JP2014102885A - Electrical connector for circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrical connector for circuit board in which damage on the housing of a connector or the contact part of a terminal can be prevented, even if twist-unlocking operation is performed in the unlocking process of a mating connector.SOLUTION: A side edge slope 14B-1 inclining downward toward the inside of a connector in the width direction is formed on the internal surface of a sidewall 14, so as to guide a mating connector 2. A end edge slope 15C inclining downward toward the inside in the terminal arrangement direction is formed on the internal surface of an end wall 15, so as to guide the mating connector 2. A corner slope 16C is formed at least partially in a region of a corner wall 16 adjoining the side edge slope 14B-1 and the end edge slope 15C, and the corner slope 16C is extending below the contact part 21 of a terminal 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector for a circuit board that is disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board and in which a mating connector is fitted and connected from above with a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as a connector insertion / extraction direction.

  This type of circuit board electrical connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In Patent Document 1, a housing of an electrical connector for a circuit board (hereinafter simply referred to as “connector”) extends in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as a longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal direction is a terminal array. A plurality of terminals are arranged and held as directions. The housing includes a bottom wall facing the mounting surface of the circuit board, a protruding wall that rises upward from the bottom wall and extends in the terminal arrangement direction, and stands upward from the bottom wall so as to surround the protruding wall. And a peripheral wall. An annular space between the peripheral wall and the protruding wall is formed as a receiving portion for receiving the mating portion of the mating connector from above.

  The plurality of terminals have elastic arm portions that are located in a groove portion that opens to the receiving portion side on the side surface (surface extending in the terminal arrangement direction) of the protruding wall and that can be elastically displaced in the connector width direction. At the upper end, which is the free end of the elastic arm portion, a contact portion that protrudes out of the groove portion toward the receiving portion side is formed at a position near the upper end of the protruding wall.

  The peripheral wall includes two side walls extending in the terminal arrangement direction, two end walls extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and the end portions of the side walls and the end walls at corner positions of the peripheral wall. And a corner wall formed as a transition between.

  The side walls, end walls, and corner walls of the housing are formed with slopes that incline downward toward the receiving portion side on the respective inner wall surfaces (surfaces that form the receiving portion). These inclined surfaces are positioned above the upper end surface of the protruding wall and outside the space of the receiving portion, and function as a guide surface for guiding the mating connector toward the receiving portion in the connector fitting process. The slopes of the side wall, the end wall, and the corner wall extend to the same height in the vertical direction, and the lower edge of each slope is located at substantially the same height as the upper end surface of the protruding wall. In other words, the lower edge of each slope is located above the contact portion of the terminal, and each slope is located outside the range of the receiving portion in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, the housing of the mating connector has a fitting portion that forms an outer shape that matches the annular receiving portion of the connector. That is, in the connector fitting state, the mating portion of the mating connector is accommodated in the receiving portion in a state where the outer wall peripheral surface of the housing has almost no gap with the inner wall peripheral surface of the receiving portion of the connector. Therefore, the mating connector is restricted from moving in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction when at least a part of the mating portion of the mating connector is in the receiving portion of the connector. On the other hand, when the mating part of the mating connector is pulled out from the receiving part and is located on each inclined surface of the connector in the vertical direction, the mating connector moves in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction. Within the space formed between the portion and each of the slopes.

Patent 3732709

  In general, in a circuit board electrical connector in which a mating connector fitting portion is inserted into the connector receiving portion from above, the mating connector is inclined with respect to the vertical direction when the mating connector is pulled out. It is easy to pull out when it is raised, and in many cases it is operated as such. At this time, the mating connector is often unconsciously inclined to tilt with components in both the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction (hereinafter referred to as “twisted inclination posture”). Hereinafter, an extraction operation performed by twisting the mating connector in an inclined posture is referred to as a “twist extraction operation”.

  In Patent Document 1, in a state where at least a part of the mating portion of the housing of the mating connector is in the receiving portion of the housing of the connector, a space for allowing the mating connector to move in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction ( Hereinafter, there is no degree of freedom in the same direction because there is no “clear space”. Therefore, since the movement of the mating connector in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction is restricted, the mating connector cannot be twisted and tilted.

