JP6407391B2 - Circuit board electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric connector for a circuit board that is arranged on a mounting surface of a circuit board and in which a mating connector is inserted and removed with a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as a connector insertion / removal direction, and in particular, a connector removal from the mating connector The present invention relates to an electrical connector for a circuit board having terminals that can be locked in a direction.

  As this type of circuit board electrical connector, for example, a receptacle connector and a plug connector described in Patent Document 1 are known. In Patent Document 1, a housing having a peripheral wall including a pair of side walls extending in a longitudinal direction of a connector (terminal arrangement direction described later) and a pair of end walls extending in a short direction perpendicular to the connector (connector width direction); A plurality of terminals arranged and held on the side wall of the housing with the longitudinal direction as the terminal arrangement direction. All the terminals of the receptacle connector have the same shape, and all the terminals of the plug connector have the same shape.

JP2008-243703

  In Patent Document 1, the terminal of the receptacle connector and the terminal of the plug connector do not have a function of locking each other.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for a circuit board in which a lock function is obtained by a terminal.

  An electrical connector for a circuit board according to the present invention is an electrical connector for a circuit board that is arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit board and into which the mating connector is inserted and removed with the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as the connector insertion / removal direction. A terminal and a lock fitting arranged in a direction parallel to the mounting surface, and a housing for holding the terminal and the lock fitting, and the lock fitting is connected to the end of the housing in the arrangement direction. It can be locked in the connector extraction direction with respect to the mating connector.

  In such an electrical connector for a circuit board, according to the present invention, the housing includes a bottom wall having a plate surface parallel to the mounting surface, a pair of side walls rising from the bottom wall and extending in the arrangement direction, and the bottom A pair of end walls that stand up from the wall and extend in the connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and connect the side walls at both ends of the pair of side walls, and the lock fitting is bent in the plate thickness direction A metal plate member, a side plate portion positioned along the outer surface of the side wall, a contact plate portion positioned along the inner surface of the side wall and capable of contacting a mating terminal provided in the mating connector; and the contact plate A connecting portion that is positioned along the bottom surface of the bottom wall and connected to the mounting surface, and a plate surface that is parallel to the plate surface of the side plate portion outside the side plate portion in the arrangement direction. A leg positioned along the outer surface of the housing; and the leg A connecting portion that connects the side plate portion to the side plate portion, the side plate portion having a first side locked portion that can be locked to the mating terminal on the outer surface of the side plate portion, and the leg portion, A second side locked portion that can be locked with respect to the mating connector is provided on the outer surface of the leg portion.

  In the present invention, the lock fitting may have a base portion extending in the connector width direction from the leg portion along the top surface of the end wall. Further, at this time, the lock fitting has an end locked portion extending from an end edge of the base portion extending in the connector width direction, and can be locked to the mating connector by the end locked portion. Also good.

  In the electrical connector for circuit boards according to the present invention, the lock function can be obtained by the terminals.

It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, and the plug connector fitted with respect to this from the upper direction, The state before connector fitting is shown. (A) is a cross-sectional perspective view in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the receptacle connector in FIG. 1, (B) is a cross-sectional perspective view in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the plug connector in FIG. Each shows a cross-section at the center position in the arrangement direction, shows a state in which the housing is omitted in the left half, and shows a lock fitting held in the right half at a position below the right half. (A) is the perspective view which turned up and down and showed the plug connector of FIG. 1, (B) is the perspective view which abbreviate | omitted and showed the housing of the plug connector of (A). It is sectional drawing in the surface orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the receptacle connector and plug connector of FIG. 1, and shows the cross section in the position of a signal terminal, (A) is the state before connector fitting, (B) Indicates a connector fitting state. It is sectional drawing in the surface orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the receptacle connector and plug connector of FIG. 1, and shows the cross section in the lock metal fitting position, (A) is a state before connector fitting, (B) Indicates a connector fitting state. It is sectional drawing in the surface at right angles to the connector width direction of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1, and a plug connector, The cross section in the connector width direction center position is shown, (A) is the state before connector fitting, ( B) shows the connector fitting state. It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention, and the plug connector fitted with respect to this from the upper direction, The state before connector fitting is shown. (A) is a cross-sectional perspective view in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the receptacle connector in FIG. 7, (B) is a cross-sectional perspective view in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the plug connector in FIG. Each shows a cross-section at the center position in the arrangement direction, shows a state in which the housing is omitted in the left half, and shows a lock fitting held in the right half at a position below the right half. (A) is the perspective view which turned up and down and showed the plug connector of FIG. 7, (B) is the perspective view which abbreviate | omitted and showed the housing of the plug connector of (A). FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector and the plug connector of FIG. 7 in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction, showing a cross section at the center position in the connector width direction, (A) is a state before connector fitting; B) shows the connector fitting state.

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

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a plug connector as a mating connector fitted to the receptacle connector from above, showing a state before the connector is fitted. The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 in the present embodiment are circuit board electrical connectors arranged on different circuit board (not shown) mounting surfaces, and are perpendicular to the mounting surfaces of the circuit boards. A connector assembly having the insertion / extraction direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) is configured. In this embodiment, the fitting direction of the plug connector 2 with respect to the receptacle connector 1, that is, the direction in which the plug connector 2 is moved downward in FIG. 1 is referred to as “connector fitting direction”, and the opposite direction, that is, in FIG. The upward direction is described as “connector extraction direction”. Further, the fitting direction and the extracting direction of the receptacle connector 1 which is the mating connector with respect to the plug connector 2 are opposite to the “connector fitting direction” and the “connector extracting direction” of the plug connector 2 described above, respectively.

