JP2002184493A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector whose resilient contacting piece is prevented from making incorrect deformation. SOLUTION: In the process that a terminal side connector 20 is to be fitted to a board side connector 10, a pinching piece 40 (pinch pressure means) pressed by a rib 14 starts abutting to the resilient contacting piece 38 in such a way that pinching is made with respect to the side with circuit board 12 in the direction intersecting the fitting direction. In association with the progress of fitting, the pinching piece 40 makes displacement in such a way as increasing the elastic deflection of the resilient contacting piece 38 pinched thereby with respect to the circuit board 12. When the resilient contacting piece 38 starts the elastic deflection by the pinching piece 40, the resilient contacting piece 38 is pinched by the pinching piece 40 and circuit board 12 in the direction intersecting the fitting direction, so that the piece 38 involves no risk of making incorrect deformation such as buckling even if the arrangement is such that the piece 38 extends in cantilever form toward the rib 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for connecting to a circuit board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 8 and 9 show a conventional connector for connecting an edge of a circuit board to a terminal fitting fixed to an electric wire. This is because a board-side connector 100 having a rib 103 protruding from a back end surface of a hood 102 surrounding an edge of the circuit board 101, and a resilient contact piece 1 of a terminal fitting 107 in a slit 106 into which the circuit board 101 is inserted.
08 on the terminal side connector 105. In the process of fitting both connectors 100 and 105, first, the circuit board 1
01 is inserted into the slit 106 and the elastic contact piece 108
In a non-contact state, and then the rib 103 comes into contact with the elastic contact piece 108, and the rib 1
03 is the circuit board 1 while elastically bending the elastic contact piece 108.
01, and a predetermined contact pressure is secured by the elastic restoring force of the flexible contact piece 108.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-92370 discloses a conventional connector for connecting an edge portion of a circuit board to a terminal fitting fixed to an electric wire.

[0004]

The above-mentioned elastic contact piece 108
Is formed with a forwardly inclined portion 108A so that the rib 103 is easily slidably contacted so that the rib 103 can smoothly transition to a state of clamping after the contact of the rib 103 is started. But,
The elastic contact piece 108 is formed so as to extend in a cantilever manner toward the rib 103, and the elastic contact piece 108 has a forward inclined portion 108A at the extending end thereof. Are fitted obliquely with the rib 10
In a case where the rib 3 comes into contact with the forward inclined portion 108A, the rib 1
There is a concern that the elastic contact piece 108 may be buckled and deformed as a result, without being slipped on the front inclined portion 108A.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to prevent an illegal deformation of an elastic contact piece.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a board-side connector having a circuit board and a rib, and a terminal-side connector accommodating a terminal fitting having an elastic contact piece.
A connector in which the rib is elastically deflected by the rib and elastically elastically deforms the elastic contact piece so as to connect the elastic contact piece to the circuit board by fitting the board-side connector and the terminal-side connector. In the fitting process of the two connectors, the contact with the elastic contact piece is started in such a manner that the elastic contact piece is sandwiched between the connector and the circuit board in a direction intersecting the fitting direction. In addition, a configuration is provided in which clamping means is provided for increasing the elastic bending of the elastic contact piece sandwiched between the circuit board and the circuit board as the fitting progresses.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the pinching means is provided on the terminal side connector, and the elasticity when the board side connector and the terminal side connector are fitted to each other. The cantilever is supported so as to extend obliquely in the same direction as the approaching direction of the rib with respect to the contact piece, and is pushed by the rib as the fitting of the two connectors progresses, so that the base end of the cantilever support. The fulcrum is the tilting displacement.

[0008] The invention of claim 3 is claim 1 or claim 2.
According to the invention, the posture of the pressing means changes so as to approach a right angle with respect to the pressing direction with an increase in the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic contact piece which is elastically bent by the pressing of the pressing means. And Claim 4
According to the invention, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the pressing means is formed integrally with the terminal fitting.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the elastic contact piece starts elastic bending by the pressing means, the pressing means places the elastic contact piece with the circuit board in a direction intersecting the fitting direction. Therefore, even if the elastic contact piece extends in a cantilever manner toward the rib, there is no danger that the elastic contact piece will be deformed erratically such as buckling.

[0010] The clamping means is cantilevered so as to extend obliquely in substantially the same direction as the approaching direction of the rib to the elastic contact piece at the time of fitting.
There is no risk of buckling deformation by the rib. [Invention of claim 3] As the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic contact piece due to the pressing of the pressing means increases (the reaction force from the elastic contact piece side to the pressing means side increases), the posture of the pressing means is pressed down. Since it changes so as to approach the direction perpendicular to the direction, there is no danger that the elastic contact piece will slide against the pressing means due to its elastic restoring force, which also prevents the illegal deformation of the elastic contact piece. Is prevented.

