Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a connector. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventionally, there is a known connector which enables a connection with a terminal with only insertion of a flat conductor (a substrate) (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-210734). 
         [0005]    However, in the conventional connector, an internal structure including a cooperation arm and a contact arm, which are elastically deformable, is provided in each of a plurality of terminals arranged in parallel. In addition, the inserted flat conductor is held by a contact portion and a pressed portion formed in the internal structure and the contact portion is made conductive. For this reason, in the case where the housing with the terminals arranged therein is curved in a bow shape by an external force, the inserted conductor is not likely to be surely made conductive in all the terminals because the positions of the cooperation arm and the contact arm, adjacent to each other, are shifted. Furthermore, there is a problem that it cannot be easily determined with the eyes whether or not the flat conductor is made conductive. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention has been devised to solve the problems described above, and an object thereof is to provide a connector that has a function of enabling and facilitating a secure connection of an inserted substrate, and a function of enabling easy recognition on whether or not the inserted substrate is in a state of being properly and electrically connected from the outside, without needing too many items of equipment. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector including 
         [0008]    a housing with an insertion recessed portion into which a substrate is to be inserted, 
         [0009]    a contact point member that is installed in the housing and includes a contact point portion which protrudes inside the insertion recessed portion and makes an electrical connection to a conductive portion of the substrate to be inserted, and 
         [0010]    a position determining member that moves the contact point member in a manner to retract the contact point portion from the insertion recessed portion and in a manner to cause the contact point portion, which is driven by the substrate being inserted into the insertion recessed portion in the housing, to protrude inside the insertion recessed portion and to come into contact with the conductive portion of the inserted substrate. 
         [0011]    With this configuration, the connection between the conductive portion of the substrate and the contact point portion of the contact point member may be easily made, and moreover the number of operational works may be reduced. Furthermore, the insertion of the substrate to a proper position alone automatically completes the connection. For this reason, regardless of operator, variations in the connection state are not likely to occur, and the connection may be certainly made. 
         [0012]    The position determining member is preferably moved depending on each movement in such a manner that the movement of the position determining member is recognizable from the outside of the housing. 
         [0013]    With this configuration, when the substrate is inserted into the insertion recessed portion of the housing, the position determining member causes the conductive portion of the substrate and the contact point portion of the contact point member to come into contact with each other, and the movement thereof may be recognizable from the outside. Therefore, the user may determine whether or not a proper electrical connection is made by the movement of the position determining member. 
         [0014]    The position determining member may include a movement member that is movable between a first position where the movement member retracts the contact point portion of the contact point member from the insertion recessed portion, and a second position where the movement member causes the contact point portion of the contact point member to protrude inside the insertion recessed portion, and a latching member that is able to position-determine the movement member in the first position and that is moved by the substrate being inserted into the insertion recessed portion in the housing, thereby canceling the position-determined state. 
         [0015]    With this configuration, the position determining member may be made to function by only two members. That is, when the substrate is inserted into the insertion recessed portion, the position-determined state in which the movement member is position-determined in the first position is canceled and the movement member moves to the second position. Therefore, the electric connection state of the substrate and the contact member can be checked only by seeing a motion of the position-determining member. 
         [0016]    In the first position of the movement member, the movement member preferably protrudes from the housing and the first position is preferably distinguishable from the second position. 
         [0017]    It is to be noted that the elastic holding be meant also to include a function of holding while increasing an elastic force at the time of installing, without having to exert an elastic force on the shaft portion in a state of being installed in the housing. 
         [0018]    With this configuration, it may be easily determined from the movement of the movement member, that is, from the first position where the movement member protrudes from the housing, that the substrate is set to the proper position, based on the fact that the movement member is moved to the second position where the movement member does not protrude. 
         [0019]    The movement member preferably includes a shaft portion, and the contact point member preferably includes a holding portion that elastically holds the shaft portion of the movement member in a state of being installed in the housing. 
         [0020]    With this configuration, not only a separate member for holding the movement member is made unnecessary, but also the smooth movement of the movement member may be caused by the elastic supporting. 
         [0021]    The holding portion of the contact point member preferably urges the movement member positioned in the first position so as to be able to move to the second position. 
