JP2021064498A - Electrical connector for flat type conductor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electrical connector for a flat type conductor that can ensure a good contact state between the flat type conductor and a terminal.SOLUTION: A reinforcing metal fitting 40 includes a plurality of base portions extending along the peripheral edge of a rear end opening 11A on both end sides of a housing 10 in a terminal arrangement direction, and a plurality of guide portions which extend from the plurality of base portions to the inside of a receiving portion 11 and can guide the flat type conductor C on a plate surface along the inner surface of the receiving portion 11. The plurality of base portions each include an upper base portion 41 and a lower base portion 42 which are located on both sides of the rear end opening 11A with the rear end opening 11A sandwiched therebetween, and extend in parallel with each other in the terminal arrangement direction, and a side base portion 43 that is located outside the rear end opening 11A in the terminal arrangement direction and connects the upper base portion 41 and the lower base portion 42. The upper base portion 41, the lower base portion 42, and the side base portion 43 each have a plate surface facing the rear end surface of the housing 10. The plurality of guide portions each include an upper guide portion 44 extending from the upper base portion 41, a lower guide portion 45 extending from the lower base portion 42, and a side guide portion 46 extending from the side base portion 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an electric connector for a flat conductor to which a flat conductor is connected.

As such an electric connector for a flat conductor, for example, a connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. Patent Document 1 describes a flat conductor in which the front-rear direction (the insertion direction is the front and the extraction direction is the rear), which is one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board (the width direction of the flat conductor), is set as the insertion / removal direction. The connector to be inserted and removed is disclosed. The connector is made of a housing extending in one direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction as a longitudinal direction, a plurality of terminals arranged and held in the housing with the longitudinal direction as a terminal arrangement direction, and a metal plate held in the housing. It has a metal fitting (shell) of the above and a movable member rotatably supported by the housing between an open position and a closed position, which will be described later.

The housing has a receiving portion that opens rearward to receive a flat conductor, and the receiving portion forms a rear end opening that extends in the terminal arrangement direction at the rear end position.

The metal fitting has a plate surface (rolled surface) perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the terminal arrangement direction, and has a rear plate portion that faces the rear end surface of the housing and covers the rear end surface. The rear plate portion is located above the rear end opening of the receiving portion and extends over the entire housing in the terminal arrangement direction, and both ends of the upper base portion at positions on both sides of the rear end opening in the terminal arrangement direction. It has a side portion extending downward from. The side portion is exposed in a state in which a plate thick surface (cut surface) forming an inner edge in the terminal arrangement direction extends in the vertical direction along the edge portion of the rear end opening of the receiving portion.

The movable member has an open position that allows the flat conductor to be inserted in a posture perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit board, and a posture parallel to the mounting surface to prevent the flat conductor from coming off after insertion. It is rotatable between the closed position and the closed position.

In the connector of Patent Document 1 having such a configuration, as described above, the rear end surface is covered by the upper portion and the side portion of the rear plate portion of the metal fitting that covers the rear end surface of the housing. Therefore, immediately before inserting the front end portion of the flat conductor toward the housing receiving portion from the rear, the front end portion is displaced upward or laterally (terminal arrangement direction) with respect to the rear end opening of the receiving portion. However, since the front end portion abuts on the upper portion or the side portion of the metal fitting, damage to the rear end surface of the housing is prevented.

Patent No. 5645312

In Patent Document 1, as described above, the side portions of the rear plate portion of the metal fitting have the thick surface (cut surface) forming the inner edge at both ends of the rear end opening of the receiving portion in the terminal arrangement direction. It is exposed along. Therefore, if the flat conductor is closer to one side in the terminal arrangement direction when the insertion of the flat conductor into the receiving portion is started, the plate thickness at the side portion of the metal fitting during the insertion process. The side edge of the flat conductor slides into contact with the inner edge having the surface (cut surface), and the side edge of the flat conductor is scraped to generate shavings. If this shavings gets into the receiving portion, it may adversely affect the contact state between the flat conductor and the terminal.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention prevents the flat conductor from being scraped due to sliding contact between the flat conductor and the metal fitting in the process of inserting the flat conductor, and provides a good contact state between the flat conductor and the terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric connector for a flat conductor that can be secured.

The electric connector for a flat conductor according to the present invention is an electric connector for a flat conductor to which a flat conductor is connected, and is formed in a housing in which a receiving portion into which the flat conductor is inserted is formed and in the receiving portion. It includes a plurality of terminals held in the housing in an arranged state, and metal fittings made of a metal plate attached to the housing.

In such an electric connector for a flat conductor, in the present invention, the receiving portion has an opening forming an insertion port for the flat conductor on one of the outer surfaces of the housing, and the metal fittings are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction. The flat conductor is formed by a plurality of bases extending along the peripheral edge of the opening at least one end side of the housing in the above, and a plate surface extending from the plurality of bases toward the inside of the receiving portion and along the inner surface of the receiving portion. It has a plurality of guide portions capable of guiding into the receiving portion, and the plurality of base portions are located on both sides of the opening and extend in parallel with each other in the arrangement direction. It has a third base portion that is located outside the opening in the arrangement direction and connects the first base portion and the second base portion, and at least the first base portion and the third base portion are one surface of the housing. The plurality of guide portions have a plate surface facing the surface, and the plurality of guide portions include a first guide portion extending from the first base portion, a second guide portion extending from the second base portion, and a third guide portion extending from the third base portion. It is characterized by having a guide unit.

