JP2021158077A - Connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector device which allows reduction of its profile while ensuring a spring length of a lock arm.SOLUTION: A connector device 1 comprises: a base connector 2 having a base-side engagement part E1; and a socket connector 3 to be connected to the base connector 2. The socket connector 3 has a socket housing 31. The socket housing 31 has a lock arm 33 extending along a second direction D2 in a cantilever manner from a lateral surface. The lock arm 33 has a base end part 33a and a tip end part 33b which are continuous with the lateral surface. The tip end part 33b has: a socket-side engagement part E2 which engages with the base-side engagement part E1; and an operation part 331 which can be operated so as to disengage the socket-side engagement part E2 from the base-side engagement part E1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a connector device.

A connector device including a base connector and a socket connector fixed to a circuit board is known. In such a connector device, a configuration is disclosed in which a lock arm and a latch portion are engaged to maintain a connected state between a base connector and a socket connector (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the connector device of Patent Document 1, the lock arm provided in the socket housing of the socket connector extends in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board. Further, the latch portion provided in the base housing of the base connector is configured to engage with the hook portion provided at the tip of the lock arm in a direction perpendicular to the circuit board. As a result, the connector device of Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to maintain the connected state between the base connector and the socket connector.

The lock arm shown in Patent Document 1 is provided at the upper end of the lock arm and is operated at the time of unlocking. A fulcrum is provided. The lock arm is configured in a seesaw shape that rotates around the fulcrum, and when the force point is pressed, the lock arm rotates around the fulcrum, and the hook is in the pressing direction of the force point. Moving in the opposite direction, the engagement between the latch portion and the hook portion is released. As a result, the connector device of Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to maintain the connected state between the base connector and the socket connector.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-27532

However, in the connector device of Patent Document 1, since the lock arm extends in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board, the length of the lock arm that functions as a spring becomes short when trying to reduce the height of the connector device. Therefore, when the short lock arm is operated to disengage from the latch portion, sufficient elasticity cannot be obtained, the lock arm cannot be operated easily, and the lock arm may be broken or plastically deformed. It may be damaged. On the other hand, if the length of the lock arm is increased in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board, the height of the connector device cannot be reduced.

Therefore, in view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector device capable of reducing the height of the connector device while ensuring the spring length of the lock arm.

The connector device of the present invention is a connector device including a base housing having a base-side engaging portion, a base connector fixed to a circuit board, and a socket connector connected to the base connector, and the socket. The connector comprises a socket housing connected to the base housing, and the socket housing is connected to the base housing and is connected to the base housing on a side surface of the socket housing with respect to a first direction perpendicular to the circuit board. A lock arm extending cantilevered from the side surface along a vertical second direction is provided, and the lock arm has a base end portion connected to the side surface and a tip end portion on the free end side of the lock arm. An operation unit that can be operated so that the tip portion disengages the socket-side engaging portion that engages with the base-side engaging portion and the socket-side engaging portion with respect to the base-side engaging portion. And have.

Further, it is preferable that the socket connector can be fitted by moving the socket connector in the first direction with respect to the base connector.

Further, the operation portion is provided on the first edge portion side of the tip portion in both the first directions far from the circuit board, and the socket side engaging portion is the first portion of the tip portion. Of both edges in one direction, the operating portion is provided between the lock arm and the side surface facing the lock arm, which is provided on the second edge side close to the circuit board in the first direction. A deflection prevention mechanism that regulates the deflection of the lock arm so that the first edge portion of the lock arm approaches the side surface and the second edge portion separates from the side surface when operated toward the side surface. It is preferable to have.

Further, the bending prevention mechanism includes an arm-side contact portion provided on the lock arm and a side surface-side contact portion provided on the side surface, and the arm-side contact portion and the side surface-side contact portion. Are preferably configured such that they face each other in the first direction and come into contact with each other when the operating portions are operated toward the side surface.

