Patent Publication Number: US-10333251-B2

Title: Electrical connection device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an electrical connection device for electrically connecting members coupled to each other to be relatively rotatable. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Devices provided with connectors that are connectable to each other are used widely for electrically connecting circuits. Each connector includes a connector terminal to be connected to a predetermined circuit via a wire or the like and a connector housing for holding the connector terminal. The circuits connected to the respective connectors are connected electrically by connecting the connector terminals of the respective connectors. 
     Each connector is used by being mounted at a suitable location of a vehicle or the like via a suitable mounting member. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-190806 that connectors of an electrical connection device are mounted on a vehicle body via fixing brackets. 
     Members on which the connectors are mounted include members to be coupled to each other and to be relatively rotatable within a predetermined range such as on: a vehicle body and a door, a vehicle body and a door mirror, and a steering shaft and a member for rotatably supporting the steering shaft. A wiring material often is routed in two members that are planned to rotate relative to one another, and the connectors are connected by connecting the connectors to the respective wiring materials. In this situation, one connector has to be separated from the member on which this connector is mounted, and has to be connected to the other connector to enable relative rotation regardless of the connector connection. Such operations of separating and connecting connectors are both cumbersome and have to be performed manually. This impedes an improvement of working efficiency. 
     The invention aims to provide an electrical connection device capable of efficiently electrically connecting members to be coupled to each other to be relatively rotatable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is directed to an electrical connection device for establishing electrical connection between a first wiring material wired in a first member and a second wiring, material wired in a second member to be coupled to the first member in a coupling direction along a predetermined rotation center axis and to be relatively rotatable about the rotation center axis. The electrical connection device includes a first connector to be connected to the first wiring material and fixed to the first member. The electrical connection device also includes a second connector to be connected to the second wiring material and mounted on the first member and configured to form the electrical connection by being connected to the first connector in a specific connecting direction. A connector holding member is linked to the second member and is configured to hold the second connector at a position where the first and second connectors are capable of facing each other in the connecting direction with the first and second members coupled. The connector holding member holds the second connector in such a manner as to allow the second connector to be separated from the connector holding member in the connecting direction upon application of an external force to the second connector in the connecting direction. The electrical connection device further includes a connecting operating member to be held in a holding connector selected from the first and second connectors and is relatively movable in an operating direction intersecting the connecting direction. The connecting operating member includes a connector operating portion that is configured to connect the first and second connectors to each other by pulling an operated connector on a side opposite to the holding connector toward the holding connector along the connecting direction. The connector operating portion further is configured to separate the second connector from the connector holding member in the connecting direction by being relatively moved in the operating direction with respect to the holding connector in a state where the first and second members are coupled and the first and second connectors are facing each other in the connecting direction. 
     Here, that “the first and second connectors are facing each other in the connecting direction” means both a state where the first and second connectors are facing each other at a distance in the connecting direction and a state where the first and second connectors are in a temporarily connected state to partially overlap each other in the connecting direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first member, a second member and an electrical connection device arranged around the first and second members according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state before the first and second members are coupled. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view in section showing a structure for engaging a connector holding member and a second connector in the electrical connection device. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state where the first and second members are coupled to each other and a first connector and the second connector are facing each other. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view partly in section showing a relative positional relationship of operating surfaces of a connecting operating member and operated portions of the second connector in a state shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view in section showing a state where the connecting operating member is operated from the state shown in  FIG. 4  to a position where the operating surfaces of the connecting operating member come into contact with the operated portions. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a state where the connecting operating member is further operated from the state shown in  FIG. 5  to completely connect the first and second connectors. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view in section showing the state shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view partly in section showing a relative positional relationship of the operating surfaces of the connecting operating member and the operated portions of the second connector in a state, equivalent to the state shown in  FIG. 4 , where the operated portions are located at positions higher than those shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front view in section showing a state where the connecting operating member is operated from the state shown in  FIG. 8  to the position where the operating surfaces of the connecting operating member come into contact with the operated portions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. 
     An electrical connection device according to this embodiment is for electrically connecting first wiring materials W 1  wired in a first member M 1  and second wiring materials W 2  wired in a second member M 2  that is to be coupled to the first member M 1  to be relatively rotatable within a predetermined range. The electrical connection device includes a first connector  10 , a second connector  20 , a connector holding member  30  and a connecting operating member  40 . 
