JP7271107B2 - movable connector - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a movable connector, and more particularly to an additional member attached to a housing of the movable connector and a movable connector including the same.

A movable connector as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, is known as a connector for conductive connection with a connection object. In this prior art, the movable connector includes a fixed housing, a movable housing movable with respect to the fixed housing, and a terminal having an elastic portion (movable portion) that is elastically deformable while being held by the fixed housing and the movable housing. ing. In this movable connector, the fixed housing side and the movable housing side cooperate with each other to form restricting means for determining the limit of the elastic deformation range of the elastic portion in the connector fitting direction.

JP 2017-212025 A, FIG. 3 (B)

However, in such a movable connector, when an external force such as vibration or impact is applied during transportation before use, the movable housing vibrates with respect to the fixed housing, and the movable portions of the terminals are elastically deformed. If this vibration is repeated, there is a risk that fatigue will accumulate in the moving parts and they will break. Moreover, even if the terminals are not damaged before the movable connector is put into use, the durability of the movable portion may be reduced. If the durability of the movable portion is lowered, the movable portion may be damaged during the fitting connection with the connection object or after the start of use.

The present invention was conceived against the background of the prior art as described above. The purpose is to prevent the movable portion of the terminal from deteriorating or breaking prior to use for the movable connector.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention is configured to have the following features.

That is, the present invention comprises a housing and terminals held by the housing, the housing comprising a first housing and a second terminal movable within a predetermined movable range with respect to the first housing. further comprising an additional member attached to the housing, the additional member restricting relative movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing to be narrower than the movable range It is characterized by having a regulation part.

According to the present invention, since the movable connector includes the additional member having the restricting portion, movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing is restricted. Therefore, even if an external force such as vibration or impact is applied to the movable connector during transportation before use, the amplitude of the terminal can be kept small. Alternatively, vibration of the terminal can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to provide a movable connector having terminals that are less likely to be damaged by fatigue.

It should be noted that, here, "restricting to be narrower than the movable range" also includes the case where the second housing is restricted to be immovable relative to the first housing.

The restricting portion may be arranged in a gap between the first housing and the second housing.

According to the invention, since the restricting portion is arranged in the gap formed as the movable area of the second housing, the restricting portion itself directly reduces the gap, thereby allowing the second housing to move relative to the first housing. The moving range of the housing can be reliably narrowed. Furthermore, since the restricting portion is arranged in the gap, the space occupied by the restricting portion can be accommodated within the gap, and the size of the movable connector to which the additional member is attached can be reduced.

The additional member can be configured to be detachable from the movable connector.

According to the present invention, the additional member can be attached to the housing when manufacturing the movable connector. The additional member can then be removed from the movable connector after transportation. When the movable connector is mounted on the board or the like, the additional member can be removed from the movable connector. It can be made out of the way of parts.

The restricting portion can be configured to be a first engaging portion that engages with the first housing.

According to the present invention, the movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing can be restricted by the first engaging portion of the additional member. Therefore, the space occupied by the first engaging portion can be effectively utilized as the restricting portion. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the restriction portion engages with the first housing, the additional member can be attached and detached without being caught in the second housing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the second housing from being displaced in an undesired direction or being excessively displaced with respect to the first housing.

The additional member can be configured to have a first engagement portion that engages with the first housing.

According to the present invention, since the additional member has the first engaging portion, the additional member can be engaged with the first housing. Therefore, since the additional member is integrated with the first housing, the additional member itself does not vibrate due to external force and collide with surrounding movable connectors. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the additional member engages with the first housing, the additional member can be attached and detached without being caught in the second housing.

The restricting portion can be configured to be a second engaging portion that engages with the second housing.

According to the present invention, movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing can be restricted by the second engaging portion of the additional member. Therefore, the space occupied by the second engaging portion can be effectively utilized as the restricting portion. Furthermore, since the additional member engages with the second housing, it is easy to avoid increasing the size of the additional member, which contributes to miniaturization of the movable connector to which the additional member is attached.

The additional member can be configured to have a second engaging portion that engages with the second housing.

According to the present invention, since the additional member has the second engaging portion, the additional member can be engaged with the second housing. Therefore, it is easy to avoid increasing the size of the additional member, for example, by arranging the second engaging portion in the gap formed as the movable area of the second housing. It can contribute to miniaturization.

According to the movable connector of the present invention, the second housing is prevented from vibrating with respect to the first housing and the terminals are elastically deformed when subjected to external forces such as vibrations and impacts during transportation before the start of use. can be prevented. Therefore, according to the movable connector of the present invention, it is possible to prevent deterioration, damage, etc. of the terminals before the start of use.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view including the rear surface, left side surface, and bottom surface of the additional member in the movable connector according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the II-II line section of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the III-III line section of FIG. 1; FIG. 11 is an external perspective view including the back, right side, and bottom of an additional member in the movable connector according to the second embodiment; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the VV line cross-section of FIG. 4; FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the VI-VI line section of FIG. 4; FIG. 11 is an external perspective view including the front, left side, and bottom of an additional member in the movable connector according to the third embodiment; FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the VIII-VIII line cross section of FIG. 7; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the IX-IX cross section of FIG. 7; FIG. 11 is an external perspective view including the front, right side, and bottom of an additional member in the movable connector according to the fourth embodiment; FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the XI-XI line section of FIG. 10; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the XII-XII cross section of FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is an external perspective view including the front, left side, and bottom surfaces of an additional member in the movable connector according to the fifth embodiment; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the XIV-XIV cross section of FIG. 13; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the movable connector corresponding to the XV-XV cross section of FIG. 13;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the "movable connector" of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The "movable connector" of the present invention is mounted on a substrate to electrically connect a connection object such as a pin terminal to a substrate circuit. In this specification, in the first embodiment [FIGS. 1 to 3] and the second embodiment [FIGS. 4 to 6], a right-angle type connector whose mating surface is perpendicular to the mounting surface of the board when mounted is used. The "movable connector" of the present invention will be described by way of example. Further, in this specification, in the third embodiment [FIGS. 7 to 9], the fourth embodiment [FIGS. 10 to 12], and the fifth embodiment [FIGS. The "movable connector" of the present invention will be explained by exemplifying a straight type connector parallel to the mounting surface of the substrate.

The terms "first" and "second" used in the specification and claims are used to distinguish between different components of the invention, and to indicate a particular order or superiority or inferiority. It is not used for In this specification and claims, for convenience, as shown in FIG. , the height direction (vertical direction) is described as the Z direction. The substrate side in the height direction of the movable connector 1 is referred to as "lower side", and the movable connector 1 side is referred to as "upper side". However, they do not limit the fitting direction of the movable connector 1 or the like and the method of mounting on the board.

The "movable connector" is arranged so that the insertion/extraction direction of the object to be connected is the Y direction in the first and second embodiments, and is arranged in the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments. They are arranged in the Z direction.

First embodiment [Figs. 1 to 3]

A movable connector 1 as a first embodiment of the "movable connector" of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Movable connector 1

A movable connector 1 of this embodiment includes a housing 2 and terminals 3 held by the housing 2 . 2 and 3, the movable connector 1 has, as housings 2, a fixed housing 4 as a "first housing" and a movable housing 5 as a "second housing". there is The movable connector 1 is configured such that a fixed housing 4 is mounted on a substrate, and a movable housing 5 is movably supported with respect to the fixed housing 4 by terminals 3 (see FIG. 2). That is, the movable connector 1 has a floating structure in which the movable housing 5 can move in three-dimensional directions combining the X, Y and Z directions with respect to the fixed housing 4 .

