JP6816560B2 - Mutual engagement connector device - Google Patents

Description

In the invention described in the claims of the present application, a cable or a wiring board (including a flexible printed wiring board (FPC)) is connected to a first connector mounted on a circuit board (including a wiring board). A circuit board to which the first connector is mounted on a cable or wiring board connected to the second connector by engaging the first connector and the second connector with each other, including the second connector. The present invention relates to an interconnected connector device that electrically connects to.

When connecting a plurality of relatively thin cables or a relatively small flexible printed wiring board to a circuit board to which various electric components are attached, the circuit board is electrically connected and fixed, for example, a receptacle. A first connector as a connector and a second connector as a plug connector, for example, a plurality of cables or a flexible printed wiring board are connected and engaged with the first connector are used. Often. In the first connector, for example, a plurality of fitting recesses are provided, and a plurality of fitting recesses are arranged in an array so that one end of each is a terminal portion and connected to a circuit board. A contact connection portion of the first conductive contact is arranged. Further, in the second connector, for example, a fitting convex portion is provided, and a plurality of cables or a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards are electrically connected to the fitting convex portion and arranged in an array. A contact connection portion of the second conductive contact is arranged. Then, the fitting convex portion in the second connector is inserted into the fitting concave portion in the first connector, and when the fitting convex portion is inserted into the fitting concave portion, the fitting convex portion is inserted into the fitting convex portion. The contact connection portions of the plurality of second conductive contacts arranged are placed in a state of being in press contact with the contact connection portions of the plurality of first conductive contacts arranged in the fitting recess.

The fitting recess in the first connector is made of an insulating material and is formed as part of a housing that supports a plurality of first conductive contacts, and the fitting protrusion in the second connector is made of an insulating material. It is configured and formed as part of a housing that supports a plurality of second conductive contacts. Then, when the fitting protrusion in the second connector to which the plurality of cables or the flexible printed wiring board is connected is inserted into the fitting recess in the first connector fixed to the circuit board, the second The housing of the connector is engaged with the housing of the first connector, and the first connector and the second connector are engaged with each other, so that the plurality of first conductive contacts and the plurality of second conductive contacts are engaged with each other. Is placed in a mutual contact connection state. As a result, a plurality of cables or flexible printed wiring boards connected to the second connector are electrically connected to the circuit board to which the first connector is fixed.

In this way, a plurality of cables or a flexible printed wiring board are connected so as to electrically connect the plurality of cables or the flexible printed wiring board connected to the second connector to the circuit board to which the first connector is fixed. When the housing of the second connector is engaged with the housing of the first connector fixed to the circuit board and the first connector and the second connector are placed in an mutually engaged state, the first connector is used. It is required that the housing of the second connector maintains a stable engagement with the housing of the first connector. Therefore, conventionally, it is configured to include the first and second connectors, and when the first connector and the second connector are engaged with each other, the housing of the second connector is first. An inter-engagement connector device including locking means for mechanically locking the connector housing has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).

The interengagement connector device shown in Patent Document 1 includes a first connector (mating connector (60)) having a housing (62) fixed to a circuit board, and a receiving connector formed in the housing of the first connector. A second having a housing (11) and a lock lever (13) forming a pair of elastic portions provided on the opposite end edges of the main body (12) and the main body (12) to be fitted in the recess. Connector (connector (10)) and is configured to include. A cable such as a flat cable (F) including a plurality of cables is connected to the second connector. Under such circumstances, a pair of corresponding lock portions are provided in the receiving recesses in the housing of the first connector, and each of the pair of lock levers in the housing of the second connector serves as a push button portion. A formed pressure-applied portion (13D) and a lock claw (13C-1) as a lock portion are provided.

Then, when the main body portion of the housing of the second connector is fitted into the receiving recess formed in the housing of the first connector, the lock claws provided on each of the pair of lock levers in the housing of the second connector. Engages with the corresponding of a pair of corresponding locking portions provided in the receiving recess in the housing of the first connector. As a result, the housing of the second connector is mechanically locked with respect to the housing of the first connector, and the housing of the second connector maintains a stable engagement with the housing of the first connector. It is supposed to be.

