JPH0715097A - Connection cable - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a connecting cable that can be fixed without using an adhesive and that can be fixed automatically. [Structure] A fixing portion 54 to be fixed to a support body 31 that supports members 22 and 23 to which cables are connected.
A connecting cable 51, which is provided with.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cable having a fixing portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a cable connected to a leaf or the like as a leaf spring which constitutes a leaf switch needs to be pulled up to a connection position inside a main body of a device in which these switches are housed.

[0003] This connecting cable is routed to the connecting position and then the terminal portion is easily connected to the mating component, or after connecting, the connecting portion is not removed so that the connecting portion does not come off inside the device. Alternatively, it is necessary to fix it to a predetermined support member.

[0004] Usually, such a treatment is performed using an adhesive. That is, a predetermined portion of the connecting cable is bonded to an appropriate portion such as the inside of the support member or the device.

[0005]

However, if such a structure is interposed in the connecting step, the number of steps is increased, which is complicated, and the positioning of the bonded portion is difficult, and when the positional deviation occurs, the processing is performed. It had the drawback of being difficult to remove.

Further, there is also a problem that it is difficult to incorporate the robot into an automatic process.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connecting cable which can be fixed without using an adhesive and which can automate the fixing work. .

[0008]

According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by a connecting cable including a fixing portion to be fixed to a support body that supports a member to which the cable is connected. To be done.

Preferably, the fixing portion is formed of a fixing hole having a shape capable of receiving a fixing projection formed on the support.

Also, preferably, the fixing portion may be constituted by a fixing projection to be received in a hole formed in the support.

Further, preferably, the fixing hole is
You may comprise so that the slit connected to this hole may be provided along the extending direction of a cable.

[0012]

According to the above construction, it is possible to fix or temporarily fix the connecting cable without using an adhesive agent by using the fixing portion of the cable.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the examples described below are suitable specific examples of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are given, but the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these modes.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall construction of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a frame-integrated switch 20 includes a frame 31 as a support integrally formed with a main frame of a device equipped with the switch, and a leaf portion 21 constituting a switch main body attached to the frame 31. Is equipped with.

In this embodiment, the switch 20 is shown as an example of a built-in switch of a small camera, and the reference numeral 25 in FIG. 1 is a contact portion of a battery built in such a camera.

The frame 31 is provided with an insertion hole 32 into which each leaf of the leaf portion 21 is inserted and fixed. The insertion hole 31 is provided so as to open vertically to the surface of the frame 31. Further, on the upper surface of the frame 31, two pins 3 for supporting the leaf portion 21 are provided.
3,34 are integrally planted.

The leaf portion 21 is a first leaf spring which is made of, for example, two leaf springs formed of phosphor bronze or the like into a predetermined shape.
The leaf 22 and the second leaf 23. Each of the leaves 22 and 23 is provided with insertion portions 24 and 26 that integrally project downward. These insertion portions 24 and 26 are provided with protrusions 24a and 26a at their base ends, and these protrusions 24a and 26a are inserted into the insertion portions 24 and 2.
When 6 is inserted into each of the insertion holes 32 of the frame 31, it comes into contact with the edge portion of the insertion hole 32.

The leaves 22 and 23 of the leaf portion 21 are bent by approximately 90 degrees and extend in parallel to each other along the horizontal direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the distal end side of the leaf 22 is provided with an operating portion 41 that projects outward in a substantially semicircular shape. It is in contact with the inside.

On the other hand, the leaf 21 has a pin 33 near the tip thereof.
And a contact 45 is formed in the middle.
This contact 45 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is provided by punching out the leaf 21 and forming it integrally with the leaf 21, or by welding a contact member.

The leaves 21 and 22 formed in this way are slightly biased (preloaded) outward to some extent by providing the bent portions 41 and 42 shown in FIG. There is. Therefore, when the leaves 21 and 22 are inserted into the insertion holes 32 of the frame 31, the outer sides of the leaves 21 and 22 are brought into contact with the pins 33 and 34 by a predetermined biasing force and positioned.