[Configuration of Receptacle Connector 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 is arranged and held in the housing 10 by integral molding, with the housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and the longitudinal direction of the housing 10 parallel to the mounting surface as the arrangement direction. A plurality of receptacle signal terminals 20, a receptacle power supply terminal 30, and a receptacle lock fitting 40. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the receptacle signal terminal 20 and the receptacle power supply terminal 30, these are collectively referred to as “receptacle terminals 20, 30”. As for the “arrangement” in the arrangement direction, the receptacle terminals 20 and 30 and the receptacle lock fitting 40 may be provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction when viewed from the short direction of the housing 10. It is not required until the receptacle terminals 20 and 30 and the receptacle lock fitting 40 are provided at the same position when viewed from the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle signal terminals 20 are provided in two rows symmetrical in the connector width direction in the range closer to the center of the housing 10 in the arrangement direction, and two in each row. Has been. The receptacle power supply terminals 30 are provided at both outer positions with respect to the arrangement range of the receptacle signal terminals 20 in the arrangement direction. The receptacle lock fitting 40 is provided at the end of the housing 10 at both outer positions with respect to the arrangement range of the receptacle terminals 20 and 30 in the arrangement direction. Hereinafter, with respect to the housing 10, a portion outside the arrangement range of the receptacle terminals 20 and 30 in the arrangement direction is referred to as an “end portion”. The receptacle connector 1 is arranged and mounted on a circuit board in the posture shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 is made of an electrical insulating material such as resin, and has a bottom surface parallel to the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) that is a mounting target surface. , The bottom wall 11 extending in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 2B), the protruding wall 12 extending in the arrangement direction and rising upward from the bottom wall 11, and the peripheral wall 13 rising from the bottom wall 11 and surrounding the protruding wall 12 And have. The peripheral wall 13 is connected to two side walls 14 facing each other and extending in the arrangement direction, and ends of the two side walls 14 are connected to each other in a connector width direction (short direction of the housing 10) perpendicular to the arrangement direction. ) And two end walls 15 extending. A square annular space opened upward between the peripheral wall 13 and the projecting wall 12 forms a receiving portion 16 for receiving the fitting portion of the plug connector 2.

  The bottom wall 11 is formed with a bottom recess 11A that is recessed from the bottom surface at the center position in the connector width direction and at the end position in the arrangement direction. The protruding wall 12 has a signal terminal groove 12A at a position corresponding to the receptacle signal terminal 20 in the arrangement direction, and a power terminal groove 12B at a position corresponding to the receptacle power supply terminal 30, and a side surface of the protruding wall 12 (connector width direction). And is formed so as to penetrate in the vertical direction (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). Hereinafter, the signal terminal groove portion 12A and the power terminal groove portion 12B are collectively referred to as “terminal groove portions 12A and 12B” when it is not particularly necessary to distinguish them. The terminal groove portions 12A and 12B accommodate later-described elastic arm portions 22 and 32 formed in the receptacle terminals 20 and 30, respectively. As seen in FIG. 1, the power terminal groove 12B has a groove width dimension (dimension in the arrangement direction) larger than that of the signal terminal groove.

  As seen in FIG. 1, the housing 10 is formed such that the end in the arrangement direction is higher than the portion of the arrangement range of the receptacle terminals 20 and 30. A side guide surface 14A is formed on the upper surface of the inner surface of the side wall 14 (the surface located on the receiving portion 16 side). The side guide surface 14A is inclined downward as it goes inward in the connector width direction. The side guide surface 14A guides the plug connector 2 toward the receiving portion 16 in the connector width direction in the connector fitting process. A side recess 14B is formed in the inner surface of the side wall 14 below the side lock portion 48 of the receptacle lock fitting 40, which will be described later. A side locked portion 73A of the lock fitting 70 is received (see FIG. 4B).

  At the upper part of the inner surface of the end wall 15 (surface located on the receiving portion 16 side), an end guide surface 15A that is inclined downward as it goes inward in the arrangement direction is formed. As seen in FIG. 1, the upper and lower edges of the end guide surface 15A are located at the same height as the upper and lower edges of the side guide surface 14A. The end guide surface 15A guides the plug connector 2 into the receiving portion 16 in the arrangement direction in the connector fitting process. An end recess 15B is formed on the inner surface of the end wall 15 at a position below an end-locked portion 79 of a plug lock fitting 70, which will be described later. An end locked part 79 of the metal fitting 70 is received (see FIG. 6B).

  2A is a cross-sectional perspective view in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the receptacle connector 1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the plug connector 2 in FIG. FIG. 2 (A) and 2 (B) show a cross section at the center position in the arrangement direction, showing a state in which the housing is omitted in the left half, and in the right half below the right half. The lock metal fitting to be held is shown. Further, in the left half of FIGS. 2A and 2B, for convenience of explanation, the distance between the terminals and the distance between the terminal and the lock fitting are shown larger than those in FIG.

  The configuration of the receptacle signal terminal 20, the receptacle power supply terminal 30, and the receptacle lock fitting 40 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2B. The receptacle signal terminal 20 is formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate strip in the plate thickness direction, extending in the connector width direction along the bottom wall 11 of the housing, and a protruding wall of the base portion 21. An elastic arm portion 22 that extends upward from the end portion on the 12 side, and an inverted U-shaped held portion that extends upward at the end portion on the side wall 14 side of the base portion 21 and then is folded downward. 23 and a connection portion 24 extending outward from the lower end of the held portion 23 in the connector width direction.

  The base portion 21 extends over a range including the receiving portion 16 in the connector width direction, and is held on the bottom wall 11 by integral molding (see also FIG. 4A). Further, the upper surface of the base portion 21 is exposed toward the inside of the receiving portion 16. The elastic arm portion 22 is accommodated in the signal terminal groove portion 12A of the protruding wall 12, and can be elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction (connector width direction). The elastic arm portion 22 is formed as a contact protrusion 22A for contacting the plug signal terminal 60 of the plug connector 2 to be described later, with the upper end side portion, which is the free end side, convexly curved toward the side wall 14. . In the free state, the elastic arm portion 22 is positioned in the receiving portion 16 with the curved top portion of the contact protrusion 22A protruding from the signal terminal groove portion 12A of the housing 10 (see FIG. 5A).

  The held portion 23 includes an inner arm portion 23A extending upward along the inner surface of the side wall 14 from the end portion of the base portion 21 on the side wall 14 side, and the inner arm continuously from the upper end of the inner arm portion 23A. It has a transition part 23B folded back downward at a position outside the connector width direction from the part 23A, and an outer arm part 23C extending downward through the transition part 23B. Is retained.

  The inner arm portion 23A is exposed toward the receiving portion 16 and protrudes toward the protruding wall 12 so as to face the contact protruding portion 22A at a position near its upper end. Is formed. The lock protrusion 23A-1 is formed, for example, by press working or the like, and its width dimension (dimension in the arrangement direction) is smaller than the width dimension of the inner arm 23A. The locking protrusion 23A-1 is engaged with a locked stepped portion 61A-1 of the plug signal terminal 60 of the plug connector 2 to be described later, thereby maintaining the connector fitting state and preventing the connector from coming off, It also plays a role of assisting the contact protrusion 22A by contacting and electrically conducting when locked with the locked stepped portion 61A-1.

