CN101608782A - The mounting structure of electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a kind of mounting structure of electric connector, it can prevent the position deviation of the cold-cathode tube (8) as fluorescent tube.In this mounting structure, be provided with first electric connector (11), the housing (35) that it comprises the contact organizator (36) of the outer lead (8c) that connects cold-cathode tube (8) and keeps contact organizator (36).Housing (35) is maintained on the tabular rear wall (13).Have and be used for housing (35) is locked in locking mechanism (80) on the rear wall (13).Housing (35) can be inserted along direction of insertion (D1) and lead in first inserting hole (21) of rear wall (13).Inserted the housing (35) that leads in first inserting hole (21) and pass through to slide, moved to from the latch-release position that the locking based on locking mechanism (80) is disengaged by the latched position of locking mechanism (80) locking along the direction E1 parallel with the direction of principal axis S of cold-cathode tube (8).

Description

Mounting structure of electric connector

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mounting structure of an electrical connector.

Background

A light reflecting device provided in a liquid crystal display device generally includes a plurality of fluorescent tubes and a plurality of electrical connectors connected to the fluorescent tubes. (see, for example, patent document 1). Patent document 1 discloses a technique of attaching a plurality of electrical connectors to a plate-shaped holder to form a metal fitting, and then connecting the electrical connectors to a circuit board.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2007-257881

In patent document 1, the electrical connector is mounted to the cradle as follows. That is, the housing of the electrical connector is first inserted into the mounting hole of the holder. Thereafter, the housing is fixed to the holder by sliding the housing in the longitudinal direction of the holder. The sliding direction in this case is orthogonal to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. Therefore, when the housing of the electrical connector is displaced in the sliding direction with respect to the holder, the end of the fluorescent tube connected to the electrical connector is often displaced in the sliding direction. In this case, the fluorescent tube is tilted with respect to the normal position.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a mounting structure of an electrical connector capable of preventing positional deviation of a fluorescent tube.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides an electrical connector mounting structure, comprising: the electrical connector comprises a conductive contact forming body connected with a terminal at the end of a fluorescent tube and an insulating shell for holding the contact forming body, a plate-shaped holding member for holding the shell, and a locking mechanism for locking the shell on the holding member, wherein the holding member comprises a holding part formed along a predetermined depth direction, the shell can be inserted in the holding part along a predetermined insertion direction corresponding to the depth direction, the shell inserted in the holding part can move relative to the holding member along a predetermined locking direction parallel to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube, and the locking mechanism can move from a locking releasing position released by the locking mechanism to a locking position locked by the locking mechanism.

According to the present invention, the housing is moved from the lock release position to the lock position by being moved relative to the holding member in the lock direction parallel to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. Therefore, when the housing is locked to the holding member, it is not necessary to move the housing in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. This prevents the terminal of the fluorescent tube connected to the electrical connector from being displaced in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. As a result, the fluorescent tube can be prevented from being inclined with respect to the normal direction.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the holding portion includes an insertion hole penetrating the holding member in the depth direction. According to the present invention, the holding portion can be formed by a simple configuration in which the insertion hole is formed in the holding member.

In the mounting structure of an electrical connector according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the housing located at the lock position covers the insertion hole. According to the present invention, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from accumulating at the peripheral edge of the insertion hole.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the locking direction is a direction along a direction away from the end portion of the fluorescent tube in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube.

According to the present invention, the housing in the locked position can be prevented from moving away from the fluorescent tube. This prevents the terminal of the fluorescent tube and the contact forming body of the electrical connector from being unintentionally disconnected by vibration, impact, or the like.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the locking mechanism includes a coupling portion provided on the holding portion and a coupled portion provided on the housing, and the coupling portion and the coupled portion are coupled to each other when the housing is located at the locking position. According to the present invention, the housing can be locked by the coupling of the coupling portion and the coupled portion.

In the mounting structure of an electrical connector according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the coupling portion has a clamped portion, and the clamped portion has a clamping portion, and the clamped portion is clamped by the clamping portion in a direction parallel to the insertion direction when the housing is located at the lock position. According to the present invention, by the combination of the gripped portion and the gripping portion, the housing can be prevented from moving in the direction parallel to the insertion direction with respect to the holding member.

In the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the clamping portion and the clamped portion extend in the locking direction, and the clamped portion is clamped by the clamping portion when the housing is moved from the unlocking position to the locking position. According to the present invention, the held portion can be held by the holding portion by a simple operation of moving the housing to the lock position.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, a plurality of the clamping portions and the clamped portions are provided along the locking direction. According to the present invention, both end portions of the housing with respect to the locking direction can be prevented from moving in a direction parallel to the insertion direction with respect to the holding member.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, the length in the locking direction of the clamping portion and the clamped portion that are located on the locking position side relative to each other and the length in the locking direction of the clamping portion and the clamped portion that are located on the unlocking position side relative to each other are different.

According to the present invention, the correct direction of the housing with respect to the locking direction can be recognized by the clamping portion and the clamped portion that are located on the side of the locking position relative to each other, and the clamping portion and the clamped portion that are located on the unlocking position relative to each other. This makes it possible to reliably mount the housing in the correct orientation with respect to the holding portion.

A mounting structure of an electrical connector according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the mounting structure of the first aspect, wherein the lock mechanism includes a pair of first portions provided on the housing so as to face each other in a predetermined orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the lock direction and the insertion direction, and a pair of second portions provided on the holding portion so as to face each other in the orthogonal direction, and sandwiching the pair of first portions in the orthogonal direction when the housing is located at the lock position.

According to the present invention, the pair of second portions sandwich the pair of first portions in the orthogonal direction, whereby the housing can be prevented from moving in the direction orthogonal to the holding member.

An electrical connector mounting structure according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the electrical connector mounting structure according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pair of third portions provided on the housing and opposed to each other in the locking direction, and a pair of fourth portions provided on the holding portion and opposed to each other in the locking direction, and the pair of fourth portions sandwich the pair of third portions in a direction parallel to the locking direction when the housing is located at the locking position.

According to the present invention, the pair of fourth portions sandwich the pair of third portions in the locking direction, whereby the housing can be prevented from moving in a direction parallel to the locking direction with respect to the holding member.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides an electrical connector mounting structure, comprising: an electrical connector including a conductive contact forming body connected to a terminal at an end of a fluorescent tube and an insulating housing holding the contact forming body; a plate-like holding member for holding the housing; and a lock mechanism for locking the housing to the holding member, wherein the holding member includes a holding portion formed along a predetermined depth direction, the housing is inserted into the holding portion in a predetermined insertion direction corresponding to the depth direction, the housing inserted into the holding portion is movable from an unlocked position where locking by the lock mechanism is unlocked to a locked position where the housing is locked by the lock mechanism by moving relative to the holding member in a predetermined lock direction along a direction around a reference axis extending in a direction parallel to the depth direction.

According to the present invention, the housing is moved from the lock release position to the lock position by being moved relative to the holding member in the lock direction around the reference axis. Therefore, when the housing is locked with respect to the holding member, it is not necessary to linearly move the housing in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. This prevents the housing from being displaced in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube, and prevents the terminals of the fluorescent tube connected to the electrical connector from being displaced in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube. As a result, the fluorescent tube can be prevented from being inclined with respect to the normal direction. Further, since it is not necessary to linearly move the housing when the housing is displaced from the unlock position to the lock position, it is not necessary to provide a space for linearly moving the housing, and the holding portion can be reduced in size.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, the holding portion includes an insertion hole penetrating the holding member in the depth direction. According to the present invention, the holding portion can be formed with a simple structure in which the insertion hole is formed in the holding member.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, the housing located at the lock position covers the insertion hole. According to the present invention, foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from accumulating at the peripheral edge of the insertion hole.

In the mounting structure of an electrical connector according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, the lock mechanism includes a coupling portion provided on the holding portion and a coupled portion provided on the housing, and the coupling portion and the coupled portion are coupled to each other when the housing is located at the lock position. According to the present invention, the housing can be locked by coupling the coupling portion and the coupled portion.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention provides the mounting structure of an electrical connector of the fifteenth aspect, wherein the engaging portion has a clamped portion, and the clamped portion has a clamping portion, and the clamped portion is clamped by the clamping portion in a direction parallel to the insertion direction when the housing is located at the lock position. According to the present invention, by the combination of the gripped portion and the gripping portion, the housing can be prevented from moving in the direction parallel to the insertion direction with respect to the holding member.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the sixteenth aspect, the clamping portion includes an upper portion along one of the pair of main surfaces of the holding member and a lower portion along the other of the pair of main surfaces, and the upper portion and the lower portion are disposed apart from each other in the locking direction.

According to the present invention, when the housing is viewed in the locking direction, the number of portions where the clip portions are arranged can be increased. As a result, the housing can be more reliably prevented from tilting with respect to the insertion direction.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention is the mounting structure of the seventeenth aspect, wherein a peripheral edge of the holding portion includes an opposing portion that opposes the upper portion in the housing at the lock position, a convex portion is formed on one of the upper portion and the opposing portion, and a concave portion is formed on the other, and the convex portion is fitted into the concave portion when the housing is at the lock position.

According to the present invention, the rotation of the housing can be stopped by fitting the convex portion and the concave portion. Thereby, the housing can be prevented from being inadvertently rotated with respect to the holding member.

In the electrical connector mounting structure according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth to eighteenth aspects, the lock mechanism includes a first annular portion provided on the housing and surrounding the reference axis, and a second annular portion provided on the holding portion and surrounding the first annular portion.

