittings 40a and 40b may be manufactured so that the plate thickness varies. More specifically, the plate thickness of the second fitting 40b may be greater than the plate thickness of the first fitting 40a.

[0169] In the above embodiment, the strength of the second metal fitting 40b is described as being greater than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a, but this is not limiting. The strength of the first metal fitting 40a may also be greater than the strength of the second metal fitting 40b.

[0170] In the above embodiment, it has been described that the thickness of the second metal fitting 40b may be greater than the thickness of the first metal fitting 40a so that the strength of the second metal fitting 40b is greater than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a, but this is not limited to this. For example, the thickness of the second metal fitting 40b may be smaller than the thickness of the first metal fitting 40a, but the strength of the second metal fitting 40b may be greater than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a. Conversely, the thickness of the second metal fitting 40b may be greater than the thickness of the first metal fitting 40a, but the strength of the second metal fitting 40b may be lower than the strength of the first metal fitting 40a.

[0171] In the above embodiment, the mounting portion 44b is described as being located directly below the short wall 23a, but this is not limiting. The mounting portion 44b may be located adjacent to the mating protrusion 22 so as to be close to a position on the second fitting 40b where an external force is likely to act.

[0172] In the above embodiment, the first metal fitting 40a is described as being attached to the short wall 23a, but this is not limiting. For example, the first metal fitting 40a may not be attached to the short wall 23a, but may be attached only to the long wall 23b.

[0173] In the above embodiment, the first mounting portion 44a of the first metal fitting 40a is described as being arranged on both sides of the second metal fitting 40b in the short-side direction of the first connector 10, but this is not limited to this. The second mounting portion 48a of the first metal fitting 40a is described as being arranged on both sides of the second metal fitting 40b in the short-side direction of the first connector 10, but this is not limited to this. Only one of the first mounting portion 44a and the second mounting portion 48a may be arranged on both sides of the second metal fitting 40b in the short-side direction of the first connector 10. Only one first mounting portion 44a or three or more first mounting portions 44a may be arranged instead of two. Similarly, only one second mounting portion 48a or three or more second mounting portions 48a may be arranged instead of two.

[0174] The first connector 10 and connector module 1 described above are mounted on an electronic device including a circuit board CB1 and a circuit board CB2. Examples of the electronic device include wearable devices such as smart watches, wireless earphones, and smart glasses, terminal devices such as smartphones, and any information processing devices such as personal computers, copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multifunction devices. Other examples of the electronic device include any industrial equipment.

[0175] Such an electronic device allows the first connector 10 and the connector module 1 to be both compact and have high contact reliability.

[0176] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. However, it should be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to these. [Supplementary Note 1] A connector to be connected to a connection object, comprising: an insulator having a side wall; and a plurality of contacts attached to the side wall, wherein the contacts have a held portion held by the side wall, a first resilient contact piece that contacts the connection object, a second resilient contact piece that contacts the connection object, and a first connecting portion that connects the first resilient contact piece and the second resilient contact piece to the held portion, wherein the first resilient contact piece and the second resilient contact piece branch off from the first connecting portion in different directions. [Supplementary Note 2] The connector according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the first connecting portion faces the insulator in a removal direction in which the connection object is removed from the connector. [Supplementary Note 3] The connector according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the insulator has a first groove portion recessed into the inside of the side wall in a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction, and at least a portion of the first resilient contact piece is accommodated in the first groove portion and faces the insulator in the removal direction. [Supplementary Note 4] The connector according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the insulator has a second groove portion recessed in the insulator to face the first groove portion along the first direction, and at least a portion of the second resilient contact piece is accommodated in the second groove portion and faces the insulator in the removal direction. [Supplementary Note 5] The connector according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein a tip portion of the second resilient contact piece protrudes toward the first groove portion beyond a side surface of the insulator in which the second groove portion is recessed. [Supplementary Note 6] The connector according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein a tip end portion of the first resilient contact piece protrudes toward the second groove portion beyond a side surface of the side wall in which the first groove portion is recessed. [Supplementary Note 7] The connector according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein a protruding width of the tip end portion of the second resilient contact piece is greater than a protruding width of the tip end portion of the first resilient contact piece.[Supplementary Note 8] The connector according to any one of Supplements 2 to 7, wherein the second resilient contact piece has a resilient portion that contacts the connection object and a second connecting portion that connects the resilient portion to the first connecting portion, the second connecting portion extends from the first connecting portion along a direction opposite to the removal direction, and the resilient portion extends from the second connecting portion toward the removal direction. [Supplementary Note 9] The connector according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the first resilient contact piece has a first contact portion that contacts the connection object, the resilient portion has a second contact portion that contacts the connection object, and a width of the second contact portion is larger than a width of the first contact portion in a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction. [Supplementary Note 10] The connector according to Supplementary Note 8 or 9, wherein the contact has a mounting portion mounted on a circuit board, and a first distance from the mounting portion to the first coupling portion in the removal direction is greater than a second distance from the mounting portion to the second coupling portion. [Supplementary Note 11] The connector according to Supplementary Note 10, wherein at least a part of a tip portion of the mounting portion located on the outside in a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction faces the side wall in the removal direction. [Supplementary Note 12] The connector according to Supplementary Note 10 or 11, wherein a space is arranged between the mounting portion and the side wall in the removal direction. [Supplementary Note 13] The connector according to any one of Supplements 2 to 12, wherein the held portion protrudes in the removal direction further than the first resilient contact piece and the second resilient contact piece. [Supplementary Note 14] The connector according to any one of Supplements 2 to 13, wherein, during the course of mating of the insulator with the connection object, the first resilient contact piece elastically deforms due to contact with the connection object and comes into contact with the side wall. [Supplementary Note 15] The connector according to any one of Supplements 2 to 14, wherein the contact is flat in a second direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts. [Supplementary Note 16] An electronic device comprising the connector according to any one of Supplements 1 to 15.

