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 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 top 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 bottom 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 device with an arrangement for contacting between a flexible piece of material provided with at least one electrically conductive functional structure and a control unit operating the functional structure. The arrangement is alike a two-part male portion of a snap fastener, the flexible piece of material being squeezed between flanges of the two parts when the bottom part is riveted in the hollow of the top part.

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

A connector according to the present invention as defined in claim <NUM> comprises:.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below based on the accompanying drawings.

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

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

For convenience, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is defined as extending in 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 exploded perspective 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 disposed on the -Z direction side of the top insulator <NUM>, and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is disposed on the -Z direction side of the four plug contacts <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.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom insulator <NUM> includes a flat plate portion 17A, and four contact arrangement regions 17B are defined on a top surface, facing in the +Z direction, of the flat plate portion 17A. The contact arrangement region 17B is a circular region for arranging the corresponding plug contact <NUM> via the sheet type conductive member <NUM>. The four contact arrangement regions 17B are separately provided with four projections 17C projecting in the +Z direction from center parts of the contact arrangement regions 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 projection 17C formed in the contact arrangement region 17B of the bottom insulator <NUM> has a substantially columnar shape extending in the Z direction along a fitting axis C of the plug contact <NUM> disposed to correspond to the contact arrangement region 17B, and an accommodating groove 17E for accommodating the corresponding inner contact <NUM> is formed at X-directional opposite lateral surfaces and a +Z directional end portion of the projection 17C. The accommodating groove 17E continuously extends in a top surface of the contact arrangement region 17B on the -X direction side of the projection 17C.

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 in the Z direction along the fitting axis C, and a flange 13B of flat plate shape extending from a -Z directional end portion of the tubular portion 13A along an XY plane. The tubular portion 13A constitutes an axially extending portion, while the flange 13B constitutes an orthogonally extending portion.

As shown in <FIG>, the tubular portion 13A is provided in its interior with a recessed portion 13C opening in the -Z direction, and the recessed portion 13C is provided in its inside with a receiving portion 13D formed of a dent annularly extending in an XY plane along an inner surface of the recessed portion 13C.

The fitting axis C is an axis passing the center of the tubular portion 13A and extending in the Z direction that is 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.

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>, the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is provided with four circular opening portions 15A penetrating the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction. The four opening portions 15A separately correspond to the four plug contacts <NUM>. On a top surface, facing in the +Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, a wiring layer 15B is exposed toward the +Z direction so as to be adjacent to the opening portions 15A on the -X direction side of the opening portions 15A, while an insulating layer 15C is exposed in a region other than the regions corresponding to the four opening portions 15A and the four parts of the wiring layer 15B adjacent to these opening portions 15A.

Since the opening portions 15A penetrate the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in the Z direction, as shown in <FIG>, the four opening portions 15A can be seen also on a bottom surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

On the bottom surface, facing in the -Z direction, of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, a wiring layer 15D is exposed toward the -Z direction so as to be adjacent to the four opening portions 15A on the X direction side of the opening portions 15A, while an insulating layer 15E is exposed in a region other than the regions corresponding to the four opening portions 15A and the four parts of the wiring layer 15D adjacent to these opening portions 15A.

In addition, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a plurality of through-holes 15F 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 inner contact <NUM> is formed of a single band type metal sheet having conductivity and being bent, and has a crossing portion 18A extending in the X direction. A first extending portion 18B extends in the -Z direction from a -X directional end portion of the crossing portion 18A, an arm portion 18C extends in the -X direction from a -Z directional end portion of the first extending portion 18B, and a second extending portion 18D extends in the -Z direction from a +X directional end portion of the crossing portion 18A. The crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D are inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the corresponding plug contact <NUM> when the connector <NUM> is assembled.

A hook portion 18E projecting in the -X direction is formed at a joint portion between the crossing portion 18A and the first extending portion 18B. The hook portion 18E projects in a right angle shape or a chevron shape toward the -X direction, and a first contacting portion P1 facing in the -Z direction is set at a -X directional end portion of the hook portion 18E.

In addition, a curved portion 18F that is curved to protrude in the +X direction is formed at a -Z directional end portion of the second extending portion 18D, and a second contacting portion P2 facing in the +X direction is set on a +X directional surface of the curved portion 18F.

Further, a curved portion <NUM> that is curved to protrude toward the +Z direction is formed at a -X directional end portion of the arm portion 18C, and a third contacting portion P3 facing in the +Z direction is set on a +Z directional surface of the curved portion <NUM>.