Further, the socket connector can be fitted by moving with respect to the base connector in the first direction, and the socket-side engaging portion disengages the socket housing from the base connector in the first direction. The base-side engaging portion has a first engaging surface that prevents the socket connector from being disengaged from the base connector in the second direction, and the base-side engaging portion is the same. In the connected state, the first engaged surface that engages with the first engaging surface in the first direction and the second engaged surface that engages with the second engaging surface in the second direction. It is preferable to have.

Further, the socket connector can be fitted to the base connector in the first direction and the second direction, and the socket-side engaging portion is closer to the circuit board in the first direction. It is preferable to have a first tapered portion provided and a second tapered portion provided on the fitting direction side of the fitting direction and the detaching direction of the socket connector in the second direction.

According to the connector device of the present invention, the height of the connector device can be reduced while ensuring the spring length of the lock arm.

It is a perspective view which shows the state before the base connector and the socket connector are connected in the connector device of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the connection state in which the base connector and the socket connector are connected in the connector device of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the base connector shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the socket connector shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the socket connector seen from the angle different from FIG. It is a bottom view of a socket connector. It is a front view of a socket connector. It is a reference figure which shows the state which the lock arm is twisted. It is the schematic which shows the state which the base side engaging part of a base connector and the socket side engaging part of a socket connector are engaged. It is the schematic which shows the state which the operation part of the lock arm was slightly operated from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the operating portion of the lock arm is further operated from the state shown in FIG. 10 and the socket-side engaging portion of the socket connector and the base-side engaging portion of the base connector are disengaged. It is the schematic which shows the modification of the bending prevention mechanism. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the socket side engaging part. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the socket side engaging part.

Hereinafter, the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are merely examples, and the connector device of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector device 1 of the present embodiment includes a base housing 21 having a base-side engaging portion E1, and is attached to a base connector 2 fixed to a circuit board S and a base connector 2. It includes a socket connector 3 to be connected. In the present embodiment, the socket connector 3 is provided with an electric wire W, and the connector device 1 is a substrate-to-electric wire connecting the base connector 2 fixed to the circuit board S and the socket connector 3 provided with the electric wire W. It is configured as a connector. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the socket connector 3 is configured so that it can be fitted in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board S toward the base connector 2, but the socket connector 3 May be fitted in the horizontal direction (second direction D2 described later) toward the base connector 2.

In the present specification, the direction perpendicular to the circuit board S is referred to as the first direction D1, and the one direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 is referred to as the second direction D2. The first direction D1 can be rephrased as the height direction of the connector device 1, and in the present embodiment, it can also be rephrased as the fitting direction of the socket housing 31. The second direction D2 is not particularly limited as long as it is a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1. In the present embodiment, the second direction D2 is the extending direction of the terminal 32 of the socket connector 3 (see FIG. 6), in other words, the second direction D2 is in front of the socket housing 31 which is the tip end side of the terminal 32. This is the front-rear direction connecting the portion 31a and the rear portion 31b of the socket housing 31 from which the electric wire W is led out. Further, the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is referred to as a third direction D3. In the present embodiment, the third direction D3 is the width direction of the socket housing 31 in which a plurality of terminals 32 (see FIG. 6) of the socket connector 3 are arranged adjacent to each other. The state in which the socket housing 31 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the base housing 21 is referred to as a connected state.

The base connector 2 is a connector fixed to the surface of the circuit board S as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the base connector 2 includes a base housing 21 and a plurality of terminals 22. The terminal 22 is made of a conductive metal material. The terminal 22 is composed of metal pieces projecting from the base housing 21 in the second direction D2 and arranged apart from each other in the third direction D3. One end of the terminal 22 projects from the base housing 21 to one side in the second direction D2, and the other end of the terminal 22 is connected to the circuit board S by, for example, a solder connection. The shape of the terminal 22 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the terminal 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular thin plate shape in which the third direction D3 is the plate thickness direction.

