Patent Publication Number: US-2017353022-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2016-109905, filed Jun. 1, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A technique has been proposed in which the insulating tubes covering cables to be connected to each other are made so that the insulating tubes can be connected to each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 
       FIG. 8  is a drawing showing the structure used to connect insulating tubes to each other in the prior art. 
     In this drawing,  811  is an insulating tube made of an insulating resin material, which is a tube-shaped member covering the outer periphery of an electric cable (not shown). Also,  821  is tube-shaped elastic member made of an insulating resin material which is mounted on the inside surface of the insulating tube  811  to grip the electric cable provided inside the insulating tube on the periphery. The tube-shaped elastic member  821  is preferably integrated with the insulating tube  811 . 
     On the other side,  911  is an opposing insulating tube made of an insulating resin material, which is a tube-shaped member covering the outer periphery of an electric cable (not shown). Also,  921  is opposing tube-shaped elastic member made of an insulating resin material which is mounted on the inside surface of the opposing insulating tube  911  to grip the electric cable provided inside the insulating tube on the periphery. The opposing tube-shaped elastic member  921  is preferably integrated with the opposing insulating tube  911 . 
     A mating recessed portion  825  is formed on the inner surface in the tip portion of the insulating tube  811 , and a mating protruding portion  925  is formed on the outer surface in the tip portion of the opposing insulating tube  911 . When the tip portion of the opposing insulting tube  911  is inserted into and mated with the tip portion of the insulating tube  811 , the mating recessed portion  825  is mated with the mating protruding portion  925 . The tip portion of the opposing insulating tube  911  is formed so that the diameter narrows, thereby enabling it to be inserted into the tip portion of the insulating tube  811 . In this way, the insulating tube  811  and the opposing insulating tube  911  are reliably connected. 
     Patent Document 1: Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-210071 
     SUMMARY 
     In the connecting structure of the prior art, the mating recessed portion  825  and the mating protruding portion  925  are unlikely to become unmated when pulling force, that is, detaching force, is applied in the longitudinal direction of the insulating tube  811  and the opposing insulating tube  911 . However, the mating recessed portion  825  and the mating protruding portion  925  are more likely to become unmated and disconnected when detaching force is applied obliquely to the insulating tube  811  and the opposing insulating tube  911  due to leverage. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to solve the problem associated with the prior art by providing a highly reliable connector with a simple configuration which does not become easily unmated even when detaching force is applied in an oblique direction. 
     The present disclosure is a connector comprising a first connector including a first housing and a second connector including a second housing to be mated with the first housing, the first housing including a substantially cylindrical first mating portion formed on the front end, the second housing including a substantially second mating portion formed on the front end and able to receive the inserted first mating portion, and the second mating portion also including a separating space, a mating main body portion separated by the separating space, and a mating main body deformation restricting portion for restricting the amount of deformation of the mating main body portion. 
     In another connector, the first mating portion includes a first engaging portion formed on the outer periphery thereof, and the second mating portion includes a second engaging portion formed on the inner periphery thereof and able to engage the first engaging portion. 
     In yet another connector, the separating space is a slit-like space extending in the mating direction of the second mating portion, the mating main body portion is positioned inside the separating space, and the mating main body restricting portion is positioned outside the separating space. 
     In still another connector, the separating space is a cylindrical space surrounding the entire outer periphery of the mating main body portion, and the mating main body restricting portion surrounds the entire outer periphery of the separating space. 
     This connector does not become easily unmated even when detaching force is applied in an oblique direction. The result is a more reliable connector with a simple configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  are a set of three views showing a first connector mated with a second connector in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which  FIG. 1A  is a rear view of the second connector,  FIG. 1B  is a side view, and  FIG. 1C  is a rear view of the first connector. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view from arrows A-A in  FIG. 1B  showing the first connector mated with the second connector in the embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  are a set of three views showing the first housing of the first connector in the embodiment, in which  FIG. 3A  is a front view,  FIG. 3B  is a side view, and  FIG. 3C  is a rear view. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a pair of views showing the first housing of the first connector in the embodiment, in which  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view from the front and  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view from arrows B-B in  FIG. 3B . 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are a set of three views showing the second housing of the second connector in the embodiment, in which  FIG. 5A  is a rear view,  FIG. 5B  is a side view, and  FIG. 5C  is a front view. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a pair of views showing the second housing of the second connector in the embodiment, in which  FIG. 6A  is a perspective view from the rear and  FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view from arrows C-C in  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 2  showing the first housing mated with the second housing in the embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a drawing showing the structure used to connect insulating tubes to each other in the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following is a detailed explanation of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  are a set of three views showing a first connector mated with a second connector in an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view from arrows A-A in  FIG. 1B  showing the first connector mated with the second connector in the embodiment.  FIG. 1A  is a rear view of the second connector,  FIG. 1B  is a side view, and  FIG. 1C  is a rear view of the first connector. 