  The transition portion 23B is convexly curved upward, and the upper surface of the transition portion 23B is exposed from the side wall 14. The outer arm portion 23C is embedded and held in the side wall 14 without being exposed from the side wall 14 (see also FIG. 5A). As is often seen in FIG. 2B, the outer arm portion 23C has a lower width dimension (dimension in the arrangement direction) smaller than the upper area.

  The connecting portion 24 extends straight from the lower end of the outer arm portion 23C outward in the connector width direction at the same height as the base portion 21, and the free end portion extends out of the housing. The connecting portion 24 is soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board.

  In the present embodiment, for the receptacle power supply terminal 30, a part corresponding to each part of the receptacle signal terminal 20 is given a reference sign obtained by adding “10” to the reference sign of the receptacle signal terminal 20. The receptacle power supply terminal 30 has a shape in which the width dimension (dimension in the arrangement direction) of the entire receptacle signal terminal 20 described above is increased. In addition, on the inner arm portion 33A of the receptacle power supply terminal 30, two lock protrusions 33A-1 are arranged in the width direction of the inner arm portion 33A.

  Further, the inner arm portion 33A has a curved portion on the upper end side (a portion positioned above the two lock projections 33A-1) as a corresponding lock portion provided in a plug lock fitting 70 described later. A side lock guide surface 33A-2 for guiding the locked portion 74A to the lock position with the lock projection 33A-1 is formed. The side lock guide surface 33 </ b> A- 2 forms a curved surface together with the upper surface of the side wall 14 of the housing 10. In other words, the side lock guide surface 33 </ b> A- 2 is exposed so as to form the same level surface as the upper surface of the side wall 14.

  As is often seen in FIG. 2B, two receptacle lock fittings 40 are provided at each end of the housing 10 in the arrangement direction. Specifically, the two receptacle lock fittings 40 are adjacent to each other at each end of the housing 10 in a symmetric posture in the connector width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the receptacle lock fitting 40 is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction, and has a base portion 41 extending in the connector width direction, and an inner side of the base portion 41 in the connector width direction. An inner leg 42 extending downward from the end of the base 41, an outer leg 43 extending downward from the outer end of the base 41 in the connector width direction, and a side plate 44 positioned on the inner side in the arrangement direction than the outer leg 43. And a connecting portion 45 that extends in the arrangement direction and connects the lower portions of the outer leg portion 43 and the side plate portion 44, and a fixing that extends outward from the lower edge of the outer leg portion 43, the connecting portion 45, and the side plate portion 44 in the connector width direction. A portion 46, an end lock portion 47 provided at the edge of the base portion 41, and a side lock portion 48 provided at the upper edge of the side plate portion 44.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the end lock portion 47, the side lock portion 48 is also provided, so that the plug connector 2 can be prevented from being tilted in the arrangement direction in the connector fitting state. Can be countered mainly by the end lock portion 47, and can be countered mainly by the side lock portion 48 against the unplugging output in which the plug connector 2 is inclined in the connector width direction. As a result, inadvertent disconnection between the connectors 1 and 2 can be prevented more reliably. In addition, when only the end lock portion 47 can sufficiently counter the inadvertent output of the connectors 1 and 2, it is not essential to provide the side lock portion 48.

  The base 41 is formed of a plate portion parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, and extends from the position of the side wall 14 to the center position of the end wall 15 in the connector width direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the base 41 is embedded in the end wall 15 at a height position near the lower edge of the end guide surface 15A in the vertical direction of the end wall 15 of the housing 10. ing.

  The inner leg portion 42 extends to the same height as the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11, and is embedded and held in the end wall 15 at a portion other than the lower end portion. The lower end portion of the inner leg portion 42 protrudes from the bottom concave portion 11A and is fixed to the corresponding portion of the circuit board by solder connection. Further, the inner leg portion 42 is formed with a step portion 42 </ b> A that is stepped at an intermediate position in the vertical direction on the plate surface on the side away from the outer leg portion 43. When the integral molding with the housing 10 is performed, resin flows into the stepped portion 42A and solidifies, so that the inner leg portion 42 is reliably prevented from coming off from the housing 10.

  The outer leg portion 43 extends to the same height as the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11 at the same position as the outer arm portions 23C and 33C of the receptacle terminals 20 and 30 in the connector width direction. The side plate portion 44 also extends to the same height as the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11 at the same position as the outer arm portions 23C and 33C of the receptacle terminals 20 and 30 in the connector width direction, that is, the same position as the outer leg portion 43. Yes. The connecting portion 45 extends in the arrangement direction and connects the opposing edge portions of the lower portions of the outer leg portion 43 and the side plate portion 44. The outer leg portion 43, the side plate portion 44, and the connecting portion 45 form a plate portion that forms one flat surface parallel to the side surface of the side wall 14, and are embedded and held in the side wall 14 at portions other than the lower end portion. ing.

  The fixing portion 46 is bent at the lower edge of the outer leg portion 43, the side plate portion 44 and the connecting portion 45 in the arrangement direction and extends outward in the connector width direction, and is soldered to the corresponding portion of the circuit board on the lower surface thereof. It is fixed by. Thus, by providing the fixing portion 46 extending outward in the connector width direction, a large mounting area at the fixing portion 46 with respect to the mounting surface of the circuit board can be secured, and the lock fitting 40 can be securely fixed to the circuit board. Can do.

  Further, in this embodiment, the fixing portion 46 extends over the entire range of the outer leg portion 43, the side plate portion 44, and the connecting portion 45 in the arrangement direction, but sufficient fixing strength is ensured. For example, the fixing portion does not necessarily have to be formed in the entire range, and may be formed in a part of the range. At this time, in terms of improving the lock strength at the end lock portion 47, it is preferably formed in a range including the outer leg 43 in the arrangement direction, and the lock strength at the side lock portion 48 is improved. Then, it is preferably formed in a range including the side plate portion 44 in the arrangement direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the fixing portion 46 is formed to extend outward in the connector width direction, but instead, it may be formed to extend inward in the connector width direction.

  In the present embodiment, the fixing portion 46 extending in the connector width direction is provided to extend from the lower end of the outer leg portion 43 of the inner leg portion 42 and the outer leg portion 43, but instead of the outer leg portion 43, or A fixed portion extending from the lower end of the inner leg portion 42 may be formed together with the outer leg portion 43. At this time, the direction in which the fixing portion extends from the lower end of the inner leg portion 42 may be either inward or outward in the connector width direction.

