JP2018206599A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector which obtains sufficient fitting holding power even when reduction of its height and size is achieved and achieves excellent workability in insertion and removal.SOLUTION: A connector 10 according to the invention includes: a first connector 20 including a first insulator 30 and a first lock member held by the first insulator 30; a second connector 60 which includes a second insulator 70, which fits in the first insulator 30, and a second lock member, which is held by the second insulator 70 and has a second engagement part, and fits in the first connector 20. The first lock member includes a lock part which may elastically deform to the outer side of the first insulator 30. The lock part has: a continuous part which extends from a bottom plate part supported by a bottom wall of the first insulator 30 and may elastically deform; a first engagement part which is provided from the continuous part along a fitting direction and engages with the second engagement part; and an operation part which extends to the outer side of the first engagement part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  In recent years, with the progress of thinning and miniaturization of electronic devices, connectors themselves mounted in electronic devices are required to be light and thin. On the other hand, there is a connector having a high fitting retention force so that the fitted connectors are not inadvertently disconnected even when an impact due to dropping of an electronic device such as a communication terminal or a wearable terminal is applied. Required.

  The connector described in Patent Document 1 obtains a fitting holding force when the contact arm portion of the first reinforcing bracket attached to the first connector contacts the contact side plate portion of the second reinforcing bracket attached to the second connector. ing.

JP 2006-085994 A

  The connector described in Patent Document 1 is designed in view of obtaining a sufficient fitting holding force in a state of being reduced in height and size. However, in general, when the connector itself is reduced in height and size, contacts, metal fittings and other components held by the connector are also reduced in height and size, and the fitting holding force between the connectors tends to decrease. It is in. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient fitting holding force that can maintain the fitting state even when an inadvertent force is applied to the connector during the assembly process of the device on which the connector is mounted or a drop impact of the device. It has become to. Therefore, although the operation | work which removes connectors intentionally is required, the lock | rock structure which cannot be removed unless the operation | work which removes is performed is required. On the other hand, it is desirable that the connectors can be easily fitted with each other by a simple fitting operation while ensuring the insertability during connector fitting.

  An object of the present invention made in view of such a viewpoint is to provide a connector that can obtain a sufficient fitting and holding force and is excellent in workability of insertion and removal even in a low profile and miniaturized state. It is to provide.

In order to solve the above problem, the connector according to the first aspect is
A first insulator, and a first lock member held by the first insulator;
A first connector comprising:
A second insulator fitted to the first insulator, and a second lock member held by the second insulator and having a second engaging portion,
A second connector fitted to the first connector comprising:
With
The first lock member includes a lock portion that is elastically deformable toward the outside of the first insulator,
The lock part is
An elastically deformable continuous portion extending from a bottom plate portion supported by the bottom wall of the first insulator;
A first engagement portion provided along the fitting direction from the continuous portion, and engaged with the second engagement portion;
An operating portion extending outward from the first engaging portion;
It is characterized by having.

In the connector according to the second aspect,
The lock portion may include a guide portion that is provided continuously with the first engagement portion.

In the connector according to the third aspect,
The bottom plate portion may be integrally formed with the first insulator.

In the connector according to the fourth aspect,
The first lock member may include a first mounting portion provided at an end portion of the bottom plate portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the outer side.

In the connector according to the fifth aspect,
The first mounting portion may protrude from the bottom plate portion toward the circuit board on which the first connector is mounted.

In the connector according to the sixth aspect,
The first locking member is
A side plate portion formed continuously with the first mounting portion and substantially orthogonal to the bottom plate portion;
A second mounting portion provided on the side of the circuit board on which the first connector of the side plate portion is mounted, and adjacent to the first mounting portion;
May be provided.

  According to the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, even if it is the state reduced in height and size, sufficient fitting holding force can be obtained and it is excellent in workability | operativity of insertion and extraction.

It is the perspective view which showed the connector which concerns on one Embodiment by the top view in the state which the 1st connector and the 2nd connector fitted. It is the perspective view which showed the connector of FIG. 1 by the top view in the state which the 1st connector and the 2nd connector isolate | separated. It is the perspective view which showed the 1st connector single-piece | unit by the top view. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. 3. It is a bottom view corresponding to the enlarged part of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI arrow line of FIG. It is the perspective view which showed a pair of 1st lock member by the top view. It is the perspective view which showed the 2nd connector single-piece | unit by the top view. It is an enlarged view of the IX part of FIG. It is the perspective view which showed a pair of 2nd locking member by the top view. It is the expanded sectional view which showed the mode at the time of fitting with a 1st connector and a 2nd connector along the XI-XI arrow line of FIG. It is the figure which showed the mode at the time of extraction of a 1st connector and a 2nd connector. It is sectional drawing which follows the XIII-XIII arrow line of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, front and rear, left and right, and up and down directions are based on the directions of arrows in the drawing. In the following description, it is assumed that the first connector 20 is a receptacle connector and the second connector 60 is a plug connector. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first connector 20 may serve as a plug connector, and the second connector 60 may serve as a receptacle connector.

