JP4295305B2 - Cable connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cable connector for electrically connecting one end of a cable to a wiring board.

  A cable connector is practically used for electrical connection between electrical components inside an electronic device. The cable connector is configured to electrically connect electrical components to a printed wiring board via, for example, a flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). Such a cable connector includes, for example, a connector main body (housing) having a contact terminal group disposed on a wiring board and electrically connected to a contact pad of a flexible wiring board as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3. ), A plug that is connected to one end of the flexible wiring board and holds the contact pads of the flexible wiring board in contact with the contact terminal group, and a lock mechanism. The locking mechanism avoids undesired dropout of the plug in the connected state with respect to the connector main body from the viewpoint of safety of electrical connection. The lock mechanism includes, for example, a protrusion provided at the tip of the plug and a lock lever provided on the connector main body portion and having a claw portion detachably attached to the protrusion. The claw part of such a lock lever is formed at the tip of the lock lever and can be elastically displaced with respect to the fixed part of the lock lever, and is engaged with a protrusion provided at the tip of the plug when the plug is attached or detached. Or it is made into a non-engagement state.

  In addition, in the cable connector, as shown in Patent Document 4, a stopper member having an operation portion at the center is urged upward by a leaf spring and can be moved up and down with a predetermined stroke with respect to the connector main body. The ones that are arranged in are proposed. The stopper member constitutes a part of the lock mechanism as described above, and a pair of end surfaces that selectively engage with the engaging portion at one end of the flexible wiring board to be connected are shared with the end surface of the operating portion. It shall have on a plane.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-51779 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-135203 JP 2000-268904 A Japanese Patent No. 3768170

  When the claw part of the lock lever as shown in Patent Documents 2 and 3 is brought into a non-engagement state with the protrusion provided at the tip of the plug, while inserting a tool such as a flathead screwdriver between the claw part and the protrusion, It is necessary to push down the lock lever and pull out the plug. For this reason, there exists a possibility that a lock lever may be pushed down accidentally more than allowable stress, and may be damaged.

  Moreover, since the intermediate part of the claw part (refer FIG. 9) of a lock lever as shown by patent document 2 is integrally formed in the plug housing so that rocking is possible via a connection part, the operation part of a lock lever temporarily. If an excessive operating force is mistakenly applied, a bending moment resulting from the operating force directly acts on the connecting portion. Therefore, there exists a possibility that the connection part may fracture | rupture with respect to a plug housing.

  Furthermore, since the stopper member as shown in Patent Document 4 is arranged so as to be able to be moved up and down with a predetermined stroke in the connector main body, the occupied area of the cable connector is larger than the occupied area of the connector main body on the wiring board. Therefore, the cable connector can be reduced in size.

  However, if another similar wiring board is stacked in close proximity to the operation part disposed at the end of the wiring board, the stopper member is connected to the flexible wiring board to be connected as described above. Since the configuration has a pair of end surfaces that selectively engage with the engaging portion at one end on a common plane with the end surface of the operating portion, it is possible to provide an opening at a position corresponding to the operating portion on another wiring board. When this is not possible, the operation unit cannot be operated, and this causes a disadvantage that such a cable connector cannot be arranged.

  In consideration of the above problems, the present invention is a cable connector for electrically connecting one end of a cable to a wiring board, and the lock mechanism is set to a locked state or an unlocked state without using a tool or the like. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cable connector that can easily operate an operation section even when the wiring boards are stacked and the cable connector is disposed at the end of the wiring board.

In order to achieve the above object, a cable connector according to the present invention has a contact terminal electrically connected to a terminal portion of a cable having a terminal portion at one end, and is relative to the contact terminal at one end of the cable. A cable housing portion for positioning the position and accommodating one end of the cable, an adapter having a connection portion for supporting one end of the cable, a step portion formed on the outer peripheral portion of the housing portion forming the cable housing portion, and an adapter A lock claw member having a claw portion which is formed at a position above the connection portion in the first portion and which is selectively engaged with the engaged end portion of the step portion, and an operation portion provided at a position separated from the claw portion. A lock claw support portion that is elastically deformable, and selectively locks or unlocks the adapter with respect to the cable housing portion. The lock / unlock mechanism part to be in the state, when the lock / unlock mechanism part unlocks the adapter with respect to the cable housing part, the operation part is pressed, and the middle part of the lock claw member of the adapter is By contacting the end portion between the engaged end portion of the step portion of the housing portion and the operation portion of the adapter, the claw portion is rotated about the end portion, so that the claw portion is the step portion. It is characterized by being spaced apart from the engaged end portion in FIG.