In the present invention, when the flat conductor is inserted, the flat conductor is inserted into the receiving portion of the housing while being guided by the first guide portion, the second guide portion or the third guide portion provided on the metal fitting. Immediately before inserting the flat conductor into the receiving portion, if the position of the tip of the flat conductor is deviated from the opening of the receiving portion, the tip of the flat conductor is on the displaced side. Since it contacts the base located at, it does not directly contact the rear end surface of the housing. As a result, damage to the rear end surface of the housing is prevented. Further, when the flat conductor is moved to one side in the terminal arrangement direction from the normal position at the time when the flat conductor is started to be inserted into the receiving portion, the flat conductor is the flat conductor. The side edge of the conductor is guided to the receiving portion while sliding in contact with the plate surface of the third guide portion. At this time, since the flat conductor is in sliding contact with the plate surface, not the plate thickness surface of the third guide portion, it is difficult to scrape even if the side edge of the flat conductor is in sliding contact with the third guide portion.

In the present invention, at least one of the first guide portion, the second guide portion, and the third guide portion may be elastically displaceable in the plate thickness direction. As described above, since at least one guide portion can be elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction, when the flat conductor is guided by the elastically displaceable guide portion, the flat type is formed by the elastic displacement of the guide portion. Since the reaction force that the conductor receives from the guide portion becomes small, the flat conductor can be smoothly inserted with a smaller insertion force.

In the present invention, the metal fitting has a mounting portion extending from at least one of the first base portion, the second base portion, and the third base portion in the insertion direction of the flat conductor, and the mounting portion is described above. The metal fitting may be attached to the housing by being press-fitted into the mounting groove of the housing in the insertion direction. By providing such a mounting portion on the metal fitting, the mounting portion can be press-fitted into the mounting groove of the housing from the rear, and the metal fitting can be easily mounted on the housing.

In the present invention, the first base portion and the second base portion may extend in the arrangement direction over a range including the entire area of the receiving portion. With such a configuration, the metal fitting can be formed as one member. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where one metal fitting is provided at each end of the housing in the terminal arrangement direction.

In the present invention, the first guide portion is a first folded portion which is folded back at an edge portion of the first base portion on the side away from the opening and has a plate surface along the first base portion, and the first folded portion. The third guide portion has a first introduction portion extending from the receiving portion into the receiving portion, and the third guide portion has a plate surface that is folded back at the outer edge of the third base portion in the arrangement direction and has a plate surface along the third base portion. It may have a three-folded portion and a third introduction portion extending from the third folded portion in the terminal arrangement direction toward the inside of the receiving portion.

Since the first guide portion has the first folding portion and the first introduction portion in this way, the first guide portion is formed so as to extend from the edge portion of the first base portion near the opening to the inside of the receiving portion. The total length of the first guide portion is longer due to the provision of the first folding portion as compared with the case where the first folding portion is provided. Further, since the third guide portion has the third folding portion and the third introduction portion, the third guide portion is formed so as to extend from the inner edge of the third base portion toward the inside of the receiving portion. , The total length of the third guide portion becomes longer due to the provision of the third turn-back portion. As a result, the first guide portion and the third guide portion are likely to be elastically displaced, so that the flat conductor can be inserted more smoothly.

In the present invention, the second base portion has a plate surface facing the one surface of the housing, and the second guide portion is folded back at an edge portion of the second base portion on the side away from the opening. It may have a second folding portion having a plate surface along the second base portion and a second introduction portion extending from the second folding portion toward the inside of the receiving portion.

Since the second guide portion has the second folding portion and the second introduction portion in this way, the second guide portion is formed so as to extend from the edge portion of the second base portion near the opening to the inside of the receiving portion. Compared with the case where the second guide portion is provided, the total length of the second guide portion is longer. As a result, the second guide portion is likely to be elastically displaced, so that the flat conductor can be inserted more smoothly.

In the present invention, the electric connector for a flat conductor is a connector arranged on a mounting surface of a circuit board, and the second base portion is located on the circuit board side of the first base portion and is mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board. It may have a plate surface parallel to the plate surface.

When the second base portion has a plate surface parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board in this way, the dimensions of the second base portion in the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit board are the dimensions of the second base portion. Since the dimensions are in the plate thickness direction, the dimensions of the entire metal fitting and the connector can be reduced in the same direction. Further, when the second base portion has a plate surface parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board in this way, the plate thickness surface of the second base portion faces the opening side of the receiving portion. When the electric connector for a flat conductor is mounted on a circuit board, the flat conductor is often brought in an oblique direction with respect to the electric connector for a circuit board due to the ease of insertion, and is located on the circuit board side. Since the tip of the flat conductor rarely comes into contact with the second base portion, there is almost no problem even if the plate thickness surface of the second base portion faces the opening side of the receiving portion.

As described above, the present invention has a third guide portion in which the metal fitting held in the housing extends inward from the third base portion located outside the rear end opening of the receiving portion in the terminal arrangement direction. Since the third guide portion guides the flat conductor toward the receiving portion on the plate surface, the flat conductor is guided by the third guide portion in the process of inserting the flat conductor. When guided, even if the side edge of the flat conductor is in sliding contact with the side guide portion, the side edge is not easily scraped. Therefore, shavings of the flat conductor are less likely to occur, and it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the shavings from entering the receiving portion and adversely affecting the contact state between the terminal and the flat conductor.

It is a perspective view which showed the electric connector for a flat conductor which concerns on embodiment of this invention together with a flat conductor. It is a perspective view which showed the electric connector for a flat conductor of FIG. 1 in the state which the reinforcing metal fitting was pulled out. It is a vertical sectional view at the position of the signal terminal in the terminal arrangement direction of the electric connector for a flat conductor of FIG. 1, (A) is a state immediately before the insertion of the flat conductor, and (B) is in the middle of inserting the flat conductor. , (C) shows the state in which the insertion of the flat conductor is completed, and (D) shows the state immediately before the extraction of the flat conductor. It is a perspective view which shows the reinforcing metal fitting in the modified example, (A) is the reinforcing metal fitting of the first modified example, (B) is the reinforcing metal fitting of the second modified example, (C) is the reinforcing metal fitting of the third modified example. Is shown.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric connector 1 for a flat conductor (hereinafter referred to as “connector 1”) according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a flat conductor C. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector 1 of FIG. 1 in a state where the reinforcing metal fitting 40 described later is pulled out. 3A and 3B are vertical cross-sectional views of the connector 1 of FIG. 1 at the position of the signal terminal 20 in the terminal arrangement direction. FIG. 3A is a state immediately before the insertion of the flat conductor C, and FIG. 3B is a flat conductor C. (C) shows the state in which the flat conductor C has been inserted, and (D) shows the state immediately before the flat conductor C is pulled out.

