Patent Description:
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 flexible conductor drawn from the electrode.

As a connector of this type, for example, <CIT> discloses a connector as illustrated in <FIG>. The connector includes a housing <NUM> and a base member <NUM> that are disposed on the opposite sides of a flexible substrate <NUM> to sandwich the flexible substrate <NUM> therebetween. 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 flexible conductors 1A exposed on the top surface of the flexible substrate <NUM>.

In this state, when the base member <NUM> is pushed 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 the inner surface of the projection accommodating portion 4C makes contact with the flexible conductor 1A with a predetermined contact force, whereby the contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the flexible 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 fitted to the connector disclosed in <CIT>, a wearable device can be connected to electrodes constituted of the flexible conductors.

However, when a flexible conductor 1B is exposed on the bottom surface of the flexible substrate <NUM>, the connector of <CIT> would be useless in electrically connecting the flexible conductor 1B to the contact <NUM>.

From <CIT> a connector is known including a pushing member having a projection, a support member disposed to contact a lateral surface of the projection, and a contact made of a conductive material and having a support member facing portion facing the support member, a part of the flexible conductor being disposed between the support member and the support member facing portion of the contact, the lateral surface of the projection pressing the part of the flexible conductor against the support member facing portion of the contact via the support member, whereby the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor.

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problem and aims at providing a connector that can electrically connecting a contact to a flexible conductor of a connection object regardless of whether the flexible conductor is exposed on the top surface or the bottom surface of the connection object.

A connector according to the present invention comprises:.

A connecting method according to the present invention is a method for connecting the plug contact to the flexible conductor of the connection object by use of the connector according to claim <NUM>, the method comprising:.

<FIG> shows a connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is used as, for instance, a garment-side connector for fitting a wearable device and includes 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> being superposed on each other are retained by the housing <NUM>. The sheet type conductive member <NUM> constitutes a connection object to which the connector <NUM> is connected.

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

For convenience, the reinforcement sheet <NUM> and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are defined as extending in an XY plane, the alignment 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 <NUM>. 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 retained in the top insulator <NUM>. The reinforcement sheet <NUM> is disposed on the bottom surface of the top insulator <NUM> on the -Z direction side, 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 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 a part of a counter connector (not shown) is to be accommodated, and the four contact through-holes 16B correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>. A plurality of bosses 16C projecting in the -Z direction are formed on a surface, facing the -Z direction, of the top insulator <NUM>.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are made of a conductive material such as metal and are to be connected to corresponding contacts of a counter connector (not shown) when a 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> includes a protrusion portion protruding in the +Z direction along a fitting axis C, specifically, a tubular portion 13A in the shape of a cylindrical tube, and a flange 13B in a discoid shape extending in a radial direction along an XY plane from the -Z directional base end of the tubular portion 13A.

As shown in <FIG>, the interior of the tubular portion 13A forms a recessed portion 13C opening in the -Z direction.

The fitting axis C is an axis passing through the center of the tubular portion 13A and extending in the direction in which the connector <NUM> and a counter connector are fitted to each other.

While the tubular portion 13A has the shape of a cylindrical tube, the cross section thereof is not limited to a circle and may be any of various shapes such as an ellipse and a polygon as long as the tubular portion 13A has the recessed portion 13C in its interior.

The four plug contacts <NUM> can be each used as a terminal for transmitting electric signals.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom insulator <NUM> includes a flat plate portion 17A, and the flat plate portion 17A is provided with four circular recessed portions 17B opening in the +Z direction. The four recessed portions 17B correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>. The four recessed portions 17B are provided separately with four projections 17C projecting in the +Z direction from central parts of the respective recessed portions 17B.

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

As shown in <FIG>, the projection 17C formed in the recessed portion 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> has the shape of a circular column extending in the Z direction along the fitting axis C of the plug contact <NUM> situated to correspond to the recessed portion 17B. First arm insertion grooves 17E extending in the Z direction are formed at the lateral surface of the projection 17C separately on the opposite sides in the X direction, and second arm insertion grooves 17F extending in the Z direction are formed at the lateral surface of the projection 17C separately on the opposite sides in the Y direction.

In other words, of the lateral surface of the projection 17C of circular columnar shape, a part facing the +X direction and a part facing the -X direction are each provided with the first arm insertion groove 17E, and a part facing the +Y direction and a part facing the -Y direction are each provided with the second arm insertion groove 17F.