As is clear from the above description, the cable connector according to the present invention is configured such that when the lock / unlock mechanism portion unlocks the adapter with respect to the cable housing portion, the operation portion is pressed and the lock claw of the adapter is By the middle part of the member abutting on the end part located between the engaged end part in the step part of the housing part and the operation part of the adapter, the claw part is rotated around the end part , Since the claw part is separated from the engaged end part in the step part, the adapter can be manually unlocked from the cable housing part, and therefore the lock mechanism is locked without using a tool or the like. Alternatively, it can be unlocked, and the operation part is provided at a position separated from the claw part, so that the wiring board is laminated and the cable connector is connected to the wiring base. Even when disposed in the end portion can easily operate the operation unit.

  FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the overall configuration of an example of the cable connector according to the present invention together with the cable used therefor.

  2, an adapter 14 as a plug to which one end of a cable electrically connected to the connector main body 10 is connected is inserted into the connector main body 10 along the attaching / detaching direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. Further, the connector main body 10 is selectively removed.

  The cable is, for example, a flexible wiring board 12. The flexible wiring board 12 is called, for example, YFLEX (registered trademark), and has a configuration in which a plurality of conductive layers covered with a protective layer are formed on an insulating substrate. The insulating base material is formed of, for example, a glass epoxy resin having a thickness of about 50 μm, polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a liquid crystal polymer. The conductive layer is formed of, for example, a copper alloy layer. The protective layer is formed of, for example, a thermosetting resist layer or a polyimide film. On the other surface of one end of the flexible wiring board 12, for example, an electrode group composed of a plurality of electrodes having a width of 0.3 mm is formed. Each electrode is formed along the width direction with a mutual interval of about 0.5 mm, for example. The electrode group is electrically connected to the conductive layer inside the flexible wiring board 12.

Adapter 14 connected to one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is a resin material formed shape, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the arrangement direction of the flexible wiring board 12 of the electrode has an operating portion 14B to the central portion Are connected to both sides of the lock claw support part 14A, a flexible wiring board mounting part 14D that forms a lower part and is connected to both sides of the lock claw support part 14A, respectively. And a connecting portion 14F protruding from one end face.

  The substantially rectangular parallelepiped operation portion 14B in the lock claw support portion 14A is raised with a predetermined height relative to other flat portions. A lock claw 14N opposite to the operation portion 14B protrudes in the same direction as the connection portion 14F from one end face of the lock claw support portion 14A substantially parallel to the connection portion 14F at a predetermined interval. A claw portion 14n that selectively engages with an engaged end portion 10as of a step portion 10a of the connector main body portion 10 to be described later is formed at the distal end of the lock claw 14N that can be elastically displaced with respect to the base end portion. Yes. Thereby, the nail | claw part 14n will be distribute | arranged to the position spaced apart to the connection part 14F side by the length of the lock nail | claw 14N from the operation part 14B.

  One end of the groove 14G is opened at a portion where the base end of the lock claw 14N is connected. The groove portion 14G penetrates with a predetermined depth in the extending direction of the flexible wiring board 12 so that the thickness of the lock claw support portion 14A including the operation portion 14B becomes thin. The width and depth of the groove portion 14G are set so that the lock claw support portion 14A can be easily bent as will be described later.

  A gap 14C is formed between the lock claw support portion 14A and the base end portion of the connection portion 14F. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, when a predetermined operating force is applied to the operation unit 14B along the direction indicated by the arrow F, the lock claw support unit 14A is bent so as to be convex downward. Will be. At that time, the tip of the lock claw 14N also follows the displacement of the lock claw support portion 14A. Since the length along the longitudinal direction of the lock claw support portion 14A in the gap 14C is set larger than the width of the lock claw 14N, it can be more easily bent so as to be convex downward.

  On the other hand, when the operation force F no longer acts from the state where the predetermined operation force F is applied to the operation portion 14B, the lock claw support portion 14A has its own elastic return force, as shown in FIG. The flat initial state is restored.

A concave portion 14R into which one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is inserted is formed on the lower surface side of the connection portion 14F. As shown in FIG. 7, the lower surface of the connecting portion 14F that forms the concave portion 14R is
The flexible wiring board mounting portion 14 </ b> D is formed in a position substantially parallel to the plane common to the mounting surface and higher than the flexible wiring board 12. A predetermined gap is formed between the base end portion of the connecting portion 14F and the end portion of the flexible wiring board mounting portion 14D. Accordingly, one end of the flexible wiring board 12 passes through the placement surface of the flexible wiring board placement portion 14D and is bonded to the lower surface of the connection portion 14F with its electrode group facing downward.

