Magnetic coupling connector

• US 9,083,112 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Original Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Inventors: Asai, Kiyoshi, Izawa, Koichi, Kato, Toshihiko, Nonaka, Shintaro, Nakaone, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, TRAVIS SLOAN
• Application Number:
  US14/182,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20140322929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/38, 439/40, 439/246
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony

Abstract

The magnetic coupling connector includes: first and second connector main bodies to be coupled with each other; a magnet member disposed in a coupling portion of the first connector main body and a mate-side magnetic material disposed in a coupling portion of the second connector main body, the magnet member in the first connector main body adsorbing onto the mate-side magnetic material in the second connector main body, thereby coupling the connector main bodies together; and a contact terminal disposed in the coupling portion of the first connector main body and a contact terminal disposed in the coupling portion of the second connector main body, the contact terminals being pressed against each other when coupled. In the magnetic coupling connector, the magnet member is held by the first connector main body so as to be allowed to swing.

Claims

1. A magnetic coupling connector comprising:

a first connector main body and a second connector main body to be coupled with each other;

a magnet member disposed in a coupling portion of the first connector main body and a mate-side magnet member or magnetic material disposed in a coupling portion of the second connector main body, the magnet member in the first connector main body adsorbing onto the mate-side magnet member or magnetic material in the second connector main body, thereby coupling the connector main bodies together; and

a contact terminal disposed in the coupling portion of the first connector main body and a contact terminal disposed in the coupling portion of the second connector main body, the contact terminals being pressed against each other when coupled, wherein

the magnet member is held by the first connector main body so as to be allowed to swing;

the connector main body includes a magnet-inserted portion opened at opposite ends thereof in a coupling direction and into which the magnet member is inserted, a holding notch portion formed in a recessed shape at a rear end edge of the magnet-inserted portion, and a rear end closing member for closing a rear end side of the holding notch portion;

the magnet member includes, at a rear end thereof, a flange-shaped held portion to be fitted into the holding notch portion; and

swing clearances are formed between an inner peripheral surface of the magnet-inserted portion and the magnet member, between the held portion and an inner peripheral surface of the holding notch portion, and between the rear end closing member and a rear end face of the held portion, respectively, so that the magnet member is held by the first connector main body so as to be allowed to swing.

2. The magnetic coupling connector according to claim 1, wherein the mate-side magnet member or magnetic material is held by the second connector main body so as to allow the magnet member to swing.

3. The magnetic coupling connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the connector main bodies includes a plurality of the contact terminals symmetrically arranged with the magnet member interposed therebetween.

4. The magnetic coupling connector according to claim 1, wherein the magnet member is formed to have the flange-shaped held portion at the rear end thereof by fixing, to a rear end of a magnet, a flange plate with a size greater than a cross-section of the magnet in the coupling direction.