JP5084244B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector that is attached to a printed board or the like and is used to electrically connect a plurality of boards.

  Conventionally, as this type of connector, a connector main body in which one end of an object to be connected can be inserted into a predetermined position, a plurality of terminals arranged in the connector body at intervals in the width direction, and a connector main body. When the connection object is inserted into the connector body and the rotation member is closed, the contact portion provided on each terminal comes into contact with the connection object, thereby connecting the connection object. Are known in which the terminals are electrically connected to each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this connector, when the rotating member is closed in a state where the connection object is inserted into the connector main body, each terminal receives a pressure from the rotating member and elastically deforms, whereby the contact portion of each terminal is connected to the connection object. It moves in the direction of contact with and contacts the connection object.
JP 2006-147271 A

  By the way, in this connector, when the rotating member is closed, the rotating member presses each terminal so that the contact portion of each terminal comes into contact with the connection object. Since each terminal is always pressed by the rotating member in the electrically connected state, each terminal is plastically deformed by this pressing, and there is a problem that connection reliability is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a connector capable of preventing plastic deformation of each terminal in an electrically connected state.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a connector main body in which one end of a connection object can be inserted into a predetermined position from the front, and a plurality of terminals arranged in the connector main body at intervals in the width direction, A rotation member provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the connector body, and when the connection object is inserted into the connector body and the rotation member is closed, the contact portions provided on the terminals contact the connection object. In the connector in which the connection object and each terminal are electrically connected to each other, a fixed piece portion extending in the front-rear direction of the connector body so as to be positioned on the bottom surface side of the connector body, and a connection object An elastic piece extending in the front-rear direction of the connector body is provided so as to be positioned above the object, and the contact portion is provided on the front end side of the elastic piece, and each terminal is rotated to a predetermined open position. Then, When the rear end side of the elastic piece portion located on the upper surface side of the Kuta body is pressed downward by the rotating member, it is elastically deformed so that the front end side of the elastic piece portion is displaced upward, and the contact portion is connected to the connection object. When the rotating member is closed in a state where the connection object is inserted into the connector main body while being moved in the anti-contact direction, the contact part is restored and moved in the contact direction with the connection object.

  As a result, when the rotating member is rotated to a predetermined open position, each terminal is elastically deformed by receiving a pressure from the rotating member, and the rotating member is closed with the connection object inserted into the connector body. Since the contact portion is restored and moved in the direction of contact with the connection object, each terminal is not pressed by the rotating member when the terminal and the connection object are electrically connected.

  According to the present invention, when each terminal is electrically connected to the connection object, each terminal is not pressed by the rotating member, so that plastic deformation of each terminal in the electrical connection state can be prevented, and the connection A decrease in reliability can be suppressed.

  1 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector, FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the connector, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the first and second terminals, FIG. 6 is a side view of the lock terminal, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of arrows AA, BB, and CC when the pressing cover is opened. 8 is an enlarged view of the main part of the section taken along the line B-B when the press cover is opened, FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C when the flexible cable is inserted, and FIG. It is a sectional view taken along line -A, line BB, and line CC.

  This connector includes a connector body 10 into which one end of a flexible circuit 1 as a connection object can be inserted, a plurality of first terminals 20 and a plurality of second terminals arranged in the connector body 10 at equal intervals in the width direction. Terminal 30, a pressing cover 40 as a rotation member provided to be rotatable with respect to the connector main body 10, and a pair of lock terminals as lock members provided at both ends of the connector main body 10 in the terminal arrangement direction. 50.

  The flexible circuit 1 is formed of a so-called flexible printed circuit (FPC), and a plurality of first electrical contacts 1a are provided on the upper surface on the front end side thereof at intervals in the width direction. A plurality of second electrical contacts 1b are provided at intervals in the width direction on the rear end side between the first electrical contacts 1a. Further, a pair of left and right cutouts 1 c are provided at both end portions of the flexible circuit 1. In addition, as a connection target object, a flexible flat cable (FFC) may be sufficient.

  The connector main body 10 is made of a synthetic resin molded product, and opens on the front surface and the upper surface rear end side. That is, the connector main body 10 includes an upper surface portion 11, a bottom surface portion 12, and left and right side surface portions 13, and the flexible circuit 1 is inserted from the front opening portion. A plurality of first terminal holes 10a are provided at equal intervals in the width direction on the front side of the connector body 10, and the first terminals 20 are held in the first terminal holes 10a, respectively. ing. A plurality of second terminal holes 10b are provided on the back side of the connector body 10 so as to be positioned between the first terminal holes 10a, respectively. Each of the terminals 30 is held. A hole 13a extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the front end side of each side surface portion 13, and a lock terminal 50 is fixed to each hole 13a.