In order to simplify such insertion and positioning work, preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surfaces of the pins 33 and 34 implanted in the frame are inclined surfaces 3 respectively.
It is chamfered as 3a and 34a.

As a result, each of the leaves 21 and 22 constituting the leaf portion 21 has its insertion portion 24,
26 is lowered, the inclined surfaces 33 of the pins 33 and 34 are
The insertion holes 32 of the frame 31 are guided by the a and 34a.
32a, 32b can be inserted from above. As a result, the leaves 21 and 22 are easily positioned and fixed so that they can be appropriately switched.

That is, the operation direction (shown by the arrow) of the operation section 43 is determined as shown in FIG. 2 only by such insertion work, and accurate switching can be performed. Therefore, the leaf portion 21 has the switching frame 31.
On the other hand, since it can be positioned simply by inserting it in the vertical direction of the frame, it is extremely advantageous in assembly by an automatic machine.

Moreover, since the leaves 21 and 22 are biased slightly outward (to the left in FIG. 2) in advance and positioned by the pins 33 and 34, the contact pressure can be easily ensured and the contact points can be secured. The part can be manufactured at low cost, and does not deteriorate due to vibration of the leaf or the like even when used for a long period of time. The leaf portion 21 is electrically connected by being inserted into the insertion hole 32 of the frame 31 together with the flat cable described later.

Next, the electrical connection structure of the leaf portion 21 will be described. The leaf portion 21 has the insertion hole 3 described above.
2 is inserted together with the flat cable 51 shown in FIG. 1 to make the electrical connection.

The flat cable 51 is formed of, for example, a flexible substrate or the like, and as shown in the drawing, a strip-shaped end portion is divided into two forks, and two flat end portions 53 and 55 are formed. Has been done. As shown in the figure, each of these end portions 53 and 55 is provided with a terminal portion formed by a predetermined circuit pattern.

That is, on the surface side of the end portion 55, two terminal portions 55a and 55b to be switched are formed. Further, a hole 54 for temporary fixing is formed in the vicinity of the center of the flexible substrate 51 slightly inside the end portion thereof. The temporary fixing hole 54 allows the flat cable 51 to move at a predetermined position with respect to the frame 31 by passing the temporary fixing projection 60 integrally formed with the frame 31 shown in FIG. It can be positioned and temporarily fixed.

FIG. 8 is a front view (A) and a side view (B) showing the temporary fixing projection 60. As shown in the drawing, the provisional fixing projection 60 has a truncated cone shape in which the upper surface 61 gradually reduces in diameter toward the tip, and the base end portion 62 becomes a constricted portion 62. ing.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the temporary fixing hole 54 formed in the flat cable 51 is slightly smaller than the lateral dimension A1 of the temporary fixing projection 60, and the lateral dimension A2 of the constricted portion. With a lateral dimension A approximately equal to or slightly greater than. The vertical dimension B of the temporary fixing hole 54 is slightly smaller than or substantially equal to the vertical dimension B1 of the temporary fixing projection 60.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the flat cable 51 is provided with a slit 54b in a temporary fixing hole 54 along the extending direction of the flat cable 51. As a result, the flat cable 51 can be easily inserted and temporarily fixed in the temporary fixing hole 54. The width C of the slit 54b is smaller than the lateral dimension A of the temporary fixing hole 54.

The flat cable 51 is connected to the frame 31.
In the case of this embodiment, it is fixed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. That is, the positions corresponding to the end portions 53 and 55 having different lengths of the flat cable 51 are selected, and the frame 31 has two insertion holes 32 and 36.
Are formed. Further, on the side surface of the frame 31, a temporary fixing projection 60 is provided at a position corresponding to the position of the temporary fixing hole 54 of the flat cable 51.