  However, the twisting extraction operation in the connector extraction process is often performed unconsciously. In Patent Document 1, when the twisting and unplugging operation is performed, the fitting portion of the mating connector mainly comes into strong contact with the inner wall surface of the corner wall forming the receiving portion, and the protrusion of the connector. It also interferes with the contact portion of the terminal protruding from the side of the wall with a large contact pressure. In many cases, such an operation is repeatedly performed in vibration with impact until the mating connector is completely pulled out. As a result, the connector housing and the contact portion of the terminal may be damaged.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides an electrical connector for a circuit board that can prevent damage to a connector housing or a contact portion of a terminal even if a twisting extraction operation is performed in the process of extracting the mating connector. This is the issue.

  An electrical connector for a circuit board according to the present invention is an electrical connector for a circuit board that is arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit board and the mating connector is fitted and connected from above with the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as the connector insertion / extraction direction. The circuit board electrical connector includes a housing extending in the same direction with a direction parallel to the mounting surface as a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of terminals arranged and held in the housing with the longitudinal direction as a terminal arrangement direction. The housing has a bottom wall disposed in contact with the mounting surface, and a peripheral wall that rises upward from the bottom wall and has a rectangular planar shape. A receiving portion for receiving a mating portion of the mating connector is formed, and the peripheral wall includes two side walls extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and two end walls extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. , It has a corner wall formed as a transition part between the end portions of the side wall and the end walls at the corner position of the peripheral wall, and the terminal protrudes inward of the receiving portion and is provided on the mating connector. And a contact portion that contacts the corresponding contact portion of the mating terminal.

  In such an electrical connector for a circuit board, in the present invention, the side wall is formed with a side edge slope on the inner wall surface of the side wall so as to incline downward toward the inner side of the connector width direction and guide the mating connector. The end wall is formed with an edge slope on the inner wall surface of the end wall so as to incline downward toward the inside of the terminal arrangement direction and guide the mating connector. The corner wall includes the side edge slope and the end. A corner slope is formed in at least a part of a region connecting the edge slope, and the corner slope extends below the contact portion of the terminal.

  In the present invention, the corner slope of the corner wall expands with components in both the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction, and extends below the contact portion of the terminal. Therefore, when the lower end of the mating connector is placed above the lower end of the corner slope in the process of extracting the mating connector, in other words, the lower end of the mating connector is still in the receiving portion from the contact portion of the terminal. Is also located below, a clearance space is formed between the mating connector and the corner slope. As a result, the movement of the mating connector in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction is allowed within the range of the clearance space. Therefore, even if the mating connector is in a twisted and tilted position, the mating connector is not connected to the corner of the connector housing. Does not interfere with the inner wall of the wall.

  Further, in the present invention, as a result of allowing the mating connector to move within the space, the gap is also generated between the mating connector and the contact portion of the connector terminal. Therefore, even if the lower end of the mating connector is still in a twisted and tilted position when it is still below the contact portion of the terminal, the mating connector can be prevented from interfering with the contact portion. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent damage to the connector housing and the terminal contact portion.

  In the present invention, the end wall of the housing may have a recess for escaping from the mating connector in a part of the upper end surface in the process of being pulled out in an inclined posture. By forming such a recess, even if the mating connector is twisted and tilted, the corresponding portion of the mating connector can escape into the recess, so that the mating connector and the end wall of the connector are in contact with each other. It can be avoided more reliably.

  As described above, in the present invention, since the corner slope of the corner wall extends below the contact portion of the terminal, the lower end of the mating connector is positioned below the contact portion of the terminal during the mating connector extraction process. Even if it is positioned, a clearance space is formed between the mating connector and the corner slope to allow the mating connector to move in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction. Even in this case, the mating connector can be prevented from interfering with the inner wall surface of the corner wall of the connector housing or the contact portion of the terminal. As a result, damage to the connector housing and the terminal contact portion can be prevented.