Since the movable connector 1 has a floating structure, it has a function of absorbing a positional deviation when connecting objects to be connected. Furthermore, the movable connector 1 has a floating structure, which absorbs external vibrations and shocks to some extent to prevent disconnection and damage, and also prevents stress from concentrating on the mounting portions of the terminals 3 and conductive connection portions. also have

Fixed housing 4

The fixed housing 4 is formed in the shape of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped extending along the Y direction. and a pair of side wall portions 42, 42 (see FIG. 3) respectively located at the . A receiving chamber 43 for the movable housing 5 is formed on the inner surface side surrounded by the top wall portion 40 , the bottom wall portion 41 and the side wall portions 42 , 42 . The fixed housing 4 is configured so that the movable housing 5 is arranged on the front side in the Y direction (the right side in FIG. 2), and the bottom wall portion 41 is not formed in this portion. Therefore, the front end of the bottom wall portion 41 is located in the middle of the fixed housing 4 in the Y direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the inner surfaces of the side wall portions 42, 42, a pair of displacement control receiving portions 44 are missing in the shape of a prism toward both sides in the X direction so as to continue from the front end of the bottom wall portion 41. 44 are formed. As a result, a T-shaped space is formed in the fixed housing 4 with the front end of the bottom wall portion 41, the displacement control receiving portions 44, 44, and the side wall portions 42, 42 as outer edges when viewed from the bottom (FIG. 3). reference).

A plurality of terminal fixing portions 45 extending along the Y direction and arranged in parallel along the X direction (terminal arrangement direction) are formed on the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 41 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). ). Here, three terminal fixing portions 45 are formed in the fixed housing 4 corresponding to the movable connector 1 having three terminals 3 illustrated in FIGS. The terminal fixing portion 45 is formed in a groove shape for press-fitting and fixing the base end side of the terminal 3 (fixing portion 31 for a fixed housing, which will be described later).

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of fixed side leg portions 46, 46 projecting downward in the Z direction are formed at the lower portions of the front ends of the side wall portions 42, 42, respectively. The fixed-side leg portions 46, 46 are portions that are grounded with a substrate on which the fixed housing 4 is mounted. Both of the fixed leg portions 46, 46 protrude from the lower end of the bottom wall portion 41 in the Z direction with a distance d2. As a result, the fixed housing 4 is attached to the substrate with the bottom wall portion 41 floating from the substrate by the distance d2.

On the outer surfaces of the side walls 42, 42, a pair of engaging grooves 47, 47 recessed inward in the X direction at the center in the Z direction extend from the rear ends of the side walls 42, 42 along the Y direction. is formed as A pair of inclined surfaces 48 , 48 are formed on the front sides of the side walls 42 , 42 .

movable housing 5

The movable housing 5 is formed in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape along the inner surface of the fixed housing 4 . The movable housing 5 has a plurality of connection chambers 50 for electrical connection between the terminals 3 and connection objects. The connection chamber 50 penetrates the movable housing 5 in the Y direction (depth direction) and opens at the front end in the Y direction as an insertion port for an object to be connected.

A terminal fixing portion 51 extending in the Y direction is formed on the inner surface of the connection chamber 50 at the upper portion in the Z direction (see FIG. 2). The terminal fixing portion 51 is formed in a groove shape for press-fitting and fixing the distal end side of the terminal 3 (movable housing fixing portion 33 to be described later).

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of displacement control protrusions 52, 52 projecting downward in the Z direction are formed at the rear end of the movable housing 5 and on both outer sides in the X direction. The displacement restricting projections 52, 52 are positioned so as to be accommodated in the displacement restricting receiving portions 44, 44, respectively, when the movable housing 5 is incorporated into the fixed housing 4. As shown in FIG. The displacement control protrusions 52, 52 contact the displacement control receiving portions 44, 44 in the X direction and the Y direction, and contact the substrate downward in the Z direction, thereby controlling excessive displacement of the movable housing 5. have.

Excessive upward displacement of the movable housing 5 in the Z direction is restricted by the contact between the lower surface 40u of the ceiling wall portion 40 of the fixed housing 4 and the upper surface 5t of the movable housing 5 .

The movable housing 5 is configured to be movable relative to the fixed housing 4 within a predetermined movable range. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d1 upward in the Z direction between the upper surface 5t of the movable housing 5 and the lower surface 40u of the ceiling wall portion 40 of the fixed housing 4. have. On the other hand, the movable housing 5 has a downward movable range of distance d2 in the Z direction between the lower end of the displacement regulating projection 52 and the lower end of the fixed side leg portion 46 of the fixed housing 4 . Further, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d3 forward in the Y direction between the front surface 52f of the displacement control projection 52 and the front surface 44f of the displacement control receiving portion 44. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d4 toward the left in the X direction between the left surface 52l of the displacement control protrusion 52 and the left surface 44l of the displacement control receiving portion 44. have. On the other hand, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d5 rightward in the X direction between the right surface 52r of the displacement control protrusion 52 and the right surface 44r of the displacement control receiving portion 44. As shown in FIG.

Terminal 3

The plurality of terminals 3 are formed by bending a conductive metal piece, and all have the same shape. Each terminal 3 has a substrate connecting portion 30, a stationary housing fixing portion 31, a movable portion 32, a movable housing fixing portion 33, and a contact portion 34 in order from the proximal end to the distal end. . When the terminal 3 is attached to the movable connector 1, the plate width is mainly arranged in the X direction, and the plate thickness (plate surface) is arranged in the Z direction.

The terminals 3 are fixed to three locations on the substrate, the fixed housing 4 and the movable housing 5, respectively. The board connection part 30 is a part that electrically connects the terminal 3 and the board, and is electrically conductively fixed by soldering or the like so that the plate surface of the board connection part 30 contacts the board. The fixed housing fixing portion 31 has a wider plate width than the front and rear portions. The fixed housing fixing portion 31 is a portion for fixing the terminal 3 to the fixed housing 4 and is press-fitted into the groove-shaped terminal fixing portion 45 . The movable housing fixing portion 33 has a wider plate width than the front and rear portions. The movable housing fixing portion 33 is a portion for fixing the terminal 3 to the movable housing 5 and is press-fitted into the groove-shaped terminal fixing portion 45 .

The movable portion 32 has a narrower plate width than the front and rear portions, and extends in an S shape when viewed from the side. The movable part 32 is a spring that supports the movable housing 5 relative to the fixed housing 4 so as to be relatively movable in three-dimensional directions combining the X direction (width direction), Y direction (depth direction), and Z direction (height direction). is formed as The movable portion 32 extends mainly along the Y direction and is arranged so that the plate surface is mainly perpendicular to the Z direction.

The terminal 3 is branched into two upper and lower parts in the Z direction from the vicinity of the movable housing fixing part 33 to the tip, and is housed in the upper part and the lower part of the connection chamber 50, respectively. The contact portions 34 are formed in the vicinity of both the upper and lower ends of the branched terminals 3, and are formed in the shape of peaks (valleys) curving in a direction toward each other. The contact portion 34 is configured to press-contact the object to be connected inserted into the connection chamber 50 from above and below in the Z direction with a predetermined contact pressure so as to be electrically connected.

Additional member 6

The movable connector 1 further includes an additional member 6 . The additional member 6 is configured as a “cap body” that can be attached to and detached from the housing 2 . The additional member 6 has a restricting portion 60 . The regulating portion 60 has a function of regulating the relative movement of the movable housing 5 with respect to the fixed housing 4 so as to be narrower than the movable range.

Since the movable connector 1 includes the additional member 6 having the restricting portion 60, movement of the movable housing 5 with respect to the fixed housing 4 is restricted. Therefore, even if an external force such as vibration or impact is applied to the movable connector 1 during transportation before starting use, the amplitude of the terminals 3 can be suppressed to a small value, or the vibration of the terminals 3 can be prevented in the first place. . Therefore, it is possible to provide the movable connector 1 having terminals 3 that are less likely to be damaged by fatigue. Furthermore, since vibration of the terminals 3 is suppressed, the movable connector 1 can be stored for a long period of time. The additional member 6 also has the effect of preventing foreign matter from entering the interior of the movable connector 1 .

Here, "restricting the movable housing 5 to be narrower than the movable range" also includes the case where the movable housing 5 is restricted relative to the fixed housing 4 so as not to move.

As shown in FIG. 1, the additional member 6 includes a top plate 61, upper and lower longitudinal side restricting pieces 62, 62 in the Z direction, left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63 in the X direction, and a "first It has left and right engaging portions 64, 64 and left and right protecting portions 65, 65 as "engaging portions".