  In the following description, the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 will be described as being fitted vertically to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. That is, the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are fitted along the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 may be fitted in the parallel direction with respect to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2, respectively, one being in the vertical direction and the other in the parallel direction. It may be fitted in combination. The first connector 20 or the second connector 60 may be connected to a circuit board other than the rigid board, for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC).

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector 10 according to an embodiment as viewed from above in a state where a first connector 20 and a second connector 60 are fitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector 10 of FIG. 1 in a top view with the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 separated.

  The connector 10 according to an embodiment includes a first connector 20 and a second connector 60 as large components.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the first connector 20 alone in a top view. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a bottom view corresponding to the enlarged portion of FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the pair of first lock members 50 in a top view. In the above figures other than FIG. 3, the circuit board CB1 is not shown.

  The detailed structure of the first connector 20 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first connector 20 includes a first insulator 30, a plurality of first contacts 40, and a pair of first lock members 50 as large components.

  The first insulator 30 is formed of an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material and extends in the left-right direction. The first insulator 30 includes a bottom wall 31 that constitutes a lower portion, and a front wall 32a and a rear wall 32b that protrude upward from both front and rear edges of the upper surface of the bottom wall 31 and extend in the left-right direction. The first insulator 30 includes a connecting wall 32c that connects the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b at the left and right ends. The first insulator 30 includes a notch portion 32d in which both end portions in the left-right direction are notched into a substantially concave shape up to the upper surface of the connecting wall 32c. The first insulator 30 includes a fitting convex portion 33 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the central portion of the bottom wall 31 and is formed so as to be sandwiched between the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b. The fitting convex portion 33 spaced inward from the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b extends linearly in the left-right direction. The space formed between the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b and the fitting convex portion 33 and the space at the left and right ends of the first insulator 30 sandwiched between the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b are annular fitting concave portions. 34 is configured.

  A plurality of first contact mounting grooves 35 for mounting the plurality of first contacts 40 are recessed in the left-right direction in a portion straddling the rear surface of the front wall 32a, the bottom wall 31 and the front surface of the fitting convex portion 33. Is done. Similarly, a plurality of first contact mounting grooves 35 for mounting the plurality of first contacts 40 are arranged in the left-right direction on a portion straddling the front surface of the rear wall 32b, the bottom wall 31 and the rear surface of the fitting convex portion 33. Is recessed. The number of first contact mounting grooves 35 is the same as the number of first contacts 40. The first contact mounting groove 35 penetrates the bottom wall 31 from the upper surface to the lower surface. The first contact mounting groove 35 allows elastic deformation to the inside of the first contact 40 on both front and rear surfaces of the fitting convex portion 33.

  The first contact 40 is obtained by forming a thin plate of a copper alloy (for example, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, titanium copper, etc.) or a Corson copper alloy having spring elasticity using a progressive die (stamping) ( (See FIG. 3). The surface of the first contact 40 is plated with gold, tin or the like after nickel plating is formed as a base.

  For example, the first contact 40 includes a signal contact 40a and a power contact 40b.

  The signal contact 40a includes a mounting portion 41a extending outward in a substantially L shape, an elastically deformable elastic contact piece 42a, a contact portion 43a formed inwardly at the tip of the elastic contact piece 42a, It comprises. Similarly, the power contact 40b includes a mounting portion 41b that extends outward in a substantially L shape, an elastic contact piece 42b that can be elastically deformed, and a contact portion that is formed inwardly at the tip of the elastic contact piece 42b. 43b. The power contact 40b is formed wider than the signal contact 40a.

  For example, the first contact 40 is press-fitted from below the first insulator 30. As a result, the first contact 40 is held against the first contact mounting groove 35. More specifically, the four power contacts 40b are respectively held with respect to the four first contact mounting grooves 35 at the left and right ends. A plurality of signal contacts 40a are attached to the remaining first contact attachment grooves 35, respectively.

