Movable connector

Occurrence of contact point slide due to vibration is suppressed in a movable connector that has a floating function from a technical approach that is different from the related art. A movable connector includes a displacement support member that includes a flexible support portion that is elastically deformable in a fitting direction, in which a mating connector is to be fitted with a movable housing, with the flexible support portion abutting against the movable housing. The movable housing includes a bottom wall, against which the mating connector abuts in the fitting direction. The movable housing is displaced in the fitting direction with the flexible support portion elastically deformed in the fitting direction when the mating connector presses the bottom wall in the fitting direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a movable connector that has a floating function and a connection structure for the movable connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Movable connectors are known as connectors that establish conductive connection between a circuit on a substrate and a connection object. A movable connector includes a fixed housing to be installed on the substrate, a movable housing to be fitted with the connection object, and a terminal that supports the fixed housing and the movable housing so as to be relatively displaceable. The terminal is formed as a conductive metal piece. The terminal includes a substrate connection portion to be connected to the substrate, a contact portion disposed on the movable housing to make conductive contact with the connection object, and a movable portion that supports the movable housing so as to be displaceable with respect to the fixed housing. The movable portion is formed as an elastically deformable spring piece. An example of the movable connector is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-16363 (FIG. 3), for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The movable connector discussed earlier is occasionally subjected to vibration in a fitted state in which the movable connector is fitted with the connection object. The vibration is transmitted to the movable connector through the substrate, on which the movable connector is installed, because the substrate is deflected. Alternatively, the vibration is transmitted to the movable connector from the connection object. Specifically, in the case where the connection object is a mating connector, the vibration is transmitted to the movable connector through a mating substrate, on which the mating connector is installed, and the mating connector because the mating substrate is deflected. When the vibration is transmitted to the movable connector, “contact point slide”, in which the contact portion of the terminal slides finely with respect to the connection object, is occasionally caused. The contact point slide tends to be caused in the case where the vibration is transmitted to the movable connector along a fitting direction, in which the connection object is fitted with the movable connector, and an extraction direction which is opposite to the fitting direction. When the contact point slide is repeated, plating at a contact point portion of the terminal and plating at a portion of contact with a contact point portion of the connection object are peeled to increase a resistance value. As a result, good conductive connection may be impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the related art described above as the background. That is, it is an object of the present invention to suppress occurrence of contact point slide due to vibration in a movable connector that has a floating function from a technical approach that is different from the related art.

In order to achieve the foregoing object, the present invention is configured to be characterized as follows.

That is, an aspect of the present invention provides a movable connector including: a first housing to be fixed to a first substrate; a second housing to be fitted with a connection object; and a terminal that includes a movable portion that supports the first housing and the second housing so as to be relatively displaceable and a contact portion that makes conductive contact with the connection object, in which the movable connector further includes a displacement support member that includes a flexible support portion that is elastically deformable in a fitting direction, in which the connection object is to be fitted with the second housing, with the flexible support portion abutting against the second housing, the second housing includes a connection object abutment portion, against which the connection object abuts in the fitting direction, and the second housing is displaced in the fitting direction with the flexible support portion elastically deformed in the fitting direction when the connection object presses the connection object abutment portion in the fitting direction.

In the present invention, when the connection object presses the connection object abutment portion of the second housing, the flexible support portion of the displacement support member is elastically deformed in the fitting direction with the flexible support portion abutting against the second housing. Consequently, the second housing, which is displaceably supported by the movable portion of the terminal, can be displaced in the fitting direction. After that, when pressing of the connection object in the fitting direction is canceled, the second housing is displaced in a direction opposite to the fitting direction with the flexible support portion and the movable portion of the terminal returned to the original state. The movable connector according to the present invention is configured as a “Z-direction movable connector” that is displaceable in the Z direction (fitting direction and a direction (extraction direction) opposite thereto).

When the second housing is displaced in the fitting direction, the second housing is in abutment with the flexible support portion, and is supported by the flexible support portion while receiving a repulsive force of the flexible support portion which is elastically deformed. Therefore, the position of fitting between the second housing and the connection object is not varied even if the second housing is displaced in the fitting direction. Hence, with the movable connector according to the present invention, there is no positional deviation in the position of contact between the contact portion of the terminal and the connection object, and occurrence of contact point slide can be suppressed.

The displacement support member may include a first housing fixed portion fixed to the first housing, and a first substrate fixed portion to be fixed to the first substrate.

With the present invention, the displacement support member can also be used as a fixing member that fixes the first housing to the first substrate, which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and reduce the area occupied on the first substrate compared to a case where the displacement support member and the fixing member are provided separately. The first substrate fixed portion can be fixed to the first substrate using solder, by way of example.

The displacement support member may include an auxiliary flexible support portion formed of a spring that biases the second housing in an extraction direction for extraction of the connection object, which is opposite to the fitting direction, to maintain the connection object abutment portion and the connection object in abutment with each other.

