JP5869346B2 - Holder, holder with flat conductor, and assembly of holder with flat conductor and electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a holder attached to a flat conductor, a holder with a flat conductor in which a flat conductor is attached to the holder, and an assembly of the holder with a flat conductor and an electrical connector.

  As a connection form between the flat conductor and the electrical connector, for example, a connection form described in Patent Document 1 is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a form in which a front end portion of a flat conductor extending in the front-rear direction is connected to an electrical connector from above. The front end portion of the flat conductor has a circuit portion exposed on the lower surface thereof, and a reinforcing plate is stuck on the upper surface thereof. Further, both side edges of the reinforcing plate at positions corresponding to both side edges in the width direction of the flat conductor protrude outward in the width direction of the flat conductor and engage with corresponding engagement holes of the electrical connector. The ear | edge part as an engaging protrusion part for doing is formed.

  On the other hand, in the electrical connector, a pair of metal lock members rise from the upper surface of the housing and are opposed to each other in the width direction at both side ends of the housing in the width direction. A space between them is formed as a receiving space for receiving the front end portion of the flat conductor from above. On the upper surface of the housing of the electrical connector, a contact portion of the terminal is arranged so as to protrude toward the receiving space. The locking member is formed with the engagement hole for receiving the ear portion in a connected state between the flat conductor and the electrical connector.

  When the front end portion of the flat conductor is pushed into the receiving space of the electrical connector from above, the circuit portion of the flat conductor contacts the contact portion of the terminal of the electrical connector with contact pressure, and the lock When the ear portion of the reinforcing plate enters the engagement hole of the member in a snap shape and engages with the engagement hole, the connection state between the circuit portion of the flat conductor and the contact portion of the terminal is maintained.

Japanese Patent No. 2622528

  In Patent Document 1, when the front end portion of the flat conductor is pushed into the receiving space of the electrical connector, an operating force from above is applied to the reinforcing plate. Therefore, in order to prevent damage to the circuit portion of the flat conductor, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the reinforcing plate to ensure sufficient strength.

  Since the reinforcing plate is generally made thin according to the demands for reducing the height of the electrical connector, etc., the flat conductor manufacturing apparatus with the reinforcing plate is usually designed on the assumption that the reinforcing plate is thin. ing. Such a manufacturing apparatus manufactures a flat conductor with a reinforcing plate having an ear portion by punching a flat conductor to which the reinforcing plate material before the ear portion is formed together with the reinforcing plate material. It has become.

  As described above, the manufacturing apparatus is designed on the assumption that the reinforcing plate is thin. Therefore, when the reinforcing plate is excessively thick, the manufacturing apparatus cannot be used to punch out the reinforcing plate material. In order to manufacture a flat conductor with a reinforcing plate to which a thick reinforcing plate is attached without using the manufacturing apparatus, first, a punching apparatus different from the manufacturing apparatus is attached prior to attaching the reinforcing plate. It is necessary to depend on the process of sticking the reinforcing plate to the flat conductor after punching out only the reinforcing plate material to make a reinforcing plate having an ear. However, since high accuracy is required to attach the reinforcing plate to the flat conductor with the exact position, it is very difficult to manufacture the flat conductor with the reinforcing plate by the above-described process.

  In view of such circumstances, when the flat conductor is connected to the electrical connector from above, the present invention provides a circuit for a flat conductor without specially thickening the reinforcing plate or without providing the reinforcing plate itself. Provided are a holder capable of reliably preventing damage to the portion and realizing a good connection state between the flat conductor and the electrical connector, a holder with the flat conductor, and an assembly of the holder with the flat conductor and the electrical connector. The purpose is to do.

  According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems are solved by any of the holder of the following first invention, the holder with a flat conductor of the second invention, and the assembly of the holder with a flat conductor of the third invention and an electrical connector. Is done.

<First invention>
In the holder according to the present invention, the front end portion of the flat conductor is attached, and the circuit portion formed on the lower surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor is connected to the electrical connector arranged on the circuit board.

In such a holder, in the present invention, the holder includes an upper support portion capable of supporting the upper surface of the portion corresponding to the circuit portion of the flat conductor over the entire width of the flat conductor, and a partial region of the lower surface of the front end portion. The lower support part is formed as one member having a lower support part that can be supported and a connecting part that connects the upper support part and the lower support part at a position corresponding to the edge part of the front end part. Positioned outside the range of the circuit portion of the flat conductor in the width direction of the flat conductor, the upper support portion and the lower support portion are formed with a spacing that allows insertion of the front end portion of the flat conductor, The extraction-direction locked portion provided at the front end portion of the flat conductor inserted into the accommodation space between the upper support portion and the lower support portion is connected to the extraction-direction engagement portion provided in the accommodation space. is lockable, the circuit circuit of the flat conductive is exposed outside the region corresponding to the lower support section There has been characterized in that it allows the connection from above electrical connector in contact with a terminal of the electrical connector.

  In the present invention, since the front end portion of the flat conductor is attached to the holder, when the front end portion of the flat conductor and the electrical connector are connected, the upper support portion of the holder is pressed from above. . Therefore, the upper support portion is in contact with the upper surface of the flat conductor to support the flat conductor. As a result, the pressing force does not act only on the circuit portion of the flat conductor. Therefore, it is possible to use a thin flat conductor without using a thick reinforcing plate or without providing the reinforcing plate itself. Damage to the circuit portion can be prevented. Further, in the present invention, the upper support portion, the lower support portion and the connecting portion are made integrally, and the rigidity of the holder as a whole is high, and the strength of the holder is sufficiently secured, so the pressing force is large. Also, damage to the circuit portion of the flat conductor can be reliably prevented.