     In these drawings,  1  is the first connector in the embodiment and  101  is the second connector in the embodiment. As shown in the figures, the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  are mated with each other and connected. 
     The connectors in the present embodiment can be any type of connector used for any type of application. For example, the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  may be board connectors mounted on the surface of a board such as a printed circuit board. One of the connectors may be a socket (or receptacle) mounted on a room wall (or panel) in a building and the other may be a plug connected to the end of a cable or wire. Alternatively, one of the connectors may be a board connector mounted on the surface of a board and the other may be a plug connected to the end of a cable or wire. In the following explanation, for sake of convenience, the first connector  1  is a cable connector connected to the tip of a first electric cable  91  and the second connector  101  is a cable connector connected to the tip of a second electric cable  191 . 
     In the present embodiment, the expressions indicating direction, such as upper, lower, left, right, front and rear, which are used to explain the configuration and operation of the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  are relative and not absolute. They depend on the orientation of the first connector  1 , the second connector  101 , and their constituent components shown in the drawings. When the orientation of the first connector  1 , the second connector  101 , or their constituent components changes, the interpretation changes in response to the change in orientation. 
     The first connector  1  is molded integrally from an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and includes a first housing  21  mated with a second housing  121  of the second connector  101 , a first connector main body portion  51  mounted in the first housing  21 , and a substantially cylindrical first connecting portion  54  extending from the front end of the first connector main body portion  51 . A first electric cable  91  is connected to the rear end of the first connector main body portion  51 . The first electric cable  91  is usually a long member extending to the rear of the first housing  21 . However, in the drawings, the portion extending to the rear of the first housing  21  (to the right in  FIG. 2 ) has been omitted. 
     The first housing  21  is a substantially cylindrical member extending in the mating direction of the second connector  101 , that is, in the longitudinal direction of the first connector  1 . The first housing  21  includes a first interior space  23  passing through the first housing  21  in the longitudinal direction, and a first mating portion  22  formed in the front end (the left end in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The first connector main body portion  51  is housed inside the first interior space  23  and fixed to the first housing  21 . In the example shown in the drawings, the first connecting portion  54  may be positioned entirely inside the first interior space  23 , and the tip (the left end in  FIG. 2 ) may protrude forward from the front of the first interior space  23  (to the left in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The first connecting portion  54  can be any type of connector as long as electrical contact can be made with a second connecting portion  154  in the second connector  101 . For example, it may be a plurality of protruding terminals, a plurality of cylindrical terminals for receiving inserted terminals on another connector, a plurality of band-shaped terminals, or a plurality of spherical or hemispherical terminals. The first connector main body portion  51  has a conductive trace connecting each terminal in the first connecting portion  54  to a wire in the first electric cable  91 . 
     The second connector  101  is molded integrally from an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and includes a second housing  121  mated with the first housing  21  of the first connector  1 , a second connector main body portion  151  mounted in the second housing  121 , and a second connecting portion  154  extending from the front end of the second connector main body portion  151 . A second electric cable  191  is connected to the rear end of the second connector main body portion  151 . The second electric cable  191  is usually a long member extending to the rear of the second housing  121  (to the left in  FIG. 2 ). However, in the drawings, the portion extending to the rear of the second housing  121  has been omitted. 
     The second housing  121  is a substantially cylindrical member extending in the mating direction of the first connector  1 , that is, in the longitudinal direction of the second connector  101 . The second housing  121  includes a second interior space  123  passing through the second housing  121  in the longitudinal direction, and a second mating portion  122  formed in the front end (the right end in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The second connector main body portion  151  is housed inside the second interior space  123  and fixed to the second housing  121 . In the example shown in the drawings, the second connecting portion  154  may be positioned entirely inside the second interior space  123 , and the tip (the right end in  FIG. 2 ) may protrude forward from the front of the second interior space  123  (to the right in  FIG. 2 ). In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the first mating portion  22  of the first housing  21  is inserted into the second mating portion  122  of the second housing  121 , so the tip of the second connecting portion  154  can be seen protruding forward from the second interior space  123 . 