With the present invention, the connection object abutment portion and the connection object are maintained in abutment with each other with the auxiliary flexible support portion, which is formed of a spring, biasing the second housing in the extraction direction when the connection object is relatively displaced in the extraction direction with respect to the second housing. Therefore, the connection object and the second housing are displaced in the extraction direction without varying the position of fitting therebetween. Thus, occurrence of contact point slide can be suppressed without deviation in the position of contact between the connection object and the contact portion of the terminal, even if the connection object is relatively displaced in the extraction direction with respect to the second housing.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a movable connector including: a first housing to be fixed to a first substrate; a second housing to be fitted with a connection object; and a terminal that includes a movable portion that supports the first housing and the second housing so as to be relatively displaceable and a contact portion that makes conductive contact with the connection object, in which the first housing includes a flexible support portion that is elastically deformable in a fitting direction, in which the connection object is to be fitted with the second housing, with the flexible support portion abutting against the second housing, the second housing includes a connection object abutment portion, against which the connection object abuts in the fitting direction, and the second housing is displaced in the fitting direction with the flexible support portion elastically deformed in the fitting direction when the connection object presses the connection object abutment portion in the fitting direction.

In the present invention, when the connection object presses the connection object abutment portion of the second housing, the flexible support portion of the first housing is elastically deformed in the fitting direction with the flexible support portion abutting against the second housing. Consequently, the second housing, which is displaceably supported by the movable portion of the terminal, can be displaced in the fitting direction. After that, when pressing of the connection object in the fitting direction is canceled, the second housing is displaced in a direction opposite to the fitting direction with the flexible support portion and the movable portion of the terminal returned to the original state. The movable connector according to the present invention is configured as a “Z-direction movable connector” that is displaceable in the Z direction (fitting direction and a direction (extraction direction) opposite thereto).

When the second housing is displaced in the fitting direction, the second housing is in abutment with the flexible support portion, and is supported by the flexible support portion while receiving a repulsive force of the flexible support portion which is elastically deformed. Therefore, the position of fitting between the second housing and the connection object is not varied even if the second housing is displaced in the fitting direction. Hence, with the movable connector according to the present invention, there is no positional deviation in the position of contact between the contact portion of the terminal and the connection object, and occurrence of contact point slide can be suppressed.

In the present invention, in addition, the flexible support portion is formed on the first housing. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced compared to a case where the flexible support portion is constituted as a single part.

The first housing may include a pair of first side walls, and the movable connector may further include a displacement regulation member provided on the first housing so as to cross between the first side walls, the displacement regulation member including a first displacement regulation portion that regulates displacement of the second housing in an extraction direction which is opposite to the fitting direction.

In the present invention, the movable connector includes the displacement regulation member which is separate from the first housing and which includes the first displacement regulation portion which regulates displacement of the second housing. Thus, the first housing can be simplified in structure, and can be manufactured easily.

The displacement regulation member may include a second displacement regulation portion that regulates displacement of the second housing in a direction that intersects the fitting direction.

In the present invention, the displacement regulation member includes the second displacement regulation portion. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, simplify the connector structure, and reduce the size of the movable connector compared to a case where the second displacement regulation portion is constituted as a separate member.

The first housing may be formed from a bottom wall disposed on the first substrate and the pair of side walls which are formed as vertical walls that extend upward from the bottom wall, and the displacement regulation member may be provided on the first housing so as to cross above the second housing which is disposed inside the first housing.

In the present invention, the first housing is constituted from the bottom wall and the pair of side walls in a vertical wall shape. Therefore, the first housing can be simplified in structure, and can be manufactured easily. The second housing is disposed inside the first housing, and the displacement regulation member is provided on the first housing so as to cross above the second housing, which regulates excessive displacement of the second housing. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the first housing with a portion that regulates displacement of the second housing. Thus, with the present invention, the structure of the first housing can be further simplified.

With the movable connector according to the present invention, occurrence of contact point slide between the contact portion of the terminal and the connection object can be suppressed while the second housing is displaceable in the fitting direction for the connection object, which can achieve stable conductive connection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following describes a movable connector10and a structure for connection between the movable connector10and a mating connector20which serves as a “connection object”. In the specification, claims, and drawings, the longitudinal direction (right-left direction) of the movable connector10illustrated inFIG. 1is defined as the X direction, the depth direction (front-rear direction) of the movable connector10is defined as the Y direction, and the height direction (up-down direction) of the movable connector10is defined as the Z direction. However, specification of such directions does not limit the mount direction or the use direction of the movable connector10according to the present invention unless stated otherwise. In addition, the terms “first” and “second” as used in the specification and claims are used to discriminate different constituent elements of the invention, and are not used to indicate any specific order or order of superiority/inferiority thereof.

First Embodiment [FIGS.1to10]

Configuration of Movable Connector10[FIGS. 1 to 6]

The movable connector10includes a fixed housing11which serves as a “first housing”, a movable housing12which serves as a “second housing”, and a plurality of terminals13. The movable connector10according to the present embodiment further includes a displacement support member14.

The fixed housing11is formed as a resin molded body, and has a peripheral wall11a. A housing portion11bis formed inside the fixed housing11. The housing portion11bserves as a space that houses the movable housing12and that allows displacement of the movable housing12.

The peripheral wall11ahas a pair of first side walls11al in the shape of vertical walls that extend along the right-left direction X and a pair of second side walls11a2in the shape of vertical walls that extend along the front-rear direction Y. A plurality of fixed-side terminal holding portions11a3are arranged in the inner surface of each of the first side walls11al, and spaced from each other along the right-left direction X. A bottom wall11a4that projects inward of the peripheral wall11ais formed on each of the second side walls11a2. A displacement regulation protrusion11a5that projects downward in the height direction Z is formed at the middle portion of each of the bottom walls11a4in the front-rear direction Y (FIG. 4).