  In the holder, a lock part for maintaining a connection state with the electrical connector is formed at at least one of the front edge position and the side edge position in the width direction of the flat conductor, and the lock part includes In a connected state with the electrical connector, it is preferable that the holder can be locked upward in the connection release direction of the holder with respect to the corresponding lock portion of the electrical connector.

  When the lock portion of the holder is engaged with the corresponding lock portion of the electrical connector in the upward direction in the extraction direction of the holder, the connection state between the circuit portion of the flat conductor and the electrical connector is maintained. In the present invention, since the lock portion that engages with the corresponding lock portion is formed in the holder, the lock portion is formed in comparison with the case where the lock portion is formed on a reinforcing plate of a flat conductor with a limited thickness. The part can be made stronger. Therefore, the connection state between the flat conductor and the electrical connector can be more reliably maintained.

  The connecting portion connects the upper support portion and the lower support portion at a position corresponding to at least both side edges of the front end portion of the flat conductor, and the connecting portion is a direction in which the flat conductor is extracted from the holder. When the flat conductor receives a rearward external force, it has a first pulling direction locking portion that locks with a pulling direction locked portion formed on both side edges of the flat conductor. It is preferable. Thus, by providing the connecting portion with the first locking portion in the extraction direction, it is possible to prevent the flat conductor from coming out from the holder backward.

  The upper support portion has a connection-direction locked portion for receiving a connection-direction locking portion formed by protruding a part of the terminal of the electric connector in a connected state between the holder and the electric connector from below. It is preferably formed as a hole that penetrates in the vertical direction or a recess that opens on the lower surface side of the upper support part at a position corresponding to the terminal in the width direction. In the connected state of the holder and the electrical connector, the connection direction locking portion of the terminal of the electrical connector enters the connection direction locked portion of the upper support portion of the holder from below to engage with the connection direction locked portion. By stopping, the holder is further less likely to be detached from the electrical connector.

  The holder has an operating portion for applying an upward release force when the holder is in a connected state with the electrical connector, and the operation portion is located at both the front edge position and the side edge position in the width direction of the flat conductor. It is preferable that it is formed in at least one position. The connection between the flat conductor and the electrical connector can be easily released by applying an upward release force to the operation portion of the holder that is connected to the electrical connector to remove the holder from the electrical connector.

  The holder has a cover portion formed at the front portion of the terminal of the electrical connector that covers the connection portion that is solder-connected to the circuit board from above in a connected state with the electrical connector. Is preferred. In the connected state of the holder and the electrical connector, the cover part of the holder covers the connection part of the terminal of the electrical connector from above, so that dust and dirt adhere to the connection part between the connection part and the corresponding circuit part of the circuit board. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a good connection state between the connection portion and the corresponding circuit portion.

<Second invention>
The holder with a flat conductor according to the present invention is characterized in that a front end portion of the flat conductor is attached to the holder according to the first invention. By doing so, a holder with a flat conductor having the characteristics of the holder of the first invention is obtained.

<Third invention>
An assembly of a flat conductor-equipped holder and an electrical connector according to the present invention includes the flat conductor-equipped holder according to the second invention and an electrical connector into which the holder is fitted.

  The terminal of the electrical connector has a protrusion that protrudes upward, and the flat conductor has a hole that vertically receives a protrusion that receives the protrusion from a position corresponding to the protrusion of the terminal. It is preferable that it is formed. With such a configuration, in the connected state of the holder with the flat conductor and the electrical connector, the protruding portion of the terminal of the electrical connector enters the hole of the flat conductor from below. Therefore, when the flat conductor is pulled rearward, the protruding portion of the terminal is locked with the inner wall surface of the hole of the flat conductor, so that the movement of the flat conductor to the rear is restricted, It is possible to prevent the flat conductor from coming out of the electrical connector and the holder backward.

  The flat conductor has pull-out direction locking portions on both side edges, and the electrical connector is connected to the holder with a flat conductor when the flat conductor receives an external force from the rear. In addition, it is preferable to have a second pulling direction locking portion that locks with the pulling direction locked portion of the flat conductor. Thus, by providing the electrical connector with the second locking portion in the extraction direction, it is possible to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the flat conductor from the electrical connector and the holder in the connected state with the holder with the flat conductor. it can.

  As described above, in the present invention, the holder is attached to the front end portion of the flat conductor, and when the flat conductor and the electrical connector are connected, the upper support portion of the holder is pressed from above. Therefore, the pressing force does not act only on the circuit portion of the flat conductor, and the strength of the holder is sufficiently ensured. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the circuit portion of the flat conductor by using a thin flat conductor reinforcing plate without using a thick plate or without providing the reinforcing plate itself. A connection state can be realized.

It is a perspective view which shows the holder with a flat conductor and electrical connector which concern on 1st embodiment, and has shown the state before a connection. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the flat conductor-equipped holder and the electrical connector of FIG. 1, showing a cross section at the terminal position in the width direction of the flat conductor. It is a perspective view before the assembly of the holder with a flat type conductor of FIG. 1, and has shown the state before the assembly which isolate | separated the front end part and holder of the flat type conductor from the downward side. The connection state of the holder with a flat conductor of FIG. 1 and an electrical connector is shown, (A) is a perspective view, (B) is a IVB-IVB cross-sectional perspective view of (A), and shows the width direction of a flat conductor. The cross section in the position of a terminal is shown, (C) is a partial enlarged view of (B), and shows the state where the locking projection of the terminal of the electrical connector and the locked hole of the holder are locked. Show. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4A, showing a cross section at the position of the upper surface of the flat conductor in the vertical direction as viewed from above. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the front-end part of the holder with a flat conductor which concerns on 2nd embodiment, and an electrical connector, and has shown the cross section in the position of the terminal in the width direction of a flat conductor.