[0177] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Connector module 10 First connector (connector) 20 Insulator 21 Bottom plate portion 22 Fitting convex portion 23 Outer peripheral wall 23a Short wall 23b Longitudinal wall (side wall) 24 Contact mounting groove 25 Second metal fitting holding portion 251 First portion 252 Second portion 253 Third portion 26 First metal fitting mounting portion 261 First wall portion 262 Second wall portion 263 Third wall portion 264 First mounting groove 265 Second mounting groove 27a First groove portion 27b Second groove portion 30 Contact 31 Mounting portion 32 Held portion 33 First connecting portion 34 First resilient contact piece 34a First contact portion 35 Second resilient contact piece 35a Resilient portion 35b Second connecting portion 35c Second contact portion 40a First metal fitting 41a First base portion 42a Second base portion 43a Projecting piece 44a First mounting portion 45a First locking portion 46a Bent portion 47a Second locking portion 48a Second mounting portion 49a Extension portion 49a1 First engaging portion 49a2 Second engaging portion 40b Second metal fitting 41b First base portion 42b Second base portion 43b Wide portion 44b Mounting portion 50 Second connector (object to be connected) 60 Insulator 61 Bottom plate portion 62 Outer peripheral wall 62a Short wall 62b Long wall 63 Fitting recess 64 Contact holding portion 65 Metal fitting holding portion 651 First wall portion 652 Second wall portion 653 First mounting groove 654 Second mounting groove 70 Contact 71 Mounting portion 72 Extension portion 73 Folded portion 74 First contact portion 75 Second contact portion 80 Metal fitting 81 First base portion 82 Second base portion 83 First protrusion piece 831 Contact portion 84 First mounting portion 85 Bent portion 86 Second protrusion piece 861 Engagement portion 87 Second mounting portion CB1 Circuit board CB2 Circuit board L1 First distance L2 Second distance S Space T1 Projection width T2 Projection width W1 Width W2 Width

Claims

1. A connector to be connected to a connection object, an insulator having a sidewall; a plurality of contacts attached to the sidewall; Equipped with The contact a held portion held by the side wall; a first elastic contact piece that comes into contact with the connection object; a second elastic contact piece that comes into contact with the connection object; a first connecting portion that connects the first and second resilient contact pieces to the held portion; a mounting portion to be mounted on a circuit board; and the held portion has an extending portion that extends linearly from an end of the mounting portion in a removal direction in which the connection object is removed from the connector, At least a part of a tip end portion of the mounting portion located outside in a first direction perpendicular to the removal direction faces the side wall in the removal direction, a space is disposed between the mounting portion and the side wall in the removal direction; the first resilient contact piece and the second resilient contact piece extend in different directions from the first connecting portion; connector.

2. 2. The connector of claim 1, the first connecting portion faces the insulator in the removal direction; connector.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 2, the insulator has a first groove recessed into the inner side of the side wall in the first direction, At least a portion of the first resilient contact piece is accommodated in the first groove portion and faces the insulator in the removal direction. connector.

4. 4. The connector according to claim 3, the insulator has a second groove portion recessed in the insulator so as to face the first groove portion along the first direction, At least a portion of the second resilient contact piece is accommodated in the second groove portion and faces the insulator in the removal direction. connector.

5. 5. The connector according to claim 4, a tip end portion of the second resilient contact piece protrudes toward the first groove portion beyond a side surface of the insulator in which the second groove portion is recessed; connector.

6. 6. The connector of claim 5, a tip end portion of the first resilient contact piece protrudes toward the second groove portion beyond a side surface of the side wall in which the first groove portion is recessed; connector.

7. 7. The connector of claim 6, The protruding width of the tip end of the second resilient contact piece is larger than the protruding width of the tip end of the first resilient contact piece. connector.

8. 8. The connector according to claim 2, the second elastic contact piece has an elastic portion that contacts the connection object and a second connecting portion that connects the elastic portion to the first connecting portion, the second connecting portion extends from the first connecting portion along a direction opposite to the removal direction; The elastic portion extends from the second connecting portion in the removal direction. connector.

9. 9. The connector of claim 8, the first resilient contact piece has a first contact portion that comes into contact with the connection object, the elastic portion has a second contact portion that comes into contact with the connection object, In the first direction, the width of the second contact portion is larger than the width of the first contact portion. connector.

10. 9. The connector of claim 8, In the removal direction, a first distance from the mounting portion to the first connecting portion is greater than a second distance from the mounting portion to the second connecting portion. connector.

11. 8. The connector according to claim 2, The held portion protrudes in the removal direction beyond the first resilient contact piece and the second resilient contact piece. connector.

12. 8. The connector according to claim 2, When the insulator is in the middle of fitting with the connection object, the first elastic contact piece is elastically deformed by contact with the connection object and comes into contact with the side wall. connector.

13. 8. The connector according to claim 2, the contact is flat in a second direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts; connector.

14. An electronic device comprising the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7.