According to the present invention, the second annular portion surrounds the first annular portion, and the electric connector can be prevented from moving relative to the holding member in a direction orthogonal to the reference axis, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal display device including an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts of the housing, the first electrical connector, the circuit board, and the cold cathode tube;

fig. 3(a) is a plan view of a main part showing a state in which the first electrical connector is held in the housing, (B) is a view seen in the direction of an arrow IIIB in fig. 3(a), and (C) is a bottom view seen in the direction of an arrow IIIC in fig. 3 (B);

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 (A);

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 3 (A);

FIG. 6(A) is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3(B), and (B) is a sectional view taken along line VIB-VIB of FIG. 6 (A);

fig. 7 is a perspective view of the contact forming body;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 4;

fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a pair of first elastic sheet portions;

fig. 10(a) is a perspective view showing a main part of a cold cathode tube before being connected to a first electrical connector, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XB-XB in fig. 10 (a);

fig. 11(a) is a perspective view of a main part showing a state where the cold cathode tube is connected to the first electrical connector, and (B) is a sectional view taken along line XIB-XIB of fig. 11 (a);

fig. 12 is a perspective view for explaining a process of mounting a housing of a first electrical connector on a rear wall of a housing of a backlight device;

fig. 13 is a perspective view for explaining a process of mounting a housing of a first electrical connector on a rear wall of a housing of a backlight device;

fig. 14(a) and (B) are sectional views for explaining the process of interconnecting the board connecting contact of the first connector and the insertion projection of the circuit board, respectively;

fig. 15 is a side view showing a state where the bottom wall of the housing is removed from the peripheral wall;

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a main part of another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 17 is a perspective view of a main part of still another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 18 is a partial perspective view of the first electrical connector;

fig. 19(a) and (B) are perspective views for explaining a process of mounting a housing of a first electrical connector on a rear wall of a housing of a backlight device;

fig. 20(a) is a perspective view of the first electrical connector in the lock position, and (B) is a view of a main portion seen from the direction of arrow XXB in fig. 20 (a);

fig. 21(a) to (C) are side views of essential parts of still another embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the figures

8 Cold cathode tube (fluorescent tube)

8b end (end of fluorescent tube)

8c outer lead (terminal of fluorescent tube)

9 mounting structure (mounting structure of electric connector)

13, 13A, 13B rear wall (holding member)

13bA main face

13cA on the other major face

11, 11A first electrical connector (Electrical connector)

21, 21A first insertion hole (holding part, insertion hole)

30A peripheral edge (circumference)

35, 35A casing

36 contact forming body

56a, 56b a pair of end faces (a pair of first portions)

60A reference axis

80, 80A locking mechanism

93a, 93b a pair of third parts

94a, 94b a pair of fourth parts

153 opposite part

154 recess

163 clamped part (combination part)

164 holding part (combined part)

164a upper side

164b lower side portion

165 convex part

166 first annular part

167 a second annular part

841 clamped part (combination part, pair of second parts)

842 holding part (combined part)

851 clamped part (combination part, a pair of second parts)

852 clamping part (combined part)

Direction of depth C

Direction of insertion D1

E1 locking direction

H orthogonal direction

Direction of S axis

X X direction (direction parallel to the locking direction)

Z Z direction (direction parallel to the insertion direction)

Detailed Description

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal display device including an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 1, a liquid crystal display device 1 is a display device used as a monitor of a television or a personal computer, for example.

The liquid crystal display device 1 includes a main housing 2, a liquid crystal panel 3, and a backlight device 4.

The main casing 2 is formed in a casing shape and is open at the front.

The liquid crystal panel 3 is a non-self-luminous display panel and is attached to an opening on the front surface of the main casing 2. The liquid crystal panel 3 has a front surface 3a facing the front of the main casing 2 and a rear surface 3b facing the rear of the main casing 2.

The backlight device 4 is a device for irradiating light to the liquid crystal panel 3, and is housed in the main casing 2. The backlight device 4 includes a housing 5, a circuit board 6 as a connection member, an inverter circuit 7, a cold cathode tube 8 as a fluorescent tube, and a first electrical connector 11 and a second electrical connector 12 directly supported by the housing 5.

The housing 5 is a housing of the backlight device 4, and has a function of directly holding the first and second electrical connectors 11 and 12, a function of accommodating the cold cathode tube 8, and a function of reflecting light from the cold cathode tube 8 toward the liquid crystal panel 3.

The casing 5 is formed in a bathtub shape by, for example, a metal plate. The enclosure 5 is disposed on the rear surface 3b side of the liquid crystal panel 3, and includes a rear wall 13 as a holding member and a peripheral wall 14 extending from an outer peripheral edge 13a of the rear wall 13.

The rear wall 13 cooperates with the first electrical connector 11 to form the mounting structure 9 of the first electrical connector 11. The rear wall 13 is disposed behind the cold cathode tubes 8 in the front-rear direction of the main casing 5. The rear wall 13 is formed in a flat plate shape and is arranged in parallel with the cold cathode tube 8. The rear wall 13 is fixed to the main casing 2 by mounting members 15, 16 such as brackets.

A first insertion hole 21 serving as a holding portion (housing insertion hole) of a housing 35 (described later) through which the first electrical connector 11 is inserted and held, and a second insertion hole 22 through which the second electrical connector 12 is inserted and held are formed in the rear wall 13. The first and second insertion holes 21 and 22 are separated in the left-right direction of the main casing 5.

The circuit board 6 is disposed behind the rear wall 13 with respect to the front-rear direction of the housing 5, and is parallel to the rear wall 13. The circuit board 6 includes a front surface 6a facing the rear surface 3a of the liquid crystal panel 3 and a rear surface 6b facing the opposite side of the front surface 6 a. Conductive patterns 24 and 25 as conductive portions are formed on the rear surface 6b of the circuit board 6, and a conductive pattern 26 is formed on the rear surface 6 b. The conductor patterns 25, 26 are electrically connected to each other through the via hole 28.

The inverter circuit 7 is connected to the conductor patterns 24 and 25 formed on the back surface 6b of the circuit board 6. The inverter circuit 7 is a circuit for supplying driving power to the cold cathode tube 8, and is mounted on the back surface 6b of the circuit board 6. The inverter circuit 7 and each cold cathode tube 8 are electrically connected by the conductor pattern 24, the first electrical connector 11, the second electrical connector 12, the conductor pattern 26, the via hole 28, and the conductor pattern 25 of the circuit board 6.

The cold cathode tube 8 is a backlight of the liquid crystal panel 3. The plurality of cold cathode tubes 8 are provided between the liquid crystal panel 3 and the rear wall 13 of the housing 5. (only one cold cathode tube 8 is illustrated in fig. 1). The number of the cold cathode tubes 8 is, for example, two per one inch of the liquid crystal panel 3.

The cold cathode tubes 8 are disposed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of the main casing 2 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface), and irradiate the liquid crystal panel 3 with light. The longitudinal direction of each cold cathode tube 8 is along the left-right direction of the main casing 2 and is parallel to the back surface 3b of the liquid crystal panel 3. In fig. 1, only one cold cathode tube 8, one first electrical connector 11, and one second electrical connector 12 are shown.

The cold cathode tube 8 includes a long cylindrical body portion 8a, and outer leads 8c, 8c as a pair of terminals provided at a pair of end portions 8b, 8b of the body portion 8a, respectively.

The main body 8a is a glass member having a diameter of, for example, about several mm to several tens mm. The outer lead 8c is a shaft-like conductive member made of metal such as soft iron, and protrudes from each end 8b of the body 8a in parallel with the body 8 a. The outer lead 8c has a diameter of about 1mm and a length of about several mm, for example.

The outer lead 8c on one end side of the body portion 8a of the cold cathode tube 8 is connected to the first electrical connector 11, and the outer lead 8c on the other end side of the body portion 8a of the cold cathode tube 8 is connected to the second electrical connector 12.

The first electrical connector 11 is a connector for electrically connecting the cold cathode tube 8 and the conductor pattern 24 of the circuit board 6. The first electrical connector 11 is disposed on one end side of the body portion 8a of each cold cathode tube 8, and is inserted into the corresponding first insertion hole 21 of the rear wall 13.

The second electrical connector 12 is a connector for electrically connecting the cold cathode tube 8 and the conductor pattern 26 of the circuit board 6. The second electrical connector 12 is disposed on the other end side of each cold cathode tube 8 and is inserted into the corresponding first insertion hole 22 of the rear wall 13. The second electrical connector 12 is electrically connected to the conductor pattern 26 of the circuit substrate 6.

A positive voltage of the inverter circuit 7 is applied to the outer lead 8c at one end of the cold cathode tube 8 from the first electrical connector 11 side. The outer lead 8c at the other end of the cold cathode tube 8 is electrically connected to the inverter circuit 7 via the second electrical connector 12, the conductor pattern 26, and the like.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of main portions of the enclosure 5, the first electrical connector 11, the circuit board 6, and the cold cathode tube 8. Referring to fig. 2, for convenience, a direction parallel to the left-right direction of the main casing 2 is referred to as an X direction X, a direction parallel to the up-down direction of the main casing 2 is referred to as a Y direction Y, and a direction parallel to the front-back direction of the main casing 2 is referred to as a Z direction Z.

One of the directions X is X1, and the other of the directions X is X2. One of Y directions Y is Y1, and the other of Y directions X is Y2. One of the Z directions Z is Z1, and the other Z direction Z is Z2.

In addition, the term "X direction" refers to the first and second X directions X1 and X2. In the case of simply referring to the Y direction, the terms "Y1" and "Y2" are used collectively. In addition, when only the Z direction is referred to, the first and second Z directions Z1 and Z2 are collectively referred to.

One of the three first electrical connectors 11 shown in fig. 2 shows a state in which the outer lead 8c is connected halfway, and the remaining two show a state in which the connection of the outer lead 8c is completed.

