JP2011181439A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector having resistance to forcible pulling and flapping of an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) or a FFC (Flexible Flat Cable) to be connected, and having satisfactory strength. <P>SOLUTION: In the connector for FPC/FFC, an actuator 30 includes a locking part 32 and a contact part 33. The locking part 32 is positioned not to interfere with insertion of the FPC/FFC 50 at an open position and is positioned ahead of a locked part 54 of the inserted FPC/FFC 50 at a closed position. Thus, the locking part 32 locks the locked part 54 even when the FPC/FFC 50 is moved forward. The contact part 33 is configured to be positioned behind the locking part 32 when the actuator 30 is at the closed position, and to be in contact with a main surface (an upper surface 50a) of the FPC/FFC 50 when the locking part 32 locks the locked part 54 of the FPC/FFC 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) and FFC (Flexible Flat).
The present invention relates to a connector that is connected to a plate-like or sheet-like connection object such as a cable.

  As a connector for preventing a plate-like or sheet-like connection object from falling off, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2.

  The connector of patent document 1 is provided with the actuator which has a protrusion, and the housing which has a receiving hole corresponding to the protrusion of an actuator while supporting an actuator so that rotation is possible. When the actuator is tilted forward with the FPC / FFC inserted from the insertion port at the front end of the connector, the protrusion is inserted into the receiving hole of the housing through the hole of the FPC / FFC. This prevents the FPC / FFC from falling off.

  The connector of Patent Document 2 includes a housing having a lock arm provided with a locking portion, and an actuator having a cam portion that bends the lock arm and rotatably supported by the housing. When the actuator is opened, the cam portion deflects the lock arm and displaces the locking portion upward. As a result, the FPC / FFC can be inserted into the connector. When the actuator is tilted in a state where the FPC / FFC is inserted into the connector, the locking portion returns to a predetermined position. At this time, the locking portion is located in the locking hole of the FPC / FFC. This prevents the FPC / FFC from falling off.

JP 2004-71314 A JP 2009-283309 A

  However, in the connector described in Patent Document 1, when the FPC / FFC is forcibly pulled out or when the FPC / FFC is beaten, the actuator opens and the FPC / FFC may fall off. In order to prevent such an undesired dropout, the protrusion must be lengthened. However, if the protrusion is long, there is a problem that insertion of the FPC / FFC into the connector is hindered.

  Further, the connector described in Patent Document 2 has a problem of strength because the lock arm is bent by the operation of the actuator.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that has a structure that is strong against excessive pulling or twisting of a connection object and that has no problem in strength.

According to the present invention, as the first connector,
A connector having an insertion port at a front end and connected to a connection object inserted from the insertion port toward the rear end, wherein the connection object is a plate or a sheet and has a contact portion and In the connector having the locked portion,
A contact having a contact portion;
A housing holding the contact;
An actuator supported by the housing so as to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the actuator is rotated from the open position toward the closed position according to a rotation operation. An actuator for connecting the contact portion of the contact to the contact portion of the connection object,
The actuator includes a locking portion and a contact portion,
The abutting portion is located behind the locking portion when the actuator is in the closed position, and at least when the locking portion locks the locked portion of the connection object, A connector configured to come into contact with the main surface of the connection object is obtained.

According to the present invention, the second connector is a first connector,
The contact portion may be a connector configured to contact the main surface of the connection object when the actuator is in the closed position in a state where the connection object is inserted.

According to the present invention, the third connector is a first or second connector,
A bearing portion is formed in the housing,
The actuator has a rotating shaft accommodated in the bearing portion,
When the actuator is in the closed position, a connector is obtained in which the contact portion is located behind the rotation shaft.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the fourth connector is a third connector,
A connector in which the locking portion is located in the vicinity of the rotating shaft is obtained.

According to the present invention, the fifth connector is a fourth connector,
In the cross-section along the plane perpendicular to the left-right direction of the connector, a connector is obtained in which the locking portion is located behind the rotating shaft when the actuator is in the closed position.

According to the present invention, as the sixth connector, any one of the first to fifth connectors,
When the actuator is tilted rearward, a connector configured to be rotated from the open position toward the closed position is obtained.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, as the seventh connector, any one of the first to sixth connectors,
A connector provided in the vicinity of both ends of the actuator in the left-right direction is obtained as the locking portion.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, as the eighth connector, any one of the first to seventh connectors,
The locking portion is positioned so as not to interfere with the insertion of the connection object when the actuator is in the open position, while the actuator is in the closed position with the connection object inserted. Since the connection object is positioned in front of the locked portion, the locking portion is configured to lock the locked portion even if the connection target is moved forward. Connector is obtained.