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

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flat conductor holder and an electrical connector according to the present embodiment, and shows a state before connection. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the flat conductor-equipped holder and the electrical connector of FIG. 1, showing a cross-section at the terminal position in the width direction of the flat conductor. FIG. 3 is a perspective view before assembly of the holder with the flat conductor of FIG. 1, and shows a state before assembly in which the front end portion of the flat conductor and the holder are separated from the lower side. Further, in FIG. 3, the outline of the front end portion when the front end portion of the flat conductor is attached to the holder is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  As seen in FIG. 1, the holder with flat conductor 1 according to the present embodiment is assembled with the front end portion of the flat conductor C attached to the holder 10. The flat conductor-equipped holder 1 is flattened by fitting the holder 10 from above to an electrical connector 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “connector 2”) disposed on a circuit board (not shown). A mold conductor C is connected to the connector 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the flat conductor C in the present embodiment extends in the front-rear direction (the right direction is the front and the left direction is the rear in FIG. 1), which is the insertion / extraction direction of the flat conductor C. As shown in FIG. 3, it has a circuit portion C1 that is exposed on the lower surface of the front end portion and arranged in the width direction of the flat conductor C. On the upper surface of the front end portion, for example, a reinforcing plate C2 made of an electrical insulating material such as resin for reinforcing the flat conductor C is attached. In the present invention, the reinforcing plate C2 is not essential.

  Further, as seen in FIG. 3, a cutout portion C3 is formed on both side edges of the front end portion of the flat conductor C, and an extraction direction locked portion adjacent to the cutout portion C3 in front of the cutout portion C3. The ear | edge part C4 is protrudingly formed (refer also FIG. 5). The ear portion C4 protrudes in the width direction from the side edge of the other portion in the front-rear direction, and the rear edge of the ear portion C4 engages with a locking recess 19 that is a first locking portion in the extraction direction of the holder 10 described later. It functions as a locked portion that can be locked rearward with respect to the locking protrusion 21A that is the second locking portion in the extraction direction of the surface 19A and the connector 2 described later. The notch portion C3 and the ear portion C4 are formed by punching the front end portion of the flat conductor C to which the reinforcing plate material before the notch portion C3 and the ear portion C4 are formed together with the reinforcing plate material. It is formed.

  The holder 10 is made by molding an electrical insulating material such as resin, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front end portion of the flat conductor C is attached to support the front end portion. . The holder 10 forms an upper plate that covers the upper surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor C, and an upper support portion 11 that can support the upper surface, and both side edges of the lower surface of the front end portion at the rear end position of the holder 10. And a connecting portion 13 that connects the upper support portion 11 and the lower support portion 12 at positions corresponding to both side edges of the front end portion. In the present embodiment, an accommodation space 14 for accommodating the front end portion of the flat conductor C is formed by the upper support portion 11, the lower support portion 12, and the connecting portion 13. The distance between the upper support portion 11 and the lower support portion 12 is slightly larger than the thickness of the flat conductor C. Further, the distance between the inner side surfaces of the two connecting portions 13 at a position behind the locking recess 19 of the connecting portion 13 is the distance between the side edges of the ear portion C4 of the flat conductor C, in other words, Then, the width of the flat conductor C at the position of the ear C4 is slightly smaller (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the front portion of the upper support portion 11 has a short rectangular shape protruding downward at a position corresponding to a terminal 30 of the connector 2 described later in the width direction of the flat conductor C. A column portion 15 is formed. The column portion 15 is a rectangular locking hole as a connection direction locked portion for receiving a locking protrusion 35 described later of the terminal 30 from below when the flat conductor holder 1 and the connector 2 are connected. The portion 15A extends in the vertical direction and is formed through the upper support portion 11 (see also FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in FIG. 2, the engagement protrusion 35 of the terminal 30 is engaged with the lower portion of the rear wall (surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction) of the inner wall surface of the engagement hole 15A. A locked claw portion 15A-1 (see FIG. 4C) for stopping is formed to protrude forward. In the present embodiment, the connection direction locked portion is formed as a locked hole portion 15A that is a hole portion penetrating in the vertical direction. Instead, the upper opening is closed and the lower side is closed. It may be formed as a recess that opens only.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plate-like projecting portion 16 extends forward from the front portion of the upper support portion 11, and the front half portion of the projecting portion 16 is connected to the connector 2. It is formed as an operation portion 16A for applying an upward connection release force when the holder 10 is disconnected in the connected state. In the present embodiment, the operation portion 16A is formed at the front edge position of the holder 10. However, the operation portion 16A is formed at the side edge position of the holder 10 instead of or in addition to the operation portion 16A. It may be.

  Further, a cover portion 17 for covering the connection portion 33A of the terminal 30 of the connector 2 in a connected state with the connector 2 at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the overhang portion 16, that is, a position behind the operation portion 16A. Projecting downward. As is often seen in FIG. 3, the cover portion 17 has a front cover portion 17A extending in the width direction of the flat conductor and side cover portions 17B extending rearward from both ends of the front cover portion 17A. Yes. The front cover portion 17A is bent in a crank shape forward and downward at an intermediate position in the vertical direction, as shown in a cross section perpendicular to the width direction in FIG.