     In this embodiment, the first member M 1  is in the form of a cylinder or hollow cylinder extending in a vertical direction, and an upper end part thereof constitutes a fit-in portion  2  having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface with a diameter smaller than other parts. The second member M 2  is in the form of a cylinder or hollow cylinder having a lower end into which the fit-in portion  2  is fittable. By fitting the fit-in portion  2  into the second member M 2 , the first and second members M 1 , M 2  are coupled in a coupling direction (direction indicated by arrows Dc in  FIG. 1 ) along a rotation center axis equivalent to center axes of the first and second members M 1 , M 2  to be relatively rotatable about the rotation center axis. 
     In this embodiment, the first member M 1  is arranged on a lower side and the second member M 2  is arranged on an upper side, but the arrangement of first and second members according to the invention is not limited. Further, the shapes of the first and second members also are not limited. 
     The first connector  10  is connected to ends of the first wiring materials W 1 . The first wiring materials W 1  are routed, for example, to extend along the outer peripheral surface of the first member M 1 . 
     The first connector  10  includes unillustrated connector terminals (male connector terminals in this embodiment) and a connector housing  12 . The connector terminals are connected respectively to the ends of the first wiring materials W 1 . The connector housing  12  holds rear parts of the respective connector terminals while leaving tip parts (male electrical contact portions) thereof. The connector housing  12  includes a receptacle  11  surrounding the tip parts of the respective connector terminals and fixed at a predetermined location of the first member M 1 , i.e. on the outer peripheral surface near the fit-in portion  2  in this embodiment, with the receptacle  11  facing up toward the second member M 2 . The first connector  10  may be fixed to the first member M 1  by directly holding both in contact or by coupling the first connector  10  to the first member M 1  via a bracket or the like. 
     The first connector  10  according to this embodiment functions as a holding connector for holding the connecting operating member  40 . Specifically, the first connector  10  includes the connector housing  12  and two connecting operating member holding portions  14  integrally molded to the connector housing  12 . The connecting operating member  40  and the connecting operating member holding portions  14  are described in detail later. 
     The second connector  20  is connected to ends of the second wiring materials W 2 . The second wiring materials W 2  are routed, for example, to extend along the outer peripheral surface of the second member M 2 , in a manner similar to the first wiring materials W 1 . 
     The second connector  20  includes unillustrated connector terminals (female connector terminals in this embodiment), a connector housing  22 , a cover  24  and a held portion  26 . 
     The connector terminals are connected respectively to the ends of the first wiring materials W 2 . The connector housing  22  holds the connector terminals such that female electrical contact portions on tips of the respective connector terminals are open to the outside. The connector housing  22  has an outer shape to be able to fit into the receptacle  11  of the connector housing  12 . As the connector housing  12  is fit, the connector terminals held in the connector housing  12  and those held in the connector housing  22  are connected to each other, thereby electrically connecting the first wiring materials W 1  and the second wiring materials W 2 . That is, the first connector  10  and the second connector are connected to each other along a connecting direction parallel to a fitting direction of the connector housing  22  into the receptacle  11 , thereby enabling the first and second wiring materials W 1 , W 2  to be connected electrically. In this embodiment, the connecting direction is parallel to the vertical direction, i.e. the rotation center axis. 
     The connector housing  22  is mounted on the second member M 2  via the connector holding member  30  at a mounting position where the connector housings  12 ,  22  can face each other in the connecting direction when the first and second members M 1 , M 2  are coupled, specifically at a position on the outer peripheral surface of a lower end part of the second member M 2 . 
     That “the first and second connectors face each other in the connecting direction” mentioned herein means both a state where the first and second connectors are facing each other at a distance in the connecting direction, as described above, and a temporarily connected state where the first and second connectors partially overlap each other in the connecting direction. Similarly, “to face each other” means a state where the upper end of the receptacle  11  of the first connector  10  overlaps with the lower end of the connector housing  22  of the second connector  20 , i.e. the temporarily connected state where the connector housing  22  is fit lightly in the receptacle  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The cover  24  is shaped to cover the connector housing  22  from above. The cover  24  has a back surface  25  facing the outer peripheral surface of the second member M 2 , and the held portion  26  is formed on this back surface  25 . The held portion  26  is to be held by the connector holding member  30 . 