     The second connecting portion  154  can be any type of connector as long as electrical contact can be made with the first connecting portion  54  in the first connector  1 . For example, it may be a plurality of protruding terminals, a plurality of cylindrical terminals for receiving inserted terminals on another connector, a plurality of band-shaped terminals, or a plurality of spherical or hemispherical terminals. The second connector main body portion  151  has a conductive trace connecting each terminal in the second connecting portion  154  to a wire in the second electric cable  191 . 
     The following is a detailed explanation of the configuration of the first housing  21 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  are a set of three views showing the first housing of the first connector in the embodiment, and  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a pair of views showing the first housing of the first connector in the embodiment.  FIG. 3A  is a front view,  FIG. 3B  is a side view, and  FIG. 3C  is a rear view.  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view from the front and  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view from arrows B-B in  FIG. 3B . 
     In the example shown in the drawings, the first mating portion  22  is formed so as to protrude forward (to the left in  FIG. 3B ) from the front end portion  21   f  of the main body portion  21   a  of the first housing  21 , and so as to have an outer diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the main body portion  21   a.  The first interior space  23  is a cylindrical space with a fixed inner diameter along its entire length, which extends from the rear end portion  21   r  of the main body portion  21   a  to the front end portion  22   f  of the first mating portion  22 . The front end portion  22   f  of the first mating portion  22  is substantially the front end portion of the first housing  21 . 
     The first mating portion  22  has a first protruding portion  25  formed near the front end portion  22   f  serving as the first engaging portion, and a first recessed portion  24  formed near the front end portion  21   f  of the main body portion  21   a  adjacent to the first protruding portion  25 . The outer diameter of the first protruding portion  25  is greater than the outer diameter of the first recessed portion  24 , and the first mating portion  22  has an undulating outer profile from the rear to the front. The outer diameter of the first protruding portion  25  is smaller than the outer diameter of the main body portion  21   a.    
     The section of the first protruding portion  25  near the front end portion  22   f  is a tapered front side inclined portion  25   a  whose outer diameter becomes smaller towards the front end portion  22   f,  and the section of the first protruding portion  25  near the first recessed portion  24  is a tapered rear side inclined portion  25   b  whose outer diameter becomes smaller towards the first recessed portion  24 . The section of the front protruding portion  25  between the front side inclined portion  25   a  and the rear side inclined portion  25   b  has an outer diameter whose dimensions remain nearly constant. Also, the section of the first recessed portion  24  near the front end portion  21   f  of the main body portion  21   a  is a tapered rear side inclined portion  24   a  whose diameter becomes larger towards the front end portion  21   f.  The section of the first recessed portion  24  in front of the rear side inclined portion  24   a  has an outer diameter whose dimensions remain nearly constant. Also, the inclination of the rear side inclined portion  25   b  of the first protruding portion  25  is more steep than the inclination of the front side inclined portion  25   a  and the rear side inclined portion  24   a  of the first recessed portion  24 . 
     The following is a detailed explanation of the configuration of the second housing  121 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  are a set of three views showing the second housing of the second connector in the embodiment, and  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a pair of views showing the second housing of the second connector in the embodiment.  FIG. 5A  is a rear view,  FIG. 5B  is a side view, and  FIG. 5C  is a front view.  FIG. 6A  is a perspective view from the rear and  FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view from arrows C-C in  FIG. 5B . 
     In the example shown in the drawings, the second mating portion  122  is a portion formed along a predetermined length and facing rearward (to the left in  FIG. 5B ) from the front end portion  121   f  of the main body portion  121   a  of the second housing  121 . The outer diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the main body portion  121   a.  In other words, the second housing  121  is a cylindrical member with a fixed outer diameter along the entire length from the rear end portion  121   r  to the front end portion  121   f.    
     The second mating portion  122  has a separating space  127  which is a cylindrical slit formed so as to extend to the rear a predetermined length from the front end portion  121   f,  a cylindrical outer wall portion  126  positioned to the outside of the separating space  127  to serve as a mating main body deformation restricting portion, and a cylindrical inner wall portion  124  positioned to the inside of the separating space  127  to serve as a mating main body portion. In other words, the second mating portion  122  is separated by the separating space  127  into an outer wall portion  126  and an inner wall portion  124 . The outer wall portion  126  and the inner wall portion  124  are integrally connected to the main body portion  121   a  to the rear of the separating space  127 . 
     The inner wall portion  124  has a second protruding portion  125  formed so as to protrude inwardly as the second engaging portion. The inner diameter of the second protruding portion  125  is smaller than the inner diameter of the second interior space  123 , which is a cylindrical space with a constant inner diameter in the main body portion  121   a.  The section of the second protruding portion  125  near the front end portion  121   f  is a tapered front side protruding portion  125   a  whose inner diameter becomes larger towards the front end portion  121   a,  and the section of the second protruding portion  125  near the main body portion  121   a  is a tapered rear side inclined portion  125   b  whose inner diameter becomes larger towards the main body portion  121   a.    
