JP2006073396A - Multi-contact connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-contact connector for a multi-core cable in which an occupying area of the connector for the purpose of electrical connection can be set to the minimum. <P>SOLUTION: The multi-contact connector is constituted of an inner plug 1 having a rod-shaped slender insertion part 11 of a sectionally circular state, and the outer socket 2 which has the slender inner space part 21 of the sectionally circular state in the inside, and into which that inner plug 1 is enabled to be inserted and attached. On respective faces of the inner peripheral face of this inner space part 21 and the outer peripheral face of a plug insertion part 11, a plurality of contact members (socket side contact members 22, 22,.. and plug side contact members 12, 12,..) electrically isolated are juxtaposed along the axial direction. When the plug insertion part 11 is attached to a prescribed position of the inner space part 21 from an opening part 21a of the outer socket, positioning of these contact members is made so as to correspond to one-to-one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-contact connector for a multi-core cable in which contact members of a rod-shaped inner plug and an outer socket to which the rod-shaped inner plug can be mounted are provided.

  Conventionally, various cable connectors have been put into practical use for electrically connecting peripheral devices to main electronic devices, for example, electronic devices such as IT devices, personal computers, digital TVs, audio videos, and game machines. The basic structure is that the terminal of the multi-core cable on the peripheral device side is a flat pin socket in which a large number of connection pin socket rows are arranged in a single row or multiple rows on the main electronic device side. Similarly, a flat pin plug component in which connecting pin rows are arranged on a flat surface is provided. The flat pin plug component is fitted into a flat pin socket on the main electronic device side, and both are electrically connected. It is customary to connect. (See Patent Document 1)

In recent years, the types of peripheral devices connected to the main electronic device have increased and become more complicated, so that the number of electric circuits to be connected is also increasing. In the case of the cable connector, as the number of circuits increases, the number of connection pins and pin sockets may be increased. However, the area of the flat pin socket arranged on the front panel (or back panel) of the main electronic device is Since this increases, there is a problem that the area for operating the operation panel is substantially reduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-110489: Claim 1, FIG.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a multi-contact connector for a multi-core cable in which the occupied area of the connector for electrical connection can be set to a minimum. Further, the present invention intends to provide a multi-contact connector that does not malfunction when connected or disconnected.

  The problem described above is that the rod-shaped inner plug and an outer socket having an inner space portion in which the inner plug can be mounted / separated are provided, and when the inner plug is mounted in the inner space portion in the outer socket. The inner space of the inner space and the outer surface of the inner plug are each provided with a plurality of electrically spaced contact members arranged side by side along the axial direction so as to correspond one-to-one. The contact member provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner part is connected to the multi-core cable on the outer socket side, and the contact member provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner plug is connected to the multi-core cable on the inner plug side. This can be solved by the multi-contact connector of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, the inner plug is formed in a tapered shape having a small diameter in the distal direction, and the outer socket has an inner space portion in the back direction having the same small diameter as the taper gradient of the inner plug. It forms in the taper shape which becomes and is embodied in the form by which the apparatus attachment part is provided in the inlet_port | entrance part. Further, in the outer socket, an electric switch for turning on / off the conduction of the multi-core cable on the outer socket side when the inner plug is attached / detached is disposed, and the electric switch is connected to the tip of the inner plug. It is preferable to use an electric switch that is turned on by pressing the portion and is turned off when the pressure is released.

  Further, at least one of the contact members provided on the connector and the outer socket is formed in a ring-shaped member, or a lock means for engaging the opening of the outer socket is provided on the proximal base of the inner plug. When the inner plug is locked by the locking means, the inner plug is preferably configured to press and urge against the outer socket.

  First, in the present invention, a rod-shaped inner plug and an outer socket to which the inner plug can be attached / separated are provided, each of which has a plurality of contact members connected to a multicore cable drawn to the outside. Because it is arranged side by side along the axial direction so as to correspond to, the advantage that the occupied area by the connector can be set to the minimum when it is arranged on the operation panel of main electronic equipment etc. unlike the conventional flat type connector Is obtained.