     The connector holding member  30  functions to hold the held portion  26  of the second connector  20  to locate the second connector  20  at the mounting position by being fixed to the second member M 2  and to allow the separation of the held portion  26  from the connector holding member  30  in the connecting direction upon application of an external force in the connecting direction, i.e. a downward external force, to the second connector  20 . 
     The connector holding member  30  according to this embodiment is in the form of a tongue piece projecting down from the outer peripheral surface of the second member M 2 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the connector holding member  30  includes a base  32  projecting out in a radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the second member M 2  and a holding portion  34  extending down from an outer side end of the base  32 , and a locking hole  37  penetrates through a lower end part of the holding portion  34  in the radial direction. 
     Note that the connector holding member according to the invention may be formed independently of the second member and joined to the second member by welding or other means or may be formed integrally to the second member, i.e. constitute a single member together with the second member. 
     On the other hand, the held portion  26  has a box shape and, together with the back surface  25  of the cover  24 , defines an insertion space. The insertion space is open upward and downward and is shaped to allow the insertion of the holding portion  34  into the insertion space through an upper end of the insertion space. The held portion  26  includes a locked projection  27  partially projecting into the insertion space, and the held portion  26  is held in the holding portion  34  by fitting the locked projection  27  into the locking hole  37  of the holding portion  34  inserted into the insertion space. Further, by applying a downward external force of a certain magnitude or larger to the second connector  20  including the held portion  26  from this state, the locked projection  27  is separated from the locking hole  37  in a downward direction, which is a separating direction, thereby enabling the held portion  26  to be detached from the holding portion  34 . 
     The connecting operating member  40  is held by the connecting operating member holding portions  14  of the first connector  10  to be relatively movable in an operating direction. The operating direction in this embodiment is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the connecting direction, as indicated by an arrow Dp in  FIG. 4 . The operating direction also is perpendicular to radial directions of the first and second members M 1 , M 2  in this embodiment and intersects the connecting direction (vertical direction in this embodiment). The connecting operating member  40  includes a connector operating portion that functions to pull the operated connector (second connector  20  in this embodiment) on a side opposite to the holding connector toward the first connector  10  (lower side in this embodiment) along the connecting direction to connect the first and second connectors to each other. The connector operating portion also can separate the second connector  20  from the connector holding member  30  in the separating direction by being operated to move the connecting operating member  40  in the operating direction with respect to the first connector  10  in a state where the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  are facing each other in the connecting direction, as described above (in this embodiment, in the temporarily connected state shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     The connecting operating member  40  according to this embodiment integrally includes two side walls  42  and an end wall  44 . The side walls  42  are juxtaposed in an operating width direction (depth direction in  FIG. 4 ), which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the operating direction, while rising up and parallel with each other. The end wall connects end parts of the side walls  42  on one side in the operating direction (rear end parts in the operating direction; right end parts in  FIG. 4 ) in the operating width direction. The connecting operating member  40  is mounted on the connector housing  12  to sandwich the receptacle  11  of the first connector  10  from both sides in a juxtaposing direction and is relatively movable in the operating direction (lateral direction in  FIG. 4 ) with respect to the connector housing  12  in this mounted state. 
     The two connecting operating member holding portions  14  are shaped to embrace the respective side walls  42  at positions outward of the side walls  42 . Specifically, each connecting operating member holding portion  14  integrally includes a bottom wall  15  and an outer side wall  16 . The bottom wall  15  supports the corresponding side wall  42  at a position below this side wall  42 . The outer side wall  16  extends up from an outer end of the bottom wall  15  to sandwich the side wall  42  between an outer side surface of the receptacle  11  and the outer side wall  16 . Specifically, the connecting operating member holding portion  14  holds the side wall  42  of the connecting operating member  40  at the position outward of the side wall  42  while allowing, the side wall  42  of the connecting operating member  40  to slide in the operating direction along the outer side surface of the receptacle  11 . 
     Further, the connecting operating member holding portions  14  function to lock the connecting, operating member  40  detachably at an operation start position, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and at an operation end position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The operation end position is downstream of the operation start position in the operating direction; which is the left position in  FIG. 4 . In other words, the connecting operating member  40  can be locked detachably at each of the operation start position and the operation end position. 