The top plate 61 functions as a base for the additional member 6 . The top plate 61 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape with long sides in the X direction and short sides in the Z direction, and is arranged so that the plate surface is perpendicular to the Y direction. The top plate 61 is formed such that its width (length) in the X direction is longer (wider) than the width of the fixed housing 4 . Various parts of the additional member 6 are arranged mainly on the rear plate surface of the top plate 61 in the Y direction.

The engaging portion 64 has a function of fixing the additional member 6 to the movable connector 1 . As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging portion 64 here is configured such that the additional member 6 is fixed to the fixed housing 4 . The engaging portion 64 extends rearward in the Y direction from the top plate 61 in a cantilever shape. The engaging portion 64 is formed in a flat plate shape having a plate surface along the YZ plane. Thereby, the engaging portion 64 is configured to elastically bend in the X direction at the rear end in the Y direction. That is, the engaging portion 64 is formed as an "elastic engaging piece" having an engaging protrusion (an engaging protrusion 64p described later) at the tip of an elastic arm. A pair of left and right engaging portions 64, 64 are arranged near both outer sides of the top plate 61 in the X direction corresponding to the width (length) between the side wall portions 42, 42 of the fixed housing 4. ing.

Engagement protrusions 64p, 64p protruding toward each other are provided on the inner plate surfaces in the X direction of the engagement portions 64, 64, respectively. The engaging protrusions 64p, 64p are configured to enter into the engaging grooves 47, 47 or inclined surfaces 48, 48 of the fixed housing 4, respectively, when the additional member 6 is attached to the fixed housing 4. As shown in FIG. Since the additional member 6 has such engaging portions 64 , 64 , the additional member 6 can be engaged with the stationary housing 4 . When the additional member 6 is pulled forward relative to the fixed housing 4 in the Y direction, the engaging protrusions 64p, 64p are caught on the inclined surfaces 48, 48 so that the additional member 6 does not move toward the fixed housing 4. It is configured to be difficult to come off.

However, when removing the additional member 6 after the movable connector 1 is mounted on the board, the additional member 6 can be removed by strongly pulling it forward in the Y direction relative to the fixed housing 4 . In this case, the additional member 6 can be easily removed from the movable connector 1 with fingers or the like by using the regions on both sides of the protective portions 65, 65 of the top plate 61 in the X direction as knob portions.

If the elastic modulus of the engaging portions 64, 64 is large, removal holes 66, 66 may be formed through the top plate 61 in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the removal holes 66, 66 are arranged inside the engaging portions 64, 64 in the X direction, respectively. When the elastic modulus of the engaging portions 64, 64 is small, when the additional member 6 is pulled forward in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 4, the rear ends of the engaging portions 64, 64 are deformed in the X direction. removed easily. However, if the elastic modulus of the engaging portions 64 , 64 is large, the rear ends of the engaging portions 64 , 64 are less likely to deform, making it difficult to remove the additional member 6 from the stationary housing 4 . Even in such a case, the additional member 6 can be easily removed from the fixed housing 4 by inserting a removal member such as a flat-blade screwdriver into the removal holes 66 and prying.

A pair of left and right protective portions 65, 65 are provided outside the engaging portions 64, 64 in the X direction and above and below in the Z direction, respectively. The protective parts 65, 65 are designed to prevent the engagement parts 64, 64 from being damaged or the additional member 6 attached to the fixed housing 4 to come off due to unintentional contact with the operator's fingers or the like. It has a function to prevent The protective portions 65, 65 are formed in a rectangular tubular shape around the engaging portions 64, 64, respectively, and extend rearward from the top plate 61 along the Y direction to the positions of the rear ends of the engaging portions 64, 64. are doing.

Approximately half of the inner side in the X direction and approximately half of the rear side in the Y direction are missing, and the protective portions 65, 65 are formed in an L shape in plan view. The L-shaped configuration of the protective portions 65 , 65 corresponds to the corners of the front ends of the side walls 42 , 42 of the stationary housing 4 . In this manner, the protective portions 65, 65 have the function of positioning the additional member 6 when it is attached to the fixed housing 4. As shown in FIG. Further, when the additional member 6 is attached to the fixed housing 4, it is prevented from obliquely fitting the engaging portion 64 so that a large force is applied particularly in the X direction. Therefore, the protective portions 65, 65 have the function of preventing the engaging portion 64 from being damaged when the additional member 6 is attached to the fixed housing 4. As shown in FIG.

The longitudinal side restricting piece 62 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape with long sides in the X direction and short sides in the Y direction. The upper and lower longitudinal side restricting pieces 62, 62 protrude rearward in the Y direction from near the center in the X direction of the plate surface of the top plate 61 and from the upper and lower ends in the Z direction. The short side regulating piece 63 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape with long sides in the Z direction and short sides in the Y direction. The left and right short-side restricting pieces 63, 63 protrude rearward in the Y direction from the plate surface of the top plate 61 at the left and right ends of the upper and lower long-side restricting pieces 62, 62, respectively.

The left and right short side regulating pieces 63, 63 are adjacent to the left and right protective portions 65, 65 on both outer sides in the X direction, respectively. The protruding (rear) ends of the left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63 are flush with the lateral rear end surfaces of the left and right protective portions 65, 65, which are L-shaped when viewed from the side. A series of protruding rear surfaces 63b formed in a π-shape when viewed from the rear are formed by the protruding ends of the left and right short side regulating pieces 63, 63 and the rear ends of the L-shaped missing portions of the left and right protective portions 65, 65, respectively. 63b are formed (see FIG. 1). The protruding rear surfaces 63b, 63b are configured to contact the front surfaces 42f, 42f of the side wall portions 42, 42 of the stationary housing 4 when the additional member 6 is attached to the stationary housing 4. As shown in FIG. Then, the additional member 6 is attached to the stationary housing 4 by being sandwiched between the engaging projections 64p, 64p and the projecting rear surfaces 63b, 63b so as not to rattle.

The upper and lower longitudinal side regulating pieces 62, 62 respectively have longitudinal side regulating inner surfaces 62i, 62i facing each other. Further, the left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63 respectively have short side restricting inner surfaces 63i, 63i facing each other. The top plate 61 has a regulating inner bottom surface 61i extending in a direction intersecting the longitudinal regulating inner surfaces 62i, 62i and the short regulating inner surfaces 63i, 63i.

The upper and lower long side regulating pieces 62, 62 and the left and right short side regulating pieces 63, 63 are formed in a frame shape when viewed from the rear. The movable connector 1 is positioned in relation to the fixed housing 4 by five surfaces formed in the frame-like interior, ie, longitudinal side regulating inner side surfaces 62i, 62i, short side regulating inner side surfaces 63i, 63i, and regulating inner bottom surface 61i. 5 displacement is restricted. That is, the upper and lower longitudinal side restricting pieces 62 , 62 , the left and right short side restricting pieces 63 , 63 , and the top plate 61 constitute the restricting portion 60 . The movable connector 1 is configured such that the front portion of the movable housing 5 is accommodated in the restricting portion 60 when the additional member 6 is attached. At this time, the upper surface 5t, the lower surface 5u, the side surfaces 5s, 5s, and the front surface 5f of the movable housing 5 are the longitudinal side regulation inner side surfaces 62i, 62i, the short side regulation inner side surfaces 63i, 63i, and the regulation inner bottom surface 61i, respectively. will face.

When the movable housing 5 is displaced upward in the Z direction, the upper surface 5t hits the upper longitudinal side regulation inner side surface 62i of the additional member 6 before hitting the lower surface 40u of the ceiling wall portion 40 of the fixed housing 4 . On the other hand, when the movable housing 5 is displaced downward in the Z direction, the lower surface 5u comes into contact with the lower longitudinal side regulation inner side surface 62i of the additional member 6 before the lower end of the displacement regulation projection 52 comes into contact with the substrate. Further, when the movable housing 5 is displaced forward in the Y direction, the front surface 5f of the displacement restricting projection 52 hits the inner bottom surface 61i of the additional member 6 before the front surface 52f of the displacement restricting protrusion 52 hits the front surface 44f of the displacement restricting receiving portion 44. .