The connector 1 is arranged on a mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown), and the flat conductor C is connected to electrically conduct the circuit board and the flat conductor C. Here, the “circuit board” means a plate-shaped mounting member on which a circuit portion connected to the terminal of the connector is formed, and is not only a plate-shaped member having high rigidity but also the same as the flat conductor C. A flexible sheet-like member having low rigidity is also included.

Further, in the present embodiment, the "terminal arrangement range" means a range in which a plurality of terminals are continuously arranged at intervals. In the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, as is often seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the signal terminals 20 and the ground terminals 30 described later are arranged at intervals to form one terminal arrangement range. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the signal terminal 20 and the ground terminal 30, they are collectively referred to as “terminals 20 and 30” for convenience of explanation.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the flat conductor C has a strip shape extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), and a plurality of circuit portions (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction are perpendicular to the width direction (right angle to the front-rear direction). It is arranged and formed in the Y-axis direction). The circuit portion extends in the insulating layer of the flat conductor C in the front-rear direction and reaches the front end (tip) position of the flat conductor C. Further, in the above-mentioned plurality of circuit units, a signal circuit unit and a ground circuit unit are mixed. The front end side portion of the signal circuit portion is exposed on the lower surface of the flat conductor C so that it can come into contact with the signal terminal 20. The front end side portion of the ground circuit portion is exposed on the upper surface of the flat conductor C so that it can come into contact with the ground terminal 30. Further, as seen in FIG. 1, the flat conductor C has a narrower front end side portion than the other portions. Notch portions C1 are formed on both side edges of the front end side portion, and the rear end edge of the ear portion C2 located in front of the notch portion C1 engages with the locking portion of the movable member 60 of the connector 1 described later. It functions as a locked portion C2A to be stopped.

The connector 1 has a housing 10 made of an electrically insulating material having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a plurality of metal signal terminals 20 arranged and held in the housing 10 with the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the housing 10 as the terminal arrangement direction. And a plurality of ground terminals 30, a reinforcing metal fitting 40 held in the housing 10 at both outer positions of the arrangement range of the terminals 20 and 30, and a reinforcing metal fitting 40 held in the housing 10 at both outer positions of the reinforcing metal fitting 40 in the terminal arrangement direction. It is provided with an urging metal fitting 50 and a movable member 60 made of an electrically insulating material that is supported by a housing 10 so as to be able to switch and move (rotate) between a closed position and an open position, which will be described later. In the connector 1, the flat conductor C is inserted and connected from the rear side (X2 side).

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 extends in one direction (Y-axis direction) parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown) as the longitudinal direction, and receives the flat conductor C. The receiving portion 11 for the purpose is formed as a space open toward the rear. The housing 10 extends over a range including the terminal arrangement range in the longitudinal direction, that is, the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) facing the bottom wall 12 and the bottom wall 12 extending parallel to the mounting surface. The wall 13, the bottom wall 12 in the terminal arrangement direction, the side walls 14 located on both ends of the upper wall 13, and the front ends of the bottom wall 12 and the upper wall 13 extending over a range including the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. It has a front wall 15 to be connected (see also FIGS. 3A to 3D).

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the receiving portion 11 described above is surrounded by the bottom wall 12, the upper wall 13, and the two side walls 14, and forms a rear end opening 11A (FIG. 2) that forms an insertion port for the flat conductor C. And FIG. 3 (A)) on the rear end surface of the housing 10, and in the space extending from the rear end opening 11A to the rear surface of the front wall 15 in the front-rear direction, the front end side portion of the flat conductor C (see FIG. 1). (See Fig. 3 (C)).

As can be seen in FIG. 2, both ends of the receiving portion 11 in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words, both outer sides of the terminal arrangement range, as a part of the inner surface of the receiving portion 11, are forward from the peripheral edge of the rear end opening 11A. An upward inclined surface 11B, a downward inclined surface 11C, and a lateral inclined surface 11D extending toward (X1 direction) are formed. The upward inclined surface 11B is inclined downward from the upper edge of the peripheral edge toward the front, and the downward inclined surface 11C is inclined upward from the lower edge of the peripheral edge toward the front, and is a laterally inclined surface. 11D is inclined inward in the terminal arrangement direction toward the front from the side edge of the peripheral edge (see also FIG. 3A).

Further, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 accommodates and holds a signal terminal accommodating portion 17 for accommodating and retaining a plurality of signal terminals 20, and a plurality of ground terminals 30, respectively. The ground terminal housing portions 18 of the above are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction at predetermined intervals. As is often seen in FIG. 2, the signal terminal accommodating portion 17 and the ground terminal accommodating portion 18 are formed in a mixed state in the terminal arrangement direction.

As seen in FIG. 3A, the signal terminal accommodating portion 17 has a slit shape extending at a right angle to the terminal arrangement direction, and the front groove portion 17A for press-fitting and holding the held portion 21 described later of the signal terminal 20. And a lower groove portion 17B for accommodating the lower arm portion 22 and the upper arm portion 23 described later of the signal terminal 20. The front groove portion 17A is formed so as to penetrate the lower part of the front wall 15. The lower groove portion 17B is recessed from the upper surface of the bottom wall 12 and extends rearward from the front groove portion 17A. Further, the ground terminal accommodating portion 18 also has a slit shape extending at a right angle to the terminal arrangement direction, and is formed as a groove portion penetrating in the front-rear direction.