  As is often seen in FIG. 3, the lower support portion 12 is located outside the arrangement range of the circuit portion C <b> 1 in the width direction of the flat conductor C, and one side edge region on the lower surface of the flat conductor C is provided. Supporting the department.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side edge position of the holder 10 in the width direction, in other words, on the outer surface of the connecting portion 13, is engaged upward with respect to a later-described corresponding lock portion 22 </ b> A formed on the connector 2. A locking portion 18 for stopping is formed protruding from the outer surface at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a locking recess 19 for accommodating the ear portion C <b> 4 of the flat conductor C is formed on the inner side surface of the connecting portion 13 so as to be immersed at a position near the front end of the connecting portion 13. Has been. An inner wall surface (a surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction) located rearward among the inner wall surfaces of the locking recess 19 is the above-described ear portion C4 of the flat conductor C when the flat conductor C is pulled rearward. It functions as a locking surface 19A that locks with the rear edge (see also FIG. 5). Further, as seen in FIG. 5, the inner wall surface (the surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction) of the inner wall surface of the locking recess 19 is located at the same position as the rear end surface of the column portion 15 in the front-rear direction. In combination with the rear end surface of the pillar portion 15, the front end surface of the accommodation space for the flat conductor C is defined.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flat conductor-equipped holder 1 moves the front end portion of the flat conductor C from the rear to the accommodating space 14 formed between the upper support portion 11 and the lower support portion 12 of the holder 10. It is assembled by inserting (arrow in FIG. 3). In the process of inserting the flat conductor C into the housing space 14, the flat conductor C is in the ear until the ear C 4 of the flat conductor C reaches the position of the locking recess 19 of the holder 10. The side edge of the part C4 is in contact with the inner side surface of the connecting part 13, and is elastically deformed in the thickness direction (vertical direction). When the ear C4 reaches the position of the locking recess 19, the flat conductor C is released from the elastic deformation, and the ear C4 is accommodated in the locking recess 19, so that the flat conductor The assembly of the attached holder 1 is completed.

  The holder 1 with the flat conductor is positioned so that the rear edge of the ear C4 faces the locking surface 19A of the locking recess 19 (see FIG. 5). Even if an external force is received, the rear edge of the ear C4 is locked with the locking surface 19A, and the flat conductor C does not come out of the holder. Further, since the upper and lower surfaces of the flat conductor C can be supported by the upper support portion 11 and the lower support portion 12, the flat conductor C has the upper support portion 11 in the thickness direction (vertical direction). Further, movement beyond the gap with the lower support portion 12 is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lower support portion 12 supports the lower surface of the side surface region of the lower surface of the flat conductor C, in other words, outside the range of the circuit portion C1 in the width direction of the flat conductor C. Therefore, the circuit portion C1 is exposed even after the flat conductor holder 1 is assembled. Further, the cutout portion C3 of the flat conductor C is located between the locking recess portion 19 and the lower support portion 12 of the holder 10 in the front-rear direction as seen in FIG.

  Next, based on FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the structure of the connector 2 is demonstrated. The connector 2 is a connector that is arranged on a circuit board (not shown) and to which the flat conductor holder 1 is connected from above, and includes a housing 20, a plurality of terminals 30 held by the housing 20, and a fixture 40. And have. The housing 20 is made by molding an electrical insulating material such as resin, and has a bottom wall 21 facing the circuit board and the bottom wall in the terminal arrangement direction (the same direction as the width direction of the flat conductor C). 21 has two side walls 22 that stand upward at both edge positions, and a front wall 23 that stands up at the front edge position of the bottom wall 21 and connects the two side walls 22 to each other. .

  A space surrounded by the bottom wall 21, the side wall 22, and the front wall 23 is formed as a main receiving portion 24 for receiving the flat conductor holder 1 from above. The main receiving portion 24 is located between the side wall 22 and a partition wall 27 adjacent to the side wall 22 among a plurality of partition walls 27 described later arranged in the terminal array direction, and along the inner surface of the side wall 22. Thus, the connecting portion 13 of the holder 10 is received in a side space extending in the front-rear direction. Further, the two side walls 22 extend forward from the front wall 23, and a recess opening forward between the side walls 22 at a position in front of the front wall 23 accommodates an extension 33 of the terminal 30 described later. In addition, it is formed as a sub-accepting portion 25 that receives the cover portion 17 of the holder 10 from above.

  The housing 20 is formed such that a terminal holding portion 26 for holding the terminal 30 extends over the entire front and rear direction of the housing 20. As is often seen in FIG. 2, the terminal holding part 26 is a groove part 26A that sunk on the upper surface of the bottom wall 21 and extends in the front-rear direction, and a slit hole 26B that communicates with the groove part 26A and penetrates the front wall 23 in the front-rear direction. And is formed.

  Further, on the upper surface of the bottom wall 21, a locking projection 21 </ b> A as a second locking portion in the extraction direction is formed to protrude upward at the rear end portion located near both ends in the terminal arrangement direction. . The locking projection 21A is positioned so that it can be locked with the rear edge of the ear C4 in the cutout C3 of the flat conductor C in the connected state of the holder 1 with the flat conductor and the connector 2. It functions as a locking portion for preventing the conductor C from coming out backward (see FIG. 5).

  The side wall 22 is formed with a corresponding lock portion 22A that protrudes upward and inward in the terminal arrangement direction at the upper edge of the rear part of the side wall 22 and has an upward claw shape that can be elastically displaced outward in the terminal arrangement direction. Has been. The corresponding lock portion 22A engages with the lock portion 18 of the holder 10 in a connected state between the flat conductor holder 1 and the connector 2, as will be described later. Further, the side wall 22 is formed with a fixing bracket holding hole 22B for press-fitting and holding a fixing bracket 40, which will be described later, extending in the front-rear direction and opened rearward.