  When the signal contact 40 a is held in the first contact mounting groove 35, the elastic contact piece 42 a is arranged in a state of facing the fitting convex portion 33. The elastic contact piece 42 a can be elastically deformed in the front-rear direction toward the inside of the fitting convex portion 33. The mounting portion 41a of the signal contact 40a is positioned slightly on the side of the circuit board CB1, that is, below the bottom wall 31. The same applies to the power contact 40b, and the mounting portion 41b and the elastic contact piece 42b are also arranged in the same manner as described above.

  The first lock member 50 is formed by press-molding a conductive material such as a metal plate (for example, stainless steel or phosphor bronze) (see FIG. 7). The first locking member 50 includes a bottom plate portion 51 that forms a bottom surface, and a substantially circular through hole 51a that penetrates the bottom plate portion 51 along the vertical direction. The first lock member 50 includes an elastically deformable lock portion 52 that is formed continuously with the bottom plate portion 51 and extends outward from the first insulator 30. The first lock member 50 includes first mounting portions 53 provided at both end portions of the bottom plate portion 51 in the front-rear direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the lock portion 52. The first lock member 50 includes a side plate portion 54 that is formed continuously with the first mounting portion 53 and is substantially orthogonal to the bottom plate portion 51. The bottom plate portion 51 and the lock portion 52 are formed so as to be substantially S-shaped as a whole. The bottom plate portion 51, the first mounting portion 53, and the side plate portion 54 are formed so as to be substantially U-shaped as a whole.

  The lock portion 52 extends from the outer edge portion of the bottom plate portion 51 in the left-right direction toward the outside of the first insulator 30 along the left-right direction. The lock portion 52 includes a movable portion 52a provided along the fitting direction of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60, that is, the vertical direction. The lock portion 52 includes an R-shaped continuous portion 52b that connects a bottom plate portion 51 positioned horizontally and a movable portion 52a arranged along the vertical direction. The continuous portion 52b extends from the bottom plate portion 51 and can be elastically deformed. The lock part 52 includes a first engagement part 52c provided along the vertical direction. The first engagement portion 52c is located at the approximate center of the movable portion 52a. The first engaging portion 52c is configured by a substantially rectangular through hole that penetrates the movable portion 52a. The lock part 52 includes an R-shaped guide part 52d provided continuously with the movable part 52a and the first engagement part 52c. The lock part 52 includes an operation part 52e extending from the guiding part 52d toward the outside of the first insulator 30 along the left-right direction.

  The first mounting portion 53 is formed so as to protrude outward from a part of the front and rear edges of the bottom plate portion 51 along the front-rear direction. The first mounting portion 53 is formed so as to connect the bottom plate portion 51 and the side plate portion 54 and protrude downward by one step from the bottom plate portion 51. The first mounting portion 53 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and has a relatively wide mounting area with respect to the circuit pattern formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1.

  The side plate portion 54 is formed continuously from the outer edge portion in the front-rear direction of the first mounting portion 53 and extends toward the lock portion 52 along the left-right direction. A second mounting portion 54a adjacent to the first mounting portion 53 is formed on the circuit board CB1 side of the extending portion of the side plate portion 54 extending along the left-right direction. The second mounting portion 54a is disposed outside the first mounting portion 53 along the left-right direction. The second mounting portion 54a protrudes linearly from the lower edge portion of the side plate portion 54 downward. A bent portion 54b protruding obliquely upward is formed on the upper edge portion of the side plate portion 54 facing the second mounting portion 54a. The bent portion 54b is formed at a part of the upper edge portion of the side plate portion 54, and is disposed on the lock portion 52 side. Without being limited to this, the bent portion 54 b may extend to the first mounting portion 53 side, or may be formed on the entire upper edge portion of the side plate portion 54.

  The two first lock members 50 are integrally molded with the first insulator 30 by an appropriate molding method such as insert molding (see FIG. 3). The two first lock members 50 held by the first insulator 30 are arranged along the outer surfaces of the left and right ends of the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b of the first insulator 30 and the outer surfaces of the left and right ends of the bottom wall 31, respectively. Be placed. The two first lock members 50 are symmetrically disposed at the left and right ends of the first insulator 30.

  In particular, the bottom plate portion 51 is integrally formed with the bottom wall 31 of the first insulator 30 (see FIG. 5). The outer surface of the bottom plate portion 51 is exposed to the outside from the bottom wall 31. Inside the through hole 51a of the bottom plate portion 51, the first insulator 30 is formed over substantially the whole. The inner end surface of the bottom plate portion 51 in the left-right direction and the inner surface of the through hole 51 a are embedded in the bottom wall 31 of the first insulator 30. The first insulator 30 is formed on the upper surface side of the bottom plate portion 51 to the vicinity of the continuous portion 52 b and covers substantially the entire upper surface of the bottom plate portion 51. The first mounting portion 53 protrudes closer to the circuit board CB1 than the bottom plate portion 51.