The base housing 21 is fixed to the circuit board S and connected to the socket housing 31. The base housing 21 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

The shape and structure of the base housing 21 are not particularly limited as long as they can be connected to the socket housing 31 and have the base-side engaging portion E1 described later. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the base housing 21 has terminals 22 and extends from both ends of the wall portion 211 extending in the third direction D3 and the third direction D3 of the wall portion 211. It includes a pair of side walls 212 and 212 extending in two directions D2. The base housing 21 is formed in a substantially C shape (in top view) that opens to one side in the second direction D2 as a whole, and is a part of the socket housing 31 inside the wall portion 211 and the pair of side walls 212 and 212. A storage recess is formed to accommodate the. Although the base housing 21 does not have a bottom portion between the pair of side walls 212 and 212 in the present embodiment, it may have another portion such as a bottom portion.

The base housing 21 has a base-side engaging portion E1 that engages with the socket-side engaging portion E2 of the socket housing 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the base-side engaging portion E1 engages with the socket-side engaging portion E2 in the connected state to prevent the socket connector 3 from being disengaged from the base connector 2. The position where the base-side engaging portion E1 is provided is not particularly limited as long as it can engage with the socket-side engaging portion E2, and can be appropriately changed according to the position where the socket-side engaging portion E2 is provided. .. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the socket-side engaging portion E2 projects toward the outside of the socket housing 31 in the third direction D3, and the base-side engaging portion E1 has the socket housing 31. It is provided on the inner surfaces of a pair of side walls 212 and 212 to be sandwiched.

The structure of the base-side engaging portion E1 is not particularly limited as long as it can engage with the socket-side engaging portion E2 to prevent the socket connector 3 from being detached from the base connector 2. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the base-side engaging portion E1 engages with the first engaging surface E21 of the socket-side engaging portion E2, which will be described later, in the first direction D1 in the connected state. 1 It has an engaged surface E11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the socket connector 3 from being detached from the base connector 2 in the first direction D1. In the present embodiment, the first engaged surface E11 is a flat surface extending perpendicularly to the first direction D1. Further, in the present embodiment, the base-side engaging portion E1 engages with the second engaging surface E22 of the socket-side engaging portion E2, which will be described later, in the second direction D2 in the connected state. have. As a result, it is possible to prevent the socket connector 3 from being separated from the base connector 2 in the second direction D2. The second engaged surface E12 is a flat surface extending perpendicular to the second direction D2. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the first engaged surface E11 and the second engaged surface E12 are provided in the recesses formed in the side wall 212.

The socket connector 3 is connected to the base connector 2. In this embodiment, the socket connector 3 can be fitted to the base connector 2 by moving in the first direction D1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the present embodiment, the socket connector 3 is connected to the socket housing 31 connected to the base housing 21, a plurality of terminals 32 (see FIG. 6) housed in the socket housing 31, and the terminals 32, and is connected to the socket housing 31. It includes a plurality of electric wires W to be derived. The terminal 32 is made of a conductive metal material. The terminals 32 are arranged in the third direction D3 in the socket housing 31 as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. The shape of the terminal 32 is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the terminals 32 sandwiches the plate-shaped terminal 22 of the base connector 2 when the socket connector 3 is moved in the first direction D1. It is composed of a pair of metal pieces arranged apart from each other in three directions D3. The electric wire W is connected to each terminal 32 and is led out from the socket housing 31 in the second direction D2.

The socket housing 31 is connected to the base housing 21 as shown in FIG. The socket housing 31 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The shape of the socket housing 31 is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate the terminal 32 and can be connected to the base housing 21. In the present embodiment, the socket housing 31 is formed so that a portion excluding the lock arm 33, which will be described later, has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In this embodiment, the socket housing 31 has a top surface US and a bottom surface BS facing the first direction D1, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The socket housing 31 has four side surfaces LS1, LS2, LS3, and LS4 between the upper surface US and the lower surface BS of the socket housing 31 (see FIGS. 4 to 6). Of the four side surfaces LS1 to LS4, an electric wire lead-out hole (not shown) is formed on the side surface (rear surface) LS3 from which the electric wire W is led out. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the terminal 22 of the base connector 2 passes through the side surface (front surface) LS4 which is opposite to the rear surface LS3 in the second direction D2 among the four side surface LS1 to LS4. A side opening OP1 is formed for this purpose. The side opening OP1 communicates with the bottom opening OP2 formed in the bottom BS at a portion where the front LS4 and the bottom BS intersect. When the socket housing 31 is moved toward the base housing 21 in the first direction D1, the plate-shaped terminal 22 of the base housing 21 passes through the side opening OP1 and the bottom opening OP2 to make the socket housing 31 the base housing. It can be fitted to 21. Further, when the socket housing 31 has the side opening OP1 and the bottom opening OP2, the socket housing 31 can be fitted from the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 as described later.

