JP6055939B2 - Receptacle connector and method of manufacturing receptacle connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a receptacle connector that can be attached to and detached from a plug connector, and a method for manufacturing the same.

  Electronic devices and electrical devices such as desktop PCs (personal computers), notebook PCs, smart phones, etc., or tablet PCs generally have a circuit board on which electronic components are mounted and other electronic components. Built in another circuit board.

The connectors of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are connectors for connecting these two circuit boards, and a receptacle connector mounted on a circuit board (rigid board) and a plug connector mounted on another circuit board (rigid board). And.
These receptacle connectors are provided with a receptacle insulator, a plurality of receptacle contacts, and a pair of receptacle-side fixing brackets. The receptacle insulator includes an annular outer peripheral wall and a fitting recess formed inside the outer peripheral wall. The plurality of receptacle contacts are supported by the receptacle insulator in a state where they are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle connector. The pair of receptacle-side fixing brackets are fixed to the receptacle insulator by press-fitting into mounting holes formed in the receptacle insulator. The riser side fixing bracket includes an elastic contact piece that can be elastically deformed. Each receptacle contact can be mounted on a circuit pattern formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board, and the receptacle-side fixing bracket can be mounted on a ground pattern formed on the mounting surface.

  On the other hand, the plug connector includes a plug insulator, a plurality of plug contacts, and a pair of plug-side fixing brackets. The plug insulator includes an annular fitting convex portion that can be fitted into the fitting concave portion. Each plug contact can be mounted on a circuit pattern on the mounting surface of the circuit board, and the plug-side fixture can be mounted on a ground pattern formed on the mounting surface.

  When the plug connector's fitting projection is fitted (connected) to the receptacle connector's fitting recess, each plug contact comes into contact with each receptacle contact, so the electronic components mounted on the circuit board on the receptacle connector side And electronic components mounted on the circuit board on the plug connector side are electrically connected to each other.

  When the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected, the plug-side fixing bracket contacts the elastic contact piece of the receptacle-side fixing bracket, and the receptacle-side fixing bracket and the plug-side fixing bracket are firmly engaged. The fitting state is reliably maintained. Further, when the plug-side fixing bracket comes into contact with the elastic contact piece of the recess-side fixing bracket, the operator can feel a click feeling.

In addition, since the receptacle-side fixing bracket has an elastic contact piece, when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected and then separated from each other, and then the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected again, The plug side fixing metal fittings are firmly engaged with each other.
If the receptacle-side fixture and plug-side fixture do not have elastic contact pieces, the receptacle-side fixture and / or plug-side fixture may be damaged by connecting the receptacle connector and plug connector only once. The possibility of breakage increases. If the receptacle-side fixture and / or the plug-side fixture are damaged or broken, the receptacle-side fixture when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are separated and then separated, and then the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected again. Since the engaging force of the plug-side fixing metal fitting is reduced, there is a possibility that the holding force in the fitting state between the receptacle connector and the plug connector is reduced, or the operator cannot feel a click feeling.

JP 2013-206871 A Japanese Patent No. 5250450

In recent years, as electronic devices and electrical devices have become thinner, connectors have become smaller (especially thinner), so that receptacle insulators and receptacle-side fixtures have also been reduced in size.
Therefore, in the structure in which the receptacle-side fixture is fixed to the receptacle insulator by press-fitting as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the fixing strength of the receptacle-side fixture relative to the receptacle insulator (mounting hole) may be reduced. If the fixing strength is reduced, the peel strength of the receptacle connector to the circuit board, the fitting holding force between the receptacle connector and the plug connector, and the click feeling felt by the operator when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected are reduced. End up.
In addition, since the shape of the receptacle insulator (such as the peripheral portion of the mounting hole) is complicated and a thin portion or the like is generated, the rigidity of the receptacle insulator is likely to decrease. Therefore, there is a possibility that the receptacle insulator may be deformed or damaged when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are fitted. Further, since the shape of the receptacle insulator is complicated, the resin fluidity (moldability) is likely to be lowered, so that the productivity is not good.

  The object of the present invention is to fix the receptacle side fixing bracket to the receptacle insulator even when the connector is miniaturized while the receptacle side fixing bracket and the plug connector can be firmly engaged even when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected multiple times. An object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector and a method of manufacturing the receptacle connector that can increase the fixing strength of the metal fitting.

The receptacle connector of the present invention includes a plug insulator having a fitting projection; a plurality of plug contacts that can be mounted on a plug-side circuit board and supported by the plug insulator; and a plug-side circuit board that can be mounted on the plug-side circuit board. A receptacle connector configured to be able to be fitted to a plug connector having a plug-side fixing bracket supported by the plug insulator, and having an outer peripheral wall that forms a fitting recess into which the fitting projection is fitted. A resin-made receptacle insulator; a plurality of receptacle contacts that can be mounted on a circuit board on the receptacle side and supported by the receptacle insulator, and the plurality of fitting contacts are fitted into the fitting recesses; A plurality of receptacle contacts contacting the plug contacts; and the receptacle side A receptacle-side fixing bracket that can be mounted on a road board and supported by the receptacle insulator, wherein the receptacle-side fixing comes into contact with the plug-side fixing bracket when the fitting convex portion is fitted into the fitting concave portion. The receptacle insulator and the receptacle-side fixture are integrated by insert molding; the receptacle-side fixture is located inside the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator in a free state after the insert molding. have a resilient contact piece extending to spaced inner peripheral side from the peripheral surface, in a cross-sectional view including the resilient contact piece along the fitting direction of the fitting recess for the fitting convex portion, the inner peripheral surface the embedded across the surface and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting direction, wherein it is arranged to the outer peripheral wall so as to sandwich the inner continuous with; and the receptacle-side fixing bracket The elastic contact piece has a locking recess that is locked to a locking projection formed on the plug-side fixing metal fitting of the plug connector when the fitting projection is fitted into the fitting recess. It is characterized by;

  In addition to the elastic contact piece, the receptacle-side fixing bracket may have a mounting fixing portion that extends along the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator.

