Patent Description:
The present invention also relates to a connector assembly in which the connector is connected to the connection object.

In recent years, attention has been drawn to so-called smart clothes that can obtain user's biological data such as the heart rate and the body temperature only by being worn by the user. Such smart clothes have an electrode disposed at a measurement site, and when a wearable device serving as a measurement device is electrically connected to the electrode, biological data can be transmitted to the wearable device.

The electrode and the wearable device can be interconnected by, for instance, use of a connector connected to a conductor drawn from the electrode.

As a connector of this type, for example, <CIT> discloses a connector as shown in <FIG>. This connector includes a housing <NUM> and a base member <NUM> that are separately disposed on opposite sides of a flexible substrate <NUM> to sandwich the flexible substrate <NUM>. Tubular portions 4A of contacts <NUM> are passed through contact through-holes 2A of the housing <NUM>, and flanges 4B of the contacts <NUM> are sandwiched between the housing <NUM> and conductors 1A exposed on the front surface of the flexible substrate <NUM>.

In this state, by pushing the base member <NUM> toward the housing <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, a projection 3A of the base member <NUM> is inserted into a projection accommodating portion 4C of the contact <NUM> with the flexible substrate <NUM> being sandwiched therebetween, and an inner surface of the projection accommodating portion 4C makes contact with the conductor 1A with a predetermined contact force, whereby the contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the conductor 1A.

Further, housing fixing posts 3B formed to project from the base member <NUM> are press-fitted into post accommodating portions 2B of the housing <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, so that the housing <NUM> and the base member <NUM> are fixed to each other.

When a wearable device is fitted with the connector disclosed in <CIT>, the wearable device can be connected to an electrode formed of a conductor.

However, when the conductor 1A is exposed on the rear surface of the flexible substrate <NUM>, the connector of <CIT> is useless for electrically connecting the conductor 1A to the contact <NUM>, disadvantageously.

<CIT> discloses a connector and a connecting method.

<CIT> discloses a connecting method, a connecting structure and a connection terminal.

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problem and aims at providing a connector and a connector assembly that enable an electrical connection of a contact to a conductor of a connection object regardless of whether the conductor is exposed on the front surface or the rear surface of the connection object.

A connector according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

A connector assembly is defined in claim <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a connector assembly according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector assembly includes a connector <NUM> used as, for instance, a garment-side connector for fitting a wearable device. The connector <NUM> has a housing <NUM> made of an insulating material. Four plug contacts <NUM> are retained in the housing <NUM>, and a reinforcement sheet <NUM> and a sheet type conductive member <NUM> are superposed on each other and retained by the housing <NUM>. The sheet type conductive member <NUM> constitutes a connection object to which the contact <NUM> is connected.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are arranged in two rows parallel to each other and disposed to project perpendicularly with respect to the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

For convenience, the reinforcement sheet <NUM> and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are defined as extending along an XY plane, the arrangement direction of the four plug contacts <NUM> is referred to as "Y direction," and the direction in which the four plug contacts <NUM> project is referred to as "+Z direction. " The Z direction is a fitting direction in which the connector <NUM> is fitted to a counter connector.

<FIG> shows an assembly view of the connector assembly. The connector <NUM> includes a top insulator <NUM> and a bottom insulator <NUM>, and these top and bottom insulators <NUM> and <NUM> constitute the housing <NUM>.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are disposed on the -Z direction side of the top insulator <NUM>, the reinforcement sheet <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM>, and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>. Further, four inner contacts <NUM> are disposed on the -Z direction side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and the bottom insulator <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four inner contacts <NUM>. The four inner contacts <NUM> separately correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the top insulator <NUM> includes a recessed portion 16A opening in the +Z direction, and four contact through-holes 16B formed within the recessed portion 16A. The recessed portion 16A constitutes a counter connector accommodating portion in which part of a counter connector (not shown) is to be accommodated, and the four contact through-holes 16B separately correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>. In addition, on a surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the top insulator <NUM>, a plurality of bosses 16C are formed to project in the -Z direction.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are each made of a conductive material such as metal, and are to be connected to corresponding contacts of a counter connector (not shown) when part of the counter connector is accommodated in the recessed portion 16A of the top insulator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the plug contact <NUM> has a tubular portion 13A of cylindrical shape extending along a fitting axis C in the Z direction, and a flange 13B extending from a -Z directional end portion of the tubular portion 13A along an XY plane.