The first insertion holes 21 of the rear wall 13 are formed at equal intervals along a predetermined lateral arrangement direction B along the Y direction Y. Since the first insertion holes 21 have the same configuration, the first insertion holes 21 will be mainly described below.

The first insertion hole 21 penetrates the rear wall 13 in a predetermined depth direction C corresponding to the thickness direction thereof. The depth direction C corresponds to the first Z direction Z1. The first insertion hole 21 opens in both the first Z direction Z1 corresponding to the thickness direction of the rear wall 13 and the second Z direction Z2 which is the opposite direction to the first Z direction Z1.

The first insertion hole 21 is formed in a substantially quadrangular shape, and is relatively long in the X direction X and relatively short in the Y direction Y. The peripheral edge portion 30 of the first insertion hole 21 includes a first edge portion 31, a second edge portion 32, a third edge portion 33, and a fourth edge portion 34. The first and third edge portions 31, 33 face each other in the X direction X, and the second and fourth edge portions 32, 34 face each other in the Y direction Y.

A housing 35, which will be described later, of each first electrical connector 11 is inserted into and held by the corresponding first insertion hole 21. The lengths of the first electrical connectors 11 in the X direction X, the Y direction Y, and the Z direction Z are set to about 10mm to 15mm, respectively. Since the first electrical connectors 21 have the same configuration, the following description will mainly be given of one first electrical connector 11.

The first electrical connector 11 includes an insulating housing 35, a conductive contact forming body 36 held by the housing 35, and an operation member 37 for operating the contact forming body 36.

When the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11 is mounted in the corresponding first insertion hole 21, it is inserted into the first insertion hole 21 along a predetermined insertion direction D1 corresponding to the depth direction C. The first electrical connector 11 inserted through the first insertion hole 21 is drawn out in a drawing direction D2 opposite to the insertion direction D1, and is drawn out from the first insertion hole 21. The casing 35 inserted through the first insertion hole 21 is slidable relative to the rear wall 13 along a predetermined lock direction E1 parallel to the axial direction S of the cold cathode tube 8.

The lock direction E1 corresponds to the first X direction X1 along a direction away from the one end 8b of the cold cathode tube 8 in the direction parallel to the axial direction S. By sliding the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11 in the locking direction E1 with respect to the rear wall 13, the housing 35 is displaced to the locking position, locked in the first insertion through hole 21 of the rear wall 13. Fig. 2 shows a state in which the first electrical connectors 11 in contact with the rear wall 13 are respectively located at the lock positions.

The first electrical connector 11 located at the locking position slides in the unlocking direction E2 opposite to the locking direction E1. The unlock direction E2 corresponds to the second X direction X2. The first electrical connector 11 is displaced to the lock release position by sliding in the lock release direction E2, thereby releasing the lock on the rear wall 13.

The circuit board 6 includes a main body portion 38 on which an inverter circuit (not shown) and the like are mounted, and a plurality of insertion convex portions 39 (only a part of the insertion convex portions 39 are shown in fig. 2) formed in a lateral arrangement on one end edge portion 29 of the main body portion 38.

The insertion projections 39 are formed along the lateral arrangement direction B so as to correspond to the first electrical connectors 11, and the conductor patterns 24 are provided on the surface 6a of the circuit board 6 of the insertion projections 39.

Each insertion convex portion 39 is formed in a rectangular shape. These insertion projections 39 are inserted into the corresponding first electrical connector 11 along the connection direction F1. Thereby, the conductor pattern 24 inserted into the convex portion 39 and the first electrical connector 11 are electrically connected. The connecting direction F1 corresponds to, for example, the first X direction X1.

Each insertion projection 39 is extractable in a connection releasing direction F2 opposite to the connection direction F1 from the corresponding first electrical connector 11. This allows the conductive pattern 24 of each insertion projection 39 to be electrically disconnected from the corresponding first electrical connector 11. The connection releasing direction F2 corresponds to, for example, the second X direction X2.

When the cold cathode tube 8 is mounted on the corresponding first electrical connector 11, it is moved in a predetermined insertion direction G1 along the radial direction of the outer lead 8 c. The insertion direction G1 corresponds to, for example, the first Z direction Z1. When each cold cathode tube 8 is removed from the corresponding first electrical connector 11, it is moved in the reverse insertion direction G2 opposite to the insertion direction G1. The reverse insertion direction G2 corresponds to, for example, the second Z direction Z2.

Fig. 3(a) is a plan view of a main part showing a state where the first electrical connector 11 is held in the housing 5; FIG. 3(B) is a view seen in the direction of the arrow IIIB in FIG. 3 (A); fig. 3(C) is a bottom view seen in the direction of an arrow IIIC of fig. 3 (B); FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 (A); FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 3 (A); FIG. 6(A) is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3 (B); fig. 6(B) is a sectional view taken along line VIB-VIB of fig. 6 (a). Fig. 3(a) to 3(C), 4, 5, 6(a) and 6(B) each show a state before the first electrical connector 11 is located at the unlocking position and the outer lead 8C is connected to the first electrical connector 11.

Next, a description will be given with reference to a state in which the first electrical connector 11 is located at the lock position. Referring to fig. 3(a), 3(B), and 4, the housing 35 has a substantially symmetrical shape along the Y direction Y. The case 35 is made of synthetic resin, and is integrally molded with the bottom wall 58 described later.

The housing 35 includes a first body portion 41, a second body portion 42 arranged on the insertion direction G1 side with respect to the first body portion 41, and a covering portion 43 extending from the first body portion 41.

Referring to fig. 4, the first body portion 41 is located on the reverse insertion direction G2 side with respect to the rear wall 13. A cavity 44 is formed in the front end 411 of the first body 41 in the reverse insertion direction G2 on the lock release direction E2 side. The cavity 44 is open toward the reverse insertion direction G2 side, and can accommodate the corresponding end 8b of the cold cathode tube 8.

A housing hole 45 is formed in the half portion of the distal end portion 411 on the side of the locking direction E1. The later-described body portion 92 and the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 of the contact formation body 36 are accommodated in the accommodation hole 45. The housing hole 45 extends along the insertion direction G1, and is opened on the side opposite to the insertion direction G2.

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, the housing hole 45 is formed by a surrounding wall 46. The enclosure wall 46 includes a first portion 51, a second portion 52, a third portion 53, and a fourth portion 54. The first and third portions 51, 53 are opposed to each other in the locking direction E1. The second and fourth portions 52, 54 are opposed in an orthogonal direction H orthogonal to both the insertion direction D1 and the locking direction E1.

The first portion 51 separates the cavity 44 from the receiving hole 45. By cutting the intermediate portion 51a of the first portion 51 in the orthogonal direction H into a notch shape, the outer lead 8c can be inserted into the notch portion. Through holes 55 penetrating the second and fourth portions 52, 54 in the orthogonal direction H are formed in the second and fourth portions 52, 54, respectively.

The second body portion 42 is mostly located on the insertion direction G1 side with respect to the rear wall 13, and has a box shape as a whole. The second body portion 42 is provided as a receiving portion for receiving a board connecting contact 100, which will be described later, of the contact forming body 36, and includes an upper wall 56, an annular peripheral wall 57 extending from the upper wall 56 toward the insertion direction G1, and a bottom wall 58 closing one end of the peripheral wall 57. The upper wall 56, the peripheral wall 57, and the bottom wall 58 form a housing space 59 for housing the board connection contact 100.

The upper wall 56 is connected to the first body portion 41. The upper wall 56 is disposed in the first insertion hole 21 and in the vicinity of the rear wall 31. A through hole is formed in a part of the upper wall 56 in the locking direction E1, and the through hole constitutes a part of the housing hole 45. That is, the housing hole 45 extends from the first body portion 41 to the second body portion 42, and communicates with the housing space 59.

The peripheral wall 57 is formed through the first insertion hole 21 and around an imaginary reference axis 60 parallel to the insertion direction G1. The peripheral wall 57 includes a first side wall 61, a second side wall 62, a third side wall 63, and a fourth side wall 64. The first to fourth side walls 61 to 64 are cylindrical as a whole.

The first to fourth side walls 61 to 64 are formed in a flat plate shape extending in the insertion direction G1. The first and third side walls 61, 63 are opposed to each other in the locking direction E1 and extend parallel to each other. The second and fourth side walls 62, 64 are opposed to each other in the orthogonal direction H and extend parallel to each other.

One end of each of the first to fourth side walls 61 to 64 is connected to the bottom wall 58. The other ends of the first to fourth side walls 61 to 64 are connected to the upper wall 56. The upper wall 56 and the bottom wall 58 are opposed to each other in the insertion direction G1.

A substrate insertion hole 65 as an insertion protrusion insertion hole penetrating the first side wall 61 in the locking direction E1 is formed in the first side wall 61. The substrate insertion hole 65 can be inserted into the corresponding insertion projection 39 of the circuit substrate 6. Thereby, the insertion convex portion 39 can be inserted into the housing space 59.

Referring to fig. 3(C) and 4, the bottom wall 58 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The bottom wall 58 covers the first to fourth side walls 61 to 64 when the first electrical connector 11 is viewed along the reverse insertion direction G2. The outer peripheral portion of one side surface 58a of the bottom wall 58 and one end of the corresponding first to fourth side walls 61 to 64 are in surface contact with each other. A projection 66 is formed on one side surface 58a of the bottom wall 58. The convex portion 66 is along the inner side surfaces 61a, 63a of the corresponding first and third side walls 61, 63, respectively. This further increases the creepage distance for the leakage current, which becomes more difficult to flow out.

The bottom wall 58 and the first to fourth side walls 61 to 64 are formed separately and are detachable from the first to fourth side walls 61 to 64.