While the position of the inner contact <NUM> is slightly inclined with respect to the fitting axis C when the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D are inserted in the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> such that the crossing portion 18A crosses the fitting axis C as shown in <FIG>, in a natural state where no external force is applied to the inner contact <NUM>, a distance L11 in the X direction from the first contacting portion P1 to the second contacting portion P2 is set to be larger than a distance L21 in the X direction from the receiving portion 13D of the plug contact <NUM> to a part of an inner surface of the recessed portion 13C which part faces the receiving portion 13D.

Similarly, in the natural state where no external force is applied to the inner contact <NUM>, a distance L12 in the Z direction from the first contacting portion P1 to the third contacting portion P3 is set to be smaller than a distance L22 in the Z direction from the receiving portion 13D of the plug contact <NUM> to the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> disposed on the -Z direction side of the flange 13B.

Therefore, when the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D are inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, the inner contact <NUM> elastically deforms as shown by a dashed line in <FIG>, the second contacting portion P2 makes contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, and the third contacting portion P3 makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

The inner contact <NUM> configured as above can be easily produced by, for example, cutting out a metal sheet into a predetermined shape and then bending the cut metal sheet.

The four contact through-holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM>, the four plug contacts <NUM>, the four opening portions 15A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the four inner contacts <NUM>, and the four contact arrangement regions 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 through-holes 15F 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, the four inner contacts <NUM> are separately accommodated in the accommodating grooves 17E of the four projections 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>.

Subsequently, the tubular portions 13A of the plug contacts <NUM> are inserted into the four contact through-holes 16B of the top insulator <NUM> correspondingly from the -Z direction, and the bottom insulator <NUM> is pressed toward the top insulator <NUM> in the +Z direction with the sheet type conductive member <NUM> being sandwiched therebetween.

At this time, the inner contact <NUM> accommodated in the accommodating groove 17E of the projection 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed up in the +Z direction, and the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D of the inner contact <NUM> are inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the corresponding plug contact <NUM> through the opening portion 15B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>. In addition, the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> is situated around the corresponding opening portion 15B of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, and the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is sandwiched between the +Z directional surface of the curved portion <NUM> formed at the -X directional end portion of the arm portion 18C of the inner contact <NUM> and a bottom surface on the -Z direction side of 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 through-holes 15F 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> is completed.

As shown in <FIG>, when the inner contact <NUM> is pushed up in the +Z direction by the projection 17C of the bottom insulator <NUM>, the inner contact <NUM> elastically deforms, the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D move in the +Z direction within the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, and the hook portion 18E is received by the receiving portion 13D formed inside the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

Here, as shown in <FIG>, in the natural state where no external force is applied to the inner contact <NUM>, the distance L11 in the X direction from the first contacting portion P1 to the second contacting portion P2 is set to be larger than the distance L21 in the X direction from the receiving portion 13D of the plug contact <NUM> to a part of the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C which part faces the receiving portion 13D.

Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, when the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D are inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 are elastically displaced such that the gap therebetween in the X direction is narrowed, and are pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>.

Specifically, the first contacting portion P1 is pressed against the receiving portion 13D within the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, while the second contacting portion P2 is pressed against the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> on the opposite side from the first contacting portion P1 across the fitting axis C. These first and second contacting portions P1 and P2 are pressed against and makes contact with 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>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, in the natural state where no external force is applied to the inner contact <NUM>, the distance L12 in the Z direction from the first contacting portion P1 to the third contacting portion P3 is set to be smaller than the distance L22 in the Z direction from the receiving portion 13D of the plug contact <NUM> to the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> disposed on the -Z direction side of the flange 13B.

Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, when the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D are inserted into the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> such that the crossing portion 18A crosses the fitting axis C, the third contacting portion P3 is elastically displaced in the -Z direction and makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> disposed on the -Z direction side of the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM>. Therefore, the top surface on the +Z direction side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is pressed against the bottom surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM>, while the bottom surface on the -Z direction side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is pressed against the third contacting portion P3 of the inner contact <NUM>.

Here, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, on the top surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the wiring layer 15B is exposed so as to be adjacent to the opening portions 15A on the -X direction side of the opening portions 15A, and on the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, the wiring layer 15D is exposed so as to be adjacent to the opening portions 15A on the -X direction side of the opening portions 15A.