  The receptacle-side fixing bracket includes an elastically deformed state extending along the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator before and after the insert molding, and an inner periphery from the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator. The receptacle insulator moves between the elastically deformed state of the receptacle-side fixture and the elastically restored state as the free state. A storage groove for allowing movement can be provided.

  The method of manufacturing a receptacle connector according to the present invention includes a plug insulator having a fitting convex portion; a plurality of plug contacts that can be mounted on a plug-side circuit board and supported by the plug insulator; and a plug-side circuit board that can be mounted on the plug-side circuit board. A receptacle connector configured to be fitted to a plug connector having a plug-side fixing bracket supported by the plug insulator; and an outer periphery that forms a fitting recess into which the fitting projection is fitted A resin-made receptacle insulator having a wall; a plurality of receptacle contacts that can be mounted on a receptacle-side circuit board and supported by the receptacle insulator, and when the fitting convex portion is fitted into the fitting concave portion A plurality of receptacle contacts in contact with the plurality of plug contacts; and A receptacle-side fixing bracket that can be mounted on the receptacle-side circuit board and has a fixing portion fixed to the receptacle insulator, the plug-side fixing bracket when the fitting convex portion is fitted into the fitting concave portion A method of manufacturing a receptacle connector, wherein the step of elastically deforming an elastic contact piece of the receptacle-side fixing bracket to the outer peripheral side with a mold; a surface on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall Integrating the fixing part of the receptacle fixing bracket and the receptacle insulator by insert molding while defining the shape of the elastic contact piece; and separating the molding die from the receptacle insulator and the receptacle fixing bracket Then, the elastic contact piece is returned to a free state, whereby the elastic contact piece is moved to the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall. It is characterized by having: a step for separating the inner peripheral side from the surface.

Since the receptacle connector of the present invention integrates the receptacle-side fixing bracket and the receptacle insulator by insert molding, it is possible to increase the fixing strength of the receptacle-side fixing bracket with respect to the receptacle insulator even when the connector is downsized. .
Rigidity in the vicinity of the receptacle-side fixing bracket of the receptacle insulator (receptacle connector) can be increased as compared with the case where a mounting hole for the receptacle-side fixing bracket is formed in the receptacle insulator. Therefore, deformation and breakage of the receptacle insulator during fitting of the receptacle connector and the plug connector can be suppressed.
Further, the receptacle-side fixing bracket includes an elastic contact piece that is spaced from the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator to the inner peripheral side in a free state. Therefore, even when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected and then separated from each other, and then the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected again, even when repeatedly mated and unplugged, the receptacle-side fixing bracket and the plug connector are firmly connected. It is possible to combine them.

In the method of manufacturing the receptacle connector according to the present invention, insert molding is performed in a state in which the elastic contact piece of the receptacle-side fixing metal fitting is elastically deformed to the outer peripheral side by a molding die, so that the shape of the inner peripheral side surface of the outer peripheral wall It can be defined by a piece. Then, the elastic contact piece is separated from the inner peripheral side surface of the (cured) outer peripheral wall by separating the mold from the receptacle insulator and the receptacle-side fixing bracket and returning the elastic contact piece to the free state. It is possible. Therefore, a receptacle connector capable of exhibiting the above effects can be manufactured.
Furthermore, since the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall is defined by the elastic contact piece, there is no need to provide a through hole in the receptacle insulator (the bottom thereof). That is, when the shape of the surface on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall is not defined by the elastic contact piece, insert molding is performed while sandwiching the elastic contact piece between the above-mentioned mold and another mold, and the outer mold is This defines the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the wall. However, in this manufacturing method, when the receptacle insulator is hardened, a through hole is formed in the receptacle insulator (the bottom portion) by the another mold. If a through-hole is formed in the receptacle insulator (the bottom of the receptacle insulator), it becomes difficult to insulate the elastic contact piece of the receptacle fixing bracket from the circuit board (on which the receptacle connector is mounted), or the mechanical strength of the receptacle insulator is reduced. Resulting in. However, according to the method of manufacturing the receptacle connector of the present invention, there is no possibility that these disadvantages occur.