[0011] Since the pressing means is formed integrally with the terminal fitting, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the case where the pressing means is a part independent of the terminal fitting.

[0012]

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. The connector according to the present embodiment includes a board-side connector 10 and a terminal-side connector 20. Board side connector 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a connector housing 11 made of a synthetic resin, a circuit board 12 in the form of a horizontal flat plate having a front end portion penetrating the connector housing 11, and the connector housing 1
1, a rectangular cylindrical hood portion 13 projecting forward and surrounding the edge portion of the circuit board 12, and projecting straight forward from the rear end face of the hood portion 13 at the upper and lower positions of the circuit board 12. A plurality of ribs 14 arranged horizontally
It is comprised including. The position of the protruding end of the rib 14 is set behind the position of the front edge of the circuit board 12.

The terminal-side connector 20 includes a connector housing 21 made of a synthetic resin and a plurality of terminal fittings 30 housed in a cavity 22 of the connector housing 21. In the connector housing 21, a plurality of cavities 22 which are divided into upper and lower stages and which are horizontally arranged in each stage are formed.
The terminal fittings 30 are inserted into the respective 2. The cavity 22 and the terminal fittings 30 accommodated in the cavity 22 have a vertically symmetrical shape and arrangement.

In the connector housing 21, a horizontal slit-shaped substrate accommodating portion 23 located between the upper cavity 22 and the lower cavity 22 is formed so as to open at the front end face of the connector housing 21. The front edge of the circuit board 12 is fitted into the board accommodating section 23. Substrate accommodation section 23 and cavity 2
The two substantially front half regions communicate with each other. The front end of each cavity 22 is opened in the front end face of the connector housing 21 as an insertion hole 24 into which the rib 14 is inserted.

The terminal fitting 30 is provided with the cavity 22 from behind.
, And is held in a state where the return to the rear is regulated by the engagement of the resin lance 25. The terminal fitting 30
A metal plate material punched into a predetermined shape is formed by bending, and a substantially front half portion is a box portion 31 surrounding the elastic contact piece 38,
A substantially rear half portion is an electric wire crimping portion 33 to which the electric wire 32 is connected. The box portion 31 includes left and right side walls 34, a pair of upper walls 35, 36 extending inward from the upper end edges of the side walls 34 and vertically overlapping each other, and rear end portions of lower end edges of the both side walls 34. And a bottom wall 37 to be connected. Bottom wall 37
Is formed with a resilient contact piece 38 extending in a cantilever manner from the front end thereof.

The elastic contact piece 38 has a rising portion 38A extending obliquely upward and forward from the bottom wall 37, a forward inclined portion 38B extending obliquely downward and forward from the front end of the rising portion 38A, and a forward inclined portion 38B. Contact portion 38 extending obliquely downward and backward from the front end of
C, and the extended end of the contact portion 38C is a contact portion 38D curved so as to swell downward. The position of the contact portion 38D in the front-rear direction is the highest mountain-shaped top portion 38E (the rising portion 38A and the forward inclined portion 3) of the elastic contact piece 38.
8B), which is almost the same position as
The contact portion 38D and the crown portion 38E correspond in a direction substantially orthogonal to the fitting direction of the connectors 10, 20.

The top 3 of the front end portion of each side wall 34
Among the low back walls 34L and 34R lower than 8E, a support wall 39 extends inward from a front end of an upper edge of the right low back wall 34R, and a pressing piece 40 extends from a rear end edge of the support wall 39. The (pressing means, which is a component of the present invention) extends in a cantilever manner. The pressure piece 40 extends obliquely upward and rearward (obliquely in a direction substantially the same as the direction in which the rib 14 approaches the elastic contact piece 38 when the board-side connector 10 and the terminal-side connector 20 are fitted). When both 38 and the pressing piece 40 are in a free state in which they are not elastically bent, the pressing piece 40
The elastic contact piece 38 is disposed so as to extend along the upper surface of the forward inclined portion 38B in a non-contact state, and the pressing portion 40A at the rear end (extending end) of the pressing piece 40 is located at the top of the elastic contact piece 38. It is located above it at a slight distance from 38E. In addition, from the upper edge of the low back wall 34L on the left side, the support wall 3
A holding wall 41 overlapping the upper surface of the front end portion 9 and a supporting wall 42 overlapping the lower surface of the rear end portion of the support wall 39 project inward.