  According to the present invention, even if the connection object (for example, FPC / FFC) is forcibly removed or the connection object is beaten, the locking portion provided in the actuator is locked to the connection object. Since the actuator abuts against the main surface of the object to be connected, the actuator opens accidentally without increasing the length of the latching portion. Can be prevented.

It is a front perspective view which shows the connector by embodiment of this invention. Here, the actuator included in the connector is in the open position. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the connector of FIG. 1. Here, the actuator is in the open position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 2 along the line III--III. Here, the actuator is in the open position, and the FPC / FFC has not yet been inserted into the insertion slot. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 2 along the line IV--IV. Here, the actuator is in the open position, and the FPC / FFC is inserted into the insertion slot. It is a front perspective view which shows the connector of FIG. Here, the actuator is in the closed position. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 5 along the line VI--VI. Here, the actuator is in the closed position, and the FPC / FFC is inserted into the insertion slot. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 5 along the line VII--VII. Here, the actuator is in the closed position, and the FPC / FFC is inserted into the insertion slot. It is a perspective view which shows the housing of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the actuator of FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the actuator of FIG. 9 along line X--X. It is a bottom view which shows FPC / FFC connectable with the connector of FIG. It is a bottom view which shows the modification of FPC / FFC of FIG.

  1 to 7, a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a circuit board (not shown) and is connected to an FPC / FFC (connection object) 50. Here, the FPC / FFC 50 that can be connected to the connector 1 according to the present embodiment has an upper surface 50a and a lower surface 50b as two main surfaces, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 11. A plurality of contact portions (a plurality of signal terminals) 52 are formed in the vicinity of the edge (X-direction end, right end in FIG. 3) 51 of the lower surface 50b. Moreover, the recessed part 53 dented inside the Y direction is formed in the left-right direction (Y direction) both ends of FPC / FFC50. That is, the concave portion 53 is provided so as to sandwich the plurality of contact portions 52 from the Y direction. The edge on the edge 51 side of the recess 53 functions as a locked portion 54 as described later.

  1 to 7 again, the connector 1 has a front end 2 and a rear end 3, and further has an insertion port 4 for inserting the FPC / FFC 50 at the front end 2. The connector 1 is connected to the FPC / FFC 50 inserted from the insertion port 4 toward the rear end 3. Hereinafter, the structure of the connector 1 and how to connect to the FPC / FFC 50 will be described in detail.

  The connector 1 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 10 made of an insulating material, a plurality of contacts 20 made of metal, an actuator 30 made of an insulating material, and a metal that is connected and fixed to a circuit board (not shown). Holddown 40.

  With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8, an opening 111 is formed at the front end 10 a of the housing 10. The opening 11 penetrates the housing 10 in the X direction, and has an elongated shape in the Y direction when the front end 10a of the housing 10 is viewed along the X direction. The opening 11 according to the present embodiment defines the insertion port 4 of the connector 1 described above. The bottom surface of the opening 11 (that is, the insertion port 4) functions as a receiving surface 12 that receives the FPC / FFC 50 inserted through the insertion port 4. As best shown in FIG. 8, relief holes 13 recessed in the −Z direction (downward) are formed in the vicinity of both ends of the receiving surface 12 in the Y direction. A holding portion 14, which is a hole for holding the contact 20, is formed at the rear end 10 b of the housing 10. These holding portions 14 reach the receiving surface 12. Further, the bearing portion 15 is formed so as to sandwich the receiving surface 12 in the Y direction. The bearing portion 15 is a groove that is recessed outward in the Y direction and extends in the Z direction (upward).

  3, 4, 6, and 7, each contact 20 includes a lower jaw portion 22 provided with a contact portion 21, an upper jaw portion 23, and a connecting portion that connects the lower jaw portion 22 and the upper jaw portion 23. 24, a held portion 25 that elastically supports the connecting portion 24 and is held by the holding portion 14, and a fixed end portion 26 that extends rearward and downward (X direction and −Z direction) from the held portion 25. ing. The connecting portion 24 connects the lower jaw portion 22 and the upper jaw portion 23 in a substantially tuning fork shape. The fixed end portion 26 is connected and fixed to a corresponding signal terminal (not shown) on a circuit board (not shown).

  In this embodiment, since the connecting portion 24 is elastically supported by the held portion 25, the upper jaw portion 23 and the lower jaw portion 22 rotate around the portion held by the held portion 25 of the connecting portion 24. A movement similar to the movement will be performed. Therefore, when the upper jaw portion 23 is lifted upward, the lower jaw portion 22 is also lifted, and the contact portion 21 moves upward.