  The front wall 23 is a partition wall that extends rearward from the front wall 23 between the adjacent terminals 30 and between the terminals 30 and the side walls 22 located at both ends of the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. 27 is formed. The space between the partition walls 27 adjacent to each other receives the column portion 15 of the holder 10.

  As is often seen in FIG. 2, the terminal 30 is made by punching while maintaining a flat plate surface of a metal plate, and has a shape extending in the front-rear direction as a whole. The terminal 30 includes a base 31 supported by the groove bottom of the terminal holding portion 26, an elastic arm portion 32 extending rearward from the base 31, and extending forward from the front wall 23 toward the front from the base 31. An extending portion 33, a press-fit portion 34 that protrudes upward from the front half of the base portion 31 and is press-fitted into the slit hole 26B from the front, and a connection direction member that protrudes upward at the rear half portion of the base portion 31. It has the latching protrusion 35 as a stop protrusion part.

  The elastic arm portion 32 extends upward from the groove bottom of the groove portion 26A toward the rear in the groove portion 26A of the terminal holding portion 26, and can be elastically displaced downward. A contact portion 32A protruding upward is formed at the rear end of the elastic arm portion 32, and the contact portion 32A is positioned to protrude from the terminal holding portion 26, that is, from the upper surface of the bottom wall 21. The circuit portion C1 of the flat conductor C is brought into contact with the contact portion from below with a contact pressure.

  The extension portion 33 is formed with a projecting connection portion 33A directed downward in the sub-receiving portion 25 of the housing 20 so that the connection portion 33A is solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board. It has become.

  The locking projection 35 has a front projection 35A and a rear projection 35B that are adjacent in the front-rear direction and project in parallel upward, and the holder 10 is engaged with the holder 10 with the flat conductor. It enters from the lower side with respect to the hole 15A. The rear protrusion 35B can be elastically displaced in the front-rear direction, and the hooked claw portion 15A-1 of the hole 10A to be locked 15A-1 (FIG. 4C) due to the elastic displacement of the rear protrusion 35B. A locking claw portion 35B-1 (see FIG. 4C) that locks with the upper end is formed to protrude rearward at the upper end.

  On the other hand, the front protrusion 35A has a straight shape with no claw portion formed, and the width dimension in the front-rear direction is larger than that of the rear protrusion 35B. When the flat conductor-equipped holder 1 and the connector 2 are connected, when the front protrusion 35A and the rear protrusion 35B enter the locked hole 15A of the holder 10 from below, the front protrusion 35A The function of maintaining the locking state between the locking claw portion 35B-1 of the rear projection 35B and the locked claw portion 15A-1 of the locked hole portion 15A by being positioned in the locking hole portion 15A. Have.

  The terminal 30 is press-fitted into the terminal holding portion 26 of the housing 20 from the front and attached to the housing 20. In the terminal 30 attached to the housing 20, the upper edge of the press-fit portion 34 is supported by the upper inner wall surface of the slit hole 26 </ b> B of the front wall 23, and the lower edge of the base portion 31 is supported by the groove bottom of the terminal holding portion 26. Is done.

  The fixture 40 is made by punching while maintaining a flat plate surface of the metal plate, and has a shape extending in the front-rear direction as a whole. A press-fitting protrusion (not shown) that is press-fitted into the fixing bracket holding hole 22B of the housing 20 is formed at the front end of the fixing bracket 40, and the lower portion of the rear end is shown in FIGS. As can be seen, a fixing portion 41 is formed which extends downward and is fixed to the circuit board with solder. In addition, above the fixing portion 41, a fitting portion for attachment to the fixing bracket holding hole portion 22B is formed as a concave portion that opens forward. The fixing fitting is press-fitted into the fixing fitting holding hole portion 22B from the rear, and the fitting portion is fitted to the rear end of the bottom wall of the fixing fitting holding hole portion 22B, and is attached to the housing 20.

  Next, the connection operation between the flat conductor holder 1 and the connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B show a connection state of the flat conductor holder 1 and the connector 2 of FIG. 1, where FIG. 4A is a perspective view, and FIG. The cross section in the position of the terminal 30 in the width direction of the conductor C is shown, (C) is a partially enlarged view of (B), and the locking protrusion of the terminal of the connector and the locked hole of the holder Shows a locked state. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4A, and shows a cross section at the position of the upper surface of the flat conductor C in the vertical direction as viewed from above.

  First, the connection portion 33A of the terminal 30 of the connector 2 and the fixing portion 41 of the fixing bracket 40 of the connector 2 are soldered to corresponding portions (not shown) of the circuit board, respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the holder 1 with the flat conductor is positioned above the connector 2 so that the lower surface of the flat conductor C faces the terminal 30 of the connector 2.

  Next, by pressing the upper support portion 11 of the holder 10 downward, as shown by an arrow in FIG. Combine. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), the holder 10 is configured such that a portion positioned in front of the lower support portion 12 and rearward of the overhang portion 16 is accommodated in the main receiving portion 24, and the cover 10 The part 17 is accommodated in the sub receiving part 25 of the connector 2.

  In the present embodiment, since the front end portion of the flat conductor C is attached to the holder 10, in the connecting operation between the flat conductor C and the connector 2, as described above, the upper support portion 11 of the holder 10 is moved upward. Will be pressed. Therefore, the upper support portion 11 is in contact with the upper surface of the flat conductor C to support the flat conductor C, and no pressing force acts only on the circuit portion C1 of the flat conductor C. As a result, damage to the circuit portion C1 of the flat conductor C can be prevented without using the thin reinforcing plate C2 of the flat conductor C, or without providing the reinforcing plate itself.