The movable housing12is formed as a resin molded body, and has a peripheral wall12a, a bottom wall12b(FIG. 3) which serves as a “connection object abutment portion”, and a middle wall12c.

The peripheral wall12ais formed in a rectangular tube shape. A fitting chamber12a1for fitting connection with the mating connector20as the “connection object” is formed inside the peripheral wall12a. A plurality of retention protrusions12a3are formed on each of right and left side walls12a2of the peripheral wall12a(FIGS. 2 and 3). The retention protrusions12a3are formed as “retention portions” in a protruding shape, disposed on the front and rear sides in the front-rear direction Y, and spaced from each other. A recessed portion12a4is formed between two retention protrusions12a3(FIG. 2). The displacement regulation protrusion11a5of the fixed housing11is disposed in the recessed portion12a4.

A front-rear movable gap dl is formed between the two retention protrusions12a3and the displacement regulation protrusion11a5(FIG. 2). The front-rear movable gap dl enables the movable housing12in a stationary state (pre-fitting state and fitting complete state) to be displaced in the front-rear direction Y. The movable housing12can be displaced in the front-rear direction Y (forward and rearward) until the retention protrusions12a3abut against the displacement regulation protrusions11a5. In addition, a right-left movable gap d2is formed between the side walls12a2of the movable housing12and the bottom walls11a4of the fixed housing11(FIG. 3). The right-left movable gap d2enables the movable housing12in the stationary state (pre-fitting state and fitting complete state) to be displaced in the right-left direction X. The movable housing12can be displaced in the right-left direction (rightward and leftward) until the side walls12a2abut against the bottom walls11a4of the fixed housing11. Further, an upper movable gap d3is formed between the two retention protrusions12a3and the bottom walls11a4(FIG. 3). The upper movable gap d3enables the movable housing12in the stationary state (pre-fitting state and fitting complete state) to be displaced upward in the up-down direction Z.

The bottom wall12bwhich serves as the “connection object abutment portion” is formed between the peripheral wall12aand the middle wall12c. Movable-side terminal holding portions12b1in a hole shape are formed in the bottom wall12b(FIG. 2). The terminals13are press-fitted into the movable-side terminal holding portions12b1to be fixed.

The middle wall12cprojects upward in the height direction Z from the bottom wall12bto form a fitting space (fitting chamber12a1) in a rectangular frame shape in the internal space of the peripheral wall12a. A plurality of terminal holding grooves12c2are disposed in parallel in the right-left direction X in wall surfaces12c1of the middle wall12con the front and rear sides in the front-rear direction Y. The terminal holding grooves12c2hold contact portions13eof the terminals13.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the plurality of terminals13are each formed as a bent terminal by stamping a conductive metal piece in a flat plate shape as the material by pressing and bending the metal piece in the plate thickness direction at predetermined locations. The terminals13each have a substrate connection portion13a, a fixed housing fixed portion13b, a movable portion13c, a movable housing fixed portion13d, and the contact portion13e.

The substrate connection portion13ais soldered to a substrate circuit on a first substrate P1, which will be discussed later, to be fixed. The fixed housing fixed portion13bis press-fitted into the fixed-side terminal holding portion11a3to be fixed to the fixed housing11. The movable housing fixed portion13dis press-fitted into the movable-side terminal holding portion12b1to be fixed to the movable housing12. The contact portion13eis formed in a flat plate shape, and inserted from the movable-side terminal holding portion12b1of the bottom wall12bto be disposed in the terminal holding groove12c2of the middle wall12c. A plating layer (not illustrated) such as gold plating is formed on the surface of the contact portion13e.

The movable portion13cis formed as a spring piece in a bent shape that is elastically deformable. The movable portion13cincludes a first extended portion13c1, a first bent portion13c2, a second extended portion13c3, a second bent portion13c4, a third extended portion13c5, and a third bent portion13c6.

The first extended portion13c1is formed in a straight shape to extend upward while being inclined in the direction closer toward the movable housing12and connect between the upper end of the fixed housing fixed portion13band the first bent portion13c2. The first bent portion13c2is formed to be bent in an inverted U-shape and connect between the first extended portion13c1and the second extended portion13c3. The second extended portion13c3is formed in a straight shape to extend downward while being inclined in the direction closer toward the movable housing12and connect between the first bent portion13c2and the second bent portion13c4. The second bent portion13c4is formed to be bent in an L-shape and connect between the second extended portion13c3and the third extended portion13c5. The third extended portion13c5is formed in a straight shape to extend horizontally along the bottom wall12bof the movable housing12and connect between the second bent portion13c4and the third bent portion13c6. The third bent portion13c6is formed to be bent in an L-shape and connect between the third extended portion13c5and the movable housing fixed portion13d.

The first extended portion13c1, the first bent portion13c2, and the second extended portion13c3function as a “front-rear direction movable spring” that is elastically deformable in the front-rear direction Y with the first bent portion13c2serving as a main displacement support point. The “front-rear direction movable spring” absorbs relative positional deviation in the front-rear direction Y between the fixed housing11and the movable housing12, and causes relative displacement in the front-rear direction Y therebetween, through elastic deformation.

In addition, a portion from the first extended portion13c1to the third extended portion13c5is elastically deformable while being warped in the right-left direction X to function as a “right-left direction movable spring”. The “right-left direction movable spring” absorbs relative positional deviation in the right-left direction X between the fixed housing11and the movable housing12, and causes relative displacement in the right-left direction X therebetween, through elastic deformation.

