JP2646511B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector in which one connector has a male contact having a U-shaped groove and the other connector enters the U-shaped groove.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One connector is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate, and a plurality of female contacts having contact portions having U-shaped grooves are accommodated in respective contact accommodating holes. An electrical connector which protrudes and holds a pin-shaped male contact is widely known.

[0003] The female contact of the one connector is usually
A large part of the outer edge of the contact portion is supported by the inner wall surface of the contact receiving hole formed in the housing. On the other hand, the male contact is supported at its intermediate portion by the housing, and is cantilevered from the intermediate portion to the tip. When the connector is connected, the male contact enters the U-shaped groove of the corresponding female contact, and electrical connection is made here.

[0004]

In the above-described known electrical connector, the female contact of one connector has a large part of its outer edge supported by the inner wall surface of the contact receiving hole. It does not cause inconvenient plastic deformation even when subjected to external force.

[0005] However, the male contact implanted in the other connector in a cantilever state has a large protruding length.
It is easily plastically deformed under external force. For example, if the tip of the male contact is slightly displaced due to deformation or the like, the tip of the male contact collides with the tip of the female contact at the time of connection of the connector, and is buckled and plastically deformed. I will. In addition, the connector is deformed at the time of insertion / extraction with the connector being twisted. Furthermore, even when the connector is not connected, deformation occurs when the male contact receives some unexpected external force.

[0006] When the male contact is plastically deformed as described above, it becomes difficult or impossible to connect the connector. Also,
Even if connected, the connection becomes unstable.

Furthermore, since the male contact is held by the housing only at the intermediate portion, the holding portion must be lengthened in order to make the holding as firm as possible. In addition, there is also a problem that the dimensions of the connector become longer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide an electric connector which holds a male contact so as to prevent plastic deformation without increasing the size of the connector.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a connector for accommodating a plurality of female contacts having a U-shaped contact groove formed in each contact receiving hole of an insulating housing. And an other connector having a plurality of male contacts held by an insulating holder, wherein the male contacts are pushed into the contact grooves of the female contacts to make an electrical connection. insulating holder of the connector has a plate-like <br/> extending portion extending forward, a plurality of contact receiving grooves at a predetermined position of one surface of the extending portion is not formed along the surface A contact portion of the male contact is accommodated in the contact accommodating groove so as to expose at least one surface, and a female contact of one connector is provided.
Has a contact protrusion on one inner edge of the contact groove and the other opposing inner edge
A guide groove is formed in the insulating housing of the one connector, the receiving housing communicates with the contact receiving holes to form a receiving groove for receiving the extending portion of the other connector, and the extending portion is pushed into the receiving groove. The contact surface of each male contact is
And the guided portion of the female contactor extends
It is accomplished by have become so that is guided by the other surface of the output portion.

[0010]

In the electric connector of the present invention having such a structure, first, a male contact is inserted into each contact accommodating groove formed in the extension of the insulating holder of the other connector, and the other connector is inserted. The connector is assembled. Each male contact is held in the contact receiving groove, but at least one surface of the male contact is exposed. Thus, a plurality of male contacts are arranged at predetermined positions on the extension while exposing their surfaces.

In use, the extension of the other connector is inserted into the receiving groove of one connector. Then, the male contact of the other connector is formed on one surface of the extension.
While firmly held in the contact receiving groove, the female contact of one connector enters the U-shaped groove of the female contact, the female contact and the male contact come into contact, and both connectors are electrically connected. Will be done. The guided portion of the female contact is the other of the extension
Guided and supported on the surface.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The electrical connector of the present embodiment comprises one connector having female contacts and the other connector having male contacts.

FIG. 1 shows an insulating housing 1 of one connector.
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the female contact 2 before being assembled.

The insulating housing 1 has a block-shaped base portion 3 and a cylindrical portion 4 extending forward (to the right in the figure) from the base portion 3. The base portion 3 and the cylindrical portion 4 are formed with a plurality of contact receiving holes 5 penetrating back and forth. In addition, a stepped guide portion 4A extending forward and backward is provided at an outer upper corner portion of the cylindrical portion 4.

A base 3 is provided on the inner wall surface of the contact housing hole 5.
Is provided with a step 5A for positioning the contact, and a projection 5B for locking the contact is provided at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the tubular portion 4.
Is provided.

The plurality of contact receiving holes 5 are communicated by receiving grooves 6 extending from the front end openings to the positions of the protruding portions 5B.

The female contact 2 is made by bending a metal plate after punching, and has a connection portion 7 and a contact portion 8. The contact portion 8 has a substantially U-shaped contact groove 11 formed by the finger portions 9 and 10, a locking projection 9 </ b> A forming triangular teeth at the inner edge of the upper portion of the finger 9, and the tip of the lower finger portion 10. A contact protrusion 10A is formed on the inner edge of the portion. The inner edge of the upper finger 9 is a draft
Inside.

The connection portion 7 is bent and formed so as to be perpendicular to the surface of the contact portion 8, and the front and rear thereof are engaged with the locking contact surface 12.
Has made. In the case of this embodiment, a long hole 7A is formed in the connection portion 7 so that the core wire of the cable to be connected is entangled and soldered. Not limited.

