JP2014093181A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connector capable of successfully preventing a lock metal fitting from being broken due to bending deformation.SOLUTION: A lock metal fitting 60 is formed so as to bent a metal plate member in a plate thickness direction. A bent plate portion 62 has two plate portions facing each other so as to be in parallel to a fitting surface of a housing 40, and is held by the housing 40 so as to be positioned at the fitting surface side. The bent plate portion 62 has a bent edge portion 62D extending in a direction perpendicular to a connector insertion direction at a tip position of the bent plate portion 62 in a connector pulling-off direction. One plate portion of two plate portions of the bent plate portion 62 is a fitting plate portion 62A positioned along with the surface including a fitting surface of the housing 40. The other plate portion is a parallel plate portion 62B positioned in parallel at the side opposite to the fitting plate portion 62A with a division line as a bent edge portion 62D. For at least one of the fitting plate portion 62A and parallel plate portion 62B, a locked portion 62C-1 is formed which is lockable against a lock portion 33 of the other side connector 1 in the connector pulling-off direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector in which a fitting surface for inserting and removing with a mating connector is formed on a peripheral surface of a housing.

  This type of electrical connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. This Patent Document 1 discloses a receptacle connector that is arranged on a mounting surface on a circuit board and in which a plug connector as a mating connector is fitted and connected from above with a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as a connector insertion / extraction direction. . The receptacle connector housing extends in a connector width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, that is, the terminal arrangement direction, with two side walls extending in one direction parallel to the mounting surface as a longitudinal direction and holding the terminals. The peripheral wall which consists of two end walls which connect the edge parts of the said side wall is provided. In the space surrounded by the peripheral wall, an island-shaped protruding wall extending in the terminal arrangement direction is provided, and an annular space formed between the peripheral wall and the protruding wall is a fitting portion of the mating connector It has a receiving part for accepting. That is, in the receptacle connector, the peripheral surface of the housing forming the receiving portion, that is, the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall parallel to the connector insertion / extraction direction and the outer peripheral surface of the protruding wall are fitted with the plug connector. Functions as a mating surface.

  Each side wall of the housing of the receptacle connector holds an end fitting in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, a lock fitting for locking with the plug connector at a position outside the terminal arrangement range. The lock fitting is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction, and includes a fixed portion that extends parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, and an inverted U-shaped portion that extends continuously to the fixed portion. have. The lock fitting is press-fitted from above into an inverted U-shaped holding groove formed by sinking the side wall surface of the housing, and the inverted U-shaped portion straddles the side wall within the holding groove. So that it is held. Of the two leg portions of the inverted U-shaped portion, the inner leg portion located on the inner surface side of the side wall, that is, on the fitting surface side of the side wall, is provided on the plate connector exposed to the receiving portion on the plug connector. A locking recess for locking with the mating locking metal fitting is immersively formed. On the other hand, the outer leg portion located on the outer surface side of the side wall, that is, on the side opposite to the fitting surface has press-fitting projections projecting from both side edges forming the plate thickness surface, and the holding by the press-fitting projections. It is press-fitted and held in the groove.

  In the connector fitting state, the protruding lock protrusion of the mating lock fitting provided on the plug connector enters the lock recess of the lock fitting of the receptacle connector, so that the lock protrusion and the lock recess are overlying. The edge is locked in the connector pulling direction (upward) to be in a locked state, thereby preventing inadvertent disconnection between the connectors.

JP2009-231046

  In Patent Document 1, as described above, the inner leg portion and the outer leg portion of the inverted U-shaped portion of the lock fitting are located across the side wall, and both the leg portions are in contact with the side wall. In other words, the lock fitting needs to be made by securing a distance corresponding to the wall thickness of the side wall between the inner leg portion and the outer leg portion in the connector width direction. That is, the lock recess formed in the inner leg is positioned away from the outer leg that is press-fitted and held in the housing by the distance in the connector width direction.

  When the inner leg portion and the outer leg portion are located apart from each other, that is, when both the leg portions are arranged to face each other with a large gap, as an inadvertent extraction output to the plug connector in the connector fitting state When an upward external force is applied, the lock recess of the inner leg receives the extraction output at the upper edge thereof, so that the inverted U-shaped part expands and the leg is opened. Bending deformation may occur and the lock fitting may be deformed or damaged. Since the bending deformation amount of the inverted U-shaped portion increases as the inner leg portion and the outer leg portion are separated from each other, the lock fitting is easily broken.

  In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that can satisfactorily prevent damage due to bending deformation of a lock fitting.

  The electrical connector according to the present invention is an electrical connector in which a fitting surface for inserting and removing with a mating connector is formed on the peripheral surface of the housing, and the electrical connector is parallel to the connector insertion / removal direction. A housing in which the fitting surface is formed, a plurality of terminals arranged and held in the housing, and a lock portion provided in the mating connector held by the housing at a position outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction And a lock fitting that can be locked in the connector pull-out direction

  In such an electrical connector, in the present invention, the lock fitting is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction, and forms two planes parallel to the fitting surface of the housing and facing each other. A folded plate portion having a portion is held by the housing so as to be positioned on the fitting surface side, and the folded plate portion is inserted into and removed from the connector at a tip position of the folded plate portion in the connector pulling direction. A folding edge portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction, and one of the two plate portions of the folded plate portion is located along a plane including the fitting surface of the housing. And the other plate portion forms a parallel plate portion positioned in parallel on the opposite side of the creepage portion with the folded edge as a boundary, and at least one of the creepage portion and the parallel plate portion The connector with respect to the lock portion of the mating connector It is characterized in that the locking portion to be locked in the direction out is formed. In the present invention, the “connector extraction direction” refers to a direction in which a mating connector in a fitted state with the connector is extracted.

  In the present invention, the folded plate portion is located on the fitting surface side of the housing. That is, since the folded plate portion does not straddle the housing, the folded plate portion and the parallel plate portion can be provided so as to face each other at positions close to each other. Therefore, for example, when a locked portion is formed on the parallel plate portion and the creeping portion is held by the housing, the parallel plate portion is provided at a position close to the creeping portion, thereby providing the creeping portion. In the facing direction of the plate portion and the parallel plate portion, the distance between the locked portion of the parallel plate portion and the creeping portion held by the housing can be reduced. As a result, even if an external force in the connector pulling direction as an inadvertent pulling output acts on the mating connector in the connector-fitted state, and the locked portion of the parallel plate portion receives the pulling output, the folding is performed. Since it becomes difficult for the plate portion to undergo bending deformation such that the creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion are separated from each other by legs, the breakage of the lock fitting can be prevented.

  In addition, when a locked portion is formed on the side plate portion or the parallel plate portion, and the plate portion on which the locked portion is formed is held by the housing, the portion held by the housing and the above portion Since the distance in the opposite direction to the part where the extraction output acts is zero, the bending deformation does not occur in the folded plate portion, and the lock fitting can be prevented from being damaged.

  In the present invention, the creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion of the folded plate portion are each formed with a hole penetrating in the plate thickness direction at the same position when viewed from the plate thickness direction of the creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion. In addition, the edge portion forming each hole portion may form a locked portion that can be locked with the lock portion of the mating connector that has entered the hole portion in the connector fitting state.

  When holes are formed in both plate portions in this way, when the locking portion of the mating connector enters both holes in the creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion in the connector fitting state, The locked portion formed at the edge of the hole can be locked in the connector pulling direction with respect to the lock portion. Therefore, a range that can be locked to the lock portion can be ensured by the total thickness of both the creeping portion and the parallel plate portion. As a result, compared with the case where a hole is provided only in the parallel plate portion and the locked portion is formed at the edge of the hole, for example, the lockable range can be doubled. Inadvertent omission can be reliably prevented.