It is the perspective view of the separation state seen from the receptacle connector and plug connector of one embodiment of the present invention from the upper part. It is the perspective view of the separation state seen from the receptacle connector and the lower part of the plug connector. It is the perspective view seen from the receptacle connector and plug connector in a connection state from the upper part. It is the perspective view which turned up and down and showed the plug connector. It is the disassembled perspective view which turned up and down and showed the plug connector. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the upper direction of the receptacle connector. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the downward direction of the receptacle connector. It is a front view of a receptacle connector. It is a center longitudinal section front view of a receptacle connector. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX arrow line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XI-XI arrow line of FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 at the time of insert molding of the receptacle insulator and the receptacle-side fixing bracket, and the latter half of the receptacle connector, the upper die, and the lower die are shown in a clamped state, and the receptacle connector, upper die, And the first half of the lower mold shows a state where the mold is opened. It is sectional drawing which follows the XIII-XIII arrow line of FIG. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 10 of the receptacle connector and plug connector in a connection state. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 of the receptacle connector and the plug connector in a connected state. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 12 of a comparative example. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 13 of a 1st modification. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 13 of a 2nd modification. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 13 of a 3rd modification. It is a side view of the reset side fixing metal fitting of the 4th modification. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 12 of a 5th modification.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, front and rear, left and right, and up and down directions are based on the arrow direction in the figure.
The connector 10 of this embodiment includes a plug connector 15 and a receptacle connector 35.

First, the detailed structure of the plug connector 15 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS.
The plug connector 15 includes a plug insulator 16, a large number of plug contacts 25, and two plug-side fixing brackets 28 as large components. The plug connector 15 is integrated by insert molding using a plug molding die (not shown).
The plug insulator 16 is a plate-like member that extends in the left-right direction and is made of an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The plug insulator 16 includes a ceiling plate portion 17 constituting an upper end portion, and a fitting convex portion 18 formed of an annular wall projecting downward from the entire peripheral portion of the lower surface of the ceiling plate portion 17. A space formed by the ceiling plate portion 17 and the fitting convex portion 18 constitutes an engaging concave portion 19. A plurality of contact mounting grooves 21 having a substantially U-shaped cross-section straddling the front and rear surfaces and the lower surface are arranged in the front wall and the rear wall of the fitting protrusion 18 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, the fitting attachment recessed part 22 is each recessedly provided in the surface of the right-and-left both sides of the fitting convex part 18 (refer FIG. 5).

  Each plug contact 25 is formed by stamping a thin plate of a copper alloy (for example, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, titanium copper, corson copper) having spring elasticity so as to have the illustrated shape, and gold, tin, or the like on the surface. Has been plated. The plug contact 25 has a contact piece 26 extending in the vertical direction constituting an inner portion of the main body portion having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a tail piece 27 extending substantially horizontally from the upper end of the outer portion of the main body portion. . The plug contact 25 is embedded in the contact mounting groove 21 except for the tail piece 27.

Each plug-side fixture 28 is formed by stamping a metal plate into a shape shown in the drawing, and the surface thereof is plated with gold, tin or the like.
The plug-side fixing bracket 28 has a flat plate-like base piece 29 that is orthogonal to the vertical direction, an end fixing piece 30 that protrudes upward from the peripheral edge of the base piece 29, and an upward protrusion from the peripheral edge of the base piece 29. A pair of contact pieces 31A, a tail piece 31B protruding upward from the contact piece 31A, and a locking protrusion 32 protruding from the surface of each contact piece 31A. A connecting portion between the end fixing piece 30 and the base piece 29 is constituted by an R surface 30a, and a connecting portion between the pair of contact pieces 31A and the base piece 29 is constituted by an R surface 31a. Further, since the end fixing piece 30 has a pair of retaining protrusions 30b at the upper end thereof, the end fixing piece 30 can be removed from the plug insulator 16 (downward) even if the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 are repeatedly attached and detached. There is little risk of falling off (in the direction). Further, an R surface 29a is formed on the edge of the base piece 29 opposite to the R surface 30a. The upper end portion of the tail piece 31 </ b> B of each plug-side fixture 28 protrudes slightly above the upper end surface of the ceiling plate portion 17.

  The plug connector 15 having the above structure is mounted on a mounting surface formed on one surface of a circuit board 34 (rigid board. Plug-side circuit board; see FIG. 1). Specifically, the tail piece 27 of each plug contact 25 is soldered to a circuit pattern (not shown) formed on the mounting surface (lower surface) of the circuit board 34, and the tail of each plug-side fixture 28 is mounted. The piece 31B is soldered to a ground pattern (not shown) formed on the mounting surface (so-called straight (ST) connection). On the mounting surface of the circuit board 34, electronic components other than the plug connector 15 (for example, a high function module, a semiconductor, a large capacity memory, etc.) are mounted.

Next, the detailed structure of the receptacle connector 35 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 to 13.
The receptacle connector 35 includes a pair of receptacle side fixing brackets 37, a receptacle insulator 50, and a large number of receptacle contacts 60 as large components.

  The pair of left and right recess-side fixing brackets 37 have a symmetrical shape. Each of the recessed side fixing brackets 37 is formed by press-molding a metal plate, and the surface thereof is plated with gold or tin. The receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 includes a short-side fixing portion (mounting fixing portion, fixing portion) 38 extending in the front-rear direction and a long-side fixing portion (mounting fixing portion, extending in the left-right direction from both ends of the short-side fixing portion 38. Fixing portion) 39, a short side tail piece (mounting fixing portion, fixing portion) 40 and a long side tail piece (mounting and fixing) extending substantially downward from outer peripheral edge portions of the short side fixing portion 38 and the long side fixing portion 39, respectively. Part, fixing part) 41, a fixing protrusion (mounting fixing part, fixing part) 42 and an elastic contact piece 43 extending substantially downward from the inner peripheral edges of the short side fixing part 38 and the long side fixing part 39, respectively. It has. The elastic contact piece 43 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape (see FIG. 13), and a locking recess 44 is provided in the inner surface of the elastic contact piece 43. Further, the end of the fixed protrusion 42 on the short side fixing portion 38 side is constituted by an R surface 42a, and the end of the pair of elastic contact pieces 43 on the long side fixing portion 39 side is constituted by an R surface 43a. is there.