  The side plate portion 54 is integrally formed with the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b of the first insulator 30 (see FIG. 4). Similarly, the bent portion 54b is formed integrally with the upper edge portions of the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b of the first insulator 30. The outer surfaces of the side plate portion 54 and the bent portion 54b are exposed to the outside from the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b. The outer surfaces of the side plate portion 54 and the bent portion 54b are flush with the outer surfaces of the end portions of the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b.

  The lock portion 52 is disposed at both left and right end portions of the first insulator 30 so as to be sandwiched between the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b. As shown in FIG. 6, the lock portion 52 does not protrude from the first insulator 30 to the outside. That is, the lock portion 52 is accommodated within the outer shape of the first connector 20. The lock part 52 is in a free state when held by the first insulator 30. The free state means a state where no external force is acting on the lock portion 52. That is, in the free state, the lock portion 52 is not elastically deformed at all. The operation part 52e is disposed in the cutout part 32d of the first insulator 30. A gap S is formed between the lock portion 52 and the first insulator 30, particularly the connecting wall 32c.

  In the first connector 20 having the above structure, the mounting portion 41a of the signal contact 40a is soldered to the circuit pattern formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1 (see FIG. 3). The mounting portion 41b of the power contact 40b is soldered to the power pattern formed on the mounting surface. Further, for example, the first mounting portion 53 and the second mounting portion 54a of the first lock member 50 are soldered to a ground pattern formed individually on the mounting surface, for example. As described above, the first connector 20 is mounted on the circuit board CB1. Electronic components (for example, a camera module, a sensor, etc.) different from the first connector 20 are mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1.

  The detailed structure of the second connector 60 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the second connector 60 alone in a top view. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a part IX in FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pair of second lock members 90 in a top view. In the above figures other than FIG. 8, the circuit board CB2 is not shown.

  The second connector 60 includes a second insulator 70, a plurality of second contacts 80, and a second lock member 90 as large components.

  The second insulator 70 is a plate-like member that is formed of an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material and extends in the left-right direction. The 2nd insulator 70 comprises the bottom wall 71 which comprises a lower part, and the cyclic | annular wall 72 which protrudes upwards from the whole peripheral part of the upper surface of the bottom wall 71 (refer FIG. 8). A space formed by the bottom wall 71 and the annular wall 72 constitutes a fitting recess 73.

  In the front wall 72a and the rear wall 72b of the annular wall 72, a plurality of second contact holding grooves 74 having a substantially U shape in cross-section across the front and rear surfaces and the upper surface are recessed in a line in the left-right direction. The plurality of second contacts 80 are respectively held in the plurality of second contact holding grooves 74. The number of second contact holding grooves 74 is the same as the number of second contacts 80.

  The second contact 80 is obtained by forming a thin plate of a copper alloy (for example, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, titanium copper, etc.) or a Corson-based copper alloy using a progressive die (stamping) (see FIG. 8). The surface of the second contact 80 is plated with gold, tin or the like after nickel plating is formed as a base.

  For example, the second contact 80 includes a signal contact 80a and a power contact 80b.

  The signal contact 80a includes a mounting portion 81a extending outward in a substantially L shape. The signal contact 80a is continuous from above the inner end portion of the mounting portion 81a and is formed inwardly, and an extending portion 83a extending in a substantially U shape from the contact portion 82a toward the outside. And. The signal contact 80a further includes a guiding portion 84a formed on the upper surface of the extending portion 83a.

  The power contact 80b includes a mounting portion 81b extending outward in a substantially L shape. The power contact 80b is continuous from the upper side of the inner end of the mounting portion 81b and extends in a substantially U shape toward the inner side. The power contact 80b is continuous with the extending portion 83b and is formed inward. A contact portion 82b. The power contact 80b further includes a guide portion 84b formed on the upper surface of the extension portion 83b.

  The signal contact 80a is integrally formed with the second insulator 70 by an appropriate forming method such as insert molding. As a result, the signal contact 80 a is held with respect to the second contact holding groove 74. On the other hand, the power contact 80b is press-fitted from above the second insulator 70, for example. As a result, the four power contacts 80b are respectively held in the four second contact holding grooves 74 at the left and right ends.