The socket housing 31 has a lock arm 33 as shown in FIGS. 4-7. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the lock arm 33 cantilevered from the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 along the second direction D2 on the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 of the socket housing 31 in the connected state (see FIG. 2). It extends to the formula. The lock arm 33 has a base end portion 33a connected to the side surfaces LS1 and LS2, and a tip end portion 33b on the free end side of the lock arm 33. The tip portion 33b is an operation portion 331 that can be operated so as to disengage the socket side engaging portion E2 that engages with the base side engaging portion E1 and the socket side engaging portion E2 with the base side engaging portion E1. And have.

The lock arm 33 prevents the socket connector 3 from being disengaged from the base connector 2 by engaging the socket-side engaging portion E2 provided on the lock arm 33 with the base-side engaging portion E1. The lock arm 33 is a leaf spring-like portion that can be elastically deformed, and is elastically deformed in the process in which the socket-side engaging portion E2 engages with the base-side engaging portion E1, and the socket-side engaging portion E2 and the base-side engaging portion are engaged. When the engagement with the joint portion E1 is released, the operation portion 331 elastically deforms.

In the present embodiment, the lock arm 33 is provided on each of the pair of side surfaces LS1 and LS2 facing each other connecting the front surface LS4 and the rear surface LS3 of the socket housing 31. However, the lock arm 33 may be directed to at least one side surface of the socket housing 31. For example, on the side surface LS1, the lock arm 33 engages with the base housing 21, and on the side surface LS2 facing the side surface LS1, the lock arm 33 is not provided, and the base housing 21 is provided with an engaging structure such as another engaging projection. It may be configured to engage with.

In the present embodiment, the lock arm 33 is formed in a plate shape having a predetermined width in the first direction D1 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and extends in the second direction D2 along the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. ing. Specifically, the dimension (width) of the lock arm 33 in the first direction D1 is longer than the dimension (thickness) of the third direction D3, and the dimension (length in the longitudinal direction) of the second direction D2 is the first. It is longer than the dimension (width) of one direction D1. The lock arm 33 has a first edge portion ED1 far from the circuit board S in the first direction D1 and a second edge portion ED2 close to the circuit board S in the first direction D1. In the present embodiment, the width (the length from the first edge portion ED1 to the second edge portion ED2) of the lock arm 33 in the first direction D1 is substantially the same except for the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33, and the tip portion In the portion 33b, the operation portion 331 projects from the first edge portion ED1 excluding the tip portion 33b in the first direction D1 in a direction away from the circuit board S. The length of the lock arm 33 in the longitudinal direction (second direction D2) is not particularly limited, but is formed so as to be approximately the same as the length of the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 in the second direction D2.

The base end portion 33a of the lock arm 33 is a portion connected to the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 at one end in the length direction of the lock arm 33, and the lock arm 33 is supported by the base end portion 33a in a cantilevered state. .. In the present embodiment, the base end portion 33a is connected to the rear surface LS3 side in the second direction D2 of the side surface LS1 and LS2, but is connected to the front surface LS4 side of the side surface LS1 and LS2 as described later. You may.

The tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 is a predetermined region that is on the opposite side (free end side) of the base end portion 33a in the longitudinal direction (second direction D2) of the lock arm 33. As described above, the tip portion 33b includes a socket-side engaging portion E2 and an operating portion 331. The inner surface of the tip portion 33b facing the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 is in the third direction with respect to the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 in both the state before the load is applied to the lock arm 33 (the state shown in FIG. 1) and the connected state. A predetermined gap is formed at D3.