It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector which concerns on 1st embodiment, and the plug connector which is a mating connector, and has shown the state before connector fitting. It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector and plug connector of FIG. 1, and has shown the state after connector fitting. It is sectional drawing of this receptacle connector in the position of the corner slope of a receptacle connector, and has shown the cross section orthogonal to a terminal arrangement direction. It is a perspective view which shows the receptacle connector and plug connector in the connector extraction process, and has shown the state in which the twist extraction operation | movement is performed. It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

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

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector 1 according to the present embodiment and a plug connector 2 fitted to the receptacle connector 1 from above, and shows a state before the connector is fitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 of FIG. 1 and shows a state after the connector is fitted. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 1 at the corner inclined surface 16C of the receptacle connector 1, showing a cross section perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

  The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 as a mating connector of the receptacle connector 1 according to 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.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 includes a receptacle-side housing 10 having a thin, substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape whose longitudinal direction is one direction parallel to the mounting surface, and the longitudinal direction of the receptacle-side housing 10. As the terminal arrangement direction, there are a plurality of terminals 20 arranged and held in two rows by the receptacle-side housing 10, and four fixing fittings 30 held at both end portions of the receptacle-side housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction. doing. 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 electric insulating material such as resin, and is parallel to the mounting surface and arranged on the contact wall 11 (see FIG. 3). A projecting wall 12 that rises upward from the bottom wall 11 and extends in the terminal arrangement direction, and a frame-shaped peripheral wall 13 that stands upward from the bottom wall 11 and surrounds the projecting wall 12 and has a rectangular planar shape. And have. The peripheral wall 13 has a pair of side walls 14 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, 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; At the corner position of the peripheral wall 13, the side wall 14 and a corner wall 16 formed as a transition portion between the end portions of the end wall 15 are provided. A space surrounded by the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 13 as viewed from above and opened upward forms a receiving portion 17 for receiving the plug connector 2. As will be described later, the receiving portion 17 is formed in a range from the uppermost upper end surface of the peripheral wall 13 (upper end surfaces positioned at the four corners of the peripheral wall 13) to the upper surface of the bottom wall 11 in the vertical direction. Details of the shape of the receiving portion 17 will be described later.

  The side wall 14 has a plurality of terminal arrangement wall portions 14A located within the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction, and side wall end portions 14B located on both sides of the terminal arrangement wall portion 14A in the same direction. Further, as seen in FIG. 1, the terminal array wall portion 14 </ b> A is positioned such that the upper end surface is below the sidewall end portion 14 </ b> B. Further, the upper end surface of the terminal array wall portion 14A is positioned substantially at the same position as the upper end surface of the protruding wall 12 in the vertical direction, in other words, above the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 described later.

  In the terminal array wall portion 14A, the terminal holding groove 14A-1 for holding the terminal 20 is symmetrical in the connector width direction with respect to the center line extending in the longitudinal direction at the center position of the protruding wall 12 in the connector width direction. Are arranged at equal intervals in the terminal arrangement direction. Each terminal holding groove 14 </ b> A- 1 includes a side surface of the projecting wall 12, an upper surface of the bottom wall 11, an inner wall surface 14 </ b> A- 2 of the terminal array wall portion 14 </ b> A (a surface facing the side surface of the projecting wall 12), and an upper end surface of the side wall 14. In addition, it extends continuously over the outer wall surface and sinks, and is formed in a lateral S-shaped groove shape when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction. Further, the inner wall surface 14A-2 of the terminal array wall portion 14A forms a surface perpendicular to the connector width direction.

  The side wall end portion 14B includes a portion (hereinafter referred to as “upper portion”) positioned above the upper end surface of the terminal array wall portion 14A, and a portion positioned below the upper end surface (hereinafter referred to as “lower portion”). have. The inner wall surface of the side wall end portion 14B (the surface forming a part of the inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 17) is formed at the side edge slope 14B-1 formed at the upper portion of the side wall end portion 14B and at the lower portion. And a vertical side surface 14B-2. As shown in FIG. 1, the side wall slope 14B-1 is located on the inner wall surface of the side wall end portion 14B so as to be shifted outward from the vertical side face 14B-2 in the connector width direction. A narrow step portion is formed at the boundary position between the vertical side surface 14B-2 and the vertical side surface 14B-2 (the height position of the upper end surface of the terminal array wall portion 14A).