As seen in FIG. 2, the bottom wall 12 is a bottom for accommodating the fixing portions 48 described later of the reinforcing metal fittings 40 on both ends of the receiving portion 11 in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words, on both outer sides of the terminal arrangement range. It has a recess 12A. The bottom recess 12A is formed as a recess that is open rearward and downward at a position near the rear end of the bottom wall 12.

As seen in FIG. 2, the upper wall 13 has mounting grooves 13A for holding the mounting portions 47 described later of the reinforcing metal fittings 40 on both ends of the receiving portions 11 in the terminal arrangement direction. The mounting groove 13A is formed as a slit-shaped groove portion that opens rearward at a position near the rear end of the upper wall 13. Further, the upper wall 13 is cut out in almost the entire area in the front-rear direction, and the upper accommodating portion 13B for receiving and accommodating the movable member 60 in the closed position (see FIGS. 3A and 3D). Is formed.

The side wall 14 is formed with a side accommodating portion 14A for accommodating a rotation shaft portion (not shown) of the movable member 60, which will be described later, and also accommodating the urging metal fitting 50 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The side accommodating portion 14A is open to the rear so that the urging metal fitting 50 can be attached from the rear. Further, the side accommodating portion 14A is also opened upward so as to receive the rotating shaft portion of the movable member 60 from above.

The signal terminal 20 is made by punching while maintaining a flat plate surface of the metal plate member, and is accommodated in the signal terminal accommodating portion 17 of the housing 10 as shown in FIG. 3A. , The plate surfaces of all the signal terminals 20 are arranged and held in the housing 10 so as to form a right angle to the terminal arrangement direction.

As seen in FIG. 3A, the signal terminal 20 has a held portion 21 that is press-fitted and held by the front groove portion 17A of the housing 10, and the lower groove portion 17B from the trailing edge of the held portion 21 facing rearward. It has a lower arm portion 22 and an upper arm portion 23 extending from the front edge of the held portion 21, and a leg portion 24 extending forward and downward from the front edge of the held portion 21 and extending out of the housing 10.

The lower arm portion 22 and the upper arm portion 23 can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction, and come into contact with a signal circuit portion (not shown) exposed on the lower surface of the flat conductor C with contact pressure at the rear end portion. (See Fig. 3 (C)).

The lower arm portion 22 extends from the lower trailing edge of the held portion 21 to the rear end position of the lower groove portion 17B. As seen in FIG. 3A, the lower arm portion 22 extends rearward from the held portion 21 while being in contact with the groove bottom surface of the lower groove portion 17B, and then extends so as to incline slightly upward toward the rear. ing. At the rear end of the lower arm portion 22, a rear contact portion 22A for contacting the signal circuit portion of the flat conductor C is formed so as to project upward. The rear contact portion 22A projects outside the lower groove portion 17B and is located in the receiving portion 11 in the free state of the lower arm portion 22.

The upper arm portion 23 is provided above the lower arm portion 22, and is provided at an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the held portion 21 from the held portion 21 to a position closer to the rear end of the lower groove portion 17B, that is, the lower arm portion 22. It extends from the rear end to the front position so as to incline slightly upward toward the rear. At the rear end of the upper arm portion 23, a front contact portion 23A for contacting the signal circuit portion of the flat conductor C is formed so as to project upward. The front contact portion 23A projects to the outside of the lower groove portion 17B at a position in front of the rear contact portion 22A of the lower arm portion 22 in the free state of the upper arm portion 23, and substantially the same as the rear contact portion 22A in the receiving portion 11. It is located at the same height.

The lower end of the leg portion 24 is formed as a connecting portion for connecting to a circuit board (not shown). The lower edge of the connection portion is located at substantially the same height as the lower surface of the bottom wall 12 of the housing 10, and is solder-connected to the corresponding signal circuit portion of the circuit board (not shown). ..

The signal terminal 20 having such a configuration is press-fitted into the signal terminal accommodating portion 17 of the housing 10 from the front and attached to the housing 10. When the signal terminal 20 is attached, the held portion 21 is press-fitted into the front groove portion 17A and is held by the inner wall surface of the front groove portion 17A at the upper and lower edges of the held portion 21.

Similar to the signal terminal 20 described above, the ground terminal 30 is made by punching while maintaining a flat plate surface of the metal plate member, and is accommodated in the ground terminal accommodating portion 18 of the housing 10, respectively. The plate surfaces of all the ground terminals 30 are arranged and held in the housing 10 so as to be perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

The ground terminal 30 includes a lower arm portion (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction along the bottom wall 12, an upper arm portion 31 extending in the front-rear direction along the upper wall (see FIG. 3A), and a front wall 15. A connecting portion (not shown) extending vertically along the line and connecting the front ends of the lower arm portion and the upper arm portion 31 to each other, and a held portion 32 extending downward from the rear end of the lower arm portion (see FIG. 2). Have. The upper arm portion 31 can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction, and at the rear end of the upper arm portion 31, a ground contact portion 31A for contacting a ground circuit portion (not shown) on the upper surface of the flat conductor C is provided. It is formed so as to project downward (see FIG. 3 (A)). The ground contact portion 31A is located in the receiving portion 11 in a free state of the upper arm portion 31. The lower end of the held portion 32 is located at substantially the same height as the lower surface of the bottom wall 12 of the housing 10, and is formed as a connecting portion to be solder-connected to the corresponding ground circuit portion of the circuit board (not shown). Has been done.

