Abstract:
A small connector device having large adjusting amount and satisfactory assembly workability, in which a plug fits into and electrically connects to a socket, includes a socket main body and a socket cover attached to an attachment substrate. The socket main body and the socket cover are respectively assembled to the attachment hole of the attachment substrate from opposite directions to sandwich the attachment substrate by a collar part of the socket main body and a collar part of the socket cover, and the socket main body and the socket cover are slidably supported in an integrated manner.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a connector device, for example, a connector device for electrically connecting electrical equipments incorporated in a pinball or pachinko game machine. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventionally, for example, a self-aligning connector is known for the connector device. (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-93270). 
   A self-aligning connector is proposed in which a connector guide member 10 including a plate spring 19 is play-fit attached to a hole 91 of a panel 90 so as to be movable in the inserting direction and a plug connector housing 20 is play-fit attached to the connector guide member 10 so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the inserting direction. 
   However, in the connector device described above, the position adjustable range in the direction intersecting the inserting direction is only the gap between an inner flange 14 and an elastic attachment strip 24, as shown in FIG. 5 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-93270, and thus the adjusting amount is small and assembly workability is not satisfactory. The floor area of the connector guide member 10 must be increased when attempting to increase the adjusting amount, which enlarges the device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a small connector device having a large adjusting amount and satisfactory assembly workability. 
   In order to overcome such problem, a connector device according to the present invention is a connector device for fitting and electrically connecting a plug to a socket including a socket main body and a socket cover attached to an attachment substrate, wherein the socket main body and the socket cover are assembled from opposite directions to an attachment hole of the attachment substrate to sandwich the attachment substrate by a collar part of the socket main body and a collar part of the socket cover, and the socket main body and the socket cover are slidably supported in an integrated manner. 
   According to the present invention, the socket main body and the socket cover can be integrally sled and position adjusted even if the attachment accuracy of the plug is low since the socket main body and the socket cover engaged and integrated by way of an attachment hole of an attachment substrate are integrally slidable, and assembly workability becomes satisfactory. In particular, since position is adjustable by a gap between the attachment hole of the attachment substrate and the socket, the socket itself does not need to be enlarged, and a connector device smaller than in the prior art is obtained. 
   According to an embodiment of the present invention, the socket main body and the socket cover are removably engaged and integrated from opposite directions to an attachment hole of the attachment substrate to sandwich the attachment substrate by a collar part of the socket main body and a collar part of the socket cover, and the socket main body and the socket cover are slidably supported in an integrated manner. 
   According to the present embodiment, one-touch attachment becomes possible by assembling the socket main body and the socket cover in a removably engaging and integrating manner, whereby a connector device of more satisfactory assembly workability is obtained. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of positioning projections contacting at least one surface of the attachment substrate is arranged in a projecting manner on the collar part of the socket main body and/or socket cover. 
   According to the present embodiment, the coefficient of friction becomes small since the positioning projections arranged on the collar part of the socket main body and/or the socket cover point contact the attachment substrate, whereby the socket smoothly slides and the assembly workability further enhances. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, the socket is slidably attached to an attachment plate arranged on a front surface of a pinball game machine main body and a plug is attached to a rear surface of a game board arranged on the front surface side of the attachment plate at a position facing the socket, and the plug is fitted into and electrically connected to the socket. 
   According to the present embodiment, the assembly work of the pinball game machine is facilitated, skilled person is not necessary, and the assembly workability at the site is enhanced. 
   According to another further embodiment of the present invention, the socket is slidably attached to an attachment plate arranged on a rear surface of a pinball game machine main body and a plug is attached to a ball discharging unit arranged on a rear surface side of the pinball game machine main body at a position facing the socket, and the plug is fitted into and electrically connected to the socket. 
   According to the present embodiment, the assembly work of the pinball game machine is facilitated, skilled person is not necessary, and the assembly workability at the site is enhanced similar to the previous embodiment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a connector device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show perspective views of a socket main body shown in  FIG. 2  seen from different angles; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show perspective views of a connection pin incorporated in the socket main body shown in  FIG. 3  and including a lead wire seen from different angles; 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show perspective view and cross sectional perspective view of a socket cover shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show perspective views of the socket cover shown in  FIG. 2  seen from different angles; 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show perspective view and cross sectional perspective view of the plug shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show perspective view and cross sectional perspective view of the plug shown in  FIG. 2  seen from different angles; 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are cross sectional views for describing the method of connecting the socket and the plug shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 10  shows a cross sectional view of a connection state of the socket and the plug shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  show perspective views of a socket cover and a socket main body showing a second embodiment of the connector device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  shows an exploded perspective view showing a third embodiment of the connector device according to the present invention; 
       FIGS. 13A and 13B  are perspective view and cross sectional perspective view of the plug shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  show cross sectional perspective views of the plug shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 15  shows a schematic perspective view showing a fourth embodiment applied to a pinball game machine; and 
       FIG. 16  shows a schematic perspective view showing a fifth embodiment applied to a ball discharging unit of the pinball game machine. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings  FIGS. 1 to 16 . 