The socket-side engaging portion E2 engages with the base-side engaging portion E1 to prevent the socket connector 3 from being disengaged from the base connector 2. The position where the socket-side engaging portion E2 is provided is not particularly limited as long as it is the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33. In the present embodiment, the socket side engaging portion E2 is provided on the outer surface of the tip portion 33b (the surface opposite to the inner surface facing the side surfaces LS1 and LS2), but is provided on the inner surface of the tip portion 33b. May be good. When the socket-side engaging portion E2 projects inward from the inner surface of the tip portion 33b in the third direction D3 (projects to the opposite side to FIG. 1 and the like), for example, the bottom surface of the base housing 21 is provided. It may be provided (the bottom surface is not provided in this embodiment), and a base-side engaging portion that can be engaged with the socket-side engaging portion E2 protruding from the inner surface of the tip portion 33b may be provided on the bottom surface.

The structure of the socket-side engaging portion E2 is not particularly limited as long as it can engage with the base-side engaging portion E1 to prevent the socket connector 3 from being disengaged from the base connector 2. In the present embodiment, the socket-side engaging portion E2 has a first engagement that prevents the socket connector 3 from being disengaged from the base connector 2 in the first direction D1, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. It has a surface E21. The first engaging surface E21 engages with the first engaged surface E11 of the base side engaging portion E1 in the connected state (see FIG. 9). As a result, it is possible to prevent the socket connector 3 from being detached from the base connector 2 in the first direction D1. In the present embodiment, the first engaging surface E21 is a flat surface extending perpendicularly to the first direction D1 in the socket-side engaging portion E2 provided at the tip end portion 33b of the lock arm 33.

Further, in the present embodiment, the socket side engaging portion E2 is a second engaging surface that prevents the socket connector 3 from being disengaged from the base connector 2 in the second direction D2, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It has an E22. As a result, it is possible to prevent the socket connector 3 from being separated from the base connector 2 in the second direction D2. In the present embodiment, the second engaging surface E22 is a flat surface extending perpendicularly to the second direction D2 in the socket-side engaging portion E2 provided at the tip end portion 33b of the lock arm 33.

In the present embodiment, the first engaging surface E21 and the first engaging surface E2 in which the socket side engaging portion E2 engages with both the first engaged surface E11 and the second engaged surface E12 of the base side engaging portion E1, respectively. It has two engaging surfaces E22. In this case, it is possible to prevent the socket connector 3 from being detached from the base connector 2 in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 with a simple structure.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the socket-side engaging portion E2 has a tapered portion T provided on the side close to the circuit board S in the first direction D1. ing. When the socket connector 3 moves toward the base connector 2 in the first direction D1 and is fitted, the tapered portion T comes into contact with a part of the base connector 2 to bring the lock arm 33 to the base end portion 33a. Is elastically deformed with. In the present embodiment, the tapered portion T of the socket-side engaging portion E2 comes into contact with the base-side contact portion 212a (see FIGS. 1 and 3) of the side wall 212 of the base housing 21, and the socket housing 31 is further in the first direction D1. When pushed in, the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 is elastically deformed so as to approach the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 due to the action of the tapered portion T. When the socket-side engaging portion E2 reaches the position of the recess formed on the side wall 212 of the base housing 21, the socket-side engaging portion E2 enters the recess due to the restoring force of the lock arm 33 and becomes the base-side engaging portion E1. It engages with the socket side engaging portion E2. The base-side contact portion 212a may be inclined in the same direction as the tapered portion T in order to facilitate fitting of the socket connector 3 to the base connector 2.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base end portion 33a of the lock arm 33 is located on the rear surface LS3 side on the side surface LS1 and LS2, and the socket side engaging portion E2 is located on the side surface LS1. , LS2 is located on the front LS4 side. In this case, for example, when the electric wire W is routed downward in FIG. 2, a force is applied so that the rear portion 31b side (rear surface LS3 side) of the socket housing 31 is lowered with respect to the front portion 31a side (front surface LS4 side). When added, the socket housing 31 becomes more difficult to come off from the base housing 21. As a modification, even if the base end portion 33a of the lock arm 33 is located on the front surface LS4 side on the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 and the socket side engaging portion E2 is located on the rear surface LS3 side on the side surface LS1 and LS2. good. In this case, for example, when the electric wire W is routed upward in FIG. 2, a force is applied so that the rear portion 31b side (rear surface LS3 side) of the socket housing 31 rises with respect to the front portion 31a side (front surface LS4 side). When added, the socket housing 31 becomes more difficult to come off from the base housing 21.