Similarly, when the movable housing 5 is displaced to the left in the X direction, the side surface 5s of the additional member 6 moves toward the left short side of the additional member 6 before the left surface 52l of the displacement control protrusion 52 hits the left surface 44l of the displacement control receiving portion 44. It comes into contact with the inner side surface 63i. On the other hand, when the movable housing 5 is displaced to the right in the X direction, the side surface 5s of the displacement restricting projection 52 hits the right short side restricting portion of the additional member 6 before the right surface 52r of the displacement restricting protrusion 52 hits the right surface 44r of the displacement restricting receiving portion 44. It comes into contact with the inner side surface 63i.

In the restricting portion 60 , the upper and lower longitudinal side restricting pieces 62 , 62 are arranged in the gap (movable gap) between the fixed housing 4 and the movable housing 5 . In this way, since the restricting portion 60 is arranged in the gap formed as the movable area of the movable housing 5 , the restricting portion 60 reduces the gap, thereby ensuring the movement range of the movable housing 5 with respect to the fixed housing 4 . can be narrowed to Furthermore, since the restricting portion 60 is arranged in the gap, the space occupied by the restricting portion 60 can be accommodated within the gap, and the movable connector 1 to which the additional member 6 is attached can be miniaturized.

The long-side restricting pieces 62, 62 are configured to have extensions 62e, 62e so as to protrude twice as much as the short-side restricting pieces 63, 63, for example. That is, the lengthwise side regulation inner surfaces 62i, 62i have an area twice that of the widthwise side regulation inner surfaces 63i, 63i due to the extensions 62e, 62e, respectively. The longitudinal regulation inner side surfaces 62i, 62i are designed to receive the impact received by the additional member 6 when the movable housing 5 is displaced over a wide area, thereby preventing the movable connector 1, particularly the movable housing 5, from being damaged. is configured to

In the right-angle type movable connector 1 as in this embodiment, the movable portion 32 may be plastically deformed by the weight of the movable housing 5 and the terminals 3 during transportation. However, since the longitudinal side regulating pieces 62, 62 are configured to have extension portions 62e, 62e that extend longer rearward in the Y direction, plastic deformation of the movable portion 32 can be effectively prevented. can.

As shown in FIG. 2, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d6 upward in the Z direction between the upper surface 5t and the upper longitudinal side restricting inner surface 62i of the additional member 6. . On the other hand, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d7 downward in the Z direction between the lower surface 5u and the lower longitudinal side restricting inner surface 62i of the additional member 6. As shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the distance d6 is smaller than the distance d1 and the distance d7 is smaller than the distance d2. However, the movable connector 1 is configured such that at least the sum of the distances d6 and d7 is less than the sum of the distances d1 and d2. That is, the additional member 6 restricts the vertical relative movement of the movable housing 5 in the Z direction with respect to the fixed housing 4 to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

2, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d8 forward in the Y direction between the front surface 5f and the regulation inner bottom surface 61i of the additional member 6. As shown in FIG. The movable connector 1 is configured such that the distance d8 is smaller than the distance d3. That is, the additional member 6 restricts the forward relative movement in the Y direction of the movable housing 5 with respect to the fixed housing 4 so as to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d9 toward the left in the X direction between the side surface 5s and the left short-side regulation inner surface 63i of the additional member 6. have. On the other hand, the movable housing 5 has a movable range of a distance d10 toward the right in the X direction between the side surface 5s and the right short side restricting inner surface 63i of the additional member 6 . FIG. 3 shows an example in which the distance d9 is smaller than the distance d4 and the distance d10 is smaller than the distance d5. However, the movable connector 1 is configured such that at least the sum of the distances d9 and d10 is less than the sum of the distances d4 and d5. In other words, the additional member 6 restricts the horizontal movement of the movable housing 5 relative to the fixed housing 4 in the X direction so that it becomes narrower than a predetermined movable range.

The additional member 6 here is formed separately from the fixed housing 4 and the movable housing 5 of the movable connector 1 . In other words, the additional member 6 is configured to be removable from the movable connector 1 . As a result, the additional member 6 can be attached to the housing 2, here the fixed housing 4, when the movable connector 1 is manufactured, and the additional member 6 can be removed from the movable connector 1 after transportation. The additional member 6 can be removed from the movable connector 1 in a state where the movable connector 1 is mounted on a substrate or the like. Therefore, the space occupied around the movable connector 1 on the board can be kept small, and it is possible to prevent it from interfering with other electronic components mounted on the board.

On the other hand, the additional member 6 may be attached to the fixed housing 4 or the movable housing 5 of the movable connector 1 by means of a hinge or the like, and may not be removable. This saves the trouble of disposing of the removed additional member 6. - 特許庁

When the additional member 6 is detached from the movable connector 1, it is preferable to disconnect it from the movable housing 5 first and then detach it from the fixed housing 4. As shown in FIG. As a result, when the additional member 6 is detached from the movable connector 1, the movable housing 5 is caught and a force is applied, and the movable portion 32 of the terminal 3 is deformed in an undesired direction or excessively deformed. is prevented.

In this embodiment, in the structure in which the additional member 6 is fixed to the fixed housing 4, the engaging portions 64, 64 as the "first engaging portion" are placed in the gap between the fixed housing 4 and the movable housing 5. An example that is not arranged is shown. However, the engaging portions 64, 64 can also be arranged in the gap (movable gap) between the fixed housing 4 and the movable housing 5. FIG. This can be realized, for example, by forming structures corresponding to the engaging grooves 47 and the inclined surfaces 48 and 48 of the fixed housing 4 on the inner surface side of the fixed housing 4 .

That is, the restricting portion 60 is configured by a “first engaging portion” that engages with the fixed housing 4 . According to this configuration, the movement of the movable housing 5 with respect to the fixed housing 4 can be restricted by the “first engaging portion” of the additional member 6 . Therefore, the space occupied by the “first engaging portion” can be effectively utilized as the restricting portion 60 . Furthermore, according to this configuration, since the restricting portion 60 engages with the fixed housing 4 , the additional member 6 can be attached and detached without being caught by the movable housing 5 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the movable housing 5 from being displaced in an undesired direction with respect to the fixed housing 4 or from being displaced excessively.

Second embodiment [Figs. 4 to 6]

Hereinafter, a movable connector 101 as a second embodiment of the "movable connector" of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, mainly with respect to the portions different in configuration from the movable connector 1 described above. That is, unless otherwise specified, the movable connector 101 can achieve the same effects as the movable connector 1 described above.

Movable connector 101

A movable connector 101 of this embodiment includes a housing 102 and terminals 3 held by the housing 102 . 5 and 6, the movable connector 101 has, as housings 102, a fixed housing 104 as a "first housing" and a movable housing 105 as a "second housing". there is The terminals 3 are the same for the movable connector 1 and the movable connector 101 .

Fixed housing 104

The fixed housing 104 has a pair of side wall portions 142, 142 located on the left and right in the X direction, respectively, as shown in FIG. Further, the outer surfaces of the side walls 142, 142 are different from the side walls 42, 42 of the first embodiment in that the engaging grooves 47, 47 and the inclined surfaces 48, 48 are not formed. The stationary housing 104 is otherwise configured similarly to the stationary housing 4 .

movable housing 105

The movable housing 105, as shown in FIG. 5, has an upper surface 105t and a lower surface 105u. On the upper surface 105t and the lower surface 105u, a pair of engagement grooves 157, 157 recessed inward in the Z direction at the center in the X direction extend from the rear ends of the upper surface 105t and the lower surface 105u along the Y direction. formed. A pair of inclined surfaces 158, 158 that are inclined from the upper surface 105t and the lower surface 105u toward the engagement grooves 157, 157, respectively, are formed on the front side of the upper surface 105t and the lower surface 105u. Thus, the upper surface 105t and the lower surface 105u are different from the upper surface 5t and the lower surface 5u of the first embodiment in that the engaging grooves 157, 157 and the inclined surfaces 158, 158 are formed respectively. The movable housing 105 is configured similarly to the movable housing 5 except for this.