The ground terminal 30 having such a configuration is attached to the housing 10 by being press-fitted into the ground terminal accommodating portion 18 from the rear and held by the connecting portion.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, one reinforcing metal fitting 40 is provided on both ends of the receiving portion 11 in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words, on both outer sides of the terminal arrangement range. The reinforcing metal fitting 40 is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction. The reinforcing metal fitting 40 includes a plurality of bases 41, 42, 43 (upper base 41, lower base 42, lateral base 43 described later) extending along the peripheral edge of the rear end opening 11A of the receiving portion 11 in the terminal arrangement direction. , A plurality of guide portions 44, 45, 46 (upward guide portion 44, downward guide portion 45, side guide portion 46 described later) extending from the plurality of bases 41, 42, 43 toward the inside of the receiving portion 11, and an upper base portion. It has a mounting portion 47 extending forward from the upper edge of 41 and a fixing portion 48 extending forward from the lower edge of the lower base 42.

The plurality of bases 41, 42, 43 are an upper base 41 as a first base extending in the terminal arrangement direction above the rear end opening 11A and a second base extending in the terminal arrangement direction below the rear end opening 11A. It has a lower base portion 42 and a lateral base portion 43 as a third base portion that extends in the vertical direction outside the rear end opening 11A in the terminal arrangement direction and connects the ends of the upper base portion 41 and the lower base portion 42 to each other. That is, the upper base 41 and the lower base 42 are located on both sides of the rear end opening 11A in the vertical direction and extend in the terminal arrangement direction in parallel with each other.

Further, each plate surface (a surface perpendicular to the plate thickness direction) of the upper base 41, the lower base 42, and the side base 43 faces the rear end surface of the housing 10, and is protected by covering the rear end surface. doing. Therefore, immediately before the insertion of the flat conductor C into the receiving portion 11, if the position of the front end of the flat conductor C is displaced in the vertical direction or the terminal arrangement direction with respect to the rear end opening 11A of the receiving portion 11. The front end of the flat conductor C abuts on any of the bases 41, 42, and 43 located on the displaced side. Therefore, the front end of the flat conductor C does not come into direct contact (collision) with the rear end surface of the housing 10, and damage to the rear end surface is satisfactorily prevented.

The plurality of guide portions 44, 45, 46 include an upper guide portion 44 as a first guide portion extending from the upper base portion 41, a lower guide portion 45 as a second guide portion extending from the lower base portion 42, and a side base portion 43. It has a side guide portion 46 as a third guide portion extending from.

The upper guide portion 44 is bent at the lower edge of the upper base portion 41 so that the plate surface of the upper guide portion 44 is along the upward inclined surface 11B (see FIG. 2) of the housing 10 toward the receiving portion 11. It extends (see FIG. 3 (A)). That is, the plate surface of the upward guide portion 44 is inclined downward as it goes forward. The lower guide portion 45 is bent at the upper edge of the lower base portion 42 so that the plate surface of the lower guide portion 45 is along the downward inclined surface 11C (see FIG. 2) of the housing 10 toward the receiving portion 11. It extends (see FIG. 3 (A)). That is, the plate surface of the downward guide portion 45 is inclined upward as it goes forward. The side guide portion 46 is bent at the inner edge of the side base portion 43 in the terminal arrangement direction so that the plate surface of the side guide portion 46 follows the side inclined surface 11D (see FIG. 2) of the housing 10. , Extends towards the receiving section 11. That is, the plate surface of the side guide portion 46 is inclined inward in the terminal arrangement direction toward the front.

In the present embodiment, each of the upward guide portion 44, the downward guide portion 45, and the side guide portion 46 of the reinforcing metal fitting 40 is spaced between the upward inclined surface 11B, the downward inclined surface 11C, and the side inclined surface 11D of the housing 10. It is located with, and can be elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction. With such a configuration, when the flat conductor C is guided by the guide portions 44, 45, 46, the flat conductor C is moved by the guide portion 44, due to the elastic displacement of the guide portions 44, 45, 46. Since the reaction force received from 45 and 46 becomes small, the flat conductor C can be smoothly inserted with a smaller insertion force. In the present embodiment, all the guide portions 44, 45, 46 are elastically displaceable, but instead, only some of the guide portions may be elastically displaceable.

As seen in FIG. 2, the mounting portion 47 is bent at the upper edge of the upper base 41 and extends forward. The mounting portion 47 is press-fitted into the mounting groove 13A of the housing 10 from the rear. Therefore, the reinforcing metal fitting 40 can be easily attached to the housing 10 simply by press-fitting the attachment portion 47. The fixing portion 48 is bent at the lower edge of the lower base portion 42 and extends forward, and as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom recess of the housing 10 with the reinforcing metal fitting 40 attached to the housing 10. It is housed in 12A. The lower surface of the fixing portion 48 is located at substantially the same height as the lower surface of the bottom wall 12 of the housing 10, and is solder-connected to the corresponding portion of the circuit board (not shown) and fixed to the circuit board. It has become.

The urging metal fitting 50 is made by bending a substantially strip-shaped metal plate member in the plate thickness direction. The urging metal fitting 50 includes a rear plate portion 51 extending in the vertical direction at the rear end position of the side wall 14 of the housing 10, an upper plate portion 52 extending forward from the upper end of the rear plate portion 51, and a lower end of the rear plate portion 51. It has an urging piece (not shown) extending forward from the rear plate portion 51 and a fixing portion 53 extending rearward from the lower end of the rear plate portion 51.

The upper plate portion 52 extends in the front-rear direction at a position above the rotation shaft portion (not shown) of the movable member 60, and restricts the upward movement of the rotation shaft portion. The urging piece is located below the rotation shaft portion and can be elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction). The urging piece is urged with the rotation shaft portion directed to either the closed position or the open position. Specifically, when the urging piece is at a predetermined angular position of the movable member 60 between the closed position and the open position as a boundary position and the movable member 60 is at an angle position on the closed position side with respect to the boundary position. The rotating shaft portion is urged toward the closed position, and when the movable member 60 is at an angle position on the open position side of the boundary position, the rotating shaft portion is urged toward the open position. The lower surface of the fixing portion 53 is located at substantially the same height as the lower surface of the bottom wall 12 of the housing 10, and is solder-connected to the corresponding portion of the circuit board (not shown) and fixed to the circuit board. It has become.