As shown in <FIG>, the first arm insertion groove 17E extends over the entire Z directional height of the projection 17C from the +Z directional end of the projection 17C to the -Z directional end thereof, and as shown in <FIG>, the second arm insertion groove 17F extends from the +Z directional end of the projection 17C to an intermediate portion thereof in the Z direction.

As shown in <FIG>, each first arm insertion groove 17E includes: a first bottom surface <NUM> extending along a YZ plane in a portion on the +Z direction side; a second bottom surface <NUM> extending along a YZ plane in a portion on the -Z direction side and situated away from the fitting axis C in the X direction compared to the first bottom surface <NUM>; and an inclined bottom surface 17J connecting the first bottom surface <NUM> and the second bottom surface <NUM> and inclined with respect to the fitting axis C.

In an XZ plane passing the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E, the projection 17C has a thickness D1 in the X direction at a Z directional position where the first bottom surface <NUM> is formed and, at a Z directional position where the second bottom surface <NUM> is formed, a thickness D2 in the X direction that is larger than the thickness D1 at the Z directional position of the first bottom surface <NUM>.

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

As shown in <FIG>, four contact arrangement regions 15A used to arrange the four plug contacts <NUM> are defined on the top surface, facing the +Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>. Each of the four contact arrangement regions 15A is provided with an opening 15B penetrating the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and further with a pair of substantially triangular protruding portions 15C protruding inward within the opening 15B separately from the +X directional edge and the -X directional edge of the contact arrangement region 15A. A wiring layer 15D is exposed on the protruding portions 15C protruding inward within the four openings 15B, while an insulating layer 15E is exposed in the other region than the four openings 15B.

On the bottom surface, facing the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, a wiring layer 15F is exposed on the protruding portions 15C protruding inward within the four openings 15B, while an insulating layer <NUM> is exposed in the other region than the four openings 15B.

Further, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is provided in its peripheral portion with a plurality of through-holes <NUM> corresponding to the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the reinforcement sheet <NUM> is used 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 notches 14B corresponding to the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are formed along the periphery of the opening 14A of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the structure of an inner contact <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> is formed of a plate member made of a conductive material such as metal and bent, and includes a base portion 18A situated on the fitting axis C and extending in an XY plane, a pair of first arm portions 18B extending in at least the -Z direction separately from the +X directional end and the -X directional end of the base portion 18A, and a pair of second arm portions 18C extending in at least the -Z direction separately from the +Y directional end and the -Y directional end of the base portion 18A. It should be noted that the X direction forms a first direction perpendicular to the fitting axis C and the Y direction forms a second direction perpendicular to the fitting axis C and also perpendicular to the first direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the pair of first arm portions 18B face each other in the X direction and have a symmetrical shape with respect to a YZ plane passing the fitting axis C.

The pair of first arm portions 18B have, in their intermediate portions in the Z direction, a pair of first bending portions 18D bent to approach each other and each form a projecting shape, and projecting surfaces of the pair of first bending portions 18D that face each other form a pair of projection contacting portions P1 that are elastically displaceable in the X direction perpendicular to the fitting axis C.

The pair of first arm portions 18B also have, in their -Z directional tip portions, a pair of projecting surfaces facing the opposite directions from each other in the X direction, and this pair of projecting surfaces form a pair of pressing portions P2 that are elastically displaceable in the X direction perpendicular to the fitting axis C.

With no external force acting on the inner contact <NUM>, a distance L1 between the pair of projection contacting portions P1 in the X direction has a dimension substantially equal to the thickness D1 of the projection 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> shown in <FIG> and smaller than the thickness D2 thereof, and a distance L2 between the pair of pressing portions P2 in the X direction has a dimension substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a value obtained by subtracting a double of the thickness of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> from the inner diameter of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the pair of second arm portions 18C slantingly extend from the +Y and -Y directional ends of the base portion 18A such that a gap therebetween in the Y direction gradually widens toward the -Z direction, face each other in the Y direction, and have a symmetrical shape with respect to an XZ plane passing the fitting axis C.

The -Z directional tip portions of the pair of second arm portions 18C have a pair of projecting surfaces facing the opposite directions from each other in the Y direction, and this pair of projecting surfaces form a pair of contact portions P3 that are elastically displaceable in the Y direction perpendicular to the fitting axis C.