Then, the flat cable 51 is made to face the frame 31 in the direction shown in FIG. 5, and the temporary fixing projection 60 is inserted into the temporary fixing hole 54 as shown in FIG.
Temporarily fix. At this time, since the slit 54b is provided in the temporary fixing hole 54 of the flat cable 51,
The temporary fixing projection 60 can be easily inserted. Moreover,
In this state, the flat cable 51 is positioned and held at a position suitable for these connections with respect to the frame 31. In addition, such temporary fixing is performed by an automatic machine,
After that, the flat cable 51 may be more firmly fixed to the frame 31 with an adhesive. Further, a fixing protrusion may be provided on the flat cable 51 side, and a fixing hole for receiving the protrusion may be formed on the frame 31 side (not shown).

Then, each end 5 of the flat cable 51
3, 55 are folded back so that the terminal portions thereof face outward, and the board insertion portions 32a and 36 of the insertion holes 32 and 36 are formed.
Insert into a respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the leaf portion 21 is inserted. For example, leaf part 2
1 is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 1, and the insertion portions 24 and 26 of the leaves 22 and 23 are moved to the leaf insertion portions 32b and 32 of the insertion hole 32.
Insert in c.

As a result, the leaves 22 and 23 are electrically connected to the flat cables 51 55a and 55b, respectively. Therefore, when the flat cable 51 is temporarily fixed, the end portion 55 of the flat cable 51 and the insertion portions 24 and 26 of the leaves 22 and 23 are inserted into the insertion hole 32 of the frame 31 from above in the drawing. Can be assembled.

In the frame-integrated switch 20 thus constructed, the operating portion 43 of FIG. 2 is pushed in the direction of the arrow against the biasing force of the leaf 22, so that the right side surface of the leaf 22 in the figure It contacts the contact portion 45 of the leaf 21. As a result, the terminals 55a and 55b of the flat cable 51 shown in FIG. 1 are electrically connected via the leaves 22 and 23.

At this time, since the leaves 22 and 23 are preliminarily positioned so as to hold a predetermined urging force,
The contact pressure of the contact 45 is accurately ensured. The leaves 22 and 23 are also accurately held by the pins 33 and 34 so as to be parallel to each other. As a result, the frame-integrated switch 20 can always perform accurate switching even when used for a long period of time, as compared with the related art.

Further, when the switch 20 is integrally assembled to the frame, this assembly can be easily performed by an automatic machine. Further, if the frame 31 is formed integrally with the main frame of the device, a separate base portion is not required unlike the conventional leaf switch, and the device such as a camera can be made compact accordingly. Further, since the leaf of the switch 20 can be accurately positioned and the operating portion can be freely designed, the device can be made compact in this respect as well.

FIG. 7 shows a different embodiment relating to the electrical connection between the leaf and the flat cable. Frame 6
1 is integrally formed with, for example, a main frame of a device equipped with a switch, and an insertion hole 64 is formed on a side surface of the frame 61 in the drawing.

The insertion hole 64 has, for example, the shape shown in the drawing, and is formed so that leaf insertion portions 64b and 64c into which the leaves 74 and 76, which are leaf springs, are to be inserted, are arranged in parallel. . Further, the flat cable 80 is provided with an insertion portion 64a that is continuously provided so as to intersect with the leaf insertion portions 64b and 64c. Further, a temporary fixing projection 62 for positioning is integrally provided at a predetermined position of the frame 61.

The flat cable 80 has two side edges 82, 8
2 is formed slightly thinner than the opening thickness of the cable insertion portion 64a of the insertion hole 64, and the terminal portions 84, 84 are respectively formed at the tip portions of the patterns that are thinner than this and are provided in parallel along the cable extending direction. 85 is formed. Further, at a predetermined position of the flat cable 80, a hole 83 for temporary fixing and a slit 83a continuous with the hole 83 are formed.