  As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 9A, the connector main body 10 is fixed on the vicinity of the end of a predetermined wiring board PB1, and a cable housing that selectively houses one end of the flexible wiring board 12 10A inside. A substantially rectangular opening through which the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 passes is formed at one end of the cable housing portion 10A.

  In the cable housing portion 10A, a plurality of contact terminals 22ai and 22bi (i = 1 to n, n are integers) for electrically connecting the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 and the conductor layer of the wiring board PB1 are predetermined. It arrange | positions along the longitudinal direction of the above-mentioned substantially rectangular elongate opening part by mutual space | interval. The fixing portions of the plurality of contact terminals 22ai and 22bi are fixed to the bottom portion in the cable housing portion 10A by being press-fitted into a groove (not shown). The plurality of contact terminals 22ai and 22bi may be insert-molded when the connector body 10 is molded.

  The contact terminals 22ai and the contact terminals 22bi are alternately arranged, and the soldering fixed terminal portion of the contact terminal 22ai is a peripheral edge of one opening end portion of the cable housing portion 10A as shown in FIGS. On the other hand, the soldering fixed terminal portion of the contact terminal 22bi protrudes to the back side of the connector main body portion 10 as shown in FIG.

  The contact portions of the contact terminals 22ai and 22bi that come into contact with the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 can be elastically displaced, and form the bottom of the cable housing portion 10A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9A, respectively. It is arranged at a position slightly higher than the wall surface.

  Fixers GR that are fixed to the wiring board PB1 are provided on both sides of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a concave portion 10 </ b> R corresponding to the lock claw 14 </ b> N of the adapter 14 to be mounted is formed in the central portion of the upper portion of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body portion 10. A stepped portion 10a is formed on the opening end side of the connector main body 10 in the recess 10R, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. At the upper edge portion of the stepped portion 10a on the opening end portion side of the connector main body portion 10, a guiding inclined surface portion 10ae for guiding the lock claw 14N in cooperation with both wall surfaces forming the concave portion 10R is formed. The inclined surface portion 10ae intersects the flat surface of the step portion 10a at a predetermined angle θ. Further, an engaged end portion 10as to which the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is selectively engaged is formed on the back surface side of the connector main body portion 10 in the stepped portion 10a. Therefore, the lock / unlock mechanism in the cable connector is constituted by the lock claw support portion 14A having the lock claw 14N in the adapter 14 and the engaged end portion 10as of the connector main body portion 10.

  In such a configuration, when the adapter 14 connected to one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is connected to the connector main body 10, first, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 9 (A), the adapter 14 The connection portion 14 </ b> F is disposed to face the opening end portion of the connector main body portion 10. Next, after the lock claw support portion 14A and the lock claw 14N of the adapter 14 are further brought closer to the opening end portion of the connector main body portion 10, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is as shown in FIG. 9B. , Guided by both wall surfaces forming the recess 10R and the inclined surface portion 10ae. As a result, the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is positioned with respect to the opening end portion of the connector main body portion 10, so that the distal end portion of the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is easily inserted into the cable housing portion 10A.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1, when the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 is further pushed in, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N passes through the inclined surface portion 10ae, and then the intermediate portion of the lock claw 14N becomes the inclined surface portion. It is slidably contacted with 10ae and pushed upward in the traveling direction by a predetermined angle. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9C, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is engaged with the engaged end portion 10as by an elastic force. Accordingly, the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is locked and held with respect to the connector main body portion 10. At that time, the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 and the contact portions of the contact terminals 22ai and 22bi come into contact with each other, whereby the flexible wiring board 12 and the wiring board PB1 are electrically connected.

  On the other hand, when the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is detached from the connector main body portion 10, first, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the operation portion 14B is elastically applied along the direction indicated by the arrow F with a predetermined pressure. It is pressed against. By this pressing operation, the lock claw support portion 14A is bent so as to be convex downward. As a result, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is rotated counterclockwise by the rotation amount corresponding to the displacement amount of the operation portion 14B as shown in FIG. 1, with the inclined surface portion 10ae serving as a fulcrum. It will be separated from the end 10as. At that time, the intermediate portion of the lock claw 14N is pressed against the inclined surface portion 10ae as a fulcrum with the downward displacement of the operation portion 14B. Accordingly, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is unlocked with respect to the engaged end portion 10as.