In the terminal fitting 30, the contact portion 38D of the resilient contact piece 38 is inserted into the upper cavity 22 with the contact portion 38D facing downward, while the contact portion 38D is inserted into the lower cavity 22 upward. It is inserted in the posture to do. When the terminal fitting 30 is inserted, the pressing piece 40 is located at substantially the same height as the fitting hole 24 of the connector housing 21, and the contact portion 38 </ b> D is located at a position from the entry area of the circuit board 12 in the board housing section 23. It is in a position retracted upward or downward (see FIG. 5).

Next, the fitting state between the board side connector 10 and the terminal side connector 20 will be described. Here, for convenience, the terminal fitting 30 inserted into the upper cavity 22 will be described. The lower terminal 30 is vertically symmetrical with the upper terminal, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Now, in the fitting process of the two connectors 10 and 20, first, the front edge of the circuit board 12 starts to enter the board accommodating portion 23, and then the rib 14 starts to enter the cavity 22 from the fitting hole 24. Then, the front end of the rib 14 that has entered comes into contact with the base end (front end) of the upper surface of the clamping piece 40. At the time when the rib 14 abuts on the pressure piece 40, the circuit board 12
Is located directly below the contact portion 38D, but the circuit board 12
And the contact portion 38D have not yet contacted.

Then, as the rib 14 advances (as the connectors 10 and 20 fit together), the clamping piece 40 pressed by the rib 14 is inclined behind the support wall 39 due to its inclination. It is tilted and displaced downward about the end (the base end of the pressing piece 40) as a fulcrum. With the tilting displacement of the pinching piece 40, its extended end (the portion in the vicinity of the holding portion 40 </ b> A) is almost directly above the top 38 </ b> E of the elastic contact piece 38 (both connectors 10 and 10).
20 (in a direction intersecting with the fitting direction), and further press down on the crown 38E from above. Then, the elastic contact piece 38 is displaced downward as a whole, and the contact portion 38D comes into contact with the circuit board 12 to be in a connection state in which conduction is possible (FIG. 6).
See).

Thereafter, the displacement of the elastic contact piece 38 downward (toward the circuit board 12) is regulated, so that both connectors 1
As the fittings 0, 20 (the ribs 14 enter) and the pressing pieces 40 move downward, the elastic contact pieces 38 are crushed vertically as a whole (the rising portion 38A and the forward inclined portion). 38B and the forward inclined portion 38
Elastic bending occurs (so that the angle between B and contact portion 38C becomes smaller). When the connectors 10 and 20 reach a proper fitting state, the holding piece 40 is displaced to a horizontal posture (a fitting direction of the connectors 10 and 20 and a posture parallel to the circuit board 12), and The lower surface of the rib 14 comes into close contact with the upper surface of the pressure piece 40,
The elastic contact piece 38 is pinched between the lower surface of the circuit board 12 and the upper surface of the circuit board 12, and a predetermined contact pressure is secured between the terminal fitting 30 and the circuit board 12 by the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 38. .

As described above, the connector of the present embodiment is formed by fitting the connector 10 on the board side and the connector 20 on the terminal side.
The rib 14 elastically bends the elastic contact piece 38 between the circuit board 12 and the elastic contact piece 38 and the circuit board 12.
And the two connectors 1
In the fitting process of 0, 20, the elastic contact piece 38 is attached to the circuit board 1.
The pressing piece 40 starts to abut on the elastic contact piece 38 in such a manner as to be sandwiched between the two sides in a direction intersecting the fitting direction, and as the fitting proceeds, the pressing piece 40 Circuit board 12
The elastic deformation of the elastic contact piece 38 is increased by displacing the elastic contact piece 38 in a direction intersecting the fitting direction of the two connectors 10 and 20 while maintaining the state of sandwiching the elastic contact piece 38 therebetween. That is, when the elastic contact piece 38 starts to be elastically bent due to the contact of the pressing piece 40, the rib 14 does not abut against the elastic contact piece 38 from the front, but the pressing piece 40.
Are arranged so as to sandwich the elastic contact piece 38 with the circuit board 12 in a direction intersecting the fitting direction.
Even when the ribs 8 extend in a cantilever manner toward the ribs 14 (the board-side connector 10), there is no possibility that the elastic contact pieces 38 will be deformed erratically such as buckling.

When the pressing piece 40 presses the crown 38E from above to elastically bend the elastic contact piece 38,
As the amount of elastic bending of the elastic contact piece 38 increases (as the reaction force from the elastic contact piece 38 side to the pressing piece 40 side increases), the posture of the pressing piece 40 approaches a right angle to the pressing direction. Therefore, there is no possibility that the crown 38E slides on the surface of the pressure piece 40 due to the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 38.
Unauthorized deformation is prevented.