As a result, the tip portion of the flat cable 80 is bent as shown in the drawing and inserted into the cable insertion portion 64a, and the temporary fixing hole 83 of this cable is fitted into the temporary fixing projection 62 of the frame. Next, the edge portions 74 a and 76 a protruding laterally are gripped and inserted into the leaf insertion portions 64 b and 64 c of the insertion hole 64 while the two leaves 74 and 76 are spaced by the bump 75.

At this time, the tip corners 7 of the leaves 74 and 76
Since 8, 78 are chamfered, the insertion work becomes easy. The cable-side edges of the leaves 74 and 76 are electrically connected to the terminal portions 84 and 85 of the flat cable.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing another example of the structure of the insertion hole for inserting and supporting the leaf. In the figure, the insertion hole 91 is provided with 91a, 91b, and 91c so that three leaves can be supported. Here, the dimension of D and E added in the figure is set to be substantially equal to or slightly larger than the dimension of the width dimension of the leaf to be inserted and the thickness dimension of the cable. Further, the G dimension shown in the drawing is set to be larger than the F dimension.

12 and 13 show a further different configuration example of the insertion hole for inserting and supporting the leaf. In the figure, a partition wall 10 is provided near the center of the insertion hole 100.
1 is formed, and the periphery of this partition wall is the leaf insertion portion 100.
a, 100b, the cable insertion portion 100d, and the like. A leaf spring 110 as shown in FIG. 13, for example, can be attached to each of these insertion portions.

Thus, when a leaf or a cable (not shown) is inserted into these insertion portions, even if the leaf does not have the bump 75 as shown in FIG. Retained. Therefore, it is possible to more securely fix the leaf or the cable and maintain the conduction between them.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the switch frame 31 has a battery contact portion 25.
Is provided. The contact portion 25 is composed of two leaves 95 and 96. These two leaves 95 and 96 are leaf springs made of the same material as the above-mentioned leaves 22 and 23, for example.

The ends of the leaves 95 and 96 are folded back to form contact points 95a and 96a.
A battery (not shown) can be sandwiched and held between these contact portions. Further, insertion portions 95b and 96b are provided below the leaves 95 and 96, and are inserted into the insertion holes 36 of the switch frame 31.

That is, these leaves 95 and 96 are electrically connected to the electrode terminals 53a and 53b formed at the end 53 of the flat cable 51 in the insertion hole 36, as shown in FIGS. It has become so. As a result, the flat cable 51
Power can be supplied to the device side via the.

In each of the above-described embodiments, if the edge portion of the insertion hole is chamfered in, for example, an R shape or a C shape, it is possible to further easily insert the leaf or the cable.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connecting cable that can be easily fixed to a frame or the like without using an adhesive and can also perform this fixing automatically. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an entire preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a leaf (switch) portion of FIG.

3 is a schematic perspective view showing a contact portion formed on the leaf of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a support structure for the leaf portion of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a process of connecting a switch frame and a flat cable.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a process of connecting a switch frame and a flat cable.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a process of connecting the switch frame to the flat cable and the leaf.

FIG. 8A is a front view showing the structure of a temporary fixing projection,
(B) It is a side view.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the structure of a temporary fixing hole formed in the flat cable.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another example of the insertion hole provided in the frame.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing still another example of the insertion hole provided in the frame.

12 is a cross-sectional view of the insertion hole of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Frame integrated switch 22, 23, 95, 96 Leaf 31 (Switch) frame 33, 34 Pin 32, 36 Insert hole 51 Flat cable 60 Temporary fixing protrusion

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cable for connection, comprising a fixing portion to be fixed to a support body that supports a member to which the cable is connected. 2. The connecting cable according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is a fixing hole having a shape capable of receiving a fixing protrusion formed on the support. 3. The connecting cable according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is a fixing protrusion that is to be received in a hole formed in the support. 4. The connecting cable according to claim 2, wherein the fixing hole has a slit that is continuous with the hole along the extending direction of the cable.