  The side edge slope 14B-1 is formed as a slope that is parallel to the terminal arrangement direction and slopes downward as it goes inward in the connector width direction. The side edge slope 14B-1 functions as a guide surface that guides the plug connector 2 toward the inner side in the connector width direction, that is, toward the receiving portion 17 side in the connector fitting process. The vertical side surface 14B-2 forms a surface perpendicular to the connector width direction, forms a single flat surface together with the inner wall surface 14A-2 of the terminal array wall portion 14A described above, and receives the receiving portion 17. A part of the inner peripheral surface of is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end surface of the end wall 15 is located below the upper end surface of a corner wall 16 to be described later. In the central region in the connector width direction, the upper end surface is further recessed in a step shape. 15A is formed. The recess 15A is formed to escape from the plug connector 2 in a twisted and inclined posture as will be described later. The inner wall surface of the end wall 15 (the surface that forms part of the inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 17) is above the boundary ridge line 15B located below the height position of the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 described later. 15C and an end face 15D formed below the boundary ridgeline 15B (see also FIG. 3).

  The edge slope 15C is formed as a slope that is parallel to the connector width direction and slopes downward as it goes inward in the terminal arrangement direction. The edge slope 15C extends below the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 (see also FIG. 3), and in the connector fitting process, the plug connector 2 is moved inward in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, toward the receiving portion 17 side. It functions as a guide surface that guides the user. The vertical end surface 15D forms a surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and forms a part of the inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 17.

  The upper end surface of the corner wall 16 is located at the same height as the upper end surface of the side wall end portion 14B, and forms one flat surface together with the upper end surface. The inner wall surface of the corner wall 16 (the surface forming the receiving portion 17) is formed with components in both the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction, and is a boundary located at the same height as the boundary ridge line 15B of the end wall 15 It has a transition slope 16B and a corner slope 16C formed above the ridge line 16A, and a vertical corner surface 16D formed below the boundary ridge line 16A.

  The transition slope 16B is located between the side edge slope 14B-1 of the side wall 14 and the corner slope 16C of the corner wall 16 in the circumferential direction, and extends in both the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction toward the receiving portion 17 side. Inclined downward to spread with the component. The transition slope 16B has a triangular shape surrounded by the side edge slope 14B-1 and the vertical side face 14B-2 of the side wall 14 and the corner slope 16C of the corner wall 16. As often seen in FIG. 1, the lower edge of the transition slope 16B, that is, the boundary ridge line between the transition slope 16B and the vertical side surface 14B-2 of the side wall 14 is the upper edge of the vertical side surface 14B-2 in the vertical direction. It extends from the position to the position of the boundary ridge line 16A of the corner wall 16. That is, the transition slope 16B extends below the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20, and in the connector fitting process, the plug connector 2 is moved inwardly in the terminal arrangement direction and in the connector width direction, that is, toward the receiving portion 17 side. It functions as a guide surface that guides the user.

  The corner slope 16C is formed as a slope that inclines toward the inner side of the receiving portion 17 as it goes downward, and together with the transition slope 16B, the side edge slope 14B-1 of the side wall 14 and the end of the end wall 15 are formed. The edge slope 15C is connected. The corner slope 16C extends to a position lower than the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 (see also FIG. 3), and the plug connector 2 is placed in the terminal arrangement direction in the connector fitting process in the same manner as the transition slope 16B described above. It functions as a guide surface that guides inward and in the connector width direction, that is, toward the receiving portion 17 side. Further, the vertical corner surface 16D extends at a right angle to the bottom wall 11, and connects the vertical side surface 14B-2 of the side wall end 14B and the vertical end surface 15D of the end wall 15.