Therefore, the wiring layer 15B on the top surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> makes contact with the bottom surface of the flange 13B of the plug contact <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure, while the wiring layer 15D on the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> makes contact with the third contacting portion P3 of the inner contact <NUM> with predetermined contact pressure.

Therefore, the wiring layer 15B exposed on the top surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> directly, and the wiring layer 15D exposed on the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> via the inner contact <NUM>. In other words, both the wiring layers 15B and 15D are connected to the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, with the connector <NUM>, both the wiring layer 15B and the wiring layer 15D formed of the conductors disposed on the top surface side and the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to a single plug contact <NUM> by use of the inner contact <NUM>.

Therefore, when the connector <NUM> is connected to a sheet type conductive member having a conductor exposed only on its top surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the conductor on the top 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 bottom surface side, the plug contact <NUM> can be electrically connected to the 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 conductors separately exposed on its top surface side and bottom 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 top surface side and the bottom 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 top surface side and the bottom 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 with respect to the signal wiring layer is exhibited when the plug contact <NUM> connected to the shield layers on the top surface side and the bottom 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.

Note that the flange 13B of each of the plug contacts <NUM> is sandwiched between the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM>, so that the plug contacts <NUM> are fixed to the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM>.

The first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> are elastically displaced such that the gap therebetween in the X direction is narrowed, and make contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>, and the third contacting portion P3 is elastically displaced in the -Z direction and makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>; therefore, as shown in <FIG>, the inner contact <NUM> is retained by the plug contact <NUM> in the state where: the first contacting portion P1 receives a force F1 acting in the +X direction and the +Z direction from the receiving portion 13D of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>; the second contacting portion P2 receives a force F2 acting in the -X direction from the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM>; and the third contacting portion P3 receives a force F3 acting in the -Z direction from the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>.

That is, if a frictional force is ignored, these three forces F1, F2 and F3 balance, and when an X directional component force and a Z directional component force of the force F1 are F1X and F1Z, respectively, the following relations are established: <MAT> and <MAT>.

Note that F1, F2, F3, F1X, and F1Z are all represented by absolute values.

In addition, from balance of moments about the first contacting portion P1, when a distance in the X direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the third contacting portion P3 is LX, and a distance in the Z direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 is LZ, the following relation is established: <MAT>.

From the formulae (<NUM>), (<NUM>), and (<NUM>) above, the following formula can be obtained: <MAT>.

As shown in <FIG>, a tangential plane formed by the hook portion 18E and the receiving portion 13D contacting each other in the case where the receiving portion 13D of the plug contact <NUM> receives the hook portion 18E of the inner contact <NUM> is assumed to be T, and a normal line perpendicular to the tangential plane T is assumed to be N. If a frictional force exerted between the inner contact <NUM> and the plug contact <NUM> is ignored, the force F1 along the normal line N is applied from the receiving portion 13D of the plug contact <NUM> to the first contacting portion P1 set at the -X directional end portion of the hook portion 18E.

That is, a ratio of the Z directional component force F1Z to the X directional component force F1X of the force F1 (F1Z/F1X) is equal to an inclination S of the normal line N.

Thus, the inner contact <NUM> is supported at three points by the plug contact <NUM> by means of the first contacting portion P1, the second contacting portion P2, and the third contacting portion P3 in the state where the forces F1, F2, and F3 applied to the inner contact <NUM> balance and the moments balance.

Here, the case is assumed where, for example, an inner contact that is the same as the inner contact <NUM> except that a X directional length of the arm portion 18C is larger than that of the inner contact <NUM> is used instead of the inner contact <NUM>. It is assumed that elastic displacement of the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 is similar to that in the case of the inner contact <NUM> and that the magnitude of the force F2 applied from the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> to the second contacting portion P2 does not change.

Since the distance LX in the X direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the third contacting portion P3 becomes large according to the length of the arm portion 18C, in order to balance the moments about the first contacting portion P1, from the formula (<NUM>) above, the force F3 acting in the -Z direction to be applied to the third contacting portion P3 becomes small, and accordingly, the Z directional component force F1Z of the force F1 is also reduced. On the other hand, since the X directional component force F1X of the force F1 does not change as with the force F2, the ratio (F1Z/F1X) becomes smaller than the inclination S of the normal line N.

However, if the frictional force is ignored, the force F1 along the normal line N is applied, as a perpendicular reaction force from the tangential plane T, to the first contacting portion P1, and a force acting in the +Z direction, which corresponds to the reduction of the Z directional component force F1Z of the force F1, is applied to the first contacting portion P1. As a result, the inner contact <NUM> is prevented from falling off the plug contact <NUM> in the -Z direction.