The female contacts 2 are pushed into the respective contact receiving holes 5 from behind as shown in FIG. The female contact 2 is pushed in until its locking abutment surface 12 comes into contact with the step 5A of the housing, and at this time, the locking projection 9A of the female contact 2 bites into the upper surface of the protrusion 5B of the housing. become. Thus, the female contact 2 is positioned at a predetermined position and is prevented from coming off. The outer edge of the contact portion 8, that is, the finger portions 9, 10 is supported by the inner wall surface of the contact receiving hole 5 of the housing over most of the outer edge.

Thus, in the case of the present embodiment, the shielding metal case 12 is covered outside the insulating housing into which the female contact 2 is inserted and assembled. However, this is not essential in the present invention. Furthermore, a case made of an insulating material can be externally fitted to the base 3 on the metal case 12 as necessary.

Next, in the other connector, as shown in FIG. 2, a male contact 24 is implanted in an insulating holder 20, and a metal case 25 for shielding is covered on the insulating holder 20. The metal case 25 is not essential in the present invention, as in the case of the one connector described above.

The insulating holder 20 includes a base 21 and the base 21.
And a bar-shaped guide 23 extending from the base 21 at an upper position on both sides of the extended portion 22.

The extension portion 22 has a shape and dimensions suitable for being inserted into the receiving groove 6 of the one connector.
The guide 23 is provided at a position for guiding the guide portion 4A, which is covered with the metal case 12 of one connector, when the extension portion 22 is inserted into the receiving groove 6.

The lower surface of the extension 22 is
Extending rearward from the front end (left end in the figure) of the
Are formed in parallel with each other. The contact accommodating groove 22A is set at a position corresponding to the female contact of one connector when the extending portion 22 is inserted into the receiving groove of one connector. In the case of the example, a dovetail is formed.

As shown in the figure, the male contact 24 has a substantially Z-shape with a front portion as a contact portion 24A and a rear portion as a connection portion 24B.
The male contact 24 has a trapezoidal cross section that fits the dovetail-shaped contact receiving groove 22A. In the male contact 24, the contact portion 24A is inserted and assembled into the contact receiving groove 22A from behind the base 22. Male contact 24
The contact portion 24A is formed at least in the contact housing groove 22A.
, And the lower surface protrudes and is exposed from the contact receiving groove 22A.

In use, the extension 22 of the other connector is inserted into the receiving groove 6 of the one connector. At this time, the outer surface of one connector (the outer surface of the metal case 12)
Is the inner surface of the metal case 25 of the other connector and the guide 2
3 also guides you.

When the extension 22 is inserted into the receiving groove 6, the extension 22 enters the U-shaped contact groove 11 of the female contact 2 of one connector. At this time, the contact portion 24A of the male contact 24 of the other connector held by the contact accommodating groove 22A formed on the lower surface of the extension portion 22 is connected to the finger 10 of the female contact 2 as shown in FIG. Elastically deforms the finger 10 so that the contact groove 11 formed by the finger 9 and the finger 10 is slightly widened. Sand
That is, as is clear from FIG.
When the extended portion 22 expands the contact groove 11, the contact portion
The surface (lower surface) of 24A presses the finger portion 10 and extends.
The upper surface of the portion 22 guides the finger portion 9 in sliding contact. In other words, the finger
The part 9 is a guided part. Thus, one connector and the other connector are electrically connected.

In the example of FIG. 3, the other connector is
The leg 25A provided at the lower part of the metal case 25 is
Is fixed by inserting it into the locking hole of the male contact 24.
4B is placed in contact with the circuit portion of the substrate P and soldered.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of male contacts are held at predetermined positions by the extended portions of the insulating holder of the connector at the contact portions. Becomes extremely strong and does not deform when connected to the female contact, thereby preventing poor connection and instability due to the deformation. Furthermore, as described above, since the male contact is held firmly at the contact portion, the holding portion at the base of the insulating holder can be short, and the connector can be downsized. In addition to this, the female contacts
Is supported by the extension,
It will be strong.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view showing an insulating housing and a female contact of one connector of an electric connector according to an embodiment of the present invention before assembly.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing one connector and the other connector after assembly in FIG. 1 in a state before connection.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view after connection of both connectors of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insulating housing 2 Female contact 5 Contact receiving hole 6 Receiving hole 11 Contact groove 20 Insulating holder 22 Extension 22A Contact receiving groove 24 Male contact

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector for accommodating a plurality of female contacts having U-shaped contact grooves formed in respective contact accommodating holes of an insulating housing, and a plurality of male contacts held by an insulating holder. And the other connector has a male contact pushed into the contact groove of the female contact to make an electrical connection, and the insulating retainer of the other connector extends forward.
Has a plate-like extending portion, a plurality of contact receiving grooves at a predetermined position of one surface of the extending portion is not formed along the surface, the contact of the male contacts into the contact receiving grooves Part is housed so that at least one side is exposed, and the female connector of one connector
The contact has a contact projection on one inner edge of the contact groove and the other
A guided portion is formed on the inner edge of the connector, and the insulating housing of the one connector forms a receiving groove that communicates with the contact receiving holes to receive the extended portion of the other connector. When the male contact is pushed into the female contact, the exposed surface of each male contact comes into contact with the contact protrusion of the corresponding female contact, and the guided portion of the female contact
The electrical connector according to claim that it is so that is guided by the other surface of the extending portion. 2. The contact receiving groove is formed in a dovetail groove, and is provided with a male contact.
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact has a trapezoidal cross section corresponding to the contact receiving groove.