Further, the second bent portion13c4, the third extended portion13c5, and the third bent portion13c6function as an “up-down direction movable spring” that is elastically deformable in the Z direction (up-down direction; fitting direction and extraction direction) with the second bent portion13c4serving as a main displacement support point. The “up-down direction movable spring” absorbs relative positional deviation in the up-down direction Z between the fixed housing11and the movable housing12, and causes relative displacement in the up-down direction Z therebetween, through elastic deformation.

In this manner, the movable portion13ccan function as the front-rear direction movable spring, the right-left direction movable spring, and the up-down direction movable spring to absorb positional deviation in the X, Y, and Z directions when fitting connection between the movable connector10and the mating connector20is established and absorb relative displacement between the movable housing12and the mating connector20, which is caused by external vibration and an external impact received by the movable connector10under the use environment, through a combination of displacements in the X, Y, and Z directions.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the displacement support member14is formed as a metal fitting by stamping a metal piece in a flat plate shape as the material by pressing and bending the metal piece in the plate thickness direction at predetermined locations. The displacement support member14includes a pair of substrate fixed leg portions14aas a “first substrate fixed portion”, a base portion14b, a flexible support portion14c, and a fixed housing fixed portion14das a “first housing fixed portion”. It is not essential that the displacement support member14should be constituted from a metal piece, and the displacement support member14may be constituted as a resin molded body. In this case, the substrate fixed leg portions14amay be fixed to the first substrate P1using an adhesive etc.

The substrate fixed leg portions14aare portions to be soldered to the substrate P1to be fixed, and are used to fix the fixed housing11to the first substrate P1. Thus, in general, the displacement support member14also functions as a fixing metal fitting used to fix a connector to a substrate. The substrate fixed leg portions14aare provided at both ends of the base portion14b, and each include a distal end portion14a1that extends in the horizontal direction and a rising portion14a2that extends upward from the distal end portion14a1. With the rising portions14a2, the base portion14band the flexible support portion14care disposed at a floated position above the surface of the substrate P1.

The base portion14bis formed as a band-like piece that extends in the front-rear direction Y.

The flexible support portion14cis formed with a pair of spring piece portions14c2that extend in the right-left direction X from the lower edge of the base portion14bvia bent portions14c1and a support surface portion14c3in a flat plate shape to which the respective distal ends of the pair of spring piece portions14c2are connected. A hole portion14c4is formed between the pair of spring piece portions14c2. The flexible support portion14cis configured such that the support surface portion14c3is displaceable in the up-down direction Z with the pair of spring piece portions14c2deflected in the up-down direction Z with the bent portions14c1serving as a displacement support point.

A first lower movable gap d4is formed between the support surface portion14c3and the two retention protrusions12a3(FIG. 7). The first lower movable gap d4enables the movable housing12in the pre-fitting state to be displaced downward in the up-down direction Z. In addition, as discussed earlier, with the substrate fixed leg portions14ahaving the respective rising portions14a2, the support surface portion14c3is disposed at a position away from the first substrate P1. A second lower movable gap d5is formed between the first substrate P1and the bottom surface (retention protrusions12a3) of the movable housing12(FIG. 8). The second lower movable gap d5enables the movable housing12and the support surface portion14c3to be displaced downward in the up-down direction Z. The movable housing12is displaceable toward the second lower movable gap d5, and can be actually displaced to the limit of displacement of the support surface portion14c3or until the support surface portion14c3abuts against the first substrate P1.

The first lower movable gap d4is a space that allows the movable housing12of the movable connector10in the pre-fitting state before being fitted with the mating connector20to be displaced toward the first substrate P1. The second lower movable gap d5is a space that allows the movable housing12of the movable connector10in the fitting complete state after being fitted with the mating connector20to be displaced toward the first substrate P1. The movable connector10is structured to have the first lower movable gap d4and the second lower movable gap d5which are used in accordance with the state of connection with the mating connector20. The first lower movable gap d4may not be provided. That is, the movable connector10may be configured such that the retention protrusions12a3are placed on the support surface portion14c3in the pre-fitting state.

The fixed housing fixed portion14dis press-fitted into a displacement support member holding portion11a6formed in the bottom wall11a4of the fixed housing11(FIGS. 4 and 7). Consequently, the displacement support member14is fixed to the fixed housing11. To press-fit the fixed housing fixed portion14dinto the displacement support member holding portion11a6, the fixed housing fixed portion14dis pushed into the displacement support member holding portion11a6with a press-fitting tool pushed against the lower edge portion of the base portion14bwhich forms the hole portion14c4. That is, the lower edge portion forms a press-fitting receiving portion14b1.

Configuration of Mating Connector20[FIG. 7]

The mating connector20which serves as the “connection object” includes a mating housing21and a plurality of mating terminals22. The mating connector20is mounted on a second substrate P2.

