Patent Description:
A spring-loaded connector is a component that is used to electrically connect a first electronic device as one connection object (for example, a mobile communication device such as a smartphone or a mobile terminal for business use) and a second electronic device as the other connection object (for example, a charging cradle for the mobile communication device).

The spring-loaded connector holds a conductive, extendable contact unit having a pin shape in such a way that both ends of the contact unit are exposed. The spring-loaded connector is used in a state where a first pin that is one end portion of the contact unit is open to be connected to the first electronic device, and a second pin that is the other end portion of the contact unit is connected to a circuit of the second electronic device. General consumers see the spring-loaded connecter while the spring-loaded connector is embedded in the second electronic device.

The first electronic device is provided with a concave-convex structure for contacting the spring-loaded connector. When the first electronic device is abutted against the spring-loaded connector by the spring-loaded connector being inserted into the concave-convex structure, the first pin of the contact unit is pressed against an electrode disposed in the concave-convex structure and electrical continuity is established. The first electronic device and the second electronic device are thereby electrically connected. A user of the first electronic device may electrically connect the first electronic device to the second electronic device simply by abutting the first electronic device against the spring-loaded connector, so that the spring-loaded connector is now used in various devices from the standpoint of increasing convenience.

From another standpoint regarding convenience, the spring-loaded connector is desired to be waterproof, and manufacturers are making various refinements to meet such a demand.

For example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a structure according to which a waterproof elastic member is disposed between a first pin and an intermediate member at the time of assembling a contact unit to thereby seal between the first pin and the intermediate member in a watertight manner. Additionally, the intermediate member here is a member that is interposed between the first pin and a second pin to hold a spring.

One demand regarding the spring-loaded connector is to reduce its size. As a method of reducing the size, there is a method of narrowing arrangement intervals of contact units than those in related arts. However, when the arrangement intervals of the contact units are narrowed, the problem is that the contact units tend to be shorted due to presence of entering water. In the present specification, a term "water" is simply used to facilitate understanding, but liquids containing water and having similar conductivity as water are also included in the meaning of "water". This is because such liquids may be treated as equivalent of "water" in terms of properties.

An object of the invention is to provide a technology related to a spring-loaded connector for which both waterproofness and reduced size are achieved.

A spring-loaded connector according to the invention is set forth in claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are set for in the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention is a spring-loaded connector including:.

The spring-loaded connector may be such that a length of the water-shielding structure in an intersecting direction is equal to or greater than an outer dimension of the cylindrical parts in the intersecting direction, the intersecting direction intersecting an arrangement direction of the cylindrical parts that are adjacent to each other.

The spring-loaded connector may be such that an upper end of the protrusion contacts an inner side of the cover in a state where the first pin is not in contact with the first connection target.

The spring-loaded connector may be such that the water-shielding structure includes a groove.

The spring-loaded connector may be such that.

The spring-loaded connector may be such that the cover includes a communication hole through which outside and the first section communicate.

The spring-loaded connector may be such that air of the outside flows in through the communication hole when the connection state is reached, and the air that flowed in is discharged through the communication hole at a time of state transition to the non-contact state.

The spring-loaded connector may be such that the communication hole is formed at a position at which a lower end of the communication hole is close to an upper surface of the skirt part.

According to the aspects of the invention, even if water enters the case along the first pin or through the through hole, the water may be prevented by the water-shielding structure from remaining between the contact units that are adjacent to each other. A spring-loaded connector that achieves both waterproofness and reduced size may be realized.

A description will be given of example embodiments, but modes to which the invention is applicable are, as a matter of course, not limited to the following embodiments. Vertical and left-right directions regarding a spring-loaded connector are according to the directions of arrows indicated in the drawings. Left and right are directions in a view from a forward side (a front side).

<FIG> is an external perspective view illustrating a structure of a spring-loaded connector according to a first embodiment.

<FIG> is an exploded view illustrating the structure of the spring-loaded connector according to the first embodiment.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example structure of the spring-loaded connector according to the first embodiment, <FIG> being a vertical cross-sectional view of an assembled state along an arrangement direction of contact units.