   The connector device according to a first embodiment is configured by a socket  10  including a socket main body  11  and a socket cover  30 , and a plug  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   The socket main body  11  has a frame shaped collar part  12  integrally molded at the outer peripheral surface of a housing  13  having a solid rectangular shape that can be play-fitted to a fit-in hole  52  of an attachment substrate  51 , to be hereinafter described, as shown in  FIG. 3 . A positioning projection  14  is arranged in a projecting manner at each corner of the frame shaped collar part  12 . Two rows of pin holes  15  are formed at a predetermined pitch in the housing  13 , and a connection pin  20 , to be hereinafter described, is press fit from below into each pin hole  15  ( FIG. 10 ). In particular, four-sided truncated pyramid guide concave parts  15   a  communicating to the pin holes  15  are formed at the upper end face of the housing  13 . Furthermore, a guide rib  16  is arranged in a projecting manner at the side surface of the long side. An elastic engagement nail  17  is integrally molded at both side surfaces of the short side, and a pair of protection ribs  18  is formed at both side edges of both side surfaces. 
   The connection pin  20  is formed by performing press work on a conductive plate member to form a pair of elastic tongue strips  21 ,  22  facing each other at the upper end, and a slip-preventing engagement nail  23  is raised at the basal end of one of the elastic tongue strips  21 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The connection pin  20  is electrically connected with a lead wire  50  by way of a caulked part  24  formed at the lower end. 
   The socket cover  30  is formed with a fit-in hole  31   a  that can be fitted to the socket main body  10  at the center of a plate shaped collar part  31  formed with positioning convex part  31   a , concave part  31   b  at the opposing outer peripheral edges, and an annular cover part  32  arranged in a projecting manner at the peripheral edge of the upper surface, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The annular cover part  32  has a guide supporting column  33  integrally molded at the corner thereof, and has a fit-in rib  34  integrally molded at one side surface on the long side. An engagement hole  35  is formed at both side surfaces of the short side of the annular cover part  32 . Furthermore, an annular rib  36  that can be play-fit to the attachment hole  51  of the attachment substrate  51 , to be hereinafter described, is arranged in a projecting manner at the central part of the lower surface of the plate shaped collar part  31 . 
   According to the present embodiment, die manufacturing of the socket cover  30  is facilitated, and production cost is reduced since a great number of terminal holes does not need to be formed in the socket cover  30 , and only one fit-in hole simply needs to be formed. 
   The plug  40  has an outer peripheral shape that can be fitted into the socket cover  30  and includes an insertion hole  41  to which the guide supporting column part  33  is inserted at four corners, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In particular, since an annular tapered surface  42  of circular truncated pyramid shape is formed at the lower opening edge of the insertion hole  41 , positioning with respect to the socket cover  30  is facilitated, and the assembly work is facilitated. Furthermore, the plug  40  has the press-fit pins  43  arranged at a predetermined pitch on the top surface, and also has engagement pins  44  arranged thereon. Elastic engagement parts  44   a ,  44   a  branched into two are formed at the upper end of the engagement pin  44 . A positioning projection  45  is arranged in a projecting manner from the upper end face of the plug  40 . 
   The method of connecting the socket  10  and the plug  40  will now be described based on  FIGS. 2 ,  9 , and  10 . 