Specifically, referring to fig. 5 and 6(a), the bottom wall 58 has a pair of end portions in the orthogonal direction H, each of which has a tab portion 67, 68 projecting therefrom. An engagement recess 69 is formed in each of the small pieces 67 and 68. On the other hand, engaging protrusions 70 are formed on the outer side surfaces of the second and fourth side walls 64, respectively. The engaging convex portions 70, 70 engage with the corresponding engaging concave portions 69, 69. Alternatively, the bottom wall 58 and the peripheral wall 57 may be integrally formed as a single member.

Referring to fig. 3(a) and 3(C), the covering portion 43 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and covers a region of the first insertion hole 21 located outside the first body portion 41 when the housing 35 is located at the lock position. When the first electrical connector 11 is viewed in the reverse insertion direction G2, the first and second body portions 41 and 42 are disposed closer to the locking direction E1 than the center J (center of the figure) of the covering portion 43.

Referring to fig. 3(B) and 3(C), the covering portion 43 has a side surface 43a facing one 13B of the pair of main surfaces 13B and 13C of the rear wall 13. The outer periphery of the one side surface 43a faces the peripheral edge 30 of the first insertion hole 21. Thereby, the covering portion 43 and the first body portion 41 cooperate to cover the entire first insertion hole 21.

Referring to fig. 3(a), the covering portion 43 has a hole 71 formed when the housing 35 is resin-molded, but the hole 71 faces the peripheral edge portion 30 of the first insertion hole 21 and does not open to the first insertion hole 21 when viewed along the insertion direction D1.

Referring to fig. 3(C) and 6(a), the backlight device 4 includes a lock mechanism 80 for locking the housing 35 to the rear wall 13.

The lock mechanism 80 includes a first restriction mechanism 81, a second restriction mechanism 82, and a third restriction mechanism 83. The first restriction mechanism 81 is a mechanism for preventing the housing 35 from moving in a direction (Z direction Z) parallel to the insertion direction D1 with respect to the rear wall 13. The second restriction mechanism 82 is a mechanism for preventing the housing 35 from moving in the orthogonal direction H (Y direction Y) with respect to the rear wall 13. The third limiting mechanism 83 is a mechanism for preventing the housing 35 from moving in a direction (X direction X) parallel to the locking direction E1 with respect to the rear wall 13.

The first regulating mechanism 81 includes a clamped portion 841 as a coupling portion provided at the peripheral edge portion 30 of the first insertion hole 21, and a clamping portion 842 as a coupled portion provided at the housing 35.

The clamped portion 841 is a small piece projecting from the second edge portion 32 to the inside of the first insertion hole 21. The clamped portion 841 is provided at an end portion of the second edge portion 32 of the peripheral edge portion 30 on the side of the locking direction E1.

The clip 842 includes a portion 842a formed on the one side surface 43a of the cover 43 and another portion 842b provided to protrude from the upper wall 56 of the second body 42. The pair of portions 842a and 842b are arranged at intervals in the Z direction Z. The pair of portions 842a, 842b of the clamping portion 842 and the clamped portion 841 extend along the locking direction E1.

When the housing 35 is located at the lock position, the pair of portions 842a, 842b will be clamped by the clamp 841 in the Z direction Z. Thereby, the clamping portion 842 and the clamped portion 841 are joined to each other.

The first regulating portion 81 further includes a clamped portion 851 and a clamping portion 852. The held portions 851 and 852 have the same configuration as the held portions 841 and 842, but are different from the held portions 841 and 842 in the following (1) and (2).

That is, (1) the held portion 851 and the holding portion 852 are arranged on the unlocking direction E2 side with respect to the corresponding held portion 841 and holding portion 842;

(2) the lengths of the clamped portion 851 and the clamping portion 852 in the locking direction E1 are longer than the lengths of the corresponding clamped portion 841 and clamping portion 842. The clamping portion 852 includes a portion 852a and another portion 852b, like the clamping portion 842.

The clamped portion 841 and the clamped portion 851 are both formed at the fourth edge portion 34 of the peripheral edge portion 30. The housing 35 is provided with a clamped portion 841 and a clamped portion 851 corresponding to the clamped portion 841 and the clamped portion 851 of the fourth edge portion 34.

The clamped portions 841 and 842 on the second edge portion 32 side, the clamped portions 841 and 842 on the fourth edge portion 34 side are arranged symmetrically in the orthogonal direction H. Similarly, the clamped portion 851 and the clamping portion 852 on the second edge portion 32 side, the clamped portion 851 and the clamping portion 852 on the fourth edge portion 34 side are symmetrically arranged in the orthogonal direction H.

Referring to fig. 3(C) and 6(B), the second limiting mechanism 82 includes: clamped portions 841 and 851 of the second edge portion 32 and clamped portions 841 and 851 of the fourth edge portion 34; a pair of end faces 56a, 56b provided on the housing 35. The pair of end surfaces 56a, 56b are a pair of end surfaces with respect to the orthogonal direction H in the upper wall 56 of the second body portion 42 of the housing 35.

The pair of end surfaces 56a, 56b constitute a pair of first portions. Further, a protrusion may be provided on each of the pair of end surfaces 56a and 56b to define the pair of first portions. The clamped portions 841 and 851 of the second edge portion 32 and the clamped portions 841 and 851 of the fourth edge portion 34 face each other in the orthogonal direction H, and form a pair of second portions facing each other in the orthogonal direction H.

When the housing 35 is located at the lock position, the clamped portions 841 and 851 of the second edge portion 32 and the clamped portions 841 and 851 of the fourth edge portion 34 clamp the pair of end surfaces 56a and 56b in the orthogonal direction H.

Referring to fig. 3(C), the third limiting mechanism 83 includes: a pair of third portions 93a, 93b provided on the housing 35 and separated from each other in the locking direction E1; a pair of fourth portions 94a, 94b provided on the first and third edge portions 31, 33 of the peripheral edge portion 30 and opposed to each other in the locking direction E1.

A third portion 93a is formed in the end surface 56c on the side of the locking direction E1 in the upper wall 56. The third portion 93b is formed in a convex strip 95 protruding from the one side surface 43a of the covering portion 43 toward the first insertion hole 21. The rib 95 extends in the locking direction E1, and an end portion of the rib 95 on the side of the lock release direction E2 constitutes another third portion 93 b.

When the housing 35 is located at the lock position, the pair of fourth portions 94a, 94b sandwich the pair of third portions 93a, 93b in a direction (X direction X) parallel to the lock direction E1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the contact formation body 36. Referring to fig. 7, the contact formation body 36 is electrically connected to the corresponding outer lead 8c of the cold cathode tube 8 and to the conductor pattern 24 of the insertion convex portion 39 of the circuit board 6. Thereby, the electrical connection between these outer leads 8c and the conductor pattern 24 is achieved.

As a material constituting the contact forming body 36, for example, a single sheet metal member made of a conductive member such as a metal can be used. The sheet metal member has a sheet thickness of, for example, about 0.2 mm. The plating layer is formed by performing plating processing on the front surface and the back surface of the sheet metal member.

The contact formation body 36 has a substantially symmetrical shape in the Y direction Y. The contact forming body 36 includes a body 92, a fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 including a pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 extending from the body 92, a box portion 99 extending from the body 92, and a board connecting contact 100 as a connecting member connecting contact provided in the box portion 99.

The main body 92 includes: an upper portion 101 that connects the base end portions of the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 to each other, an intermediate portion 102 that is positioned on the insertion direction D1 side with respect to the upper portion 101, and a lower portion 103 that is positioned on the insertion direction D1 side with respect to the intermediate portion 102.

An engaging convex portion 104 for frictionally engaging with the housing 35 is provided on each of a pair of end portions of the intermediate portion 102 with respect to the orthogonal direction H.

Referring to fig. 4, the main body 92 is held by the housing 35. Specifically, the body 92 is accommodated in the accommodating hole 45 of the housing 35. The respective engaging projections 104 of the main body 92 frictionally contact the inner side surfaces of the corresponding second and fourth portions 52, 54 of the peripheral wall 46.

Referring to fig. 7, the board connection contact 100 extends from the box portion 99 and is disposed in the box portion 99.

The box-shaped portion 99 includes a first wall 111, a second wall 112, a third wall 113, and a fourth wall 114. The first to fourth walls 111 to 114 are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The first to fourth walls 111 to 114 are formed in a tubular shape as a whole.

The first and second walls 111, 112 are opposed to each other in the insertion direction D1 and extend parallel to each other. The third and fourth walls 111, 114 are opposed to each other in the orthogonal direction H and extend parallel to each other. The lower portion 103 of the body 92 is connected to the first wall 111. The first to fourth walls 111 to 114 form an insertion recess 105.

Fig. 8 is a partially enlarged view of fig. 4. Referring to fig. 5 and 8, the box portion 99 is disposed in the space 59 formed in the second body portion 42 of the housing 35. The box-shaped portion 99 is disposed on the releasing direction F2 side in the housing space 59, and the box-shaped portion 99 is not disposed on the downstream side in the connecting direction F1.

The board connection contact 100 extends from at least one of the four walls 111 to 114 of the box-shaped portion 99. In the present embodiment, the board connection contact 100 extends from one end portion of the second wall 112 on the side of the locking direction E1, and is sandwiched between the upper wall 56 and the bottom wall 58 in the Z direction Z. The substrate connection contact 100 is surrounded around the reference axis 60 by a peripheral wall 57.

The board connection contact 100 is formed in an elongated plate shape. The board connection contact 100 includes a fixed piece portion 115 extending from one end portion of the second wall 112, and a second elastic piece portion 116 bent in a U shape from a distal end portion of the fixed piece portion 115.