Further, the pressing piece 40 provided on the terminal fitting 30 is provided.
Are cantilevered so as to extend obliquely in a direction substantially the same as the approach direction of the rib 14 to the elastic contact piece 38 when the two connectors 10 and 20 are fitted.
By being pushed by the ribs 14 with the progress of the fitting of 0, the clamping piece 40 is tilted and displaced with the base end of the cantilever support (the rear end of the support wall 39) as a fulcrum. Therefore, the rib 14 abuts against the pressing piece 40 at an angle, and after the abutment, the rib 14 smoothly comes into sliding contact with the surface of the pressing piece 40, and the pressing piece 40 buckles by the rib 14. There is no risk of being deformed.

Further, since the pressing pieces 40 are formed integrally with the terminal fittings 30, the number of components can be reduced as compared with a case where the pressing pieces are formed as parts independent of the terminal fittings. Further, in a state where both connectors 10 and 20 are fitted,
Since the ribs 14 are positioned so as to abut on the surface of the pressure piece 40 opposite to the circuit board 12, the pressure piece 40 does not move away from the circuit board 12, and the elastic contact piece 38 The flexed state is maintained. Therefore, the contact reliability between the elastic contact piece 38 and the circuit board 12 is excellent.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the pressing piece as the pressing means is formed integrally with the terminal fitting so that the pressing piece is displaced by being pushed by the rib. The elastic arm portion formed in the connector housing may be used as a pressing means, and the elastic arm portion may be pressed by the rib and displaced to press the elastic contact piece.

(2) In the above embodiment, a member separate from the rib is used as the pressing means, and the pressing means is pushed and displaced by the rib to increase the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic contact piece. According to the present invention, a configuration in which a pressing means is formed on the rib itself by inclining the shape of the tip end portion of the rib in a tapered shape, and the tapered surface is sandwiched between the elastic contact piece and the circuit board. Then, the taper surface may slide on the elastic contact piece as the fitting of the two connectors progresses to increase the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic contact piece.

(3) In the above embodiment, the elastic contact piece is cantilevered toward the rib side (to the front of the terminal fitting), but in the present invention, the flexible contact piece is opposite to the rib. The present invention can also be applied to a case where it extends in a cantilever manner toward the side (to the rear of the terminal fitting). (4) In the above embodiment, the clamping means is formed integrally with the terminal fitting. However, according to the present invention, the clamping means may be an independent component, which may be attached to the terminal fitting or the connector housing.

(5) In the above embodiment, the pinching means is provided on the terminal side connector. However, according to the present invention, the pinching means may be provided on the board side connector. (6) In the above-described embodiment, the cantilever support as the pressing means extends obliquely in the same direction as the approaching direction of the rib to the elastic contact piece when the two connectors are fitted. According to the present invention, the clamping piece may have a cantilevered support form extending in a direction opposite to the approach direction of the rib to the elastic contact piece, or may have a bilaterally curved support form at the both ends. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a board-side connector according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal-side connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a terminal fitting.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a terminal fitting.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a terminal-side connector.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a fitting process of both connectors.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which both connectors are completely fitted.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional fitting process.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a completed state of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Board side connector 12 ... Circuit board 14 ... Rib 20 ... Terminal side connector 30 ... Terminal fitting 38 ... Elastic contact piece 40 ... Nipping piece (Nipping means)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masayasu Fujii 1-14 Nishisuehirocho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. F-term (reference) 5E023 AA04 AA16 AA18 BB02 BB03 BB22 CC23 DD05 EE07 EE11 FF11 GG02 GG03 GG09 GG10 HH05 HH08 HH18 HH22 HH24

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first connector provided with a circuit board and a rib; and a second connector provided with a terminal fitting having an elastic contact piece, wherein the first connector is fitted with the first connector. A connector in which a rib is interposed between the circuit board and the elastic contact piece while elastically bending the elastic contact piece to connect the elastic contact piece to the circuit board. Starting contact with the elastic contact piece in such a manner that the contact piece is sandwiched between the contact piece and the circuit board side in a direction intersecting the fitting direction,
A connector comprising a pressing means for increasing elastic bending of the elastic contact piece sandwiched between the circuit board and the fitting as the fitting progresses. 2. The pinching means is provided on the terminal side connector, and is substantially in the same direction as the approach direction of the rib to the elastic contact piece when the board side connector and the terminal side connector are fitted. The connector is configured to be cantilevered so as to extend obliquely to and to be tilted and displaced with the base end of the cantilevered support as a fulcrum by being pushed by the rib as the fitting of the two connectors progresses. The connector according to claim 1, wherein 3. As the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic contact piece which is elastically bent by the pressing of the pressing means increases, the posture of the pressing means changes so as to approach a right angle to the pressing direction. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector is configured. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means is formed integrally with said terminal fitting.