Electrical connectors – Self aligning contact – Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-04
2002-08-20
Bradley, P. Austin (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Self aligning contact
Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
C439S544000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435890
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a movable structure for connectors
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a connector is used for electrical connection between electrical units (for example, electrical connection between a body of a vehicle and an instrument panel). For instance, when there are two units to be interconnected, a connector is provided on each of these units. Then, these units are electrically connected to each other by connecting these connectors together.
As the connectors, hitherto, there have been proposed various kinds of connectors having a movable structure in which one of a pair of connectors to be connected to each other is ordinarily connected to a corresponding unit and in which the other connector is attached to a unit opposed to the former unit so that the latter connector can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the connectors are connected to each other.
For example, in the case of connectors which the applicants of the present application have previously proposed (see JP-A-10-134900), as illustrated in
FIG. 8B
, in a connector fixed to a counterpart connector in a state in which the former connector is fixed to a stationary member, a connector housing
11
connected to the counterpart connector, a stationary portion
200
to be connected to the stationary member, and a connecting member for connecting the connector housing
11
to the stationary portion
200
are integrally formed by using an elastically deformable material. Moreover, the connecting portion
201
is formed into a shape adapted to have a first flexible portion
202
extending in a first direction nearly perpendicular to a direction, in which this connector is connected to the counterpart connector, and also have a second flexible portion extending in a second direction nearly perpendicular to both the direction, in which the connector is connected to the counterpart connector, and the first direction.
However, in the case of the aforementioned connectors, the stationary portion
200
supports the connector housing
11
in a state in which the stationary portion
200
covers the entire circumference of the connector housing
11
. It is, thus, necessary to form a gap S between the stationary portion
200
and the connector housing
11
to thereby cause relative displacement therebetween. There is also a necessity for securing the thickness of the stationary portion
200
. Consequently, the stationary portion
200
formed around the gap S becomes considerable large in size. Moreover, the connectors each have a thick two-layer structure containing the stationary portion
200
and the connector housing
11
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is accomplished in view of the aforementioned drawbacks. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to reduce the size of the stationary portion and to provide a movable structure for the connector, which is thin as a whole.
According to the invention, there is provided a movable structure for connectors, which comprises a receiving member including at least a connector, a stationary portion for fixing the receiving member to a stationary member, and a connecting portion for connecting both the receiving member and the stationary portion, the receiving member, the stationary portion, and the connecting portion being integrally formed from a elastically deformable material, wherein the stationary portion is surrounded by the receiving member in a state in which a gap for allowing relative displacement between the stationary portion and the receiving member is provided therebetween.
According to the invention, the stationary portion is surrounded by the receiving member in a state in which the stationary portion is spaced from the receiving member through a gap for allowing the relative displacement therebetween. Thus, there is no stationary portion around an outer circumferential portion of the receiving member. This eliminates the need for the gap provided in the conventional connector. Therefore, the size of the stationary portion is reduced. Moreover, a thinner structure can be realized. Moreover, this enables the reduction in the weight of the entire connector. Furthermore, the material cost thereof can be decreased. In the connector of this invention, the “receiving member” may be a connector housing itself. Alternatively, the receiving member may be a holder to be used for a predetermined object (for example, for obtaining a low inserting force structure).
Preferably, the connecting portion comprises a first flexible portion extending in a first direction nearly orthogonal to a connecting direction, in which a connector is connected to a counterpart connector, and also comprises a second flexible portion extending in a second direction nearly orthogonal to both the connecting direction and the first direction.
In the invention, the first flexible portion can perform bending deformation in a direction orthogonal to the second direction. The second flexible portion can perform bending deformation in a direction orthogonal to the second direction. Thus, the receiving portion can perform relative displacement with respect to the stationary member in the bending directions.
Preferably, the receiving member comprises a projection portion adapted to slide in a point contact with the stationary member during the alignment.
In this invention, when the alignment is performed, the receiving member slides in a point contact with the stationary portion.
Preferably, the receiving member comprises connecting force amplifying means for amplifying connecting forces of both the connectors when the former connector and the counterpart connector are connected to each other.
In the case of this structure, the connector attached to the receiving member is connector to the counterpart connector in a state in which the alignment can be performed. Moreover, the connecting forces of both the connectors are amplified.
Preferably, the movable structure further comprises an elastic member, provided in one of the receiving member and the stationary portion, for elastically attaching the receiving member to the stationary portion in cooperation with the stationary portion in such a way as to enable the receiving member to be displaced in the connector connecting direction.
In the invention, the stationary portion and the elastic member elastically attach the receiving member to the stationary member. Thus, in addition to the elastic displacement of the receiving member by the connecting portion, the displacement caused by the bending deformation of this elastic member in the direction of the connector connecting direction can be performed during the alignment.
Preferably, the elastic member is provided in a spacer for causing the receiving ember and the stationary member to float.
In the invention, even when the elastic member is fully compressed during the alignment of the receiving member, the spacer maintains a state in which the receiving member floats with respect to the stationary member. Thus, the displacement of the receiving member can be performed without regulating the receiving member by the stationary member.
Furthermore, preferably, the stationary member comprises a projection-like elastic clamp adapted to penetrate the stationary member to thereby be engaged on a penetrated-side surface thereof.
In the invention, the elastic clamp is engaged with the stationary member only by causing the stationary portion to penetrate through the stationary member. Moreover, the receiving member is attached to the stationary member in a state in which the alignment of the receiving member can be performed.
Further, the receiving member comprises a displacement regulating portion for regulating displacement of the connecting portion in a direction parallel to the connecting direction parallel to the connecting direction.
Thus, when the connector is connected to the counterpart connector, the large displacement of the receiving member in a direction parallel to the connec
Kato Katsutoshi
Takata Kensaku
Autonetworks Technologies Ltd.
Hammond Briggitte
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