  When the signal contact 80a is held in the second contact holding groove 74, the mounting portion 81a of the signal contact 80a is positioned slightly on the circuit board CB2 side, that is, below the bottom wall 71. In addition, the tip of the mounting portion 81 a of the signal contact 80 a is located outside the annular wall 72. The same applies to the power contact 80b, and the mounting portion 81b is arranged in the same manner as described above.

  The second lock member 90 is formed by press-molding a conductive material such as a metal plate (for example, stainless steel or phosphor bronze) (see FIG. 10). The second lock member 90 includes a top plate portion 91 that forms an upper surface. The second lock member 90 is formed continuously with the top plate portion 91 in three directions and includes a guide portion 92 having an R shape. The second locking member 90 includes a mounting portion 93 that is continuous with the guiding portion 92 and extends downward. The second lock member 90 includes a second engagement portion 94 provided at a substantially central portion of the outer surface in the left-right direction. The second engaging portion 94 is provided along the fitting direction of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60, that is, the vertical direction. The second engagement portion 94 is configured as an engagement claw corresponding to a substantially rectangular through hole that constitutes the first engagement portion 52 c of the first lock member 50.

  The two second lock members 90 are integrally formed with the second insulator 70 by an appropriate molding method such as insert molding (see FIG. 8). The two second lock members 90 held by the second insulator 70 are respectively arranged so as to cover the outer surface and the upper surface in the three directions of the left and right ends of the annular wall 72. The two second lock members 90 are symmetrically disposed at the left and right ends of the second insulator 70.

  In particular, the top plate portion 91 is integrally formed on the same surface as the upper surface of the second insulator 70 (see FIG. 9). The outer surface of the top plate portion 91 is exposed to the outside from the upper surface of the second insulator 70. Similarly, the lead-in portion 92 and the mounting portion 93 that are continuously formed in three directions from the top plate portion 91 have the outer surfaces exposed, the end portions of the front wall 72a and the rear wall 72b, and the short portion of the annular wall 72. It is formed so as to cover three sides of the hand part. At this time, the lead-in portion 92 and the mounting portion 93 are connected to the second insulator 70 so that the outer surfaces thereof are flush with the end portions of the front wall 72a and the rear wall 72b and the outer surface of the short portion of the annular wall 72, respectively. It is integrally molded.

  The second connector 60 having the above structure is mounted on a mounting surface formed on one surface of a circuit board CB2 (see FIG. 8), which is a plate material parallel to the circuit board CB1. Specifically, the mounting portion 81a of the signal contact 80a is soldered to the circuit pattern formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB2. Further, the mounting portion 81b of the power contact 80b is soldered to the power supply pattern formed on the mounting surface. Furthermore, the mounting portion 93 of the second lock member 90 is soldered to, for example, a ground pattern formed on the mounting surface.

  A procedure for connecting the second connector 60 to the first connector 20 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are fitted together, along the line XI-XI in FIG. FIG. 11A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an intermediate stage of fitting between the first connector 20 and the second connector 60. FIG. 11B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 have been fitted. In FIG. 11, the circuit board CB1 and the circuit board CB2 are not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front-rear position and the left-right position of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are substantially matched in a state where the vertical direction of the second connector 60 is reversed. That is, they are opposed to each other in the vertical direction. Thereafter, the second connector 60 is moved downward.

  When the second connector 60 is moved downward, the lower end surfaces of the front wall 72a and the rear wall 72b including the guiding portions 84a and 84b of the second contact 80 are shifted even if the positions of the second connector 60 are slightly shifted in the front-rear direction, for example. It contacts the inner edges of the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b. Similarly, the lead-in portion 92 of the second lock member 90 comes into contact with the lead-in portion 52 d of the first lock member 50. Accordingly, the annular wall 72 enters the fitting recess 34.

  At this time, the contact portions 82a and 82b of the second contact 80 and the contact portions 43a and 43b of the first contact 40 are in contact with each other. The contact portions 82a and 82b elastically deform the elastic contact pieces 42a and 42b inward in the fitting convex portion 33, respectively. As described above, the circuit board CB2 and the circuit board CB1 are electrically connected to each other through the second contact 80 and the first contact 40.

  The fitting recess 73 is fitted into the fitting projection 33, and the annular wall 72 is fitted into the fitting recess 34. Even after the fitting, the locking part 52 does not protrude from the first insulator 30 to the outside as before the fitting.