     Specifically, an upwardly deflecting piece  45  is formed on a lower end of a front part (left part in  FIG. 4 ) of the side wall  42  in the operating direction, and a locked projection  45   a  projects down on a free end part of this deflecting piece  45 . In contrast, a first locking hole  15   a  and a second locking hole  15   b  are formed in the bottom wall  15  of the connecting operating member holding portion  14  for receiving the locking projection  45   a  fit therein when the connecting operating member  40  is at each of the operation start position and the operation end position. 
     The second connector  20 , which is the operated connector, includes two operated portions  28 . The operated portions  28  project out in the operating width direction from side surfaces of the connector housing  22  that face in the operating width direction (horizontal direction perpendicular to the operating direction; depth direction in  FIG. 4 ). The operated portions  28  are set at positions near the lower end of the connector housing  22  and near the end part  44  of the connecting operating member  40  held by the connecting operating member holding portions  14  (position near the right end in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The receptacle  11  of the connector housing  12  of the first connector  10  is formed with fitting grooves  13  corresponding to the respective operated portions  28 . Each fitting groove  13  is shaped to receive the operated portion  28  fit from above when the connector housing  22  of the second connector  20  is fit into the receptacle  11  and extends down from the upper end of the receptacle  11 . The operated portions  28  are fit into the fitting grooves  13  to enable the connector housing  22  to be fit into the receptacle  11  while avoiding interference between the operated portions  28  and the receptacle  11 . Further, a projecting distance of each operated portion  28  is set such that an end part of the operated portion  28  projects farther out than the outer side surface of the receptacle  11  with the operated portion  28  fit in the fitting groove  13 . 
     The connector operating portion of the connecting operating member  40  contacts the operated portions  28  as the connecting operating member  40  is moved in the operating direction to forcibly displace (in this embodiment, push down) the operated portions  28 . 
     Specifically, an operating groove  46  is formed in the inner side surface of each side wall  42  of the connecting operating member  40  and is recessed farther out than other inner side surfaces. The operating groove  46  receives an end part (end part projecting further outward than the receptacle  11 ) of the operated portion  28 , and an operating surface of the connector operating portion is formed by the recess of this operating groove  46 . 
     The operating groove  46  includes an insertion opening  47  and a body groove  48 . 
     The insertion opening  47  is a position to receive the operated portion  28  inserted from above with the connecting operating member  40  located at the operation start position. Specifically, the insertion opening  47  is at a position near a front end (left end in  FIG. 4 ) of each side wall  42  in the operating direction and is open up on the upper end of the side wall  42 . 
     The body groove  48  extends in a direction (right in  FIG. 4 ) opposite to the operating direction from a start end (front end in the operating direction; left end in  FIG. 4 ) located below the insertion opening  47  and gradually narrows in the vertical direction toward a terminal end (rear end in the operating direction; right end in  FIG. 4 ). A vertical width of the start end of the body groove  48  is larger than a diameter of the operating portion  28 . 
     Upper and lower ends of the body groove  48  are defined respectively by an upper end surface  48   a  and a lower end surface  48   b . The upper and lower end surfaces  48   a ,  48   b  are inclined to be lower toward the rear end (right end in  FIG. 4 ) of the side wall  42  in the operating direction (with respect to the operating direction). However, an inclination angle of the upper end surface  48   a  is larger than that of the lower end surface  48   b , and the vertical width of the body groove  48  becomes smaller toward the rear end in the operating direction by this difference in inclination angle. 
     The operating surface of the connecting operating member  40  is formed by the upper end surface  48   a  of the body groove  48 . Specifically, the upper end surface  48   a  comes into contact with the operated portion  28  in the process of operating the connecting operating member  40  in the operating direction from the operation start position ( FIG. 5 ) and pushes down the operated portion  28  and further the second connector  20  including the operated portion  28  by further continuing the operation of the connecting operating member  40  from the operation start position. The position and inclination angle of the upper end surface  48   a  are set such that the upper end surface  48   a  functions as just described. 
     Next, how to use this electrical connection device and how this electrical connection device functions are described. 
