JP2001126819A - Shell construction of connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shell structure of a connector having highly precise dimensions and not easily deformed by load due to wrong fitting or inclined fitting of a mate connector. SOLUTION: The structure of each shell of a receptacle connector 1 and a plug connector comprises a plurality of contacts 2, an insulator 3 retaining the respective contacts, and the shell surrounding the insulator 3. The shell is formed into a substantially rectangular shape of one sheet metal by using a press. In a junction 4A of the shell, a portion adjacent to one end of the metal plate is folded upward to form a stepped portion (insertion supported portion) 4B, and both sides of a portion adjacent to the other end of the metal plate are cut out and folded back to form a pair of insertion supporting portions 4C. Also, the portions adjacent to one and the other ends of the metal plate are overlapped and joined with each other, and the pair of insertion supporting portions insertingly support the stepped portion by means of calking or the like, thereby fixing the shell in the rectangular shape.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shell structure of a connector used for an electronic device such as a mobile phone and a car navigation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a conventional first connector shell structure will be described with reference to FIG.

[0003] The shell 21 is formed into a substantially quadrangular cylinder from a single metal plate by box bending using a press. The joint 21A of the shell 21 is formed by simply butting both end surfaces of one metal plate. A pair of substrate fixing projections 21B are formed by punching and bending from near the lower center of both sides of the shell 21 to near the center of both lower sides.

[0004] The shell structure of this type of connector is as follows.
It is described in JP-A-62-154588.

Next, a conventional second connector shell structure will be described with reference to FIG.

The shell 21 is formed from a single metal plate into a substantially rectangular cylinder by box bending by a press. Furthermore,
A trapezoidal convex portion 21D is formed on one end surface of one metal plate, a trapezoidal concave portion 21E is formed on the other end surface, and the convex portion 21D is
1E, the seam 2 of the shell 21
1C is matched. In addition, the pair of substrate fixing protrusions 21
B is the same as that of the above-mentioned conventional first connector shell structure.

[0007] The shell structure of this type of connector is as follows.
It is described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-92775.

[0008]

In the conventional shell structure of the first connector, the dimensions (the shape of a substantially quadrangular cylinder) near the joint 21A of the shell 21 are unstable. The dimensional accuracy of the inner surface of the inserted substantially square tube is low. In addition, the shell 21 is easily deformed by a load resulting from an erroneous fitting of the mating connector to the main connector.

In the second conventional shell structure of the connector,
The shell 21 is hardly deformed depending on the load applied to the mating direction of the mating connector, but depending on the load generated when the mating connector is fitted obliquely to the connector,
The shell 21 is easily deformed.

Accordingly, the present invention improves the disadvantages of the conventional shell structure of both connectors, has high dimensional accuracy, and is less likely to be deformed by a load caused by erroneous or oblique fitting of the mating connector. It is intended to provide a connector shell structure.

[0011]

The present invention employs the following means to solve the above-mentioned problems.

1. In a connector shell structure including a plurality of contacts, an insulator for holding the contacts, and a shell for covering the insulator, the shell is formed from a single metal plate by box bending, and one end of the metal plate. A pair of clamping portions are formed by cutting out and folding both sides near the portion, and the vicinity of the one end portion and the vicinity of the other end portion of the metal plate are overlapped, and the vicinity of the other end portion is clamped by the pair of clamping portions. Shell structure of connector to be fixed.

2. The vicinity of the other end is formed as a stepped portion, and the stepped portion and the pair of holding portions are protruded inside the shell to perform a function of a key for preventing erroneous fitting of a mating connector. 2. The shell structure of the connector according to 1.

3. A step near the other end is formed as a step, the step and the pair of holding portions are projected inside the shell, and a clearance is formed in the insulator to avoid the step and the pair of holding portions. 2. The connector shell structure according to claim 1, wherein the connector functions as a key for preventing erroneous insertion of the insulator into the shell.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I / O of an embodiment of the present invention
The connector shell structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 3, the receptacle connector 1 of the I / O connector mainly includes a large number of contacts 2, an insulator 3, and a shell 4. Each contact 2 is held by an insulator 3, and a shell 4 is formed by an EMI (Electromagnetic I
The antenna 3 is mounted on the insulator 3 so as to cover the insulator 3 as a countermeasure against electromagnetic interference.

The shell 4 is formed into a substantially rectangular cylinder from a single metal plate by box bending by a press. Shell 4
At the joint 4A, a step (clamped portion) 4B is formed by slightly bending the vicinity of one end of the metal plate upward (by about the thickness of the metal plate) to form a stepped portion 4B. A pair of holding portions 4C are formed by cutting out and folding back both sides near the end. Then, the vicinity of one end of the metal plate and the vicinity of the other end are overlapped, and a pair of holding portions 4C are formed.
The shell 4 is fixed in a substantially rectangular tube shape by clamping both sides of the step portion 4B by means such as caulking.