  In the present invention, the parallel plate portion of the folded plate portion is formed with a hole portion penetrating in the plate thickness direction of the parallel plate portion, and the edge portion forming each hole portion is the above hole in the connector fitting state. It forms a locked part that can be locked with the locking part of the mating connector that has entered the part, and the creeping part of the folded plate part enters the hole of the parallel plate part and protrudes in the connector fitting state. You may comprise the contact part which contacts the said lock | rock part by the plate | board surface of the said creepage part, and enables electrical conduction.

  In this way, by forming the locked portion on the parallel plate portion and the contact portion on the side plate portion, not only the lock function for locking the connectors to one lock fitting, but also the lock fitting and the mating connector. A function for electrically connecting the lock portion can be provided.

  In the present invention, the parallel plate portion of the folded plate portion is formed with a protrusion protruding from the plate surface of the parallel plate portion, and the protrusion engages with the lock portion of the mating connector in the connector fitting state. A possible locked part may be formed. Thus, if the said protrusion is made into a to-be-locked part, the range which can be latched with respect to the said lock part can be ensured by the amount of the protrusion by enlarging the protrusion amount of this protrusion.

  In the present invention, the housing is formed such that a holding recess for receiving and holding the folded plate portion is formed by sunk from the fitting surface of the housing and opened in the connector fitting direction. The plate portion is formed with press-fitting protrusions that protrude from both side edges forming the plate thickness surface of the creeping plate portion extending in the connector insertion / extraction direction, and the creeping plate portion is press-fitted into the holding recess to hold the holding plate The folded plate part may be held in the holding recess by the press-fitting protrusion entering the corresponding surface formed in the recess.

  In this way, when the press-fitting protrusions of the creeping plate part are projected from both side edges of the creeping plate part, the press-fitting protrusions do not protrude in the plate thickness direction. The surfaces can be brought closer together. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the bending deformation of the folded plate portion and the breakage of the lock fitting.

  As described above, in the present invention, since both the creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion provided in the folded plate portion of the lock fitting are provided on the fitting surface side of the peripheral wall of the housing, the locked portion is formed. By bringing the parallel plate portion close to the creeping portion, the distance between the two plate portions can be reduced, so that bending deformation is unlikely to occur in the folded plate portion and breakage of the lock fitting can be prevented.

It is a perspective view of the plug connector which concerns on this embodiment which concerns on 1st embodiment, and the receptacle connector by which this plug connector is fitted from upper direction, and has shown the state before connector fitting. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the receptacle connector and the plug connector of FIG. 1 turned upside down, and a perspective view showing the plug connector fitted from below. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing only the lock fitting of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1 in a posture held by the receptacle connector of FIG. 1. It is the shown perspective view. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1 showing a mounting process of the lock metal fitting, in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction, (A) before mounting the lock metal fitting, and (B) installing the lock metal fitting. Shows the back. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1 taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, showing a cross section at the position of the held portion of the lock fitting in the terminal arrangement direction. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1 taken along a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction, showing a cross-section at the position of the lock portion in the range of the side wall in the terminal arrangement direction, and an end in the terminal arrangement direction; In the range of the wall, a cross section at the position of the upper end of the held portion is shown in the vertical direction. It is sectional drawing of a part of receptacle connector which shows the movement of a lock | rock metal fitting, (A) has shown the cross section in a surface orthogonal to a connector insertion / extraction direction from upper direction, (B) is a terminal arrangement direction The cross section in the plane perpendicular to the figure is shown. (A) is a perspective view which shows the lock metal fitting 60 when it exists in the attitude | position in the up-down direction in FIG. 1, (B) is a cross-sectional view of a part of the plug connector which concerns on this embodiment, A cross section on a plane perpendicular to the insertion / extraction direction is shown from above. It is a partial cross-sectional view of the plug connector according to the second embodiment, (A) shows a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion and removal direction viewed from above, (B) is a connector The longitudinal cross section in the surface perpendicular | vertical with respect to the connector width direction in a fitting state is shown. (A) is a perspective view which shows the plug connector which concerns on 3rd embodiment, (B) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the surface orthogonal to the connector width direction of a part of plug connector of (A). is there. The plug connector which concerns on 4th embodiment is shown, (A) is a perspective view of a plug connector, (B) is a cross-sectional perspective view in the surface orthogonal to the connector width direction of the plug connector of (A). It is.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the attached documents.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plug connector 2 according to this embodiment and a receptacle connector 1 into which the plug connector 2 is fitted from above, and shows a state before the connector is fitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 of FIG. 1 turned upside down, and is a perspective view showing a posture in which the plug connector 2 is fitted from below.

  The plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 1 which is a mating connector of the plug connector 2 in the present embodiment are circuit board connectors arranged on mounting surfaces of different circuit boards (not shown). A connector assembly having a direction perpendicular to the direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) as an insertion / extraction direction is configured. In this embodiment, the fitting direction of the plug connector 1 with respect to the receptacle connector 2 as the mating connector, that is, the direction in which the plug connector 2 is moved downward in FIG. 1 is referred to as “connector fitting direction” (arrow in FIG. 1). The opposite direction, that is, the upper direction in FIG. 1 will be described as a “connector extraction direction”. Further, the fitting direction and the extracting direction of the receptacle connector 2 with respect to the plug connector 1 are opposite to the “connector fitting direction” and the “connector extracting direction” of the plug connector 1 described above, respectively. When the fitting direction and the extracting direction of the receptacle connector 2 are described, they are specified as “the fitting direction of the receptacle connector 2” and “the extracting direction of the receptacle connector 2”.

  First, prior to the description of the plug connector 2, the receptacle connector 1 as a mating connector will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 is arranged and held in two rows by the receptacle-side housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and the longitudinal direction of the receptacle-side housing 10 as a terminal arrangement direction. It has a plurality of mating terminals 20, two mating lock fittings 30 and four fixing fittings 70 held at both ends of the receptacle-side housing 10 in the longitudinal direction. The receptacle connector 1 is arranged and mounted on a circuit board in the posture shown in FIG.

  The receptacle-side housing 10 is made of, for example, an electrical insulating material such as resin, and extends in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as a longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The receptacle-side housing 10 has a bottom wall 11 (see FIG. 2) parallel to the mounting surface, and a protruding wall 12 that rises upward from the bottom wall 11 and extends in the terminal arrangement direction in FIG. And a frame-shaped peripheral wall 13 that stands upward from the bottom wall 11 and surrounds the protruding wall 12. The peripheral wall 13 includes a pair of side walls 14 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of end walls 15 extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls 14. Have. An annular space that opens upward between the protruding wall 12 and the peripheral wall 13 is formed as a receiving portion 16 for receiving the peripheral wall 43 as a fitting portion of the plug connector 2. In the present embodiment, the surfaces parallel to the connector insertion / extraction direction of the protruding wall 12 and the peripheral wall 13, in other words, the outer peripheral surface of the protruding wall 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 13 facing each other are inserted / removed with the plug connector 2. It is formed as a fitting surface for joining.

  In the receptacle-side housing 10, terminal holding grooves 17 for holding the mating terminal 20 form two rows symmetrical in the connector width direction with respect to the longitudinal center line of the protruding wall 12, and are equally spaced in the terminal arrangement direction. An array is formed. Each terminal holding groove 17 continuously extends over the side surface of the projecting wall 12, the upper surface of the bottom wall 11, the inner surface of the side wall 14 (the surface facing the side surface of the projecting wall 12), the upper surface and the outer surface of the side wall 14. It is submerged and formed in a lateral S-shaped groove shape when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction.