Next, the case is assumed where an inner contact that is the same as the inner contact <NUM> except that the X directional length of the arm portion 18C is smaller than that of the inner contact <NUM> is used instead of the inner contact <NUM>. It is assumed that elastic displacement of the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 is similar to that in the case of the inner contact <NUM> and that the magnitude of the force F2 applied from the inner surface of the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> to the second contacting portion P2 does not change.

Since the distance LX in the X direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the third contacting portion P3 becomes small according to the reduction in the length of the arm portion 18C, in order to balance the moments about the first contacting portion P1, from the formula (<NUM>) above, the force F3 acting in the -Z direction to be applied to the third contacting portion P3 becomes large, and accordingly, the Z directional component force F1Z of the force F1 also increases. On the other hand, since the X directional component force F1X of the force F1 does not change as with the force F2, the ratio (F1Z/F1X) becomes larger than the inclination S of the normal line N.

However, if the frictional force is ignored, the force F1 along the normal line N is applied, as a perpendicular reaction force from the tangential plane T, to the first contacting portion P1, and a force acting in the -Z direction, which corresponds to the increase in the Z directional component force F1Z of the force F1 is applied to the first contacting portion P1. As a result, the inner contact <NUM> easily falls off the plug contact <NUM> in the -Z direction.

That is, in order for the inner contact <NUM> to be stably supported at three points by the plug contact <NUM>, the ratio LZ/LX of the distance LZ in the Z direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 to the distance LX in the X direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the third contacting portion P3 is preferably not more than the inclination S with respect to the X direction of the normal line N perpendicular to the tangential plane T formed by the hook portion 18E and the receiving portion 13D contacting each other in the case where the receiving portion 13D receives the hook portion 18E.

Even when a frictional force that cannot be ignored is exerted between the inner contact <NUM> and the plug contact <NUM>, the inner contact <NUM> can be stably supported by the plug contact <NUM> by setting the ratio LZ/LX to be not more than the inclination S of the normal line N.

While the receiving portion 13D formed inside the recessed portion 13C of the plug contact <NUM> receives the hook portion 18E of the inner contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> above, the invention is not limited thereto, and a plug contact having no receiving portion 13D may be used by utilizing a static frictional force.

<FIG> shows a plug contact <NUM> used in a connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. As with the plug contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the plug contact <NUM> is made of a conductive material such as metal and has a tubular portion 23A of cylindrical shape and extending in the Z direction along the fitting axis C, and a flange 23B extending from a -Z directional end portion of the tubular portion 23A along an XY plane.

As shown in <FIG>, the tubular portion 23A is provided in its interior with a recessed portion 23C opening in the -Z direction, but the receiving portion formed of the dent included in the plug contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> is not formed inside the recessed portion 23C.

<FIG> shows the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM> connected to the sheet type conductive member <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is configured to use the plug contact <NUM> in place of the plug contact <NUM> in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and the other members are the same as those of the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

When the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D of the inner contact <NUM> are inserted into the recessed portion 23C of the plug contact <NUM>, the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 are elastically displaced such that the gap therebetween in the X direction is narrowed. Thus, a force F1 acting in the +X direction from an inner surface of the recessed portion 23C of the plug contact <NUM> is applied to the first contacting portion P1, and a force F2 acting in the -X direction from the inner surface of the recessed portion 23C of the plug contact <NUM> is applied to the second contacting portion P2.

In addition, the third contacting portion P3 set at the tip of the arm portion 18C makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> disposed on the -Z direction side of the flange 23B of the plug contact <NUM> and is elastically displaced in the -Z direction, and a force F3 acting in the -Z direction from the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is applied to the third contacting portion P3.

This force F3 is directed to -Z direction, so that falling off of the inner contact <NUM> from the plug contact <NUM> is promoted; however, since the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 make contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion 23C of the plug contact <NUM> and receive the forces F1 and F2 in the X direction, static frictional forces F1A and F2A acting in the +Z direction are exerted on the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2, respectively.

The forces F1, F2, and F3 and the static frictional forces F1A and F2A balance, and in this state, the inner contact <NUM> is supported at three points by the plug contact <NUM>.

At this time, from balance of the forces, the following relations are established: <MAT> and <MAT>.

Note that F1, F2, F3, F1A, and F2A are all represented by absolute values.