     Installation of First and Second Connectors  10 ,  20   
     Prior to electrical connection, the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  are installed respectively on the first and second members M 1 , M 2 . 
     For the first member the first wiring materials W 1  are wired around the first member M 1  with the first connector  10  connected to the ends of the first wiring materials W 1 . Further, the first connector  10  is fixed at a proper fixed position as shown in  FIG. 1 , i.e. at a position near the upper end of the first member M 1  on the outer peripheral surface of the first member M 1 . 
     For the second member M 2 , the second wiring materials W 2  are wired around the second member M 2  with the second connector  20  connected to the ends of the second wiring materials W 2 . Further, the second connector  20  is fixed at a proper fixed position, as shown in  FIG. 1  and the like, i.e. at a position near the lower end of the second member M 2  on the outer peripheral surface of the second member M 2 . Specifically, the second connector  20  is so set that the holding portion  34  is inserted into the insertion space inside the held portion  26  of the second connector  20  in a state where the base  32  of the connector holding member  30  projects from the outer peripheral surface of the second member M 2  and the holding portion  34  extends down from the outer side end of the base  32 , and the held portion  26  is held in the holding portion  34  by fitting the operated projection  27  of the held portion  26  into the locking hole  37  of the holding portion  34 . 
     Note that extra lengths are given to the second wiring materials W 2  to allow the second member M 2  to rotate with respect to the first member M 1  within a predetermined range regardless of the connection when the connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  is completed as described later. 
     Further, in this preliminary step, the connecting operating member  40  is held at the operation start position shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4  with respect to the first connector  10 , which is the holding connector. Specifically, the locking projections  45   a  of the connecting operating member  40  are fit into the first locking holes  15   a  of the bottom walls  15  of the connecting operating member holding portions  14 . Thus, the insertion openings  47  of the operating grooves  46  are locked at positions matching the fitting grooves  13  of the receptacle  11 . 
     Coupling of First and Second Members M 1 , M 2   
     As described above, the first member M 1  having the first wiring materials W 1  wired and fixed to the first connector  10  and the second member M 2  having the second wiring materials W 2  and mounted with the second connector  20  are coupled to each other. Specifically, in this embodiment, the fit-in portion  2  having the cylindrical outer peripheral surface with a small diameter on the upper end of the first member M 1  is fit into the tubular lower end part of the second member M 2 . Thus, the second member M 2  is coupled to the first member M 1  to be relatively rotatable about the rotation center axis equivalent to the center axes of the both members M 1 , M 2 . 
     At the time of this coupling, a relative angle (angle in a direction of the rotation) of the second member M 2  with respect to the first member M 1  is set such that the second connector  20  faces the first connector  10  in the connecting direction. In this embodiment, the relative angle of the second member M 2  with respect to the first member M 1  is determined such that the lower part of the connector housing  22  of the second connector  20  is fit lightly into the receptacle  11  of the connector housing  12  of the first connector  10  according to coupling in the direction along the center axes of the first and second members M 1 , M 2 , i.e. the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  are connected temporarily in the connecting direction parallel to a direction of the coupling as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     In this temporary connection, the operated portions  28  of the second connector  20  are projecting in the operating width direction from the side surfaces of the connector housing  22 , but the operated portions  28  are fit into the fitting grooves  13  formed in the receptacle  11  and enter start end parts (left parts in  FIG. 4 ) of the operating grooves  46  through the insertion openings  47  of the connecting operating member  40 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, the operated portions  28  will not interfere with the receptacle  11  and the connecting operating member  40 . In other words, the fitting grooves  13  and the insertion openings  47  enable the connector housing  20  to be fit temporarily into the receptacle  11  regardless of the operated portions  28  projecting from the connector housing  20 . 
     Accordingly, in this embodiment, relative rotation of the second member M 2  with respect to the first member M 1  is disabled temporarily for temporary connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  when the coupling of the first and second members M 1 , M 2  is completed. 