  The end lock portion 47 is provided at an intermediate position in the connector width direction at the inner edge portion located on the receiving portion 16 side of both side edge portions of the base portion 41 extending in the connector width direction. The end lock portion 47 is formed by being bent downward from the inner edge portion, and as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2B, in the vicinity of the lower edge of the end guide surface 15A of the end wall 15. It is exposed from the inner surface of the end wall 15 at the height position and is located in the receiving portion 16. The end lock portion 47 can be engaged with an end locked portion 79 of a later-described plug lock fitting 70 so that the lower surface (fracture surface) of the end lock portion 47 is engaged with the plug connector. It is positioned and locks with the end locked part 79 as the corresponding lock part in the connector extraction direction (see FIG. 6B).

  Further, the end lock portion 47 is formed with an end lock guide surface 47 </ b> A for guiding the end locked portion 79 of the plug lock fitting 70 to the lock position with the end lock portion 47 at the curved portion on the upper end side. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the end lock guide surface 47A protrudes from the end guide surface 15A of the end wall 15 (see also FIG. 6A).

  The side lock portion 48 has the same width dimension as the side plate portion 44 (dimension in the arrangement direction) and is bent so as to be folded downward from the upper edge of the side plate portion 44 at a position inside the connector width direction. Is formed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the side lock portion 48 is exposed from the inner surface of the side wall 14 of the housing 10 and located in the receiving portion 16 at the same height as the end lock portion 47. doing. When the side lock portion 48 is engaged with the plug connector 2, the lower surface (fracture surface) of the side lock portion 48 is locked upward with respect to the side locked portion 73 A of the plug lock fitting 70. It is positioned so that it can be locked with the side locked portion 73A as the corresponding lock portion in the connector pull-out direction (see FIG. 5B).

  Further, the side lock portion 48 is formed with a side lock guide surface 48A for guiding the side locked portion 73A of the plug lock fitting 70 to the lock position with the side lock portion 48 in the curved portion on the upper end side. Has been. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the side lock guide surface 48A protrudes from the side guide surface 14A of the side wall 14 (see also FIG. 5A).

[Configuration of plug connector 2]
Next, the configuration of the plug connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3A and 3B. 3A is a perspective view showing the plug connector 2 of FIG. 1 turned upside down, and FIG. 3B shows the housing 50 of the plug connector 2 of FIG. 3A omitted. It is a perspective view. The plug connector 2 has a frame-shaped fitting portion (see FIG. 3A) that fits the receiving portion 16 of the receptacle connector 1, and when the fitting portion is fitted into the receiving portion 16, Connectors 1 and 2 are fitted and connected. The plug connector 2 is arrayed and held in the housing 50 by integral molding with the housing 50 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and the longitudinal direction of the housing 50 parallel to the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) as an array direction. A plurality of plug signal terminals 60 and a plug lock fitting 70.

  The housing 50 is made of an electrical insulating material such as resin, and as shown in FIG. 1, the housing 50 has a bottom surface parallel to the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) that is a mounting target surface. Is a bottom wall 51 extending in the longitudinal direction, and a peripheral wall 53 as a fitting portion that rises downward (upward in FIG. 3A) from the bottom wall 51. The peripheral wall 53 has two side walls 54 facing each other and extending in the arrangement direction, and ends of the two side walls 54 are connected to each other in the connector width direction (short direction of the housing 50) perpendicular to the arrangement direction. And two end walls 55 extending in the direction. A space surrounded by the peripheral wall 53 and opened downward in FIG. 1 (upward in FIG. 3A) forms a receiving portion 56 (see FIG. 3A) for receiving the protruding wall 12 of the receptacle connector 1. ing.

  As seen in FIG. 1, the bottom wall 51 has a bottom recess 51 </ b> A recessed from the bottom surface at the center position in the connector width direction and at the end position in the arrangement direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a locked recessed portion 55 </ b> A for receiving the end lock portion 47 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 in the connector fitting state is provided on the outer surface of the end wall 55. It is formed so as to be immersed from the outer surface at an upper position of the end locked portion 79 (lower position in FIG. 3A).

  The plug signal terminals 60 are made by bending strip-shaped metal plate strips in the plate thickness direction, and are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing 50 in two rows symmetrical in the connector width direction. 50. The plug signal terminal 60 includes a U-shaped U-shaped portion 61 held by the side wall 54 and two U-shaped portions 61, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 (A) and 3 (B). Out of the two arm portions, one arm portion located on the receiving portion 56 side (an inner arm portion 61C described later) from the upper end in FIG. 2A (lower end in FIG. 3B) outward in the connector width direction And a connection portion 62 that extends toward and is connected to a corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board. As is often seen in FIG. 2, the plug signal terminal 60 is held by a U-shaped portion 61 by integral molding with the housing 50.

  The U-shaped portion 61 is a portion that protrudes between the elastic arm portion 22 and the inner arm portion 23A of the receptacle signal terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector fitting state (see FIG. 4B). It is embedded in the side wall 54 so as to straddle the side wall 54 from below (upper side in FIG. 3A) (see also FIGS. 4A and 4B). As is often seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the U-shaped portion 61 includes an outer arm portion 61A extending downward along the outer surface of the side wall 54, and a connector width from the lower end of the outer arm portion 61A. It has a transition portion 61B that is folded upward at the inner position in the direction, and an inner arm portion 61C that extends upward through the transition portion 61B. The dimension of the U-shaped portion 61 in the connector width direction is slightly larger than the distance between the contact protrusion 22A and the lock protrusion 23A-1 of the receptacle terminal 20.

  The outer arm portion 61A of the U-shaped portion 61 has a plate surface exposed from the outer surface of the side wall 54, and has a stepped shape on the exposed plate surface in the width direction (the arrangement direction) of the outer arm portion 61A. An extended locked step portion 61A-1 is formed, and the locked step portion 61A-1 is engaged with the locking projection 23A-1 of the receptacle signal terminal 20. The transition part 61 </ b> B is convexly curved downward, and the lower surface of the transition part 61 </ b> B is exposed from the side wall 54. A plate surface of the inner arm portion 61C of the U-shaped portion 61 is exposed from the inner surface of the side wall 54 toward the receiving portion 56, and the exposed plate surface is a receptacle signal of the receptacle connector 1 in a connector fitting state. It is formed as a corresponding contact portion that contacts the contact protrusion 22A of the terminal 20 with contact pressure.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the connecting portion 62 extends straight from the upper end of the inner arm portion 61 </ b> C along the bottom surface of the bottom wall 51 outward in the connector width direction, and extends out of the housing 50. It can be soldered to the corresponding circuit part of the circuit board.

