Connector assembly and connector elements
A connector assembly having three types of connector elements including a first connector 10 and a second connector 20 , each of which is respectively mounted to one of two mounting members P 1 , P 2 , and an intermediate connector 30 , which is located between the two connectors, i.e., the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 , and is connected to the two connectors, wherein one of the three types of connector elements has protrusion portions 52;13 C protruding in the direction of connection of the connector elements, said protrusion portions are abuttable against other connector elements or mounting members with an abutment force, and, in the process of connection of the connector elements, the above-mentioned protrusion portions are deformable in the above-mentioned direction of connection by abutment forces that exceed the sliding forces acting between the terminals 43, 14, 24 of the connector elements.
1. A connector assembly comprising:
three types of connector elements including a first connector and a second connector, each of which is respectively mounted to one of two mounting members, and an intermediate connector, which is located between the first connector and the second connector, and is connected to the first connector and the second connector, wherein
one of the three types of connector elements comprises protrusion portions protruding in a direction of connection of the connector elements, said protrusion portions are abuttable against other connector elements or mounting members with an abutment force, and, during connection of the connector elements, the protrusion portions are deformable through plastic crush deformation in the direction of connection by abutment forces that exceed the sliding forces acting between the terminals of the connector elements such that mating depth to the intermediate connector is reduced to a height of a spacer within the assembly.
2. The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connector element that has the protrusion portions has a connector main body and a frame portion mounted to said connector main body, and the protrusion portions are provided on said frame portion.
3. The connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting members are circuit boards.
4. A plurality of connector elements incorporated into a connector assembly, the plurality of connector elements comprising:
a first connector and a second connector, each of which is configured to be mounted to one of two mounting members, and an intermediate connector, which is located between the first connector and the second connector, and is configured to be connected to the first connector and the second connector, wherein
one of the plurality of connector elements comprises protrusion portions protruding in a direction of connection of the connector elements, said protrusion portions are abuttable against other connector elements or mounting members with an abutment force, and, during connection of the connector elements, the protrusion portions are deformable through plastic crush deformation in the direction of connection by abutment forces that exceed the sliding forces acting between the terminals of the connector elements such that mating depth to the intermediate connector is reduced to a height of a spacer within the assembly.