JP2008027861A - Male connector, female connector, and connector structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector structure excelling in connection workability between a male connector and a female connector, excelling in a design property as well, and having a dustproof function. <P>SOLUTION: When a plug shell 11 is inserted into an insertion hole 21, a structure 22 plunges an inner cap 13 into the back side of the plug shell 11 against elastic force of an elastic body 14 to be electrically connected. Then, the inner cap 13 is given energization force pushing it back to the plug shell 11 side from the elastic body 14 in a state where it is evacuated to the back side from the plug shell 11 by the structure 22. Thereby, when a user extracts a USB flash memory 1 from the female connector 2, the inner cap 13 is pushed back by the elastic body 14, and restored to the home position to close the entrance of a recessed part 11a of the plug shell 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a male connector, a female connector, and a connector structure that are electrically connected.

  Conventionally, as a connector structure comprising a male connector (plug) having a recess and a female connector in which an insertion hole for inserting the male connector is formed, the opening of the recess and the insertion hole is a separate cap from the outside. It is known that a dust-proof measure is taken by covering with a male connector (see Patent Document 1) and a female connector (see Patent Document 2).

Patent Document 1 describes a structure of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) flash memory 8 as shown in FIG. 6A as an example of a male connector. The USB flash memory 8 is configured to cover a plug shell 81 protruding from the case body 80 with a cap 82. Patent Document 2 describes an example of the structure of the female connector 9 as shown in FIG. The female connector 9 is configured to cover an insertion hole 92 formed in the case body 91 with a cap 94 as a bottomed cylindrical body having a shape surrounding the structure 93.
JP 2003-282178 A JP-A-2005-45530

  In the conventional connector structure, when not in use, the cap is dust-proof, but when used, the cap has to be removed. For this reason, with the conventional connector structure, the user is forced to remove the cap, so that the workability at the time of connection is poor, the dust-proof function is not performed or the cap is lost due to forgetting to attach the cap when not in use. There was a problem of being.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector structure having a dustproof function, which is excellent in connection workability between a male connector and a female connector, and further excellent in design.

  The male connector according to the present invention corresponds to an insertion portion that can be inserted into and removed from an insertion hole of a female connector having a structure provided so as to protrude inside, and corresponding to insertion and removal of the insertion portion into the insertion hole. The structure is inserted into and removed from the structure housing portion formed in the insertion portion, and the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion hole to be electrically connected to the female terminal portion of the female connector. A male connector having a terminal portion, an inner cap that is held in the structure housing portion so as to be movable forward and backward and closes an inlet of the structure housing portion, and the structure corresponding to insertion of the insertion portion. When the body is inserted into the structure housing portion, the inner cap is allowed to move backward in the insertion direction of the structure, and the structure corresponds to the withdrawal of the insertion portion. When the inner cap is pulled out, the inner cap Characterized by further comprising an inner cap moving means for advancing movement in the withdrawing direction of the structure.

  The female connector of the present invention is electrically connected to a male-side terminal portion of the male connector by inserting an insertion hole through which the insertion portion of the male connector can be inserted and removed, and the insertion portion being inserted into the insertion hole. A female connector having a terminal portion that is held in the insertion hole so as to be able to advance and retreat, and closes the inlet of the insertion hole, and when the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion hole. Allows the inner cap to move backward in the insertion direction of the insertion portion, and moves the inner cap forward in the extraction direction of the insertion portion when the insertion portion is extracted from the insertion hole. It further has an inner cap moving means.

  The male connector or the female connector may have a rail that guides the inner cap and a sliding portion that is provided on the inner cap and slides on the rail. The male connector or the female connector may be formed with a cleaning portion that slides on its terminal portion to clean the terminal portion on the terminal portion facing surface of the inner cap. The female connector further includes a structure provided so as to protrude from the entire inner wall of the insertion hole and project into the insertion hole, and the inner cap surrounds the structure, You may make it make it the cylindrical body which formed the through-hole which plugs up the clearance gap between insertion holes.

  The connector structure of the present invention is characterized by comprising the male connector and the female connector.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector structure having a dustproof function, which is excellent in connection workability between the male connector and the female connector, and further excellent in design.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, the structure of the USB flash memory as the male connector of the embodiment of the present invention will be described, and then the structure of the female connector as the USB plug for connecting the USB flash memory will be described. The connector structure will be described.

[Male connector (USB flash memory)]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a USB flash memory as a male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) shows a state when not connected to a female connector, which will be described later, and FIG. 1 (b) shows a state when connected to a female connector, which will be described later.