As shown in <FIG>, the tubular portion 13A is provided in its interior with a recessed portion 13C opening in the -Z direction.

It should be noted that the fitting axis C is an axis passing the center of the tubular portion 13A and extending in the fitting direction between the connector <NUM> and a counter connector.

While the tubular portion 13A has a cylindrical shape, the cross-sectional shape thereof is not limited to a circular shape, and the tubular portion 13A may have various cross-sectional shapes such as an elliptical shape and a polygonal shape as long as the tubular portion 13A is provided in its interior with the recessed portion 13C.

All the four plug contacts <NUM> may be each used as a terminal for transmitting an electric signal.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom insulator <NUM> includes a flat plate portion 17A, and the flat plate portion 17A is provided with four inner contact accommodating portions 17B of recess shape opening in the +Z direction. The four inner contact accommodating portions 17B separately correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>. The four inner contact accommodating portions 17B are separately provided with four protrusion portions 17C projecting in the +Z direction from respective centers of the inner contact accommodating portions 17B.

In addition, the flat plate portion 17A is provided with a plurality of through-holes 17D separately corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom surface of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> forms a flat support surface 17E facing in the +Z direction. The support surface 17E is constituted of an inclined surface inclining in the - Z direction as advancing in the +X direction. The support surface 17E is inclined such that a height difference corresponding to the thickness of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> occurs between a part, situated on the +X direction side from the protrusion portion 17C, of the support surface 17E and a part, situated on the -X direction side from the protrusion portion 17C, of the support surface 17E.

The protrusion portion 17C projects from the support surface 17E in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C and has a prismatic shape having a substantially hexagonal cross section as shown in <FIG>. The protrusion portion 17C has a maximum diameter slightly larger than an inside diameter of the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM>. In addition, projection accommodating portions 17F of recess shape are separately formed in lateral surfaces, facing in the +Y direction and the +Y direction, of the protrusion portion 17C. Each of the projection accommodating portions 17F extends in the -Z direction from a +Z directional end portion of the protrusion portion 17C toward a root portion of the protrusion portion 17C but does not reach the support surface 17E and terminates at a position on the +Z direction side apart from the support surface 17E by a predetermined distance.

As shown in <FIG>, the inner contact <NUM> is formed of a single metal sheet having conductivity and being bent, and has a base portion 18A of flat plate shape extending along an XY plane, and an annular portion 18B joined to a +X directional end portion and a -X directional end portion of the base portion 18A and annularly extending along an outer periphery of the base portion 18A so as to surround the base portion 18A.

The base portion 18A has a through-hole 18C through which the fitting axis C passes and in which the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is to be inserted, and a pair of projections 18D formed to separately project from +Y and -Y directional edge portions of the through-hole 18C toward the fitting axis C.

The annular portion 18B is curved along the outer periphery of the base portion 18A so as to wave in the Z direction and is provided, at its separate rotational positions different from one another about the fitting axis C, with a pair of first elastic portions 18E and a pair of second elastic portions 18F, the first elastic portions 18E and the second elastic portions 18F being curved so as to protrude in the +Z direction with respect to the base portion 18A and being elastically deformable in the Z direction. These first elastic portions 18E and second elastic portions 18F each have a double-sided beam shape that forms part of the annular portion 18B and are disposed at <NUM>-degree intervals about the fitting axis C. In addition, the pair of first elastic portions 18E are separately disposed at +X directional parts of the annular portion 18B, while the pair of second elastic portions 18F are separately disposed at -X directional parts of the annular portion 18B so as to face the pair of first elastic portions 18E across the fitting axis C.

The sheet type conductive member <NUM> has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of wiring layers each formed from a conductor and a plurality of insulating layers are laminated.

As shown in <FIG>, four circular contact arrangement regions 15A for separately arranging the four plug contacts <NUM> are defined on a front surface, facing in the +Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>. At each of the contact arrangement regions 15A, an opening portion 15B is formed to penetrate the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction, and a wiring layer 15C is exposed toward the +Z direction so as to be adjacent to the opening portion 15B on the +X direction side thereof. In a remaining region excluding the four contact arrangement regions 15A, the insulating layer 15D is exposed.

Since the opening portions 15B penetrate the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction, as shown in <FIG>, the opening portions 15B can be seen also on a rear surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> at positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 15A.