With no external force acting on the inner contact <NUM>, a distance L3 between the pair of contact portions P3 in the Y direction has a dimension larger than the inner diameter of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

When the connector <NUM> is assembled, first, each inner contact <NUM> is temporarily retained on the corresponding projection 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The inner contact <NUM> is temporarily retained on the projection 17C with the pair of first arm portions 18B being inserted in the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 17C and the pair of projection contacting portions P1 being in contact with the first bottom surfaces <NUM> of the first arm insertion grooves 17E shown in <FIG>.

In the state where the inner contact <NUM> is temporarily retained on the projection 17C, the pair of second arm portions 18C of the inner contact <NUM> are not yet inserted in the pair of second arm insertion grooves 17F of the projection 17C.

Next, the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are inserted into the notches 14B of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>. At this time, the four contact through-holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM> are situated inside the opening 14A of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>.

Further, the tubular portions 13A of the plug contacts <NUM> are correspondingly inserted into the four contact through-holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM> from the -Z direction, and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM> such that each opening 15B and each pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are positioned at an opening end portion of the recessed portion 13C of the corresponding tubular portion 13A.

In this state, the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM> in the +Z direction with the sheet type conductive member <NUM> being sandwiched therebetween. At this time, as shown in <FIG>, the flange 13B of each plug contact <NUM> is situated above the corresponding contact arrangement region 15A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and each inner contact <NUM> temporarily retained on the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the corresponding plug contact <NUM> while pushing the corresponding pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

Consequently, the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> pushed into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions P2 formed at the -Z directional end portions of the pair of first arm portions 18B of the inner contact <NUM> and the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

Meanwhile, with no external force acting on the inner contact <NUM>, the pair of pressing portions P2 have the distance L2 in the X direction that is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a value obtained by subtracting a double of the thickness of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> from the inner diameter of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> as shown in <FIG>; therefore, the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are smoothly inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> without being subjected to a large force from the inner contact <NUM> and being rubbed.

The pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> are in contact with the first bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 17C, and when the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM> in the +Z direction, the base portion 18A of the inner contact <NUM> makes contact with the bottom surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, the bottom surface being situated at the +Z directional end of the recessed portion 13C.

Further, when the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM>, the pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> are relatively moved in the -Z direction with respect to the projection 17C from the first bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E to the second bottom surfaces <NUM> thereof through the inclined bottom surfaces 17J thereof while being elastically displaced in the X direction.

Furthermore, when the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM>, the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> sequentially pass through the notches 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>. Then, the ends of the bosses 16C projecting on the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator <NUM> are thermally deformed, whereby the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> are fixed to each other. Thus, the assembling operation of the connector <NUM> is completed.

Note that the plug contacts <NUM> are fixed to the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> because their flanges 13B are sandwiched between the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM>.

In the connector <NUM> thus assembled, the pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> make contact with the second bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 17C as shown in <FIG>, so that the distance between the pair of projection contacting portions P1 in the X direction is widened, and accordingly, elastic forces acting to widen the distance between the pair of pressing portions P2 in the X direction are exerted on the pair of pressing portions P2. Consequently, the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM> and the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> are separately pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

Meanwhile, inside each opening 15B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the wiring layer 15D is exposed on the top surfaces, facing the +Z direction, of the pair of protruding portions 15C, and the wiring layer 15F is exposed on the bottom surfaces thereof facing the -Z direction, as shown in <FIG>.

Accordingly, the wiring layer 15D on the top surfaces of the protruding portions 15C make contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> at a predetermined contact pressure, while the wiring layer 15F on the bottom surfaces of the protruding portions 15C make contact with the pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM> at a predetermined contact pressure.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the pair of contact portions P3 formed at the tip portions of the pair of second arm portions 18B of the inner contact <NUM> inserted in the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> are pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Consequently, the wiring layer 15D exposed on the top surfaces of the protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> directly, while the wiring layer 15F exposed on the bottom surfaces of the protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> via the inner contact <NUM>. In other words, both the wiring layers 15D and 15F are connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, with the connector <NUM>, both the wiring layer 15D formed of a flexible conductor disposed on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15F formed of a flexible conductor disposed on the bottom surface side of the same can be electrically connected to one plug contact <NUM> owing to the use of the inner contact <NUM>.

Therefore, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a flexible conductor exposed only on the top surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member, and when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a flexible conductor exposed only on the bottom surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member.

