ELECTRIC CONNECTOR, CONNECTION OBJECT UNIT, AND CONNECTION OBJECT UNIT ASSEMBLY

• US 20150280361A1
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: ITOU, Yasukazu
• Granted Patent: US 9,431,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A pin connector includes a pin contact and a pin housing. The pin contact includes: an upper contact portion having a flat plate shape and being in electrical contact with an upper socket connector; a lower contact portion having a flat plate shape and being in electrical contact with a lower socket connector; and an electrode contact portion having a flat plate shape and being in electrical contact with a battery. A thickness direction of the upper contact portion and a thickness direction of the lower contact portion are substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the electrode contact portion. A direction in which the upper socket connector is mated with the pin connector is different from a direction in which the lower socket connector is mated with the pin connector.

Claims

1. An electric connector that is attached to a connection object, mated with a first connector attached to a first electric wire to thereby electrically connect the first electric wire to the connection object, and mated with a second connector attached to a second electric wire to thereby electrically connect the second electric wire to the connection object, the electric connector comprising:

a contact; and

a housing that is attached to the contact, the housing comprising;

a first retaining portion that prevents the first connector mated with the electric connector from being disengaged from the electric connector; and

a second retaining portion that prevents the second connector mated with the electric connector from being disengaged from the electric connector, wherein

the contact comprises;

a first contact portion having a flat plate shape and is capable of being in electrical contact with the first connector;

a second contact portion having a flat plate shape and is capable of being in electrical contact with the second connector; and

a third contact portion having a flat plate shape and is capable of being in electrical contact with the connection object,

a thickness direction of the first contact portion and a thickness direction of the second contact portion are substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the third contact portion, and

a direction in which the first connector is mated with the electric connector is different from a direction in which the second connector is mated with the electric connector.

2. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the direction in which the first connector is mated with the electric connector is opposite to the direction in which the second connector is mated with the electric connector.

3. The electric connector according to claim 2, wherein the direction in which the first connector is mated with the electric connector and the direction in which the second connector is mated with the electric connector are substantially parallel to the thickness direction of the third contact portion.

4. The electric connector according to claim 2, wherein a central axis of the first contact portion does not coincide with a virtual extension of a central axis of the second contact portion, the central axis of the first contact portion being parallel to the direction in which the first connector is mated with the electric connector, and the central axis of the second contact portion being parallel to the direction in which the second connector is mated with the electric connector.

5. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein

the housing comprises:

a first cover portion that covers the first contact portion; and

a second cover portion that covers the second contact portion.

6. The electric connector according to claim 5, wherein

the first cover portion comprises:

a first inner cover portion formed of a plurality of beams respectively extending along a distal end face and both side end faces of the first contact portion; and

a first outer cover portion that is disposed outside the first inner cover portion and forms a space into which the first connector is capable of being inserted, and

the second cover portion comprises;

a second inner cover portion formed of a plurality of beams respectively extending along a distal end face and both side end faces of the second contact portion; and

a second outer cover portion that is disposed outside the second inner cover portion and forms a space into which the second connector is capable of being inserted.

7. The electric connector according to claim 5, wherein the housing is formed of at least two components including a first housing divided body comprising the first cover portion, and a second housing divided body comprising the second cover portion.

8. The electric connector according to claim 7, wherein

the first housing divided body comprises a first connecting portion covering portion that covers a second connecting portion serving as a connecting portion between the second contact portion and the third contact portion, and

the second housing divided body comprises a second connecting portion covering portion that covers a first connecting portion serving as a connecting portion between the first contact portion and the third contact portion.

9. The electric connector according to claim 5, wherein

the first retaining portion is formed on side walls of the first cover portion, the side walls of the first cover portion being respectively opposed to side end faces of the first contact portion, and

the second retaining portion is formed on side walls of the second cover portion, the side walls of the second cover portion being respectively opposed to side end faces of the second contact portion.

10. A connection object unit comprising:

a connection object; and

a connector assembly comprising;

a first connector attached to a first electric wire;

a second connector attached to a second electric wire; and

an electric connector that is attached to the connection object, is mated with the first connector to thereby electrically connect the first electric wire to the connection object, and is mated with the second connector to thereby electrically connect the second electric wire to the connection object, wherein

the electric connector comprises;

a contact; and

a housing that is attached to the contact, the housing comprising;

a first retaining portion that prevents the first connector mated with the electric connector from being disengaged from the electric connector; and

a second retaining portion that prevents the second connector mated with the electric connector from being disengaged from the electric connector,

the contact comprises;

a first contact portion having a flat plate shape and is capable of being in electrical contact with the first connector;

a second contact portion having a flat plate shape and is capable of being in electrical contact with the second connector; and

a third contact portion having a flat plate shape and is capable of being in electrical contact with the connection object,

a thickness direction of the first contact portion and a thickness direction of the second contact portion are substantially perpendicular to a thickness direction of the third contact portion, and

a direction in which the first connector is mated with the electric connector is different from a direction in which the second connector is mated with the electric connector.

11. A connection object unit assembly comprising a plurality of connection object units set forth in claim 10, the plurality of connection object units being arranged in the thickness direction of the third contact portion.