The operation portion 331 is provided on the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33, and by being pressed, the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 is displaced in a predetermined direction to engage the socket side engaging portion E2 on the base side. The lock on the part E1 is released. If the shape of the operation portion 331 can be pressed so that the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 can be displaced in a predetermined direction and the lock of the socket side engagement portion E2 with respect to the base side engagement portion E1 can be released. , Not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, the operation portion 331 is formed to be thicker than other portions except for the operation portion 331 (and the socket side engaging portion E2) of the lock arm 33. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation unit 331 projects outward in the third direction D3 with respect to a portion of the lock arm 33 other than the operation unit 331 so that a finger can easily put it on during the pressing operation. A step portion is formed on the surface.

As will be described later, the operation unit 331 is provided on the tip end portion 33b on the first edge portion ED1 side in the first direction D1. More specifically, the operation unit 331 projects in the direction away from the circuit board S in the first direction D1 from the first edge portion ED1 at the portion on the base end portion 33a side of the tip end portion 33b. Then, in the connected state shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 331 projects upward from the upper end 212b of the side wall 212 of the base housing 21 so that the operation unit 331 can be pressed in the third direction D3.

As described above, the connector device 1 of the present embodiment includes a lock arm 33 that cantilever extends from the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 along the second direction D2, and the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 is a socket-side engaging portion. It includes an E2 and an operation unit 331. In this case, the lock arm 33 extends in the second direction D2, which is the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 which is the height direction from the circuit board S of the connector device 1. Further, in the present embodiment, since the lock arm 33 extends cantileverly from the base end portion 33a, the length of the portion that functions as a spring is set to the side surface LS1, unlike the seesaw-shaped one as in Patent Document 1. It can be as long as the length of the second direction D2 of the LS2. Therefore, it is possible to secure a sufficient length of the lock arm 33 that elastically deforms after reducing the height of the connector device 1. Therefore, when engaging the base side engaging portion E1 and the socket side engaging portion E2, or engaging between the base side engaging portion E1 and the socket side engaging portion E2, the operation unit 331 is operated. When the lock arm 33 is released, the lock arm 33 is easily bent, and the engagement operation and the engagement release operation are facilitated. Further, in the case of the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the lock arm is prevented from being broken or plastically deformed like the lock arm extending in the first direction D1 and having a short length. As described above, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the lock arm 33 is less likely to be damaged even if the stroke of the lock arm 33 (displacement amount in the third direction D3) is increased. Therefore, the engagement length between the base side engaging portion E1 and the socket side engaging portion E2 in the third direction D3 can be lengthened to enable reliable locking, and the strength against the routing of the electric wire W can be increased. ..

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation unit 331 is provided on the first edge portion ED1 side of the tip portion 33b, and the socket side engaging portion E2 is the tip portion. It is provided on the second edge ED2 side of 33b. The lock arm 33 extends long in the second direction D2. In such a structure, when the operation portion 331 on the first edge portion ED1 side of the lock arm 33 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 8, the lock arm 33 does not bend uniformly in the first direction D1 and the arrow A There is a possibility that the engagement between the base side engaging portion E1 and the socket side engaging portion E2 will not be released due to twisting in the direction of. Therefore, in order to suppress such bending of the lock arm 33, as shown in FIG. 9, a bending prevention mechanism M is provided between the lock arm 33 and the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 facing the lock arm 33. It is preferable to have. In this bending prevention mechanism M, when the operating portion 331 is operated toward the side surfaces LS1 and LS2, the first edge portion ED1 of the lock arm 33 approaches the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 and the second edge portion ED2 is the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. The deflection of the lock arm 33 (see FIG. 8) so as to move away from the lock arm 33 is restricted to a predetermined range (see FIGS. 9 to 11). Therefore, when the operating portion 331 is operated, a sufficient amount of displacement of the socket-side engaging portion E2 provided on the second edge portion ED2 side of the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 in the third direction D3 is secured. It is possible to ensure the disengagement between the base side engaging portion E1 and the socket side engaging portion E2.