  Hereinafter, the receiving unit 17 will be described by dividing it into three spaces in the vertical direction. The receiving portion 17 has an inner wall surface 14A-2 and a vertical side surface 14B-2 of the side wall 14 and a vertical end surface 15D of the end wall 15 at positions below the boundary ridgelines 15B and 16A of the end wall 15 and the corner wall 16, respectively. , An annular space formed between the inner peripheral surface formed by the vertical corner surface 16D of the corner wall 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the projecting wall 12 facing the inner peripheral surface (hereinafter referred to as “lower annular space”). ). The inner and outer peripheral surfaces forming the lower annular space extend in the connector insertion / extraction direction (vertical direction perpendicular to the surface of the bottom wall 11) and are not inclined with respect to the connector insertion / extraction direction. .

  In addition, the receiving portion 17 has an inner wall surface 14 </ b> A- 2 and a vertical side surface 14 </ b> B- 2 of the side wall 14, and an end wall 15 in the vertical range between the upper end surface of the terminal array wall portion 14 </ b> A and the boundary ridge lines 15 </ b> B and 16 </ b> A. An annular space formed between the inner peripheral surface formed by the edge slope 15C, the transition slope 16B of the corner wall 16 and the corner slope 16C, and the outer peripheral surface of the projecting wall 12 opposite to the inner peripheral surface (hereinafter referred to as “the outer peripheral surface”) "Upper annular space"). The upper annular space extends outward in the terminal arrangement direction in the range of the edge slope 15C of the end wall 15, and outward in the terminal arrangement direction in the range of the transition slope 16B and the corner slope 16C of the corner wall 16 as it goes upward. It gradually spreads outward in the connector width direction.

  Further, the receiving portion 17 is above the upper end surface of the terminal array wall portion 14A, in other words, above the upper end surface of the protruding wall 12, a surface (side surface) including the side edge slope 14B-1 of the side wall 14 (virtual surface), A space surrounded by the inner peripheral surface formed by the edge slope 15C of the end wall 15, the transition slope 16B of the corner wall 16, and the corner slope 16C is formed. In addition to the above-described upper annular space, the space extends outward in the terminal array direction and outward in the connector width direction at the edge slope 15C, transition slope 16B, and corner slope 16C. At the position of the side edge slope 14B-1, it gradually spreads outward in the connector width direction as it goes upward.

  Further, as seen in FIG. 1, the bottom wall 11 has a fixing bracket holding groove 11A for holding the fixing bracket 30 at a position near the both end walls 15 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.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal 20 is made by bending a strip-like piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the plate thickness direction. The terminal 20 has a lateral S-shape obtained by connecting a U-shaped portion and an inverted U-shaped portion as a whole when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction, and contacts the mating terminal 50 provided on the plug connector 2. The contact portion 21 bent so as to be formed is formed on one end side, and the connection portion 22 soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board is formed on the other end side. When viewed in the terminal arrangement direction, the terminal 20 is attached by being press-fitted into the terminal holding groove 14A-1 from above so that the held portion 23 forming an inverted U-shaped portion straddles the side wall 14. 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 mating terminal 50 so as to protrude toward the contact portion 21 side.

  In the state where the terminal 20 is held in the terminal holding groove 14A-1, the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 protrudes from the side surface of the protruding wall 12 toward the inside of the receiving portion 17 as seen in FIG. At the same time, the lock protrusion 23A protrudes from the inner wall surface 14A-2 of the terminal array wall portion 14A of the side wall 14 toward the inside of the receiving portion 17. Further, the connecting portion 22 of the 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 lower surface of the bottom wall 11).

  The fixture 30 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 metal 30 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 as a mating connector will be described with reference to FIGS. The plug connector 2 has a plug-side housing 40 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a plurality of mating 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 the terminal arrangement direction. doing. The plug connector 2 is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 1 in the posture shown in FIGS.