The mating housing21is formed as a resin molded body in a rectangular tubular shape, and includes a peripheral wall21aand a bottom wall21b. Fitting connection of the mating housing21with the movable housing12is established with the peripheral wall21ainserted into the fitting chamber12a1, in a rectangular frame shape, of the movable housing12and with fitting-side end portions21a1abutting against the bottom wall12bof the movable housing12(see the fitting complete state inFIG. 8). The middle wall12cof the movable housing12is inserted into a space inside the peripheral wall21a. A plurality of terminal holding grooves21a2are formed in the inner surface of the peripheral wall21ato be arranged in the right-left direction X. A mating contact portion22aof the mating terminal22is disposed in each of the terminal holding grooves21a2. The mating contact portion22aof the mating terminal22has a two-contact point structure with a front contact portion22a1positioned on the front side in the fitting direction and a rear contact portion22a2positioned on the rear side in the fitting direction. The front contact portion22a1and the rear contact portion22a2are each formed as a bent terminal formed by bending a conductive metal piece, and each formed as a contact point spring bent in a mountain shape. Thus, such contact portions press-contact the contact portion13eof the terminal13of the movable connector10with a predetermined contact pressure. Consequently, the terminal13and the mating terminal22make conductive contact with each other. Terminal holding portions (not illustrated) in a hole shape are formed in the bottom wall21b. The mating terminals22are press-fitted into the terminal holding portions to be fixed.

Fitting Connection and Fitting Displacement between Movable Connector10and Mating Connector20[FIGS. 7 to 10]

First, fitting connection between the movable connector10and the mating connector20will be described.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the movable connector10is mounted on the first substrate P1, the mating connector20is mounted on the second substrate P2, and the movable connector10and the mating connector20are located away from each other (pre-fitting state). From this pre-fitting state, the second substrate P2is moved closer toward the first substrate P1to insert the mating housing21of the mating connector20into the movable housing12of the movable housing10. Upon receiving the force of inserting the mating connector20, the movable housing12is displaced downward. At this time, the retention protrusions12a3are moved in the first lower movable gap d4to abut against the support surface portion14c3. The force of inserting the mating connector20is received with the retention protrusions12a3abutting against the support surface portion14c3. Consequently, the mating housing21is inserted into the fitting chamber12a1of the movable housing12, and the insertion of the mating connector20is stopped when the fitting-side end portions21a1abut against the bottom wall12bwhich serves as a “connection object abutment portion”. Consequently, fitting connection of the mating housing21with the fitting chamber12a1of the movable housing12is established (fitting complete state inFIG. 8).

In the course of establishing fitting connection described above, the movable housing12and the mating housing21occasionally positionally deviate from each other in at least one of the right-left direction X and the front-rear direction Y. However, when the mating housing21is inserted into the fitting chamber12a1of the movable housing12, the movable portion13cof the terminal13is elastically deformed so as to absorb the positional deviation. Consequently, the movable housing12can be displaced in the front-rear movable gap d1and the right-left movable gap d2. Thus, fitting connection of the mating connector20with the movable connector10can be established with the positional deviation absorbed even if the housings deviate from the fitting position.

When the pre-fitting state illustrated inFIG. 7and the fitting complete state illustrated inFIG. 8are compared with each other, the retention protrusions12a3and the support surface portion14c3do not contact each other in the pre-fitting state, while the retention protrusions12a3and the support surface portion14c3contact each other in the fitting complete state. That is, in the fitting complete state, the movable housing12is slightly displaced toward the first substrate P1with the movable portion13cdeflected. This state is obtained by fixing each of the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2to a support member, causing the weight of the second substrate P2including the mating connector20to act on the movable portion13c, etc. Thus, in the fitting complete state inFIG. 8, the movable portion13cis slightly elastically deformed, and thus a repulsive force toward the mating connector20acts on the movable housing12. The support member discussed earlier supports the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2, and keeps the separation distance therebetween constant. Such a support member can be constituted of a spacer disposed between the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2. The support member can also be constituted from a first split housing for electronic devices in which the first substrate P1is disposed and a second split housing for electronic devices in which the second substrate P2is disposed. In this case, the movable connector10and the mating connector20can be brought into the fitting complete state by combining the first split housing and the second split housing. The first split housing can be a body of a housing, for example, and the second split housing can be a lid that tightly closes the housing, for example.

Next, fitting displacement in the up-down direction Z between the movable connector10and the mating connector20will be described.

In the fitting complete state illustrated inFIG. 8, either of the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2is occasionally deflected in the up-down direction Z (fitting direction or extraction direction) because of vibration or an impact caused under the use environment of the movable connector10. Here, by way of example, fitting displacement caused in a state in which the first substrate P1is deflected so as to project toward the second substrate P2so that the movable connector10is biased toward the second substrate P2while the second substrate P2is not deflected and the mating connector20is not moved will be described.

When the first substrate P1is deflected so as to project toward the second substrate P2, the movable connector10is urged to be displaced toward the second substrate P2. At this time, the fixed housing11is displaced toward the second substrate P2, but fitting connection of the movable housing12with the mating connector20in the stationary state has been established. Therefore, the movable housing12is not displaced toward the second substrate P2, and the first substrate P1is displaced closer toward the movable housing12. This, in other words, corresponds to only the second substrate P2being deflected so as to project toward the first substrate P1and the mating connector20being displaced in the fitting direction (downward in the up-down direction Z) closer toward the first substrate P1.

Then, the movable housing12is relatively displaced closer toward the first substrate P1with the movable portion13celastically deformed. At this time, the retention protrusions12a3of the movable housing12push down the support surface portion14c3of the flexible support portion14ctoward the first substrate P1to be deflected as illustrated inFIG. 9. The support surface portion14c3is displaced toward the second lower movable gap d5to approach the first substrate P1with the spring piece portions14c2elastically deformed with the bent portions14c1serving as the displacement support point. Consequently, the movable housing12is also relatively displaced toward the second lower movable gap d5closer toward the first substrate P1. In this manner, the movable housing12can be relatively displaced downward (fitting direction) in the up-down direction Z.

