TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electric connector, and specifically relates to an electric connector to which a shield-equipped multicore cable is connected.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, an electric connector for a shield-equipped multicore cable is used for electrically connecting signal lines to each other through a cable in various electronic devices such as a DVD device, an AV amplifier, a digital high-definition television, and a personal computer. Examples of the technique of the electric connector for the shield-equipped multicore cable include a technique described in Patent Literature 1 (JP-A-2011-60425). An electric connector described in Patent Literature 1 is a shield connector attached to a terminal of a multicore shield cable. In the multicore shield cable, multiple electric wires are covered with a braid, and the braid is covered with a sheath.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PATENT LITERATURE 1: JP-A-2011-60425

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by Invention

As a result of study conducted by the inventor(s) of the present invention, the following findings regarding the above-described electric connector technique have been obtained.

For example, even in the case of the same electric connector, the number of core wires of the multicore cable is not always the same. All pins are used in some cases, and only some of these pins are used in other cases. In these cases, a cable outer diameter size also changes according to a change in the number of core wires. Moreover, the thickness of the cable itself might change according to a cable to be used. Thus, an electric connector which can be reliably connected even if the number of core wires of a cable or the thickness of a cable is changed is necessary.

There is also a case where the process of connecting an electric connector and a cable to each other is performed on site. In this case, an electric connector accepting cables with various thicknesses is necessary. Moreover, it is also necessary to improve quality, reliability, and working efficiency in connection. That is, it is necessary to reliably fix the cable to the electric connector even if the entire thickness of the cable is changed and to avoid easy detachment of the cable even if tensile stress is applied to the cable. Further, an electric connector configured so that the connection process can be easily performed on site is necessary.

In the case of a shield-equipped multicore cable, the outer diameter of an external conductor (a braid) changes in association with a change in the number of core wires of a cable. Thus, an electric connector which can be reliably shield-connected even if the outer diameter of the external conductor is changed is necessary.

The present invention has been made for solving the above-described problems. One object of the present invention is to provide the technique of reliably easily making connection even in a case where the thickness of a cable is changed in an electric connector for a shield-equipped multicore cable.

The above-described object, other objects, and new features of the present invention will be apparent from description of the present specification and the attached drawings.

Solution to Problems

A brief summary of representative aspects of the invention disclosed in the present application is as follows.

That is, an electric connector according to the present invention is an electric connector to which a cable is connected, including: a housing configured to hold multiple terminals; a conductive shell provided outside the housing to cover at least part of the housing; an insulating first cover provided outside the shell to cover at least part of the shell; and a turnable insulating second cover coupled to the first cover through a rotary shaft, in which the first cover has a first locking piece on a cable side, the second cover has a second locking piece to be engaged with the first locking piece, at least one of the first locking piece or the second locking piece includes multiple locking pieces arranged along a circumferential direction of a circle about the rotary shaft, the first locking piece and the second locking piece have such a structure that the first locking piece and the second locking piece are movable in an approaching direction and movement in a separation direction is restricted in a state in which the first locking piece and the second locking piece are engaged with each other, the shell has, on the cable side, a first contact piece and a second contact piece for sandwiching an external conductor of the cable from both sides to contact the external conductor, and the second contact piece is positioned on a second cover side, and is deformable in a center axis direction of the cable to contact an inner wall surface of the second cover.

Further, each of the first locking piece and the second locking piece is configured such that a tip end portion thereof has a sawtooth shape facing an outside.

Moreover, a coupling portion is provided between the first locking piece and the first cover, and each of the first locking piece and the second locking piece is configured such that a tip end portion thereof has a sawtooth shape facing an outside in an X-Z plane.

Further, the second contact piece is configured such that a portion extending from the shell and positioned in a vicinity of the rotary shaft has a dented shape.

Moreover, each of the first contact piece and the second contact piece has a contact surface along a tangent line of an outer circumferential circle of the external conductor, and the contact surface is formed in such a manner that an end portion of the first contact piece or the second contact piece is bent.

Still further, on the cable side, each of the first cover and the second cover has, on an inner wall surface thereof, a protrusion for biting an external insulator of the cable to fix the cable.

Effects of Invention

A brief summary of advantageous effects obtained by the representative aspects of the invention disclosed in the present application is as follows.

(1) Even if the thickness of the cable is changed according to the number of core wires, connection is reliably easily made by the same electric connector.

(2) The electric connector accepting various cables with different cable thicknesses can be provided.

(3) the process of connecting the electric connector and the cable to each other on site is reliably easily performed.