         [0022]    With this configuration, only the canceling of the latched state by the latching member may automatically move the movement member that is positioned-determined in the first position to the second position, by the elastic force exerted by the holding portion of the contact point member. 
         [0023]    The movement member may be supported by the holding portion of the contact point member in such a manner as to rotate about the shaft portion, and the movement of the movement member from the first position to the second position may be caused by the rotation about the shaft portion. 
         [0024]    The latching member may include a pressure receiving portion that is pressed by a leading end edge of the substrate inserted into the insertion recessed portion in the housing, an elastic member that is elastically deformed by the pressure receiving portion being pressed, and an arm portion that has a latch protrusion member and that is separated from the movement member by the elastic member being elastically deformed, and 
         [0025]    the movement member may include a first latch recessed portion onto which a latch protrusion portion formed in the arm portion is able to be latched when the movement member is in the first position, and a second latch recessed portion onto which the latch protrusion portion formed in the arm portion is able to be latched when the movement member is in the second position. 
         [0026]    The position determining member preferably includes a movement sound generating mechanism that generates movement sound when the position determining member is moved by the substrate being inserted into the insertion recessed portion in the housing and the position-determined state is canceled. 
         [0027]    With this configuration, the state of the electrical connection between the substrate and the contact point member may be checked not only through a sense of sight, but also through a sense of hearing. 
         [0028]    According to the present invention, only the insertion of the substrate into the insertion recessed portion in the housing may automatically complete the electrical connection between the substrate and the contact point member, without the need for the user to operate the movement member. For this reason, an operation of assembling the substrate may be made easy and the number of operational works may be reduced. Furthermore, since the definite electrical connection is made easy, and the position determining member moving the contact point portion is provided in such a manner as to be recognizable from the outside of the housing after the completion of the connection operation, the state of the electrical connection between the substrate and the contact point portion in the insertion recessed portion may be checked in a simple manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a substrate is installed in a connector according to a first embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view illustrating the connector in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view illustrating a housing in  FIG. 2  and one fixation fitting; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the housing in  FIG. 2  which is partially cut away; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the substrate and the connector before the substrate is installed in the connector according to the first embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a contact point member in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a latching member in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view illustrating a movement member in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the movement member in  FIG. 7A  when viewed from a different angle; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connector and the substrate in  FIG. 4  at a position from which the contact point member can be viewed; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connector and the substrate in  FIG. 4  at a position from which the latching member can be viewed; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the substrate is inserted into an insertion recessed portion of the connector in  FIG. 8A  and a leading end edge thereof comes into contact with a pressure receiving portion of the latch member; 
           [0041]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the substrate is inserted into the insertion recessed portion of the connector in  FIG. 8B  and the leading end edge thereof comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion of the latch member; 
           [0042]      FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connector and the substrate in  FIG. 1  at a position from which the contact point member can be viewed; 
           [0043]      FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connector and the substrate in  FIG. 1  at a position from which the latching member can be viewed; 
           [0044]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the substrate is installed in a connector according to a second embodiment; 
           [0045]      FIG. 12A  is a perspective view illustrating a movement member in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 12B  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the movement member in  FIG. 12A  when viewed from a different angle; 
           [0047]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to a third embodiment and a substrate; 
           [0048]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a contact point member in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 15A  is a perspective view illustrating the movement member in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 15B  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the movement member in  FIG. 15A  when viewed from a different angle; 
           [0051]      FIG. 16A  is a perspective view illustrating a housing in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 16B  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the housing in  FIG. 16A  when viewed from a different angle; 
           [0053]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view illustrating a latching member in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to a fourth embodiment and a substrate; 
           [0055]      FIG. 19A  is a perspective view illustrating the housing in  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0056]      FIG. 19B  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the housing in  FIG. 19A  when viewed from a different angle; and 
           [0057]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view illustrating a latching member in  FIG. 19 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0058]    Embodiments according to the present invention are described below referring to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the terms (for example, terms including “upward,” “downward,” “sideways,” and “end.”) expressing specific directions and positions be used if necessary in the following description, but these terms be used only for an easy understanding of the present invention that is described with reference to the drawings and the meanings of these terms not limit a technical scope of the present invention. 