     Connection of First and Second Connectors  10 ,  20  and Separation of Second Connector  20  from Connector Holding Member  30  by Operation of Connecting Operating Member  40   
     In the temporarily connected state, the connecting operating member  40  is operated further in the operating direction from the operation start position to the operation end position shown in  FIG. 7  (direction indicated by the arrow Dp in  FIG. 4 ). i.e. relatively moved in the operating direction with respect to the first connector  10 . This simultaneously achieves complete connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  (specifically, proper connection of the unillustrated connector terminals in the first connector  10  and the unillustrated connector terminals in the second connector  20 ) and the separation of the second connector  20  from the connector holding member  30 . 
     Specifically, while the connecting operating member  40  is moving from the connection start position to the connection end position, the upper end surfaces  48   a  of the operating grooves  46  of the connecting operating member  40 , i.e. the operating surfaces inclined to be lowered according to a movement in the operating direction, obliquely come into contact with the operated portions  28  and the upper end surfaces  48   a  (operating surfaces) push down the operated portions  28  and eventually the entire second connector  2  including the operated portions  28  by the connecting operating member  40  being further operated from this state to the connection end position as shown in  FIG. 5 . By this push-down force, the locked projection  27  of the held portion  26  included in the second connector  20  and the locking hole  37  of the connector holding member  30  are disengaged to realize downward separation of the second connector  20  from the connector holding member  30  and complete connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  in the vertical direction (connecting direction). 
     According to the device of this embodiment, both mutual connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  and the separation of the second connector  20  from the connector holding member  30  are achieved by a simple operation of merely moving the connecting operating member  40  in the operating direction from the operation start position to the operation end position. The separation of the second connector  20  from the connector holding member  30  enables the second member M 2  to rotate with respect to the first member M 1  within the predetermined range (in this embodiment, within a range allowed by the extra lengths of the second wiring materials W 2 ) despite the mutual connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20 . 
     Further, the operated portions  28  are urged down by the contact of the operating surfaces (upper end surfaces  48   a  of the operating grooves  46 ) that are inclined with respect to the operating direction and the operated portions  28  in the device. Thus, there is an advantage that the connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  and the separation of the second connector  20  from the connector holding member  30  can be achieved even if the positions of the operated portions  28  slightly vary in the coupling direction when coupling of the first and second members M 1 , M 2  is completed. 
     For example, even if the operated portions  28  are left at positions shown in  FIG. 8 , i.e. positions above the positions shown in  FIG. 4  when the coupling of the first and second members M 1 , M 2  is completed due to at least one of incomplete coupling of the first and second members M 1 , M 2 , an error in the mounting position of the first connector  10  on the first member M 1 , an error in the mounting position of the second connector  20  on the second member M 2  and dimensional errors and assembling errors of other components, the connecting operating member  40  is operated in the operating direction from this state. Thus, the operating surfaces (upper end surfaces  48   a ) can move the operated portions  28  in the connecting direction by coming into contact with the operated portions  28  and being further operated from that position at a timing (timing earlier than that shown in  FIG. 4 ) corresponding to the positions of the operated portions  28 . In other words, positional variation of the operated portions  28  in the connecting direction can be absorbed by a deviation of contact timing of the upper end surfaces  48   a  with the operated portions  28 . In this way, the connection of the first and second connectors  10 ,  20  and the separation of the second connector  20  from the connector holding member  30  can be achieved. 
     As described above, an electrical connection device is provided for efficiently electrically connecting members to be coupled to each other to be rotatable relative to one another. 
     More particularly, an electrical connection device for establishing electrical connection between a first wiring material wired in a first member and a second wiring material wired in a second member to be coupled to the first member in a coupling direction along a predetermined rotation center axis and to be relatively rotatable about the rotation center axis. The electrical connection device includes a first connector to be connected to the first wiring material and fixed to the first member, and a second connector to be connected to the second wiring material and mounted on the first member and configured to form the electrical connection by being connected to the first connector in a specific connecting direction. A connector holding member is linked to the second member and is configured to hold the second connector at a position where the first and second connectors are capable of facing each other in the connecting direction with the first and second members coupled and holds the second connector in such a manner as to allow the second connector to be separated from the connector holding member in the connecting direction upon application of an external force to the second connector in the connecting direction. A connecting operating member is to be held in a holding connector selected from the first and second connectors relatively movably in an operating direction intersecting the connecting direction. The connecting operating member includes a connector operating portion configured to connect the first and second connectors to each other by pulling an operated connector on a side opposite to the holding connector, out of the first and second connectors, toward the holding connector along the connecting direction and separate the second connector from the connector holding member in the connecting direction by being relatively moved in the operating direction with respect to the holding connector in a state where the first and second members are coupled and the first and second connectors are facing each other in the connecting direction. 