  Each first terminal 20 is made of a conductive metal plate and is held by being press-fitted into the first terminal hole 10a of the connector body 10 from the front side. As shown in FIG. 5A, each first terminal 20 has a substantially letter E shape, and includes an elastic piece portion 21 and a fixed piece portion 22 that extend in the front-rear direction at intervals in the vertical direction. Further, a connection portion 23 connected to the substrate A is provided at the front end of the fixed piece portion 22. A first contact portion 21a that contacts the first electrical contact 1a of the flexible circuit 1 is provided on the distal end side of the elastic piece portion 21, and the first contact portion 21a is formed so as to protrude downward. Yes. In addition, an engagement portion 21b formed in a concave shape is provided at the upper part on the rear end side of the elastic piece portion 21, and the engagement portion 21b engages with the press cover 40 at a predetermined opening position of the press cover 40. It is like that. When the engaging portion 21b is engaged with the pressing cover 40, the elastic piece portion 21 is elastically deformed by pressing the rear end side of the elastic piece portion 21 downward by the pressing cover 40. In this case, the front end side of the elastic piece portion 21 including the first contact portion 21a moves upward. Further, a second contact portion 22a that comes into contact with the second electrical contact 1b when the flexible circuit 1 is inserted into the connector main body 10 with its top and bottom surfaces reversed is provided at the distal end side of the fixed piece portion 22. The second contact portion 22a is formed so as to protrude upward. The vertical gap G1 between the first contact portion 21a and the second contact portion 22a is formed so that the dimension thereof is smaller than the thickness dimension of the flexible circuit 1.

  Each second terminal 30 is made of a conductive metal plate and is held by being press-fitted into each second terminal hole 10b of the connector body 10 from the back side. As shown in FIG. 5B, each second terminal 30 has a substantially letter E shape, and includes an elastic piece portion 31 and a fixed piece portion 32 that extend in the front-rear direction with an interval in the vertical direction. Further, a connection portion 33 connected to the substrate A is provided at the rear end of the fixed piece portion 32. A first contact portion 31a that contacts the second electrical contact 1b of the flexible circuit 1 is provided on the distal end side of the elastic piece portion 31, and the first contact portion 31a is formed so as to protrude downward. ing. In addition, an engagement portion 31b formed in a concave shape is provided at the upper part on the rear end side of the elastic piece portion 31, and the engagement portion 31b is engaged with the press cover 40 at the open position of the press cover 40. It has become. When the engaging portion 31 b is engaged with the pressing cover 40, the elastic piece portion 31 is elastically deformed by pressing the rear end side of the elastic piece portion 31 downward by the pressing cover 40. In this case, the front end side of the elastic piece portion 31 including the first contact portion 31a moves upward. Furthermore, a second contact portion 32a that contacts the first electrical contact 1a when the flexible circuit 1 is inserted into the connector main body 10 with its upper and lower surfaces reversed is provided at the distal end side of the fixed piece portion 32. The second contact portion 32a is provided so as to protrude upward. Further, a bearing portion 32b that rotatably supports the pressing cover 40 is provided on the rear end side of the fixed piece portion 32, and the bearing portion 32b is formed in a substantially semicircular shape opened downward. The vertical gap G1 between the first contact portion 31a and the second contact portion 32a is formed in the same manner as the first terminal 20.

  The pressing cover 40 is made of a synthetic resin molded product, and is formed in a plate shape so as to cover the upper rear end side of the connector body 10 from above. A plurality of first insertion holes 41 through which the elastic pieces 21 of the first terminals 20 can be inserted and a plurality of elastic pieces 31 of the second terminals 30 can be inserted into the front end side of the pressing cover 40. The second insertion holes 42 are provided, and each second insertion hole 42 is provided with a rotation shaft 42 a supported by the bearing portion 32 b of each second terminal 30. In addition, each first insertion hole 41 is provided with a first contact portion 41 a that contacts the lower surface rear end side of the elastic piece portion 21 of each first terminal 20 when the pressing cover 40 is closed. Each second insertion hole 42 is provided with a second abutting portion 42b that abuts on the lower surface rear end side of the elastic piece portion 31 of each second terminal 30 when the pressing cover 40 is closed. . Furthermore, a pressing portion 43 that presses the elastic pieces 21 and 31 of the terminals 20 and 30 is provided on the rear end side of the pressing cover 40, and the pressing surface of the pressing portion 43 is bent forward. Is formed. Furthermore, both ends in the width direction of the pressing cover 40 are formed so as to contact the lower surface of the lock terminal 50 when the pressing cover 40 is closed.