  Further, as seen in FIG. 1, the bottom wall 11 has a fixing bracket holding groove 11A for holding the fixing bracket 70 at a position closer to both end walls in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words, at a position outside the terminal arrangement range. Is formed. The fixing bracket holding groove 11A has a slit shape extending in the vertical direction, and is opened downward and outward in the connector width direction.

  The receptacle-side housing 10 is configured to receive and hold the mating lock fitting 30 at both ends in the terminal arrangement direction, but for further understanding of the form, prior to further description of the receptacle-side housing 10, First, the counterpart lock fitting 30 will be described.

  3 is a perspective view showing only the mating lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. 1 in a posture held by the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. The mating lock fitting 30 is made by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending it in the thickness direction so as to have a bent end edge 30A. As seen in FIG. 3, the mating lock fitting 30 is generally T-shaped when viewed from above, and the two approximately L-shaped portions are symmetrically located when viewed from above, so A base portion 31 having a T-shape, a standing portion 32 that rises upward from a right end side (bending edge 30A side) portion of the base portion 31, and protrudes to the left at a position near the upper end of the standing portion 32. And a lock portion 33.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each of the two base portions 31 has a base arm portion 31A in which two strips extending in the terminal arrangement direction are overlapped by folding the metal plate, and in the plate thickness direction. The base arm portion 31A that is bent and spreads is bent in the plate thickness direction so as to be separated from each other outward in the connector width direction (direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) on the left end side of the band plate portion. Two unlocking operation portions 31B, and two extending arm portions 31C that are continuously extended from each of the unlocking operation portions 31B outward in the connector width direction.

  As seen in FIG. 3, each base arm portion 31 </ b> A has a connecting portion 31 </ b> A- 1 connected to the unlocking operation portion 31 </ b> B on the left end side. The connecting portion 31A-1 is slightly bent in the thickness direction so that the distance between the two base arm portions 31A gradually increases toward the left, and is located away from each other. The unlocking operation portion 31B is bent at an acute angle slightly smaller than a right angle with respect to the plate surface of the base arm portion 31A, and as shown in FIG. Projecting to the left in the horizontal direction). Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bent top portion protrudes out of the receptacle-side housing 10 and is exposed, and as will be described later, inwardly in the terminal arrangement direction (direction toward the protruding wall 12 side) ) Is received as an operating force for unlocking the connectors.

  The extension arm portion 31C is formed by continuously extending from the unlocking operation portion 31B, and an elastic deformation portion 31C-1 extending slightly inclined toward the rising portion 32 side toward the outside in the connector width direction. Then, a held portion 31C-2 having a plate surface that is bent at a position near the free end of the extension arm portion 31C and has an inclination opposite to the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 and perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction is formed. ing. The mating lock fitting 30 is held in the receptacle-side housing 10 by the held portion 31C-2. The elastically deforming portion 31C-1 is positioned in a free state with an interval in the terminal arrangement direction with a later-described inclined surface 18A-1 of the receptacle-side housing 10 (see the solid line portion in FIG. 7A). It can be elastically deformed toward 18A-1 (see the broken line portion in FIG. 7B), and as described later, the upright portion 32 and the lock portion 33 can be moved in the terminal arrangement direction.

  The held portion 31C-2 is formed with a locked protrusion 31C-2A that protrudes outward in the connector width direction from an upper portion of an edge portion (free end edge) extending in the vertical direction. 31C-2A can be locked in a vertical direction with a locking portion 18A-3 (described later) of the receptacle-side housing 10 (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the upright portion 32 has a state in which two vertical strips extending in the vertical direction are overlapped by folding the metal plate, and the vertical strips are in the vertical direction. Are connected by the above-described bent end edge 30 </ b> A which becomes the right end edge extending in the direction. The upright portion 32 is bent at a right angle from the left end edge of each vertical belt plate-like portion extending in the vertical direction outward in the connector width direction in the range between the base arm portion 31A and the lock portion 33 in the vertical direction. 32A to be regulated. As will be described later, the regulated portion 32A can be locked to the regulating portion 18B-1A of the receptacle-side housing 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lock portion 33 is also formed in a state where the metal plate portions are overlapped like the base arm portion 31 </ b> A and the standing portion 32, and forms a single lock portion as a whole. Yes. The lock portion 33 has a slanted edge that slopes downward as the upper edge goes to the left, and the lower edge extends in the left-right direction (terminal arrangement direction) perpendicular to the up-down direction and has a bowl shape. Is formed. As will be described later, the lock portion 33 can be locked upward with respect to a locked portion 62C-1 of a lock fitting 60 described later provided in the plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state. Yes.

  Returning to the description of the receptacle-side housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle-side housing 10 is configured such that the two receiving grooves 18 for receiving the mating lock fitting 30 are symmetrical with respect to the center position in the terminal arrangement direction. These are formed in a substantially T shape as viewed from above (both bottom wall 11 side) in the terminal arrangement direction, and open upward.

  Hereinafter, the shape of the accommodation groove 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Here, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the mating lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. Before installation, (B) shows after the mating lock fitting 30 is installed. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and shows a cross section at the position of the held portion 31C-2 of the mating lock fitting 30 in the terminal arrangement direction. ing. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction, and shows a cross section at the position of the lock portion 33 in the range of the side wall 14 in the terminal arrangement direction. In the range of the end wall 15 in the terminal arrangement direction, a cross section at the position of the upper end of the held portion 31C-2 is shown in the vertical direction. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the receptacle connector 1 showing the movement of the mating lock fitting 30, and FIG. 7A shows a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction as viewed from above ( B) shows a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

  4A, the receiving groove 18 is formed on the bottom wall 11 at the bottom of the end wall 15 and is formed on the bottom wall 11 and extends in the connector width direction, and the protruding wall 12. Are formed in an end portion in the terminal arrangement direction and a bottom wall at a position inside the terminal arrangement direction below the end portion and extending in the vertical direction, and in the end wall 15 and the bottom wall 11, The groove 18A and the inner groove 18B have a bottom groove 18C extending in the terminal arrangement direction so as to communicate with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer groove portion 18A extends over almost the whole area except for both ends in the same direction in the connector width direction, and is open to the bottom wall 11 side (upward in FIG. 2) and outward in the terminal arrangement direction. It accommodates the two extended arm portions 31C of the counterpart lock fitting 30 (see also FIG. 4B). Further, the outer groove portion 18A is inclined at a position corresponding to the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 of each extension arm portion 31C in the connector width direction, and the inclined surface 18A- is inclined outward in the terminal arrangement direction as it goes inward in the connector width direction. 1 is formed. As described above, the inclined surface 18A-1 forms a gap with the elastic deformation portion 31C-1.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, slit-shaped holding groove portions for receiving and holding the held portions 31C-2 of the extended arm portions 31C at both ends in the connector width direction of the outer groove portions 18A. 18A-2 extends in the vertical direction and is formed to open inward in the connector width direction (see also FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 5, the holding groove portion 18A-2 has a groove inner wall surface facing the edge extending in the vertical direction of the held portion 31C-2 among the groove inner wall surfaces forming the holding groove portion 18A-2. In the upper part, a stepped shape that can be locked to the lower edge facing the lower edge of the locked protrusion 31C-2A at a position lower than the locked protrusion 31C-2A of the held part 31C-2 The locking portion 18A-3 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the bottom groove portion 18C penetrates in the vertical direction (see also FIG. 7B), and in the base arm portion 31A in FIG. The part except the edge part located in is accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the inner groove portion 18B is formed by sunk from the end surface (surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of the projecting wall 12, and downward and outward in the terminal arrangement direction (see FIG. 4A). 4 (A) left). In the inner groove portion 18B, a protruding portion 18B-1 protruding from the inner wall surface of the groove is formed on the inner wall surface of the groove facing each other in the connector width direction at a position outward in the terminal arrangement direction. The protruding portion 18B-1 has a substantially L shape when viewed in the connector width direction, and a vertical portion extending substantially over the entire area of the inner groove portion 18B in the vertical direction at an intermediate position in the terminal arrangement direction of the inner groove portion 18B, The vertical portion is formed from a horizontal portion extending outward in the terminal arrangement direction from the lower portion, and the vertical portion and the horizontal portion form the substantially L shape.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the protruding portion 18 </ b> B- 1 protrudes in a region corresponding to the right end portion and the standing portion 32 of the base arm portion 31 </ b> A of the mating lock fitting 30. The distance between the projecting facing surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the connector width direction) of the tops of the projecting portions 18B-1 facing each other in the connector width direction is slightly larger than the width dimension of the base arm portion 31A and the standing portion 32. Widely formed (see also FIGS. 6 and 7A). Therefore, the protruding portion 18B-1 is positioned such that the protruding opposing surface can come into contact with the respective side surfaces of the end portion and the standing portion 32 of the base arm portion 31A with a slight gap. The positions of the right end portion and the standing portion 32 in the connector width direction are restricted. In addition, it is not essential to provide the vertical portion in the protruding portion 18B-1, and for example, the standing portion 32 of the mating lock fitting 30 has sufficient rigidity so that it is difficult to be displaced in the connector width direction. In this case, the vertical portion may be omitted from the protrusion 18B-1 and only the horizontal portion may be configured.