  In the present embodiment, the upper support portion 11, the connecting portion 13 that extends downward from both side edges of the upper support portion 11, and the lower support portion that extends inward in the width direction of the flat conductor C from the lower edge of the connecting portion 13. 12 is integrally formed, and the connecting portion 13 is perpendicular to the upper support portion 11 and the lower support portion 12, so that the rigidity of the holder 10 as a whole is high. The strength is sufficiently secured. Further, in the state where the flat conductor C is attached to the holder 10, when the upper support portion 11 of the holder 10 receives the pressing force, excessive bending deformation downward of the upper support portion 11 is caused by the flat conductor C. Regulated by the top surface of At this time, the upper support portion 11 that has been bent and deformed contacts the upper surface of the flat conductor C with a wide area, and the force that the flat conductor C receives from the upper support portion 11 is distributed and transmitted. Since they are equalized, no local stress is generated on the flat conductor C. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the holder 10 and the circuit portion C1 of the flat conductor C from being damaged.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the main receiving portion 24, the circuit portion C <b> 1 of the flat conductor C in a connected state with the connector 2 connects the contact portion 32 </ b> A of the elastic arm portion 32 of the terminal 30. By pressing from above, the elastic arm portion 32 is elastically displaced downward, and the circuit portion C1 comes into contact with the contact portion 32A with contact pressure and is electrically connected. 4B, the cover portion 17 of the holder 10 couples with the overhang portion 16 to cover the extension portion 33 of the terminal 30 from above. Accordingly, dust and dirt can be prevented from adhering to the connection portion between the connection portion 33A of the terminal 30 and the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board, so that a good connection state between the connection portion 33A and the corresponding circuit portion can be maintained. .

  In the connection process, the lock portion 18 moves downward while expanding the corresponding lock portion 22A outward in the terminal arrangement direction. In the connected state, the lock portion 18 is located below the corresponding lock portion 22A as seen in FIG. 4A, and is engaged above the corresponding lock portion 22A in the extraction direction of the holder 10. Stop. As a result, the connection state having the contact pressure between the circuit portion C1 of the flat conductor C and the contact portion 32A of the terminal 30 of the connector 2 can be favorably maintained. Further, in the present embodiment, since the lock portion 18 is formed in the holder 10, as compared with the conventional case where the lock portion is formed on a reinforcing plate of a flat conductor having a limit in thickness, The lock portion can be made stronger. Therefore, the connection state between the flat conductor C and the connector 2 can be more reliably maintained.

  Further, in the connection process, the front protrusion 35A and the rear protrusion 35B of the locking protrusion 35 of the terminal 30 enter the locked hole 15A of the holder 10 from below. At this time, the rear projection 35B has a locking claw portion 35B-1 (see FIG. 4C) that is in contact with the locked claw portion 15A-1 (see FIG. 4C) of the locked hole portion 15A. By touching, it is elastically displaced forward. When the locking claw portion 35B-1 reaches above the locked claw portion 15A-1, the rear protrusion 35B is released from the elastic displacement state and returns to the rear, and is seen in FIG. In this way, the locking claw portion 35B-1 is positioned so as to be locked above the locking claw portion 15A-1 in the holder extraction direction. Therefore, the flat conductor holder 1 is firmly attached to the connector 2 at the position of the terminal 30 in the terminal arrangement direction, and thus the flat conductor holder 1 can be prevented from being inadvertently detached from the connector 2.

  Further, in the connected state, as shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the locking between the locking surface 19A of the holder 10 and the rear edge of the ear portion C4 of the flat conductor C, the locking protrusion of the housing 20 of the connector 2 When 21A is located in the cutout portion C3 of the flat conductor C and the flat conductor C receives an inadvertent external force backward (downward in FIG. 5), the ear portion C4 of the flat conductor C is provided. The rear edge is locked to the locking protrusion 21A. Therefore, inadvertent disconnection of the flat conductor C from the connector 2 and the holder 10 can be prevented in the above connection state.

  In the present embodiment, the lower support portion of the holder supports the side edge region of the flat conductor, but the region in which the lower support portion supports the flat conductor is not limited to this, and the circuit portion of the flat conductor is not limited thereto. Any area other than the contact area of the connector with the terminal of the connector may be supported. For example, the lower support portion may be formed at a position capable of supporting the front edge portion region of the lower surface of the flat conductor instead of or together with the side edge region of the flat conductor. . Further, the lower support portion may be formed so as to extend over the entire width direction of the flat conductor as in the second embodiment described later, and support the lower surface of the flat conductor over the entire area.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the terminal 30 of the connector 2 does not have a portion to be locked to the flat conductor C. However, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. The first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it has a protrusion 76 that is locked rearward.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the flat conductor holder 3 and the connector 4 according to the present embodiment, and shows a cross section at the position of the terminal 70 in the width direction of the flat conductor C. The configuration of the flat conductor C of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a hole C5 described later is formed. In FIG. 6, about the flat conductor C, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part corresponding to 1st embodiment. Moreover, the structure of the holder of this embodiment is the same as that of 1st embodiment except that the lower support part is extended over the whole region of the holder in the said width direction. In FIG. 6, about the holder, the code | symbol which added "40" to the part corresponding to 1st embodiment is attached | subjected, for example, the holder is set to "holder 50". In FIG. 6, the housing 60, the terminal 70, and the fixing bracket 80 are also denoted by reference numerals obtained by adding “40” to portions corresponding to those in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the flat conductor C of the present embodiment is in a position corresponding to a protrusion 76 of a terminal 70 (described later) of the connector 4 in a connected state with the connector 4. Is formed through the flat conductor C in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the circuit portion C1 (not shown) of the flat conductor C is bent around the hole C5 so as to avoid the hole C5. Therefore, the hole C5 is formed. Even if it is done, there is no influence on the electrical conduction state of the circuit part C1.