     The section of the second protruding portion  125  between the front side inclined portion  125   a  and the rear side inclined portion  125   b  has an inner diameter that is substantially constant. The inclination of the rear side inclined portion  125   b  is more steep than the inclination of the front side inclined portion  125   a.    
     The following is an explanation of the operations performed to mate and connect the first connector  1  and the second connector  101 . 
       FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 2  showing the first housing mated with the second housing in the embodiment. 
     When the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  are to be mated and connected, the operator manually grasps at least the first housing  21  or the second housing  121  to adjust the orientation of the connector, bring the front end portion  22   f  of the first mating portion  22  of the first housing  21  towards the front end portion  121   f  of the second housing  121 , and align the central axes of the first housing  21  and the second housing  121  in the longitudinal direction. The operator then moves at least the first housing  21  or the second housing  121  along the central axes in the longitudinal direction to insert the first mating portion  22  into the second mating portion  122 . 
     Because the outer diameter of the first protruding portion  25  of the first mating portion  22  is greater than the inner diameter of the second protruding portion  125  of the second mating portion  122 , the second protruding portion  125  is pushed out in the radial direction when the first mating portion  22  advances towards the rear of the second mating portion  122 . Because the second mating portion  122  is separated into an outer wall portion  126  and an inner wall portion  124  by the separating space  127 , the second protruding portion  125  formed in the thin inner wall portion  124  is easily pushed out in the radial direction. Because the section of the first protruding portion  25  near the front end portion  22   f  forms a tapered front side inclined portion  25   a  and the section of the second protruding portion  125  near the front end portion  121   f  forms a tapered front side inclined portion  125   a,  the first mating portion  22  can advance smoothly into the second mating portion  122 . In the example shown in the drawings, because the inclination of the front side inclined portion  125   a  of the second protruding portion  125  is gentle, the first mating portion  22  can advance even more smoothly into the second mating portion  122 . 
     When the first protruding portion  25  overcomes the second protruding portion  125 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  are mated and connected to each other. In  FIG. 7 , for the sake of convenience, only the first housing  21  and the second housing  121  are depicted. The other components have been omitted. 
     When the first housing  21  and the second housing  121  have been mated and the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  are connected to each other, the first protruding portion  25  and the second protruding portion  125  are engaged, and the first mating portion  22  and the second mating portion  122  are mated in the state shown in  FIG. 7 . In other words, the first mating portion  22  is fitted into the second mating portion  122 , the first protruding portion  25  of the first mating portion  22  engages the section of the second mating portion  122  to the rear of the second protruding portion  125 , and the first recessed portion  24  of the first mating portion  22  engages the second protruding portion  125  of the second mating portion  122 . Also, the rear side inclined portion  25   b  in the first protruding portion  25  of the first mating portion  22  engages the rear side inclined portion  125   b  of the second protruding portion  125  of the second mating portion  122 . 
     More specifically, the first protruding portion  25  of the first mating portion  22  is fitted from the inside of the second mating portion  122  to the rear of the second mating portion  122 , the second protruding portion  125  of the second mating portion  122  is fitted from the outside of the first mating portion  22  into the first recessed portion  24  of the first mating portion  22 , and the outer peripheral surface of the first mating portion  22  and the inner peripheral surface of the second mating portion  122  make contact with each other or are close to each other along the entire length. The section of the first protruding portion  25  between the front side inclined portion  25   a  and the rear side inclined portion  25   b  and the rear side inclined portion  25   b  face, respectively, the section of the second mating portion  122  to the rear of the second protruding portion  125  and the rear side inclined portion  125   b  of the second protruding portion  125 , and the rear side inclined portion  24   a  of the second protruding portion  125  and the section to the front of the rear side inclined portion  24   a  face, respectively, the front side inclined portion  125   a  of the second protruding portion  125  and the section between the front side inclined portion  125   a  and the rear side inclined portion  125   b . Also, the front end portion  21   f  of the main body portion  21   a  of the first housing  21  and the front end portion  121   f  of the main body portion  121   a  of the second housing  121  make contact with each other or closely face each other. 