<FIG> is cross-sectional view illustrating an example structure of the spring-loaded connector according to the first embodiment, <FIG> being a vertical cross-sectional view of an exploded state along the arrangement direction of the contact units.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a spring-loaded connector <NUM> according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of contact units <NUM> that are arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern, a case <NUM> that supports the contact units <NUM>, and a waterproof elastic member <NUM> that is disposed inside the case <NUM>.

With the spring-loaded connector <NUM> of the present embodiment, five contact units <NUM> are included and the arrangement pattern thereof is one row in the left-right direction, but the number of contact units <NUM> to be mounted and the arrangement pattern thereof are not limited to those in the present embodiment.

<FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an example structure of the contact unit <NUM> cut along an extension direction, <FIG> being a cross-sectional view of a sub-assembly state. <FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an example structure of the contact unit <NUM> cut along the extension direction, <FIG> being a cross-sectional view of an assembled state.

The contact unit <NUM> includes a first pin <NUM> for contacting a first connection target, a second pin <NUM> for contacting a second connection target, and an intermediate member <NUM> for biasing the first pin <NUM> and the second pin <NUM> in directions away from each other.

The first pin <NUM> is made of conductive material (such as copper or copper alloy, for example), and is a contact part that is to contact an electrode of a first electronic device as the first connection target (types of such devices include, but are not limited to, a smartphone, a mobile phone and an IC recorder, for example). The first pin <NUM> includes, in the following order from the top, a protruding small-diameter part <NUM>, and a large-diameter part <NUM> that is connected to a lower end portion of the small-diameter part <NUM>. A small-diameter hole <NUM> is formed inside the small-diameter part <NUM> by denting, the small-diameter hole <NUM> being concentric with the protrusion of the small-diameter part <NUM>, and a concentric large-diameter hole <NUM> is further formed by denting, the large-diameter hole <NUM> being continuous to a lower end of the small-diameter hole <NUM>.

The small-diameter part <NUM> and the large-diameter part <NUM> are joined by a step, and an upper surface of the large-diameter part <NUM> is a step surface that contacts an inner surface of the case <NUM> to prevent the first pin <NUM> from penetrating upward.

The small-diameter hole <NUM> is used to couple the first pin <NUM> and the intermediate member <NUM>.

The second pin <NUM> is made of conductive material (such as copper or copper alloy, for example), and includes, in the following order from the bottom, a small-diameter part <NUM> and a large-diameter part <NUM>.

The small-diameter part <NUM> is a contact part that is to contact an electrode of a second electronic device as the second connection target (types of such devices include, but are not limited to, a charging cradle for the first electronic device and a device that is electrically connected to the first electronic device to perform communication, for example).

The large-diameter part <NUM> is a part that is loosely fitted in the intermediate member <NUM>.

The intermediate member <NUM> includes, in the following order from the top, a bar-shaped part <NUM>, a cylindrical part <NUM>, and a spring <NUM> that is held inside the cylindrical part <NUM>. The bar-shaped part <NUM> and the cylindrical part <NUM> are made of conductive material (such as copper or copper alloy, for example), and are integrally molded. The spring <NUM> is a coil spring made from a piano wire or a stainless steel wire, for example.

The bar-shaped part <NUM> is a part that is to be pressed into the small-diameter hole <NUM> of the first pin <NUM>. With respect to an assembly order, the bar-shaped part <NUM> is pressed into a cylindrical part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM>, and then, the bar-shaped part <NUM> and the cylindrical part <NUM> are pressed into the first pin <NUM>. The bar-shaped part <NUM> and the cylindrical part <NUM> are thus pressed into the large-diameter hole <NUM> of the first pin <NUM>, and a tip portion of the bar-shaped part <NUM> is pressed into the small-diameter hole <NUM> of the first pin <NUM>.

A flange part <NUM> extends from an upper edge of the cylindrical part <NUM>. At the time of holding the waterproof elastic member <NUM> with the first pin <NUM> and the flange part134, the flange part <NUM> supports the waterproof elastic member <NUM> by being pushed against a lower surface of the waterproof elastic member <NUM>.