     Here, that “the first and second connectors are facing each other in the connecting direction” means both a state where the first and second connectors are facing, each other at a distance in the connecting direction and a state where the first and second connectors are in a temporarily connected state to partially overlap each other in the connecting direction. 
     According to this electrical connection device, connection of the first and second members and the separation of the second connector from the connector holding member can be performed simultaneously performed by a simple operation of merely moving the connecting operating member held in the holding connector, which is either one of the connectors, in the operating direction intersecting the connecting direction with respect to the holding connector in the state where the first and second members are coupled to each other in the coupling direction and the first and second connectors are facing each other in the connecting direction. That is, the simple operation of the connecting operating member can simultaneously establish electrical connection by connecting the first and second connectors to each other and allow mutual relative rotation of the first and second members by separating the second connector from the connector holding member. 
     The connecting direction may be parallel to the rotation center axis. This facilitates an operation of aligning the first and second connectors, i.e. an operation of causing the connectors to face each other in the connecting direction when the first and second members are coupled. 
     The operated connector may include an operated portion to be operated by the connector operating portion. The connector operating portion may have an operating surface inclined with respect to the operating direction to come into contact with the operated portion and pull the operated portion toward the holding connector as the connecting operating member is moved in the operating direction with respect to the holding connector. 
     This operating surface can come into contact with the operated portion and pull the operating direction in the connecting direction even if there is a slight error in the position of the operated portion due to a dimensional error of each part, incomplete connection of the first and second members and the like. That is, the operating surface can realize mutual connection of the first and second connectors and the separation of the second connector from the connector holding member by absorbing positional variation of the operating direction. 
     The holding connector may be either one of the first and second connectors, but the first connector to be fixed to the first member is preferably the holding connector, i.e. a connector for holding the connecting operating member to allow a relative movement of the connecting operating member in the operating direction. This can make an actual movement of the connecting operating member a simple movement in a direction matching the operating direction and, thereby, can make the operation of the connecting operating member easier as compared to the case where the second connector, which has to be separated from the connector holding member, is the holding connector. 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The present invention includes, for example, the following embodiments. 
     Concerning Connecting Direction 
     The connecting direction of the first and second connectors is not limited to the direction parallel to the rotation center axis of the first and second members. For example, the connecting direction may be set to be a direction along the direction of relative rotation of the first and second members (e.g. direction tangent to the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second members M 1 , M 2  or a direction close to the former direction in the above embodiment). However, since a distance between the first and second connectors in the connecting direction is largely changed by relative rotation of the second member with respect to the first member in this case, position alignment is difficult. In contrast, it is advantageous in facilitating an operation of aligning the first and second connectors, i.e. causing the both connectors to face each other in the connecting direction when the first and second members are coupled that the connecting direction of the first and second connectors is a direction parallel to the rotation center axis as in the above embodiment. 
     Concerning Operating Direction 
     The operating direction of the connecting operating member only has to be a direction intersecting the connecting direction and may not necessarily be a direction perpendicular to the connecting direction. However, as a component in the connecting direction included in the operating direction becomes smaller, a function of a force multiplying mechanism for reducing an operating force required for connection increases. 
     Concerning Holding Connector and Operated Connector 
     In the above embodiment, the first connector  10  is the holding connector for holding the connecting operating member  40  and the second connector  20  is the operated connector to be operated by the connecting, operating member  40 . However, conversely, a second connector may be a holding connector for holding a connecting operating member, and a first connector may be an operated connector to be operated by the connecting operating member. However, in this case, an actual movement or the connecting operating member is a complex movement including not only a relative movement in an operating direction with respect to the second connector, but also a movement of the second connector in a connecting direction toward the second connector (i.e. separating movement of the second connector from a connector holding member in a separating direction), wherefore the operation of the connecting operating member becomes complicated. In contrast, if the first connector to be fixed to the first member is the holding connector, an actual movement of the connecting operating member is a simple movement including only a movement in the operating direction. Thus, the operation of the connecting operating member is advantageously facilitated.