Electrical connector

Abstract: A contact element 2 comprises a wiring section 2A, a fixing section 2B, a spring section 2C, a contact section 2D, and a guided section 2E. The contact element is held by the fixing section 2B in a receiving slot 5 of a contact support 3. The contact section 2D is bent so as to project from a window 5A of the contact support 3. The spring section is bent to provide a flexible portion between the fixing and contact sections. The guided section 2E extends obliquely with respect to the plugging direction of the connector for sliding contact with a guiding section 5A1 of the window 5A. The contact and fixing sections 2D and 2B are spaced in the direction perpendicular to the plugging direction.

Description: The present invention relates to press-contact type electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector with a contact element not fitted to but merely pressed against a contact element of a mating connector. EP0 561 405 A discloses such an electrical connector as shown in Fig. 3, wherein a pair of connectors 50 and 60 have a pair of housings 51 and 61 in which contact elements 52 and 62 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet. The contact sections 52A and 62A of the contact elements are abutted against each other in the plugging direction for making an electrical connection. The contact sections 52A and 62A are made convex and project from the windows 53A and 63A of front covers 53 and 63 so that when the connectors 50 and 60 are plugged in, they are flexed into the interiors of the front covers 53 and 63. That is, the contact sections 52A and 62A are moved inwardly of the front covers 53 and 63 as shown by arrows 54 and 64 of Fig. 3. Thus, the contact elements 52 and 62 are electrically connected with a predetermined pressure. In the connector of Fig. 3, the contact sections 52A and 62A of contact elements 52 and 62 are bent at the curved portions 55 and 65 and moved only in the direction shown by the arrows 54 and 64. Consequently, the contact sections 52A and 62A are not rubbed each other. As a result, dust and dirt adheres to the contact sections and causes poor contact. US Patent Specification No. 5,306,177 describes a connector having a spring contact portion extending from a base portion, with the spring contact portion extending through a face of an insulated housing. The free end of the spring contact portion is shaped to stop against the base portion and act as an anti-overstress mechanism, which limits the degree of movement of the contact portion and therefore the degree of wiping of the contact which may be achieved. Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector capable of producing self-cleaning effects, thus providing stable electrical connection. This object is achieved by the invention claimed in claim 1. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the invention before connection to a mating connector; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the electrical connector in connection with the mating connector; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional electrical connector. In Fig. 1, an electrical connector 1 comprises a housing 4, a contact support 3, and a contact element 2 supported in the contact support 3. The contact support 3 is made from an insulative material so as to have a substantially cubit form. A plurality of receiving slits 5 are provided in the contact support 3 at regular intervals in the direction perpendicular to the sheet. Each receiving slit 5 has a front window 5A, a rear opening 5B, and a substantially square space between them. Each contact element 2 is made by bending a metal strip so as to provide a wiring section 2A, a fixing section 2B, a spring section 2C, a contact section 2D, a guided section 2E, and an engaging section 2F. An engaging claw (not shown) is provided on the fixing section 2B of a contact element 2 to hold the contact element 2 in place in the receiving slot 5. The rear portion of the contact element extends rearwardly from the contact support 3 and bent in an S-shape to form the wiring section 2A to which a core wire C1 of a cable C is soldered. The spring section 2C extends forwardly from the fixing section 2B in a U-shaped form. The contact section 2D extends forwardly from the spring section 2C in a C-shaped form which projects from the window 5A of the contact support 3. The guided section 2E extends obliquely from the contact section 2D toward the free end. The free end is bent to form the engaging section 2F for contact with the inside wall of the contact support 3 and functions as a stopper. The guided section 2E is abutted against a guiding section 5A1 of the window 5A. It is preferred that the guiding section 5A1 has a sloping face extending along the guided section 2E. The contact elements 2 are arranged alternately upside down in the receiving slots 5 as shown in Fig. 1. A reversed receiving slot 5' and wiring section 2A' are shown by a phantom line and a solid line, respectively. A fitting section 6 and a locking hook 6A are provided on each side of the housing 4 for connection with a mating connector. A mating connector 10 comprises a housing 11 and a contact element 12 attached to the housing at a position corresponding to the contact element 2. The contact element 12 has a contact section 12A on the front face of the housing 11. The electrical connector 1 is connected to the mating connector 10 as follows. In Fig. 2, the connector 1 is guided by the fitting sections 6 for connection to the mating connector 10 and locked by the locking hooks 6A in place. As the connector 1 is moved to the above locking position, the contact section 2D of the contact element 2 is pressed against the contact section 12A of the contact element 12 and moved back into the receiving slot 5. This movement is made possible by the elastic deformation of the spring section 2C. Since the guided section 2E slides on the oblique guiding section 5A1 of the window 5A, the contact section 2D moves in the same oblique direction. That is, the contact section 2D moves both in the first direction in which it moves into the interior of the receiving slot 5 and in the second direction (upward direction) which is perpendicular to the first direction. The latter movement makes friction with the contact section 12A of the contact element 12. Consequently, the contact sections 2D and 12A are rubbed each other to wipe out dust and dirt from the contact sections, thus providing a stable electrical connection. The shape of the spring section may be modified, as far as there is a space between the contact section and the fixing section 2B in the vertical direction to allow the vertical (upward) movement of the contact section, thus providing the wiping effect. As has been described above, the contact section is moved in the vertical (upward) direction as well as in the horizonal direction (plugging direction) so that the wiping effect is produced to clean the contact sections, assuring a stable electrical connection. The contact elements have a simple shape so that it is easy to manufacture.

Claims: An electrical connector (1) comprising: a contact support (3) with at least one receiving slot (5) having a front opening (5A), said front opening being provided with a guiding section (5A1); at least one contact element (2) provided in said receiving slot (5) and having a wiring section (2A) at one end and a free end (2F) at the other end in said receiving slot and a contact section (2D) adjacent to said free end (2F) and projecting from said opening (5A) so that when said electrical connector (1) is plugged into a mating connector (10), it is brought into contact with a contact section (12A) of said mating connector (10) and pushed rearwardly by said mating connector, whereby said contact element (2) further comprises a fixing section (2B), a spring section (2C), and a guided section (2E) in an order from said wiring section (2A) to said free end (2F); said fixing section (2B) is held in said receiving slot (5) to hold said contact element (2) in place in said receiving slot; said contact section (2D) is made convex so as to project from said front opening (5A); said spring section (2C) is bent to provide a flexible portion between said fixing and contact sections (28, 2D) ; said contact section (2D) is spaced from said fixing section (2B) in a direction perpendicular to said plugging direction; characterized in that said guided section (2E) extends obliquely with respect to a plugging direction of said electrical connector (1) and is placed in contact with said guiding section (5A1), wherein when said electrical connector is plugged into said mating connector (10), said guided section (2E) slides on said guiding section (5A1) in the oblique direction with respect to said plugging direction so that said contact section (2D) moves in the same oblique direction. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said guiding section (5A1) of said front opening (5A) has a guiding surface made along a sliding direction of said guided section (2E) of said contact element (2).

Inventors: ASO TATSUAKI, ASO, TATSUAKI
Applicants: HIROSE ELECTRIC CO LTD, HIROSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01R12
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R4