From balance of the moments about the first contacting portion P1, when a distance in the X direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 is LX2, a distance in the X direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the third contacting portion P3 is LX3, and a distance in the Z direction between the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 is LZ2, the following relation is established: <MAT>.

Further, when a static frictional coefficient between the inner surface of the recessed portion 23C of the plug contact <NUM> and each of the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> is M, the following relations are established: <MAT> and <MAT>.

When the static frictional coefficient M is calculated from the formulae (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) above, <MAT>.

Therefore, when the ratio represented by the distances LX2, LX3, and LZ2 among the first contacting portion P1, the second contacting portion P2, and the third contacting portion P3 [LZ2 / (LX2 + <NUM> x LX3)] is not more than the static frictional coefficient M between the inner surface of the recessed portion 23C of the plug contact <NUM> and each of the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM>, the formulae (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) above are established, and the inner contact <NUM> is retained by the plug contact <NUM>.

Thus, even when the plug contact <NUM> having no receiving portion is used, the inner contact <NUM> can be stably supported at three points by the plug contact <NUM> without falling off the plug contact <NUM> in the -Z direction.

In addition, as with the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, also in the connector <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>, the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 make contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion 23C of the plug contact <NUM>, and the third contacting portion P3 makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, so that both the wiring layer 15B and the wiring layer 15D respectively disposed on the top surface side and the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to a single plug contact <NUM>.

While the plug contact <NUM>, <NUM> has the tubular portion 13A, 23A of cylindrical shape in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above, the invention is not limited thereto, and a plug contact having no tubular portion may also be used.

<FIG> shows a partial perspective view of a connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. The connector <NUM> includes a top insulator <NUM> and a bottom insulator <NUM> separately disposed on opposite sides in the Z direction of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> with the sheet type conductive member <NUM> being sandwiched therebetween, and a plug contact <NUM> is retained by the top insulator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the plug contact <NUM> is formed of a bent plate-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a top plate portion 33A of flat plate shape extending along an XY plane. Axially extending portions 33B and 33C extending in the -Z direction along a YZ plane are respectively joined to a -X directional end portion and a +X directional end portion of the top plate portion 33A, an orthogonally extending portion 33D extending in the -X direction along an XY plane is joined to a -Z directional end portion of the axially extending portion 33B, and an orthogonally extending portion 33E extending in the +X direction along an XY plane is joined to a -Z directional end portion of the axially extending portion 33C.

The axially extending portions 33B and 33C face each other in the X direction, and a recessed portion 33F is formed between the axially extending portions 33B and 33C.

This plug contact <NUM> may be retained by the top insulator <NUM> by, for example, press-fitting.

As shown in <FIG>, the plug contact <NUM> retained by the top insulator <NUM> is disposed such that the recessed portion 33F opens in the -Z direction, and the inner contact <NUM> retained by the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed in the +Z direction through the opening portion 15A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> with the sheet type conductive member <NUM> being disposed between the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM>, whereby the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D of the inner contact <NUM> are inserted into the recessed portion 33F of the plug contact <NUM>.

Note that the inner contact <NUM> is the same as the inner contact <NUM> used in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above.

The first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> respectively make contact with the axially extending portions 33B and 33C of the plug contact <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and the third contacting portion P3 is elastically displaced in the -Z direction and makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> disposed on the -Z direction side of the orthogonally extending portion 33D of the plug contact <NUM>.

Consequently, the wiring layer 15B exposed on the top surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> directly, and the wiring layer 15D exposed on the bottom 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 layer 15B and the wiring layer 15D disposed on the top surface side and the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to the single plug contact <NUM>.

In addition, the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> respectively make contact with the axially extending portions 33B and 33C of the plug contact <NUM>, and the third contacting portion P3 makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is supported at three points by the plug contact <NUM> as with Embodiment <NUM> above.

As shown in <FIG>, the plug contact <NUM> is formed of a bent plate-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes an axially extending portion 43A extending along a YZ plane, and an orthogonally extending portion 43B bent at a - Z directional end portion of the axially extending portion 43A and extending in the -Z direction along an XY plane.

As shown in <FIG>, the top insulator <NUM> which retains the plug contact <NUM> has a dent facing a +X directional surface of the axially extending portion 43A of the plug contact <NUM>, and the dent of the top insulator <NUM> and the axially extending portion 43A of the plug contact <NUM> form a recessed portion R opening in the -Z direction.