The fixed piece portion 115 is folded back so that at least a part thereof is in close contact with the second wall 112 to which the board connecting contact 100 is extended.

The second elastic piece portion 116 is a so-called curled spring type elastic piece portion that is smoothly bent as a whole. The second elastic piece portion 116 is bent in a U-shape from the distal end portion of the fixed piece portion 115 and extends in the connecting direction F1.

The second elastic piece portion 116 includes a bent portion 117 and a body portion 118, wherein the bent portion 117 is curled so as to protrude in the connection releasing direction F2, and the body portion 118 extends from the bent portion 117 in the inserting direction G1.

The proximal end of the bent portion 117 is connected to the distal end of the fixed piece portion 115 and is supported by the second wall 112. The bent portion 117 has a tip facing the locking direction E1 side and a body portion 118 connected thereto.

The main body portion 118 includes: a first inclined portion 119 inclined so as to leave the second wall 112 as proceeding in the connecting direction F1; and a second inclined portion 120 extending from the first inclined portion 119 and inclined so as to be spaced apart from the second wall 112 as it goes in the connecting direction F1.

The front end of the first inclined portion 119 is a portion of the second elastic piece portion 116 having the highest height from the second wall 112. A contact portion 121 is provided at the tip of the first inclined portion 119. When the insertion convex portion 39 is inserted into the concave portion 105, the contact portion 121 and the conductor pattern 24 of the insertion convex portion 39 come into contact and are electrically connected.

The second elastic piece portion 116 is formed with a slit 122. The slit 122 extends over substantially the entire area of the second elastic piece portion 116 in the longitudinal direction of the second elastic piece portion 116. The slit 122 is not formed at the front end of the second elastic piece portion 116.

Guide projections 123 and 124 are formed on the third and fourth walls 113 and 114, respectively. These guide projections 123 and 124 guide the insertion of the insertion convex portion 39 into the insertion concave portion 105, and restrict the second elastic piece portion 116 from being excessively deflected.

Referring to fig. 5 and 7, the fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 is electrically connected to the substrate connecting contact 100 via the body portion 92. The pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 of the fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 are attached so as to elastically contact the corresponding outer lead 8c of the cold cathode tube 8, and are electrically connected to the outer lead 8 c.

The pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 extend toward the drawing direction D2 with respect to the board connecting contact 100. That is, the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 extend to the opposite side of the bottom wall 58 from the substrate connection contact 100.

The pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 are symmetrical in the Y direction Y. The first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 extend from the upper portion 101 of the main body 92. The pair of first elastic pieces 96 and 97 are disposed in the accommodation hole 45.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the pair of first elastic piece portions 96, 97. Referring to fig. 9, the pair of first elastic pieces 96 and 97 includes a first piece 131 and a second piece 132, respectively.

Each first sheet 131 extends from the upper portion 101 of the main body 92 in the reverse insertion direction G2. Each second sheet portion 132 is folded back from the distal end portion 131b of the corresponding first sheet portion 131, and extends along the insertion direction G1. In the orthogonal direction H, the pair of first pieces 131 and 131 are disposed apart from each other and the pair of second pieces 131 and 131 are disposed close to each other.

The pair of first sheet portions 131 and 131 can elastically approach and separate from each other with the corresponding base end portions 131a and 131a as fulcrums. In the free state (state where no external force acts), the first sheet portions 131 are arranged in parallel with each other.

An engagement portion 133 (only one engagement portion 133 is shown in fig. 9) for engaging with an expansion operation portion 142 described later is provided at the distal end portion 131b of each first sheet portion 131. Each engaging portion 133 is formed of a small piece, and protrudes from the distal end portion 131b of the corresponding first piece 131 in the locking direction E1.

Each second sheet portion 132 includes: a folded portion 134 connected to the distal end portion 131b of the corresponding first piece portion 131, a first constricted portion 135, a linear portion 136 (contact portion) serving as a clamping portion for clamping the outer lead 8c in the radial direction, a second constricted portion 137, and a distal end portion 138.

The distance between the pair of folded portions 134 and 134 becomes narrower as they go forward in the insertion direction G1. The pair of first constricted portions 135, 135 are portions for preventing the outer lead 8c from coming off from the pair of linear portions 136, 136 in the reverse insertion direction G2, and are connected to the corresponding folded-back portions 134, respectively.

The interval between the pair of first constricted portions 135, 135 is narrower than the interval between the pair of folded portions 134, and narrower than the interval between the pair of linear portions 136, 136.

The pair of linear portions 136 and 136 are portions for electrical connection with the corresponding outer leads 8 c. Each linear portion 136 is continuous with the corresponding first constricted portion 135, and extends in the insertion direction G1 in a free state.

The pair of second constricted portions 137, 137 is a portion for preventing the corresponding outer lead 8c from coming off from the pair of linear portions 136, 136 in the insertion direction G1 side. The pair of second constricted portions 137, 137 are connected to the corresponding linear portions 136, respectively. The interval between the pair of second constricted portions 137, 137 is narrower than the interval between the pair of linear portions 136, 136.

The pair of distal end portions 138 are connected to the corresponding second constricted portions 137, respectively, and are pressed against the corresponding first sheet portions 131, respectively, thereby narrowing the interval between the pair of linear portions 136, 136.

Fig. 10(a) is a perspective view showing a main part of the cold cathode tube 8 before being connected to the first electrical connector 11; fig. 10(B) is a cross-sectional view along line XB-XB of fig. 10 (a). Fig. 11(a) is a perspective view of a main part showing a state where the cold cathode tube 8 is connected to the first electrical connector 11; fig. 11(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIB-XIB of fig. 11 (a).

Referring to fig. 10(a) and 10(B), the operating member 37 is a member for operating the pair of linear portions 136 and 136 to grip and release the outer lead 8 c.

The operation member 37 is fitted into the housing hole 45 of the housing 35 and is movable relative to the housing 35 in the Z direction Z. The operation member 37 is a resin integrally molded product having a shape symmetrical in the Y direction Y.

The operating member 37 has a pair of portions 139, 140 opposed to each other at an interval in the Y direction Y; a coupling portion 141 for coupling the pair of portions 139, 140; an expansion operation part 142 provided on the connection part 141.

The pair of portions 139 and 140 are disposed in the accommodation hole 45 so as to sandwich the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 in the orthogonal direction H. A pair of portions 139,140 are sandwiched by the second and fourth portions 52, 54 of the wall 46.

A first recess 143 and a second recess 144 are formed on the outer surfaces of the pair of portions 139 and 140, respectively. The first recesses 143 are disposed opposite to each other in the insertion direction G1. The second recesses 144 are disposed opposite to each other in the reverse insertion direction G2.

When the operating member 37 is positioned at the expanded position, each of the first recesses 143 engages with the engaging portion 145 formed on the corresponding second and fourth portions 52, 54 of the surrounding wall 46. Thereby, the operation member 37 is held at the expanded position. The "expanded position" refers to a position at which the operating member 37 relatively expands the gap between the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97.

The "expanded position" may be a position where the distance between the pair of linear portions 136, 136 is expanded by the expanding operation portion 142 of the operation member 37 so that the outer lead 8c can be inserted between the pair of linear portions 136, 136 without an insertion force.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 11(a) and 11(B), when the operating member 37 is at the expansion release position, each second concave portion 144 engages with the corresponding engaging portion 145 of the second and fourth portions 52, 54 of the surrounding wall 46. Thereby, the operation member 37 is held at the opening release position. The "spread-out release position" refers to a position at which the operation member 37 relatively narrows the gap between the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97. The inner surfaces 147 of the pair of portions 139, 140 face each other with the pair of first elastic piece portions 96, 97 interposed therebetween.

When the operating member 37 is located at the opening release position, the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 are sandwiched in the Y direction Y by the pair of inner side surfaces 147 and 147.

Referring to fig. 10(B), the spreading operation portion 142 is a portion that spreads the gap between the pair of linear portions 136 and 136 by engaging with the corresponding engagement portions 133 and 133 of the pair of elastic piece portions 96 and 97, respectively.

The expansion operation portion 142 protrudes from the connection portion 141 toward the unlocking direction E2 (toward the self of the paper). The expansion operation portion 142 has a pair of inclined cam surfaces 148, 148. When the operating member 37 is displaced from the opening release position (see fig. 11B) to the opening position (see fig. 10B), the pair of inclined cam surfaces 148, 148 come into contact with the corresponding engagement portions 133, respectively. Thereby, the pair of inclined cam surfaces 148 and 148 enlarges the interval between the pair of engagement portions 133 and 133. The pair of inclined cam surfaces 148, 148 are spaced apart from each other at a narrower distance as they proceed in the reverse insertion direction G2.

In the liquid crystal display device having the above-described schematic configuration, (1) the fitting of the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11 and the rear wall 13 of the enclosure 5 to each other (see fig. 12), (2) the connection of the substrate connecting contact 100 of the first electrical connector 11 and the insertion convex portion 39 of the circuit board 6 to each other (see fig. 14 a and 14B), and (3) the connection of the fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 of the first electrical connector 11 and the outer lead 8c of the cold cathode tube 8 to each other (see fig. 11B) are performed as follows.

(1) Fitting of the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11 and the rear wall 13 of the basket 5 to each other: first, as shown in fig. 12, the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11 is disposed on the extraction direction D2 side so as to face the first insertion hole 21 of the rear wall 13. From this state, the first electrical connector 11 is moved in the insertion direction D1, and the housing 35 is inserted into the first insertion hole 21.