On the rear surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, a wiring layer 15E is exposed toward the -Z direction so as to be adjacent to each of the opening portions 15B the +X direction side thereof, the opening portions 15B being formed at the positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 15A, and in a remaining region excluding the opening portions 15B, an insulating layer 15F is exposed.

A plurality of through-holes <NUM> separately corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are formed at a peripheral portion of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the circular contact arrangement region 15A, a region of the wiring layer 15C is exposed toward the +Z direction, the region extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along an inner side of a contour of a semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 15A. In a remaining region of the contact arrangement region 15A excluding the region where the wiring layer 15C is exposed, the opening portion 15B is formed.

As with the wiring layer 15C, on the rear surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, a region of the wiring layer 15E is exposed toward the -Z direction, the region extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along the inner side of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 15A.

As shown in <FIG>, the wiring layer 15C exposed toward the +Z direction and the wiring layer 15E exposed toward the -Z direction are laminated via the insulating layer <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the reinforcement sheet <NUM> is provided to reinforce a mounting object (not shown) such as a garment on which the connector <NUM> is to be mounted. The reinforcement sheet <NUM> is made of an insulating material and provided at its center with an opening 14A. Further, a plurality of cutouts 14B separately corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are formed along the periphery of the opening portion 14A of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>.

The four contact through-holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM>, the four plug contacts <NUM>, the four contact arrangement regions 15A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the four inner contacts <NUM>, and the four inner contact accommodating portions 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> are arranged so as to align with each other in the Z direction.

In addition, the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>, the cutouts 14B of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>, the through-holes <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and the through-holes 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM> are arranged so as to align with each other in the Z direction.

When the connector <NUM> is assembled, first, as shown in <FIG>, the inner contact <NUM> is positionally aligned with the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> on the -Z direction side thereof. At this time, the base portion 18A and the annular portion 18B of the inner contact <NUM> are situated on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM>, and the through-hole 18C formed in the base portion 18A is situated on the +Z direction side of the protrusion portion 17C projecting from the inner contact accommodating portion 17B.

Next, the inner contact <NUM> is pushed in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator <NUM> while the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the through-hole 18C of the inner contact <NUM>. At this time, the inner contact <NUM> is pushed, having the pair of projections 18D projecting in the through-hole 18C of the inner contact <NUM> separately inserted in the pair of projection accommodating portions 17F of the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Since each of the projection accommodating portions 17F of the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> does not reach the support surface 17E of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B and terminates at the position on the +Z direction side apart from the support surface 17E by the predetermined distance, when the inner contact <NUM> is pushed to the bottom insulator <NUM> until the base portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> makes contact with the support surface 17E, the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is press-fitted into the through-hole 18C of the inner contact <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Thus, the inner contact <NUM> is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B and fixed to the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Further, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is positionally aligned with the bottom insulator <NUM> on the +Z direction side of the bottom insulator <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. At this time, the contact arrangement region 15A and the opening portion 15B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are situated on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM>.

The support surface 17E of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inclined in the -Z direction as advancing in the +X direction, and the inner contact <NUM> in which the base portion 18A makes contact with the support surface 17E is also inclined with respect to an XY plane as with the support surface 17E and is retained by the inner contact accommodating portion 17B.

When the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is moved toward the bottom insulator <NUM> relatively in the -Z direction, the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the opening portion 15B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Here, the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are respectively exposed toward the +Z direction and the -Z direction on the +X direction side of the opening portion 15B. Therefore, in the inner contact <NUM> retained by the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM>, the pair of first elastic portions 18E disposed on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C are situated on the -Z direction side of the exposed part of the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, while the pair of second elastic portions 18F disposed on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C are exposed toward the +Z direction via the opening portion 15B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

Further, the corresponding plug contact <NUM> is positionally aligned with the +Z direction side of the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM>. At this time, the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM> is situated on the +Z direction side of the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Next, the plug contact <NUM> is pushed toward the bottom insulator <NUM> relatively in the -Z direction, and the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is press-fitted into the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

As a result, on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C, the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact <NUM> are pushed in the -Z direction and elastically deformed by the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> via the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C, the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact <NUM> are pushed in the -Z direction and elastically deformed directly by the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM>.