The receptacle insulator 50 is integrated with the pair of receptacle-side fixing brackets 37 by insert molding using a metal upper mold UM (molding mold) and lower mold DM (molding mold) (see FIG. 12).
The lower surface of the upper mold UM is formed by a flat surface, and a pair of front and rear fitting-corresponding recesses UM1 are provided in the vicinity of both left and right ends of the lower surface (further described, an outer peripheral wall 52, an engagement projection 53, and a fitting Concavities and convexities having shapes corresponding to the recesses 54, the contact mounting grooves 56, the deformation allowing grooves 57, and the like are formed. The upper surface of the lower mold DM is constituted by a flat surface, and a pair of front and rear fitting-corresponding recesses DM1 are formed in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the upper surface (further described, a bottom plate portion 51, an outer peripheral wall 52, and a contact mounting groove 56). And irregularities having a shape corresponding to the deformation-permissible groove 57 and the like are formed).
When inserting the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 and the receptacle insulator 50, first, the lower end portion of the long tail piece 41 of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 connected to each carrier (not shown) is fitted into the fitting corresponding recess DM1 (see FIG. 12), the pair of resetting side fixing brackets 37 is placed on the upper surface of the lower mold DM, and then the upper mold UM located above the lower mold DM is lowered to move the upper mold UM. Is brought into contact with the upper surface of the lower mold DM (clamping). Then, each metal fitting corresponding recess UM1 of the upper mold UM is fitted to the corresponding long side fixing portion 39, the long side tail piece 41, and the elastic contact piece 43 of the reset side fixing metal piece 37 in a free state, The elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed toward the opposed long tail piece 41 (see the latter half of the upper mold UM in FIG. 12).
In this state, an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material (a constituent material of the receptacle insulator 50) is injected and injected into a molding space formed between the upper mold UM and the lower mold DM, and the synthetic resin is injected into the molding space. Harden the material. After the synthetic resin material is cured, the lower mold DM and the upper mold UM are opened (refer to the upper half of the upper mold UM and the lower mold DM in FIG. 12), and the riser side fixing bracket 37 is cut from the carrier. (The cutting may be performed after the press-in operation of the receptacle contact 60 to be described later with respect to the receptacle insulator 50), and an integrated body of the pair of receptacle-side fixing brackets 37 and the receptacle insulator 50 appears.

The completed receptacle insulator 50 is a member extending in the left-right direction shown in FIGS. The receptacle insulator 50 includes a bottom plate portion 51 constituting a lower portion, an outer peripheral wall 52 formed of an annular wall having a rectangular shape in plan view protruding upward from the entire peripheral portion of the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 51, and protruding upward from the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 51. Engaging protrusions 53 to be engaged. The outer peripheral wall 52 includes a pair of left and right short components 52a and a pair of front and rear long components 52b that connect both front and rear ends of the left and right short components 52a. A pair of front and rear contact protrusions 52a1 project from the inner surface of the short component 52a. The engaging convex portion 53 that is separated from the outer peripheral wall 52 toward the inner peripheral side extends linearly in the left-right direction, and the upper end portions at both the left and right ends are constituted by R surfaces 53a. Further, the left and right end surfaces of the engaging convex portion 53 are configured by inclined guide surfaces 53b extending toward the short constituent portion 52a facing each other as going downward. A space formed between the outer peripheral wall 52 and the engaging convex portion 53 constitutes an annular fitting concave portion 54.
On the surfaces of the left and right ends of the outer peripheral wall 52, the short side fixing part 38 (fixing part), the long side fixing part 39 (fixing part), the short side tail piece 40 (fixing part) of the recess side fixing bracket 37, A metal fitting fixing groove 55 in which the long side tail piece 41 (fixed portion) and the fixed protruding piece 42 (fixed portion) are embedded is recessed (the short side fixed portion 38 is fixed to the short structure portion 52a, and the long side The fixing part 39 is fixed to the longitudinal component part 52b, and the fixing protrusion 42 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 52). Further, on the inner peripheral surfaces of the left and right end portions of the front and rear longitudinal component 52b, a storage groove 55a having a shape corresponding to the elastic contact piece 43 (rectangular cross section; see FIG. 13) and continuing to the metal fitting fixing groove 55 is recessed. It is. When the lower mold DM and the upper mold UM are closed (before the mold is opened), as shown in the latter half of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the entire elastic contact pieces 43 are located in the storage groove 55a. (The entire surface of the elastic contact piece 43 facing the storage groove 55a is in contact with the inner surface of the storage groove 55a), and the inner surface of each elastic contact piece 43 is smoothly continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 52. However, when the lower mold DM and the upper mold UM are opened, the elastic contact piece 43 of each resetting side fixing bracket 37 is elastically returned to the free state, and the elastic contact piece 43 is smoothly peeled from the inner surface of the storage groove 55a to the inner peripheral side. Therefore, as shown in the first half of FIGS. 11 and 12, a part of each elastic contact piece 43 stays in the storage groove 55a, and the inner surface of each elastic contact piece 43 extends from the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 52 to the inner periphery. It protrudes slightly to the side and is separated. Further, the lower end portions of the short-side tail piece 40 and the long-side tail piece 41 of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 protrude slightly downward from the lower surface of the receptacle insulator 50.
A portion excluding the left and right ends of the longitudinal component 52b before and after the outer peripheral wall 52 is constituted by a front wall 52c and a rear wall 52d. A plurality of contact mounting grooves 56 extending in the vertical direction are formed in the rear surface of the front wall 52c and the front surface of the rear wall 52d in the horizontal direction (the same number as the plug contacts 25). Further, in a portion straddling the bottom surface of the bottom plate portion 51 located immediately before the engaging convex portion 53 and the front surface of the engaging convex portion 53, a deformation allowing groove 57 continuous with the contact mounting groove 56 of the corresponding front wall 52c is recessed. Similarly, a portion straddling the bottom surface of the bottom plate portion 51 located immediately after the engaging convex portion 53 and the rear surface of the engaging convex portion 53 is continuous with the contact mounting groove 56 of the corresponding rear wall 52d. The deformation allowable groove 57 is recessed (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 10).