The structure of the anti-deflection mechanism M is not limited to the structure shown in the drawing, but in the present embodiment, the anti-deflection mechanism M has an arm-side contact portion M1 provided on the lock arm 33 and side surfaces provided on the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. It is provided with a side contact portion M2. The arm-side contact portion M1 and the side surface-side contact portion M2 face each other in the first direction D1, and are configured to come into contact with each other when the operation portion 331 is operated toward the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. In this case, even if a moment is generated in the lock arm 33 by the operation of the operation unit 311 in the third direction D3, the arm side contact portion M1 and the side surface side contact portion M2 come into contact with each other in the first direction D1 ( (See FIG. 10), the lock arm 33 is restricted from being twisted any further. As a result, when the operation portion 331 is pressed, the bending of the lock arm 33 is restricted to a predetermined range, and the arm-side contact portion M1 slides in the third direction D3 while being guided on the side surface-side contact portion M2. Therefore, the socket-side engaging portion E2 can be displaced in the third direction D3, and the disengagement between the base-side engaging portion E1 and the socket-side engaging portion E2 can be ensured.

In the present embodiment, the arm-side contact portion M1 is provided on the inner surface of the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 on a protrusion P1 protruding in the third direction D3 toward the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. On the other hand, the side surface side contact portion M2 is provided in the recess C1 capable of accommodating the protrusion P1 having the arm side contact portion M1. A predetermined clearance is provided in the first direction D1 between the protrusion P1 having the arm-side contact portion M1 and the recess C1 in which the side surface-side contact portion M2 is provided. There is no particular limitation. Further, the depth of the recess C1 in the third direction D3 is set to a length corresponding to the stroke of the tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 in the third direction D3. Although the recess C1 is formed in the shape of a hole with a bottom, the recess C1 may penetrate in the third direction D3.

Further, as a modification of the bending prevention mechanism M, as shown in FIG. 12, a side contact portion M2 is provided on a protrusion P2 extending from the side surfaces LS1 and LS2 in the third direction D3 toward the lock arm 33. The tip portion 33b of the lock arm 33 may be provided with a recess C2 having an arm-side contact portion M1 to which the side surface-side contact portion M2 can contact. Also in this case, when the operation unit 331 is operated, the arm-side contact portion M1 comes into contact with the side surface-side contact portion M2, the deflection (twist) of the lock arm 33 is regulated within a predetermined range, and the socket side engagement is performed. A sufficient amount of displacement of the joint portion E2 in the third direction D3 can be secured. Further, in place of the arm-side contact portion M1 and the side surface-side contact portion M2 located above the protrusion P2 in FIG. 12, or in addition to the arm-side contact portion M1 and the side surface-side contact portion M2, the protrusion P2 The bending (twisting) of the lock arm 33 may be regulated within a predetermined range by the arm-side contact portion M3 and the side surface-side contact portion M4 located on the lower side. Further, although not shown, as a further modification of the bending prevention mechanism M, both the arm-side contact portion and the side surface-side contact portion are provided on the inner surface of the lock arm 33 and the protrusions protruding from the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. You may. That is, even if the arm-side contact portion is provided on the protrusion protruding from the lock arm 33 toward the side surfaces LS1 and LS2, and the side surface-side contact portion is provided on the protrusion protruding from the side surface LS1 and LS2 toward the lock arm 33. , The same effect can be obtained.