  At that time, the intermediate portion of the claw portion (see FIG. 9) of the lock lever in Patent Document 2 as described above is integrally formed on the plug housing so as to be swingable through the connecting portion based on the following reasons. Compared with the configuration, the durability (rigidity) of the lock claw 14N is improved.

  That is, when an operation force similar to the operation force acting on the lock lever claw portion in Patent Document 2 is applied to the operation portion 12B, the cross-sectional second moment of the lock claw support portion 14A is the lock lever claw portion in Patent Document 2. The central portion of the lock claw support portion 14A faces downward so that it is smaller than the displacement of the operation portion of the lock lever in Patent Document 2 because it is larger than the cross-sectional second moment of the intermediate portion (see FIG. 9). This is because the reaction force acting on the claw portion 14n is small because it bends in a convex shape, and accordingly, the bending moment acting on the connecting portion (root) of the lock claw 14N with the lock claw support portion 14A is small.

  Subsequently, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is unlocked, and the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is pulled out from the connector main body portion 10 until the state shown in FIGS. 8 and 9B. Further, the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 is separated and removed from the connector main body 10 as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is detached from the connector main body portion 10, the adapter 14 is easily detached by one-handed operation of the operation portion 14B. In addition, since there is only one operation portion 14B in the central portion, there is an effect that so-called one-side lock can be prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9C, even if another wiring board PB2 is arranged close to the upper side of the wiring board PB1, the operation unit 14B has a lock / unlock mechanism and wiring. Since it is arranged at a position separated from the end portions of the substrates PB1 and PB2, there is no possibility that the operation of the operation unit 14B is hindered by another wiring substrate PB2.

  FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 each show the external appearance of another example of the cable connector according to the present invention together with the cable used therefor. 12 to 14, components that are the same in the example shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, the connector main body 30 is fixed on the vicinity of the end of the predetermined wiring board PB <b> 1, and the cable housing in which one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is selectively housed. It has a part 30A inside. A substantially rectangular opening through which the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 passes is formed substantially parallel to the surface of the wiring board PB1 at one end of the cable housing portion 30A.

  In the cable housing portion 30A, a plurality of contact terminals 32ai (i = 1 to n, n are integers) for electrically connecting the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 and the conductor layer of the wiring board PB1 have a predetermined mutual interval. And arranged along the longitudinal direction of the substantially rectangular elongated opening described above. The plurality of contact terminals 32ai are press-fitted into slits 30Si (i = 1 to n, n are integers) formed at predetermined intervals on the back surface side of the cable housing portion 30A. The slits 30Si are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, the contact terminal 32ai has a contact piece 32bc that is electrically connected to the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12, has a movable piece 32B that can be elastically displaced, and a movable piece 32B. A fixed terminal which is arranged substantially parallel to the fixed piece portion 32A which is press-fitted and fixed to the slit 30Si, and is joined to a joining portion of the movable piece portion 32B and the fixed piece portion 32A, and is soldered and fixed to the conductor layer of the wiring board PB1. 32C.

  A cutout portion 32a is formed at a predetermined position of the intermediate portion of the fixed piece portion 32A.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the fixed terminal portion 32C of the contact terminal 32ai protrudes outward at the periphery of the slit 30Si.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the contact portions 32bc of the contact terminals 32ai are arranged at positions slightly higher than the wall surface forming the bottom portion of the cable housing portion 30A.

  Fixers that are fixed to the wiring board PB1 are provided on both sides of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body 30.

  As shown in FIG. 15, a concave portion 30 </ b> R corresponding to the lock claw 14 </ b> N of the adapter 14 to be mounted is formed in the central portion of the upper portion of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body portion 30. A stepped portion 30a is formed on the opening end side of the connector main body 30 in the recess 30R as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. At the upper edge portion of the stepped portion 30a on the opening end portion side of the connector main body portion 30, a guiding inclined surface portion 30ae for guiding the lock claw 14N in cooperation with both wall surfaces forming the concave portion 10R is formed. The inclined surface portion 30ae intersects the flat surface of the step portion 30a at a predetermined angle θ, similarly to the step portion 10a described above. Further, on the back side of the connector main body 30 in the stepped portion 30a, as shown in FIG. 17, an engaged end 30as to which the claw 14n of the lock claw 14N is selectively engaged is formed in the opening 30H. It has been formed. As shown in FIG. 14, the claw portion 14n is inserted into the opening 30H when a lock / unlock mechanism described later is in a locked state. Accordingly, the height from the surface of the wiring board PB1 to the upper surface of the stepped portion 30a in the connector main body 30 is further lower than that in the above example, so that the connector main body 30 can be reduced in height. Become.

