Spring connector

• US 10,547,135 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugiura, Kenta
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuong Chi Thi
• Application Number:
  US16/080,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20190067859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 439 66, 439 75, 439 81, 439248, 439481, 439591, 439840
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/01 characterised by the form or arrangement of the conductive interconnection between the connecting locations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7082 Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/52 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony

Abstract

Provided is a spring connector capable of preventing deformation of a waterproof elastic member from being spread to a periphery. A spring connector includes a first pin having a contact part with an object, a spring for applying a contact force with the object to the first pin, an intermediate member held by the first pin so as to move together with the first pin by pressing-in or the like, and a waterproof elastic member which is interposed between the first pin and the intermediate member and watertightly seals a space between the first pin and the intermediate member.

Claims

1. A spring connector, comprising:

a first pin including a contact part with an object;

a spring that applies a contact force with the object to the first pin;

an intermediate member electrically connected to the first pin and fixed to the first pin; and

a waterproof elastic member that is interposed between the first pin and the intermediate member and watertightly seals a space between the first pin and the intermediate member.

2. The spring connector according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second pin having a contact part with another object,

wherein the spring urges the first pin and the second pin in a direction in which the first pin and second pins are separated from each other, and

wherein the intermediate member is a tube for accommodating the spring, a part of the first pin, and a part of the second pin.

3. The spring connector according to claim 1, wherein one of the first pin and the intermediate member has a hole opening to a side of the other of the first pin and the intermediate member, and

wherein the other of the first pin and the intermediate member has a rod-shaped part pressed into the hole.

4. The spring connector according to claim 1, wherein the first pin is a member made of a sheet metal and has a leaf spring part, and

wherein the intermediate member has a concave part engaged with the leaf spring part.

5. The spring connector according to claim 1, wherein surfaces of the first pin and the intermediate member are respectively subjected to plating, and

wherein the plating on the surface of the intermediate member is thinner than the plating on the surface of the first pin.

6. The spring connector according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof elastic member has a first surface part through which the first pin or the intermediate member penetrates, and a side surface part extending from the first surface part to a side opposite to a tip of the first pin.

7. The spring connector according to claim 6, further comprising:

a housing having a through-hole that accommodates at least a part of either one or both of the spring and the intermediate member; and

a cover covering the housing and having a through-hole through which the first pin penetrates,

wherein a space is present between the housing and the cover, and the side surface part of the waterproof elastic member is capable of bending within the space.

8. The spring connector according to claims 7, wherein the waterproof elastic member has a second surface part extending to be broadened from the side surface part in a position on a side opposite to the first surface part, and

wherein the second surface part is pressed by the housing and the cover over an entire circumference surrounding a periphery of the through-hole of the housing.

9. The spring connector according to claim 1, wherein one of the first pin and the intermediate member has a hole opening to a side of the other of the first pin and the intermediate member,

wherein the other of the first pin and the intermediate member has a rod-shaped part extending into the hole,

wherein the waterproof elastic member has a cylindrical part positioned in the hole, and

wherein the cylindrical part is interposed between an inner surface of the hole and an outer surface of the rod-shaped part.

10. The spring connector according to claim 9, wherein the hole has a narrow part that is narrowed in an external dimension and presses the waterproof elastic member.

11. The spring connector according to claim 9, wherein the rod-shaped part has a convex part which is provided on the outer surface of the rod-shaped part and presses the waterproof elastic member.

12. The spring connector according to claim 11, wherein the convex part has a tapered part having an outer diameter which becomes smaller toward a bottom side of the hole.

13. The spring connector according to claim 11, wherein the rod-shaped part has a concave part provided in the outer surface of the rod-shaped part at a position closer to an opening side of the hole than the convex part, and

wherein a part of the waterproof elastic member deformed by being pressed by the convex part extends into the concave part.