Each receptacle contact 60 is formed in the same manner as the plug contact 25, and has a substantially horizontal tail piece 61, a fixed piece 62 extending upward from the inner end portion of the tail piece 61, and an upper end portion of the fixed piece 62. And a continuous substantially S-shaped elastic contact piece 63.
Each receptacle contact 60 is inserted into each contact mounting groove 56 and each deformation allowance groove 57 from below the receptacle insulator 50 integrated with the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37, and the fixing piece 62 is press-fitted into the contact mounting groove 56. By fixing (fixing), it is attached to the receptacle insulator 50 integrated with the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37. When the receptacle contact 60 (fixed piece 62) is fixed to the receptacle insulator 50 (contact mounting groove 56), the elastic contact piece 63 is separated from the inner surface of the deformation allowable groove 57, so that the elastic contact piece 63 is elastic in the deformation allowable groove 57. It can be deformed (see FIGS. 10 and 14). Further, the tail piece 61 of each receptacle contact 60 is positioned below the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 51 (see FIGS. 10 and 14).

  The receptacle connector 35 having the above-described structure corresponds to a circuit pattern (not shown) formed on a mounting surface of a circuit board 70 (rigid board; a circuit board on the side of the recess) which is a plate material parallel to (including substantially parallel to) the circuit board 34. And soldering the tail piece 61 of each receptacle contact 60, and the lower end portions of the short side tail piece 40 and the long side tail piece 41 of each of the receptacle side fixing brackets 37 with respect to the ground pattern formed on the mounting surface. It is fixed (mounted) to the circuit board 70 by soldering (see FIG. 1) (so-called straight (ST) connection). Electronic components (for example, CPU, controller, memory, etc.) different from the receptacle connector 35 are mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board 70.

The plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 configured as described above are connected in the following manner.
First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 are opposed to each other in the vertical direction while matching the front and rear positions and the left and right positions. Then, the plug connector 15 is moved downward to fit the fitting convex portion 18 into the fitting concave portion 54, and the engaging concave portion 19 is fitted to the engaging convex portion 53 (see FIGS. 3, 14, and 15). . Then, the contact piece 26 of each plug contact 25 comes into contact with the elastic contact piece 63 while elastically deforming the corresponding elastic contact piece 63 of the receptacle contact 60, so that the circuit board 34 is connected via the plug contact 25 and the receptacle contact 60. And the circuit board 70 can be electrically connected.

Further, the front and rear retaining protrusions 30b of the end fixing pieces 30 of the left and right plug-side fixing brackets 28 are in contact with the front and rear contact protrusions 52a1 of the short component 52a (the fixed contact piece 42 and the plug-side fixing bracket). 28 are spaced apart from each other, and the elastic contact piece 43 corresponding to each contact piece 31A contacts the corresponding elastic contact piece 43 while elastically deforming the corresponding elastic contact piece 43 toward the long tail piece 41 side (outer peripheral side) and The protrusion 32 fits into the corresponding locking recess 44 (see FIG. 15).
Further, the plug-side fixing bracket 28 of the plug connector 15 has an R surface 29a, an R surface 30a, and a pair of R surfaces 31a, while the receptacle connector 35 has an R surface 53a and an inclined guide surface 53b of the engaging convex portion 53, and The Rise side fixing bracket 37 has an R surface 42a and a pair of R surfaces 43a. Therefore, when the plug connector 15 is fitted to the receptacle connector 35, the R surface 29a, the R surface 30a, and the R surface 31a of the plug connector 15 are replaced with the R surface 53a (and the inclined guide surface 53b) and the R surface of the receptacle connector 35. 42a and the R surface 43a are brought into contact with each other, the R surface 29a and the R surface 53a (and the inclined guide surface 53b), the R surface 30a and the R surface 42a, and the R surface 31a and the R surface 43a exhibit a guiding action. To do. Further, the retaining protrusions 30b at the front and rear of the end fixing piece 30 of the plug connector 15 come into contact (sliding contact) with the resin-made contact convex portion 52a1. Therefore, the plug connector 15 can be smoothly fitted and inserted into the receptacle connector 35.