  The plug-side housing 40 is made of, for example, an electrical insulating material such as resin, and is formed with one direction parallel to the mounting surface (not shown) of the circuit board as the longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The plug-side housing 40 includes a bottom wall 41 parallel to the mounting surface, and a frame-shaped peripheral wall 43 extending downward from the bottom wall 41 in FIG. The peripheral wall 43 has an outer peripheral shape adapted to the lower annular space of the receiving portion 17 of the receptacle-side housing 10 described above, and is a space formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 43 and opening downward (not shown). Is formed as a receiving portion for receiving the protruding wall 12 of the receptacle connector 1. The peripheral wall 43 is chamfered at each corner position so as to conform to the vertical corner surface 16D of the corner wall 16 of the receptacle-side housing 10. 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 ends of the pair of side walls 44. have.

  The mating terminal 50 is made by bending a strip-like piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction. The mating 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 mating terminal 50 has a straight connection portion 51 extending outward from the side wall 44 in the connector width direction at a position substantially the same as the bottom wall 41 of the plug-side housing 40, and a continuous connection portion 51. 1 and a U-shaped portion that is bent downward and is folded back into a U-shape and embedded and held in the side wall 44. The U-shaped portion extends along the side wall 44 and is exposed such that the U-shaped plate surface is flush with the side wall 44.

  Of the two leg portions of the U-shaped portion of the mating terminal 50, one leg portion (not shown) located on the inner surface side of the side wall 44 is a protruding contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1. A contact recess (not shown) for receiving the contact with the contact portion 21 is formed by sunk from the plate surface. 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 terminal 20 and engaging with the locking projection 23A. Is formed.

  Next, a connector fitting operation between the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 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 in a posture in which the receiving portion 17 is directed upward, and the receiving portion (not shown) of the plug connector 2 is downward above the receptacle connector 1. Use the right posture.

  Next, the plug connector 2 is lowered while maintaining the posture shown in FIG. 1 so that the protruding wall 12 of the receptacle connector 1 enters the receiving portion of the plug connector 2 from below, and the peripheral wall 43 of the plug connector 2 is moved into the receptacle connector. 1 is entered into the receiving portion 17 from above. As a result, the contact portion 21 and the lock protrusion 23A of the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 are inserted into and locked into the contact recess (not shown) of the mating terminal 50 of the plug connector 2 and into the locked recess 53, respectively. Electrical contact between the terminals and locking in the connector extraction direction (upward) are performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the connector fitting state, the bottom surface of the bottom wall 41 of the plug-side housing 40 (upper surface in FIG. 2) is the uppermost surface positioned at the four corners of the peripheral wall 13 of the receptacle-side housing 10. The entire plug-side housing 40 of the plug connector 2 is accommodated in the receiving portion 17 of the receptacle connector 1. That is, in this embodiment, the whole plug side housing 40 functions as a fitting part. Further, as described above, the peripheral wall 43 of the plug-side housing 40 has a shape adapted to the lower annular space of the receiving portion 17 of the receptacle-side housing 10. Therefore, in the connector fitting state, the outer wall peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 43 is accommodated in the lower annular space in a state having almost no gap with the inner wall peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 13.

  Next, the connector extraction operation will be described. The plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state with the receptacle connector 1 is pulled out by being lifted upward with a pulling output larger than the locking force between the terminals. This extraction operation is performed by grasping the circuit board on which the plug connector 2 is arranged. Further, the plug connector 2 is often pulled out in an inclined posture (hereinafter referred to as “tilted posture”) with at least one component in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction. Hereinafter, among the above tilted postures, a posture tilted so as to twist with both components in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction (see FIG. 4) is referred to as a “twisted tilt posture”.

  As described above, in the connector fitting state, the inner peripheral wall surface that forms the lower annular space of the receiving portion 17 and the peripheral wall at positions below the boundary ridge lines 15B and 16A of the end wall 15 and the corner wall 16, respectively. There is almost no gap between the outer peripheral wall surface of 43 and there is no clear space. Therefore, when the lower end of the plug connector 2 is positioned below the boundary ridge lines 15B and 16A, even if the plug connector 2 is inclined, the movement of the peripheral wall 43 of the plug connector 2 is caused by the receiving portion 17. Since it is regulated by the inner peripheral wall surface, it cannot be in an inclined posture. As a result, the plug connector 2 moves upward (connector extraction direction) without inclining in any direction.