In addition, by pressing the bottom insulator <NUM> against the top insulator <NUM>, the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> sequentially penetrate the cutouts 14B of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>, the through-holes <NUM> of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and the through-holes 17D of the bottom insulator <NUM>. Thereafter, as shown in <FIG>, the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> are fixed to each other through heat deformation of a tip of each of the plurality of bosses 16C projecting on the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator <NUM>. Thus, the assembling operation of the connector <NUM> connected to the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is completed.

In the thus-assembled connector <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact <NUM>.

Thus, a first contacting part S1 formed of part of a -Z directional surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> makes contact with the wiring layer 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact <NUM> is electrically connected with the wiring layer 15C. In addition, +Z directional surfaces of the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact <NUM> make contact with the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure, and the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the wiring layer 15E.

On the other hand, on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C, a second contacting part S2 formed of part, at a different position from the first contacting part S1, of the -Z directional surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> makes direct contact with the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the inner contact <NUM>.

Therefore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the front surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> directly, while the wiring layer 15E exposed on the rear surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> via the inner contact <NUM>. That is, both the wiring layers 15C and 15E are connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, with the connector <NUM>, by using the inner contact <NUM>, both the wiring layer 15C and the wiring layer 15E respectively formed of the conductors disposed on the front surface side and the rear surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to the single plug contact <NUM>.

Therefore, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a conductor exposed only on its front surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the conductor on the front surface side of the sheet type conductive member. On the other hand, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a conductor exposed only on its rear surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the conductor on the rear surface side of the sheet type conductive member.

Further, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having conductors separately exposed on its front surface side and rear surface side like the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> above, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to both the conductors on the front surface side and the rear surface side of the sheet type conductive member. For example, assuming that a connection object is a sheet type conductive member having a multilayer structure in which conductors constituting shield layers are separately exposed on the front surface side and the rear surface side and a conductor constituting a signal wiring layer is disposed between these shield layers so as to be insulated from both the shield layers, a shield effect is exhibited to the signal wiring layer when the plug contact <NUM> connected to the shield layers on the front surface side and the rear surface side is connected to a ground potential, and it is possible to carry out highly accurate signal transmission with reduced influence of external disturbances caused by, for example, electromagnetic waves.

In Embodiment <NUM> described above, the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is press-fitted into the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM>, whereby the plug contact <NUM> is retained by the bottom insulator <NUM>. As a result, the pair of first elastic portions 18E and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact <NUM> are maintained in an elastically deformed state, and contact pressure between the wiring layer 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM>, contact pressure between the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact <NUM>, and contact pressure between the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact <NUM> are ensured.

However, also by fixing the top insulator <NUM> to the bottom insulator <NUM> using the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>, the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> is pressed toward the bottom insulator <NUM> by means of the top insulator <NUM>, whereby the plug contact <NUM> can be fixed to the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Meanwhile, compared to the configuration of fixation with use of the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>, in the configuration in which the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is press-fitted into the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM> as in Embodiment <NUM>, the plug contact <NUM> can be forcibly fixed to the bottom insulator <NUM> at a position closer to a contact portion between the wiring layer 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM>, a contact portion between the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the pair of first elastic portions 18E of the inner contact <NUM>, and a contact portion between the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the pair of second elastic portions 18F of the inner contact <NUM>, so that reliability of the electric connection between the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the plug contact <NUM> can be improved.

While the inner contact <NUM> has the pair of first elastic portions 18E and the pair of second elastic portions 18F in Embodiment <NUM> described above, the invention is not limited thereto, and the inner contact <NUM> may have a single first elastic portion 18E and a single second elastic portion 18F or three or more first elastic portions 18E and three or more second elastic portions 18F.

<FIG> shows a connector assembly according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector assembly is obtained by connecting a connector <NUM> to a sheet type conductive member <NUM> as a connection object. The connector <NUM> has a housing <NUM> instead of the housing <NUM> in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an assembly view of the connector assembly. The connector <NUM> includes the top insulator <NUM> and a bottom insulator <NUM>, and these top and bottom insulators <NUM> and <NUM> constitute the housing <NUM>.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are disposed on the -Z direction side of the top insulator <NUM>, the reinforcement sheet <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM>, and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>. Further, four inner contacts <NUM> are disposed on the -Z direction side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and the bottom insulator <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four inner contacts <NUM>.

In other words, the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> is configured to be connected to the sheet type conductive member <NUM> by means of the bottom insulator <NUM> and the four inner contacts <NUM> in place of the bottom insulator <NUM> and the four inner contacts <NUM> in the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>.