Thus, as shown in fig. 13, the covering portion 43 of the housing 35 is received by the one main surface 13b of the rear wall 13, and the housing 35 reaches the unlocking position. The housing 35 located at the lock release position is in a state where the lock mechanism 80 releases the lock on the rear wall 13. At this time, the other portions 842b, 852b of the respective clamping portions 842, 852 of the first regulating mechanism 81 are positioned on the insertion direction D1 side with respect to the first insertion hole 21 (in fig. 13, only the clamping portions 842, 852 on the fourth edge portion 34 side of the first insertion hole 21 are illustrated).

Next, the first electrical connector 11 is slid in the locking direction E1 with respect to the rear wall 13, whereby the housing 35 is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position. Thereby, the other portions 842b, 852b of the respective clamping portions 842, 852 of the first regulating mechanism 81 are engaged with the corresponding clamped portions 841, 851. That is, the clamping portions 842 and 852 clamp the corresponding clamped portions 841 and 851, respectively. The convex strip 95 of the one side surface 43a of the covering portion 43 is displaced in the locking direction E1 while sliding in contact with the one main surface 13b of the rear wall 13, and then engages with the first edge portion 31 of the first insertion hole 21.

As shown in fig. 3B and 3C, the relative movement of the housing 35 and the rear wall 13 of the first electrical connector 11 that reach the lock position with respect to the direction (Z direction Z) parallel to the insertion direction D1 is restricted by the first restricting mechanism 81 of the lock mechanism 80. In addition, the relative movement of the housing 35 and the rear wall 13 with respect to the orthogonal direction H (Y direction Y) is restricted by the second restricting mechanism 82 of the locking mechanism 80. In addition, the relative movement of the housing 35 and the rear wall 13 with respect to the direction (X direction X) parallel to the locking direction E1 is restricted by the third restricting mechanism 83 of the locking mechanism 80.

(2) Connection between the substrate connection contact 100 of the first electrical connector 11 and the insertion convex portion 39 of the circuit substrate 6: first, as shown in fig. 14(a), the insertion convex portion 39 of the circuit board 6 is arranged on the side of the substrate connection contact 100 in the disconnection direction F2. Next, the insertion convex portion 39 is relatively moved toward the insertion concave portion 105 (the housing space 59) side in the connection direction F1.

Thereby, as shown in fig. 14(B), the insertion convex portion 39 is inserted through the substrate insertion hole 65 of the first side wall 61 of the second body portion 42 of the housing 35, and is further slidably inserted into the insertion concave portion 105. At this time, the contact portion 121 of the second elastic piece portion 116 elastically contacts the conductor pattern 24 of the insertion convex portion 39.

The guide projections 123 and 124 (only one guide projection 123 is shown in fig. 14B) receive the back surface 6B of the circuit board 6 into which the convex portion 39 is inserted. Thereby, the insertion convex portion 39 is sandwiched by the guide projections 123, 124 and the first wall 111, so that the insertion convex portion 39 is positioned in the insertion direction D1.

(3) The fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 of the first electrical connector 11 and the outer lead 8c of the cold cathode tube 8 are connected to each other: first, as shown in fig. 10(a) and 10(B), the operation member 37 is held at the expanded position. Thus, the inclined cam surfaces 148, 148 of the expansion operation portion 142 are engaged with the corresponding engagement portions 133, 133 of the pair of first elastic piece portions 96, 97, respectively. This enlarges the gap between the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97.

In this state, the body 8a of the cold cathode tube 8 is gripped by a hand, a jig (not shown), or the like, and the outer lead 8c is arranged on the reverse insertion direction G2 side with respect to the operation member 37. Then, the outer lead 8c is moved in the insertion direction G1, whereby the outer lead 8c is disposed between the pair of linear portions 136, 136 of the pair of second elastic piece portions 96, 97.

Next, the operation member 37 is moved in the first Z direction Z1 with respect to the housing 35, thereby displacing the operation member 37 from the expanded position to the expanded release position shown in fig. 11 (B). Thereby, the engagement between the pair of inclined cam surfaces 148, 148 of the expansion operation portion 142 and the corresponding engagement portions 133, 133 of the pair of first elastic piece portions 96, 97 is released. As a result, the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 are displaced so as to approach each other by the elastic restoring force of the pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97. Thereby, the pair of linear portions 136 and 136 elastically sandwich the outer lead 8c and are electrically connected to the outer lead 8 c.

When the operating member 37 is displaced to the expansion release position, the inner surfaces 147, 147 of the pair of portions 139, 140 sandwich the corresponding distal end portions 131b, 131 b. Thereby, the pair of inner side surfaces 147, 147 approach the distal end portions 131b, 131b to each other. This causes a pressurizing force to act, which narrows the distance between the linear portions 136, 136. The pair of linear portions 136, 136 have an increased clamping force with respect to the corresponding outer lead 8 c.

Further, by the displacement of the operating member 37 to the opening release position, the base end portions 131a, 131a of the pair of first piece portions 131, 131 press the corresponding tip end portions 138, 138 of the respective second piece portions 132, and the tip end portions 138, 138 are brought close to each other.

By narrowing the distance between the pair of distal end portions 138, 138 in this way, a pressing force is applied to narrow the distance between the pair of linear portions 136, 136. The clamping force of the pair of linear portions 136, 136 with respect to the corresponding outer lead 8c is further increased.

Referring to fig. 6a, when the bottom wall 58 of the housing 35 is removed from the peripheral wall 57, the engaging concave portions 69, 69 of the small pieces 67, 68 of the bottom wall 58 are separated from the corresponding engaging convex portions 70, 70 of the second and fourth side walls 64 (in fig. 6a, only the second side wall 62 side is shown). As a result, as shown in fig. 15, the engagement between each of the engaging concave portions 69, 69 and the corresponding engaging convex portions 70, 70 is released, and the bottom wall 58 is detached from the peripheral wall 57.

In the above-described procedure, according to the present embodiment, the first insertion hole 21 for the first electrical connector 11 is formed in the housing 5 of the backlight device 4. This allows the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11 to be directly mounted on the housing 5.

For example, compared to the case where the second step of mounting the components to the housing 5 is performed after the first step of mounting the housing 35 to the components such as the array of boards and assembling the components, in the present embodiment, the steps required for mounting the housing 35 to the housing 5 can be reduced, and the labor required for mounting the first electrical connector 11 can be reduced. Further, since the housing 5 also has a function of holding the case 35, it is not necessary to separately provide a member such as a column plate, and the number of components can be reduced.

The substrate connection contact 100 is covered with an insulating peripheral wall 57 and a bottom wall 58. Thus, since most of the substrate connection contact 100 is covered, it is possible to reliably suppress the leakage current from flowing out of the substrate connection contact 100. As a result, the power consumption of the cold cathode tube 8 can be reduced. Further, since the board connection contact 100 is covered with the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11, it is not necessary to cover the board connection contact 100 with the housing 5 of the backlight device 4. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the shape of the housing 5 can be improved.

Further, by holding the casing 35 with the first insertion hole 21 formed in the rear wall 13 parallel to the cold cathode tube 8, the casing 35 can be held at a position close to the cold cathode tube 8, and the casing 35 can be downsized. By the miniaturization of the housing 35, the first electrical connector 11 can be further miniaturized.

Further, with a simple structure in which the first insertion hole 21 is formed in the rear wall 13 of the housing 4, a holding portion for holding the first electrical connector 11 can be formed. The first insertion hole 21 penetrates the rear wall 13 in the Z direction Z, which is the thickness direction of the rear wall 13, and opens in both the one direction Z1 and the other direction Z2 in the Z direction Z. This makes it possible to easily form the shape of the first insertion hole 21, and thus to easily form the first insertion hole 21.

Further, the housing 35 of the corresponding first electrical connector 11 is held in each of the plurality of first insertion holes 21. This makes it possible to hold the plurality of first electrical connectors 11 in the single housing 5.

When the first electrical connector 11 is mounted in the first insertion hole 21 of the rear wall 13 of the housing 5, the housing 35 can be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position by sliding the housing 35 relative to the rear wall 13 in the locking direction E1 parallel to the axial direction S of the cold cathode tube 8.

Therefore, when the casing 35 is locked with respect to the rear wall 13, it is not necessary to move the casing 35 in the direction (Y direction Y) orthogonal to the axial direction S of the cold cathode tube 8. This prevents the outer lead 8c of the cold cathode tube 8 connected to the first electrical connector 11 from being displaced in the direction (Y direction Y) orthogonal to the axial direction S of the cold cathode tube 8. As a result, the cold cathode tube 8 can be prevented from being inclined with respect to the normal direction.

The housing 35 in the locked position covers the first insertion hole 21 in cooperation with the first body 41 and the covering portion 43. This prevents foreign matter such as dust from accumulating in the peripheral edge portion 30 of the first insertion hole 21.

Further, the lock direction E1 is set to a direction (first X direction X1) away from the end 8b of the cold cathode tube 8 in the direction parallel to the axial direction S of the cold cathode tube 8. This prevents the casing 35 in the locked position from moving further away from the cold cathode tube 8. This prevents the connection between the outer lead 8c of the cold cathode tube 8 and the fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 of the first electrical connector 11 from being unintentionally released by vibration or impact.

When the housing 35 is in the locked position, the clamped portions 841 and 851 are engaged with the corresponding clamping portions 842 and 852, respectively. This enables locking of the housing 35, and prevents the housing 35 from moving in a direction (Z direction Z) parallel to the insertion direction D1 with respect to the rear wall 13.

Further, by a simple operation of moving the housing 35 from the unlocked position to the locked position, the corresponding held portions 841 and 851 can be held by the holding portions 842 and 852, respectively.

The clamping portions 842, 852 and the clamped portions 841, 851 are arranged in line along the lock direction E1. Thereby, both end portions of the housing 35 with respect to the locking direction E1 can be reliably prevented from moving in the Z direction Z with respect to the rear wall 13.