  The actuator 30 is held by the housing 10 so as to be rotatable between an open position (see FIGS. 1 to 4) and a closed position (see FIGS. 5 to 7). The actuator 30 is for connecting the contact portion 21 of the contact 20 to the contact portion 52 of the FPC / FFC 50 when the actuator 30 is rotated from the open position toward the closed position.

  The actuator 30 according to the present embodiment is configured to be rotated from the open position toward the closed position by being tilted backward (X direction). That is, the direction of rotation of the actuator 30 according to the present embodiment from the open position to the closed position is opposite to the direction of rotation of the actuator in the connector of Patent Document 1.

  With further reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the actuator 30 according to the present embodiment includes a rotating shaft 31 projecting outward at both left and right end portions (Y direction both end portions), a locking portion 32 positioned near both left and right ends, A contact portion 33, a storage portion 34 formed corresponding to the contact 20, a lift-up portion 35 provided in the storage portion 34, and a surrounding portion 36 are provided.

  Specifically, the rotating shaft 31 according to the present embodiment is positioned at the foremost end of the actuator 30 when the actuator 30 is in the closed position, and is rotatable and movable in the vertical direction (Z direction). Ten bearing portions 15 are held.

  The locking portion 32 has a protruding shape, protrudes downward (−Z direction) when the actuator 30 is in the open position, and moves according to the rotation of the actuator 30. The clearance hole 13 provided in the housing 10 is for smooth movement of the locking portion 32, and does not necessarily have to be locked with the locking portion 32. It does not have to be as deep as

  Specifically, the locking portion 32 according to the present embodiment is positioned so as not to interfere with the insertion of the FPC / FFC 50 when the actuator 30 is in the open position, as understood from FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 7, when the FPC / FFC 50 is inserted, when the actuator 30 is in the closed position, the actuator 30 is configured to be positioned forward of the locked portion 54 of the FPC / FFC 50. That is, when the actuator 30 is in the closed position with the FPC / FFC 50 inserted, the locking portion 32 according to the present embodiment is located in the recess 53. Therefore, when the FPC / FFC 50 attempts to move forward (ie, when the FPC / FFC 50 is to be removed), the locked portion 54 is locked to the locking portion 32.

  In particular, the locking portion 32 according to the present embodiment is located in the vicinity of the rotating shaft 31. Therefore, the size of the connector 1 in the front-rear direction (X direction) can be reduced. Further, as understood from FIGS. 7 and 10, in the cross section along the XZ plane, 2/3 or more of the locking portion 32 is more than the center 31c of the rotating shaft 31 when the actuator 30 is in the closed position. Located behind. If comprised in this way, when the actuator 30 exists in an open position, the probability of interfering with the insertion to the insertion port 4 of FPC / FFC50 can be made low. As is apparent from such an effect, most of the locking portions 32 (more preferably, the entirety) are located behind the center 31c of the rotating shaft 31 when the actuator 30 is in the closed position. It is preferable.

  Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, when the actuator 30 is in the closed position, the contact portion 33 has a surface parallel to the YX plane and is located rearward (X direction) than the locking portion 32. ing. In particular, in the present embodiment, the contact portion 33 is located behind the rotating shaft 31 when the actuator 30 is in the closed position. The contact portion 33 contacts the upper surface 50a of the FPC / FFC 50 when at least the locking portion 32 locks the locked portion 54 of the FPC / FFC 50, for example, by forcibly removing the FPC / FFC 50. It is configured to touch. Therefore, when a force is applied from the locked portion 54 to the locking portion 32 to push the locking portion 32 in the −X direction (forward), the contact portion 33 is pressed against the upper surface 50 a of the FPC / FFC 50. Therefore, the FPC / FFC 50 does not come off the locking portion 32 without increasing the protruding length of the locking portion 32. Further, since the actuator 30 is urged toward the closed position, the actuator 30 does not open (move to the open position). In particular, the contact portion 33 according to the present embodiment holds the FPC / FFC 50 together with the contact portion 21 of the contact 20, so that not only when the locking portion 32 locks the locked portion 54 of the FPC / FFC 50. When the actuator 30 is in the closed position, the actuator 30 is always in contact with the upper surface 50a of the FPC / FFC 50.

  Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the accommodating portion 34 is formed in a slit shape parallel to the XZ plane. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the accommodating portion 34 partially accommodates the upper jaw portion 23 of the contact 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 10, the lift-up part 35 has an eccentric shape, and connects the inner walls constituting the storage part 34 in each storage part 34 in the Y direction. Yes. That is, the lift-up part 35 is located in the storage part 34. The lift-up part 35 lifts up the upper jaw part 23 of the contact 20 in the accommodating part 34 in accordance with a turning operation for turning the actuator 30 from the open position toward the closed position (see FIG. 6). When the lift-up part 35 lifts up the upper jaw part 23, the contact part 21 provided in the lower jaw part 22 is displaced upward as described above.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the surrounding portion 36 forms the rear portion of the actuator 30 when the actuator 30 is in the closed position, and surrounds the upper rear end portion of the housing 10. By the surrounding, the upper portion of the held portion 25 of the connector 20 is also protected and surrounded.

  When the actuator 30 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 3 with respect to the insertion port 4 of the connector 1 having the above-described configuration, the FPC / FFC 50 is inserted and brought into a state as shown in FIG. . At this time, the locking portion 32 is located above the concave portion 53 of the FPC / FFC 50. In this state, when the actuator 30 is rotated toward the closed position, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper jaw portion 23 of the contact 20 is lifted by the lift-up portion 35, whereby the contact portion 21 is displaced upward. . Accordingly, the FPC / FFC 50 is sandwiched between the contact portion 33 and the contact portion 21, and electrical connection between the contact portion 21 and the contact portion 52 is also achieved. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the locking portion 32 is positioned in the recess 53, so that the above-described drop-off prevention is realized.

  While the present invention has been specifically described with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, since the FPC / FFC 50 is sandwiched between the contact portion 33 and the contact portion 21, the contact portion 33 of the FPC / FFC 50 is located when the actuator 30 is in the closed position. It is in contact with the upper surface 50a. However, a pressing object other than the contact portion 33 such as a contact other than the contact 20 or an elastic body may be provided. In this case, the contact portion 33 prevents the actuator 30 from undesirably rotating, and the FPC / FFC 50. The actuator 33 is not necessarily in contact with the FPC / FFC 50 when the actuator 33 is in the closed position.

  Further, the FPC / FFC 50 that can be connected to the connector 1 described above has the concave portions 53 at both the left and right ends. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the FPC / FFC 50 has convex portions 55 at the left and right ends. 'May be a connection target. In this case, an edge far from the edge portion 51 among the edges of the convex portion 55 functions as the locked portion 56.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 2 Front end 3 Rear end 4 Insertion slot 10 Housing 10a Front end 10b Rear end 11 Opening part 12 Receiving surface 13 Relief hole 14 Holding part 15 Bearing part 20 Contact 21 Contact part 22 Lower jaw part 23 Upper jaw part 24 Connection part 25 Holding part 26 Fixed end portion 30 Actuator 31 Rotating shaft 31c (Rotating shaft) center 32 Locking portion 33 Abutting portion 34 Housing portion 35 Lift-up portion 36 Enclosure portion 40 Hold down 50, 50 ′ FPC / FFC (object to be connected)
50a upper surface 50b lower surface 51 edge portion 52 contact portion 53 concave portion 54 locked portion 55 convex portion 56 locked portion

Claims (8)

A connector having an insertion port at a front end and connected to a connection object inserted from the insertion port toward the rear end, wherein the connection object is a plate or a sheet and has a contact portion and In the connector having the locked portion,
A contact having a contact portion;
A housing holding the contact;
An actuator supported by the housing so as to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the actuator is rotated from the open position toward the closed position according to a rotation operation. An actuator for connecting the contact portion of the contact to the contact portion of the connection object,
The actuator includes a locking portion and a contact portion,
The abutting portion is located behind the locking portion when the actuator is in the closed position, and at least when the locking portion locks the locked portion of the connection object, A connector configured to come into contact with a main surface of a connection object. The connector according to claim 1,
The contact portion is configured to contact the main surface of the connection object when the actuator is in the closed position in a state where the connection object is inserted. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
A bearing portion is formed in the housing,
The actuator has a rotating shaft accommodated in the bearing portion,
When the actuator is in the closed position, the contact portion is located behind the rotation shaft. The connector according to claim 3, wherein
The locking portion is a connector located in the vicinity of the rotating shaft. The connector according to claim 4, wherein
In the cross section along the plane orthogonal to the left-right direction of the connector, the locking portion is located behind the rotating shaft when the actuator is in the closed position. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The connector is configured so that the actuator is rotated from the open position toward the closed position by being tilted backward. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The locking portion is a connector provided in the vicinity of both ends in the left-right direction of the actuator. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The locking portion is positioned so as not to interfere with the insertion of the connection object when the actuator is in the open position, while the actuator is in the closed position with the connection object inserted. Since the connection object is positioned in front of the locked portion, the locking portion is configured to lock the locked portion even if the connection target is moved forward. Connector.

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