  A lateral portion of the protruding portion 18B-1 is formed as a step-like restricting portion 18B-1A located below the restricted portion 32A of the standing portion 32. As shown in FIG. 4B, the upper end surface of the restricting portion 18B-1A faces the lower edge of the restricted portion 32A and is positioned so as to be vertically engageable with the lower edge. The downward movement of the lock fitting 30 is restricted. In addition, an inclined surface 18B-1B is formed at the lower corner of the restricting portion 18B-1A. The inclined surface 18B-1B is inclined inward in the terminal arrangement direction as it goes downward. The inclined surface 18B-1B functions as a guide surface for guiding the restricted portion 32A when the mating lock fitting 30 is attached to the receptacle-side housing 10, as will be described later.

  4A and 4B, the protruding wall 12 has a groove bottom 18B-2 (terminal arrangement direction) of the inner groove portion 18B from the vertical portion of the protrusion 18B-1 in the terminal arrangement direction. The upper wall 12A that closes the upper side of the inner groove portion 18B is formed in a range extending to a plane perpendicular to the upper surface of the inner groove portion 18B. The lower surface of the upper wall 12A faces the upper edge of the upright portion 32 of the mating lock fitting 30 and is positioned so as to be engageable with the upper edge (see also FIG. 7B), as will be described later. Further, the upward displacement of the upper portion of the upright portion 32 is restricted.

  Next, the attachment of the mating lock fitting 30 to the receptacle housing 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The mating lock fitting 30 is attached to the receiving groove 18 of the receptacle-side housing 10 from below as shown in FIG. In the mounting process of the mating lock fitting 30, the latching protrusion 31C-2A of the held portion 31C-2 of the mating lock fitting 30 is in the groove of the holding groove 18A-2 (see FIG. 5) of the outer groove 18A. When pressed against the wall surface (surface perpendicular to the connector width direction), the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 elastically deforms away from the inclined surface 18A-1 of the outer groove portion 18A. Further upward movement of the holding portion 31C-2 is allowed. When the locked protrusion 31C-2A reaches above the locking portion 18A-3 of the holding groove 18A-2, as shown in FIG. 5, the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 is caused by the elastic restoring force. Deformation is performed so as to reduce the amount of elastic deformation, and the locked projection 31C-2A is positioned so as to be locked downward with respect to the locking portion 18A-3. Further, the edge portion extending in the vertical direction of the held portion 31C-2 abuts on the inner wall surface of the groove of the holding groove portion 18A-2 with contact pressure, and is held in the holding groove portion 18A-2 by the contact pressure.

  Further, in the process of attaching the mating lock fitting 30, the regulated portion 32A of the standing portion 32 of the mating lock fitting 30 is in contact with the inclined surface 18B-1B formed on the regulating portion 18B-1A of the protruding portion 18B-1. Touch. When the regulated portion 32A receives a pressing force directed outward in the terminal arrangement direction from the inclined surface 18B-1B, the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 elastically deforms away from the inclined surface 18A-1 of the outer groove portion 18A. As a result, the regulated portion 32A is displaced outward in the terminal arrangement direction (leftward in FIGS. 4A and 4B), and the regulated portion 32A is allowed to move further upward. When the restricted portion 32A reaches above the restricting portion 18B-1A, the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 is released from the elastically deformed state, and the restricted portion 32A is moved inward in the terminal arrangement direction by the elastic restoring force (see FIG. 4 (A) and (B) are displaced to the right) and returned, the regulated portion 32A is positioned so as to be locked downward with respect to the regulating portion 18B-1A.

  As described above, the held portion 31C-2 and the restricted portion 32A of the mating lock fitting 30 can be engaged with the engaging portion 18A-3 and the restricting portion 18B-1A of the receptacle-side housing 10, respectively. As a result of the positioning, the mating lock fitting 30 is housed and held in the housing groove 18 and the attachment of the mating lock fitting 30 is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mating terminal 20 is formed by bending a strip obtained by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction. The mating terminal 20 has an overall S-shape when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction, and a contact portion 21 bent so as to come into contact with the terminal 50 provided on the plug connector 2 is formed on one end side and on the circuit board. A connecting portion 22 that is solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion is formed on the other end side. The counterpart terminal 20 is attached by being press-fitted into the terminal holding groove 17 from above so that the held portion 23 having an inverted U shape straddles the side wall 14 when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction. The side walls 14 are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction. The held portion 23 is formed with a locking projection 23A for engaging with the terminal 50 so as to protrude toward the contact portion 21 side.

  In the state where the mating terminal 20 is held in the terminal holding groove 17, as shown in FIG. 1, the contact portion 21 of the mating terminal 20 protrudes from the side surface of the protruding wall 12 toward the receiving portion 16, and The lock protrusion 23 </ b> A protrudes from the inner surface of the side wall 14 toward the receiving portion 16. Further, the connection portion 22 of the mating terminal 20 extends from the receptacle-side housing 10 outward in the connector width direction at substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the receptacle-side housing 10.

  The fixture 70 is made by punching the metal plate so as to maintain the flat surface of the metal plate, and is press-fitted from below into the fixture holding groove 11A of the receptacle-side housing 10 and is held. The fixing fitting 70 contributes to fixing the receptacle connector 1 to the circuit board by being soldered to a corresponding part (not shown) of the circuit board.

  Next, the configuration of the plug connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7B. The plug connector 2 includes a plug-side housing 40 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, a plurality of terminals 50 arranged and held in two rows by the plug-side housing 40 with the longitudinal direction of the plug-side housing 40 as a terminal arrangement direction, and the longitudinal And two lock fittings 60 held at both ends (end wall 45 described later) of the plug-side housing 40 in the direction. The plug connector 2 is disposed and mounted on the circuit board in the posture shown in FIG. 2, and is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 1 in a posture reversed upside down as shown in FIG.