         [0059]    Furthermore, the following description is only an example in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, applications thereof, or uses thereof. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0060]      FIG. 1  is an overall view illustrating a connector according to a first embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view illustrating the connector. The connector is configured by mounting a contact point member  2 , a latching member  3 , and a movement member  4  to a housing  1 . 
         [0061]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the housing  1  is a product manufactured by molding resin material having electrical insulation into the approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing  1  has a recess  5  and which is open at the upper surface side and the front surface side, and an insertion recessed portion  6  which is provided under the recess  5  and is open at the front surface side. The recess  5  and the insertion recessed portion  6  are separated by a partition wall  7 . 
         [0062]    A plurality of guide holes  8  are formed in the partition wall  7 , at predetermined intervals in the width direction. The plurality of guide holes  8  are formed to communicate with the upper and lower surfaces and extend in the backward direction. Furthermore, guide groove portions  9  are formed in the bottom surface which makes up the insertion recessed portion  6 . The guide groove portions  9  are formed to correspond to the guide holes  8  and extend in the forward and backward directions. The guide holes  8  and the guide groove portions  9  communicate with insertion holes  10  in the rear surface side of the housing  1 . The insertion holes  10  are open in the direction of the rear surfaces of the recessed hole  5  and the insertion recessed portion  6  and in the direction of the rear surface of the housing  1 . The guide holes  8 , the guide groove portions  9 , and the insertion holes  10  positioned at both side ends, make up a first attachment portion  11  for installing the latching member  3 . The plurality of insertion holes  10 , arranged in parallel between the insertion holes  10 , make up a second attachment portion  12  for installing the contact point member  2 . In each of the first attachment portions  11 , a latching portion  13 , which has a latching pawl  13   a  protruding upward from a leading end portion, is formed in a bottom surface trailing end portion making the first attachment portion  11 , in such a manner as to be elastically deformable downward. A latching hole  14  in the rectangular shape, which communicates with the first attachment portion  11 , is formed in a position corresponding to the latching portion  13 , in an upper wall making up the insertion hole  10 . 
         [0063]    The front end lower surface of the partition wall  7  is an upward-inclined surface that is gradually inclined upward, along the direction of facing toward the front direction. Furthermore, the bottom surface front end part of the insertion recessed portion  6  is a downward-inclined surface that is gradually inclined downward, along the direction of facing toward the front direction. Furthermore, the inside surface front end part of each of both side walls is a sideways-inclined surface that is gradually inclined from side to side, along the direction of facing toward the front direction. These inclined surfaces are for facilitating an insertion of a substrate  15  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) into the insertion recessed portion  6 . At this point, an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) substrate is used as the substrate  15 . 
         [0064]    A release recessed portion  16  is formed in each of both end portions of the front surface of the housing  1 , and an approximately L-shaped groove portion  17  being open in the direction of the front surface is formed in the release recessed portion  16 . A fixation fitting  18  is fixed by being pressed into each groove portion  17  from the front side. The fixation fitting  18  is a metal plate bent in the shape of a letter approximately like “C”. In the fixation fitting  18 , the upper end wall and the side wall are pressed into the groove portion  17 , the lower end wall is narrow in width, and the lower surface side protrudes from the lower surface of the housing  1 . 
         [0065]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the contact point member  2  includes an installation portion  19 , installed in the insertion hole  10 , a first arm portion  20  and a second arm portion  21  that extend forward from the upper and lower parts of the front end edge of the installation portion  19 , respectively, and a terminal portion  22  that extends from the lower part of the rear end. The contact point member  2  is formed by performing process working on a conductive and elastic plate. The contact point members  2  are installed in the second attachment portions  12 , respectively that are installed in parallel in the housing  1 . 
         [0066]    Protrusion portions  23  are formed in an upward position in the first arm portion  20  and a downward position in the second arm portion  21 , respectively in the front end edge of the installation portion  19 . Furthermore, a press-in protrusion portion  24 , which protrudes upward in the vicinity of the protrusion portion in the upward position, is formed in the upper end edge of the installation portion  19 . 