  In addition, the inner plug and the outer space of the outer socket formed in the tapered shape with the same gradient have the advantage that the area occupied by the connector can be set to a minimum, and the contacts act on each other when connecting. There is an advantage that electrical connection is ensured. Further, in the case where an electrical switch that is turned on / off is provided in the outer socket, there is an advantage that there is no possibility of malfunction during connection / separation.

Furthermore, when at least one of the contact members is formed in a ring-shaped member, an electrical connection is possible regardless of the position at which the inner plug is inserted, so that the operability is excellent. In addition, if a lock means for pressing and urging the inner plug is provided, advantages such as a connection operation of the connector and an ON operation of the electric switch can be obtained with a simple structure.
Since the present invention has a particularly excellent effect as described above, the industrial value is extremely large as a multi-contact connector which has solved the conventional problems.

Next, an embodiment according to the multi-contact connector of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the basic structure of the multi-contact connector according to the present invention includes an inner plug 1 having a rod-shaped insertion portion 11 having a circular cross-section and a circular cross-section inner space portion 21 into which the inner plug 1 can be inserted and mounted. The outer socket 2 is provided inside. In FIG. 1, since the insertion part 11 of the inner plug 1 is inserted and mounted in the inner space part 21 of the outer socket 2, the inner space part 21 is filled and is not displayed. Further, the inner plug 1 and the outer socket 2 are preferably molded from an electrically insulating synthetic resin having an appropriate strength. Further, the insertion portion 11 may be either a solid rod whose inside is clogged or a cylindrical rod having a space inside.

  A plurality of electrically spaced contact members (socket side contact members 22, 22,..., And plug side contact members 12,. 12,... Are arranged side by side along the axial direction. The socket side contact members 22, 22, and the plug side contact members 12, 12,... Are attached when the plug insertion portion 11 is mounted from the opening 21 a of the outer socket 2 to a predetermined position of the inner space portion 21. Further, it is assumed that they are positioned so as to correspond one-to-one.

  In FIG. 1, the socket side contact members 22, 22,... And the plug side contact members 12, 12,. A plurality of contact members corresponding to the number of wires may be provided, but it is preferable to provide four or more contacts in view of the structural efficiency. In the present invention, the socket-side contact members 22, 22,... Provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner space portion 21 are connected to the multi-core cable 23 on the outer socket side by the internal conductor 23 a, and the plug insertion portion 11. The contact members 12, 12,... Provided on the outer peripheral surface are connected to the multicore cable 13 on the inner plug side by an internal conductor 13a. Each of the multi-core cables 13 and 23 is drawn to the outside.

  In the present invention, a large number of contact members are arranged side by side in the length direction (axial direction) of the plug insertion portion 11 and the inner space portion 21. Therefore, to increase the number of contacts, the length in the axial direction is increased. Since the area of the surface perpendicular to the axis is not related, there is an advantage that the occupied area when attached to the operation panel or the like can be set to a minimum. These contact materials 12, 12 and 22, 22 may be formed from conventional electrode metals.

(Taper structure)
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the plug insertion portion 11 of the inner plug 1 is formed in a tapered shape having a small diameter in the distal direction, and the inner space portion 21 of the outer socket 2 is in the rear direction. In this case, the plug insertion portion 11 is inserted into the inner space portion 21 from the opening portion 21a and is in a pressing state. Then, the socket-side contact members 22, 22, and the plug-side contact members 12, 12,... Have the advantage that the mutual contact is ensured and functions as an electrical contact reliably. Is obtained.

In the present invention, the shape is not limited to the tapered shape, and the plug insertion portion 11 may be a uniform rod shape, and the inner space portion 21 may be any space that allows the plug insertion portion 11 to be fitted. Needless to say.
Further, if a flange 24 is provided as a device mounting portion on the outside of the entrance portion in the vicinity of the opening 21a, it can be easily drilled in an operation panel (not shown) such as a main electronic device by screwing or the like. Can be fixed.