The top insulator <NUM>, the plug contacts <NUM> and the reinforcement sheet <NUM> are the same as those used in Embodiment <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom insulator <NUM> includes a flat plate portion 27A, and the flat plate portion 27A is provided with four inner contact accommodating portions 27B of recess shape opening in the +Z direction. The four inner contact accommodating portions 27B separately correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>.

As with the bottom insulator <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the four inner contact accommodating portions 27B are separately provided with the four protrusion portions 17C projecting in the +Z direction from the respective centers of the inner contact accommodating portions 27B, and the flat plate portion 27A is provided with the plurality of through-holes 17D corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom surface of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM> forms a flat support surface 27E extending along an XY plane and facing in the +Z direction. A -X directional end portion of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B is provided with a step portion <NUM> that is adjacent to the support surface 27E and situated on the +Z direction side away from the support surface 27E by the height corresponding to the thickness of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

As with the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the protrusion portion 17C projects from the support surface 27E in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C, and has a prismatic shape having a substantially hexagonal cross section as shown in <FIG>. In addition, the projection accommodating portions 17F of recess shape are separately formed in lateral surfaces, facing in the +Y direction and the -Y direction, of the protrusion portion 17C.

As shown in <FIG>, the inner contact <NUM> is formed of a single metal sheet having conductivity and being bent, and has the base portion 18A of flat plate shape extending along an XY plane and four arm portions 28B joined to an outer peripheral portion of the base portion 18A.

Two arm portions 28B of the four arm portions 28B separately extend in the +Y direction and the -Y direction from the +X directional end portion of the base portion 18A, rise in the +Z direction, and are bent so as to return to the +X directional end portion of the base portion 18A. These two arms 28B form, on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C, a pair of first elastic portions 28E each having a cantilever shape being bent to project in the +Z direction with respect to the base portion 18A and being elastically deformable in the Z direction.

Similarly, remaining two arm portions 28B of the four arm portions 28B separately extend in the +Y direction and the -Y direction from the -X directional end portion of the base portion 18A, rise in the +Z direction, and are bent so as to return to the -X directional end portion of the base portion 18A. These two arms 28B form, at separate rotational positions about the fitting axis C different from the positions of the pair of first elastic portions 28E, specifically, on the -X direction side from the fitting axis C, a pair of second elastic portions 28F each having a cantilever shape being bent to project in the +Z direction with respect to the base portion 18A and being elastically deformable in the Z direction.

As with the base portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the base portion 18A has the through-hole 18C through which the fitting axis C passes, and the pair of projections 18D formed to separately project from the +Y and -Y directional edge portions of the through-hole 18C toward the fitting axis C.

The sheet type conductive member <NUM> has the same configuration as that of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> used in Embodiment <NUM> except that they are different in shapes of the contact arrangement region and the opening portion.

In other words, as shown in <FIG>, four contact arrangement regions 25A for separately arranging the four plug contacts <NUM> are defined on a front surface, facing in the +Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>. In each contact arrangement region 25A, an opening portion 25B is formed to penetrate the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction, and the wiring layer 15C is exposed toward the +Z direction so as to be adjacent to the opening portion 25B of the +X direction side thereof. In a remaining region excluding the four contact arrangement regions 25A, the insulating layer 15D is exposed.

Since the opening portions 25B penetrate the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction, as shown in <FIG>, the opening portions 25B can be seen also on a rear surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> at the positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 25A.

On the rear surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the wiring layer 15E is exposed toward the -Z direction so as to be adjacent to each of the opening portions 25B on the +X direction side thereof, the opening portions 25B being formed at the positions corresponding to the four contact arrangement regions 25A, and in a remaining region excluding the opening portions 25B, the insulating layer 15F is exposed.

The plurality of through-holes <NUM> separately corresponding to the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are formed at a peripheral portion of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the contact arrangement region 25A is composed of a semicircular portion situated on the +X direction side thereof and a rectangular portion that is adjacent to the semicircular portion on the -X direction side thereof and has round corners, and a region of the wiring layer 15C is exposed toward the +Z direction, the region extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along an inner side of a contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction side of the contact arrangement region 25A. In a remaining region of the contact arrangement region 25A excluding the region where the wiring layer 15C is exposed, the opening portion 25B is formed.