Further, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having flexible conductors exposed on both the top and bottom surface sides like the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to both the flexible conductor on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member and the flexible conductor on the bottom surface side thereof. For instance, in the case of using, as the connection object, a sheet type conductive member having a multilayer structure in which flexible conductors each constituting a shielding layer are exposed on both the top and bottom surface sides separately and another flexible conductor constituting a signal wiring layer is disposed between those shielding layers while being insulated from both of the shielding layers, when the plug contact <NUM> connected to the shielding layers on the top and bottom surface sides is connected to a ground potential, a shielding effect with respect to the signal wiring layer is demonstrated, and highly accurate signal transmission can be carried out with the influence of disturbance caused by electromagnetic waves and other factors being minimized.

The pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are not subjected to a large force from the inner contact <NUM> and not rubbed when inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, and hence, the flexible conductors forming the wiring layers 15D and 15F of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are prevented from being broken, thus ensuring the reliability of electric connection between the flexible conductors and the plug contact <NUM>.

While the reinforcement sheet <NUM> is disposed between the bottom insulator <NUM> and the top insulator <NUM> in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, the reinforcement sheet <NUM> may be omitted when it is not necessary to reinforce the mounting object such as a garment on which the connector <NUM> is to be mounted.

<FIG> shows an assembly view of a connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is configured by, in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, using a bottom insulator <NUM> in place of the bottom insulator <NUM> so that the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> constitute a housing <NUM> and also using four inner contacts <NUM> in place of the four inner contacts <NUM>. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

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

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom insulator <NUM> is configured such that four projections 27C are used in place of the four projections 17C in the bottom insulator <NUM> used in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

Specifically, the bottom insulator <NUM> includes the flat plate portion 17A, the flat plate portion 17A is provided with the four circular recessed portions 17B opening in the +Z direction, and the four projections 27C are formed to project in the +Z direction from central parts of the respective recessed portions 17B.

As shown in <FIG>, the projection 27C of the bottom insulator <NUM> has the shape of a circular column extending in the Z direction along the fitting axis C of the plug contact <NUM> situated to correspond to the recessed portion 17B. The first arm insertion grooves 17E extending in the Z direction are formed at the lateral surface of the projection 27C separately on the opposite sides in the X direction. Those first arm insertion grooves 17E are the same as the first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 17C in Embodiment <NUM>. No grooves are formed at the lateral surface of the projection 27C on the opposite sides in the Y direction.

<FIG> shows the structure of the inner contact <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> is formed of a plate member made of a conductive material such as metal and bent, and includes a base portion 28A situated on the fitting axis C and extending in an XY plane, and a pair of first arm portions 28B extending in the -Z direction separately from the +X directional end and the -X directional end of the base portion 28A.

As shown in <FIG>, the pair of first arm portions 28B face each other in the X direction and have a symmetrical shape with respect to a YZ plane passing the fitting axis C.

The pair of first arm portions 28B have a pair of projection contacting portions P1 that are formed in the intermediate portions in the Z direction and are elastically displaceable in the X direction and a pair of pressing portions P2 that are formed in the - Z directional tip portions and are elastically displaceable in the X direction, as with the pair of first arm portions 18B of the inner contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>.

The pair of first arm portions 28B further have a pair of second bending portions 28E bent to project in the opposite directions from each other along the X direction, each second bending portion 28E being situated between a joint portion at which the first arm portion 28B and the base portion 28A are joined together and the projection contacting portion P1. Projecting surfaces of the pair of second bending portions 28E that face the opposite directions from each other form a pair of contact portions P3 elastically displaceable in the X direction perpendicular to the fitting axis C.

With no external force acting on the inner contact <NUM>, a distance L4 between the pair of contact portions P3 in the X direction has a dimension substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

When the connector <NUM> is assembled, first, each inner contact <NUM> is temporarily retained on the corresponding projection 27C of the bottom insulator <NUM>. The inner contact <NUM> is temporarily retained on the projection 27C with the pair of first arm portions 28B being inserted in the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 27C.

Next, the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> are inserted into the notches 14B of the reinforcement sheet <NUM>. Further, the tubular portions 13A of the plug contacts <NUM> are correspondingly inserted into the four contact through-holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM> from the -Z direction, and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM> such that each opening 15B and each pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are positioned at an opening end portion of the recessed portion 13C of the corresponding tubular portion 13A.

Consequently, the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> pushed into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions P2 formed at the -Z directional end portions of the pair of first arm portions 28B of the inner contact <NUM> and the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

However, with no external force acting on the inner contact <NUM>, the pair of pressing portions P2 have a distance therebetween in the X direction that is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a value obtained by subtracting a double of the thickness of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> from the inner diameter of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> as with Embodiment <NUM>; therefore, the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are smoothly inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> without being subjected to a large force from the inner contact <NUM> and being rubbed.

The pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> are in contact with the first bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 27C, and when the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM> in the +Z direction, the base portion 28A of the inner contact <NUM> makes contact with the bottom surface, situated at the +Z directional end, of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

Further, when the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM>, the pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> are relatively moved in the -Z direction with respect to the projection 27C from the first bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E to the second bottom surfaces <NUM> thereof through the inclined bottom surfaces 17J thereof while being elastically displaced in the X direction.

In the connector <NUM> thus assembled, the pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> make contact with the second bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 27C as shown in <FIG>, so that the distance between the pair of projection contacting portions P1 in the X direction is widened, and accordingly, elastic forces act on the pair of pressing portions P2 to widen the distance between the pair of pressing portions P2 in the X direction. Consequently, the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM> and the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> are separately pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

Accordingly, the wiring layer 15D on the top surfaces of the protruding portions 15C makes contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> at a predetermined contact pressure, while the wiring layer 15F on the bottom surfaces of the protruding portions 15C makes contact with the pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM> at a predetermined contact pressure.

In addition, as the distance between the pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> in the X direction is widened, elastic forces acting to widen the distance between the pair of contact portions P3 of the pair of first arm portions 28B in the X direction are exerted on the pair of contact portions P3, each contact portion P3 being formed between the joint portion at which the first arm portion 28B and the base portion 28A are joined together and the projection contacting portion P1. Thus, the pair of contact portions P3 are pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, also in the connector <NUM>, both the wiring layer 15D formed of a flexible conductor disposed on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15F formed of a flexible conductor disposed on the bottom surface side of the same can be electrically connected to one plug contact <NUM> owing to the use of the inner contact <NUM>.

Therefore, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a flexible conductor exposed only on the top surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member, and when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a flexible conductor exposed only on the bottom surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member, as with Embodiment <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is configured by, in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, using a top insulator <NUM> in place of the top insulator <NUM> so that the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> constitute a housing <NUM> and also using four plug contacts <NUM> in place of the four plug contacts <NUM>. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

The four plug contacts <NUM> are retained in the top insulator <NUM>. The top insulator <NUM> includes a recessed portion 36A opening in the +Z direction as with the top insulator <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Two jutting portions 36D and 36E jutting in the +Z direction are formed within the recessed portion 36A. The jutting portions 36D and 36E are situated at a distance in the X direction and each extend in the Y direction. Each of the jutting portions 36D and 36E is provided with two contact through-holes 36B penetrating the top insulator <NUM> in the Z direction, and the corresponding plug contacts <NUM> are exposed toward the +Z direction through the contact through-holes 36B.

It should be noted that the bosses 16C projecting in the -Z direction are formed on a surface, facing the -Z direction, of the top insulator <NUM>, as with the top insulator <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The structure of the plug contact <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The plug contact <NUM> is formed from a bent metal plate and includes a protrusion portion formed of a U-shaped portion 33A protruding in the +Z direction along the fitting axis C. The U-shaped portion 33A is composed of a top plate portion 33D extending along an XY plane and a pair of lateral plate portions 33E extending in the -Z direction along a YZ plane separately from the +X directional end and the -X directional end of the top plate portion 33D. The plug contact <NUM> further includes a pair of flanges 33B of flat plate shape extending in the opposite directions from each other along an XY plane separately from the -Z directional ends of the pair of lateral plate portions 33E.

The interior of the U-shaped portion 33A forms a recessed portion 33C.

Even with the use of the top insulator <NUM> and the four plug contacts <NUM> as above, the connector <NUM> can be assembled in the same manner as in Embodiment <NUM>.

Specifically, the inner contacts <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> are temporarily retained on the corresponding projections 27C of the bottom insulator <NUM>, the U-shaped portions 33A of the plug contacts <NUM> are correspondingly inserted into the four contact through-holes 36B of the top insulator <NUM> from the -Z direction, and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <NUM> such that each opening 15B and each pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are positioned at an opening end portion of the recessed portion 33C of the corresponding U-shaped portion 33A.

In this state, the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM> in the +Z direction with the sheet type conductive member <NUM> being sandwiched therebetween. As a consequence, as shown in <FIG>, each inner contact <NUM> temporarily retained on the bottom insulator <NUM> is inserted into the recessed portion 33C of the corresponding plug contact <NUM> while pushing the corresponding pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

The pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> pushed into the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM> are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM> and the inner surface of the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM>.