  Next, the manner in which the first lock member 50 and the second lock member 90 are engaged when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are fitted will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  Before the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are fitted, the lock portion 52 is in a free state. When the second connector 60 is moved downward after the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are opposed to each other in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. Elastic deformation by contact. In particular, the lock portion 52 comes into contact with the guide portion 92 or the second engagement portion 94 and elastically deforms along the left-right direction. More specifically, the movable portion 52 a and the continuous portion 52 b of the lock portion 52 are elastically deformed toward the outside of the first insulator 30. When the second connector 60 is further moved downward, the guide portion 92 or the second engagement portion 94 of the second lock member 90 slides relative to the guide portion 52d, and the lock portion 52 is elastically deformed outward. Thereafter, when the second connector 60 is inserted to a predetermined fitting position (see FIG. 11B), the second engagement portion 94 engages with the first engagement portion 52c. In other words, the engaging claws constituting the second engaging portion 94 are located inside the through holes constituting the first engaging portion 52c. At this time, the lock unit 52 restores. Finally, the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are in a locked state by the engagement between the lock portion 52 and the second engagement portion 94. That is, the upward movement of the second connector 60 is restricted, and the removal of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 is restricted.

  FIG. 12 is a view showing a state when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are removed. FIG. 12A is an overall view showing a state when the second connector 60 connected to the circuit board CB2 is removed by, for example, the removal jig 100. FIG. FIG.12 (b) is sectional drawing which follows the XII-XII arrow line of Fig.12 (a). 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. The manner in which the engagement between the lock portion 52 and the second engagement portion 94 is released when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are removed will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when removing the second connector 60 from the first connector 20, the removal jig 100 is pressed against the operation portion 52 e of the first lock member 50 from above. More specifically, the pair of pushing portions 110 provided at the distal end portion of the removal jig 100 are pressed against the operation portion 52e from above. The distance in the left-right direction of the pair of pushing parts 110 is substantially the same as the distance in the left-right direction of the operation part 52 e of the pair of lock parts 52.

  Before the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are removed, the lock portion 52 is engaged with the second engagement portion 94. In this state, when the operating portion 52e is pushed downward by the pushing portion 110 of the removal jig 100 (see (1) in FIG. 13), the lock portion 52 is elastically deformed along the left-right direction ((( 2)). That is, the lock portion 52 is elastically deformed outward from the connector 10. Thereby, the 1st engagement part 52c displaces to the outer side of the 1st insulator 30, and engagement with the lock part 52 and the 2nd engagement part 94 is cancelled | released. Therefore, the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are unlocked. That is, the second connector 60 can be moved upward (see (3) in FIG. 13). When the second connector 60 is moved upward, the removal of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 is completed. At this time, when the push-in by the removal jig 100 is released, the lock portion 52 is restored by its own elasticity.

  In the extraction work as shown in FIG. 13, even if the pressing by the extraction jig 100 is strong and the lock portion 52 is excessively pressed, the lower surface of the operation portion 52 e comes into contact with the upper surface of the connecting wall 32 c. As described above, the connecting wall 32 c restricts excessive elastic deformation of the lock portion 52 and prevents plastic deformation of the lock portion 52.

  The connector 10 as described above can obtain a sufficient fitting and holding force even in a low-profile and miniaturized state, and is excellent in insertion and removal workability. That is, the connector 10 can realize a high fitting holding force by the engagement between the lock portion 52 and the second engagement portion 94. The connector 10 can provide a lock structure that cannot be removed unless an operation for intentionally unlocking the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 is performed. In other words, even when the connector 10 is reduced in height and size, the connector 10 can provide a sufficient fitting holding force so that the fitting state can be maintained with respect to careless work.

  When the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are fitted to each other, the connector 10 can be locked by a normal fitting operation in which one is inserted into the other. That is, a locking operation or the like different from the normal fitting operation is not required. The locked state is realized by only one operation for fitting the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 together. When the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are removed, the connector 10 can be unlocked by an easy removal operation in which a pressure is applied downward to the operation portion 52e. From these points, the connector 10 is excellent in workability when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are fitted and removed. In particular, the connector 10 is excellent in workability when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are locked and unlocked.

  When the connector 10 is fitted, the lead-in performance can be improved by the lead-in portion 52d of the first lock member 50, the lead-in portions 84a and 84b of the second contact 80, and the lead-in portion 92 of the second lock member 90. That is, even when the relative positions of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are slightly shifted in the front-rear and left-right directions during the fitting, the connector 10 guides each connector to an appropriate relative position by each guide portion. it can. Thus, the connector 10 can improve the insertion property and fitting property between the first connector 20 and the second connector 60.