  Each lock terminal 50 is made of an elastic metal plate. As shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. And an elastic piece 52 formed so as to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction. At the center of the upper surface of the elastic piece 52, a locking portion 52a protruding upward is provided, and the front end portion of the locking portion 52a is formed so as to be inclined upward toward the rear. In addition, a restricting portion 52b that comes into contact with the pressing cover 40 from above when the pressing cover 40 is closed is provided on the rear end side of the elastic piece 52.

  The connector configured as described above is attached to the substrate A as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and the flexible circuit 1 can be inserted into and removed from the connector body 10 when the pressing cover 40 is opened. .

  In the connector, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the pressing cover 40 is rotated from the fully closed position to the opening direction, that is, forward, the pressing portion 43 is the rear end on the upper surface of the elastic piece portion 31 of the second terminal 30. Move forward while touching the side. Here, the distance D1 from the one end 31b-1 of the engaging portion 31b to the center of the rotating shaft 42a is longer than the distance D2 from the pressing surface of the pressing portion 43 to the center of the rotating shaft 42a. When the pressing cover 40 is rotated to the one end 31b-1 of the engaging portion 31b, the one end 31b-1 of the engaging portion 31b is pressed downward by the pressing portion 43, and the front end side (first contact portion) of the elastic piece portion 31 is reached. 31a) rises. Further, when the pressing cover 40 is further rotated forward as shown in FIG. 8B, the pressing portion 43 of the pressing cover 40 is engaged with the engaging portion at the fully open position (position rotated about 90 ° from the fully closed position). Engage with 31b. At that time, the engagement of the engaging portion 31b with the pressing portion 43 is transmitted to the outside through the pressing cover 40 by engaging the pressing portion 43 while the engaging portion 31b is restored upward. Even when the pressing cover 40 is rotated to the fully open position, each second terminal 30 is elastically deformed by the engaging portion 31 b being pressed downward by the pressing cover 40. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7B, the vertical gap G2 between the first contact portion 31a and the second contact portion 32a of each second terminal 30 is larger than the thickness dimension of the flexible circuit 1. Thus, the flexible circuit 1 can be inserted into the connector body 10. Although explanation is omitted here, each first terminal 20 operates in the same manner as described above.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the flexible circuit 1 is inserted into the connector main body 10, both ends in the width direction of the distal end of the flexible circuit 1 come into contact with the locking portions 52 a of the lock terminals 50. 9B, when the flexible circuit 1 is further inserted toward the rear of the connector body 10, the elastic pieces 52 of the lock terminals 50 are elastically deformed downward. In this case, the locking portion 52 a guides the flexible circuit 1 to the rear of the connector body 10 while the front end of the locking portion 52 a is in contact with the lower surface of the flexible circuit 1. Furthermore, when the flexible circuit 1 is inserted toward the rear of the connector body 10 as shown in FIG. 9C, the locking portions 52a of the lock terminals 50 are restored upward and the notches 1c of the flexible circuit 1 are restored. To fit. At this time, a feeling that the engaging portion 52 a is fitted in each notch portion 1 c of the flexible circuit 1 is transmitted to the outside through the flexible circuit 1. Moreover, when the latching | locking part 52a of each lock terminal 50 fits in each notch part 1c of the flexible circuit 1, the movement to the anti-insertion direction of the flexible circuit 1, ie, the front, is controlled.