         [0067]    The first arm portion  20  protrudes forward from installation portion  19 , and a contact point portion  25  is formed in a manner to protrude downward from the leading end part of the first arm portion  20 . The downward side of the leading end edge of the contact point portion  25  has an inclination portion  26  that gradually faces upward, along the direction of the leading end. A holding piece  27  is formed in the leading part of the contact point portion  25 . The holding piece  27  extends upward in the shape of a letter approximately C. The holding piece  27  is in the form that conforms the upper half of a shaft portion  39  of the movement member  4  described below. The holding piece  27  holds the shaft portion  39  to support the movement member  4  in a manner that the movement member  4  is rotatable. 
         [0068]    The second arm portion  21  obliquely extends downward and thereafter protrudes from the installation portion  19  in parallel with the first arm portion  20 . A protrusion portion  28 , which protrudes upward from the leading end part of the second arm portion  21 , is formed in a position facing the contact point portion  25  of the first arm portion  20 . An inclination portion  29  is formed on the upper side of the leading end edge portion of the protrusion portion  28 . The inclination portion  29  faces the inclination portion  26  of the first arm portion  20 . 
         [0069]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the latching member  3  includes an installation portion  30 , installed in the insertion hole  10 , and an arm portion  31 , which extends forward from the upper part of the front end edge of the installation portion  30 . The latching member  3  is obtained by performing press working on metal material, or by performing a molding process using synthetic resin. The two latching members  3  are installed in the first attachment portions  11  positioned on both sides of the second attachment portions  12  that are installed in parallel, respectively. A pressure receiving portion  32 , which protrudes forward, is formed on the lower side of the front end edge of the installation portion  30 . The pressure receiving portion is pressed by the substrate  15  inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6  of the housing  1 . An elastic portion  33 , which winds in the shape of a letter approximately U, and a stopping portion  34  in succession to the elastic portion  33  are formed to extend from the rear end edge of the installation portion  30 . The elastic portion  33  elastically deforms as the front end edge of the installation portion  30  is pressed by the substrate  15  inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6  as illustrated below. The stopping portion  34  elastically deforms the latching portion  13  formed in the first attachment portion  11  of the housing  1 , so that the rear end upper part of the latching member is latched into the latching hole  14  of the housing  1  and the latching pawl which is on the top is latched to the rear end lower part thereof. A latch protrusion portion  35 , which protrudes forward, is formed on the upper side of the front end edge of the arm portion  31 . 
         [0070]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the movement member  4  is manufactured by performing a molding process using resin material, to be in the shape of a plate, long in length. Multiple guide walls  37  are formed in the upper surface half part of the movement member  4 . The plurality of guide walls  37  are configured from a plurality of groove portions  36  that are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the shaft portion  39  is formed between the guide walls  37 , by a communication hole  38  that is provided in the bottom surface of the groove portions  36  to communicate upward and downward. The shaft portion  39  is configured from two plane surfaces, which are opposite to and in parallel with each other, and a pair of arc surfaces, which swells outward. The shaft portion  39  is supported by the holding piece  27  of the contact point member  2 , and the movement member  4  is rotatably supported. A latch receiving portion  40  protrudes from each of the leading end parts of the guide wall  37  that is positioned in both end parts of the movement member  4 . A first latch recessed portion  41  is formed in the upward side of the latch receiving portion  40 , and a second latch recessed portion  42  is formed in the downward side. The arc surface and the plane surface are in succession to each other in the first latch recessed portion  41  and the second latch recessed portion  42 . The latch protrusion portion  35 , which is formed in the arm portion  31  of the latching member  3 , is latched to or unlatched from each of the latch recessed portions  41  and  42 . The movement member  4  is position-determined in a standing position (a first position) that protrudes from the recess  5 , in a state where the latch protrusion portion  35  is latched to the first latch recessed portion  41 . On the other hand, in the state in which the latch protrusion portion  35  is latched onto the second latch recessed portion  42 , the movement member  4  is positioned in a horizontal position (second position) where the lower surface of the movement member  4  comes into contact with the upper surface of the recess  5 , and the upper surface of the movement member  4  is flush with the upper surface of the housing  1 . When the movement member  4  is positioned in the standing position, the first arm portion  20  of the contact point member  2  is elastically deformed to urge the shaft portion  39  to move downward. For this reason, when the latch protrusion portion  35  is unlatched from the first latch recessed portion  41 , the urging force makes the movement member  4  return back to the horizontal position. It is to be note that the remaining half part (the side in which the guide wall  37  is not formed) of the movement member  4  serve as an operation unit  43  which is held by fingers for operation. 