The movable housing 105 is configured to be movable relative to the fixed housing 104 within a predetermined movable range. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the movable housing 105 is movable leftward in the X direction by a distance d11 between the side surface 105s of the movable housing 105 and the inner side surface 142i of the side wall portion 142 of the fixed housing 104. have a range. On the other hand, the movable housing 105 has a movable range of a distance d12 toward the right in the X direction between the side surface 105s and the inner side surface 142i of the side wall portion 142 .

Additional member 106

Movable connector 101 further includes additional member 106 . The additional member 106 is also configured as a “cap body” that can be attached to and detached from the housing 102 . The additional member 106 has a restricting portion 160 . Like the restricting portion 60, the restricting portion 160 also has a function of restricting the relative movement of the movable housing 105 with respect to the fixed housing 104 so that it is narrower than the movable range.

As shown in FIG. 4, the additional member 106 includes a top plate 61, upper and lower long-side restricting pieces 162, 162 in the Z direction, left and right short-side restricting pieces 63, 63 in the X direction, and a "second It has upper and lower engaging portions 164, 164 as "engaging portions". The additional member 106 does not have a structure corresponding to the left and right protective portions 65 , 65 .

The top plate 61 is formed so that its width (length) in the X direction is shorter (narrower) than the width of the fixed housing 104 . The top plate 61 of the movable connector 101 should be at least wider than the movable housing 105 and does not depend on the width of the fixed housing 104 . Therefore, in the second embodiment, the amount of material used for the top plate 61 can be reduced, and costs can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the engaging portion 164 in the second embodiment is configured such that the additional member 106 is fixed to the movable housing 105 . The engaging portion 164 extends rearward in the Y direction from the top plate 61 in a cantilever shape. The engaging portion 164 is formed in a flat plate shape having a plate surface along the XY plane. Thereby, the engaging portion 164 is configured to elastically bend in the Z direction at the rear end in the Y direction. That is, the engaging portion 164 is formed as an "elastic engaging piece" having an engaging protrusion (an engaging protrusion 164p described later) at the tip of an elastic arm. A pair of upper and lower engaging portions 164, 164 are arranged near the center in the X direction so as to correspond to the height from the upper surface 105t to the lower surface 105u of the movable housing 105 on the upper and lower sides of the top plate 61 in the Z direction. located near each side.

Engagement projections 164p, 164p projecting toward each other are provided on the inner plate surfaces in the Z direction of the engagement portions 164, 164, respectively. The engaging protrusions 164p, 164p are configured to enter into the engaging grooves 157, 157 to the inclined surfaces 158, 158 of the movable housing 105 when the additional member 106 is attached to the movable housing 105, respectively. Since the additional member 106 has such engaging portions 164 , 164 , the additional member 106 can be engaged with the movable housing 105 . When the additional member 106 is pulled forward in the Y direction relative to the movable housing 105, the engaging protrusions 164p and 164p are caught on the inclined surfaces 158 and 158, and the additional member 106 is pulled toward the movable housing 105. It is configured to be difficult to come off.

However, when the additional member 106 is removed after the movable connector 101 is mounted on the substrate, the additional member 106 can be removed by being strongly pulled forward in the Y direction relative to the movable housing 105. .

The additional member 106 may also have removal holes 166 , 166 penetrating the top plate 61 in the Y direction. The removal holes 166, 166 are arranged inside the engaging portions 164, 164 in the Z direction, respectively, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal side restricting piece 162 is formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate having long sides in the X direction and short sides in the Y direction, similarly to the longitudinal side restricting piece 62 . The upper and lower longitudinal side restricting pieces 162, 162 protrude rearward in the Y direction from near the center in the X direction of the surface of the top plate 61 and from the upper and lower ends in the Z direction. The upper and lower long side regulating pieces 162, 162 and the left and right short side regulating pieces 63, 63 are formed in a frame shape when viewed from the rear. Similarly to the long side regulating piece 62, the long side regulating piece 162 has an extension portion 62e that protrudes rearward in the Y direction from the left and right short side regulating pieces 63, 63. As shown in FIG.

The upper and lower longitudinal side restricting pieces 162, 162 have groove-shaped engagement relief portions 162c, 162c missing toward the lower side and the upper side in the Z direction on the opposing surface side near the center in the X direction. . The engaging portions 164, 164 described above are arranged corresponding to the engaging escape portions 162c, 162c, respectively. As a result, the engaging portions 164, 164 are positioned inside the frame shape formed by the upper and lower long side restricting pieces 162, 162 and the left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63. As shown in FIG.

The engagement escape portion 162c has the same function as the protection portion 65 of the first embodiment.

In this way, when the additional member 106 is attached to the movable connector 101, the front portion of the movable housing 105 is accommodated in the frame-shaped inner peripheral side formed by the upper and lower long side restricting pieces 162, 162 and the left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63. configured to be At this time, the engaging protrusions 164p, 164p of the additional member 106 are engaged with the engaging grooves 157, 157 through the inclined surfaces 158, 158 of the movable housing 105, respectively. Therefore, the additional member 106 is configured to be integrated with the movable housing 105 by being attached to the movable connector 101 . At that time, the upper and lower long side restricting pieces 162 and 162 and the left and right short side restricting pieces 63 and 63 are arranged in the gap (movable gap) between the fixed housing 104 and the movable housing 105 .

Furthermore, in the movable connector 101, as shown in FIG. 5, the engaging portions 164, 164 are also arranged in the gap (movable gap) between the fixed housing 104 and the movable housing 105. As shown in FIG. Since the engaging portions 164, 164 are arranged in the gap formed as the movable area of the movable housing 105, the engaging portions 164, 164 themselves directly reduce the gap. As a result, the range of relative movement of the movable housing 105 with respect to the fixed housing 104 can be reliably narrowed. Furthermore, since the engaging portions 164, 164 are arranged in the gap, the space occupied by the engaging portions 164, 164 can be accommodated within the gap, and the movable connector 101 to which the additional member 106 is mounted can be made smaller. .

Long side regulation outer surfaces 162o, 162o and short side regulation outer surfaces 63o, 63o are formed on the outer peripheral side of the frame formed by the long side regulation pieces 162, 162 and the left and right short side regulation pieces 63, 63, respectively. formed. The movable connector 101 is configured such that the displacement of the movable housing 105 with respect to the fixed housing 104 is restricted by four surfaces, ie, the longitudinal side restricting outer surfaces 162o, 162o and the short side restricting outer surfaces 63o, 63o. Further, the upper long side restricting outer surface 162o and the left and right short side restricting outer surfaces 63o, 63o of the integrated additional member 106 correspond to the lower surface 40u of the top wall portion 40 and the left and right side wall portions 142 of the fixed housing 104, respectively. It will face the inner side surfaces 142i, 142i. Furthermore, the longitudinal side restricting outer surface 162o on the lower side of the additional member 106 faces the substrate.

When the integrated movable housing 105 is displaced upward in the Z direction, as shown in FIG. The side regulation outer surface 162o comes to hit. Similarly, when the movable housing 105 is displaced leftward in the X direction as shown in FIG. 63o will hit. On the other hand, when the movable housing 105 is displaced to the right in the X direction, the right short side restricting outer surface 63o hits the right inner side surface 142i before the right side surface 105s hits.

As shown in FIG. 5, the movable housing 105 has a movable range of a distance d13 upward in the Z direction between the upper longitudinal side regulation outer surface 162o of the additional member 106 and the lower surface 40u of the fixed housing 104. have. This distance d13 is smaller than the distance d1, which is the upward movable range in the Z direction when the movable connector 101 does not have the additional member 106 attached. On the other hand, the movable housing 105 has a downward movable range of distance d2 in the Z direction between the lower end of the displacement regulating projection 52 and the lower end of the fixed side leg portion 46 of the fixed housing 104 . This is constant regardless of the presence or absence of the additional member 106 . Therefore, the additional member 106 restricts the vertical relative movement of the movable housing 105 in the Z direction with respect to the fixed housing 104 to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Here, if the movable housing 105 does not have the displacement restricting protrusion 52 as shown in FIG. , has a movable range of distance d14 downward in the Z direction. On the other hand, the longitudinal side restricting piece 162 on the lower side of the additional member 106 may be configured to extend below the bottom wall portion 41 of the fixed housing 104 . By configuring the movable connector 101 in this way, it is possible to narrow the downward movable range in the Z direction of the movable housing 105 relative to the fixed housing 104 .