  The connector 10 can be reduced in height by the bottom plate portion 51 being integrally formed with the first insulator 30. That is, the connector 10 can reduce the height of the entire first connector 20 by the thickness of the bottom plate portion 51 in the vertical direction, for example, as shown in FIG. Moreover, since the bottom plate part 51 continuous with the lock part 52 is integrated with the first insulator 30 in the connector 10, the vicinity of the root of the lock part 52 is firmly fixed. Therefore, the bottom plate portion 51 integrated with the first insulator 30 firmly supports the entire first lock member 50 when the lock portion 52 is elastically deformed, and enables stable elastic deformation. In other words, the connector 10 can prevent a decrease in elastic force and a decrease in the holding force of the first lock member 50 caused by the movement of the base of the lock portion 52 during elastic deformation. The connector 10 can further improve the holding force of the first lock member 50 with respect to the first insulator 30 because the resin constituting the first insulator 30 enters the entire through hole 51a by integral molding.

  Similarly, the connector 10 can achieve the above-described effect more remarkably by forming the pair of side plate portions 54 integrally with the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b. Further, the connector 10 can reinforce both end portions of the front wall 32 a and the rear wall 32 b of the first insulator 30 by the side plate portion 54. Similarly, the connector 10 can reinforce the fitting side portions at both ends of the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b by the bent portion 54b. Thereby, the connector 10 can prevent the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b from being damaged during and after the fitting. Furthermore, by forming the bent portion 54b, the connector 10 can suppress deformation of the side plate portion 54 in the front-rear direction compared to the case where the side plate portion 54 is formed as a simple flat plate. The connector 10 can suppress a decrease in the fitting holding force due to the displacement of the second connector 60 due to the deformation of the first insulator 30.

  The connector 10 can further stabilize the elastic deformation of the lock portion 52 because the first lock member 50 includes the first mounting portion 53. That is, the connector 10 firmly fixes the bottom plate part 51 to the circuit board CB1 via the first mounting part 53 soldered to the circuit board CB1, so that the first time when the lock part 52 is elastically deformed. The lock member 50 as a whole is firmly supported to enable stable elastic deformation. Further, the connector 10 is fitted in the fitting direction by the soldered first mounting portion 53 extending from the end portion of the bottom plate portion 51 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the elastic deformation direction of the lock portion 52 along the front-rear direction. That is, the movement in the rotation direction of the first lock member 50 about the vertical direction can be firmly restricted. Thereby, the connector 10 enables stable elastic deformation of the lock portion 52 during fitting and unplugging. For example, the connector 10 can be stably elastically deformed by restricting the movement of the lock portion 52 even when an external force is exerted in the rotational direction due to careless contact between the removal jig 100 and the first lock member 50 during removal. Is possible.

  The connector 10 can stably mount the first mounting portion 53 on the circuit board CB1 by the first mounting portion 53 protruding from the bottom plate portion 51 toward the circuit board CB1. In particular, the first mounting portion 53 has a relatively wide mounting area, so that the connector 10 exhibits the effects relating to the high retention of the bottom plate portion 51 and the stability of elastic deformation of the lock portion 52 more significantly. Can do.

  The connector 10 can appropriately protect the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b of the first insulator 30 by having the second mounting portion 54a adjacent to the first mounting portion 53. That is, the holding | maintenance of the 1st locking member 50 makes the both ends corresponding to the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b thin. Thereby, the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b may be damaged by receiving a twisting action or the like during or after the fitting. The connector 10 can prevent breakage due to such a cause by firmly fixing the corresponding both ends of the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b to the circuit board CB1 via the second mounting portion 54a. Moreover, the connector 10 can also exhibit the effect regarding the high retention property of the said baseplate part 51 and the stability of the elastic deformation of the lock part 52 more notably. That is, the soldered second mounting portion 54 a is provided on the side plate portion 54 that is continuous with the bottom plate portion 51 via the first mounting portion 53, so that the bottom plate portion 51 can be firmly fixed. As described above, the connector 10 can firmly hold the first lock member 50 by soldering at four positions on the two first mounting portions 53 and the two second mounting portions 54a.

  In the connector 10, the outer surface of the bottom plate portion 51 is exposed to the outside, so that it is not necessary to form the first insulator 30 in the portion, and the first connector 20 can be further reduced in height. Thereby, the connector 10 can be reduced in height as a whole.

  The connector 10 enables an extraction operation of pushing the operation portion 52e downward. Therefore, the connector 10 facilitates work with a jig or the like. That is, the connector 10 is excellent in workability.