The contact unit <NUM> is sub-assembled into a state in <FIG> by assembly of the intermediate member <NUM> and assembling together of the second pin <NUM> and the intermediate member <NUM>. Specifically, sub-assembly is performed by (<NUM>) inserting the spring <NUM> into the cylindrical part <NUM>, (<NUM>) inserting the large-diameter part <NUM> of the second pin <NUM> into the cylindrical part <NUM>, and (<NUM>) crimping an opening end of the cylindrical part <NUM> to retain the second pin <NUM>, to thereby prepare for assembly of the spring-loaded connector <NUM>.

When sub-assembled, the second pin <NUM> is biased downward by the spring <NUM> in a state where the second pin <NUM> is slidable inside the cylindrical part <NUM>. The second pin <NUM> is placed in a state where the second pin <NUM> is allowed to protrude from or be accommodated inside the cylindrical part <NUM> of the intermediate member <NUM>, and where the second pin <NUM> is electrically connected to the cylindrical part <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the case <NUM> includes a cover <NUM> and a housing <NUM> made of insulating resin, and bushings <NUM> made of metal. The case <NUM> defines an inner space <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is assembled with the housing <NUM> from above. The contact unit <NUM> is supported by the case <NUM> in a manner penetrating the inner space <NUM>.

An accommodation space that is stepped and that is open at a bottom is formed by the cover <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be accommodated in the accommodation space. Through holes <NUM> where the first pins <NUM> can be inserted such that tips of the first pins <NUM> are exposed above the case <NUM> are formed in a top part of the accommodation space.

Press-in holes <NUM> for the bushings <NUM> extend through left and right outer edges of the cover <NUM>. The bushing <NUM> is used for insertion of a screw or the like for attachment, at the time of attaching the spring-loaded connector <NUM> to the second connection target. The bushing <NUM> may be insert-molded at the time of manufacturing the cover <NUM>.

A communication hole <NUM> is formed in a front surface and a back surface of the cover <NUM>, at parts above a step (see <FIG> and <FIG>), and an engaging hole <NUM> is formed in the front surface and the back surface, at parts below the step. The engaging hole <NUM> is engaged with an engaging claw <NUM> of the housing <NUM> at the time of assembling with the housing <NUM>.

Lengths of a left-right width and a front-rear width of the housing <NUM> are such that the housing <NUM> has a size that can be inserted into an opening of the cover <NUM> from below. A height, that is, a length in the vertical direction, of the housing <NUM> is slightly smaller than a stepped part of the accommodation space of the cover <NUM>. When the housing <NUM> is inserted in the cover <NUM>, the inner space <NUM> is defined between an upper surface of the housing <NUM> and a top of the cover <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The housing <NUM> includes through holes <NUM> along the vertical direction, from which tips of the second pins <NUM> are exposed. The through holes <NUM> are formed at positions where, when the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM> are assembled together, the through holes <NUM> correspond to the through holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM> in a one-to-one manner, with the corresponding holes being concentric in the vertical direction.

The housing <NUM> includes, on a front surface and a back surface, the engaging claws <NUM> that are engaged with the engaging holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM> at the time of being assembled with the cover <NUM>. Positions where the engaging claws <NUM> are formed may be other positions, such as on left and right side surfaces, as long as the engaging claws <NUM> can be engaged with the engaging holes <NUM>.

<FIG> is an external perspective view illustrating an example structure of the waterproof elastic member <NUM>.

The waterproof elastic member <NUM> is a water-impervious, non-conductive member that separates the inner space <NUM> that is defined between the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM> into a first section <NUM> on the side of the first pin <NUM> and a second section <NUM> on the side of the second pin <NUM> (see <FIG>). The waterproof elastic member <NUM> is made of elastic material such as silicone rubber, for example.

The waterproof elastic member <NUM> has a box shape that is open at a bottom and that is like a bathtub that is turned upside down. Specifically, the cylindrical parts <NUM> and water-shielding structures <NUM> are formed on an upper surface of the waterproof elastic member <NUM>. A sloping part <NUM> that slopes downward is formed from an entire circumferential portion of the upper surface, and a skirt part <NUM> extends from a lower edge of the sloping part <NUM> in the shape of a flange.