  The USB flash memory 1 has a flash memory (not shown) built in the case body 10 and stores various information according to the USB standard. A plug shell 11 is attached to the end of the case body 10. The plug shell 11 is a portion that is inserted into an insertion hole (USB port) of a female connector described later. The plug shell (insertion portion) 11 is formed with a recess (structure receiving portion) 11a. A structure 12 is provided so as to protrude inside the recess 11a.

  An elastic body (inner cap moving means) 14 is provided on the back side of the plug shell 11. The elastic body 14 has one end fixed to the inner wall of the case body 10 (not shown) and the other end fixed to the inner cap 13.

  The inner cap 13 is held by the elastic body 14 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the recess 11a, and closes the inlet of the recess 11a. Here, the inner cap 13 is a plate-like body having a rectangular cross section in accordance with the shape of the recess 11a. Here, the inner cap 13 and the elastic body 14 are integrally formed of a resin material. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner cap 13 made of a resin material is made of a metal spring. The structure which attached the elastic body 14 may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the elastic body 14 supports the inner cap 13 with a position flush with the end surface of the plug shell 11 as a home position of the inner cap 13. Therefore, the inner cap 13 closes the opening of the recess 11a. As will be described later, when the inner cap 13 is pushed into the back side of the plug shell 11 when connected to the female connector, which will be described later, as shown in FIG. The urging force is applied in the direction in which the inner cap 13 is pushed out while being held at the position on the back side.

  Therefore, the elastic body 14 corresponds to the insertion of the plug shell 11 into the female connector, and the structure 22 (see FIG. 3) of the female connector 3 to be described later is inserted into the recess 11a. 22 has a function of allowing the inner cap 13 to move backward in the insertion direction. Further, the elastic body 14 has a function of moving the inner cap 13 forward in the extraction direction of the structure 22 when the structure 22 is extracted from the recess 11 a corresponding to the extraction of the plug shell 11. ing.

  Note that a terminal portion 15 (see FIG. 1B) that is electrically connected to a later-described terminal portion of a female connector, which will be described later, is formed on the surface of the structure 12. The terminal portion 15 is wired to a flash memory (not shown) housed in the case body 10.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention is inserted into the female connector. FIG. 2 (a) shows a state before the USB flash memory 1 is inserted, and FIG. 2 (b) shows a state after the insertion. Here, the female connector 2 is formed with an insertion hole 21 into which the plug shell 11 of the USB flash memory 1 is inserted, which is opened on the surface of the case body 20 of various electronic devices. And in this insertion hole 21, the structure 22 which wired the terminal part which is not shown in figure is provided. The terminal portion (not shown) of the structure 22 is formed symmetrically on the surface facing the terminal portion 15 of the structure 12 of the USB flash memory 1. Examples of the various electronic devices of the case body 20 include a personal computer, a hub, a printer, and a digital camera. The USB cable is not usually called an electronic device, but here, such a cable is included in the electronic device (hereinafter, the same applies to a female connector). In this embodiment, the USB flash memory 1 is described. However, the male connector of the USB flash memory 1 may be the various electronic devices.

  In the above configuration, when the user connects the USB flash memory 1 to the female connector 2, when the plug shell 11 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 as shown by an arrow in FIG. The body 22 pushes the inner cap 13 into the back side of the plug shell 11 against the elastic force of the elastic body 14. Then, the terminal portion 15 on the surface of the structure 12 of the USB flash memory 1 is exposed in the recess 11a (see FIG. 1B) and is electrically connected to a terminal portion (not shown) of the female connector 2.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2B, the inner cap 13 is given a biasing force to push back from the elastic body 14 to the plug shell 11 side while being retracted from the plug shell 11 to the back side by the structure 22. Yes. Therefore, when the user pulls out the USB flash memory 1 from the female connector 2, the inner cap 13 is pushed back by the elastic body 14, returns to the home position, and closes the entrance of the recess 11 a of the plug shell 11. Become.

  Therefore, in the USB flash memory 1 according to the embodiment, it is possible to expect a dustproof effect in the recess 11a so as to protect the terminal portion 15 when not in use by simply inserting and removing the female connector 2, and during use, the terminal portion 15 is expected to be used. Since it can be exposed, it will not cause forgetting to take dust-proof measures or losing the inner cap when not in use. Therefore, the connection workability is good for the user, there is no protruding feeling when a cap of another component is attached from the outside, and the opening of the plug shell 11 is also closed, so that the design is excellent.

  Further, by forming the inner cap 13 in a color different from that of the end face of the plug shell 11 or the like, it is possible to improve the design.

  As described above, the USB flash memory 1 as the male connector having the dust-proof structure of the recess 11a has been described, but the female connector 2 (see FIG. 2) can also have the same structure. Therefore, the female connector 3 (see FIG. 3) having a dustproof function will be described.