  In the present embodiment, the lower support portion 52 of the holder 50 extends across the entire area of the holder 50 in the width direction of the flat conductor C at the rear portion of the holder 50, and connects the lower ends of the two connecting portions 53. doing. The lower support portion 52 is in a position corresponding to a protrusion 76 of a terminal 70 (described later) of the connector 4 in a connected state with the connector 4, in other words, in a position corresponding to a hole C5 of the flat conductor C. A hole 52A penetrating in the vertical direction is formed.

  The connector 4 of the present embodiment is different from the housing 20 and the terminals 30 of the connector 2 of the first embodiment in the shape of the terminal holding portion 66 of the housing 60 and the shape of the rear half of the terminal 70. Note that the fixing bracket 80 has the same configuration as the fixing bracket 40 of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the base portion 71 of the terminal 70 extends across the entire region of the terminal holding portion 66 in the front-rear direction, and the lower edge is supported across the entire groove bottom of the terminal holding portion 66. The elastic arm portion 72 is bent and extended forward from the upper edge at a position near the rear end of the base portion 71, and is a contact portion 72 </ b> A protruding upward at the front end of the elastic arm portion 72. It contacts the circuit portion C1 (not shown) of the flat conductor C with contact pressure. A protruding portion 76 that protrudes upward from the base portion 71 is formed at a position behind the elastic arm portion 72. As shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 76 penetrates the hole 52 </ b> A of the holder 50 from below and into the hole C <b> 5 of the flat conductor C in the connected state of the holder 3 with the flat conductor and the connector 4. It is formed with a vertical dimension sufficient to reach. Further, a claw portion that slightly protrudes rearward is formed on the rear edge of the upper portion of the protrusion 76, and the claw portion is an upper surface of the lower support portion 52 of the holder 50 in the connected state as will be described later. To be locked. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, since the locking projection 75 and the protrusion 76 are positioned so as to sandwich the contact portion 72A in the front-rear direction, the contact of the flat conductor C with the circuit portion C1. The contact state of the portion 72A can be stabilized.

  Further, the rear end portion of the base portion 71 of the terminal 70 is formed as a rear end press-fit portion 77 that is press-fitted and supported from the front into a rear end holding hole 66C formed in the rear end portion of the housing 60 described later. On the upper edge of the rear end press-fitting portion 77, a press-fitting projection for locking at the time of press-fitting into the rear end holding hole 66C is formed to protrude upward. Similar to the first embodiment, the terminal 70 is press-fitted into the terminal holding portion 66 from the front of the housing 60 and attached to the housing 60.

  Thus, the rear end holding hole 66C for press-fitting the rear end press-fitting portion 77 is formed at the rear end portion of the bottom wall 61 of the housing 60 at a position corresponding to the terminal 70 in the terminal arrangement direction. The end portion is formed so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. Further, the bottom wall 61 is in a range corresponding to a portion between the position of the base portion of the elastic arm portion 72 of the terminal 70 and the position of the rear end press-fit portion 77 in the front-rear direction, over the entire region of the terminal arrangement direction. The upper surface of 61 is submerged to form a space, and the lower support portion 52 of the holder 50 is received from above in a connected state of the holder 3 with the flat conductor and the connector 4.

  In the connecting operation between the flat conductor holder 3 and the connector 4, the protrusion 76 of the terminal 70 of the connector 4 enters the hole 52A of the lower support portion 52 of the holder 50 and the hole C5 of the flat conductor C. Except for this point, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 76 penetrates the hole 52A of the holder 50 and enters the hole C5 of the flat conductor C from below, and the claw portion of the protrusion 76 supports the lower support. The upper surface of the portion 52 is engaged with the upper surface in a region near the rear edge of the hole 52A.

  In the present embodiment, when an external force directed backward is inadvertently applied to the flat conductor-equipped holder C in the connected state, the protrusion 76 of the terminal 70 is formed in the hole 52A of the holder 50 and the flat type. The inner wall surface of the hole C5 of the conductor C is locked with the front inner wall surface. Accordingly, inadvertent disconnection of the flat conductor C from the connector 4 and the holder 50 can be prevented in the connected state.

  In the present embodiment, the locking claw portion 75B-1 of the rear projection 75B of the locking projection 75 of the terminal 70 is the locked claw portion of the locked hole portion 55A of the holder 50 on the front side of the connector 4. In addition to being locked upward with respect to 55 </ b> A- 1, the claw portion of the protruding portion 76 of the terminal 70 is locked with the lower support portion 52 of the holder 50 at a position on the rear side of the connector 4. As a result, the locking portion between the terminal 70 and the holder 50 is scattered in a large number so as to be dispersed in a position where the contact portion 72A of the terminal is sandwiched in the front-rear direction. Inadvertent detachment of the flat conductor holder 3 from 4 to the upper side can be prevented more reliably. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 76 is provided with a claw portion to contribute to preventing the flat conductor holder 3 from being pulled upward. However, the flat conductor holder 3 can be removed only by the locking protrusion 75. The claw portion is not essential if it can be sufficiently prevented. When the claw portion is not provided on the protrusion 76, the protrusion 76 contributes only to preventing the flat conductor C from coming out backward. In this embodiment, the terminal 70 is locked to the holder 50 and the flat conductor C by the locking protrusion 75 and the protrusion 76. However, the shape for locking is not limited to this, and the holder 70 If it can be locked to 50 or the flat conductor C, it may be formed as a recess, for example.