  Therefore, the lock / unlock mechanism in the cable connector is constituted by the lock claw support portion 14A having the lock claw 14N in the adapter 14 and the engaged end portion 30as of the connector main body portion 30.

  In such a configuration, when the adapter 14 connected to one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is connected to the connector main body 30, first, the connection portion 14 </ b> F of the adapter 14 is disposed opposite to the opening end of the connector main body 30. . Next, the lock claw support portion 14 </ b> A and the lock claw 14 </ b> N of the adapter 14 are further brought closer to the opening end of the connector main body 30. Thereafter, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is guided by both wall surfaces forming the recess 30R and the inclined surface portion 30ae. As a result, the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is positioned with respect to the opening end portion of the connector main body portion 30, so that the distal end portion of the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is easily inserted into the cable housing portion 30A.

  Subsequently, when the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 is further pushed in, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N passes through the inclined surface portion 30ae, and then the intermediate portion of the lock claw 14N is slidably contacted with the inclined surface portion 30ae by a predetermined angle. Pushed upward in the direction of travel. Thereafter, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is engaged with the engaged end portion 30as and inserted into the opening 30H. Accordingly, the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is locked and held with respect to the connector main body portion 30. At that time, the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 and the contact portion 32bi of the contact terminal 32ai come into contact with each other, whereby the flexible wiring board 12 and the wiring board PB1 are electrically connected.

  On the other hand, when the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 is detached from the connector main body 30, first, as shown in FIG. 11, the operating portion 14B resists the elastic force along the direction indicated by the arrow F with a predetermined pressure. Is pressed. Thereby, the lock claw support portion 14A is bent so as to be convex downward. Therefore, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is rotated counterclockwise by the rotation amount corresponding to the displacement amount of the operation portion 14B with the inclined surface portion 30ae as a fulcrum, and is separated from the engaged end portion 30as. Become. At that time, the intermediate portion of the lock claw 14N is pressed against the inclined surface portion 30ae as a fulcrum with the downward displacement of the operation portion 14B. Accordingly, the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is unlocked with respect to the engaged end portion 30as.

  At that time, the intermediate portion of the claw portion (see FIG. 9) of the lock lever in Patent Document 2 as described above is integrally formed on the plug housing so as to be swingable through the connecting portion based on the following reasons. Compared with the configuration, the durability (rigidity) of the lock claw 14N is improved.

  That is, when an operation force similar to the operation force acting on the lock lever claw portion in Patent Document 2 is applied to the operation portion 12B, the cross-sectional second moment of the lock claw support portion 14A is the lock lever claw portion in Patent Document 2. The central portion of the lock claw support portion 14A faces downward so that it is smaller than the displacement of the operation portion of the lock lever in Patent Document 2 because it is larger than the cross-sectional second moment of the intermediate portion (see FIG. 9). This is because the reaction force acting on the claw portion 14n is small because it bends in a convex shape, and accordingly, the bending moment acting on the connecting portion (root) of the lock claw 14N with the lock claw support portion 14A is small.

  Subsequently, the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 is pulled out from the connector main body 30 while the claw portion 14n of the lock claw 14N is unlocked. Further, the connecting portion 14F of the adapter 14 is separated from the connector main body 30 and removed. Therefore, when the connection portion 14F of the adapter 14 is detached from the connector main body portion 30, the adapter 14 is easily detached by one-handed operation of the operation portion 14B.

  18 and 20 show an adapter and a connector main body constituting still another example of the cable connector according to the present invention, together with a cable used therefor. In FIG. 18, components that are the same in the example shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 18, the adapter 44 connected to one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is integrally formed of a resin material, and has an operation portion 44 </ b> B at the center portion and extends along the arrangement direction of the electrodes of the flexible wiring board 12. Nail support part 44A, flexible wiring board mounting part 44D that forms a lower part connected to both side parts of lock claw support part 44A, and a connection that protrudes from one end face that is respectively coupled to both side parts of lock claw support part 44A Part 44F.