[Female connector (USB port)]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows the state before the USB flash memory 1 is inserted, and FIG. 3B shows the state after the insertion. The same components as those of the female connector 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The female connector 3 is formed with an insertion hole 21 opened on the surface of the case body 20. And in this insertion hole 21, the structure 22 which wired the terminal part 38 is provided. The terminal portion 38 of the structure 22 is formed symmetrically on the surface facing the terminal portion 15 of the structure 12 of the USB flash memory 1.

  Further, an elastic body 34 is provided on the back side of the insertion hole 21. The elastic body 34 has one end fixed to the inner wall of the case body 20 (not shown) and the other end fixed to the inner cap 33.

  The inner cap 33 is held by an elastic body 34 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the insertion hole 21 and closes the inlet of the insertion hole 21. Here, the inner cap 33 is a plate-like body having a rectangular cross section in accordance with the shape of the insertion hole 21. Here, the inner cap 33 and the elastic body 34 are integrally formed of a resin material. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner cap 33 made of a resin material is made of a metal spring. The structure which attached the elastic body 34 may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the elastic body 34 supports the inner cap 33 with a position flush with the end surface of the case body 20 as a home position of the inner cap 33. Therefore, the inner cap 33 is configured to block the opening of the insertion hole 21 (opening on the terminal portion forming surface side (not shown) of the structure 22). As will be described later, when the inner cap 33 is pushed into the insertion hole 21 at the time of connection with the male connector, which will be described later, as shown in FIG. The urging force is applied in the direction in which the inner cap 33 is pushed out while the inner cap 33 is held at the position on the back side.

  Therefore, the elastic body 34 has a function of allowing the inner cap 33 to move backward in the insertion direction of the plug shell 11 when the plug shell 11 is inserted into the insertion hole 21. Further, the elastic body 34 has a function of moving the inner cap 33 forward in the extraction direction of the plug shell 11 when the plug shell 11 is extracted from the insertion hole 21.

  In the above configuration, when the user connects the USB flash memory 1 to the female connector 3, the plug shell 11 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 as shown by the arrow in FIG. The body 12 pushes the inner cap 33 into the back side of the insertion hole 21 against the elastic force of the elastic body 34. Then, a terminal portion (not shown) on the surface of the structure 22 of the female connector 3 is exposed in the insertion hole 21 and is electrically connected to the terminal portion 15 (see FIG. 1B) of the USB flash memory 1.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the inner cap 33 is given a biasing force that pushes back from the elastic body 34 to the opening side of the insertion hole 21 while being retracted from the insertion hole 21 to the back side by the structure 12. It has been. Therefore, when the user pulls out the USB flash memory 1 from the female connector 3, the inner cap 33 is pushed back by the elastic body 34, returns to the home position, and closes the entrance of the insertion hole 21.

  Therefore, in the female connector 3 of the embodiment, a dustproof effect in the insertion hole 21 can be expected so as to protect a terminal portion (not shown) on the structure 22 when the USB flash memory 1 is not plugged in and out of use. Since the terminal portion (not shown) can be exposed when in use, the dust-proof measures are not forgotten and the inner cap is not lost when not in use. Therefore, the connection workability is good for the user, there is no protruding feeling when a cap of another part is attached from the outside, and the opening of the insertion hole 21 is closed, so that the design is excellent.

  Further, by forming the inner cap 33 in a color different from that of the end face of the case body 20 or the like, it is possible to improve the design.

Next, modifications of the male connector and the female connector will be described.
[Modification of male connector]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification of the male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4 (a) is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 4 (b) is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 (b), and FIG. 4 (c) shows a structure of a modified inner cap. . The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the USB flash memory 4 as the male connector, grooves (sliding portions) 46a and 46b are formed on the side surface of the inner cap 43 as shown in FIG. As shown, rails 47a and 47b on which the groove portions 46a and 46b slide are provided in the case body 10.

  Accordingly, since the groove portions 46a and 46b slide on the rails 47a and 47b, the movement of the inner cap 43 is guided in the predetermined track. Therefore, the inner cap 43 can be smoothly moved by the structure 22 of the female connectors 2 and 3 and the elastic body 14. The same applies to the female connectors 3 and 5. That is, groove portions similar to the groove portions 46 a and 46 b may be formed in the inner caps 33 and 53, and rails similar to the rails 47 a and 47 b may be provided in the case body 20.

[Modified example of female connector]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modification of the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a view corresponding to FIG. 3A, and FIG. 5B shows the structure of a modified inner cap. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as the structure of FIG. 3, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this female connector 5, the shape of the inner cap 53 is molded into a cylindrical body in which a through hole 55 into which the structure 22 can be inserted is formed. Therefore, the inner cap 53 covers the entire insertion hole 21 as well as the surface of the structure 22 on which the terminal portion (not shown) is formed. Therefore, a higher dustproof effect can be expected as compared with the structure of the female connector 3 of the embodiment.