  The plug-side housing 40 is made of, for example, an electrical insulating material such as resin, and extends in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as a longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The plug-side housing 40 includes a bottom wall 41 (see FIG. 1) parallel to the mounting surface and a frame-like fitting portion that stands upward from the bottom wall 41 as seen in FIG. As a peripheral wall 43. The peripheral wall 43 includes a pair of side walls 44 extending in the terminal arrangement direction and a pair of end walls 45 extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls 44. Have. A space surrounded by the peripheral wall 43 and opening upward is formed as a receiving portion 46 for receiving the protruding wall 12 of the receptacle connector 1. In the present embodiment, a surface parallel to the connector insertion / extraction direction of the peripheral wall 43, in other words, an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 43 are formed as fitting surfaces for insertion / removal fitting with the receptacle connector 1. ing.

  As is often seen in FIG. 7B, the end wall 45 has a holding recess 45A for receiving and holding a folded plate portion 62 of a lock fitting 60 (described later) attached to the end wall 45. It is formed so as to sink from the inner wall surface (fitting surface) of 45 and open upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the bottom wall 41 is formed with a through hole 41A penetrating in a slit shape in the vertical direction above the holding recess 45A and communicating with the holding recess 45A (see FIG. 7B). (See also 1).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the end wall 45 is formed with a guide portion 45B for guiding the plug connector 2 above the holding recess 45A. The upper surface of the guide portion 45B is inclined downward toward the terminal arrangement direction, and a guide surface for guiding the plug connector 2 to the receiving portion 16 of the receptacle-side housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction in the connector fitting process. Function as. The guide portion 45B is cut out at the center position in the connector width direction. The notched portion 45C, which is the notched portion, is formed at the same position as a hole 62C of the phase lock fitting 60 described later in the connector width direction. In the connector fitting process, since the lock portion 33 of the mating metal 30 of the receptacle connector 1 passes through the notch 45C, interference between the lock portion 33 and the guide portion 45B can be avoided. Damage (shaving) can be prevented.

  The terminal 50 is formed by bending a strip-like piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the plate thickness direction. The terminals 50 are integrally molded and held on the respective side walls 44 of the plug-side housing 40, and are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the side walls 44. The terminal 50 is connected to the straight connection portion 51 extending from the side wall 44 outward in the connector width direction at substantially the same height as the bottom wall 41 of the plug-side housing 40, and the connection portion 51 in FIG. And an inverted U-shaped portion which is bent toward the upper side (downward in FIG. 1) and folded back into an inverted U shape and embedded and held in the side wall 44. The inverted U-shaped portion extends along the side wall 44 and is exposed such that the inverted U-shaped plate surface is flush with the side wall 44.

  Of the two legs of the inverted U-shaped portion of the terminal 50, one leg located on the inner side of the side wall 44 receives the protruding contact portion 21 of the mating terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1, and A contact recess 52 for contacting the contact portion 21 is formed by sunk from the plate surface. Further, the other leg portion located on the outer surface side of the side wall 44 has a recessed portion 53 to be locked for receiving the locking projection 23A of the mating terminal 20 and engaging with the locking projection 23A from the plate surface. Is formed.

  FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the lock fitting 60 when it is in the vertical orientation in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional view of the plug connector 2 according to this embodiment. It is a figure and the cross section in the surface perpendicular | vertical with respect to the connector insertion / extraction direction is shown seeing from upper direction. As shown in FIG. 8A, the lock fitting 60 is made by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending it so as to be folded back in the plate thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 7B, the lock fitting 60 is substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the bottom wall 41 (upper surface in FIG. 1) at the position of the end wall 45 of the plug-side housing 40 in the terminal arrangement direction. A fixing portion 61 (see also FIG. 1) extending outward in the terminal arrangement direction at the position, and continuously downward (upward in FIG. 2) in FIG. It has a folded plate portion 62 that is bent and folded upward (downward in FIG. 2) at the lower end (folded edge portion 62D described later) (see also FIG. 8A).

  The fixing part 61 contributes to fixing the plug connector 2 to the circuit board by being soldered to a corresponding part (not shown) of the circuit board. 7B and 8B, the folded-back plate portion 62 has a plug-side housing on the inner wall surface side of the end wall 45, that is, on the fitting surface side that forms the receiving portion 46. It is accommodated and held in 40 holding recesses 45A. The folded plate portion 62 has two plate portions that are parallel to the inner wall surface folded at the lower end of the folded plate portion 62 so that the terminal is located at a folded edge 62D that extends in the connector width direction. They are provided facing each other in the arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, of the two plate portions of the folded plate portion 62, the upper end is positioned along the plane including the inner wall surface on the outer side in the terminal arrangement direction (left side in FIG. 7B) and including the inner wall surface. The plate portion connected to the plate portion is referred to as a “coiling portion 62A”, and is parallel to the opposite side of the above-described creeping portion with the folded edge portion 62D as a boundary on the inner side in the terminal arrangement direction (right side in FIG. 7B). The positioned plate portion is referred to as “parallel plate portion 62B”.

  As shown in FIG. 7B and FIGS. 8A and 8B, the creeping portion 62A and the parallel plate portion 62B have holes 62C penetrating in the plate thickness direction as seen from the terminal arrangement direction. They are formed at the same position (see also FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, these two hole portions 62C are combined to function as a locked portion 62C-1 for engaging with the lock portion 33 of the mating lock fitting 30 (see FIG. 7B). Further, as is often seen in FIG. 8 (A), the folded plate portion in the holding recess 45A of the plug-side housing 40 is formed on both side edges forming a thick plate surface extending in the vertical direction on both sides of the creeping plate portion 62A. A press-fitting protrusion 62A-1 for locking and holding at the time of press-fitting 62 is formed to protrude.

  Further, in the lock fitting 60 in the posture shown in FIG. 8 (A), the parallel plate portion 62B is located at the upper end position of both side edge portions forming the plate thickness surfaces extending in the vertical direction on both sides of the parallel plate portion 62B. A stopper protrusion 62B-1 is formed to protrude to prevent the lock fitting 60 from being pulled out when the connector is unintentionally pulled out. The stopper 62B-1 is a receptacle connector with respect to a stopper step (not shown) formed in the holding recess 45 in a state where the folded plate 62 is held in the holding recess 45 of the plug-side housing 40. 1 is positioned so as to be able to be locked in the extraction direction (for example, the lower side in FIG. 7B). When the plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state receives an unintentional extraction output, the extraction output in the direction of extraction of the receptacle connector 1 acts on the lock fitting 60. At this time, the stopper projection 62B-1 of the parallel plate portion 62B is engaged with the stopper step portion of the plug-side housing 40, thereby preventing the lock fitting 60 from being pulled out in the extraction direction.

  The lock fitting 60 is attached to the plug-side housing 40 by press-fitting the folded plate portion 62 from the bottom surface side of the bottom wall 41 (above FIG. 7B) into the holding recess 45A through the through hole 41A. When the mounting is completed, the press-fit protrusion 62A-1 of the creeping plate portion 62A bites into both inner edge portions corresponding to the corresponding surfaces extending in the vertical direction of the holding recess 45A, thereby preventing the lock fitting 60 from coming off. The Further, the plate surface of the parallel plate portion 62B is exposed toward the receiving portion 46 so as to form the same surface as the inner wall surface of the end wall 45 (see also FIG. 2).

  Next, a connector fitting operation between the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7A and 7B. First, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are attached to the corresponding circuit boards by solder connection. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 is set in a posture in which the receiving portion 16 faces upward, and the receiving portion 46 (see FIG. 2) of the plug connector 2 is below the receptacle connector 1. The posture is suitable for.