In the receptacle connector 35 of the present embodiment, the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 and the receptacle insulator 50 are integrated by insert molding. Therefore, even when the connector 10 (receptacle connector 35) is reduced in size, the receptacle-side fixing to the receptacle insulator 50 is performed. The fixing strength of the metal fitting 37 can be increased. Therefore, even when the connector 10 (receptacle connector 35) is downsized, the peel strength of the receptacle connector 35 with respect to the circuit board 70, the plug-side fixing bracket 28 (plug contact 25) and the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 (receptacle connector 35). ) Can be increased.
Furthermore, the elastic contact piece 43 of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 is spaced from the surface of the storage groove 55a of the outer peripheral wall 52 (the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 52) to the inner peripheral side in the free state, and its thickness direction It is elastically deformable. Therefore, even when the receptacle connector 35 and the plug connector 15 are connected and separated from each other, and then the receptacle connector 35 and the plug connector 15 are connected again, the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 and the plug-side fixing bracket 28 are firmly engaged. It is possible to make it.

Further, the receptacle connector 35 according to the present embodiment has a longitudinal configuration by performing insert molding in a state in which the elastic contact piece 43 of the receptacle fixing bracket 37 is elastically deformed to the outer peripheral side by the upper die UM (the fitting corresponding recess UM1). The outer peripheral wall 52 is formed while the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the left and right ends of the part 52b is defined by the elastic contact piece 43 (the surface facing the long tail piece 41). Then, after the insert molding, the upper mold UM is pulled out from the receptacle insulator 50 (fitting recess 54) to return the elastic contact piece 43 to a free state, whereby the elastic contact piece 43 is formed in the storage groove 55a of the (cured) outer peripheral wall 52. It is spaced apart from the surface (the surface on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall 52) toward the inner peripheral side.
Since the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the left and right ends of the longitudinal component 52b is thus defined by the elastic contact piece 43 (the surface facing the longitudinal tail piece 41), the receptacle insulator 50 (the bottom plate portion thereof) 51) eliminates the need for through holes. That is, when the shape of the inner peripheral surface (the surface of the storage groove 55a) of the left and right ends of the longitudinal component 52b of the outer peripheral wall 52 is not defined by the elastic contact piece 43, as shown in FIG. It is necessary to use another type of lower mold. A pair of front and rear projections protrude upward on the upper surface of the lower mold, and the pair of projections are brought into contact with the surface facing the longitudinal tail piece 41 of the front and rear elastic contact pieces 43 at the time of insert molding (the projection and The elastic contact piece 43 is sandwiched between the upper mold UM and the front mold UM), and a gap is formed between the long tail piece 41 and the protrusion. If insert molding is performed in this state, the synthetic resin material constituting the receptacle insulator 50 flows between the longitudinal tail piece 41 and the projection, so that the outer peripheral wall is disposed between the longitudinal tail piece 41 and the projection as shown in FIG. Will be formed. However, in this manufacturing method, when the receptacle insulator is hardened, a through hole is formed in the bottom plate portion of the receptacle insulator by the projection of the lower mold (see FIG. 16).
However, if a through hole is formed in the bottom plate portion of the receptacle insulator, it becomes difficult to insulate the elastic contact piece 43 of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 from the circuit board 70. Further, since the outer peripheral wall (the portion facing the elastic contact piece 43) is thinner than the outer peripheral wall 52 (the portion facing the elastic contact piece 43) of the present embodiment, the mechanical strength of the receptacle insulator is reduced, and The support strength of the reset side fixing metal fitting 37 by the outer peripheral wall 52 (part facing the elastic contact piece 43 thereof) is lowered. Further, when the outer peripheral wall (the portion facing the elastic contact piece 43) becomes thin, the fluidity of the synthetic resin material constituting the portion decreases, so that it becomes difficult to form the shape of the portion with high accuracy.
On the other hand, in the manufacturing method of the receptacle connector 35 of this embodiment, there is no possibility that these problems will occur.

Further, since the planar shape of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 of the receptacle connector 35 is substantially U-shaped, compared to a straight shape (for example, a shape having only a portion corresponding to the short-side fixing portion 38 and the short-side tail piece 40). The fixing strength of the recess side fixing bracket 37 with respect to the receptacle insulator 50 is large. Further, the receptacle connector 35 includes an R surface 53a, an inclined guide surface 53b, an R surface 42a, and an R surface 43a. Therefore, even when the connector 10 (receptacle connector 35) is downsized, the possibility that the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 is peeled off from the receptacle insulator 50 is reduced, and the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 are variously (in plan view). It is possible to smoothly fit and insert from an angle.
Furthermore, since the fixing strength of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 with respect to the receptacle insulator 50 is high by insert molding, deformation and breakage of both end portions of the receptacle insulator 50 can be prevented when the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 are fitted.