As with the wiring layer 15C, on the rear surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, a region of the wiring layer 15E is exposed toward the -Z direction, the region extending in a U shape with a predetermined width along the inner side of the contour of the semicircular portion on the +X direction of the contact arrangement region 25A.

The four contact through-holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM>, the four plug contacts <NUM>, the four contact arrangement regions 25A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the four inner contacts <NUM>, and the four inner contact accommodating portions 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM> are arranged so as to align with each other in the Z direction.

When the connector <NUM> is assembled, first, as shown in <FIG>, the inner contact <NUM> is positionally aligned with the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM> on the +Z direction side thereof. At this time, the base portion 18A and the four arm portions 28B of the inner contact <NUM> are situated on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM>, and the through-hole 18C formed in the base portion 18A is situated on the +Z direction side of the protrusion portion 17C projecting from the inner contact accommodating portion 27B.

Next, the inner contact <NUM> is pushed in the -Z direction toward the bottom insulator <NUM> while the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the through-hole 18C of the inner contact <NUM>. At this time, the inner contact <NUM> is pushed, having the pair of projections 18D projecting in the through-hole 18C of the inner contact <NUM> separately inserted in the pair of projection accommodating portions 17F of the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>, and as shown in <FIG>, the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is press-fitted into the through-hole 18C of the inner contact <NUM>. Thus, the inner contact <NUM> is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B and fixed to the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Further, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is positionally aligned with the bottom insulator <NUM> on the +Z direction side thereof as shown in <FIG>. At this time, the contact arrangement region 25A and the opening portion 25B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are situated on the +Z direction side of the corresponding inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Since the step portion <NUM> is formed at the -X directional end portion of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM>, a +X directional portion of the inner contact <NUM> accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B is situated on the support surface 27E of the inner contact accommodating portion 27B, while a -X directional portion of the inner contact <NUM> is situated on the step portion <NUM>. Therefore, the inner contact <NUM> is retained by the inner contact accommodating portion 27B while being inclined with respect to an XY plane.

When the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is moved toward the bottom insulator <NUM> relatively in the -Z direction, the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the opening portion 25B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Here, the wiring layers 15C and 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are respectively exposed toward the +Z direction and the -Z direction on the +X direction side of the opening portion 25B. Therefore, in the inner contact <NUM> retained by the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM>, the pair of first elastic portions 28E disposed on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C are situated on the -Z direction side of the exposed part of the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, while the pair of second elastic portions 28F disposed on the -X direction side from the fitting axis C are exposed toward the +Z direction via the opening portion 25B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

Further, the corresponding plug contact <NUM> is positionally aligned with the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM> on the +Z direction side thereof. At this time, the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM> is situated on the +Z direction side of the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>.

As a result, on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C, the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact <NUM> are pushed in the -Z direction and elastically deformed by the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> via the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C, the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact <NUM> are pushed in the -Z direction and elastically deformed directly by the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM>.

In other words, on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact <NUM>, and on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C, the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> makes contact with the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact <NUM>.

In the thus-assembled connector <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, on the +X direction side of the fitting axis C, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact <NUM>.

Thus, a first contacting part S1 formed of part of a -Z directional surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> makes contact with the wiring layer 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact <NUM> is electrically connected with the wiring layer 15C. In addition, +Z directional surfaces of the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact <NUM> make contact with the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure, and the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected with the wiring layer 15E.

On the other hand, on the -X direction side of the fitting axis C, a second contacting part S2 formed of part, at a different position from the first contacting part S1, of the -Z directional surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> makes direct contact with the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure, and the plug contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the inner contact <NUM>.

Thus, with the connector <NUM>, by using the inner contact <NUM>, both the wiring layer 15C and the wiring layer 15E respectively formed of the conductors disposed on the front surface side and the rear surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to the single plug contact <NUM> as with the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

Also in Embodiment <NUM>, as with Embodiment <NUM>, the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is press-fitted into the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM>, whereby the plug contact <NUM> is retained by the bottom insulator <NUM>. In addition, also by fixing the top insulator <NUM> to the bottom insulator <NUM> using the plurality of bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM>, the plug contact <NUM> can be retained by the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in the configuration in which the protrusion portion 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is press-fitted into the recessed portion 13C of the tubular portion 13A of the plug contact <NUM>, the plug contact <NUM> can be forcibly fixed to the bottom insulator <NUM> at a position closer to a contact portion between the wiring layer 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM>, a contact portion between the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the pair of first elastic portions 28E of the inner contact <NUM>, and a contact portion between the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> and the pair of second elastic portions 28F of the inner contact <NUM>, so that reliability of the electric connection between the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the plug contact <NUM> can be improved.