It is assumed that with no external force acting on the inner contact <NUM>, the distance between the pair of contact portions P3 in the X direction has a dimension substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a distance between the inner surfaces of the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM> in the X direction.

Accordingly, the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are smoothly inserted into the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM> without being subjected to a large force from the inner contact <NUM> and being rubbed.

Further, when the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed toward the top insulator <NUM>, the pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> are relatively moved in the -Z direction with respect to the projection 27C from the first bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 27C to the second bottom surfaces <NUM> thereof through the inclined bottom surfaces 17J thereof while being elastically displaced in the X direction.

The ends of the bosses 16C of the top insulator <NUM> projecting on the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator <NUM> are thermally deformed, whereby the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM> are fixed to each other. Thus, the assembling operation of the connector <NUM> is completed.

Also in the connector <NUM> thus assembled, as with the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, the pair of projection contacting portions P1 of the inner contact <NUM> make contact with the second bottom surfaces <NUM> of the pair of first arm insertion grooves 17E of the projection 27C as shown in <FIG>, so that the distance between the pair of projection contacting portions P1 in the X direction is widened. Accordingly, elastic forces acting to widen the distance between the pair of pressing portions P2 in the X direction are exerted on the pair of pressing portions P2, and the pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are separately pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, the wiring layer 15D on the top surfaces of the protruding portions 15C makes contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM> at a predetermined contact pressure, while the wiring layer 15F on the bottom surfaces of the protruding portions 15C makes contact with the pressing portions P2 of the inner contact <NUM> at a predetermined contact pressure.

In addition, the pair of contact portions P3 of the inner contact <NUM> are pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, also in the connector <NUM>, both the wiring layer 15D formed of a flexible conductor disposed on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15F formed of a flexible conductor disposed on the bottom surface side of the same can be electrically connected to one plug contact <NUM>.

Therefore, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a flexible conductor exposed only on the top surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member, and when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a flexible conductor exposed only on the bottom surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor on the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member, as with Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM>.

The pair of protruding portions 15C of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are not subjected to a large force from the inner contact <NUM> and not rubbed when inserted into the recessed portion 33C of the plug contact <NUM>, and hence, the flexible conductors forming the wiring layers 15D and 15F of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are prevented from being broken, thus ensuring the reliability of electric connection between the flexible conductors and the plug contact <NUM>.

In Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above, the plug contact <NUM>, <NUM> disposed in the contact arrangement region 15A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> makes contact with both the wiring layer 15D exposed on the top surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> and the wiring layer 15F exposed on the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>; however, for instance, it is also possible to connect only the wiring layer 15D exposed on the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> to the plug contact <NUM>, <NUM> disposed in the contact arrangement region 15A.

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

While the two layers of flexible conductors, namely, the wiring layer 15D and the wiring layer 15F, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> are connected to one plug contact <NUM>, <NUM> in Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above, the invention is not limited thereto, and three or more layers of flexible conductors can be connected to one plug contact <NUM>, <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A connector comprising:
a plug contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a conductive property and including a recessed portion (13C, 33C) extending along a fitting axis (C);
an inner contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a conductive property and inserted in the recessed portion; and
a bottom insulator (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a projection (17C, 27C) extending along the fitting axis and inserted in the recessed portion,
wherein the inner contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes
a contact portion (P3) that is elastically displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and makes contact with the plug contact in the recessed portion,
a projection contacting portion (P1) that is elastically displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and makes contact with a lateral surface of the projection in the recessed portion, and
a pressing portion (P2) that is elastically displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis and faces an inner surface of the recessed portion, and
a part of a connection object (<NUM>) of sheet type having a flexible conductor (15D, 15F) exposed on at least one surface of the connection object is sandwiched between the pressing portion and the inner surface of the recessed portion in a direction perpendicular to the fitting axis, the inner surface of the recessed portion makes contact with a top surface of the connection object, and the pressing portion makes contact with a bottom surface of the connection object, whereby the plug contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) is electrically connected to the flexible conductor (15D) directly when the flexible conductor (15D) is exposed on the top surface of the connection object, and the plug contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) is electrically connected to the flexible conductor (15F) via the inner contact (<NUM>, <NUM>) when the flexible conductor (15F) is exposed on the bottom surface of the connection object.