  Two plug lock fittings 70 are provided at each end of the housing 10 in the arrangement direction, corresponding to the receptacle lock fitting 40 of the receptacle connector 1. Specifically, the two plug lock fittings 70 are adjacent to each other at each end of the housing 50 in a symmetric posture in the connector width direction. The plug lock fitting 70 has a function as a power supply terminal that comes into contact with and electrically conducts with the receptacle power supply terminal 30 of the receptacle connector 1 in addition to a lock function for locking with the lock fitting 40 of the receptacle connector 1. Yes.

  The plug lock fitting 70 is made by bending a metal plate member in the plate thickness direction, and as shown in FIG. 2A, a base 71 extending in the connector width direction and a connector width direction of the base 71 in the connector width direction. An inner leg portion 72 and an outer leg portion 73 extending upward from both ends of the outer leg portion, a side plate portion 74 positioned on the inner side in the arrangement direction with respect to the outer leg portion 73, and upper portions of the outer leg portion 73 and the side plate portion 74 (see FIG. 3 (A) and (B), the lower portion), a connecting portion 75 that connects the two, a transition portion 76 that is folded upward at the lower end of the side plate portion 74, and a contact that extends upward via the transition portion 76 It has a plate portion 77, a connection portion 78 bent at the upper edge of the contact plate portion 77 and extending in the connector width direction, and an end locked portion 79 provided at the edge portion of the base portion 71. Further, side locked portions 73A and 74A described later are formed on the outer plate surfaces of the outer leg portion 73 and the side plate portion 74, respectively.

  The base portion 71 is formed of a plate portion parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, and extends from the position of the side wall 54 to the center position of the end wall 55 in the connector width direction. 3A, the base 71 is exposed on the upper surface (the lower surface in FIGS. 1 and 2A) of the end wall 55 of the housing 50, and the upper surface of the base 71 is the end wall. Together with the upper surface of 55, one plane is formed. In other words, the upper surface of the base portion 71 is exposed so as to form the same level surface as the upper surface of the end wall 55.

  The inner leg portion 72 extends upward (downward in FIG. 3B) from the inner end of the base portion 71 in the connector width direction to the same height as the bottom surface of the bottom wall 51, and its upper end portion The portion except for is embedded and held in the end wall 55. The upper end portion of the inner leg portion protrudes into the bottom recess 51A as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2A, and is fixed to the corresponding portion of the circuit board by solder connection. . In addition, the inner leg 72 is formed with a stepped portion 72A that is stepped at an intermediate position in the vertical direction on the plate surface on the side away from the outer leg 73 (FIGS. 5A and 5B). )reference). During the integral molding with the housing 50, the resin flows into the stepped portion 72A and solidifies, so that the inner leg portion 72 is reliably prevented from coming off from the housing 50.

  The outer leg portion 73 is located at the same position as the outer arm portion 61A of the plug signal terminal 60 in the connector width direction and is directed upward (downward in FIG. 3B) from the outer end portion of the base portion 71 in the connector width direction. It extends. The outer leg 73 also extends inward in the arrangement direction, and has a stepped side extending over the entire area in the arrangement direction at an intermediate position in the vertical direction on the outer surface (the plate surface on the side away from the inner leg). A locked portion 73A is formed. The side locked portion 73A is positioned below the side lock portion 48 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 in the fitted state with the receptacle connector 1, and locks with the side lock portion 48 as a corresponding lock portion. (See FIG. 5B).

  Further, as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the outer leg 73 has a curved portion on the upper end side (above the side locked portion 73A in FIGS. 3A and 3B). A side lock guide surface 73B for guiding the side lock portion 48 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 to the lock position with the side locked portion 73A is formed in the position). As shown in FIG. 3A, the side lock guide surface 73B is exposed so as to form the same level surface as the upper surface of the side wall 54 of the housing 50.

  The side plate portion 74 extends upward (downward in FIG. 3B) at the same position as the outer arm portion 61A of the plug signal terminal 60 in the connector width direction, that is, at the same position as the outer leg portion 73. . On the outer surface of the side plate portion 74, a stepped side locked portion 74 </ b> A is formed that extends across the entire arrangement direction at the same height as the side locked portion 73 </ b> A of the outer leg portion 73. The side locked portion 74A is positioned below the two lock projections 33A-1 of the receptacle power supply terminal 30 in the fitted state with the receptacle connector 1, and the lock projection 33A- as a corresponding lock portion. It is locked with 1.

  3A and 3B, the side plate portion 74 is positioned above the curved portion on the upper end side (the side locked portion 74A in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The side lock guide surface 74B for guiding the two lock projections 33A-1 of the receptacle power supply terminal 30 to the lock position with the side-locked portion 74A is formed at the portion where the power is supplied. As shown in FIG. 3A, the side lock guide surface 74B is exposed so as to form the same level surface as the upper surface of the side wall 54 of the housing 50.

  The connecting part 75 extends in the arrangement direction and connects the opposing edges of the outer leg 73 and the upper part of the side plate part 74 (lower part in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The outer leg portion 73, the side plate portion 74, and the connecting portion 75 form a plate portion that forms one flat surface parallel to the side surface of the side wall 54, and the plate surface on the outer side in the connector width direction of the plate portion is the plate portion. It is exposed from the side wall 54.

  The transition portion 76 is bent from the lower end (the upper end in FIG. 3A) of the side plate portion 74 so as to be folded upward at the inner position in the connector width direction, and downward (upward in FIG. 3A). The lower surface of the transition part 76 is exposed from the side wall 54 (see FIG. 3A). The contact plate portion 77 extends upward along the inner surface of the side wall 54, and the inner surface of the contact plate portion 77 (the plate surface on the side away from the side plate portion 74) is exposed from the inner surface of the side wall 54. . The inner surface of the contact plate portion 77 is formed as a corresponding contact portion that comes into contact with the contact protrusion 32A of the receptacle power supply terminal 30 of the receptacle connector 1 with contact pressure in the connector fitting state.

  The connecting portion 78 is straight from the upper end (the lower end in FIGS. 3A and 3B) of the contact plate 77 outward in the connector width direction at the same height as the bottom surface of the bottom wall 51 of the housing 50. The free end portion extends out of the housing. The connecting portion 78 is soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board.

  The end-locked portion 79 is provided on an outer edge portion located on a side away from the receiving portion 56 among both side edge portions of the base portion 71 extending in the connector width direction. The end-locked portion 79 is formed to be bent upward (downward in FIGS. 3A and 3B) from the outer edge portion, and is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A and 3B. As can be seen, the outer surface of the end wall 55 of the housing 50 is exposed. When the end locked portion 79 is fitted to the receptacle connector 1, the upper surface (fracture surface) of the end locked portion 79 is positioned below the end lock portion 47 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 described later, and It locks with the end lock portion 47 as a lock portion (see FIG. 6B).

