Connector improved in floating function

Abstract

In a connector to be coupled to a housing and for coupling a mating connector in a predetermined direction, a connector element is held by a sub module which is held by the housing to be slidable in the predetermined direction. The sub module includes a floating spring portion. The floating spring portion includes a contacting portion for being brought into contact with the housing and an operated portion connected to the contacting portion. Responsive to movement of the mating connector in the predetermined direction, the operated portion separates the contacting portion from the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an existing floating connector;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of another existing floating connector;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an existing floating connector apparatus in a state before a first connector and a second connector are fitted to each other;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the existing floating connector apparatus in FIG. 3 in a state where the second connector is completely fitted to the first connector;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the existing floating connector apparatus in FIG. 3 in a state where the second connector further moves towards the first connector in a fitting direction;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a floating connector according to a first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a partially-cutaway perspective view of the floating connector in FIG. 6 in a state where a sub module is mounted to a housing of the connector;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a fitting direction floating spring portion of the sub module in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view showing a horizontal/vertical direction floating spring portion of the sub module in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view showing the housing as seen from a fitting direction;

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view for describing a floating structure of the connector received in the housing in FIG. 6, where the housing is shown in section;

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view similar to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a plan view for describing a fitting operation;

FIG. 14 is a plan view similar to FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view for describing the fitting operation;

FIG. 16 is a plan view similar to FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view for describing the fitting operation;

FIG. 18 is a plan view similar to FIG. 13;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a floating connector according to a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a sub module of the floating connector illustrated in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view showing a state before fitting;

FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view showing an unlocked state;

FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view showing a state after fitting;

FIG. 24 is a partial plan view, partially in section, showing the state after fitting;

FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view for describing a method of incorporating a female connector, showing a state during assembling;

FIG. 26 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 25, showing a state after completion of incorporating;

FIG. 27 is a partial perspective view showing a floating structure;

FIG. 28 is a schematic perspective view of a floating spring;

FIG. 29 is a partial perspective view showing the floating structure in a state before fitting;

FIG. 30 is a view similar to FIG. 29 in a state after fitting;

FIG. 31 is a partial perspective view showing a state before a male connector and the female connector are released from each other;

FIG. 32 is a partial perspective view showing a state after the male connector and the female connector are released from each other;

FIG. 33 is a partial perspective view of a modification of the floating connector according to the second embodiment of this invention in a state where a male connector and a female connector are released from each other; and

FIG. 34 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 33 in a state where the male connector and the female connector are released from each other.

Claims

1. A connector to be coupled to a housing and for coupling a mating connector in a predetermined direction, the connector comprising: a sub module to be held by the housing; anda connector element held by the sub module to be slidable in the predetermined direction;the sub module comprising a floating spring portion;the floating spring portion comprising:a contacting portion for being brought into contact with the housing; andan operated portion connected to the contacting portion and responsive to movement of the mating connector in the predetermined direction for separating the contacting portion from the housing.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the sub module further comprises at least one guide portion connected to the floating spring portion for guiding the mating connector in the predetermined direction.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the floating spring portion is formed integral with the guide portion.

4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the floating spring portion comprises: a support portion connected to the guide portion;a first floating spring portion extending from the support portion towards a fitting side with the mating connector in the predetermined direction; anda second floating spring portion extending from the support portion towards an opposite side opposite to the fitting side;the contacting portion being provided to each of the first and the second floating spring portions.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the first and the second floating spring portions operates with a time interval therebetween in response to movement of the mating connector in the predetermined direction when the connector is coupled to the mating connector.

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the time interval is determined so that the contacting portion of the second floating spring portion separates from the housing after the contacting portion of the first floating spring portion separated from the housing.

7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein the contacting portions of both of the first and the second floating spring portions separate from the housing when the connector completely fitted to the mating connector.

8. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the first and the second floating spring portions are formed integral with the guide portion.

9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the sub module comprises a locking mechanism for holding the housing so that the housing is movable by a predetermined distance when the connector is not fitted to the mating connector, the locking mechanism being unlocked by the mating connector so that the housing is pushed by the mating connector to be moved to a fitting completion position when the connector is fitted to the mating connector.