The number of cylindrical parts <NUM> is the same as the number of contact units <NUM> so that the cylindrical parts <NUM> correspond to the contact units <NUM> in a one-to-one manner, and the cylindrical parts <NUM> each protrude toward the through hole <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. The cylindrical parts <NUM> are each held between the first pin <NUM> and the intermediate member <NUM> of the corresponding contact unit <NUM> to be interposed between an inner side of the first pin <NUM> and an outer side of the intermediate member <NUM>, and the first pin <NUM> and the intermediate member <NUM> are thus sealed in a watertight manner (see <FIG>).

The water-shielding structure <NUM> is disposed between the cylindrical parts <NUM> that are adjacent to each other. Specifically, the water-shielding structure <NUM> is designed as a wall-shaped protrusion, and is designed to have a length in an intersecting direction intersecting an arrangement direction of the adjacent cylindrical parts <NUM> (the same as the arrangement direction of the contact units <NUM>) that is, in a bird's-eye view along a protruding direction (that is, when looking down on the spring-loaded connector <NUM> from directly above), equal to or greater than an outer dimension of the cylindrical parts <NUM> in the intersecting direction. When describing with reference to <FIG>, a length of the water-shielding structure <NUM> in a front-rear direction is equal to or greater than a length of the cylindrical part <NUM> in the front-rear direction. A height of the water-shielding structure <NUM> is set such that an upper end contacts an inner side of the cover <NUM> in a state where the first pin <NUM> is not in contact with the first connection target (see a partial enlarged view in <FIG>). Alternatively, the height of the water-shielding structure <NUM> may be such that the upper end does not contact the inner side of the cover <NUM> in the state where the first pin <NUM> is not in contact with the first connection target.

The skirt part <NUM> functions as a watertight packing between the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM> by being held between the two at the time of the cover <NUM> and the housing <NUM> being assembled together.

Now, a flow of assembly of the spring-loaded connector <NUM> will be described.

As described above, first, the second pin <NUM> and the intermediate member <NUM> of the contact unit <NUM> are sub-assembled (see <FIG>).

Next, the contact unit <NUM> is assembled to sandwich the waterproof elastic member <NUM>, and the two are sub-assembled (see <FIG>). Specifically, the bar-shaped part <NUM> of the sub-assembled contact unit <NUM> is inserted through the cylindrical part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM>. At this time, an insertion direction is according to a protruding direction of the cylindrical part <NUM>. Then, the bar-shaped part <NUM> protruding from the cylindrical part <NUM> is pressed into the small-diameter hole <NUM> and the large-diameter hole <NUM> of the first pin <NUM>. The cylindrical part <NUM> is thereby elastically deformed to fill between the large-diameter hole <NUM> and the bar-shaped part <NUM> of the first pin <NUM>, and is sandwiched between the large-diameter hole <NUM> and the bar-shaped part <NUM> of the first pin <NUM> in a watertight manner. In the present embodiment, five contact units <NUM> are used, and the five pieces are assembled together in the same manner.

Next, the contact unit <NUM> and the waterproof elastic member <NUM> that are sub-assembled are placed over the housing. At this time, the second pin <NUM> of each contact unit <NUM> is inserted in the through hole <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The skirt part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM> is placed in a state where the skirt part <NUM> is on an outer circumferential portion of the housing <NUM>.

Next, the housing <NUM> where the contact units <NUM> are inserted is placed below and pushed into the cover <NUM> to be accommodated. At this time, the first pins <NUM> of the contact units <NUM> are inserted and pushed into the through holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. In the process of pushing-in, the skirt part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM> is held between a lower surface of the stepped part of the accommodation space of the cover <NUM> and an upper surface of the outer circumferential portion of the housing <NUM>. When pushing-in is performed to a sufficient degree, the engaging claws <NUM> of the housing <NUM> are fitted in the engaging holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, and the cover <NUM>, the housing <NUM>, and the waterproof elastic member <NUM> are fixed to one another. Assembly of the spring-loaded connector <NUM> is thus completed.