(Electric switch)
Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the conduction of the multi-core cable 23 on the outer socket side is turned on at the most distal portion (the innermost portion) of the outer socket 2 as the inner plug 1 is attached / separated. An electrical switch 24 that is turned off is provided. When the plug insertion portion 11 of the inner plug 1 is inserted, the electrical switch 24 is turned on by pressing the tip pressing portion 14, and when the plug insertion portion 11 is pulled out to separate the connector, It is preferable to use a mechanical electric switch that is turned off when the pressure is released because the object can be achieved with a simple structure. By providing such an electrical switch, the conductors of the multi-core cable 23 are not electrically connected to the contacts before and after the complete connection when connecting / disconnecting the connector. The safety merit that can be prevented is obtained.

(Contact member shape, locking mechanism, etc.)
Furthermore, in the present invention, at least one of the plug-side contact members 12, 12,... Provided on the inner plug 1 and the outer socket 2 is formed as a ring-shaped member. It is preferable. For example, in FIG. 3, the socket side contact members 22, 22,... Are formed in a ring shape, but in such a case, both contact members can be inserted regardless of the rotational position of the inner plug 1. Since the conductive state is maintained, an advantage of excellent operability can be obtained.

  Further, the proximal base of the inner plug 1 is provided with an outward projection 15 that can be projected and retracted as a locking means that engages with an inward projection 25 provided in the opening 21 a on the front surface of the inner space portion 21 of the outer socket 2. If the stopper 14 is provided with a retaining portion and the pressing portion 14 at the tip of the inner plug 1 is elastically biased by a spring 14a or the like, the inner plug 1 is locked at a predetermined mounting position and the switch 24 is pressed and biased. Therefore, it is possible to obtain advantages such as a connection operation of the connector and an ON operation of the electric switch with a simple structure. Note that the lock can be easily released by pushing down the small protrusion 15a in front and pulling down the outward protrusion 15.

(Protective cover)
In the present invention, it is preferable to provide a protective cover 16 for covering the plug insertion portion 11 of the inner plug 1 and protecting the contact member on the surface of the plug insertion portion 11 from damage and contamination as shown in FIG. If the cylindrical soft membrane material is reinforced with a spiral thin wire 16a made of a spring wire or the like, the protective cover 16 is unfolded when the connector is opened to cover the plug insertion portion 11, and is illustrated in FIG. 1 when the connector is connected. Thus, it is convenient because it is accommodated in the joint of both as the spiral fine wire 16b that has been compressed.

The principal part sectional drawing which left the one part side surface for describing embodiment of this invention. The principal part sectional view which left the one part side which shows the inner plug of this invention. The principal part sectional view showing the outer socket of the present invention. The principal part side view which shows the inner plug of the other form of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Inner plug, 11: Insertion part, 12: Plug side contact member, 13: Multi-core cable, 13a: Internal conductor 2: Outer socket, 21: Inner space part, 21a: Opening part, 22: Socket side contact member, 23: Multicore cable, 23a: Internal conductor

Claims (6)

  It consists of a rod-shaped inner plug and an outer socket having an inner space part into which the inner plug can be attached / detached. When the inner plug is attached to the inner space part in the outer socket, Each of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the inner plug has a plurality of electrically spaced contact members arranged side by side along the axial direction so as to correspond one-to-one, and the inner peripheral surface of the inner space portion The contact member provided on the outer plug side is connected to the multi-core cable on the outer socket side, and the contact member provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner plug is connected to the multi-core cable on the inner plug side. .   The inner plug is formed in a tapered shape having a small diameter in the distal end direction, and the outer socket is formed in a tapered shape in which the inner space portion has a small diameter in the back direction that is the same as the taper gradient of the inner plug. The multi-contact connector according to claim 1, wherein the inlet portion is provided with a device mounting portion.   In the outer socket, an electrical switch for turning on / off the conduction of the multi-core cable on the outer socket side when the inner plug is attached / separated is disposed, and the electrical switch is connected to the tip of the inner plug. The multi-contact connector according to claim 1, wherein the multi-contact connector is an electric switch that is turned on when pressed and is turned off when the pressure is released.   The multi-contact connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of contact members provided on the connector and the outer socket is formed on a ring-shaped member.   The multi-contact connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein locking means that engages with an opening of the outer socket is provided at a proximal base portion of the inner plug.   The multi-contact connector according to claim 5, wherein when the inner plug is locked by the locking means, the inner plug presses and urges against the outer socket.

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