         [0071]    The connector with the configuration described above is assembled as follows. 
         [0072]    First, the contact point members  2  are inserted into the insertion holes  10  in the second attachment portion  12  of the housing  1 , respectively from the rear end side of the insertion holes  10 . The contact point member  2  is installed in the housing  1 , by inserting the installation portion  30  into the insertion hole  10  and bringing the press-in protrusion portion  24  into pressure contact with the inside surface of the insertion hole  10 . In this mounted state, the leading end of the contact point portion  25  of the first arm portion  20  approaches the front inside surface of the guide hole  8  formed in the partition wall  7 . The holding piece  27  protrudes inside the recess  5 , and a gap occurs between the leading end part of the holding piece  27  and the upper surface of the partition wall  7 . Furthermore, the contact point portion  25  protrudes inside the insertion recessed portion  6 . 
         [0073]    Subsequently, the movement member  4  is installed by using the holding piece  27  of the contact point member  2  protruding inside the recess  5  in the housing  1 . The shaft portion  39  of the movement member  4  is inserted into the gap that is formed between the leading end portion of the holding piece  27  and the bottom surface of the recess  5 , from the front side. The holding piece  27  is elastically deformed by the shaft portion  39  of the movement member  4  and then returns back to the original shape to hold the shaft portion  39 . Thus, the installation of the movement member  4  is complete. In this state, the movement member  4  is positioned in the horizontal position. 
         [0074]    Thereafter, the latching member  3  is inserted into the insertion hole  10  in the second attachment portion  12 , from the rear surface side. The latching member  3  may be installed only by inserting the arm portion  31  into the insertion hole  10  and pressing the installation portion  30 . In this state, the positioning is achieved in a manner that the latch protrusion portion  35  of the latching member  3  is latched to the second latch recessed portion  42  of the movement member  4  that is positioned in the horizontal position. 
         [0075]    In the connector that is assembled in this manner, in the case where the substrate  15  is installed, first, the operation unit  43  of the movement member  4  is rotated by the finger-used picking and is positioned in the standing position that protrudes from the recess  5 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8A . At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the latch protrusion portion  35  of the latching member  3  is switched from the second latch recessed portion  42  to the first latch recessed portion  41 . For this reason, the movement member  4  maintains a state of being position-determined in the standing position. Furthermore, the arm portion  31  of the latching member  3  is elastically deformed upward, and the contact point portion  25  is retracted from the insertion recessed portion  6 . 
         [0076]    When the substrate  15  is inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6  as illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the leading end edge of the substrate  15  may come into contact with the pressure receiving portion  32  of the latching member  3 , and the installation portion  30  may be pushed inwards against the urging force of the elastic portion  33 . Thus, the arm portion  31  extending forward from the installation portion  30  retreats, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 9B to 10B , the latch protrusion portion  35  of the latching member  3  thereof is unlatched from the first latch recessed portion  41 . Since an elastic force from the holding piece  27  of the contact point member  2  acts on the shaft portion  39 , the movement member  4  returns to the horizontal position from the standing position depending on the elastic force, as illustrated in  FIG. 10A . As a result, the contact point portion  25  of the contact point member  2  protrudes inside the insertion recessed portion  6 , and comes into pressure contact with a conductive layer of the substrate  15  inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6  to make an electrical connection. Moreover, when the conductive portion  15   a  of the substrate  15  is inserted toward the lower surface side, the electrical connection between the conductive portion  15   a  and the protrusion portion  28  of the contact point member  2  may be made (in this case, the protrusion portion  28  functions as the contact point portion). 