Effects of the water-shielding structure <NUM> will be described.

In a non-contact state where the first pins <NUM> are not in contact with the first electronic device as the first connection target, the spring-loaded connector <NUM> is in the state as illustrated in <FIG>. There is a slight gap between the first pins <NUM> and the through holes <NUM> of the cover <NUM>, and thus, water possibly enters through the gap from outside.

<FIG> is a conceptual view illustrating a possible flow route of water entering along the first pin <NUM>. As indicated by an example route K1, water flowing along the first pin <NUM> and entering between the first pin <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> of the cover <NUM> basically flows down an outer surface of the first pin <NUM>, and flows further down the sloping part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM> to reach a periphery of the skirt part <NUM>.

With a related art spring-loaded connector not including the water-shielding structures <NUM>, if the route along the first pin <NUM> extends between the contact units <NUM> that are adjacent to each other, as indicated by an example route K2, the water will possibly remain between the adjacent contact units <NUM>. Particularly, if the gap between the contact units <NUM> that are adjacent to each other is small, water tends to exhibit viscosity, and water adhering in a manner joining the adjacent contact units <NUM> may remain as it is to cause electrical shorting.

If an arrangement gap that is sufficient relative to the amount of entering water is secured between the contact units <NUM>, shorting is not caused by water even if water reaches between the contact units <NUM>. However, to reduce the size of the spring-loaded connector <NUM>, the arrangement gap between the contact units <NUM> is desired to be reduced as much as possible. The smaller the arrangement gap between the contact units <NUM>, the more likely the first pins <NUM> of the adjacent contact units <NUM> are to be electrically connected and shorted by presence of water between the first pins even if the amount of entering water is quite small.

However, with the spring-loaded connector <NUM> of the present embodiment, the wall-shaped water-shielding structure <NUM> is present between the contact units <NUM> that are adjacent to each other. Accordingly, water entering along the example route K2 is guided to the sloping part <NUM> to flow down the sloping part <NUM>, and flows down to the periphery of the skirt part <NUM>. The entering water will not stay between the adjacent contact units <NUM>, and the adjacent contact units <NUM> are not electrically connected to each other.

Water flowing down the sloping part <NUM> to the periphery of the skirt part <NUM> temporarily remains at a position away from the first pins <NUM>, but discharge of water through the communication hole <NUM> is facilitated by attachment/detachment of the first electronic device as the first connection target and the second electronic device as the second connection target, and the possibility of occurrence of shorting caused by water is reduced.

Facilitation of water discharge through the communication hole <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view of a contact state where the first electronic device as the first connection target (such as a smartphone) is mounted on the second electronic device as the second connection target (such as a charging cradle), and the first pin <NUM> is in contact with a terminal of the first connection target.

Now, a section volume of the first section <NUM> of the inner space <NUM> will be focused on. In a connection state where the first pins <NUM> are abutted against electrodes <NUM> of a first electronic device T1 as the first connection target, the waterproof elastic member <NUM> is elastically deformed. As a result, the section volume of the first section <NUM> is greater than the section volume in a non-contact state (see <FIG>) where the first pins <NUM> are not in contact with the electrodes <NUM> of the first electronic device T1 as the first connection target.

The communication holes <NUM> are formed in the cover <NUM>. The communication holes <NUM> are each formed at a position facing the sloping part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM>, with a lower end of the communication hole <NUM> being close to an upper surface of the skirt part <NUM> (see <FIG>). The communication holes <NUM> are holes through which the first section <NUM> communicates with the outside at positions close to the skirt part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM>. Accordingly, when the connection state where the first pins <NUM> are abutted against the electrodes <NUM> of the first electronic device T1 as the first connection target is reached, outside air flows into the case <NUM> through the communication holes <NUM> by the amount that the section volume of the first section <NUM> is increased.