In the urging metal fitting 50 having such a configuration, the upper plate portion 52 is press-fitted from behind into a holding groove (not shown) formed in the housing 10 and held, and is held in the side accommodating portion 14A of the side wall 14. To.

As seen in FIG. 2, the movable member 60 has a plate-shaped main body portion 61 extending in the longitudinal direction in the terminal arrangement direction and rotating shaft portions (rotary shaft portions) provided at both ends of the main body portion 61 in the terminal arrangement direction. It has a locking portion (not shown) and a locking portion (not shown). The rotating shaft portion forms a shaft body extending in the terminal arrangement direction at a position including the rotation axis of the movable member 60 when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction. A part of the rotating shaft portion receives an urging force from the urging portion of the urging metal fitting 50 toward the closed position or the open position.

The locking portion is formed so as to receive and project downward when the movable member 60 is in the closed position, and has a locking surface on the front end side for locking with the locked portion C2A of the flat conductor C. In addition, it has a guide surface on the rear end side for guiding the flat conductor in the process of inserting the flat conductor C. The guide surface is an inclined surface that inclines downward as it goes forward in the closed position. The locking portion rushes into the notch C1 of the flat conductor C from above in a state where the flat conductor C has been inserted into the receiving portion 11, and engages with the locked portion C2A from behind. By being positioned so that it can be locked by the stop surface, the flat conductor C is prevented from coming out to the rear.

Next, the connection operation between the connector 1 and the flat conductor C will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (A) to 3 (D). First, the connection portion of the signal terminal 20 of the connector 1 (the lower end portion of the leg portion 24) and the connection portion of the ground terminal 30 (the lower end portion of the held portion 32) are solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board, and the reinforcing metal fittings are formed. The fixing portion 48 of the 40 and the fixing portion 53 of the urging metal fitting 50 are fixed by soldering to the corresponding portions of the circuit board.

Next, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 (A), with the movable member 60 brought to the closed position, a flat conductor C is placed behind the connector 1 on the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown). Position it so that it extends in the front-back direction along it.

Next, the flat conductor C is inserted into the receiving portion 11 of the connector 1 with the flat conductor C facing forward. As described above, in the present embodiment, the rear end surface of the housing 10 is covered by the plate surfaces of the upper base 41, the lower base 42, and the side base 43 of the reinforcing metal fitting 40. Immediately before the insertion of the flat conductor C into the receiving portion 11, if the position of the front end of the flat conductor C is deviated from the rear end opening 11A of the receiving portion 11 in the vertical direction or the terminal arrangement direction, the said. The front end of the flat conductor C abuts on any of the bases 41, 42, and 43 located on the offset side. Therefore, the front end of the flat conductor C does not come into direct contact (collision) with the rear end surface of the housing 10, and damage to the rear end surface is satisfactorily prevented.

Conventionally, a collision between the front end of a flat conductor and the rear end surface of a housing is likely to occur especially in the region around the end of the rear end opening of the receiving portion (the region along the periphery of the rear end opening) in the terminal arrangement direction. It was. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the region is covered with the upper base 41, the lower base 42, and the side base 43 of the reinforcing metal fitting 40, the effect of preventing damage to the rear end surface of the housing 10 is high.

If the position of the front end of the flat conductor C is slightly deviated upward from the normal position when the insertion of the flat conductor C into the receiving portion 11 is started, the front end of the flat conductor C The upper edge is guided to the receiving portion 11 while sliding in contact with the plate surface of the upward guiding portion 44. If the position of the front end of the flat conductor C is slightly deviated downward from the normal position, the lower edge of the front end of the flat conductor C is guided to the receiving portion 11 while sliding in contact with the plate surface of the lower guide portion 45. To. If the position of the front end of the flat conductor C is slightly deviated from the normal position to the side, the side edge of the front end of the flat conductor C guides the receiving portion 11 while sliding in contact with the plate surface of the side guide portion 46. Will be done.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the front end of the flat conductor C is in sliding contact with the smooth plate surface of each of the guide portions 44, 45, 46, not the thick surface, so that the front end of the flat conductor C guides. It is hard to scrape even if it is in sliding contact with parts 44, 45, 46. Therefore, shavings of the flat conductor C are unlikely to be generated, and it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the shavings from entering the receiving portion 11 and adversely affecting the contact state between the terminals 20 and 30 and the flat conductor C.

When the flat conductor C is further inserted, the flat conductor C looks at the terminal arrangement direction, and the flat conductor C has a ground contact portion 31A of the upper arm portion 31 of the ground terminal 30 and a rear contact portion 22A of the lower arm portion 22 of the signal terminal 20. And the upper arm portion 23 advances forward so as to spread between the front contact portion 23A. As a result, the upper arm portion 31 of the ground terminal 30 is elastically displaced upward, and the lower arm portion 22 and the upper arm portion 23 of the signal terminal 20 are elastically displaced downward (see FIG. 3B).

Further, in the process of inserting the flat conductor C, the ears C2 located near both side ends of the flat conductor C come into contact with the guide surface (not shown) of the locking portion of the movable member 60, and the contact force thereof. The movable member 60 is rotated in the open direction (direction toward the open position) by the component force (component force directed upward) (see FIG. 3B). The rotation of the movable member 60 allows the selvage portion C2 and thus the flat conductor C to further advance forward. Further, FIG. 3B shows a state in which the rotation angle of the movable member 60 in the process of inserting the flat conductor C is maximized. At this point, the urging piece of the urging metal fitting 50 urges the rotating shaft portion of the movable member 60 toward the closed position.