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, the movable housing 105 is provided between the left short side restricting outer surface 63o of the additional member 106 and the inner surface 142i of the left side wall portion 142 of the fixed housing 104, in the X direction. , has a movable range of distance d15 toward the left. On the other hand, the movable housing 105 is positioned rightward in the X direction by a distance between the right short side restricting outer surface 63o of the additional member 106 and the inner surface 142i of the right side wall portion 142 of the fixed housing 104. It has a movable range of d16. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the distance d15 is smaller than the distance d11 and the distance d16 is smaller than the distance d12.

However, the movable connector 101 is configured such that at least the sum of the distances d15 and d16 is less than the sum of the distances d11 and d12. In other words, the additional member 106 restricts the lateral movement of the movable housing 105 relative to the fixed housing 104 in the X direction so as to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Incidentally, when the movable housing 105 is displaced rearward in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 104 , the additional member 106 does not have to come into contact with the fixed housing 104 . However, the surface of the additional member 106 that contacts the fixed housing 104 (corresponding to the protruding rear surface 63b of the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 3)) can be configured to extend further rearward in the Y direction (FIG. 11). shorten the length corresponding to the distance d20 of . By doing so, when the movable housing 105 is displaced rearward in the Y direction, the additional member 106 comes into contact with the fixed housing 104 before the displacement control projection 52 contacts the displacement control receiving portion 44 . That is, the additional member 106 restricts the rearward movement of the movable housing 105 relative to the fixed housing 104 in the Y direction so that the movable range is narrower than the predetermined movable range.

Third embodiment [Figs. 7 to 9]

Hereinafter, a movable connector 201 as a third embodiment of the "movable connector" of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, mainly with respect to the portions different in configuration from the above-described movable connector 1 and the like. That is, unless otherwise specified, the movable connector 201 can achieve the same effects as the above-described movable connector 1 and the like.

Movable connector 201

A movable connector 201 of this embodiment includes a housing 202 and terminals 203 held by the housing 202 . 8 and 9, the movable connector 201 has, as housings 202, a fixed housing 204 as a "first housing" and a movable housing 205 as a "second housing". there is

Fixed housing 204

The fixed housing 204 has a front wall portion 240 and a rear wall portion 241 (see FIG. 8) respectively positioned front and rear in the Y direction, and a pair of side wall portions 242 and 242 (see FIG. 9) respectively positioned left and right in the X direction. have. Since the movable connector 201 is of the straight type, the fixed housing 204 is oriented differently from the fixed housing 4, but both structures are similar, and the front wall portion 240 and the rear wall portion 241 are located at the top of the fixed housing 4. It corresponds to the wall portion 40 and the bottom wall portion 41 .

The rear wall portion 241 differs from the bottom wall portion 41 in that there are no missing portions in the Z direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, on the inner surfaces of the side walls 242, 242, except for the front ends of the side walls 242, 242, a pair of displacement restraints are provided downward in the Z direction in the form of prisms. Receiving portions 244, 244 are formed. The displacement restriction receiving portion 244 extends in a direction different from that of the displacement restriction receiving portion 44 of the fixed housing 4 . The pair of fixed leg portions 246 , 246 differs from the fixed leg portions 46 , 46 in that they protrude downward in the Z direction along the Z direction in which the front wall portion 240 extends. Except for the above points, the stationary housing 204 is constructed in the same manner as the stationary housing 4 .

movable housing 205

Like the fixed housing 204, the movable housing 205 is oriented differently from the movable housing 5, but both have similar structures. The movable housing 205 differs from the movable housing 5 in that it has displacement regulating projections 252 , 252 instead of the displacement regulating projections 52 , 52 . As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pair of displacement restricting projections 252, 252 protrude downward in the Z direction from the rear end of the movable housing 205 and both outsides in the X direction. The displacement control projection 252 has a function of controlling excessive displacement of the movable housing 205 by contacting the displacement control receiving portions 244, 244 in the X direction and the Y direction and contacting the substrate downward in the Z direction. ing.

As shown in FIG. 8, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d17 forward in the Y direction between the front surface 252f of the displacement control projection 252 and the front surface 244f of the displacement control receiving portion 244. there is On the other hand, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d18 rearward in the Y direction between the rear surface 252b of the displacement control protrusion 252 and the rear surface 244b of the displacement control receiving portion 244. As shown in FIG. Further, the movable housing 205 has a downward movable range of distance d2 in the Z direction between the lower end of the displacement regulating projection 252 and the lower end of the fixed side leg portion 246 of the fixed housing 204 . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d3 upward in the Z direction between the upper surface 252t of the displacement control protrusion 252 and the upper surface 244t of the displacement control receiving portion 244. have.

As shown in FIG. 9, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d4 toward the left in the X direction between the left surface 252l of the displacement control protrusion 252 and the left surface 244l of the displacement control receiving portion 244. have. On the other hand, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d5 rightward in the X direction between the right surface 252r of the displacement control projection 252 and the right surface 244r of the displacement control receiving portion 244. As shown in FIG.

terminal 203

The terminal 203 is configured in the same manner as the terminal 3 except that the orientation of the board connecting portion 230 is different from that of the board connecting portion 30 .

Additional member 206

Movable connector 201 further includes additional member 206 . The additional member 206 is also configured as a “cap body” that can be attached to and detached from the housing 202 . The additional member 206 has a restriction portion 260 . Like the restricting portion 60, the restricting portion 260 also has the function of restricting the relative movement of the movable housing 205 with respect to the fixed housing 204 so that it is narrower than the movable range.

As shown in FIG. 7, the additional member 206 includes a top plate 61, front and rear longitudinal side restricting pieces 262, 262 in the Y direction, left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63 in the X direction, and a "first It has left and right engaging portions 64, 64 and left and right protecting portions 265, 265 as "engaging portions".

The long-side regulation pieces 262, 262 do not have extensions 62e, 62e, and project downward in the Z direction so that the projecting ends are flush with the short-side regulation pieces 63, 63. is different from the longitudinal side regulating pieces 62, 62. As described above, in the straight-type movable connector 201 in which the movable portion 32 is less likely to be plastically deformed by the weight of the movable housing 205 and the terminals 203, the longitudinal side restricting pieces 262, 262 are configured without the extended portions 62e, 62e. You can also

As shown in FIG. 8, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d6 toward the front in the Y direction between the front surface 205f and the front longitudinal side restricting inner surface 262i of the additional member 206. . On the other hand, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d7 rearward in the Y direction between the rear surface 205b and the rear longitudinal side restricting inner surface 262i of the additional member 206. As shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the distance d6 is smaller than the distance d17 and the distance d7 is smaller than the distance d18. However, the movable connector 201 is configured such that at least the sum of the distances d6 and d7 is less than the sum of the distances d17 and d18. That is, the additional member 206 restricts the relative movement of the movable housing 205 in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 204 in the front-rear direction to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d8 upward in the Z direction between the upper surface 205t and the regulation inner bottom surface 61i of the additional member 206. there is The movable connector 201 is configured such that the distance d8 is smaller than the distance d3, as shown in FIG. That is, the additional member 206 restricts the upward relative movement in the Z direction of the movable housing 205 with respect to the fixed housing 204 to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

On the other hand, the movable range of the distance d2 between the lower end of the displacement restricting projection 252 and the lower end of the fixed side leg portion 246 of the fixed housing 204, that is, the downward direction in the Z direction, has nothing to do with the presence or absence of the additional member 206. is constant without Therefore, the additional member 206 restricts the vertical relative movement of the movable housing 205 in the Z direction with respect to the fixed housing 204 to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d9 toward the left in the X direction between the side surface 205s and the left short side regulation inner surface 63i of the additional member 206. have. On the other hand, the movable housing 205 has a movable range of a distance d10 toward the right in the X direction between the side surface 205s and the right short-side regulation inner surface 63i of the additional member 206 . FIG. 9 shows an example in which the distance d9 is smaller than the distance d4 and the distance d10 is smaller than the distance d5. However, the movable connector 201 is configured such that at least the sum of the distances d9 and d10 is less than the sum of the distances d4 and d5. In other words, the additional member 206 restricts the lateral movement of the movable housing 205 relative to the fixed housing 204 in the X direction so as to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

In the additional member 206 , the front and rear longitudinal side regulating pieces 262 , 262 and the left and right short side regulating pieces 63 , 63 constituting the regulating portion 260 are not arranged in the gap between the fixed housing 204 and the movable housing 205 . However, in the movable connector 201 as well, the additional member 206 restricts the relative movement of the movable housing 205 with respect to the fixed housing 204 to be narrower than the predetermined movable range. Therefore, the movable connector 201 can be configured so that the restricting portion 260 is not arranged in the gap (movable gap) between the fixed housing 204 and the movable housing 205 .