  The substantially rectangular parallelepiped operation portion 44B in the lock claw support portion 44A is raised with a predetermined height relative to other flat portions. A lock claw 44N opposite to the operation portion 44B protrudes in the same direction as the connection portion 14F from one end face of the lock claw support portion 44A substantially parallel to the connection portion 44F at a predetermined interval. A claw portion 44n that selectively engages with an engaged end portion 40as of a stepped portion 40a of the connector main body portion 40 described later is formed at the distal end of the lock claw 44N that can be elastically displaced with respect to the base end portion. Yes. Thereby, the nail | claw part 44n will be distribute | arranged to the position spaced apart to the connection part 44F side by the length of the lock nail | claw 44N from the operation part 44B.

  Cutout portions 44b are formed on both side portions of the operation portion 44B. The size of each notch 44b is set so that the lock claw support 44A can be easily bent as will be described later.

  A gap 44C is formed between the lock claw support portion 44A and the base end portion of the connection portion 44F. Thereby, when a predetermined operation force is applied so as to be substantially orthogonal to the surface of the operation portion 44B, the lock claw support portion 44A is bent so as to be convex downward. At this time, the distal ends of the operation portion 44B and the lock claw 44N also follow the displacement of the lock claw support portion 44A. Since the length along the longitudinal direction of the lock claw support portion 44A in the gap 44C is set larger than the width of the lock claw 44N, it can be bent more easily so as to be convex downward.

  On the other hand, when the operation force is no longer applied from the state in which the operation force is applied to the operation portion 44B, the lock claw support portion 44A is returned to the flat initial state by its own elastic return force.

  A bonded portion to which one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is bonded is formed on the lower surface portion of the connecting portion 44F. The lower surface portion of the connecting portion 44F is formed substantially parallel to a plane common to the mounting surface of the flexible wiring board mounting portion 44D and at a higher position by the thickness of the flexible wiring board 12. A predetermined gap is formed between the base end portion of the connecting portion 44F and the end portion of the flexible wiring board mounting portion 44D. Accordingly, one end of the flexible wiring board 12 passes through the placement surface of the flexible wiring board placement portion 44D and is bonded to the adherend portion of the connection portion 44F with its electrode group facing downward.

  Guide pins 44f protrude from both side portions at the tip of the connecting portion 44F.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the connector main body 40 is fixed on the vicinity of the end of a predetermined wiring board PB1, and has a cable housing 40A inside which one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is selectively housed. ing. At one end of the cable housing portion 40A, a substantially rectangular opening through which the connecting portion 44F of the adapter 44 passes is formed in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the wiring board PB1. Guide holes 40As are respectively connected to both sides of the opening so that the guide pins 44f of the adapter 44 are detachably engaged.

  In the cable housing portion 40A, a plurality of contact terminals 42ai (i = 1 to n, n are integers) that electrically connect the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 and the conductor layer of the wiring board PB1 are predetermined mutual intervals. And arranged along the longitudinal direction of the substantially rectangular elongated opening described above. As shown in FIG. 21, the plurality of contact terminals 42ai are fixed by being press-fitted into the slits 40Si (i = 1 to n, n are integers) of the connector main body 40, respectively. Adjacent slits 40Si are partitioned by a partition wall.

  The soldering fixed terminal portion of the contact terminal 42ai protrudes to the back side of the connector main body portion 40 as shown in FIG.

  The contact portion of the contact terminal 42ai that comes into contact with the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 is elastically displaceable, and is arranged at a substantially central position between the wall surface forming the bottom of the cable housing portion 40A and the wall surface forming the top. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 20, fixtures 46 that are fixed to the wiring board PB <b> 1 are provided on both sides of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body 40.

  A notch 40C and a recess 40R corresponding to the lock claw 44N of the adapter 44 to be mounted are formed in the central portion of the upper portion of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body 40. The cutout portion 40C is formed at a substantially central portion of the raised portion 40T formed on the periphery of the opening end. The recess 40R is opposed to the notch 40C and is formed continuously with an engaged end of a step 40a described later.

  On the opening end side of the connector main body 40, a step 40a facing the cutout 40C is formed. At the upper edge portion of the stepped portion 40a on the opening end portion side of the connector main body portion 40, a guiding inclined surface portion 40ae for guiding the lock claw 44N in cooperation with the peripheral edge of the notch portion 40C is formed. The inclined surface portion 40ae intersects the flat surface of the stepped portion 40a at a predetermined angle θ as in the above example. Further, an engaged end portion 40as to which the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N is selectively engaged is formed on the back surface side of the connector main body portion 40 in the stepped portion 40a. Therefore, the lock / unlock mechanism in the cable connector is constituted by the lock claw support portion 44A having the lock claw 44N in the adapter 44 and the engaged end portion 40as of the connector main body portion 40.