When connection between the first electronic device T1 as the first connection target and the second electronic device T2 as the second connection target is released, the section volume of the first section <NUM> is returned to the volume in the non-contact state. At this time, air is pushed out and discharged from inside the case <NUM> to outside by the amount of air that previously flowed in through the communication holes <NUM>. The flow of air being discharged, or a force of the waterproof elastic member <NUM> returning to an original shape from the elastically deformed shape, acts to actively push out, through the communication holes <NUM>, water that is retained around the skirt part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM> after flowing down inside the case <NUM>. Mutual effects between the communication holes <NUM> and the waterproof elastic member <NUM> achieve a function of a pseudo-pump that removes water from the first section <NUM>.

When the amount of water that is retained near the skirt part <NUM> of the waterproof elastic member <NUM> after flowing down is increased and water reaches lower ends of the communication holes <NUM>, or when the second electronic device T2 as the second connection target is tilted, water that is retained near the skirt part <NUM> after flowing down may be discharged through the communication holes <NUM> on its own.

As described above, with the spring-loaded connector <NUM> of the present embodiment, shorting between the contact units due to presence of water may be prevented, and both waterproofness and reduced size may be achieved.

Heretofore, an example embodiment where the invention is applied has been described, but a mode to which the invention can be applied is not limited to the mode described above, and structural elements may be added, omitted, or changed as appropriate.

For example, the above-described embodiment describes an example where the water-shielding structure <NUM> is realized as a protrusion, but as illustrated in <FIG>, a water-shielding structure 52B of a waterproof elastic member 50B that is realized as a groove is also possible but is not part of the claimed invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a water-shielding structure 52C of a waterproof elastic member 50C that is realized using both a protrusion and a groove is also possible.

The water-shielding structure <NUM> may be designed to be curved without being limited to be a straight wall or groove. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, a water-shielding structure 52D may be designed as an arc-shaped protrusion, and one of the contact units <NUM> that are adjacent to each other may be surrounded by arcs by the water-shielding structures 52D. Also in this case, the water-shielding structure 52D is disposed between the cylindrical parts <NUM> that are adjacent to each other. The water-shielding structure 52D may include a groove. Alternatively, a groove may run along an outer circumference of the water-shielding structure 52D, and one water-shielding structure 52D may include both a protrusion and a groove.

The above-described embodiment describes the contact units <NUM> to be arranged in one straight row, but the arrangement pattern may be changed as appropriate, and the shape of the water-shielding structure <NUM> may be set to shapes other than those in the above-described modifications as appropriate depending on the arrangement pattern.

For example, in the case of adopting an arrangement pattern where the contact units <NUM> are lined up in two rows, five in each row, as in the case of a waterproof elastic member 50E illustrated in <FIG>, a water-shielding structure 52E may be disposed not only between the contact units <NUM> that are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, but also between the contact units <NUM> that are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. The water-shielding structure 52E may include a groove.

Claim 1:
A spring-loaded connector (<NUM>) comprising:
contact units (<NUM>) each including a first pin (<NUM>) for contacting a first connection target, a second pin (<NUM>) for contacting a second connection target, and an intermediate member (<NUM>) for biasing the first pin and the second pin in directions away from each other;
a case (<NUM>) including a cover (<NUM>) including a through hole (<NUM>) where a tip of the first pin is exposed, and a housing (<NUM>) including a through hole (<NUM>) where a tip of the second pin is exposed, the case (<NUM>) being for supporting the contact units; and
a waterproof elastic member (<NUM>) including cylindrical parts (<NUM>) corresponding to the contact units, respectively, the waterproof elastic member being disposed between the cover and the housing, a cylindrical part among the cylindrical parts sealing between the first pin and the intermediate member of a contact unit corresponding to the cylindrical part, among the contact units, in a watertight manner by being interposed between an inner side of the first pin and an outer side of the intermediate member,
characterized in that
the waterproof elastic member (<NUM>) includes, between the cylindrical parts (<NUM>) that are adjacent to each other, a water-shielding structure (<NUM>) including a wall-shaped protrusion for preventing the first pins (<NUM>) of the contact units (<NUM>) corresponding to the cylindrical parts that are adjacent to each other from being electrically connected due to presence of water between the first pins.