The inner contact <NUM> retained by the bottom insulator <NUM> is pushed in the +Z direction through the opening portion 15A of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> with the sheet type conductive member <NUM> being disposed between the top insulator <NUM> and the bottom insulator <NUM>, whereby the crossing portion 18A, the first extending portion 18B, and the second extending portion 18D of the inner contact <NUM> are inserted into the recessed portion R.

The first contacting portion P1 of the inner contact <NUM> makes contact with the +X directional surface of the axially extending portion 43A of the plug contact <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM>, and the third contacting portion P3 is elastically displaced in the -Z direction and makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> disposed on the -Z direction side of the orthogonally extending portion 43B of the plug contact <NUM>.

Consequently, the wiring layer 15B exposed on the top surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the plug contact <NUM> directly, and the wiring layer 15D exposed on the bottom 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 layer 15B and the wiring layer 15D disposed on the top surface side and the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> can be electrically connected to a single plug contact <NUM>.

In addition, the first contacting portion P1 of the inner contact <NUM> makes contact with the axially extending portion 43A of the plug contact <NUM>, the second contacting portion P2 makes contact with the surface of the dent of the top insulator <NUM> which dent forms part of the recessed portion R, and the third contacting portion P3 makes contact with the bottom surface of the sheet type conductive member <NUM>, whereby the inner contact <NUM> is supported with respect to the plug contact <NUM>.

While the plug contact <NUM>, <NUM> in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> above does not have any receiving portion formed of a dent, as with the plug contact <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the axially extending portion 33B of the plug contact <NUM> or the axially extending portion 43A of the plug contact <NUM> may be provided with a receiving portion formed of a dent so that the receiving portion receives the hook portion 18E of the inner contact <NUM>.

In Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above, when the inner contact <NUM> is accommodated in the recessed portion 13C, 23C, 33F, R on the plug contact <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> side, the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 of the inner contact <NUM> are elastically displaced such that the gap therebetween in the X direction is narrowed, but the portions P1 and P2 need not necessarily be elastically displaced. Even when the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 are not elastically displaced, a force in a direction along the fitting axis C is applied to the third contacting portion P3, whereby a force in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C is applied to the first contacting portion P1 and the second contacting portion P2 such that the moments balance, and thus the inner contact <NUM> is supported.

While the plug contact <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is connected to both the wiring layer 15B and the wiring layer 15D respectively exposed on the top surface side and the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> in Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above, only the wiring layer 15D exposed on the bottom surface side of the sheet type conductive member <NUM> may be connected to the plug contact <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, for instance.

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 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 15B and the wiring layer 15D of a sheet type conductive member <NUM>, are connected to a single plug contact <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in Embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> above, the invention is not limited thereto, and three or more layers of conductors may be connected to a single plug contact <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In addition, while the connector <NUM> according to Embodiment <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>.

Claim 1:
A connector comprising:
a plug contact (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having conductivity and including an axially extending portion (13A, 23A, 33B, 33C, 43A) that forms at least part of an inner surface of a recessed portion (13C, 23C, 33F, R) extending along a fitting axis (C), and an orthogonally extending portion (13B, 23B, 33D, 33E, 43B) joined to the axially extending portion and extending from a base end of the recessed portion in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis; and
an inner contact (<NUM>) having conductivity that is elastically deformable and is supported in a state of being partially inserted in the recessed portion,
wherein the inner contact includes: a first contacting portion (P1) that makes contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion formed by the axially extending portion and is electrically connected to the plug contact; a second contacting portion (P2) that makes contact with the inner surface of the recessed portion on an opposite side from the first contacting portion across the fitting axis at a position closer to the base end of the recessed portion than the first contacting portion; and a third contacting portion (P3) extending in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis and facing the orthogonally extending portion,
wherein part of a connection object (<NUM>) of sheet shape having a conductor (15B, 15D) exposed on at least one surface of the connection object is sandwiched between a bottom surface of the orthogonally extending portion of the plug contact and the third contacting portion of the inner contact in a direction along the fitting axis, the bottom surface of the orthogonally extending portion makes contact with a top surface of the connection object, and the third contacting portion makes contact with a bottom surface of the connection object, whereby the plug contact (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is electrically connected to the conductor (15B) directly when the conductor is exposed on the top surface of the connection object, and the plug contact (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is electrically connected to the conductor (15D) via the inner contact (<NUM>) when the conductor is exposed on the bottom surface of the connection object.