  Then, when the pressing cover 40 is rotated in the closing direction after the locking portion 52a is fitted in each notch portion 1c of the flexible circuit 1, each first terminal 20 is pressed against the pressing cover as shown in FIG. It restores by releasing the press by 40. In this case, the first contact portion 21 a of the elastic piece portion 21 moves downward and contacts the first electrical contact 1 a of the flexible circuit 1. Also, as shown in FIG. 10B, the first contact portion 31a of each second terminal 30 moves downward and contacts the second electrical contact 1b of the flexible circuit 1. Thereby, the flexible circuit 1 and the board | substrate A are electrically connected via each terminal 20 and 30. FIG. In this case, since the terminals 20 and 30 are not pressed by the pressing cover 40, they are not plastically deformed. When the pressing cover 40 is closed, each first contact portion 41a of the pressing cover 40 contacts the lower surface rear end side of the elastic piece portion 21 of each first terminal 20, and each second contact. The part 42b contacts the lower surface rear end side of the elastic piece part 31 of each second terminal 30. Thereby, since elastic deformation of the elastic piece portions 21 and 31 is restricted, the first contact portions 21a and 31a of the terminals 20 and 30 are not separated from the flexible circuit 1 to cause poor contact.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10C, since the base end side of the pressing cover 50 is in contact with the lower surface of the restricting portion 52b of each lock terminal 50, the downward movement of the restricting portion 52b is restricted. . In this case, since the downward movement of the locking portion 52a is also restricted, the locking portion 52a of the terminal 50 can always be fitted into the cutout portion 1c of the flexible circuit 1 when the pressing cover 40 is closed. The circuit 1 can be reliably locked.

  Thus, according to the connector of the present embodiment, when each of the terminals 20 and 30 is rotated to the fully open position, the first contact portion 21a is elastically deformed by being pressed from the press cover 40. 31a is moved upward, and when the pressing cover 40 is closed with the flexible circuit 1 inserted into the connector body 10, the first contact portions 21a, 31a are moved downward and restored. When the terminals 20 and 30 and the flexible circuit 1 are electrically connected, the terminals 20 and 30 are not pressed by the pressing cover 40. Therefore, the plastic deformation of the terminals 20 and 30 in the electrical connection state can be prevented, and a decrease in connection reliability can be suppressed.

  Further, when the pressing cover 40 is rotated to the respective terminals 20 and 30 in the opening direction, it is elastically deformed by pressing from the pressing cover 40, and when the pressing cover 40 is rotated to the fully opened position, the pressing cover 40 is restored while being restored. Since the engaging portions 21b and 31b that engage with the pressing portion 43 are provided, it is possible to confirm that the pressing cover 40 has been rotated to the fully open position by the touch during the rotating operation, and the operation is easy. There is.

  Further, the lock terminals 50 are provided at both ends of the connector body 10 in the terminal arrangement direction, and the lock terminals 50 are elastically deformed while being in contact with the lower surface of the flexible circuit 1 inserted into the connector body 10 so that the flexible circuit 1 is in a predetermined position. Are inserted into the cutouts 1c provided at both ends of the flexible circuit 1 while being restored, the locking part 52a for locking the flexible circuit 1 forward, and the locking part 52a. When the pressing cover 40 is closed in a state of being fitted to the flexible cover 1, the flexible circuit 1 is completely attached to the connector main body 10 since the restricting portion 52 b that contacts the pressing cover 40 and restricts the downward movement of the locking portion 52 a is provided. The connector body 10 can be confirmed by the feel during the insertion operation, and the connector body 10 can be reliably prevented from being connected in the incompletely inserted state. Can. Further, when the pressing cover 40 is closed, the locking portion 52a of the lock terminal 50 can always be fitted into the cutout portion 1c of the flexible circuit 1, so that the flexible circuit 1 can be locked forward, and the flexible circuit 1 can be reliably prevented from coming out of the connector main body 10 or causing a positional shift to cause poor contact.

  Furthermore, since the front end portion of the locking portion 52a is formed to be inclined upward toward the rear of the connector main body 10, the flexible circuit 1 can be guided to the rear of the connector main body 10. Therefore, when the flexible circuit 1 is inserted into the connector main body 10, the insertion of the flexible circuit 1 is not hindered by the front end of the locking portion 52 a coming into contact with the front end of the locking portion 52 a. It can be easily inserted backwards.

  Further, when each of the terminals 20 and 30 is rotated to the predetermined open position, the rear end side of each of the terminals 20 and 30 is pressed against the press cover 40, so that the front end of each of the terminals 20 and 30 is directed upward. Since the front end side of each terminal 20, 30 is restored downward and comes into contact with the flexible circuit 1 when the pressure cover 40 is closed while being elastically deformed, the front end side of each terminal 20, 30 when the pressure cover 40 is opened The gap D2 can be formed larger than the gap D1 when the pressing cover 40 is closed, and the flexible circuit 1 can be easily inserted.