In a state in which the movable housing12is relatively displaced downward in the up-down direction Z, the retention protrusions12a3of the movable housing12contact the support surface portion14c3of the flexible support portion14c, and the fitting-side end portions21a1of the mating housing21contact the bottom wall12bof the movable housing12. Therefore, the position of fitting between the movable housing12and the mating housing21is not varied, and the position of contact of the mating contact portion22aof the mating terminal22with the contact portion13eof the terminal13is maintained. Thus, contact point slide between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ais not caused.

When the first substrate P1is returned to the original non-deflected state, the fixed housing11is returned to the position in the fitting complete state. At this time, the movable housing12is relatively displaced upward (extraction direction) in the up-down direction Z with respect to the fixed housing11and the first substrate P1. Then, the support surface portion14c3which has been deflected is returned to the original state, and can be returned to the position in the fitting complete state. In this manner, the movable housing12can be relatively displaced upward (extraction direction) in the up-down direction Z.

Also when the movable housing12is relatively displaced upward in the up-down direction Z, the position of fitting between the movable housing12and the mating housing21is not varied. That is, an extraction force that is necessary to extract the mating housing21from the movable housing12is larger than a force that is necessary to displace the movable housing12upward in the up-down direction Z by elastically deforming the movable portion13c. Thus, the position of contact of the mating contact portion22aof the mating terminal22with the contact portion13eof the terminal13is maintained also when the movable housing12is relatively displaced upward in the up-down direction Z, and contact point slide between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ais not caused.

Operation of the movable connector10described above has been described using an example in which only the first substrate P1is deflected so as to project toward the second substrate P2in the stationary state and thereafter the first substrate P1is returned to the original state. However, operation of the movable connector10is also the same for a case where only the second substrate P2is deflected so as to project toward the first substrate P1in the stationary state and thereafter the second substrate P2is returned to the original state and a case where both the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2are deflected so as to project toward each other and thereafter the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2are returned to the original state. It should be noted, however, that initial motion of the movable connector10is different as described next in the case where at least one of the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2is deflected so as to project in the direction away from each other and thereafter the substrate is returned to the original state.

In the fitting complete state illustrated inFIG. 8, the retention protrusions12a3of the movable housing12contact the support surface portion14c3of the displacement support member14. When at least one of the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2is deflected from this state so as to project in the direction relatively away from each other, the movable housing12is relatively displaced in the direction away from the first substrate P1through elastic deformation of the movable portion13c.

At this time, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the retention protrusions12a3are occasionally moved away from the support surface portion14c3, and the state in which the position of fitting between the movable housing12and the mating housing21is maintained is occasionally canceled. Then, the position of contact between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22acannot be maintained, and contact point slide may be caused. In the present embodiment, however, an extraction force that is necessary to extract the mating connector20from the movable connector10is set to be high. In this embodiment, this extraction force is composed of a contact pressure between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ain the fitting complete state and a friction force (interterminal friction force) between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22a. Thus, the movable portion13ccan be elastically deformed with the position of contact between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22amaintained. In other words, in the connection structure for the movable connector10according to the present embodiment, the extraction force between the terminals is set to be larger than the displacement load for the movable portion13c. Therefore, even if the retention protrusions12a3are moved away from the support surface portion14c3, the position of contact between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ais maintained since the extraction force is set to be high, and contact point slide between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ais not caused. That is, the position of fitting between the movable housing12and the mating housing21is not varied.

The contact pressure between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ais determined in accordance with the arrangement of the contact portion13ein the movable connector10, which affects the distance between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22a, the plate thickness of the contact portion13e, the spring constant of the mating contact portion22a, etc. Thus, the contact pressure is not determined in accordance with a structural element that includes only the mating contact portion22with a spring structure, but the contact portion13eof the terminal13is also a structural element that affects the contact pressure and, further, the extraction force including the contact pressure.

As has been described above, the movable connector10according to the present embodiment can effectively suppress occurrence of contact point slide. Examples of the method of suppressing occurrence of contact point slide include setting the spring of the movable portion13cto be stiff in order that the movable portion13cbiases the movable housing12against the mating connector20at all times. With that method, however, the spring of the movable portion13cis so stiff that it is difficult to design the movable connector10which exhibits a floating function that makes use of flexible deformation of the movable portion13c. With the movable connector10according to the present embodiment, in contrast, the spring of the movable portion13ccan be set to be soft, and thus a floating function that makes use of flexible deformation of the movable portion13ccan be achieved.

Second Embodiment [FIGS.11to18]

Configuration of Movable Connector10[FIGS. 11 to 15]

The movable connector10according to a second embodiment differs from the first embodiment, in which the displacement support member14is separate from the fixed housing11, in that a flexible support portion15is formed integrally with the fixed housing11. In addition, the movable connector10according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment, in which displacement regulation is performed by the fixed housing11, in that a displacement regulation member16regulates displacement of the retention protrusions12a3. The other components of the second embodiment and the functions and effects based thereon are similar to those according to the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described unless such components, functions, and effects are to be particularly referred to. The features of the second embodiment will be mainly described below.