  3 (A) and 3 (B), the end-locked portion 79 locks the end-locking portion 47 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 on the curved portion on the upper end side and the end-locked portion 79. An end lock guide surface 79A for guiding to a position is formed. As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the end lock guide surface 79A protrudes from the upper surface of the end wall 55 (see also FIG. 6A).

  In the present embodiment, the plug lock fitting 70 has a function as a power supply terminal in addition to a function as a lock fitting, but instead of this, for example, the connecting portion 75 is omitted, Another member (a member having the side plate portion 74, the transition portion 76, the contact plate portion 77, and the connection portion 78) having a function as a power supply terminal may be provided.

  Further, the plug lock fitting 70 in the present embodiment is not provided with a fixing portion for soldering to a corresponding portion of the circuit board except for the connection portion 78. For example, such a fixing portion is connected to the inner leg. You may provide so that it may extend in the connector width direction from the edge part (edge part by the side of a circuit board) of at least one leg part of the part 72 and the outer side leg part 73. FIG. At this time, the direction in which the fixing portion extends may be either inward or outward in the connector width direction.

[Connector mating operation]
Next, the fitting operation of the connectors 1 and 2 will be described based on FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view at the position of the receptacle signal terminal, and FIG. 5 is a diagram of the receptacle lock fitting. A cross-section at the position is shown. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction, and shows a cross section at the center position in the connector width direction. 4 (A), 5 (A), and 6 (A) show the state before connector fitting, and FIGS. 4 (B), 5 (B), and 6 (B) show the connector. The fitting state is shown.

  First, the connection portions 24 and 34 of the receptacle terminals 20 and 30 of the receptacle connector 1 are soldered to the corresponding circuit portions of the circuit board, and the lower end portion and the fixing portion 46 of the inner leg portion 42 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 are connected to the circuit board. The receptacle connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board by soldering to the corresponding part. Further, the connecting portion 62 of the plug signal terminal 60 and the connecting portion 78 of the plug lock fitting 70 of the plug connector 2 are soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of another circuit board, and the inner leg 72 of the plug lock fitting 70 is shown in FIG. The upper end (the lower end in FIGS. 3A and 3B) is solder-connected to the corresponding portion of the other circuit board, and the plug connector 2 is mounted on the other circuit board.

  Next, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4A, 5A, and 6A, the receptacle connector 1 is in a posture in which the receiving portion 16 is opened upward, and the plug connector 2 is The receiving portion 56 is brought to an upper position of the receptacle connector 1 as a posture in which the receiving portion 56 is opened downward. Then, as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 1, 4A, 5A, and 6A, the plug connector 2 is moved downward, and the fitting portion of the plug connector 2 is moved to the receptacle. The connector 1 is inserted into the receiving portion 16.

  At this time, the end lock guide surface 47A and the side lock guide surface 48A of the receptacle lock fitting 40 respectively connect the end locked portion 79 and the side locked portion 73A of the plug lock fitting 70 to the end lock portion 47 and the side lock. Guide to the locking position with the part 48. Further, the side lock guide surface 33A-2 of the receptacle power supply terminal 30 guides the side locked portion 74A of the plug lock fitting 70 to the lock position with the lock projection 33A-1.

  On the other hand, the end lock guide surface 79A and the side lock guide surface 73B of the plug lock fitting 70 respectively connect the end lock portion 47 and the side lock portion 48 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 to the end lock portion 79 and the side lock portion. Guide to the locking position with 73A. The side lock guide surface 74B of the plug lock fitting 70 guides the lock projection 33A-1 of the receptacle power terminal 30 to the lock position with the side locked portion 74A.

  In this embodiment, each lock guide surface 47A, 48A, 33A-2, 79A, 73B, 74B protrudes from the surface of the housing 10, 50, or is exposed so as to form the same level surface as the surface. Yes. Accordingly, the corresponding lock portion of the mating connector is slidably contacted with the lock guide surface formed on the lock fittings 40 and 70 having higher strength than the housings 10 and 50 and guided to the lock position. Will be. Thus, according to this embodiment, since the corresponding lock portion does not slide on the housings 10 and 50, damage to the housings 10 and 50 can be avoided.

  When the fitting portion of the plug connector 2 is fitted into the receiving portion 16 of the receptacle connector 1, the U-shaped portion 61 of the plug signal terminal 60 of the plug connector 2 is brought into contact with the contact projection 22 A of the receptacle signal terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1. And it rushes between the lock protrusions 23A-1 and enters. Then, the elastic arm portion 22 is elastically displaced inward in the connector width direction. Further, when the entry of the U-shaped portion 61 proceeds, as shown in FIG. 4B, the contact protruding portion 22A becomes the inner arm portion 61C (corresponding contact portion) of the U-shaped portion 61 in the connector fitting state. ) With contact pressure, and the locking projection 23A-1 is locked with the locked stepped portion 61A-1 of the outer arm portion 61A in the connector extraction direction. As a result, the signal terminals 20 and 60 of the connectors 1 and 2 are electrically connected to each other and locked to each other.

  Although not shown, the contact and locking between the receptacle power supply terminal 30 of the receptacle connector 1 and the portion having the function of the power supply terminal in the plug lock fitting 70 of the plug connector 2 are the same as described above for the signal terminals 20 and 60. This is done in the same way. As a result, the contact protrusion 32A of the receptacle power supply terminal 30 comes into contact with the contact plate 77 (corresponding contact part) of the plug lock fitting 70 with contact pressure and the lock protrusion of the receptacle power supply terminal 30 in the connector fitting state. 33A-1 is engaged with the side locked portion 74A of the side plate portion 74 of the plug lock fitting 70 in the connector pulling direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), in the connector fitting state, the side lock portion 48 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 is locked above the side lock portion 73A of the plug lock fitting 70. It is positioned so that it can be locked in the connector extraction direction with respect to the portion 73A. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the connector fitting state, the end lock portion 47 of the receptacle lock fitting 40 is connected to the end lock portion 79 above the end lock portion 79 of the plug lock fitting 70. On the other hand, it is positioned so that it can be locked in the connector pull-out direction. As a result, the receptacle lock fitting 40 and the plug lock fitting 70 are locked to each other. In this way, the fitting and connecting operation between the connectors 1 and 2 is completed.