  In such a configuration, when the adapter 44 connected to one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is connected to the connector main body 40, first, the connection portion 44 </ b> F of the adapter 44 is disposed opposite to the opening end of the connector main body 40. . Next, the lock claw support portion 44 </ b> A and the lock claw 44 </ b> N of the adapter 44 are further brought closer to the opening end portion of the connector main body portion 40. Thereafter, the guide pin 44f is engaged with the guide hole 40As, and the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N is guided by the peripheral edge of the cutout portion 40C and the inclined surface portion 40ae. Thereby, positioning with respect to the opening edge part of the connector main-body part 40 of the connection part 44F of the adapter 44 is made. Accordingly, the distal end portion of the connection portion 44F of the adapter 44 is easily inserted into the cable housing portion 40A.

  Subsequently, the connecting portion 44F of the adapter 44 is further pushed. Thus, after the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N passes through the inclined surface portion 40ae, the intermediate portion of the lock claw 44N is slidably contacted with the inclined surface portion 40ae and pushed upward in the traveling direction by a predetermined angle. Thereafter, the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N is engaged with the engaged end portion 40as and inserted into the recess 40R. Accordingly, the connecting portion 44F of the adapter 44 is locked and held with respect to the connector main body portion 40. At that time, the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 and the contact portion of the contact terminal 42ai come into contact with each other, whereby the flexible wiring board 12 and the wiring board PB1 are electrically connected.

  On the other hand, when the connection portion 44F of the adapter 44 is detached from the connector main body portion 40, first, the operation portion 44B is pressed against the elastic force with a predetermined pressure. As a result, the lock claw support portion 44A is bent so as to be convex downward, so that the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N moves the inclined surface portion 40ae in the counterclockwise direction by the rotation amount corresponding to the displacement amount of the operation portion 44B. It is rotated as a fulcrum and is separated from the engaged end 40as. At that time, the intermediate portion of the lock claw 44N is pressed against the inclined surface portion 40ae as a fulcrum with the downward displacement of the operation portion 44B. As a result, the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N is unlocked with respect to the engaged end portion 40as.

  Subsequently, the connecting portion 44F of the adapter 44 is pulled out from the connector main body 40 while the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N is unlocked. Further, the connecting portion 44F of the adapter 44 is separated from the connector main body portion 40 and removed. Therefore, when the connection portion 44F of the adapter 44 is detached from the connector main body portion 40, the adapter 44 is easily detached by one-handed operation of the operation portion 44B.

  The connector main body shown in FIGS. 2, 12, and 20 is a so-called horizontal type in which the adapter is inserted in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the wiring board PB1. Without being limited to this example, for example, as shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, the connector main body 50 has a so-called so that the adapter is inserted in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the surface of the wiring board PB1. It may be a vertically placed format.

  Also in the example shown in FIG. 22, the above-described adapter 44 is detachably attached to the connector main body 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the connector main body 50 is fixed on the vicinity of the end of a predetermined wiring board PB1, and has a cable housing 50A in which one end of the flexible wiring board 12 is selectively housed. Have. A substantially rectangular opening through which the connecting portion 44F of the adapter 44 passes is formed in one end portion of the cable housing portion 50A in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the wiring board PB1. On both sides of the opening, there are communicated guide holes 50As in which the guide pins 44f of the adapter 44 are detachably engaged.

  In the cable housing portion 50A, a plurality of contact terminals 52ai (i = 1 to n, n are integers) for electrically connecting the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 and the conductor layer of the wiring board PB1 have a predetermined mutual interval. And arranged along the longitudinal direction of the substantially rectangular elongated opening described above. As shown in FIG. 23, the plurality of contact terminals 52ai are press-fitted into the slits 50Si (i = 1 to n, n are integers) of the connector main body 50 and fixed. Adjacent slits 50Si are partitioned by a partition wall.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the soldering fixed terminal portion of the contact terminal 52ai protrudes from the left end portion of the connector main body portion 50 toward the wiring board PB1.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the contact portion of the contact terminal 52ai that comes into contact with the electrode group of the flexible wiring board 12 is elastically displaceable, and is at a substantially central position between the wall surfaces forming the side wall portion of the cable housing portion 50A. It is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 22, a fixture FT that is fixed to the wiring board PB <b> 1 is provided at each end of both side walls of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body 50.