The fixed housing11is formed with a pair of side walls11a7in a vertical wall shape that extend in the right-left direction X and that project upward in the up-down direction Z and right and left bottom walls11a8in a flat plate shape that connect between both ends of the pair of side walls11a7. In this manner, the fixed housing11has a housing structure in which there are no walls that form a closed space or a space surrounded by a peripheral wall above the pair of side walls11a7and the right and left bottom walls11a8. In addition, an opening portion11a9is formed between the right and left bottom walls11a8. The movable housing12is positioned above the opening portion11a9(FIG. 13), and the lower end portion of the movable housing12is inserted into the opening portion11a9. Thus, the height of the movable housing12is reduced, and the overall size of movable connector10is reduced.

The right and left bottom walls11a8are each formed with the flexible support portion15. The flexible support portion15according to the present embodiment is a resin molded body formed integrally with the fixed housing11. However, the flexible support portion15may be constituted as a metal piece insert-molded in the fixed housing11. The flexible support portion15is formed as a spring piece in a cantilever shape. More specifically, the flexible support portion15includes a spring piece portion15athat extends obliquely upward in the up-down direction Z from the bottom wall11a8of the fixed housing11and a support surface portion15bthat extends in the horizontal direction from the spring piece portion15a. The spring piece portion15ais deflectable upward and downward in the up-down direction Z, and thus the support surface portion15bis displaceable in the up-down direction Z.

A first lower movable gap d4is formed between the support surface portion15band the retention protrusions12a3of the movable housing12which face each other (FIG. 12). The first lower movable gap d4enables the movable housing12in the pre-fitting state to be displaced downward (fitting direction) in the up-down direction Z.

A second lower movable gap d5is formed between the first substrate P1and the bottom surface (lower end surfaces of the side walls11a7and the bottom walls11a8) of the movable housing12(FIG. 12). The second lower movable gap d5enables the movable housing12to be displaced downward (fitting direction) in the up-down direction Z with the support surface portion15bdeflected using the spring piece portion15aas the displacement support point.

The movable housing12is displaceable toward the second lower movable gap d5, and can be actually displaced over a distance to the limit position of deflection of the support surface portion15btoward the bottom wall11a8, the distance becoming longest when the support surface portion15babuts against the bottom wall11a8. In this manner, the movable connector10according to the second embodiment is also structured to have the first lower movable gap d4and the second lower movable gap d5.

As illustrated inFIG. 15, the displacement regulation member16is formed as a metal fitting by stamping a metal piece in a flat plate shape as the material by pressing and bending the metal piece in the plate thickness direction at predetermined locations. The displacement regulation member16includes a pair of fixed housing fixed portions16a, a base portion16b, a bent portion16c, and a displacement regulation portion16d.

The fixed housing fixed portions16aare press-fitted into displacement regulation member holding portions11a10, which are provided in the pair of side walls11a7of the fixed housing11, to be fixed. The base portion16bextends between the pair of fixed housing fixed portions16aso as to cross between the pair of side walls11a7. The bent portion16cis bent from the lower edge of the base portion16bto support the displacement regulation portion16d.

The displacement regulation portion16dis supported by the bent portion16c, and has a function of regulating displacement of the movable housing12with the retention protrusions12a3of the movable housing12abutting against the displacement regulation portion16d. More specifically, the displacement regulation portion16dincludes a transverse piece portion16d1which serves as a “first displacement regulation portion” that extends along the front-rear direction Y and a pair of side piece portions16d2which serve as a “second displacement regulation portion” that extends vertically downward from both ends of the transverse piece portion16d1.

An upper movable gap d3is formed between the transverse piece portion16d1and the retention protrusions12a3(FIG. 12). The upper movable gap d3enables the movable housing12in the stationary state (pre-fitting state (FIGS. 12 and 14) and fitting complete state (FIG. 16)) to be displaced upward in the up-down direction Z. In addition, a front-rear movable gap dl is formed between the pair of side piece portions16d2and the retention protrusions12a3(FIG. 12). The front-rear movable gap dl enables the movable housing12in the stationary state to be displaced in the front-rear direction Y. Further, a right-left movable gap d2is formed between the transverse piece portion16d1and the side piece portions16d2and the side walls12a2of the movable housing12(FIG. 13). The right-left movable gap d2enables the movable housing12in the stationary state to be displaced in the right-left direction X.

As described above, the displacement regulation portion16dof the displacement regulation member16can function to regulate excessive displacement of the movable housing12in the right-left direction X (direction which crosses the fitting direction), the front-rear direction Y (direction which crosses the fitting direction), and upward (extraction direction) in the up-down direction Z. In addition, the displacement regulation member16is formed separately from the fixed housing11, and thus the fixed housing11can be structured simply, and manufactured and assembled easily. Further, the displacement regulation member16includes both the transverse piece portion16d1and the side piece portions16d2, and thus the number of parts can be reduced and the connector structure can be simplified compared to a case where such portions are constituted from separate members. Consequently, the size of the movable connector10can be reduced.

Fitting Connection and Fitting Displacement between Movable Connector10and Mating Connector20[FIGS. 16 to 18]

Fitting connection between the movable connector10and the mating connector20is the same as that for the movable connector10according to the first embodiment. That is, the mating housing21may be inserted into the movable housing12by moving the movable connector10and the mating connector20in the pre-fitting state closer toward each other. Upon receiving the force of inserting the mating connector20, the movable housing12is displaced downward. At this time, the retention protrusions12a3are moved in the first lower movable gap d4to abut against the support surface portion15b(position of the movable housing12inFIG. 16). The force of inserting the mating connector20is received with the retention protrusions12a3abutting against the support surface portion15b. Consequently, the mating housing21is inserted into the fitting chamber12a1of the movable housing12, and the insertion of the mating connector20is stopped when the fitting-side end portions21a1abut against the bottom wall12bwhich serves as a “connection object abutment portion”. Consequently, fitting connection of the mating housing21with the fitting chamber12a1of the movable housing12is established (see the fitting complete state inFIG. 8).