  Next, the plug connector 2 is lowered while maintaining the posture of FIG. 1 so that the protruding wall 12 of the receptacle connector 1 enters the receiving portion 46 of the plug connector 2 from below, and the peripheral wall 43 of the plug connector 2 is received by the receptacle. The connector 1 is inserted into the receiving portion 16 from above. As a result, the contact portion 21 and the locking projection 23A of the mating terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 enter and lock into the contact recess 52 and the locked recess 53 of the terminal 50 of the plug connector 2, respectively. Contact and locking in the connector extraction direction (upward).

  Further, in the connector fitting process, the lower end of the folded plate portion 62 of the lock fitting 60 comes into contact with the upper edge (inclined edge) of the lock portion 33 of the mating lock fitting 30, and the lock portion 33 is moved inward in the terminal arrangement direction. Press with a directing pressure. When the lock portion 33 receives the above pressing force, the lock portion 33 has a groove bottom 18B-2 (surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of the inner groove portion 18B, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. (See also FIG. 4) and moves toward the side and is accommodated in the inner groove portion 18B. At this time, the movement of the lock portion 33 is allowed by elastic deformation of the extension arm portion 31 </ b> C of the counterpart lock fitting 30. Specifically, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7A, the elastically deforming portion 31C-1 of the extended arm portion 31C has a terminal position in the vicinity of the boundary position with the held portion 31C-2 as a fulcrum. Inwardly speaking, in other words, elastically deforms toward the inclined surface 18A-1 of the outer groove 18A. As a result, the connecting portions 31A-1 of the mating lock fitting 30 are displaced so as to approach each other, and the standing portion 32 and the lock portion 33 are directed inward in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, the groove bottom 18B-2 of the inner groove portion 18B. Move to the side.

  Further, when the folding edge portion 62D located at the lower end of the folding plate portion 62 abuts on the upper edge of the lock portion 33, the lock portion 33 has an inclined edge at the upper edge that receives the pressing force. In addition to the pressing force of the component force directed inward in the terminal arrangement direction described above, the pressing force of the component force directed downward is also received. However, in the present embodiment, the restricting portion 18B-1A of the receptacle-side housing 10 is positioned below the restricted portion 32A of the mating lock fitting 30 so as to be able to be engaged with the regulated portion 32A. Is prevented from being removed from the receptacle-side housing 10 from the receptacle-side housing 10.

  As described above, when the lock portion 33 is accommodated in the inner groove portion 18B, the plug connector 2 can be further lowered. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the hole 62C of the lock fitting 60 reaches the position of the lock portion 33 of the mating lock fitting 30, and the lock portion 33 is released from the above pressing force, As shown by the solid line in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the extended arm portion 31C is released from the elastically deformed state and returns to the free state by its elastic restoring force. As a result, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 7B, the lock portion 33 enters the hole portion 62C and pulls out the connector with respect to the locked portion 62C-1, that is, the lower edge of the hole portion 62C. It is positioned so that it can be locked in the direction (upward), and is in a locked state.

  In the present embodiment, the folded plate portion 62 is located on the inner wall surface side of the end wall 45 of the plug-side housing 40, that is, on one fitting surface side. That is, since the folded-back plate part 62 does not straddle the end wall 45, the creeping plate part 62A and the parallel plate part 62B can be provided to face each other at positions close to each other in the terminal arrangement direction. Thus, by providing the parallel plate portion 62B at a position close to the creeping plate portion 62A, between the locked portion 62C-1 of the parallel plate portion 62B and the creeping plate portion 62A held by the plug-side housing 60. The distance can be reduced. Therefore, even if an external force in the connector pulling direction as an inadvertent pulling force acts on the plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state, the locked portion 62C-1 of the parallel plate portion 62B receives the pulling output. Since the folding distance is less likely to occur in the folded-back plate portion 62, the breakage of the lock fitting 60 can be prevented.

  Further, the above-described extraction output also acts on the locked portion 62C-1 of the creeping plate portion 62A. However, the creeping plate portion 62A is held by the plug-side housing 40 by the press-fit projection 62A-1, and the press-fit projection portion. Since the distance between the terminal 62A-1 and the locked portion 62C-1 in the terminal arrangement direction is zero, the folded plate portion is not deformed and the breakage of the lock fitting 60 can be prevented.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the to-be-locked part 62C-1 of the lock metal fitting 60 is the same at the same position in the two plate parts of the folded plate part 62 of the lock metal fitting 60, that is, the outer plate part 62A and the inner plate part 62B. Since it is formed as an edge of a hole that penetrates by diameter, the portion that can be locked to the lock portion 33 of the mating lock fitting 30 compared to the case where the locked portion is provided only on one plate portion. The range doubles as the thickness of the two sheets, and the certainty and stability of the locked state can be improved accordingly. In this embodiment, although the to-be-locked part was provided in two board parts, it cannot be overemphasized that a locked state can be further stabilized by providing in three or more board parts.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the press-fit protrusions 62A-1 of the creeping plate portion 62A protrude from both side edges that form the plate thickness surface of the creeping plate portion 62A. That is, since the press-fit protrusion 62A-1 does not protrude in the plate thickness direction, the plate surfaces of the creeping plate portion 62A and the parallel plate portion 62B can be brought closer to each other. As a result, the folded-back plate portion 62 is less likely to be deformed, and damage to the lock fitting 62 can be prevented more reliably. Further, since the press-fitting protrusion 62A-1 does not protrude in the plate thickness direction, the wall thickness of the end wall 45 can be secured correspondingly, and the strength of the end wall 45 can be maintained large.

  In this manner, the terminals 20 and 50 are connected and locked to each other, and the mating lock fittings 30 and 60 are locked to complete the connector fitting operation. As described above, the protruding wall 12 of the receptacle-side housing 10 is provided with the upper wall 12A that faces the upper edge of the upright portion of the mating lock fitting 30 and that can be locked with the upper edge. Therefore, even if the plug connector 2 is inadvertently raised in the connector extraction direction (upward) in the connector fitting state, the upper edge of the upright portion 32 is locked to the lower surface of the upper wall 12A. The displacement of the upper portion of the upright portion 32 is restricted. As a result, the locked state of the lock portion 33 of the mating lock fitting 30 and the locked portion 62C-1 of the lock fitting 60 is maintained, and a stable locked state can be maintained.

  Further, as described above, the upright portion 32 and the base arm portion 31A of the mating lock fitting 30 are positioned in the connector width direction by the projecting facing surface of the projecting portion 18B-1 projecting from the facing inner wall surface of the inner groove portion 18B. Therefore, the locked state between the lock portion 33 and the locked portion 62C-1 can be reliably ensured, and a stable locked state can be maintained.

  Next, the connector extracting operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B). When the plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state with the receptacle connector 1 is pulled out, the unlocking operation part 31B of the mating lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 is pressed inward in the terminal arrangement direction to perform the releasing operation. I do. When the unlocking operation portion 31B receives the pressing force inward in the terminal arrangement direction as a release operation force, the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 of the extension arm portion 31C is elastically deformed in the same direction. Then, similarly to the description of the connector fitting process described above, the connecting portions 31A-1 of the mating lock fitting 30 are displaced so as to approach each other, and the upright portions 32 and the lock portions 33 are inward in the terminal arrangement direction. Toward the groove bottom 18B-2 side of the inner groove 18B (see the broken lines in FIGS. 7A and 7B).