When the flat conductor C is further inserted forward and brought to a position where the front end of the flat conductor C abuts on the front wall 15, as shown in FIG. 3C, the insertion operation of the flat conductor C is performed. Complete. When the flat conductor C is completely inserted, the elastic displacement state of the lower arm portion 22 and the upper arm portion 23 of the signal terminal 20 is maintained as shown in FIG. 3C, and the lower surface of the flat conductor C is maintained. The signal circuit portion (not shown), the rear contact portion 22A, and the front contact portion 23A are in contact with each other with contact pressure, and a state of being electrically conductive is maintained. Further, the elastic displacement state of the upper arm portion 31 of the ground terminal 30 is also maintained, and the ground circuit portion (not shown) on the upper surface of the flat conductor C and the ground contact portion 31A are in contact with each other with contact pressure and are electrically conductive. The state is maintained. In this way, the connection operation of the flat conductor C is completed.

Further, when the flat conductor C is brought to the insertion completion position, the selvage portion C2 of the flat conductor C passes through the position of the locking portion (not shown) of the movable member 60 and is in front of the locking portion. Brought to you. As a result, the movable member 60 receives the urging force from the urging piece of the urging metal fitting 50 and returns to the closed position, and the locking portion rushes into the notch C1 of the flat conductor C from above. Then, the locked portion C2A of the flat conductor C is positioned so that it can be locked on the locking surface with respect to the locking portion, and the flat conductor C is prevented from being pulled out to the rear.

In the present embodiment, one reinforcing metal fitting 40 is provided on both ends of the receiving portion 11 in the terminal arrangement direction, but instead, only one of both ends of the receiving portion 11 is provided. It may be provided in.

The reinforcing metal fittings of the present embodiment are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. Hereinafter, the reinforcing metal fittings according to the modified example will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the reinforcing metal fitting 140 according to the first modification. In FIG. 4A, the portions corresponding to the respective parts of the reinforcing metal fittings 40 of the embodiment described above based on FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by adding “100” to the reference numerals in this embodiment. It is shown (for example, the code of the upper base corresponding to the upper base 41 in the above-described embodiment is referred to as "141"). The reinforcing metal fittings 140 according to the first modification are the upper base portion 41, the lower base portion 42, the upper guide portion 44, and the lower plan of the respective reinforcing metal fittings 40 located on both end sides of the receiving portion 11 in the above-described embodiment. The inner 45 is shaped as if it extends inward in the terminal arrangement direction and is connected to each other, and is formed as one member.

In this first modification, the upper base 141, the lower base 142, the upper guide 144 and the lower guide 145 extend over a range including the entire receiving portion of the housing in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, the upper base portion 141, the lower base portion 142, and the lower base portion 142, as compared with the above-described embodiment in which the upper base portion 41, the lower base portion 42, the upper guide portion 44, and the lower guide portion 45 are located only in the range of both ends of the receiving portion. The area of the upper guide portion 144 and the lower guide portion 145 is large. As a result, the effect of protecting the rear end surface of the housing is improved by the upper base portion 141 and the lower base portion 142, and the flat conductor is guided more smoothly by the upper guide portion 144 and the lower guide portion 145. Further, since the reinforcing metal fittings can be formed as one member, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the above-described embodiment in which the reinforcing metal fittings are provided one by one at both end positions of the housing in the terminal arrangement direction.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the reinforcing metal fitting 240 according to the second modification. In FIG. 4B, of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 240 provided at both ends of the housing in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction), only the reinforcing metal fittings 240 provided at the ends on the Y1 side are shown. Further, in FIG. 4B, the parts corresponding to the respective parts of the reinforcing metal fitting 40 of the above-described embodiment are indicated by adding a reference numeral of "200" to the reference numeral of this embodiment (for example,). The reference numeral of the upper base corresponding to the upper base 41 in the above-described embodiment is referred to as "241"). In the reinforcing metal fitting 240 according to this second modification, the upper guide portion 244 extends from the upper edge of the upper base portion 241, the lower guide portion 245 extends from the lower edge of the lower base portion 242, and the side guide portion 246 extends in the terminal arrangement direction. At this point, the upper guide 44 extends from the lower edge of the upper base 41, the lower guide 45 extends from the upper edge of the lower base 42, and the side guide 46 extends from the outer edge of the lateral base 243. The configuration is different from the above-described embodiment extending from the inner edge of the lateral base 43 in the arrangement direction.

As can be seen in FIG. 4B, the upper guide portion 244 is folded at the upper edge of the upper base portion 241 and has a plate surface along the upper base portion 241 at the upper folded portion 244A and the lower end of the upper folded portion 244A. It has an upper introduction portion 244B that is bent and extends forward, i.e., into the receiving portion of the housing. The lower guide portion 245 is a lower folded portion 245A that is folded back at the lower edge of the lower base portion 242 and has a plate surface along the lower base portion 242, and a downward introduction portion that is bent at the upper end of the lower folded portion 245A and extends forward. It has 245B. The side guide portion 246 is folded back at the outer edge of the lateral base portion 243 in the terminal arrangement direction and bent at the inner end of the side folded portion 246A having a plate surface along the side base portion 243 and the side folded portion 246A. It has a side introduction portion 246B extending forward.

In the second modification, when the insertion of the flat conductor is started, the front end of the flat conductor is guided into the receiving portion by the plate surfaces of the upper introduction portion 244B, the lower introduction portion 245B, and the side introduction portion 246B. Will be done. In this second modification, each guide portion 244, 245, 246 extends from the edge of the corresponding base portions 241,242,243 on the side away from the rear end opening of the receiving portion, as described above. Compared with the embodiment, the total length of the guide portion 244, 245, 246 is lengthened by the amount of the folded-back portions 244A, 245A, and 246A. As a result, the guide portions 244, 245, and 246 are likely to be elastically displaced, so that the flat conductor can be inserted more smoothly.