  Even during the extraction operation, when the lower end of the plug connector 2 reaches a position above the boundary ridgelines 15B and 16A, the plug connector 2 and the edge slope 15C of the end wall 15 are not connected. A clearance space is formed in the terminal arrangement direction, and a clearance space is formed between the plug connector 2 and the transition slope 16B and the corner slope 16C of the corner wall 16 in both the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction. Therefore, the plug connector 2 is allowed to move in the terminal arrangement direction due to the space between the edge slope 15C and the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width due to the space between the transition slope 16B and the corner slope 16C. Movement in both directions is allowed.

  As a result, even if the plug connector 2 is in an inclined posture having a component in the terminal arrangement direction in the extraction process, the plug connector 2 does not interfere with the edge slope 15C. Further, even if the plug connector 2 is in a twisted and tilted posture (see FIG. 4) having components in both the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction, the plug connector 2 may interfere with the transition slope 16B and the corner slope 16C. Absent. Further, in the present embodiment, the concave portion 15A formed in a stepped manner on the upper end surface of the end wall 15 functions as a relief with respect to the plug connector 2 in the twisted and tilted posture. Therefore, the plug connector 2 and the receptacle-side housing 10 The contact with the end wall 15 can be avoided more reliably. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the plug connector 2 is in the inclined posture when the lower end of the plug connector 2 is still positioned below the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20, the receptacle side of the receptacle connector 1. Damage to the housing 10 can be prevented.

  Further, as a result of allowing the movement of the plug connector 2 within the range of the clearance space, a gap is generated between the plug connector 2 and the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1. Therefore, even when the lower end of the plug connector 2 is still in the twisted posture at the time when it is positioned below the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20, it is possible to avoid the plug connector 2 from interfering with the contact portion 21. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, damage to the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 can also be prevented.

  When the plug connector 2 moves further upward, the lower end of the plug connector 2 reaches the position of the upper end surface of the terminal array wall portion 14A, in other words, the upper edge position of the vertical side surface 14B-2 of the side wall end portion 14B. Then, a space is also formed in the connector width direction between the plug connector 2 and the side edge slope 14B-1. Accordingly, movement in the connector width direction is allowed by the clearance space, and even if the plug connector 2 is inclined with a component in the connector width direction, the plug connector 2 interferes with the side edge slope 14B-1. There is nothing to do. As a result, damage to the receptacle-side housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1 can be prevented.

  In this embodiment, the side edge slope 14B-1 is outward in the connector width direction as it goes upward, the edge slope 15C is outward in the terminal arrangement direction as it goes upward, and the transition slope 16B and the corner slope 16C are the connector width. Since it is inclined toward both the outer side of the direction and the outer side of the terminal arrangement direction, the clearance space between the plug connector 2 and each inclined surface becomes larger as the plug connector 2 moves upward. Therefore, as the plug connector 2 moves upward, the plug connector 2 can be inclined at a larger inclination angle, so that the plug connector 2 can be easily pulled out.

  The plug connector 2 is pulled out while the plug connector 2 is pulled out with the plug connector 2 in an inclined posture. In this case, there is a degree of freedom corresponding to the clearance space. Inclined posture can be used. Then, by bringing the plug connector 2 out of the receiving portion 17 of the receptacle connector 1, the extraction operation is completed.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the transition slope 16B extending to the lower side of the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 is formed on the inner wall surface of the corner wall 16 of the receptacle-side housing 10, but in the second embodiment, the corner wall is formed. No transition slope is formed on the inner wall surface, and the side edge slope of the side wall is formed to extend below the contact portion of the terminal. In this respect, the configuration is different from the first embodiment.
The receptacle connector 1 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the receptacle connector 1 of the first embodiment except for the shape of the inner wall surface of the corner wall and the inner wall surface of the side wall. Are denoted by reference numerals with “100” added, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the receptacle connector 101 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the inner wall surface of the side wall end portion 114B of the side wall 114 has a side edge slope 114B-1 positioned above the boundary ridge line 114B-3 positioned below the contact portion 121 of the terminal 120, and It has the vertical side surface 114B-2 located below with respect to this boundary ridgeline 114B-3. The side edge inclined surface 114B-1 is formed as an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the inner side in the connector width direction and extends to the position of the boundary ridgeline 114B-3, that is, to a position below the contact portion 121 of the terminal 120. .