  As a result, the lock portion 33 is accommodated in the inner groove portion 18B, and the locked state in which the lock portion 33 and the locked portion 62C-1 of the lock fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 can be locked is released. Then, by lifting the plug connector 2 in the connector extraction direction (upward), the plug connector 2 is extracted without difficulty, and the connector extraction operation is completed.

  In the present embodiment, the mating lock metal fitting 30 has the upright portion 32 positioned in the inner groove portion 18B, and the lock portion 33 protrudes from the upper portion of the upright portion 32 toward the outside of the inner groove portion 18B. Is located. In other words, the upright portion 32 and the lock portion 33 are located within the range between the end walls 15 in the terminal arrangement direction, and move within this range. Therefore, even if the protrusion amount of the lock portion 33 is secured to a large extent, the lock portion 33 and the upright portion 32 are allowed to move in the terminal arrangement direction within the above-described range regardless of the presence or absence of the counterpart lock fitting 30. Space can be easily secured, and an increase in size of the connector can be avoided in the terminal arrangement direction. Moreover, in this embodiment, the part distribute | arranged in the said range among the other party lock metal fittings 30 has comprised the plate shape which has a board surface at right angle with respect to a connector width direction. Therefore, since the dimension corresponding to the plate thickness of the portion in the connector width direction only needs to be secured in the range between the side walls 14 in the same direction, an increase in size of the connector can be avoided in the same direction.

  Further, since the protruding wall 12 extends in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle-side housing 10, the groove portion (inner groove portion 18B) is compared with the case where the groove portion is formed in the wall thickness of the end wall. The depth can be increased sufficiently. Therefore, even if the protruding amount of the lock portion 33 is ensured to be large, the upright portion 32 can move within the inner groove portion 18B by a size necessary for the lock portion 33 to be accommodated in the inner groove portion 18B. That is, since the protrusion amount of the lock part 33 can be made sufficiently large to secure a large range of the part that can be locked with the locked part 62C-1 of the lock fitting 60, a reliable locked state can be stably obtained. it can.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the movement in the terminal arrangement direction of the lock part 33 and the standing part 32 is permitted by the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation part 31 </ b> C- 1 provided in the base part 31 of the mating lock fitting 30. Thus, by providing the elastic deformation portion 31C-1 in the base portion 31, it is not necessary to give the lock portion 33 itself elasticity, so that the rigidity of the lock portion 33 itself and the strength can be increased, and a stable locked state is obtained. be able to. Further, by increasing the protruding amount of the lock portion 33, the rigidity and consequently the strength of the lock portion 33 can be further increased, so that the stability of the locked state can be further improved.

  In the present embodiment, the folded plate portion 62 of the lock fitting 60 has the locked portion 62C formed on both the creeping plate portion 62A and the parallel plate portion 62B. However, when the lock strength can be sufficiently secured. The locking portion 62C may be formed only in one of the creeping plate portion 62A and the parallel plate portion 62B.

  When the locked portion 62C is formed only on the creeping plate portion 62A, for example, in FIG. 7B, the vertical dimension of the hole portion 62C of the creeping plate portion 62A is slightly reduced to The edge is positioned above the lower edge of the hole 62C of the parallel plate part 62B. As a result, when the plug connector 2 is lifted upward, only the lower edge of the hole 62C of the creeping plate portion 62A is engaged with the lock portion 33 of the mating lock fitting 30, and only the lower edge is It functions as the locked part 62C-1. In FIG. 7B, the vertical dimension of the hole 62C of the parallel plate portion 62B is slightly reduced so that the lower edge of the hole 62C is higher than the lower edge of the hole 62C of the creeping plate portion 62A. If positioned, the locked portion 62C-1 can be formed only on the parallel plate portion 62B.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the folded-back plate portion 62 of the lock fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 is an inner wall surface (surface that forms the receiving portion 46) as one fitting surface formed on the end wall 45 of the plug-side housing 40. However, in the second embodiment, the folded plate portion is provided on the outer wall surface side as the other fitting surface of the end wall. In this respect, the configuration differs from that of the first embodiment. Yes. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the plug connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken on a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction, as viewed from above. ) Shows a longitudinal section on a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction in the connector fitting state. The shape of the plug connector of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the position and shape of the folded plate portion of the lock metal fitting. The description is omitted.

  9A and 9B, in the second embodiment, the holding recess 145A for receiving and holding the folded plate portion 162 of the lock fitting 160 is the end wall 145 of the plug-side housing 140. It is formed so as to sink from the outer wall surface (fitting surface) and open upward in FIG. 9B. 9B, the bottom wall 141 is opened upward at a position above the holding recess 145A and outward in the terminal arrangement direction (leftward in FIG. 9B). A communicating recess 141A is formed.

  The lock fitting 160 is folded back when the creeping portion 162A on which the press-fitting protrusion 162A-1 is formed is press-fitted into the holding recess 145A from above in FIG. 9B and accommodated and held in the holding recess 145A. A plate portion 162 is provided on the outer surface side of the end wall 145. In the present embodiment, the creeping part 162A is on the inner side in the terminal arrangement direction (right side in FIGS. 9A and 9B), and the parallel plate part 162B is on the outer side in the terminal arrangement direction (FIGS. 9A and 9B). Left). The plate surface of the parallel plate portion 162B is exposed outward in the terminal arrangement direction so as to form the same surface as the outer wall surface of the end wall 145. 9B, the fixing portion 161 is bent at a right angle toward the outside in the terminal arrangement direction at the upper end of the creeping portion 162A and extends out of the plug-side housing 140. As shown in FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 9B, in this embodiment, the mating lock fitting 130 of the receptacle connector 101 is provided with the upright portion 132 and the lock portion 133 on the end wall 145 side, and the lock portion 133 is arranged in the terminal arrangement. It protrudes inward in the direction (rightward in FIG. 9B) and is located in the receiving portion 116. In the mating lock fitting 130, the upright portion 132 and the lock portion 133 are movable in the same direction by elastically deforming the elastic deformation portion 131C-1 in the terminal arrangement direction. In the connector fitting state, as shown in FIG. 9B, the lock portion 133 of the mating lock fitting 130 is inserted into the respective holes 162C of the creeping plate portion 162A and the parallel plate portion 162B of the lock fitting 160. It enters, and it is located so that it can be locked in the connector extraction direction with respect to the locked portion 162C-1 formed at the lower edge of the hole portion 162C. As a result, inadvertent disconnection between the connectors is prevented.

<Third embodiment>
In the second embodiment, a hole 162C is formed in both the creeping part 162A and the parallel plate part 162B of the lock fitting 160, and the locked part forms 162C-1 at the edge part of both the hole parts 162C. However, in the third embodiment, the hole and the locked part are formed only in the parallel plate part, and the creeping part is in contact with the lock part of the mating lock metal fitting and is electrically conductive, In this respect, the configuration is different from that of the second embodiment.

  FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a plug connector according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction of a part of the plug connector of FIG. FIG. Since the shape of the plug connector of the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment except for the shape of the creeping plate portion of the lock fitting, the same part is denoted by “100” in the reference numeral of the second embodiment. In addition, explanation is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the creeping plate portion 262A of the lock fitting 260 of the plug connector 202 according to the third embodiment closes the hole 162C in the creeping plate portion 162A of the second embodiment. In other words, a plate-like portion having a plate surface as a whole is formed without forming the hole 162C in the creeping portion 162A.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 10A and 10B, stopper portions 262B-1 are formed to protrude at the lower end positions of the edge portions extending in the vertical direction on both sides of the parallel plate portion 262B. Further, the stopper portion 262B-1 is located at the lower end position of the inner wall surface (surface perpendicular to the connector width direction) located on both sides in the connector width direction among the inner wall surfaces forming the holding recess 245A of the plug-side housing 240. A stopper step portion 245A-1 that can be locked to is formed. As a result, when the plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state receives an inadvertent pullout output, the stopper protrusion 262B-1 is locked to the stopper step 245A-1, so that the receptacle connector 202 is The lock fitting 260 is prevented from coming off in the pulling direction.