Further, since the plug-side fixing bracket 28 is provided on the plug connector 15 and this plug-side fixing bracket 28 is brought into contact with the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 of the receptacle connector 35, the plug-side fixing bracket 28 is omitted from the plug connector 15. Compared with the case where the insulator 16 is brought into contact with the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37, the contact with the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 is less likely to damage or deform the plug connector 15 (plug insulator 16).
Furthermore, since the plug-side fixing bracket 28 and the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 are connected to each other, when the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 are connected, static electricity that has flowed into the plug connector 15 from the operator's hand or the like is plugged. In addition, it is possible to intentionally flow to the ground pattern side of the circuit board 70 via the recess-side fixing bracket 37. Therefore, static electricity transmitted to the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 flows into the receptacle contact 60 (and the circuit pattern of the circuit board 70) due to discharge, and the electronic components and the like connected to the circuit board 70 (and the circuit board 34) are electrostatically damaged. The fear is small.
In addition, after connecting the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35, it is possible to pass a current for grounding through the plug-side fixture 28 and the receptacle-side fixture 37. Further, if the plug-side fixture 28 and the receptacle-side fixture 37 are mounted on the circuit patterns of the circuit board 34 and the circuit board 70, the plug-side fixture 28 and the receptacle-side fixture are connected after the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 are connected. A current of about several amperes, such as a power source, can flow through the metal fitting 37.
Further, since the elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed when each contact piece 31A of the plug-side fixture 28 comes into contact with the elastic contact piece 43, even if the plug connector 15 moves slightly in the receptacle connector 35, the contact piece 31A. The contact state of the elastic contact piece 43 is maintained. In addition, the rigidity of the outer peripheral wall 52 is high and the longitudinal side is longer (compared to the case where a mounting hole for press-fitting the receptacle-side fixing fitting is formed in the receptacle insulator or the case where a through hole is formed in the bottom plate portion of the receptacle insulator). Since the rigidity of the tail piece 41 is high, the contact pressure of the elastic contact piece 43 is larger than that in the case where a mounting hole or the like for press-fitting the receptacle-side fixing fitting is formed in the receptacle insulator or a through hole is formed in the bottom plate portion of the receptacle insulator. Can be suppressed.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on said each embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can implement, giving various deformation | transformation.
For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the elastic contact pieces 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ of the riser side fixing brackets 37 ′, 37 ″, 37 ′ ″ may be the shapes shown in FIGS. These elastic contact pieces 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ are formed by opening the lower mold DM and the upper mold UM after the insert molding is completed, so that the fixing brackets 37 ′, 37 ″, 37 ′ ″ elastic contact pieces 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ can be easily elastically restored to a free state (elastic contact pieces 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ are provided in the storage grooves 55a ′, 55a ″, 55a ′ ″). Therefore, even when the viscosity of the synthetic resin material constituting the receptacle insulator 50 is somewhat high, the elastic contact pieces 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ can be easily elastically returned to the free state (the elastic contact pieces 43 ', 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ can be easily peeled from the inner surfaces of the storage grooves 55a ′, 55a ″, 55a ′ ″).
Further, the left and right end surfaces of the elastic contact pieces 43, 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ are roughly formed at the time of press molding of the side fixing brackets 37, 37 ′, 37 ″, 37 ′ ″. Both end surfaces may be smoothed (similar to) by shaving. In this way, when the lower mold DM and the upper mold UM are opened after the insert molding is completed, the elastic contact pieces 43, 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ can be easily elastically returned to the free state. (The elastic contact pieces 43, 43 ′, 43 ″, 43 ′ ″ are easily peeled from the inner surfaces of the storage grooves 55a, 55a ′, 55a ″, 55a ″ ′).

Moreover, you may employ | adopt the relief side fixing metal fitting 37 '' of the shape shown in FIG.
The relief-side fixing bracket 37 '' includes an inclined portion 45 extending obliquely downward from an end opposite to the longitudinal tail piece 41 of the long-side fixing portion 39 in a free state, and a lower end portion of the inclined portion 45 in a free state. And a hanging recess 44 formed on the surface of the hanging portion 46.
Even in the case of adopting the reset side fixing bracket 37 ″, the same function and effect as in the above embodiment can be exhibited.

The molding die of the modification shown in FIG. 21 includes an upper die UM ′ obtained by partially changing the shape of the upper die UM, a pair of front and rear intermediate die MM, and a lower die DM. The upper mold UM ′ is shorter in the portion located on the outer peripheral side of the recess-side fixing bracket 37 than the upper mold UM.
When insert molding of an integrated body of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 and the receptacle insulator 50 using this molding die, the pair of intermediate molds MM arranged on both front and rear sides of the receptacle-side fixing bracket 37 are moved in a direction approaching each other. Thus, the upper and lower intermediate molds MM are sandwiched between the upper mold UM ′ and the lower mold DM while bringing the respective intermediate molds MM into contact with the outer surfaces of the front and rear receptacle fixing brackets 37. When the insert molding is completed, the upper mold UM ′ and the lower mold DM are moved up and down, and the front and rear intermediate molds MM are moved back and forth (separating direction), respectively, to open the mold.
Also by this modification, it is possible to manufacture the same receptacle connector 35 as described above.