  In the present embodiment, two lock fittings 40 adjacent to each other in the connector width direction are held at each end of the housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1 in the arrangement direction, and the housing 50 of the plug connector 2 is also provided. At each end in the arrangement direction, two lock fittings 70 adjacent to each other in the connector width direction are held. Accordingly, the size of each of the lock fittings 40 and 70 in the connector width direction is smaller than that in the case where one lock fitting is provided over the entire connector width direction of the housing 10 and 50. That is, the base portions 41 and 71 of the lock fittings 40 and 70 are shortened in the connector width direction, which means that the arm length at the time of bending deformation in the base portions 41 and 71 is short. Therefore, even if the end lock portions 47 and the end locked portions 79 of the lock fittings 40 and 70 are locked to each other and an external force directed to the connector extraction direction is applied to the base portions 41 and 71, the base portions 41 and 71 are affected. Is difficult to bend and deform in the thickness direction. Further, as described above, if the arm lengths of the base portions 41 and 71 when the base portions 41 and 71 are bent and deformed are short, the stress generated in the fixed leg portions 42, 43, 72 and 73 is reduced. As a result, the locked state (locked state) between the end lock portions 47 and the end locked portions 79, the side lock portions 48, and the side locked portions 73A can be reliably maintained.

  Further, the respective leg portions 42, 43, 72, 73 of the lock fittings 40, 70 are provided extending from both end portions in the connector width direction of the base portions 41, 71 toward the circuit board side, as in the conventional case. The fixed part is not located outside the base part in the arrangement direction. Therefore, the lock metal fittings 40 and 70 and the connectors 1 and 2 are not increased in size in the arrangement direction.

  In the present embodiment, the leg portions 42, 43, 72, 73 of the lock fittings 40, 70 are fixed to the housings 10, 50 by integral molding, and the inner leg portions 42, 72 are further fixed to the circuit board. However, the form of fixing the leg portions 42, 43, 72, 73 is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the legs 42, 43, 72, 73 are fixed to at least one of the housing and the circuit board.

  In this embodiment, the lock fittings 40 and 70 are held in the housings 10 and 50 by integral molding. Instead, for example, a holding groove is provided in the housing and the lock fitting is press-fitted into the holding groove. It is good also as holding this lock metal fitting. At this time, each leg portion of the lock fitting is fixed to at least one of the housing and the circuit board.

  In the present embodiment, the lock fittings 40 and 70 have the side lock portion 48 and the side locked portion 73A in addition to the end lock portion 47 and the end locked portion 79, respectively. Instead of this, only the end lock portion may be provided. Moreover, when providing only an end lock part in a lock metal fitting, the member which has a side lock part can also be provided as another member different from the said lock metal fitting.

  In this embodiment, the lock guide surfaces 47A, 48A, and 73B protrude from the surface of the housing 10 or the housing 50, but instead, they may be exposed so as to form the same level surface as the surface. In the present embodiment, the lock guide surfaces 33A-2, 79A, and 74B are exposed so as to form the same level surface as the surfaces of the housings 10 and 50. Instead, they protrude from the surfaces. May be.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the end lock portions 47 and the end locked portions 79 of the lock fittings 40 and 70 are provided at the edges of the base portions 41 and 71, but in the second embodiment, A leg portion extends from the edge portion, and an end lock portion is provided on the leg portion, which is different from the first embodiment. In 2nd embodiment, the code | symbol which added "100" to the code | symbol in 1st embodiment is attached | subjected to the part corresponding to 1st embodiment. Hereinafter, the shape of the lock fitting that is different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector 101 according to the second embodiment and the plug connector 102 fitted to the receptacle connector 101 from above, and shows a state before the connector is fitted. 8A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the receptacle connector 101 of FIG. 7 in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction, and FIG. 8B is a diagram of the plug connector 102 of FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view in a perpendicular | vertical surface. FIGS. 8A and 8B each show a cross-section at the center position in the arrangement direction, showing a state in which the housings 110 and 150 are omitted in the left half, and the right half is positioned below the right half. Lock metal fittings 140 and 170 held by the halves are shown. 9A is a perspective view showing the plug connector 102 of FIG. 7 turned upside down, and FIG. 9B shows the plug connector 102 of FIG. 9A with the housing 150 omitted. It is a perspective view.

  As is often seen in FIG. 8B, the receptacle lock fitting 140 provided in the receptacle connector 101 omits the inner leg portion 42 from the receptacle lock fitting 40 of the first embodiment, and the lock leg portion 140A described later. And the shape which provided the fixing | fixed part 140B is comprised.

  The base portion 141 is formed of a plate portion parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, and extends in the connector width direction. 7 and 8B, the base 141 is exposed on the upper surface of the end wall 115 of the housing 110, and the upper surface of the base 141 forms the same level surface as the upper surface of the end wall 115. To be exposed.

  As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8B, the lock leg 140A extends downward from the inner edge of the base 141 (the edge located on the receiving part 116 side in the arrangement direction). The lock leg portion 140A is exposed on the inner end wall surface (the wall surface on the receiving portion 116 side) of the end wall 115 of the housing 110, and the plate surface of the lock leg portion 140A forms the same level surface as the inner end wall surface. doing. A protruding end lock portion 147 that protrudes inward in the arrangement direction, that is, toward the receiving portion 116 is formed on the upper plate surface of the lock leg portion 140A. The end lock portion 147 is formed, for example, by pressing or the like, and its width dimension (dimension in the connector width direction) is smaller than the width dimension of the lock leg 140A.

  Further, the lock leg portion 140A locks the end locked portion 179 of the plug connector 102 to the curved portion on the upper end side (the portion positioned above the end lock portion 147 in FIGS. 7 and 8B). An end lock guide surface 140 </ b> A- 1 is formed for guiding to a lock position with the portion 147.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the fixing portion 140B is bent at the lower edge of the lock leg 140A and extends outward in the arrangement direction, and is soldered to the corresponding portion of the circuit board on the lower surface thereof. It is fixed by. Thus, by providing the fixing portion 140B so as to extend from the lower edge of the lock leg portion 140A in which the end lock portion 147 is formed, the lock strength of the end lock portion 147 with respect to the end locked portion 179 of the plug lock fitting 170 Can be improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the distal end of the fixing portion 140B is located inside the outer edge portion of the base portion 141 in the arrangement direction. That is, the fixing portion 140B does not extend to the outside of the base portion 141 in the arrangement direction, thereby avoiding an increase in size of the receptacle lock fitting 140 and the receptacle connector 101 in the arrangement direction.