  In the third embodiment, the lock metal fitting 260 and the mating lock metal fitting 230 have not only a lock function for locking connectors, but also a function as a terminal that is electrically connected to each other when they are in contact with each other. Specifically, the creeping plate portion 262A of the lock fitting 260 and the lock portion 233 of the mating lock fitting 230 function as a contact portion that contacts each other. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10B, in the connector fitting state, the lock portion 233 of the mating lock fitting 230 enters the hole 262C of the parallel plate portion 262B and is locked 262C- 1 when the tip protruding from the hole 262C comes into contact with the plate surface of the plate portion 232A as the contact portion (plate surface facing the creeping portion 262A). The metal fitting 260 and the mating lock metal fitting 230 can be electrically connected.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the locked portion 62C-1 of the lock fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 is provided at the edge of the hole 62C of the folded plate portion 62. However, in the fourth embodiment, the locked portion is folded. It is formed as a protrusion protruding from the plate surface of the parallel plate portion of the plate portion, and is different from the first embodiment in this point. 11A and 11B show a plug connector 502 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing the plug connector 502, and FIG. 11B shows the connector width direction of the plug connector 502 in FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view in a perpendicular | vertical surface. Since the shape of the plug connector 502 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the plug connector 2 of the first embodiment except for the lock portion and the creepage portion, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts. 500 "is added and the description is omitted.

  As seen in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the creeping plate portion 562A and the parallel plate portion 562B of the lock fitting 560 are not formed with holes as in the first embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the locked portion 562C of the lock fitting 560 is formed as a protrusion that protrudes inward in the terminal arrangement direction from the plate surface of the parallel plate portion 562B. As shown in FIG. 11B, the locked portion 562C is formed by pressing the inner plate portion 562B. In the connector fitting state, as shown in FIG. 11B, the locked portion 562C is positioned below the lock portion 533 of the mating lock fitting 530 of the receptacle connector 501 and is connected to the lock portion 533. It is positioned so as to be able to be locked in the extraction direction (upward).

  In the fourth embodiment, as described above, the locked portion 562C is formed as a protrusion. Therefore, by increasing the protrusion amount of the protrusion, the lock portion 562C is locked to the lock portion 533 of the mating lock fitting 530. A possible range can be ensured by the amount of protrusion.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the lower edge of the lock portion of the mating lock fitting extends substantially at right angles to the vertical direction, and the plug connector needs to be unlocked at another site. However, instead of this, it may have an inclined edge that is inclined upward as it goes outward in the terminal arrangement direction. When the lock portion is provided with an inclined edge in this way, when the plug connector is pulled upward with a certain amount of output when the connector is pulled out, the locked portion becomes the inclined edge (lower edge) of the lock portion. The lock portion is pressed toward the inside of the terminal arrangement direction. As a result, the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion of the lock fitting allows the lock portion to move inward in the terminal arrangement direction, and the lock state is released, so that the plug connector can be pulled out. That is, since the plug connector can be pulled out only by raising the plug connector, there is no need to provide a lock release operation portion in the lock portion. Such a configuration is preferably applied to a connector whose locking strength is not so high. In addition, the same effect can be obtained when an inclined edge that is inclined downward as it goes inward in the terminal arrangement direction is provided at the edge of the locked part instead of the lower edge of the locking part or together with the lower edge of the locking part. It is done.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the lock fitting is provided with the press-fitting protrusion for being held by the housing in the creeping part. However, the press-fitting protrusion may be provided together with the creeping part or the creeping plate. It may replace with a part and may be provided in the parallel plate part. When the press-fitting protrusion is provided on the parallel plate part, both the locked part and the press-fitting protrusion are provided on the parallel plate part. Therefore, in the opposing direction of the creeping part and the parallel plate part. The distance between the press-fit protrusion and the locked portion is zero. Therefore, even if an external force in the connector extraction direction as an inadvertent extraction output acts on the mating connector in the connector-fitted state, the folded plate portion does not undergo bending deformation, and damage to the lock fitting can be prevented.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the connector and the mating connector are electrical connectors for circuit boards. However, the type of connector is not limited to this, for example, an electrical connector for a cable connected to a cable. Also good. In the first to fourth embodiments, the lock metal fitting is provided on the plug connector, but instead, it may be provided on the receptacle-side connector.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the lock fitting is held by the end wall of the housing, but may be held by the side wall of the housing instead. In this case, the position of the folded plate portion of the lock fitting needs to be on the fitting surface side of the side wall, and if it is formed as the fitting surface, the inner side surface side and the outer side surface of the side wall. It may be on either side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receptacle connector 62 Folding plate part 2 Plug connector (mating connector) 62A Side plate part 33 Lock part 62A-1 Press-fit protrusion 40 Plug side housing 62B Parallel plate part 50 Terminal 62C Hole part 60 Locking bracket 62C-1 Locked part

Claims (5)

An electrical connector in which a mating surface for mating with a mating connector is formed on the peripheral surface of the housing,
The electrical connector includes a housing having the fitting surface formed in parallel to the connector insertion / extraction direction, a plurality of terminals arranged and held in the housing, and a position outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. In the electrical connector having a lock fitting that is held in the housing and can be locked in the connector extraction direction with respect to the lock portion provided in the mating connector,
The lock fitting is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction, and the folded plate portion having two plate portions that are parallel to the fitting surface of the housing and face each other, It is held by the housing so as to be located on the mating surface side,
The folded plate portion has a folded edge portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the connector inserting / removing direction at a tip position of the folded plate portion in the connector pulling direction, and the two folded plate portions of the folded plate portion Of these, one plate portion forms a creeping portion located along the surface including the fitting surface of the housing, and the other plate portion is on the opposite side of the creeping portion with the folded edge as a boundary. It has parallel plate parts located in parallel,
The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion is formed with a locked portion that can be locked in the connector extraction direction with respect to the lock portion of the mating connector.   The creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion of the folded plate portion are each formed with a hole penetrating in the plate thickness direction at the same position when viewed from the plate thickness direction of the creeping plate portion and the parallel plate portion. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion forming the first and second edges forms a locked portion that can be locked with the locking portion of the mating connector that has entered the hole when the connector is fitted.   The parallel plate portion of the folded plate portion is formed with a hole penetrating in the plate thickness direction of the parallel plate portion, and the edge portion forming each hole portion enters the hole portion in the connector fitting state. The locked portion that can be locked with the lock portion of the mating connector, and the creeping plate portion of the folded plate portion enters the hole portion of the parallel plate portion and protrudes in the connector fitting state. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a contact portion that makes contact with a plate surface of the creeping portion and enables electrical conduction is formed.   The parallel plate portion of the folded plate portion is formed with a protruding portion that protrudes from the plate surface of the parallel plate portion, and the protruding portion can be locked with the locking portion of the mating connector when the connector is engaged. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a part. The housing is formed with a holding recess for receiving and holding the folded-back plate part that is recessed from the fitting surface of the housing and opened in the connector fitting direction. A press-fitting protrusion is formed that protrudes from both side edges forming the plate thickness surface of the creeping plate portion extending in the connector insertion / extraction direction, and the creeping plate portion is press-fitted into the holding recess and formed in the holding recess. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the folded-back plate portion is held in the holding recess by the press-fitting protrusion entering the corresponding surface.

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