  Further, when each of the terminals 20 and 30 is closed, the lower rear end side of the elastic piece portions 21 and 31 comes into contact with the press cover 40 when the press cover 40 is closed, thereby elastically deforming the elastic piece portions 21 and 31 upward on the front end side. Therefore, when the pressing cover 40 is closed, the first contact portions 21a and 31a of the terminals 20 and 30 are separated from the flexible circuit 1 due to elastic deformation of the terminals 20 and 30, and the contact is poor. Can be surely prevented.

  In addition, the said embodiment is only one specific example of this invention, and this invention is not limited only to the said embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the flexible circuit 1 is inserted into the connector body 10 with the surface provided with the electrical contacts 1a and 1b as the upper surface has been described. However, the surface provided with the electrical contacts 1a and 1b is the lower surface. The flexible circuit 1 may be inserted into the connector main body 10. In this case, the electrical contacts 1a and 1b are electrically connected by contacting the second contact portion 32a of the second terminal 30 and the second contact portion 22a of the first terminal 20, respectively. When the pressing cover 40 is closed, the first contact portions 21a and 31a of the terminals 20 and 30 are in contact with the upper surface of the flexible circuit 1 (the surface where the electrical contacts 1a and 1b are not provided) and are flexible. The circuit 1 is pressed toward the second contact portions 22a and 32a.

The perspective view of the connector in one embodiment of the present invention Front view of connector Top view of connector Top view of flexible cable Side view of first and second terminals Side view of lock terminal AA line, BB line, and CC line arrow direction sectional view at the time of press cover opening The principal part enlarged view of a BB arrow direction cross section at the time of press cover opening CC cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow when the flexible cable is inserted AA line, BB line, and CC line arrow direction sectional drawing at the time of press cover closing

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Flexible circuit, 1c ... A pair of notch part, 10 ... Connector main body, 20 ... Several 1st terminal, 21a ... 1st contact part, 21b ... Engagement part, 30 ... Several 2nd terminal, 31a ... 1st contact part, 31b ... Engagement part, 40 ... Press cover, 50 ... A pair of lock terminal, 52a ... Locking part, 52b ... Restriction part, A ... Board | substrate.

Claims (5)

A connector main body in which one end of the connection object can be inserted into a predetermined position from the front, a plurality of terminals disposed in the connector main body at intervals in the width direction, and a rotatable relative to the connector main body When the connection object is inserted into the connector body and the rotation member is closed, the contact portion provided on each terminal comes into contact with the connection object so that the connection object and each terminal are electrically connected. In the connector to be connected to
Each terminal is provided with a fixed piece portion extending in the front-rear direction of the connector body so as to be positioned on the bottom surface side of the connector body, and an elastic piece portion extending in the front-rear direction of the connector body so as to be positioned above the connection object. The contact portion is provided on the front end side of the elastic piece portion,
When each of the terminals is rotated to the predetermined opening position, the rear end side of the elastic piece portion located on the upper surface side of the connector body is pressed downward by the rotation member, so that the front end side of the elastic piece portion is upward. When the rotating member is closed while the connection object is inserted into the connector body, the contact part is restored and the contact part is restored. A connector characterized by being formed so as to move in the direction of contact with the connection object. When the rotating member is rotated in the opening direction to each of the terminals, the rotating member is elastically deformed by being pressed from the rotating member, and when the rotating member is rotated to the open position, the rotating member is restored and restored. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a mating engagement portion is provided. A lock member provided on both ends of the connector body in the terminal arrangement direction,
The locking member is elastically deformed while being in contact with one surface of the connection object inserted into the connector body, and when the connection object is inserted to a predetermined position, notches provided at both ends of the connection object And a locking part that fits and locks the connection object in the anti-insertion direction while being restored to
When the rotating member is closed in a state where the engaging portion is fitted to the connection object, a restricting portion that contacts the rotating member and restricts the movement of the engaging portion in the anti-fitting direction is provided. The connector according to claim 1 or 2. The connector according to claim 3, wherein a front end portion of the locking portion is formed to be inclined toward the rear of the connector body. Each of the terminals is formed so as to abut against the rotating member when the rotating member is closed and to restrict the movement of the contact portion in the anti-contact direction with the connection object. 3. The connector according to 3 or 4.

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