  As is often seen in FIGS. 8A, 9A, and 9B, the plug lock fitting 170 provided on the plug connector 102 is connected to the plug lock fitting 70 of the first embodiment, which will be described later. The shape is such that the portion 170A is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the lock leg 170A is formed from the outer edge of the base 171 (the side edge located on the side away from the receiving portion 156 in the arrangement direction) from below (FIG. 7). And extends upward in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The lock leg 170A is exposed on the outer end wall surface (the wall surface opposite to the receiving portion 156) of the end wall 155 of the housing 150, and the plate surface of the lock leg portion 170A is included in the outer end wall surface. The same level surface as the surface of the region adjacent to the lock leg 170A is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a protruding end-locked portion 179 that protrudes outward in the arrangement direction is formed on the upper plate surface of the lock leg 170A. . The end locked portion 179 is formed by, for example, pressing or the like, and its width dimension (dimension in the connector width direction) is smaller than the width dimension of the lock leg 170A.

  Further, the lock leg 170A guides the end lock portion 147 of the receptacle connector 101 to the lock position with the end locked portion 179 in the curved portion on the upper end side (the portion positioned above the end locked portion 179). An end lock guide surface 170A-1 is formed.

  Further, as seen in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the lower end of the lock leg 170A is formed with a protrusion 170B that protrudes from the side edges (edges extending in the vertical direction) on both sides. . As shown in FIG. 9A, the protrusion 170B is locked to the side edge portion of the locked recess 155A of the end wall 155 so as to be prevented from moving upward (downward in FIG. 7). ing. By providing the protrusion 170B, the lock strength of the end locked portion 179 with respect to the end lock portion 147 of the receptacle lock fitting 140 can be improved.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 101 and the plug connector 102 in FIG. 7 taken along a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction, showing a cross section at the center position in the connector width direction. The state before joining, (B) shows the connector fitting state. The connector fitting operation in this embodiment is the same as described in the first embodiment, and the fitting portion of the plug connector 102 (the peripheral wall 153 (see FIG. 7)) to the receiving portion 116 of the receptacle connector 101. Is carried out by inserting (arrow in FIG. 10A). As shown in FIG. 10B, in the connector fitting state, the end lock portion 147 of the receptacle lock fitting 140 is connected to the end lock portion 179 above the end lock portion 179 of the plug lock fitting 170. It is positioned so that it can be locked in the pull-out direction. As a result, the receptacle lock fitting 140 and the plug lock fitting 170 are locked to each other.

  In this embodiment, the end lock portion 147 is formed to protrude from the plate surface of the lock leg portion 140A, and the end lock portion 179 is formed to protrude from the plate surface of the lock leg portion 170A. The locking surface where the portion 179 locks with each other is a smooth surface. Therefore, compared with the case where the locking surfaces formed by the fractured surfaces (plate thickness surfaces) are locked like the end lock portion 47 and the end locked portion 79 of the first embodiment, the unlocking operation is smoothly performed. It can be carried out.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the lock guide surfaces 140A-1 and 170A-1 are exposed by forming the same level surface as the surface of the housing 110 or the housing 150. Therefore, in the connector fitting process, the end lock portion 147 of the receptacle lock fitting 140 is guided to the lock position while being in sliding contact with the end lock guide surface 170A-1 of the plug lock fitting 170, and the end cover of the plug lock fitting 170 is covered. The lock portion 179 is guided to the lock position while being in sliding contact with the end lock guide surface 140A-1 of the receptacle lock fitting 140. As a result, the end lock portion 147 does not slidably contact the housing 150 of the plug connector 102 and the end locked portion 149 does not slidably contact the housing 110 of the receptacle connector 101, so that damage to the housings 150 and 110 can be avoided. Further, the lock guide surfaces 140A-1 and 170A-1 may protrude from the surface of the housing 110 or the housing 150.

1,101 Receptacle connector 70,170 Plug lock bracket 2,102 Plug connector 71,171 Base 10,110 Housing 72,172 Inner leg 20,120 Receptacle signal terminal 73,173 Outer leg 30,130 Receptacle power terminal 73A, 173A Side locked portion 40, 140 Receptacle lock fitting 73B, 173B Side lock guide surface 41, 141 Base 74, 174 Side plate portion 42 Inner leg 74A, 174A Side locked portion 43, 143 Outer leg 74B, 174B Side lock guide surface 46,146 Fixed portion 79,179 End locked portion 47,147 End lock portion 79A End lock guide surface 47A End lock guide surface 140A Lock leg portion 48,148 Side lock portion 140A-1 End lock guide Surface 48A, 14 8A Side lock guide surface 140B Fixed portion 44, 144 Side plate portion 170A Lock leg portion 50, 150 Housing 170A-1 End lock guide surface 60, 160 Plug signal terminal

Claims (3)

An electrical connector for a circuit board that is arranged on a mounting surface of a circuit board and into which a mating connector is inserted and removed with a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as a connector insertion / extraction direction,
Terminals and lock fittings arranged with one direction parallel to the mounting surface as an arrangement direction;
A housing for arranging and holding the terminal and the lock fitting,
In the circuit board electrical connector, the lock fitting is held at the end of the housing in the arrangement direction and can be locked in the connector extraction direction with respect to the mating connector.
The housing includes a bottom wall having a plate surface parallel to the mounting surface, a pair of side walls standing up from the bottom wall and extending in the arrangement direction, and standing up from the bottom wall and perpendicular to the arrangement direction. A pair of end walls extending in the connector width direction and connecting the side walls at both ends of the pair of side walls;
The lock metal fitting is a metal plate member bent in the plate thickness direction, a side plate portion located along the outer surface of the side wall, and a mating terminal provided on the mating connector located along the inner surface of the side wall. A contact plate portion that can contact the contact plate portion, a connection portion that is located along the bottom surface of the bottom wall from the contact plate portion and is connected to the mounting surface, and an outer side of the side plate portion in the arrangement direction of the side plate portion. A leg portion having a plate surface parallel to the plate surface and positioned along the outer surface of the housing; and a connecting portion for connecting the leg portion to the side plate portion,
The side plate portion has a first side locked portion that can be locked to the mating terminal on the outer surface of the side plate portion,
The circuit board electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the leg portion has a second side locked portion lockable to the mating connector on an outer surface of the leg portion.   The circuit board electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the lock fitting has a base portion extending in the connector width direction from the leg portion along the top surface of the end wall.   The lock metal fitting has an end-locked portion extending from an end edge of the base portion extending in the connector width direction, and can be locked to the mating connector by the end-locked portion. The electrical connector for circuit boards according to 2.

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