The lengths of the clamping portion 842 and the clamped portion 841 which are located on the side of the locking position and the clamping portion 852 and the clamped portion 851 which are located on the side of the unlocking position are different from each other with respect to the locking direction E1.

Accordingly, the correct direction of the housing 35 with respect to the depth direction E1 can be recognized from the clamping portion 842 and the clamped portion 841 which are located on the side of the locking position and the clamping portion 852 and the clamped portion 851 which are located on the side of the unlocking position. This enables the housing 35 to be reliably attached to the rear wall 13 in the correct direction.

When the housing 35 is located at the lock position, the clamped portions 841 and 851 of the second edge portion 32 and the clamped portions 841 and 851 of the fourth edge portion 34 in the second limiting mechanism 82 of the lock mechanism 80 clamp the pair of end surfaces 56a and 56b of the upper wall 56 of the housing 35 in the orthogonal direction H. Thereby, the housing 35 of the first electrical connector 11 can be prevented from moving in the orthogonal direction H with respect to the rear wall 13.

Further, when the housing 35 is located at the lock position, the pair of third portions 93a, 93b of the third limiting mechanism 83 of the lock mechanism 80 are sandwiched by the pair of fourth portions 94a, 94b in the direction (X direction X) parallel to the lock direction E1. Thereby, the housing 35 can be prevented from moving in the X direction X parallel to the locking direction E1 with respect to the rear wall 13.

The substrate connection contact 100 is covered with the peripheral wall 57 and the bottom wall 58 of the insulating housing 35. Thus, by covering most of the substrate connection contact 100, it is possible to reliably suppress the leakage current from flowing out of the substrate connection contact 100. As a result, the power consumption of the cold cathode tube 8 can be further reduced.

As a result of providing the upper wall 56 on the second body portion 42, substantially the entire board connecting contact 100 can be covered with the second body portion 42 of the housing 35. This can further reliably suppress the leakage current from flowing out of the substrate connection contact 100. As a result, the power consumption of the cold cathode tube 8 can be further reduced.

The bottom wall 58 and the peripheral wall 57 of the second body portion 42 are formed separately from each other and are detachable from the peripheral wall 57. Thus, for example, in a state where the bottom wall 58 is removed from the peripheral wall 57, the contact forming body 36 can be inserted into the housing 35 from one end of the peripheral wall 57. Therefore, the contact formation body 36 can be easily attached to the housing 35. Further, by removing the bottom wall 58 from the peripheral wall 57, the board connection contact 100 can be exposed to the outside of the housing 35, and maintenance of the board connection contact 100 can be easily performed.

Further, by using the contact forming body 36 including the fluorescent tube connecting contacts 98 and the substrate connecting contacts 100, the outer leads 8c of the cold cathode tube 8 and the conductor pattern 24 of the circuit substrate 6 can be electrically connected by one contact forming body 36.

The pair of first elastic piece portions 96 and 97 of the fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 extend in the second Z direction Z opposite to the bottom wall 58 with respect to the board connecting contact 100. This allows the fluorescent tube connecting contact 98 to be provided without preventing the peripheral wall 57 and the bottom wall 58 from exerting the effect of suppressing the leakage current.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, as shown in fig. 16, the bottom walls 58 of the housings 35 of the plurality of first electrical connectors 11 may be coupled to each other by a coupling member 150. In this case, the electrical connector assembly 151 is formed by a plurality of first electrical connectors 11. The coupling member 150 couples the bottom walls 58 adjacent to each other in the lateral arrangement direction B.

Each coupling member 150 is formed in a flat plate shape. Each bottom wall 58 and each connecting member 150 are integrally formed of a single member.

After the first electrical connectors 11 are inserted into the corresponding first insertion holes 21 of the rear wall 13 of the housing 5, the bottom walls 58 are attached to the corresponding peripheral walls 57.

According to the present embodiment, the coupling member 150 is used to obtain the electrical connector assembly 151 in which the first electrical connectors 11 are associated with each other.

Further, the bottom wall 58 and the connecting member 150 of each first electrical connector 11 are integrally formed by a single member, whereby the number of parts of the electrical connector assembly 151 can be further reduced.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a main part of still another embodiment of the present invention. In the following, differences from the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 15 will be mainly described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 17, in the present embodiment, a first electrical connector 11A is used, and a housing 35A of the first electrical connector 11A is inserted into a first insertion hole 21A.

The housing 35A of the first electrical connector 11A inserted through the first insertion hole 21A in the insertion direction D1 slides relative to the rear wall 13A in a prescribed locking direction E1 along a direction around the reference axis 60A extending in a direction parallel to the depth direction C of the first insertion hole 21A.

The first insertion hole 21A is formed in a substantially annular shape when viewed along the insertion direction D1. The peripheral edge portion 30A of the first insertion hole 21A is provided with an opposing portion 153 that faces upper portions 164a and 164a located at the lock position, which will be described later. The facing portion 153 is provided in one or more in the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion 30A of the first insertion hole 21A. In the present embodiment, the opposing portion 153 is provided at two positions at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the peripheral edge portion 30A. The respective pairs of the portions 153, 153 are arranged in the Y direction Y. A recess 154 is formed in each of the opposing portions 153. Each recess 154 is formed by dropping the peripheral edge portion 30A of the first insertion hole 21A in the radial direction thereof, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the insertion direction D1.

The first electrical connector 11A has a locking mechanism 80A. When the housing 35A is located at the lock position with respect to the rear wall 13A, the lock mechanism 80A restricts the movement of the housing 35A with respect to the rear wall 13A.

The lock mechanism 80A includes a first restriction mechanism 161 and a second restriction mechanism 162. The first restriction mechanism 161 is a restriction mechanism for preventing the housing 35A from moving in a direction (Z direction Z) parallel to the insertion direction D1 with respect to the rear wall 13A. The second restricting mechanism 162 is a restricting mechanism for preventing the housing 35A from moving in the directions (Z direction Z and Y direction Y) orthogonal to the insertion direction D1 with respect to the rear wall 13A.

The first restriction mechanism 161 includes a clamped portion 163 as a coupling portion provided at the peripheral edge portion 30A of the first insertion hole 21A, and a clamped portion 164 as a coupled portion provided at the housing 35A.

The clip portion 164 includes upper side portions 164a, 164a and lower side portions 164b, 164b provided on the housing 35A.

The upper side portion 164a is provided with a pair of first elastic piece portions 96, 97 for sandwiching the contact formation body 36. Each of the upper side portions 164a, 164a is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape and along the one main surface 13bA of the rear wall 13. The pair of lower side portions 164b are disposed so as to be offset by 90 ° in the locking direction E1 with respect to the upper side portions 164 a.

Fig. 18 is a partial perspective view of the first electrical connector 11A. Referring to fig. 17 and 18, a convex portion 165 protruding in the insertion direction D1 is formed on a side surface 164c of each of the upper portions 164a and 164a (only one upper portion 164a is shown in fig. 18) facing the one main surface 13bA of the rear wall 3.

Referring to fig. 17, each lower side portion 164b is formed in a small piece shape and along the other main surface 13cA of the rear wall 13A.

The second limiter 162 includes: a first annular portion 166 provided on the housing 35A and surrounding the reference axis 60A, and a second annular portion 167 provided on the peripheral edge portion 30A of the first insertion hole 21A and surrounding the first annular portion 166.

The first annular portion 166 is formed so as to surround the first main body portion 41A of the housing 35A. The cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the first annular portion 166 is, for example, polygonal. The cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the first annular portion 166 may be circular.

The second annular portion 167 is an annular portion formed in the peripheral edge portion 30A of the first insertion hole 21A. The second annular portion 167 is formed with a slightly larger diameter (for example, within about 1 mm) than the first annular portion 166.

When the first electrical connector 11A is mounted to the first insertion hole 21A of the rear wall 13A, first, the housing 35A is disposed on the side of the first insertion hole 21A in the drawing direction D2. At this time, the respective lower portions 164b and 164b of the first restriction mechanism 161 and the corresponding recesses 154 and 154 of the peripheral edge portion 30A are aligned straight in the insertion direction D1. Then, the housing 35A is inserted into the first insertion hole 21A by displacing the housing 35A in the insertion direction D1 with respect to the rear wall 13A.

Thus, as shown in fig. 19, the upper portions 164a and 164a of the first regulating mechanism 161 are along the one main surface 13bA of the rear wall 13A, and the lower portions 164b and 164b pass through the corresponding recesses 154 and reach the other main surface 13cA of the rear wall 13A. The first annular portion 166 is close to the second annular portion 167 and surrounds the second annular portion 167 over the entire circumference. At this time, the housing 35A is located at the unlock position, and the lock mechanism 80A is in contact with the lock on the rear wall 13A.

Next, the housing 35A is slid by substantially 90 ° in the locking direction E1 with respect to the rear wall 13A. Thereby, the housing 35A is displaced from the unlocking position to the locking position shown in fig. 20 (a). The housing 35A is locked to the rear wall 13A by the lock mechanism 80A. Specifically, when the housing 35A is brought to the lock position, the upper side portions 164a and the lower side portions 164b and 164b of the holding portion 164 of the first restriction mechanism 161 hold the held portion 163 of the rear wall 13A in the Z direction Z (direction parallel to the insertion direction D1). The lower portions 164b and 164b are along the other main surface 13cA of the rear wall 13A. Thereby, the housing 35A and the rear wall 13A can be restricted from relative movement in the Z direction Z.

The first annular portion 166 is surrounded by the second annular portion 167, thereby restricting relative movement between the housing 35A and the rear wall 13A in the X direction X and the Y direction Y.