     When the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  have been connected in this manner, the first protruding portion  25  of the first mating portion  22  engages the portion of the second mating portion  122  to the rear of the second protruding portion  125 , the first recessed portion  24  of the first mating portion  22  engages the second protruding portion  125  of the second mating portion  122 , and the rear side inclined portion  25   b  of the first protruding portion  25  of the first mating portion  22  engages the rear side inclined portion  125   b  of the second protruding portion  125  of the second mating portion  122 . Therefore, when force is applied to unmated the first connector  1  and the second connector  101 , that is, when pulling force or detaching force is applied in the longitudinal direction of the first housing  21  and the second housing  121 , the connectors are not easily unmated. In the example shown in the drawing, the rear side inclined portion  25   b  of the first protruding portion  25  of the first mating portion  22  and the rear side inclined portion  125   b  of the second protruding portion  125  of the second mating portion  122  engage each other at a steep inclination, they are difficult to disengage. Therefore, the first mating portion  22  and the second mating portion  122  are not easily unmated. 
     However, when the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  are connected, and the first connector  1  and/or the second connector  101  are tampered with, that is, detaching force is applied in an oblique direction relative to the central axis of the first connector  1  and/or the second connector  101  in the longitudinal direction, a leveraging action is produced, causing the inner wall portion  124  formed by the second protruding portion  125  to become significantly deformed, and raising concern that the first mating portion  22  and the second mating portion  122  will become unmated. However, in the present embodiment, an outer wall portion  126  is present to the outside of the inner wall portion  124 , the extent of the deformation to the outside of the inner wall portion  124  is restricted by contact with the outer wall portion  126 , and concern is allayed as the first mating portion  22  and the second mating portion  122  are not easily unmated. 
     In the example shown in the drawing, if pulling force were applied to the first housing  21  downward and to the right obliquely, turning moment would be applied to the first mating portion  22  in the clockwise direction around the lower end. This turning moment is increased even more by the leverage action when the point of action of the pulling force downward and to the right obliquely on the first housing  21  is farther from the first mating portion  22 . As a result, greater force acting upward and to the right obliquely from the upper end of the first mating portion  22  is applied to the upper end of the second mating portion  122 , and the upper end of the inner wall portion  124  is deformed to the outside. However, because the outer wall portion  126  is present along the entire outer periphery of the inner wall portion  124  via the separating space  127 , the extent of the deformation upward on the upper end of the inner wall portion  124  is limited by contact with the outer wall portion  126  and is not significant. Therefore, the upper end of the first protruding portion  25  easily overcomes the upper end of the second protruding portion  125  and does not move to the rear (to the right in the drawing), and the first mating portion  22  and the second mating portion  122  do not easily become unmated. 
     Thus, the present embodiment is a connector comprising a first connector  1  including a first housing  21  and a second connector  101  including a second housing  121  to be mated with the first housing  21 . The first housing  21  includes a substantially cylindrical first mating portion  22  formed on the front end, the second housing  121  includes a substantially second mating portion  122  formed on the front end and able to receive the inserted first mating portion  22 , and the second mating portion  122  also includes a separating space  127 , an inner wall portion  124  separated by the separating space  127 , and an outer wall portion  126  restricting the extent of any deformation of the inner wall portion  124 . 
     When the first housing  21  and the second housing  121  are mated and the first connector  1  and the second connector  101  are connected in this way, the first housing  21  and the second housing  121  do not easily become unmated even when detaching force is applied in an oblique direction. The result is a highly reliable connector with a simple configuration. 
     Also, the first mating portion  22  includes a first protruding portion  25  formed on the outer periphery thereof, and the second mating portion  122  includes a second protruding portion  125  formed on the inner periphery thereof and able to engage the first protruding portion  25 . As a result, the first protruding portion  25  engages the second protruding portion  125 , preventing unmating of the first mating portion  22  and the second mating portion  122 . 
     In addition, the separating space  127  is a slit-like space extending in the mating direction of the second mating portion  122 , the inner wall portion  124  is positioned to the inside of the separating space  127 , and the outer wall portion  126  is positioned to the outside of the separating space  127 . Furthermore, the separating space  127  is a cylindrical space surrounding the entire outer periphery of the inner wall portion  124 , and the outer wall portion  126  surrounds the entire outer periphery of the separating space  127 . Preferably, the outer wall portion  126  seamlessly surrounds the entire outer periphery of the separating space  127 . Therefore, even when detaching force is applied in an oblique direction, the extent of the deformation of the inner wall portion  124  to the outside is restricted by contact with the outer wall portion  126 . 
     In the disclosure of the present specification, characteristics related to specific preferred embodiments were described. A person of ordinary skill in the art could naturally devise other embodiments, modifications, and variations with reference to the disclosure of the present specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.