In the case of a configuration in which the restricting portion 260 does not enter the gap between the fixed housing 204 and the movable housing 205, when attaching the additional member 206 to the movable connector 201, it is difficult to position the additional member 206 particularly in the front and rear directions in the Y direction. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, the left and right protective portions 265, 265 may be formed with protruding rear surfaces 265b, 265b that protrude downward in the Z direction from the short side restricting pieces 63, 63. As shown in FIG. Correspondingly, the fixed housing 204 may be formed with a recess for positioning.

Fourth Embodiment [Figs. 10 to 12]

Hereinafter, a movable connector 301 as a fourth embodiment of the "movable connector" of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, mainly with respect to the parts different in configuration from the above-described movable connector 1 and the like. That is, unless otherwise specified, the movable connector 301 can achieve the same effects as the above-described movable connector 1 and the like.

Movable connector 301

A movable connector 301 of this embodiment includes a housing 302 and terminals 203 held by the housing 302 . 11 and 12, the movable connector 301 has, as housings 302, a fixed housing 304 as a "first housing" and a movable housing 305 as a "second housing". there is

Fixed housing 304

As shown in FIG. 12, the fixed housing 304 has a pair of side wall portions 342, 342 positioned on the left and right sides in the X direction. Further, the outer surfaces of the side walls 342, 342 are different from the side walls 242, 242 of the third embodiment in that the engaging grooves 47, 47 and the inclined surfaces 48, 48 are not formed. Stationary housing 304 is otherwise configured similarly to stationary housing 204 .

movable housing 305

A pair of engagement grooves 357, 357 recessed inward in the Y direction at the center in the X direction extend in the Z direction from the lower ends of the front surface 305f and the rear surface 305b on the front surface 305f and the rear surface 305b of the movable housing 305. is formed to A pair of inclined surfaces 358, 358 inclined from the front surface 305f and the rear surface 305b toward the engagement grooves 357, 357 are formed on the upper side of the front surface 305f and the rear surface 305b. Movable housing 305 is otherwise configured in the same manner as movable housing 205 .

As shown in FIG. 11, the movable housing 305 has a movable range of a distance d19 rearward in the Y direction between the inner surface 241i and the rear surface 305b.

Additional member 306

Movable connector 301 further comprises additional member 306 . The additional member 306 is also configured as a “cap body” that can be attached to and detached from the housing 302 . The additional member 306 has a restriction portion 360 . Like the restricting portion 60, the restricting portion 360 also has the function of restricting the relative movement of the movable housing 305 with respect to the fixed housing 304 to be narrower than the movable range.

As shown in FIG. 10, the additional member 306 includes a top plate 61, front and rear longitudinal side restricting pieces 362, 362 in the Y direction, left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63 in the X direction, and a "second It has front and rear engaging portions 164, 164 as "engaging portions". The additional member 306 does not have a configuration corresponding to the extensions 62e, 62e and the engagement relief portions 162c, 162c. From the opposite point of view, the left and right short side regulating pieces 63, 63 have structures corresponding to the extension portions 62e, 62e, respectively. End faces 63d, 63d, 63d, 63d are formed at the front and rear ends in the Y direction of the configuration corresponding to the extensions 62e, 62e. Longitudinal side restricting pieces 362, 362 are formed with projecting lower surfaces 362u flush with short side restricting pieces 63, 63 at their lower ends in the Z direction. The additional member 306 is otherwise configured in the same manner as the additional member 106 .

As shown in FIG. 11, the movable housing 305 extends forward in the Y direction between the front end surfaces 63d, 63d of the additional member 306 in the Y direction and the inner surface 240i of the front wall portion 240 of the fixed housing 304. has a movable range of distance d13. On the other hand, between the rear end surfaces 63d, 63d in the Y direction and the inner surface 241i of the rear wall portion 241 of the fixed housing 304, there is a movable range of distance d14 rearward in the Y direction.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which the distance d13 is smaller than the distance d17 and the distance d14 is smaller than the distance d19. However, the movable connector 301 is configured such that at least the sum of the distances d13 and d14 is less than the sum of the distances d17 and d19. That is, the additional member 306 restricts the relative movement of the movable housing 305 in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 304 in the front-rear direction to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the movable housing 305 is provided between the projecting lower surface 362u of the additional member 306 and the top surfaces 240t and 241t of the front wall portion 240 and the rear wall portion 241 of the fixed housing 304 in the Z direction. It has a downward movable range of distance d20. Movable connector 301 is configured such that distance d20 is smaller than distance d2. That is, the additional member 306 restricts the downward relative movement of the movable housing 305 in the Z direction with respect to the fixed housing 304 to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 12, the movable housing 305 is positioned leftward in the X direction between the left short side restricting outer surface 63o and the inner surface 342i of the left side wall portion 342 of the fixed housing 304. It has a movable range of distance d15. On the other hand, the movable housing 305 has a movable range of distance d16 toward the right in the X direction between the right short side regulation outer surface 63o and the inner surface 342i of the right side wall portion 342. there is

FIG. 12 shows an example in which the distance d15 is smaller than the distance d11 and the distance d16 is smaller than the distance d12. However, the movable connector 301 is configured such that at least the sum of the distances d15 and d16 is less than the sum of the distances d11 and d12. In other words, the additional member 306 restricts the lateral movement of the movable housing 305 relative to the fixed housing 304 in the X direction so as to be narrower than a predetermined movable range.

Fifth Embodiment [Figs. 13 to 15]

Hereinafter, a movable connector 401 as a fifth embodiment of the "movable connector" of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, mainly with respect to the portions different in configuration from the above-described movable connector 1 and the like. That is, unless otherwise specified, the movable connector 401 can achieve the same effects as the above-described movable connector 1 and the like.

Movable connector 401

A movable connector 401 of this embodiment includes a housing 402 and terminals 203 held by the housing 402 . 14 and 15, the movable connector 401 has, as housings 402, a fixed housing 404 as a "first housing" and a movable housing 305 as a "second housing". there is

Fixed housing 404

As shown in FIG. 15, the fixed housing 404 has a pair of side wall portions 442, 442 positioned on the left and right sides in the X direction. 15, on the inner surfaces of the side wall portions 442, 442, except for the front ends of the side wall portions 442, 442, a pair of displacement control receiving portions 444 are missing in the form of prisms downward in the Z direction. , 444 are formed. Stationary housing 404 is otherwise configured similarly to stationary housing 204 .

Additional member 406

Movable connector 401 further comprises additional member 406 . The additional member 406 is also configured as a “cap body” that can be attached to and detached from the housing 402 . The additional member 406 has a restriction portion 460 . Like the restricting portion 60 , the restricting portion 460 also has the function of restricting the relative movement of the movable housing 305 with respect to the fixed housing 404 to be narrower than the movable range. In particular, the regulating portion 460 has a function of regulating the movable housing 305 relative to the fixed housing 404 so that it cannot move relative to the fixed housing 404 .