         [0077]    When the substrate  15  is inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6  of the housing  1  in this manner in the state in which the movement member  4  is position-determined in the standing position, the latching member  3  operates and the elastic force of the first arm portion  20  of the contact point member  2  may automatically rotate the movement member  4  to be positioned in the horizontal position. Therefore, a user may easily determine whether or not the electrical connection between the conductive layer of the substrate  15  and the contact point member  2  is made, by checking the position in which the movement member  4  has rotated. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0078]      FIG. 11  illustrates a connector according to a second embodiment. Because this connector is different from that of the first embodiment only in terms of one part of the constructions of a housing  1  and a movement member  4 , and is almost the same in terms of the other configurations, a description of same construction is not repeated. 
         [0079]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the housing  1  has groove portions  44  extending upward and downward, which are formed in the front sides of both lateral surfaces which make up a recess  5 . 
         [0080]    As illustrated  FIGS. 12A to 12B , a plurality of guide walls  46  are formed in the upper surface half part of the movement member  4 . The plurality of guide walls  46  are configured from a plurality of first groove portions  45  that are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a shaft portion  48  is formed between the guide walls  46 , by a communication hole  47  that is provided in the bottom surface of the first groove portions  45  to communicate upward and downward. A protrusion portion  49  is formed to protrude from each of both of the end surfaces of a shaft portion  39 . A first latch recessed portion  50  and a second latch recessed portion  51  are formed in an edge portion of each of the protrusion portion  49 . Furthermore, a guide shaft  52  protrudes from the end surface of each of the protrusion portions  49 . The guide shaft  52  is arranged in a groove portion  36  of the housing  1 . A second groove portion  53  corresponding to the first groove portion  45  is formed in the lower surface half part (the opposite side of a groove portion  17 ) of the movement member  4 . Each arm portion  31  of the latching member  3  is inserted via the groove portions  17  that are positioned in both sides, and the latch protrusion portion  35  that is provided in the leading end thereof is unlatched in each latch recessed portion. Furthermore, a holding portion of a contact point member  2  is inserted via the second groove portions  53  so that each shaft portion  48  is held. 
         [0081]    In the connector with this configuration, the movement member  4  is positioned inside the first groove portion  45 , and there is no part that juts out from the housing  1 . Therefore, the connector is made compact, and may not be damaged even though an external force is exerted on the movement member  4  while the connector is being in transit. 
         [0082]    In the case where the substrate  15  is inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6  of the housing  1 , an operation unit  43  of the movement member  4  is held and lifted up. At this time, the latch protrusion portion  35 , which is provided in the leading end of the arm portion  31  of the latching member  3 , is unlatched from the second latch recessed portion  51 , and is latched into the first latch recessed portion  50 . For this reason, the movement member  4  is maintained in a standing position, the arm portion  31  of the contact point member  2  is elastically deformed, and the contact point portion  25  is retracted from the insertion recessed portion  6 . 
         [0083]    When the substrate  15  is inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6  of the housing  1 , a pressure receiving portion of the latching member  3  is pushed inwards against an urging force of an elastic portion  33 , and the latch protrusion portion  35  provided in the leading end of the arm portion  31  is unlatched from the first latch recessed portion  50 . As a result, the movement member  4  can perform a free rotational movement, and thus rotates in the direction in which the substrate  15  is inserted with respect to the shaft portion  48 , that is, rotates to roll into the first groove portion  45  of the housing  1 , because the elastic force of the arm portion  31  of the contact point member  2  acts on it. Furthermore, the contact point portion  25  of the contact point member  2  protrudes into the insertion recessed portion  6  and thus comes into pressure contact with a conductive portion  15   a  of the substrate  15 . 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0084]      FIG. 13  illustrates a connector according to a third embodiment. Because this connector is different from that of the first embodiment in terms of the configurations of one part of a contact point member  2  and one part of a movement member  4  and in terms of the configurations of a housing  1  and a latching member  3 , but is almost the same in terms of the other configurations, a description of what has not any different construction is not repeated. 