The housing 35A in the locked position covers substantially all of the first insertion hole 21A. When the housing 35A is in the locked position, as shown in fig. 20(a) and 20(B), the one side surfaces 164c, 164c of the respective upper side portions 164a, 164a are opposed to the corresponding opposed portions 153, respectively. At this time, the convex portions 165 and 165 of the upper side portions 164a and 164a are fitted into the corresponding concave portions 154 and 154, respectively. Thereby, displacement of the housing 35A in the locking direction E1 or the unlocking direction E2 opposite thereto with respect to the rear wall 13A is restricted.

In the above-described order, according to the present embodiment, after the housing 35A is inserted through the first insertion hole 21A, the housing 35A is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position by being slid in the locking direction E1 with respect to the rear wall 13A. Therefore, when the casing 35A is locked to the rear wall 13A, it is not necessary to linearly move the casing 35A in the direction (Y direction Y) orthogonal to the axial direction S of the cold cathode tube 8.

This can prevent the housing 35A from being positionally displaced in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction S. It is possible to prevent the outer lead 8c of the cold cathode tube 8 connected to the first electrical connector 11A from being positionally displaced in the direction (Y direction Y) orthogonal to the axial direction of the cold cathode tube 8. As a result, the cold cathode tube 8 can be prevented from being inclined with respect to the normal direction. Further, since it is not necessary to linearly move the housing 35A when the housing 35A is displaced from the lock contact position to the lock position, it is not necessary to provide a space for linearly moving the housing 35A, and the first insertion hole 21A can be reduced in size. Thus, intrusion of foreign matter such as dust into the first insertion hole 21A can be suppressed.

In addition, with a simple structure in which the first insertion hole 21A is formed in the rear wall 13A, the housing 35A for holding the first electrical connector 11A can be formed.

Further, the housing 35A in the locked position covers the first insertion hole 21A, and thus foreign matter such as dust can be prevented from accumulating in the peripheral edge portion 30A of the first insertion hole 21A.

In addition, by the combination of the clamped portion 163 and the clamping portion 164 of the first restriction mechanism 161, the housing 35A can be prevented from moving in the direction (Z direction Z) parallel to the insertion direction D1 with respect to the rear wall 13A.

Further, the upper side portions 164a, 164a and the lower side portions 164b, 164b of the first restriction mechanism 161 are disposed apart in the locking direction E1. Thus, when the housing 35A is viewed in the locking direction E1, the number of positions where the clip portions 164 are arranged can be increased. As a result, the housing 35A can be more reliably prevented from being inclined with respect to the insertion direction D1.

When the housing 35A is in the locked position, the convex portions 165 and 165 formed on the upper side portions 164a and 164a are fitted into the corresponding concave portions 154 and 154, respectively. This can prevent the rotation of the housing 35A, and thus the housing 35A can be prevented from being inadvertently rotated with respect to the housing 13A.

Further, when the housing 35A is in the lock position, since the second annular portion 167 surrounds the first annular portion 166, the first electrical connector 11A can be prevented from moving relative to the rear wall 13A in the directions (X direction X and Y direction Y) orthogonal to the insertion direction D1. In the present embodiment, the arrangement of the convex portion 165 and the concave portion 154 may be replaced.

Fig. 21(a) is a schematic view of the first electrical connector 11B viewed along the locking direction E1 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 21(a), the lock mechanism 80B of the first electrical connector 11B includes a restricting mechanism 169 instead of the first and second restricting mechanisms 81, 82. The restricting mechanism 169 is a restricting mechanism for restricting the movement of the housing 35B relative to the rear wall 13B in both the direction parallel to the insertion direction D1 (Z direction Z) and the orthogonal direction H (Y direction Y).

The restricting mechanism 169 includes: clamping portions 170, 170 which are recesses provided at a pair of ends of the second body portion 42B in the orthogonal direction H and are to be coupled; and clamped portions 171 and 171 as coupling portions provided in the second and fourth edge portions 32B and 34B of the peripheral edge portion 30B of the first insertion hole 21B.

Inclined guide surfaces 172, 172 are provided on portions of the housing 35B located on the insertion direction D1 side with respect to the respective nipping portions 170, 170. The pair of guide surfaces 172, 172 are formed in a tapered shape as a whole, and the interval therebetween becomes narrower as they go forward in the insertion direction D1 side.

When the housing 35B of the first electrical connector 11B is mounted to the first insertion hole 21B, the housing 35B is displaced to the rear wall 13B side along the insertion direction D1. Thereby, as shown in fig. 21(B), the housing 35B is inserted into the first insertion hole 21B. At this time, the guide surfaces 172 and 172 are elastically deformed inward of the first insertion hole 21B while engaging with the corresponding second and fourth edge portions 32B and 34B. When the housing 35B is further displaced in the insertion direction D1, each of the clamping portions 170, 170 clamps the corresponding clamped portion 171, as shown in fig. 21 (C).

According to the present embodiment, the insertion direction D1 and the lock direction E1 can be set to the same direction. Thereby, the operation of attaching the housing 35B to the first insertion hole 21B can be performed more easily.

In each of the above embodiments, the conductor pattern may be formed only on one of the front surface 6a and the back surface 6b of the circuit board 6. In this case, the board connection contact 100 is connected to the surface 6a or 6b on which the conductor pattern is formed. Alternatively, a conductive coupling member having an insertion projection similar to that of the circuit board 6 may be used instead of the circuit board 6.

Claims (19)

1. An electrical connector mounting structure, comprising:

an electrical connector including a conductive contact forming body to which a terminal at an end of a fluorescent tube is connected and an insulating housing for holding the contact forming body;

a plate-like holding member for holding the housing;

a locking mechanism for locking the housing to the holding member,

wherein,

the holding member includes a holding portion formed along a predetermined depth direction,

the housing can be inserted into the holding portion along a predetermined insertion direction corresponding to the depth direction,

the housing inserted into the holding portion is movable from a lock release position where the lock by the lock mechanism is released to a lock position where the lock by the lock mechanism is locked, by moving relative to the holding member in a predetermined lock direction parallel to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube.

2. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 1,

the holding portion includes an insertion hole penetrating the holding member in the depth direction.

3. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 1,

the housing in the locked position covers the insertion hole.

4. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 1,

the locking direction is a direction along a direction away from the end of the fluorescent tube in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the fluorescent tube.

5. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 1,

the lock mechanism includes a coupling portion provided on the holding portion and a coupled portion provided on the housing,

when the housing is located at the locking position, the combining portion and the combined portion are combined with each other.

6. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 5,

the combining part is provided with a clamped part,

the combined part is provided with a clamping part,

when the housing is located at the lock position, the clamped portion is clamped by the clamping portion in a direction parallel to the insertion direction.

7. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 6,

the clamping portion and the clamped portion extend along the locking direction,

the clamped portion is clamped by the clamping portion by the movement of the housing from the unlocked position to the locked position.

8. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 6,

the clamping portion and the clamped portion are provided in plurality along the locking direction.

9. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 8,

the clamping portion and the clamped portion that are located on the locking position side relative to each other, and the clamping portion and the clamped portion that are located on the unlocking position side relative to each other, are different in length in the locking direction.

10. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 1,

the lock mechanism includes a pair of first portions provided on the housing so as to face each other in a predetermined orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the lock direction and the insertion direction, and a pair of second portions provided on the holding portion so as to face each other in the orthogonal direction,

the pair of second portions sandwich the pair of first portions in the orthogonal direction when the housing is located at the lock position.

11. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

the locking mechanism includes a pair of third portions provided on the housing and opposed to each other in the locking direction, and a pair of fourth portions provided on the holding portion and opposed to each other in the locking direction,

the pair of fourth portions sandwich the pair of third portions in a direction parallel to the locking direction when the housing is located at the locking position.

12. An electrical connector mounting structure, comprising:

an electrical connector including a conductive contact forming body to which a terminal at an end of a fluorescent tube is connected and an insulating housing for holding the contact forming body;

a plate-like holding member for holding the housing;

a locking mechanism for locking the housing to the holding member,

wherein,

the holding member includes a holding portion formed along a predetermined depth direction,

the housing can be inserted into the holding portion along a predetermined insertion direction corresponding to the depth direction,

the housing inserted into the holding portion is movable from an unlocked position where locking by the lock mechanism is unlocked to a locked position where the housing is locked by the lock mechanism by moving relative to the holding member in a predetermined locking direction along a direction around a reference axis extending in a direction parallel to the depth direction.

13. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 12,

the holding portion includes an insertion hole penetrating the holding member in the depth direction.

14. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 12,

the housing in the locked position covers the insertion hole.

15. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 12,

the lock mechanism includes a coupling portion provided on the holding portion and a coupled portion provided on the housing,

when the housing is located at the locking position, the combining portion and the combined portion are combined with each other.

16. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 15,

the combining part is provided with a clamped part,

the combined part is provided with a clamping part,

when the housing is located at the lock position, the clamped portion is clamped by the clamping portion in a direction parallel to the insertion direction.

17. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 16,

the clamping portion includes an upper side portion along one side of a pair of main surfaces of the holding member and a lower side portion along the other side of the pair of main surfaces,

the upper and lower portions are arranged apart from each other in the locking direction.

18. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to claim 17,

the peripheral edge of the holding portion includes an opposing portion opposing the upper portion in the housing at the lock position,

a convex portion is formed on one of the upper portion and the opposing portion, and a concave portion is formed on the other,

when the housing is located at the lock position, the convex portion is fitted with the concave portion.

19. The mounting structure of an electrical connector according to any one of claims 12 to 18,

the lock mechanism includes a first annular portion provided on the housing and surrounding the reference axis, and a second annular portion provided on the holding portion and surrounding the first annular portion.

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