Further, as a modification of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the socket connector 3 is configured to be fitted to the base connector 2 in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. You can also. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the socket-side engaging portion E2 is the first tapered portion T1 provided on the side closer to the circuit board S in the first direction D1 and the socket in the second direction D2. It is configured to have a second tapered portion T2 provided on the fitting direction side of the fitting direction and the detaching direction of the connector 3. In this case, when fitting in the first direction D1, after the first tapered portion T1 comes into contact with the base side contact portion 212a of the side wall 212 of the base housing 21, the lock arm 33 is elastic so as to approach the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. Deform. When the socket connector 3 is further pushed in, the socket-side engaging portion E2 engages with the base-side engaging portion E1 and fitting in the first direction D1 becomes possible. On the other hand, when fitting in the second direction D2, after the second tapered portion T2 comes into contact with the end surface 212c of the side wall 212 of the base housing 21, the lock arm 33 is elastically deformed so as to approach the side surfaces LS1 and LS2. Further, when the socket connector 3 is pushed into the second direction D2, the socket side engaging portion E2 engages with the base side engaging portion E1 and fitting in the second direction D2 becomes possible. In this way, when the socket-side engaging portion E2 has the first tapered portion T1 and the second tapered portion T2, the degree of freedom in the fitting direction of the connector device 1 can be increased.

1 Connector device 2 Base connector 21 Base housing 211 Wall part 212 Side wall 212a Base side contact part 212b Upper end of side wall 212c End face of side wall 22 Terminal 3 Socket connector 31 Socket housing 31a Front part of socket housing 31b Rear part of socket housing 32 Socket connector Terminal 33 Lock arm 33a Base end 33b Tip 331 Operation part BS Bottom surface C1, C2 Recessed D1 1st direction D2 2nd direction D3 3rd direction E1 Base side engaging part E11 1st engaged surface E12 2nd engaged Joint surface E2 Socket side engaging part E21 1st engaging surface E22 2nd engaging surface ED1 1st edge part ED2 2nd edge part LS1, LS2 Side surface LS3 Side surface (rear surface)
LS4 side (front)
M Anti-deflection mechanism M1, M3 Arm side contact part M2, M4 Side side contact part OP1 Side opening OP2 Bottom opening P1, P2 Protrusion S Circuit board T Tapered part T1 First taper part T2 Second taper part US Top surface W Electric wire

Claims (6)

A connector device including a base housing having a base-side engaging portion, a base connector fixed to a circuit board, and a socket connector connected to the base connector.
The socket connector comprises a socket housing connected to the base housing, and the socket housing is connected to the base housing in a first direction perpendicular to the circuit board on the side surface of the socket housing. A lock arm that cantilever extends from the side surface along a second direction perpendicular to the side.
The lock arm has a base end portion connected to the side surface and a tip end portion on the free end side of the lock arm.
A socket-side engaging portion in which the tip portion engages with the base-side engaging portion and an operating portion that can be operated so as to disengage the socket-side engaging portion with the base-side engaging portion. Equipped with a connector device. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the socket connector can be fitted by moving the socket connector in the first direction with respect to the base connector. The operation portion is provided on the side of the first edge portion of the tip portion in the first direction far from the circuit board, and the socket side engaging portion is provided in the first direction of the tip portion. Of both edges of the above, the second edge side closer to the circuit board in the first direction is provided.
When the operating portion is operated toward the side surface between the lock arm and the side surface facing the lock arm, the first edge portion of the lock arm approaches the side surface and the second edge. The connector device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an anti-deflection mechanism that regulates the deflection of the lock arm so that the portion is separated from the side surface within a predetermined range. The bending prevention mechanism includes an arm-side contact portion provided on the lock arm and a side surface-side contact portion provided on the side surface, and the arm-side contact portion and the side surface-side contact portion are The connector device according to claim 3, wherein they face each other in the first direction and are configured to come into contact with each other when the operation unit is operated toward the side surface. The socket connector can be fitted by moving with respect to the base connector in the first direction, and the socket-side engaging portion disengages the socket housing from the base connector in the first direction. It has a first engaging surface for preventing the above, and a second engaging surface for preventing the socket connector from being disengaged from the base connector in the second direction, and the base side engaging portion is in the connected state. It has a first engaged surface that engages with the first engaging surface in the first direction, and a second engaged surface that engages with the second engaging surface in the second direction. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The socket connector can be fitted in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the base connector.
The socket-side engaging portion is the fitting direction of the first tapered portion provided on the side closer to the circuit board in the first direction and the fitting direction and the disengagement direction of the socket connector in the second direction. It has a second tapered portion provided on the directional side,
The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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