  In the present embodiment, the protruding portion of the terminal is locked rearward with respect to the lower support portion and the flat conductor of the holder. Instead, the protruding portion further protrudes from the upper support portion of the holder. Or it is good also as latching back. For example, at the position corresponding to the protrusion of the terminal, a recess is formed on the lower surface of the upper support part of the holder or a hole that penetrates the upper support part in the vertical direction is formed, and the protrusion of the terminal is further extended upward. The recess or the hole can be made to enter. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the flat conductor from coming out of the connector and the holder more reliably.

  In 1st and 2nd embodiment, although the holder showed as a form in which a shield member is not attached, it may replace with this and may attach a metal shield member to a holder. In this case, in the connection state between the holder with the flat conductor and the connector, the shield member can be brought into contact with the fixing bracket of the connector, and the fixing bracket can be connected to the ground circuit portion of the circuit board to achieve grounding. . Further, instead of the shield member, metal plating may be applied to the surface of the holder. Further, the holder may be made of metal instead of an electrical insulator. In this case, it is necessary to avoid inadvertent electrical continuity between the terminal and the holder so that the terminal of the connector and the holder are not brought into contact with each other.

  In the first and second embodiments, all the terminals are made in the same shape, but instead of this, a plurality of types of terminals having different shapes are provided, and depending on the type of the terminal, the terminal is located above the holder. It is good also as forming the latching | locking part latched in in a different position in the front-back direction. By so doing, the engaging portions between the terminals and the holder can be scattered over a wide range, so that inadvertent removal of the holder with the flat conductor from the connector can be prevented more reliably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Holder with flat conductor 30 Terminal 2 Connector 33A Connection part 3 Holder with flat conductor 35 Locking protrusion (connection direction locking part)
4 Connector 50 Holder 10 Holder 51 Upper Support Portion 11 Upper Support Portion 52 Lower Support Portion 13 Connection Portion 53 Connection Portion 12 Lower Support Portion 55A Locked Hole Portion (Connection Direction Locked Portion)
15A Locked hole part (connection direction locked part) 70 Terminal 16A Operation part 75 Locking protrusion (Connection direction lock part)
17 Cover part 76 Projection part 18 Lock part C Flat conductor 19 Engagement recess (extraction direction first engagement part) C1 Circuit part 21A Engagement projection part (extraction direction second engagement part) C4 Ear part (extraction Outward locked part)
22A Corresponding lock part C5 hole

Claims (10)

In the holder for attaching the front end portion of the flat conductor and connecting the circuit portion formed on the lower surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor to the electric connector arranged on the circuit board,
The holder includes an upper support portion capable of supporting the upper surface of the portion corresponding to the circuit portion of the flat conductor over the entire width of the flat conductor, and a lower support portion capable of supporting a partial region of the lower surface of the front end portion, The upper support portion and the lower support portion are connected to each other at a position corresponding to the edge portion of the front end portion, and the lower support portion is formed as one member in the width direction of the flat conductor. The upper support portion and the lower support portion are located outside the range of the circuit portion of the flat conductor, and the upper support portion and the lower support portion are formed with an interval that allows insertion of the front end portion of the flat conductor. The extraction-direction locked portion provided at the front end portion of the flat conductor inserted in the storage space between the two can be locked to the extraction-direction locking portion provided in the storage space. circuit of the mold conductor is exposed outside the region corresponding to the lower support portion said circuit portion to contact with a terminal of the electrical connector Holder characterized in that it allows the connection from above electrical connector as.   In the holder, a lock part for maintaining a connection state with the electrical connector is formed at at least one of the front edge position and the side edge position in the width direction of the flat conductor, and the lock part includes The holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder can be locked upward in a connection release direction of the holder with respect to a corresponding lock portion of the electrical connector in a connected state with the electrical connector.   The connecting portion connects the upper support portion and the lower support portion at a position corresponding to at least both side edges of the front end portion of the flat conductor, and the connecting portion is a direction in which the flat conductor is extracted from the holder. When the flat conductor receives a rearward external force, it has a first pulling direction locking portion that locks with a pulling direction locked portion formed on both side edges of the flat conductor. The holder according to claim 1 or 2.   The upper support portion has a connection-direction locked portion for receiving a connection-direction locking portion formed by protruding a part of the terminal of the electric connector in a connected state between the holder and the electric connector from below. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hole is formed at a position corresponding to the terminal in the width direction as a hole penetrating in the vertical direction or a recess opening on the lower surface side of the upper support portion. Holder described in one.   The holder has an operating portion for applying an upward release force when the holder is in a connected state with the electrical connector, and the operation portion is located at both the front edge position and the side edge position in the width direction of the flat conductor. The holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holder is formed in at least one position.   The holder has a cover portion formed at the front portion of the terminal of the electrical connector that covers the connection portion that is solder-connected to the circuit board from above in a connected state with the electrical connector. The holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   A holder with a flat conductor, wherein a front end portion of the flat conductor is attached to the holder according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   An assembly of a holder with a flat conductor and an electric connector, comprising the holder with a flat conductor according to claim 7 and an electric connector into which the holder is fitted.   The terminal of the electrical connector has a protrusion that protrudes upward, and the flat conductor has a hole that vertically receives a protrusion that receives the protrusion from a position corresponding to the protrusion of the terminal. 9. The assembly of a flat conductor holder and an electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein the holder is an electrical connector.   The flat conductor has pull-out direction locking portions on both side edges, and the electrical connector is connected to the holder with a flat conductor when the flat conductor receives an external force from the rear. 10. A holder with a flat conductor according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a second pulling direction locking portion that locks with the pulling direction locked portion of the flat conductor. Assembly with electrical connector.

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