   First, the annular rib  36  of the socket cover  30  is fitted from the upper side and positioned in the attachment hole  52  of the attachment substrate  51  formed with a concave part  53  and a convex part  54  at the opposing opening edges. The housing part  13  of the socket main body  11  is then inserted from the lower side to the fit-in hole  31   a  of the socket cover  30 , where the elastic engagement nail  17  arranged on the housing part  13  engages the engagement hole  35  formed in the socket cover  30  so that the attachment substrate  51  is slidably sandwiched between the frame shaped collar part  12  of the socket main body  11  and the plate shaped collar part  31  of the socket cover  30 . The guide concave parts  15   a  of the socket main body  11  are exposed from the opening of the annular cover  32  of the socket cover  30 , but the exposed surface is lowered by one step from the opening edge of the annular cover  32 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the terminals  43   a  of the press-fit pins  43  of the plug  40  are inserted to the terminal holes  56  of the print substrate  55 , the elastic engagement parts  44   a ,  44   a  of the engagement pins  44 ,  44  are elastically engaged to the engagement hole  57  of the print substrate  55 , and the positioning projection  45  of the plug  40  is inserted to the positioning hole  58 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , assembling is performed after positioning the insertion holes  41  of the plug  40  above the guide supporting columns  33  of the socket  10  slidably attached to the attachment substrate  51 . The upper ends of the guide supporting columns  33  are guided by the annular tapered surface  42  of the insertion hole  41  ( FIG. 9A ), so that the socket  10  is sled and automatically position adjusted. Thus, the guide supporting columns  33  are inserted to the insertion holes  41  ( FIG. 9B ), and the press-fit parts  43   b  of the press-fit pins  43  are press fit between the elastic tongue strips  21  and  22  of the connection pin  20 , and electrically connected ( FIG. 10 ). Here, since the exposed surface or the upper end face of the socket main body  11  is one step lower from the opening of the annular cover  32  of the socket cover  30 , positioning work is facilitated and thus work becomes easier. 
   The socket  10  according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as in the first embodiment and differs in the fit-in structure of the socket cover  30  and the socket main body  11 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
   That is, in the present embodiment, the guide concave parts  32   a  of four-sided truncated pyramid communicating to the pin holes  15  of the socket man body  15  are formed in the top surface of the socket cover  30  at a predetermined pitch, and the guide concave part of the socket main body  11  is eliminated so that the upper end of the connection pin  20  is exposed. Same reference characters are denoted for the same components, and the description thereof will be omitted. 
   According to the present embodiment, the strength of the socket cover  30  enhances since the upper end face of the socket cover  30  is not merely an opening but has a frame shape. 
   The third embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment but differs in the attachment structure of the plug  40  with respect to the print substrate  55 , as shown in  FIGS. 12 to 14 . 
   That is, the plug  40  according to the present embodiment has the engagement pin  46  arranged in a projecting manner at the corners of the upper end face. 
   According to the present embodiment, the connector having a smaller floor area is obtained since the space of the fit-in insertion hole  41  is also used as the substrate attachment space. 
   The engagement pin  44  according to the first embodiment may be arranged at four corners of the plug  40  to be engaged and integrated. 
   The fourth embodiment shows a case where the connector device according to the previous embodiments is applied to electrical connection of the pinball game machine  60 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
   In the pinball game machine  60  according to the present embodiment, the pinball game machine main body  61  is hinge supported at the machine frame  62 , and the play board  63  is rotatably supported on the front surface side of the pinball game machine main body  61 . Furthermore, a glass door frame  65  attached with a transparent glass  64  is hinge supported at the front side of the play board  63 . 
   According to the present embodiment, the socket  10  is slidably attached to the attachment plate  61   a  of the front surface side of the pinball game machine main body  61 , and the plug  40  is attached to the rear surface of the play board  63  by way of the print substrate  55 . Thus, even if the assembly accuracy of the play board  63  with respect to the pinball game machine main body  61  is low, the plug  40  can be fitted into the socket  10  as the socket  10  is sled and position adjusted on the attachment plate  61   a . As a result, the connection workability at the site is facilitated, skilled person is not necessary, and pinball game machine  60  having high productivity is obtained. 
   The fifth embodiment shows a case where the connector device according to the previous embodiments is applied to a ball discharging unit  70  of the pinball game machine  60 . 
   The ball discharging unit  70  arranged on the rear surface side of the pinball machine main body  61  has ball feeding tubular body  71  of one part thereof rotatably hinge supported with respect to the attachment plate  61   b . The plug  40  is attached to the front surface side of the ball feeding tubular body  71  by way of the print substrate  55 . The socket  10  is slidably attached to the attachment plate  61   b  arranged on the rear surface side of the pinball machine main body  61 . 
   According to the present embodiment, the plug  40  is fitted into the socket  10  and electrically connected even if the attachment accuracy of the plug  40  with respect to the ball feeding tubular body  71  is low since the socket  10  is sled and position adjusted. Thus, similar to the fourth embodiment, even if the attachment accuracy is low, the connection task at the site is facilitated, skilled person is not necessary, and pinball game machine  60  having high productivity is obtained. 
   The connector device according to the present invention is not limited to applications to pinball game machine and pachinko-slot game machine, and may obviously be applied to the connection of other electrical equipments.