  A notch 50C and a recess 50R corresponding to the lock claw 44N of the adapter 44 to be mounted are formed in the central portion on one side wall of the outer peripheral portion of the connector main body 50. The cutout portion 50C is formed at a substantially central portion of the raised portion 50T formed on the periphery of the opening end. The concave portion 50R is opposed to the notch portion 50C and is formed continuously with an engaged end portion of a step portion 50a described later.

  On the opening end side of the connector main body 50, a stepped portion 50a facing the notch 50C is formed. In the upper edge portion of the stepped portion 50a on the opening end portion side of the connector main body portion 50, a guiding inclined surface portion 50ae for guiding the lock claw 44N in cooperation with the peripheral edge of the notch portion 50C is formed. The inclined surface portion 50ae intersects the flat surface of the step portion 50a at a predetermined angle θ as in the above example. Further, as shown in FIG. 23, an engaged end portion 50as to which the claw portion 44n of the lock claw 44N is selectively engaged is formed on the bottom surface side of the connector main body portion 50 in the stepped portion 50a. . Therefore, the lock / unlock mechanism in the cable connector is configured by the lock claw support portion 44A having the lock claw 44N in the adapter 44 and the engaged end portion 50as of the connector main body portion 50.

  Therefore, also in such a configuration in the present embodiment, the same operational effects as the operational effects in the above-described example are achieved.

It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of an example of the connector for cables which concerns on this invention with the end of a cable. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an example of the connector for cables which concerns on this invention with the cable connected. It is a perspective view with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided. FIG. 4 is a side view of the example shown in FIG. 3. It is a perspective view which shows the adapter used for the example shown by FIG. It is a front view in the example shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing shown along the VII-VII line in FIG. It is a perspective view with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided. (A), (B), (C) is sectional drawing with which it uses for operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2, respectively. It is a perspective view with which operation | movement description in the example shown by FIG. 2 is provided. It is a front view in the example shown by FIG. It is a top view which shows another example of the connector for cables which concerns on this invention. It is a front view in the example shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing shown along the XIV-XIV line | wire in FIG. It is a top view which shows the connector main-body part used for the example shown by FIG. It is a top view which shows the contact terminal used for the example shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing of the connector main-body part shown along the XVII-XVII line | wire in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the adapter used for another example of the connector for cables which concerns on this invention. It is a front view in the example shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the connector main-body part used for another example of the connector for cables which concerns on this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view in the example shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the connector main-body part used for another example of the connector for cables which concerns on this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view in the example shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector main-body part 10R Concave part 10a Step part 10as Engagement edge part 10ae Inclined surface part 12 Flexible wiring board 14 Adapter 14N Lock claw 14n Claw part 14F Connection part 14A Lock claw support part

Claims (5)

A cable housing portion having a contact terminal electrically connected to the terminal portion in a cable having a terminal portion at one end, positioning the relative position to the contact terminal at one end of the cable, and housing one end of the cable When,
An adapter having a connection for supporting one end of the cable;
A step portion formed on the outer peripheral portion of the housing portion that forms the cable housing portion and a position that is located above the connection portion of the adapter are selectively engaged with the engaged end portion of the step portion. A lock claw member having a claw portion, and a lock claw support portion having an operation portion provided at a position spaced apart from the claw portion so as to be elastically deformable, wherein the adapter is selective to the cable housing portion. With a lock / unlock mechanism for locking or unlocking,
When the locking / unlocking mechanism portion unlocks the adapter with respect to the cable housing portion, the operation portion is pressed, and an intermediate portion of the lock claw member of the adapter is the step portion of the housing portion. The claw portion is rotated about the end portion by contacting the end portion located between the engaged end portion and the operation portion of the adapter, so that the claw portion is the stepped portion. A cable connector, wherein the cable connector is separated from an engaged end portion of the cable.   The outer peripheral part of the housing part that forms the cable housing part has an opening part into which the claw part of the lock claw member is selectively inserted adjacent to the step part, and the contact terminal is in the locked state. 2. The cable connector according to claim 1, wherein a part of the claw portion of the lock claw member has a cutout portion arranged through the opening.   The cable adapter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter has an elongated gap having a length larger than a width of the lock claw member in a lower portion of the lock claw support portion. connector.   The cable connector according to claim 1, wherein the groove portion is formed at a position directly below the operation portion in the lock claw support portion of the adapter. The operation portion is integrally formed at a position above the elongated gap in the lock claw support portion, and when the operation portion is pressed toward the elongated gap, the lock claw support portion is convex downward The cable connector according to claim 3, wherein the connector is bent.

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