While the inner contact <NUM> has the pair of first elastic portions 28E and the pair of second elastic portions 28F in Embodiment <NUM> described above, the invention is not limited thereto, and the inner contact <NUM> may have a single first elastic portion 28E and a single second elastic portion 28F or three or more first elastic portions 28E and three or more second elastic portions 28F.

In Embodiment <NUM> described above, since the inner contact accommodating portion 27B of the bottom insulator <NUM> includes the support surface 27E extending along an XY plane and the step portion <NUM> adjacent to the support surface 27E, the inner contact <NUM> is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B while being inclined with respect to an XY plane; however, the invention is not limited thereto. As with Embodiment <NUM>, since the inner contact accommodating portion 27B has a support surface inclined with respect to an XY plane and the inner contact <NUM> is disposed on the support surface, the inner contact <NUM> can be accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 27B while being inclined with respect to an XY plane.

Conversely, in Embodiment <NUM>, it may be configured such that the inner contact accommodating portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> has a support surface extending along an XY plane and a step portion adjacent to the support surface so that the inner contact <NUM> is accommodated in the inner contact accommodating portion 17B while being inclined with respect to an XY plane.

Meanwhile, the base portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> is required to be so rigid as not to be deformed when the base portion 18A is pushed in the -Z direction by the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> in the state of lying across the support surface extending along an XY plane and the step portion.

In Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above, the plug contacts <NUM> disposed in the contact arrangement regions 15A, 25A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, <NUM> each make contact with both the wiring layer 15C exposed on the front surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, <NUM> and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the rear surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, <NUM>; however, for instance, it is also possible to connect only the wiring layer 15E exposed on the rear surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, <NUM> to the plug contacts <NUM> disposed in the contact arrangement regions 15A, 25A.

While the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, <NUM> used in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above has a multilayer structure, the invention is not limited thereto, and it suffices if the sheet type conductive member has a conductor exposed on at least one surface thereof.

In addition, while the two layers of the conductors, i.e., the wiring layer 15C and the wiring layer 15E of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, <NUM>, are connected to the single plug contact <NUM> in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above, the invention is not limited thereto, and three or more layers of conductors may be connected to the single plug contact <NUM>.

In addition, while the connector <NUM>, <NUM> in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above has the four plug contacts <NUM>, the invention is not limited to this number of the plug contacts <NUM>, and it suffices if the connector includes at least a single plug contact <NUM> to be electrically connected to a conductor exposed on at least one surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A connector (<NUM>, <NUM>) for contacting a connection object (<NUM>, <NUM>) of sheet shape having a conductor (15C, 15E) exposed on at least one surface of the connection object, the connector comprising:
a plug contact (<NUM>) having conductivity and including a tubular portion (13A) extending along a fitting axis (C), and a flange (13B) extending from an end portion of the tubular portion in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the fitting axis;
a bottom insulator (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a support surface (17E, 27E) extending in the orthogonal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction; and
an inner contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) having conductivity and being disposed on the support surface,
characterized in that
the inner contact includes a base portion (18A) of flat plate shape disposed on the support surface, and a first elastic portion (18E, 28E) and a second elastic portion (18F, 28F) that are joined to the base portion to face a rear surface of the flange and are elastically deformable in a direction along the fitting axis, and
the connector is configured such that upon part of the connection object (<NUM>, <NUM>) being sandwiched between a first contacting part (S1) of the rear surface of the flange of the plug contact and the first elastic portion of the inner contact in the direction along the fitting axis, the first contacting part (S1) of the rear surface of the flange can make contact with a front surface of the connection object, the first elastic portion (18E, 28E) can make contact with the rear surface of the connection object, and a second contacting part (S2) of the rear surface of the flange can make contact with the second elastic portion (18F, 28F), the second contacting part being different in position from the first contacting part, whereby the plug contact (<NUM>) can be electrically connected to the conductor (15C) directly when the conductor (15C) is exposed on the front surface of the connection object, and the plug contact (<NUM>) can be electrically connected to the conductor (15E) via the inner contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) when the conductor (15E) is exposed on the rear surface of the connection object.