As described above, since the shell 4 is configured, the dimensional accuracy of the inner surface of the substantially square tube into which the insulator 3 of the connector is inserted is high, and the mating connector (plug connector) is erroneously fitted. Or, it is difficult to be deformed by the load generated due to the oblique fitting. Furthermore, seam 4 of shell 4
Since the stepped portion 4B and the pair of holding portions 4C of A protrude inside the shell 4, the function of a key for preventing erroneous fitting of the mating connector can be performed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 3 (c), in the receptacle connector 1, the insulator 3 inserted into the shell 4 includes a step portion 4B projecting from the lower inner surface of the shell 4 and An escape portion 3A is formed so as to avoid the pair of holding portions 4C.

The joint 14A of the shell 14 of the plug connector 11 shown in FIGS. 1, 2C and 2D is the joint 4A of the shell 4 of the receptacle connector 1 described above.
Is the same as The insulator 13 inserted into the shell 14 has a relief portion 13A formed so as to avoid a step portion (clamped portion) 14B and a pair of clamp portions 14C protruding from the upper inner surface of the shell 14.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the insulator 3 of the receptacle connector 1 has a relief portion 3B so as to avoid a step 14B and a pair of holding portions 14C of a shell 14 of a mating connector (plug connector). To form

On the lower outer surface of the shell 14 of the plug connector 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 (c) and 2 (d), avoid the step portion 4B and the pair of holding portions 4C of the shell 4 of the receptacle connector 1. An escape portion 14D is formed in the second portion.

The plug connector 11 is shown in FIGS.
It is covered with the hood 15 as shown in FIG.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following advantages.

1. Since the joints of the shells are securely fixed, it is possible to obtain a connector shell structure with improved dimensional accuracy.

2. Since the joints of the shells are securely fixed, it is possible to obtain a connector shell structure that is not easily deformed by a load caused by erroneous fitting or oblique fitting of the mating connector.

3. Since the step portion and the pair of holding portions of the joint of the shell protrude inward, the function of a key for preventing erroneous fitting of the mating connector and erroneous insertion of the insulator can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention before fitting a receptacle connector and a plug connector each having a shell structure.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the receptacle connector and the plug connector, wherein FIG. 2A is a state before an insulator of the receptacle connector is incorporated into a shell, FIG. 2B is a state after the assembly, and FIG. (D) shows a state before the insulator is incorporated in the shell, and (d) shows a state after the insulator is covered with the hood.

3A and 3B are views showing the shell structure of the receptacle connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the same structure, FIG. 3B is a plan view of the same receptacle connector, and FIG.
Is a front view of the receptacle connector, (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in (c), (e) is a side view of the receptacle connector, (f) is an enlarged view of a portion B in (d), Shown respectively.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shell structure of a conventional first connector.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shell structure of a conventional second connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receptacle connector 2 Contact 3 Insulator 3A, 3B Relief part 4 Shell 4A Joint 4B Step part (clamped part) 4C Clamping part 11 Plug connector 12 Contact 13 Insulator 13A Relief part 14 Shell 14A Joint 14B Stepped part (clamped part) ) 14C clamping part 14D relief part 15 hood

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5E021 FA05 FA09 FB15 FB20 FC05 FC21 FC38 FC40 JA04 LA09 LA15 5E023 AA04 AA24 AA30 BB02 HH12 HH22 HH30

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a connector shell structure including a plurality of contacts, an insulator for holding the contacts, and a shell for covering the insulator, the shell is formed from a single metal plate by box bending. The two sides near one end of the metal plate are cut out and folded to form a pair of holding portions, and the vicinity of the one end and the vicinity of the other end of the metal plate are overlapped, and the other portion is held by the pair of holding portions. A connector shell structure characterized in that the end portion is pinched and fixed. 2. A key function for preventing a mating connector from being erroneously fitted by forming a stepped portion near the other end and projecting the stepped portion and the pair of holding portions inside the shell. The connector shell structure according to claim 1, wherein the connector shell structure is operated. 3. The stepped portion is formed near the other end, and the stepped portion and the pair of holding portions are protruded inside the shell, so that the insulator avoids the stepped portion and the paired holding portions. 2. The connector shell structure according to claim 1, wherein a portion is formed to function as a key for preventing the insulator from being erroneously inserted into the shell.