Further, the plug-side fixing bracket 28 may be omitted from the plug connector 15.
One of the plug connector 15 and the receptacle connector 35 may be connected to the corresponding circuit board in a so-called right angle (RA) manner.
Further, a circuit board (for example, FPC (flexible printed circuit board)) other than the rigid board may be connected to the plug connector 15 or the receptacle connector 35.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 15 Plug connector 16 Plug insulator 17 Ceiling board part 18 Fitting convex part 19 Engaging concave part 21 Contact mounting groove 22 Metal fitting mounting concave part 25 Plug contact 26 Contact piece 27 Tail piece 28 Plug side fixing metal fitting 29 Base piece 29a R surface 30 End fixing piece 30a R surface 30b Retaining protrusion 31A Contact piece 31B Tail piece 31a R surface 32 Locking protrusion 34 Circuit board (plug side circuit board)
35 Receptacle connector 37 37 '37 "37'" Recess side fixing bracket 38 Short side fixing part (mounting fixing part, fixing part)
39 Long side fixing part (mounting fixing part, fixing part)
40 Short tail piece (mounting fixing part, fixing part)
41 Long tail piece (mounting fixing part, fixing part)
42 Fixed protrusions (mounting fixed part, fixed part)
42a R surface 43 43 ′ 43 ″ 43 ′ ″ Elastic contact piece 43a R surface 44 Locking concave portion 45 Inclined portion 46 Hanging portion 50 Receptacle insulator 51 Bottom plate portion 52 Outer peripheral wall 52a Short component portion 52a1 Contact convex portion 52b Longitudinal configuration Portion 52c front wall 52d rear wall 53 engaging convex portion 53a R surface 53b inclined guide surface 54 fitting concave portion 55 metal fitting fixing groove 55a 55a '55a''55a''' receiving groove 56 contact mounting groove 57 deformation allowable groove 60 receptacle contact 61 Tail piece 62 Fixed piece 63 Elastic contact piece 70 Circuit board (recess side circuit board)
DM Lower mold (molding mold)
DM1 Recesses for metal fittings MM Intermediate mold (molding mold)
UM UM 'Upper mold (molding mold)
UM1 Recess for metal fittings

Claims (4)

A plug insulator having a fitting protrusion; a plurality of plug contacts that can be mounted on a plug-side circuit board and supported by the plug-insulator; and a plug that can be mounted on a plug-side circuit board and supported by the plug insulator A receptacle connector configured to be matable with a plug connector having a side fixing bracket;
A resin-made receptacle insulator having an outer peripheral wall forming a fitting recess into which the fitting projection is fitted;
A plurality of receptacle contacts that can be mounted on the circuit board on the receptacle side and supported by the receptacle insulator, wherein the plurality of plug contacts contact the plurality of plug contacts when the fitting projection is fitted into the fitting recess. A receptacle contact that can be mounted on the receptacle circuit board and supported by the receptacle insulator when the fitting convex portion is fitted in the fitting concave portion. Recessed side fixing bracket that contacts the fixing bracket;
Have
The receptacle insulator and the receptacle-side fixture are integrated by insert molding;
The receptacle-side fixing bracket, have a resilient contact piece extending to spaced inner peripheral side in the free state after the insert molding from the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall of said receptacle insulator, said with respect to the fitting convex portion In a cross-sectional view including the elastic contact piece along the fitting direction of the fitting recess, it is embedded over the surface on the fitting direction side continuous with the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, and sandwiches the outer peripheral wall on the inner side. And the elastic contact piece of the recess-side fixing metal fitting is formed on the plug-side fixing metal fitting of the plug connector when the fitting convex portion is fitted into the fitting concave portion. Having a locking recess to be locked to the protrusion;
Receptacle connector featuring. The receptacle connector according to claim 1.
The receptacle-side fixing bracket is a receptacle connector having a mounting fixing portion extending along the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator, separately from the elastic contact piece. The receptacle connector according to claim 1 or 2,
The receptacle-side fixing bracket includes an elastically deformed state extending along the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator before and after the insert molding, and an inner periphery from the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall of the receptacle insulator. Moving between the elastic return state as the free state extending so as to be separated to the side,
The receptacle insulator has a receiving groove for allowing movement between the elastically deformed state of the receptacle-side fixing bracket and the elastic return state as the free state. A plug insulator having a fitting protrusion; a plurality of plug contacts that can be mounted on a plug-side circuit board and supported by the plug-insulator; and a plug that can be mounted on a plug-side circuit board and supported by the plug insulator A receptacle connector configured to be matable with a plug connector having a side fixing bracket;
A resin-made receptacle insulator having an outer peripheral wall forming a fitting recess into which the fitting projection is fitted;
A plurality of receptacle contacts that can be mounted on the circuit board on the receptacle side and supported by the receptacle insulator, wherein the plurality of plug contacts contact the plurality of plug contacts when the fitting projection is fitted into the fitting recess. A receptacle-side fixing fitting that can be mounted on the receptacle-side circuit board and has a fixing portion fixed to the receptacle insulator, wherein the fitting convex portion is fitted into the fitting concave portion. Recess side fixing metal fitting in contact with the plug side fixing metal fitting;
A method of manufacturing a receptacle connector having:
A step of elastically deforming the elastic contact piece of the recess-side fixing bracket to the outer peripheral side by a molding die;
Integrating the fixing portion of the receptacle fixing metal fitting and the receptacle insulator by insert molding while defining the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall with the elastic contact piece; and the molding die as the receptacle Separating the elastic contact piece from the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall to the inner peripheral side by separating the insulator and the recess-side fixing bracket and returning the elastic contact piece to a free state;
A method of manufacturing a receptacle connector, comprising:

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