  Further, a felt (cleaning part) may be formed on the surface of the inner caps 13 and 43 of the USB flash memory 1 on the terminal part 15 side, and the terminal part 15 may be cleaned as the inner caps 13 and 43 move. Similarly, a felt is formed on the surface of the inner caps 33, 53 of the female connectors 3, 5 on the terminal portion side (not shown), and the terminal portion (not shown) is cleaned as the inner caps 33, 53 move. Good. Moreover, you may form a felt also in surfaces other than a terminal part opposing surface.

  In this embodiment, the case where the inner caps 33 and 53 of the female connectors 3 and 5 are pushed by the structure 12 of the male connector 1 has been described. However, the plug shell (frame body) 11 of the male connector 1 itself. The structure pushed by may be sufficient.

  In this embodiment, in the case of the male connector 1, the position that is flush with the end surface of the plug shell 11 is described as the home position of the inner cap 13 as shown in FIG. By the way, even if the inner cap 13 is flush with the end face of the recess 11a at the time of manufacture, the elastic body 14 may be plastically deformed and contracted, and the home position may move into the recess 11a. Therefore, at the time of manufacture, the inner cap 13 may be urged by a force that protrudes from the surface of the insertion hole, and a stopper (not shown) may be provided so as not to protrude from the end surface of the recess 11a. The same applies to the female connectors 3 and 5.

  In this embodiment, a USB flash memory as a male connector and a female connector as a USB port have been described as examples. However, the present invention can also be applied to a connector structure according to other standards with electrical connection. it can. For example, the same configuration can be applied to a connector conforming to IEEE 1394, a pin plug, a connector conforming to HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), and an outlet and a plug for supplying power. is there. Further, the present invention can also be applied to a connection structure that does not involve electrical connection.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the male connector of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the insertion state to the female connector of the male connector of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the female connector of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the male connector of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the female connector of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the conventional male connector and female connector.

Explanation of symbols

1, 4 USB flash memory (male connector)
2, 3, 5 Female connector 10 Case body 11 Plug shell 12 Structure 13 Inner cap 14 Elastic body 15 Terminal portion 20 Case body 21 Insertion hole 22 Structure 33 Inner cap 34 Elastic body 43 Inner cap 46a, 46b Groove portion 47 Rail 53 Inner cap 55 Through hole

Claims (8)

An insertion portion that can be inserted into and removed from the insertion hole of the female connector having a structure provided so as to protrude inside;
In response to the insertion / extraction of the insertion part into the insertion hole, the structure is inserted into and extracted from, and the structure housing part formed in the insertion part,
A male connector having a terminal portion electrically connected to a female terminal portion of the female connector by inserting the insertion portion into the insertion hole,
An inner cap that is held so as to freely advance and retract within the structure housing portion and closes the entrance of the structure housing portion;
When the structure is inserted into the structure housing portion corresponding to the insertion of the insertion portion, the inner cap is allowed to move backward in the insertion direction of the structure, and the insertion portion is removed. And an inner cap moving means for moving the inner cap forward in the pulling direction of the structure when the structure is pulled out from the structure housing portion. Type connector. The male connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a rail that guides the inner cap; and a sliding portion that is provided on the inner cap and slides on the rail. The male connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cleaning portion that slides on the terminal portion of the inner cap to clean the terminal portion is formed on the terminal portion facing surface of the inner cap. An insertion hole through which the insertion part of the male connector can be inserted and removed;
A female connector having a terminal portion electrically connected to a male terminal portion of the male connector by inserting the insertion portion into the insertion hole,
An inner cap that is held in the insertion hole so as to freely advance and retract, and closes the inlet of the insertion hole;
When the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion hole, the inner cap is allowed to move backward in the insertion direction of the insertion portion. When the insertion portion is withdrawn from the insertion hole, the inner cap is The female connector further comprising an inner cap moving means for moving the cap forward in the pulling direction of the insertion portion. The female connector according to claim 4, further comprising: a rail that guides the inner cap; and a sliding portion that is provided on the inner cap and slides on the rail. The female connector according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a cleaning portion that slides on the terminal portion to clean the terminal portion is formed on the terminal portion facing surface of the inner cap. Furthermore, having a structure provided with a gap from the entire inner wall of the insertion hole and protruding into the insertion hole,
The said inner cap was made into the cylindrical body which formed the through-hole which enclosed the said structure and closed the gap | interval of the said insertion hole, It is any one of Claim 4-6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Female connector. A connector structure comprising the male connector according to claim 1 and the female connector according to claim 4.

Images