         [0085]    The contact point member  2  includes a first contact point member  2 A and a second contact point member  2 B. The first contact point member  2 A having almost the same construction as those of the embodiments described above and the second contact point member  2 B having a different construction from those of the embodiments described above are alternately arranged in the arrangement direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the first contact point member  2 A has the straight shape in which a holding piece  54  at the leading end only protrudes in a simple manner. Furthermore, in the second contact point member  2 B, a contact point portion  56  is formed in a base portion of a first arm portion  55 , and a protrusion portion  59  is formed in the leading end of a third arm portion  58  that diverges from a second arm portion  57 . A holding piece  60 , which is shaped approximately like a letter C as in the embodiments described above, is formed in the leading end side of the first arm portion  55 . The leading end side of the second arm portion  57  serves as a terminal portion  61  that is formed in the shape of a hook which curves downward. 
         [0086]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , in the movement member  4 , the shaft portion  39  is configured to include a first shaft portion  39 A and a second shaft portion  39 B. The first shaft portion  39 A is cylindrical-shaped, with which the holding piece of the first contact point member  2 A comes into contact. The second shaft portion  39 B has the same shape as in the embodiments described above, and is held in the holding piece  60  of the second contact point member  2 B. Furthermore, a latch receiving portion  62  is formed in each of both end parts of the movement member  4 . Each of the latch receiving portions  62  has a latch recessed portion  63  formed in the bottom thereof. 
         [0087]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 16A and 16B , in the housing  1 , an accommodation room  64  is formed in each of both end parts. The accommodation room  64  has a cross section, which has an approximately rectangular shape, and extends forward and backward. The accommodation room  64  is open at the rear end of the housing  1  (rear end opening), and has an abutting receiving portion  65 , which protrudes inwards, is formed in one surface (an outer side surface) of the internal surfaces thereof. 
         [0088]    Furthermore, the accommodation room  64  is open at an upper part near the front side of the housing  1  (front end opening) and is also open in the inner side lateral wall. 
         [0089]    As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the latching member  3  is made by bending a plate member made of elastic material, and includes an abutting portion  66  in the rear end, a pressure receiving portion  67  protruding inwards and sideways in the shape of a chevron in succession to the abutting portion  66 , and a latching portion  68  protruding inwards and sideways in the shape of a chevron in the front end part. The latching member  3  is inserted into the accommodation room  64  in the housing  1  from the rear end opening. In an insertion condition, the abutting portion  66  of the latching member  3  comes into contact with the abutting receiving portion  65  formed in the accommodation room  64  of the housing  1 , and the latching portion  68  is exposed from the front end opening. 
         [0090]    According to the connector described above, before inserting the substrate  15  into the housing  1 , the movement member  4  is rotated to a standing position where the movement member  4  protrudes from the housing  1 . At this time, the latching portion  68  of the latching member  3  is latched onto the latch recessed portion  63  of the movement member  4  in the sideways direction, and the movement member  4  is maintained in the standing position. 
         [0091]    Furthermore, a contact point portion  25  of the contact point member  2  is retracted from an insertion recessed portion  6 . For this reason, the insertion of the substrate  15  into the insertion recessed portion  6  may be smoothly performed without receiving any resistance. 
         [0092]    When the substrate  15  is inserted into the insertion recessed portion  6 , a leading end corner portion thereof comes into contact with a pressure receiving portion  67  of the latching member  3 . When the substrate  15  is pushed more inwards, the latching member  3  is elastically deformed and the latching portion  68  moves sideways. The latching portion  68  is separated from a latch recessed portion  63  of the movement member  4 , and the movement member  4  has a free rotational movement. As a result, the movement member  4  rotates to a horizontal position by an urging force of the contact point member  2 , and the substrate  15  is interposed between the contact point portion  25  and the protrusion portion  28 . The contact point portion  25  comes into pressure contact with a conductive portion  15   a  of the substrate  15 , so that the electrical connection is made. 
         [0093]    In this manner, the substrate  15  may be interposed between the contact point portion  25  and the protrusion portion  28  of the contact point member  2  only by inserting the substrate  15  into the insertion recessed portion  6  of the housing  1 . A rotational position of the movement member  4  and a movement position of the latching portion  68  of the latching member  3  may be visually recognized, and the installation of the substrate  15  in the proper position may be recognized from the outside of the housing  1 . 