  In the connector 10, the gap S is formed outside the operation portion 52e, so that the lock portion 52 can be elastically deformed along the left-right direction without being obstructed by the first insulator 30.

  The second lock member 90 is disposed along each of the three sides and the upper surface of the second insulator 70 so as to protect the corresponding part of the second insulator 70 and to be fitted with the second insulator at the time of fitting. 70 can be prevented from being damaged.

  Since the connector 10 prevents the lock portion 52 from being plastically deformed by the connecting wall 32c, the lock portion 52 can be stably restored to the normal position even if the lock and unlock are repeated. That is, in the connector 10, the lock portion 52 is plastically deformed by repeated operations of locking and unlocking, the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are not locked to each other. Defects such as reduction can be suppressed.

  It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be realized in other predetermined forms other than the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the foregoing description is illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Some of all changes that fall within the equivalent scope shall be included therein.

  For example, the structure of each lock member may be interchanged between the first connector 20 and the second connector 60.

  The lock portion 52 of the first lock member 50 is not limited to a configuration that is held at the end portion of the first insulator 30 in the longitudinal direction of the connector 10, that is, in the left-right direction, and elastically deforms in the same direction. The lock part 52 may be configured to be held at the end of the connector 10 in the short direction, that is, the front-rear direction and elastically deformed in the same direction.

  The first engaging portion 52c is not limited to a configuration that penetrates the central portion of the movable portion 52a in a substantially rectangular shape. For example, the first engaging part 52c may penetrate the central part of the movable part 52a in an arbitrary shape. The first engaging portion 52c may be recessed on the surface without penetrating the movable portion 52a.

  The first locking member 50 is not limited to a structure integrally formed with the first insulator 30, and can be attached to the first insulator 30 by an appropriate method such as press-fitting as long as high retention and stability of elastic deformation can be secured. It may be held.

  The first lock member 50 is not limited to the configuration having both the first mounting portion 53 and the second mounting portion 54a. If the first lock member 50 can appropriately protect the front wall 32a and the rear wall 32b and can ensure high retention of the bottom plate portion 51 and stability of elastic deformation of the lock portion 52, only one of them can be used. You may have.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 20 1st connector 30 1st insulator 31 Bottom wall 32a Front wall 32b Rear wall 32c Connection wall 32d Notch 33 Fitting convex part 34 Fitting concave part 35 First contact mounting groove 40 First contact 40a Signal contact 40b Power contact 41a, 41b Mounting part 42a, 42b Elastic contact piece 43a, 43b Contact part 50 First lock member 51 Bottom plate part 51a Through hole 52 Lock part 52a Movable part 52b Continuous part 52c First engagement part 52d Guide part 52e Operation part 53 First 1 mounting portion 54 side plate portion 54a second mounting portion 54b bent portion 60 second connector 70 second insulator 71 bottom wall 72 annular wall 72a front wall 72b rear wall 73 fitting recess 74 second contact holding groove 80 second contact 80a signal Contact 80b Power contact 81a, 81b Parts 82a, 82b contact parts 83a, 83b extending parts 84a, 84b guide part 90 second lock member 91 top plate part 92 guide part 93 mounting part 94 second engaging part 100 removal jig 110 pushing part CB1 circuit board CB2 circuit Substrate S gap

Claims (6)

A first insulator, and a first lock member held by the first insulator;
A first connector comprising:
A second insulator fitted to the first insulator, and a second lock member held by the second insulator and having a second engaging portion,
A second connector fitted to the first connector comprising:
With
The first lock member includes a lock portion that is elastically deformable toward the outside of the first insulator,
The lock part is
An elastically deformable continuous portion extending from a bottom plate portion supported by the bottom wall of the first insulator;
A first engagement portion provided along the fitting direction from the continuous portion, and engaged with the second engagement portion;
An operating portion extending outward from the first engaging portion;
A connector comprising: The lock part includes a guide part provided continuously with the first engagement part,
The connector according to claim 1. The bottom plate is integrally formed with the first insulator;
The connector according to claim 1 or 2. The first lock member includes a first mounting portion provided at an end portion of the bottom plate portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the outer side.
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first mounting portion protrudes more toward the circuit board on which the first connector is mounted than the bottom plate portion.
The connector according to claim 4. The first locking member is
A side plate portion formed continuously with the first mounting portion and substantially orthogonal to the bottom plate portion;
A second mounting portion provided on the side of the circuit board on which the first connector of the side plate portion is mounted, and adjacent to the first mounting portion;
Comprising
The connector according to claim 4 or 5.

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