Further, only one or two of the upper guide portion, the lower guide portion, and the side guide portion have the shape as shown in FIG. 4B, and the other guide portions are as in the above-described embodiment. It may have a short shape.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing the reinforcing metal fitting 340 according to the third modification. In FIG. 4C, only the reinforcing metal fittings 340 provided at the ends on the Y1 side of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 340 provided at both ends of the housing in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) are shown. Further, in FIG. 4C, the parts corresponding to the respective parts of the reinforcing metal fitting 40 of the above-described embodiment are indicated by adding a reference numeral of “300” to the reference numeral of this embodiment (for example, The reference numeral of the upper base corresponding to the upper base 41 in the above-described embodiment is referred to as "341"). In the reinforcing metal fitting 340 according to the third modification, the lower base portion 342 located on the circuit board (not shown) side of the upper base portion 341 and the lower base portion 342 is relative to the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown). It extends so as to have a parallel plate surface, that is, a plate surface parallel to both the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) and the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction), and the lower base portion 342 also serves as a fixing portion. In that respect, the configuration is different from the above-described embodiment.

In the third modification, since the lower base portion 342 extends parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, the lower guide portion 345 is the trailing edge of the lower base portion 342 as shown in FIG. 4 (C). It is bent at and extends toward the front side, and guides the flat conductor on the plate surface.

When the lower base portion 342 has a plate surface parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board in this way, the vertical dimension of the lower base portion 342 is the dimension in the plate thickness direction of the lower base portion 342. In the vertical direction, the entire reinforcing metal fitting 340 and thus the connector can be reduced in size. Further, in the third modification, the plate thickness surface of the lower base portion 342 faces the rear side (X2 side), that is, the rear end opening side of the receiving portion. The low profile type (type with small dimensions in the connector thickness direction (Z direction)) can be provided from diagonally above the electrical connector for circuit boards due to the ease of insertion. However, since the front end of the flat conductor rarely comes into contact with the lower base portion 342 located on the circuit board side, there is almost no problem even if the plate thickness surface of the lower base portion 342 faces the rear side. Further, the lower base portion 342 can be solder-connected to the corresponding portion of the circuit board on the lower surface thereof, and also has a function as a fixing portion.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a connector in which a flat conductor is inserted and removed in a direction along a mounting surface of a circuit board has been described, but instead, the invention is perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The present invention can also be applied to a connector in which a flat conductor is inserted and removed in a direction.

1 Connector 10 Housing 11 Receiving part 11A Rear end opening 11B Upward inclined surface 11C Downward inclined surface 11D Side inclined surface 13A Mounting groove 20 Signal terminal 30 Ground terminal 40, 140, 240, 340 Reinforcing bracket 41, 141,241,341 Upper Base (first base)
42, 142, 242, 342 Lower base (second base)
43,143,243,343 Lateral base (third base)
44,144,244,344 Upward guidance section (first guidance section)
45,145,245,345 Downward guidance section (second guidance section)
46,146,246,346 Side guide (third guide)
47, 147, 247, 347 Mounting part 244A Upper folding part 244B Upper introduction part 245A Lower folding part 245B Lower introduction part 246A Side folding part 246B Side introduction part C Flat conductor

Claims (7)

An electrical connector for flat conductors to which flat conductors are connected.
It includes a housing in which a receiving portion into which the flat conductor is inserted is formed, a plurality of terminals held in the housing in a state of being arranged in the receiving portion, and a metal plate metal fitting attached to the housing. In electric connectors for flat conductors
The receiving portion has an opening forming an insertion port for the flat conductor on one of the outer surfaces of the housing.
The metal fittings include a plurality of bases extending along the peripheral edge of the opening at least one end side of the housing in the arrangement direction of the terminals, and extending from the plurality of bases toward the inside of the receiving portion and along the inner surface of the receiving portion. It has a plurality of guide portions capable of guiding the flat conductor into the receiving portion on the plate surface.
The plurality of bases are located on both sides of the opening and extend in parallel with each other in the arrangement direction, the first base and the second base, and the first base and the first base located outside the opening in the arrangement direction. It has a third base that connects the second base, and at least the first base and the third base have a plate surface facing the one side of the housing.
The plurality of guide portions are characterized by having a first guide portion extending from the first base portion, a second guide portion extending from the second base portion, and a third guide portion extending from the third base portion. Electric connector for flat conductors. The electric connector for a flat conductor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first guide portion, the second guide portion, and the third guide portion can be elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction. The metal fitting has a mounting portion extending from at least one of the first base portion, the second base portion, and the third base portion in the insertion direction of the flat conductor, and the mounting portion is a mounting groove of the housing. The electric connector for a flat conductor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal fitting is attached to the housing by being press-fitted in the insertion direction. The electric connector for a flat conductor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first base portion and the second base portion extend in the arrangement direction over a range including the entire area of the receiving portion. The first guide portion is a first folded portion that is folded back at an edge of the first base portion on the side away from the opening and has a plate surface along the first base portion, and the inside of the receiving portion from the first folded portion. Has a first introduction that extends towards
The third guide portion is formed from a third folded portion that is folded back at the outer edge of the third base portion in the arrangement direction and has a plate surface along the third base portion, and the third folded portion in the terminal arrangement direction. The electric connector for a flat conductor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein it has a third introduction portion extending into the receiving portion. The second base has a plate surface facing the one surface of the housing.
The second guide portion is a second folded portion that is folded back at the edge of the second base portion on the side away from the opening and has a plate surface along the second base portion, and the inside of the receiving portion from the second folded portion. The electric connector for a flat conductor according to claim 5, wherein the electric connector has a second introduction portion extending toward. The electric connector for a flat conductor is a connector arranged on the mounting surface of a circuit board.
According to any one of claims 1 to 5, the second base portion is located closer to the circuit board than the first base portion and has a plate surface parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The described electrical connector for flat conductors.

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