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0094]      FIG. 18  illustrates a connector according to a fourth embodiment. Because this connector is different from that of the first embodiment only in terms of one part of a housing  1  and one part of a substrate  15  and in terms of a configuration of a latching member  3 , and is almost the same in terms of the other configurations, a description of same construction is not repeated. 
         [0095]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 19A and 19B , a housing  1  has guide groove portions  72  at both end portions thereof. Each of the guide groove portions  72  is made from an inside groove  69  extending backward from the rear surface of a recess  5 , a successive groove  70  that is bent sideways, and an outside groove  71  that is bent forward from the successive groove  70  and of which the sideways position extends more forward. A complementary groove  73  is formed to extend further sideways from the rear side of the outside groove  71 . 
         [0096]    A communication passage  74  extends in a manner to be continuous from the rear end of the outside groove  71  and the part, exclusive of the upper end, of the successive groove  70  to the rear surface of the housing  1 . 
         [0097]    Press pieces  15   b  are formed in a substrate  15 . The press pieces  15   b  protrude sideways from both lateral parts, respectively. The protrusion position of the press piece  15   b  is a terminal end part of a conductive portion  15   a  that extends from a leading end. 
         [0098]    As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , a latching member  3  is made by shaping a plate-like body into a body with the shape of a letter approximately like U. The latching member  3  is configured from an arm portion  76  having a latch protrusion portion  75  in the leading end, a slide portion  78  that is wider in the upward and downward directions than the arm portion  76  and in which an abutting receiving portion  77  is formed in a lower part of the leading end, a connection portion  79  that connects the arm portion  76  and the slide portion  78  to each other, and an elastic portion  80  that extends sideways from the slide portion  78 . In the arm portion  76 , a base portion side is arranged in the inside groove  69  of the housing  1 . The latch protrusion portion  75  may be latched/unlatched onto each of latch recessed portions  41  and  42  of a movement member  4 . The connection portion  79  is arranged in the successive groove  70  of the housing  1 . The slide portion  78  is arranged in the outside groove  71  in the housing  1 , and causes the abutting receiving portion  77  to protrude from the front end surface of the housing  1 . The elastic portion  80  is arranged in the complementary groove  73  of the housing  1 . The latching member  3  is configured to be movable from in the state of being arranged inside the guide groove portion  72  to in the state of being position in the communication passage  74  on the rear side. 
         [0099]    According to the connector with the configuration described above, when the substrate  15  is inserted into an insertion recessed portion  6 , the press pieces  15   b  formed in the substrate  15  come into contact with the abutting receiving portion  77  that protrudes from the front surface of the housing  1 . When the substrate  15  is further pushed inwards, the abutting receiving portion  77  is pushed inwards, thus the latching member  3  moves backward while elastically deforming the elastic portion  80  and the latch protrusion portion  75  is unlatched from a first latch recessed portion  41  of the movement member  4 . Accordingly, the movement member  4  moves from a standing position to a horizontal position by an urging force of a first arm portion  20  of a contact point member  2 . Therefore, the user may visually be aware from the outside of the housing  1  that the substrate  15  is inserted to a proper position and thus an electrical connection between a conductive portion  15   a  of the substrate  15  and a contact point portion  25  of the contact point member  2  is made, based on the rotational movement of the movement member  4 . 
         [0100]    Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments described above, and various modifications thereto are possible. 
         [0101]    For example, in the embodiments described above, from the rotational position of the movement member  4 , it may be determined whether or not the electrical connection between the substrate  15  and the contact point member  2  is made, but the configuration, in which sound is outputted when the movement member  4  rotates, may be further adopted. Movement sound due to friction is generated when the latch protrusion portion  35  formed in the arm portion  31  of the latching member  3  is unlatched from a second latch recessed portion  42  of the latching member  3 , but furthermore research may be intensively done to come up with a method of separately providing a laminated protrusion so as to make the generated movement sound greater. 
         [0102]    There has thus been shown and described a connector which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefore. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow. 
         [0103]    Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.

Technology Category: 5