Connector using contact pressure obtained by press-fitting holding member into shell
View Patent ↗A connector comprises two holding members, two terminal rows, a midplate and a shell. Each of the holding members is lightly press-fit into the shell. Each of the terminal rows has a plurality of terminals. The terminals of each of the terminal rows include a specific terminal. The specific terminal has an exposed portion. The exposed portion is, at least in part, exposed from the holding member in an up-down direction perpendicular to a pitch direction. The midplate has a receiving portion. The exposed portion is brought into contact with the receiving portion. One of the holding member and the shell is formed with at least one light press-fit portion. A position of the at least one light press-fit portion overlaps with a position of the exposed portion in a front-rear direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the pitch direction.
1. A connector comprising two holding members, two terminal rows, a midplate and a shell, wherein:
the holding members correspond to the terminal rows, respectively;
each of the holding members is lightly press-fit into the shell;
each of the terminal rows is held by the corresponding holding member;
each of the terminal rows has a plurality of terminals;
in each terminal row, the terminals are arranged in a pitch direction;
the terminals of each of the terminal rows include a specific terminal;
the specific terminal has an exposed portion;
the exposed portion is, at least in part, exposed from within the holding member in an up-down direction perpendicular to the pitch direction;
the midplate is sandwiched by the holding members in the up-down direction;
the midplate has a receiving portion;
the exposed portion is brought into contact with the receiving portion;
one of the holding member and the shell is formed with at least one light press-fit portion; and
a position of the at least one light press-fit portion overlaps with a position of the exposed portion in a front-rear direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the pitch direction.
2. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the specific terminal has a held portion, a supporting portion and a contact portion;
the held portion is, at least in part, held by the holding member;
the exposed portion is formed on the held portion;
the supporting portion is resiliently deformable and extends forward in the front-rear direction from the held portion; and
the contact portion is supported by the supporting portion so as to be movable in the up-down direction.
3. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one light press-fit portion includes two of the light press-fit portions;
the light press-fit portions are formed on the holding members, respectively; and
each of the light press-fit portions is a projecting rib which protrudes outward in the up-down direction and extends in the front-rear direction.
4. The connector as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
the held portion has an embedded portion and a protruding portion;
the embedded portion is embedded in the holding member;
the protruding portion is positioned forward of the embedded portion in the front-rear direction;
the protruding portion protrudes toward the midplate beyond any of the embedded portion and the supporting portion;
the supporting portion extends forward in the front-rear direction from the protruding portion; and
the exposed portion is provided on the protruding portion.
5. The connector as recited in claim 4 , wherein the protruding portion is, at least in part, covered by the holding member at any place of the protruding portion in the front-rear direction.
6. The connector as recited in claim 5 , wherein the protruding portion is covered by the holding member except for the exposed portion.
7. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the holding member is provided with a hole;
the hole reaches the exposed portion in the up-down direction; and
the light press-fit portion neighbors to the hole in the pitch direction.
8. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the exposed portion is pressed against the receiving portion.
9. The connector as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the exposed portion is provided with a protrusion; and
the protrusion is pressed against the midplate.
10. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the holding member is provided with a hole;
the hole reaches the exposed portion in the up-down direction;
the exposed portion is positioned between the hole and the midplate in the up-down direction and is welded to the midplate.
11. The connector as recited in claim 10 , wherein the light press-fit portion neighbors to the hole in the pitch direction.
12. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the connector further comprises a front insulator and two ground springs;
the front insulator has a substantially tube shape;
the front insulator is positioned forward of any of the holding members in the front-rear direction;
the front insulator is held by the shell;
the specific terminal has a supporting portion and a contact portion;
the supporting portion is resiliently deformable;
the contact portion is supported by the supporting portion so as to be movable in the up-down direction;
each of the supporting portion and the contact portion is positioned in the front insulator; and
each of the ground springs is partially sandwiched by the shell and the front insulator and is held by the shell and the front insulator.