As shown in FIG. 13, the additional member 406 includes a top plate 61, front and rear longitudinal side restricting pieces 262, 262 in the Y direction, left and right short side restricting pieces 63, 63 in the X direction, and a "first It has left and right engaging portions 64, 64 and left and right protecting portions 265, 265 as "engaging portions". Further, the additional member 406 has upper and lower engaging portions 164, 164 as a "second engaging portion" and engagement relief portions 162c, 162c. The additional member 406 is otherwise configured in the same manner as the additional member 206 .

The restricting portion 460 of the movable connector 401 includes left and right engaging portions 64 , 64 as “first engaging portions” that engage with the fixed housing 404 and “second engaging portions” that engage with the movable housing 305 . are both the upper and lower engaging portions 164, 164 as . Since the restricting portion 460 of the additional member 406 is engaged with both the fixed housing 404 and the movable housing 305 , the movable housing 305 does not move with respect to the fixed housing 404 . That is, the additional member 406 restricts the movable housing 305 relative to the fixed housing 404 so as not to move. Therefore, the movable connector 401 completely prevents the movable housing 305 from vibrating with respect to the fixed housing 404 and elastically deforms the terminals 203 even if external forces such as vibrations and impacts are received during transportation before use. can definitely be prevented. Therefore, according to the movable connector 401, deterioration, damage, etc. of the terminals 203 before the start of use can be prevented to the utmost. In addition, the spaces occupied by the left and right engaging portions 64 , 64 and the upper and lower engaging portions 164 , 164 can be effectively utilized as the restricting portion 460 .

In this embodiment, an example in which the engaging portions 64, 64 as the “first engaging portion” engage with the outer surface of the fixed housing 404 is shown. However, the engaging portions 64, 64 can also be arranged in the gap (movable gap) between the fixed housing 404 and the movable housing 305. FIG. This can be achieved, for example, by forming structures corresponding to the engagement grooves 47 and 47 and the inclined surfaces 48 and 48 of the fixed housing 404 on the inner surface side of the fixed housing 404 .

Modified example of the embodiment

Since the movable connector 1 and the like as described above can be modified, an example thereof will be described.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the engaging portions 64, 64 are formed in the additional member 6 is shown. However, structures corresponding to the engaging portions 64, 64 can also be formed in the fixed housing 4 or the like or the movable housing 5 or the like.

In the above embodiment, the additional member 6 is fixed to the movable connector 1 by the engaging protrusions 64p, 64p of the engaging portions 64, 64 entering (catching) from the engaging grooves 47, 47 to the inclined surfaces 48, 48. I gave an example. However, the method of fixing the additional member 6 to the movable connector 1 may be another method using a material with a large elastic limit, an elastic force due to a spring, or a frictional force due to a non-slip material or structure. For example, the additional member 6 can be fixed by sucking it onto the movable connector 1 .

1 Movable connector (first embodiment)
2 housing 3 terminal 4 fixed housing 5 movable housing 5 f front surface 5 s side surface 5 t upper surface 5 u lower surface 6 additional member 30 board connecting portion 31 fixed portion for fixed housing 32 movable portion 33 fixed portion for movable housing 34 contact portion 40 ceiling wall portion 40 u lower surface 41 Bottom wall portion 42 Side wall portion 42f Front surface 43 Storage chamber 44 Displacement control receiving portion 44f Front surface 44l Left surface 44r Right surface 45 Terminal fixing portion 46 Fixed side leg portion 47 Engagement groove 48 Inclined surface 50 Connection chamber 51 Terminal fixing portion 52 Displacement control projection 52f Front surface 52l Left surface 52r Right surface 60 Regulating portion 61 Top plate 61i Regulating inner bottom surface 62 Long side regulating piece 62e Extension 62i Long side regulating inner surface 63 Short side regulating piece 63b Protruding rear surface 63d End surface 63i Short side regulating inner surface 63o Short side Side restriction outer surface 64 Engagement portion 64p Engagement protrusion 65 Protection portion 66 Removal hole 101 Movable connector (second embodiment)
102 housing 104 fixed housing 105 movable housing 105s side surface 105t upper surface 105u lower surface 106 additional member 142 side wall portion 142i inner surface 157 engaging groove 158 inclined surface 160 restricting portion 162 longitudinal side restricting piece 162c engaging relief portion 162o longitudinal lateral restricting outer surface 164 Engagement portion 164p Engagement protrusion 166 Removal hole 201 Movable connector (third embodiment)
202 housing 203 terminal 204 fixed housing 205 movable housing 205b rear surface 205f front surface 205s side surface 205t upper surface 206 additional member 230 substrate connecting portion 240 front wall portion 240i inner surface 240t top surface 241 rear wall portion 241i inner surface 241t top surface 242 side wall portion 244 displacement Restriction receiving portion 244b Rear surface 244f Front surface 244l Left surface 244r Right surface 244t Top surface 246 Fixed side leg portion 252 Displacement restriction projection 252b Rear surface 252f Front surface 252l Left surface 252r Right surface 252t Top surface 260 Regulation portion 262 Long side regulation piece 262i Long side regulation inner side surface 265 Protective portion 265b Protruding rear surface 301 Movable connector (fourth embodiment)
302 Housing 304 Fixed housing 305 Movable housing 305b Rear surface 305f Front surface 306 Additional member 342 Side wall portion 342i Inner surface 357 Engagement groove 358 Inclined surface 360 Regulating portion 362 Long side regulating piece 362u Protruding lower surface 401 Movable connector (fifth embodiment)
402 Housing 404 Fixed housing 406 Additional member 442 Side wall portion 444 Displacement control receiving portion 460 Control portion d1 to d20 Distance X Width direction, left-right direction Y Depth direction, front-back direction Z Height direction, up-down direction

Claims (7)

a housing;
a terminal held in the housing,
The housing is
a first housing;
A movable connector having a second housing movable within a predetermined movable range with respect to the first housing,
Further comprising an additional member attached to the housing,
the additional member has a restricting portion that restricts relative movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing to be narrower than the movable range;
A connection operation between the connection object and the terminal is performed in a state in which the additional member is removed from the housing,
The movable connector, wherein the additional member is a cap body. a housing;
a terminal held in the housing,
The housing is
a first housing;
A movable connector having a second housing movable within a predetermined movable range with respect to the first housing,
Further comprising an additional member attached to the housing,
the additional member has a restricting portion that restricts relative movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing to be narrower than the movable range;
A connection operation between the connection object and the terminal is performed in a state in which the additional member is removed from the housing,
The movable connector, wherein the restricting portion is a first engaging portion that engages with the first housing. a housing;
a terminal held in the housing,
The housing is
a first housing;
A movable connector having a second housing movable within a predetermined movable range with respect to the first housing,
Further comprising an additional member attached to the housing,
the additional member has a restricting portion that restricts relative movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing to be narrower than the movable range;
A connection operation between the connection object and the terminal is performed in a state in which the additional member is removed from the housing,
The additional member is a movable connector having a first engaging portion that engages with the first housing. a housing;
a terminal held in the housing,
The housing is
a first housing;
A movable connector having a second housing movable within a predetermined movable range with respect to the first housing,
Further comprising an additional member attached to the housing,
the additional member has a restricting portion that restricts relative movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing to be narrower than the movable range;
A connection operation between the connection object and the terminal is performed in a state in which the additional member is removed from the housing,
The movable connector, wherein the restricting portion is a second engaging portion that engages with the second housing. a housing;
a terminal held in the housing,
The housing is
a first housing;
A movable connector having a second housing movable within a predetermined movable range with respect to the first housing,
Further comprising an additional member attached to the housing,
the additional member has a restricting portion that restricts relative movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing to be narrower than the movable range;
A connection operation between the connection object and the terminal is performed in a state in which the additional member is removed from the housing,
The additional member is a movable connector having a second engaging portion that engages with the second housing. The restricting portion restricts relative movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing in a direction intersecting the direction of the connection work to be narrower than the movable range during transportation before use of the movable connector is started. 6. The movable connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the movable connector is regulated so that The movable connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the restricting portion is arranged in a gap between the first housing and the second housing.

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