Next, fitting displacement in the up-down direction Z between the movable connector10and the mating connector20, which is the same as fitting displacement of the movable connector10according to the first embodiment, will be described. That is, when the movable housing12is relatively displaced downward in the up-down direction Z with the movable portion13celastically deformed, the retention protrusions12a3push down the support surface portions15btoward the first substrate P1to be deflected as illustrated inFIG. 17. The support surface portions15bare displaced to approach the first substrate P1with the spring piece portions15aelastically deformed. Consequently, the movable housing12is also relatively displaced toward the second lower movable gap d5closer toward the first substrate P1. In this manner, the movable housing12can be relatively displaced downward (fitting direction) in the up-down direction Z. In this manner, contact point slide is not caused, as in the first embodiment, in the case where the movable housing12is displaced in the fitting direction.

In addition, when the movable housing12is relatively displaced in the direction away from the first substrate P1through elastic deformation of the movable portion13c, the retention protrusions12a3are occasionally moved away from the support surface portion15b, and the state in which the position of fitting between the movable housing12and the mating housing21is maintained is occasionally canceled, as illustrated inFIG. 18. Then, the position of contact between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22acannot be maintained, and contact point slide may be caused. Also with the movable connector10according to the present embodiment, however, the extraction force in the fitting complete state is set to be large, and the movable portion13ccan be elastically deformed with the position of contact between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22amaintained. Thus, even if the retention protrusions12a3are moved away from the support surface portion15b, the position of contact between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ais maintained since the extraction force is set to be high, and contact point slide between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22ais not caused. That is, the position of fitting between the movable housing12and the mating housing21is not varied, as in the first embodiment.

Modifications

The above embodiments can be implemented with the components partially modified. Several examples will be described.

In the first embodiment, the flexible support portion14cis configured such that the support surface portion14c3is provided at the distal ends of the pair of spring piece portions14c2. However, auxiliary flexible support portions17which serve as an “extraction direction bias spring” formed of a spring piece that extends upward in the up-down direction Z with respect to the support surface portion14c3in the free state may be provided in addition to the support surface portion14c3, for example. An example of such a modification is illustrated inFIG. 19.

In the first embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 10, when excessive deflection is caused in the direction in which the first substrate P1and the second substrate P2are moved away from each other, the retention protrusions12a3may be moved away from the support surface portion14c3with the movable housing12relatively displaced. Then, the movable housing12and the mating housing21may be relatively moved away in the extraction direction. In order to prevent that, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the extraction force which is necessary to extract the mating connector20from the movable connector10is set to be larger than the displacement load for the movable portion13c, and the movable portion13ccan be elastically deformed with the position of contact between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22amaintained.

By providing the auxiliary flexible support portions17which are each formed of a spring piece as in the modification, in contrast, the movable housing12can be biased toward the mating housing21by the auxiliary flexible support portions17even if the retention protrusions12a3are moved away from the support surface portion14c3. Thus, the movable housing12can be caused to follow displacement of the mating housing21with the fitting complete state maintained, which can suppress occurrence of contact point slide. In this case, the contact pressure between the terminals can be set to be low compared to the movable connectors10according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and thus advantageously the insertion force during connection work can be further reduced.

From the viewpoint of preventing positional deviation of the fitting position in the fitting direction and the extraction direction between the movable housing12and the mating housing21, the second housing12and the mating housing21may be provided with a press-fitting portion so that a friction force (interhousing friction force) for positional deviation prevention may be generated in the fitting complete state, for example. This friction force composes an “extraction force” for suppressing occurrence of contact point slide when the movable housing12is displaced in the extraction direction, together with the contact pressure between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22aand the friction force (interterminal friction force) between the contact portion13eand the mating contact portion22a. Alternatively, the movable housing12and the mating housing21may be provided with a fitting lock portion formed from an engagement protrusion and an engagement recessed portion that lock each other in the fitting complete state to prevent positional deviation.

In the embodiments described above, the mating terminal22is provided with the mating contact portion22awith a spring structure, and the terminal13of the movable connector10includes the contact portion13ein a flat plate shape. However, the terminal13may be provided with a contact portion with a spring structure, and the mating terminal22may be provided with a contact portion without a spring structure.

In the embodiments described above, an electric connector (mating connector20) is provided as an example of the “connection object”. However, the “connection object” is not limited to an electric connector, and may be a flat conductor such as an FPC and an FFC, a bus bar, a terminal such as a connection pin, an electronic part including an electric element, etc. In this case, the configuration of the movable connector10can be varied in accordance with the “connection object”.

In the embodiments described above, the bottom wall12bof the movable housing12is the “connection object abutment portion”, against which the fitting-side end portions21a1of the peripheral wall21aof the mating housing21abut. However, the structure for achieving such interhousing contact is not limited to interhousing contact made inside the fitting chamber12a1. In short, it is only necessary that there should be a portion in which the movable housing12and the mating housing21contact each other, and it is only necessary that the contact portion should be located outside the fitting chamber12a1. For example, the opening-side end portion of the peripheral wall12aof the movable housing12may contact the mating connector20or the second substrate P2.