  Further, the inner wall surface of the corner wall 116 has a corner slope 116C positioned above the boundary ridge line 116A located at the same height as the boundary ridge line 114B-3, and a hanging surface positioned below the boundary ridge line 116A. And an upright corner surface 116D. In the second embodiment, the transition slope as in the first embodiment is not formed on the inner wall surface of the corner wall 116, and the side slope 114B-1 and the end of the side wall end 114B are formed by the corner slope 116C. An edge slope 115C of the wall 15 is connected.

  In the second embodiment, the side edge slope 114B-1 of the side wall end 114B extends to the lower side of the contact part 121 of the terminal 120, so that the lower end of the plug connector 102 (not shown) is the boundary in the connector extraction process. When the height of the ridgeline 114B-3 is reached, a space is formed in the connector width direction between the plug connector 102 and the side edge slope 114B-1. Therefore, when the lower end of the plug connector 102 is still positioned below the contact portion 121 of the terminal 120, the plug connector 102 is allowed to move in the connector width direction. As a result, even when the plug connector 102 is in an inclined posture having a component in the connector width direction, it is possible to prevent the contact with the side edge inclined surface 114B-1 and the contact portion 121 of the terminal 120.

  In the first and second embodiments, the mating connector is an electrical connector for a circuit board, but the type of the mating connector is not limited to this, for example, an electrical connector for a cable connected to a cable. It is good.

  In the first and second embodiments, a protruding wall is provided in the receptacle-side housing, but the protruding wall is not an essential configuration. When no protruding wall is provided on the receptacle-side housing, it is not necessary to form a receiving portion on the plug-side housing. At this time, the contact portion of the terminal of the receptacle connector is provided, for example, so as to protrude from the inner wall surface of the terminal arrangement wall portion of the side wall to the receiving portion side.

1,101 Receptacle connector 15C, 115C Edge slope 2,102 Plug connector (mating connector) 16,116 Corner wall 10,110 Receptacle side housing 16C, 116C Corner slope 13,113 Perimeter wall 17,117 Receiving part 14,114 Side wall 20 , 120 terminal 14B-1, 114B-1 side edge slope 21, 121 contact portion 15, 115 end wall 50, 150 mating terminal 15A, 115A recess

Claims (2)

An electrical connector for a circuit board, which is arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit board and the mating connector is fitted and connected from above with the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as the connector insertion / extraction direction,
The circuit board electrical connector has a housing extending in the same direction with a direction parallel to the mounting surface as a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of terminals arranged and held in the housing with the longitudinal direction as a terminal arrangement direction. The housing has a bottom wall disposed in contact with the mounting surface, and a peripheral wall that rises upward from the bottom wall and has a rectangular planar shape. A receiving portion for receiving a fitting portion is formed, and the peripheral wall includes two side walls extending in the terminal arrangement direction, two end walls extending in a connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and the peripheral wall A corner wall formed as a transition portion between the end portions of the side wall and the end walls, and the terminal protrudes inward of the receiving portion and is provided on the mating connector. Contact with corresponding contact part of terminal In the electrical connector for a circuit board having a that contact portion,
The side wall is formed on the inner wall surface of the side wall with a side edge slope that is inclined downward toward the inner side of the connector width direction and guides the mating connector, and the end wall is formed on the inner wall surface of the end wall, An edge slope that guides the mating connector is formed by inclining downward as it goes inward in the terminal arrangement direction, and the corner wall is formed in at least a part of a region connecting the side edge slope and the edge slope. An electrical connector for a circuit board, wherein a corner slope is formed, and the corner slope extends below a contact portion of the terminal.   2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein a recess for escaping the mating connector in a process of being pulled out in an inclined posture is formed in a part of the upper end surface of the end wall of the housing. Board electrical connector.

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