After that, when releasing the housing of the second connector from the engaged state with the housing of the first connector, a pair of pressure-bearing portions provided on the pair of lock levers in the housing of the second connector are simultaneously pressed. Pressing towards the housing of the second connector causes each of the pair of lock levers to undergo an elastic displacement close to the housing of the second connector. With the elastic displacement of each of the pair of lock levers, the lock claws provided on the lock levers are disengaged from the corresponding lock portions provided in the receiving recesses in the housing of the first connector. Separate from the corresponding lock part. As a result, the housing of the second connector is released from the engaged state with the housing of the first connector. Then, for example, the main body portion in the housing of the second connector is removed from the receiving recess formed in the housing of the first connector, and then provided on each pair of lock levers in the housing of the second connector. The pressure on the pair of pressure-sensitive parts is stopped, and each of the pair of lock levers returns to its original position by its own elasticity.

Further, the interengaging connector device shown in Patent Document 2 includes a first connector (board side connector (102)) provided with a housing (insulator (21)) and arranged on a substrate, and a housing (insulator (11)). )) And a second connector (plug-side connector (100)) with a movable operating member (pull bar (10)) rotatably attached to the housing. A plurality of cables are connected to the cable fitting portion (12) in the second connector. Under such circumstances, a protrusion (1) is provided on the outer surface of the inner wall-shaped portion of the housing of the first connector so as to project outward, and the outer wall-shaped portion of the housing of the second connector is provided. A rib (7) is provided on the outer surface of the portion so as to project outward. Further, the movable operating member provided in the second connector is formed of a metal rod-shaped member, and has an arm portion (10b) and a rotation shaft (10a) forming the tip of the arm portion (10b) at both ends, respectively. The rotating shaft (10a) penetrates the outer wall-like part of the housing of the second connector from the outside to the inside, and forms a locking part (a part of the locking mechanism) for the first connector. ing.

Then, when the first connector and the second connector are placed in an mutually engaged state, the housing of the second connector is arranged so that the outer wall-shaped portion thereof is outside the inner wall-shaped portion of the housing of the first connector. As such, it fits into the housing of the first connector. At that time, the rotating shaft of the movable operating member provided in the second connector takes an engagement-locked state with respect to the protrusion provided on the outer surface of the inner wall-shaped portion of the housing of the first connector, and the second connector is engaged. The housing of the first connector is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector, whereby the mutual engagement state of the first and second connectors is maintained.

After that, when the movable operating member provided in the second connector is rotated, the arm portion of the movable operating member rides on the rib provided on the outer surface of the outer wall-shaped portion in the housing of the second connector, whereby the movable operating member is movable. The operating member undergoes elastic deformation, and the rotation axis of the movable operating member is moved to the outside of the inner wall-shaped portion of the housing of the first connector, and is provided on the outer surface of the inner wall-shaped portion of the housing of the first connector. The engaged lock state with respect to the protruding portion is released. As a result, the housing of the second connector is released from mechanical locking of the housing of the first connector. After the rotating shaft of the movable operating member is released from the engaged and locked state with respect to the protrusion provided on the housing of the first connector, the movable operating member is elastically deformed as the movable operating member is further rotated. The member returns to a state in which elastic deformation has not occurred.

JP-A-2009-158367 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-267977

As described above, the conventionally proposed first and second connectors are included, and when the first and second connectors are engaged with each other, one is mechanically locked to the other. In the inter-engagement connector device provided with the locking means, the following inconveniences are observed in each of the first and second connectors.

First, in the mutually engaging connector device shown in Patent Document 1, the main body portion of the housing of the second connector is fitted into the receiving recess formed in the housing of the first connector, and the second connector is provided. A lock claw provided on each of the pair of lock levers in the housing engages with the corresponding one of the pair of corresponding locking portions provided in the receiving recess in the housing of the first connector to form a second connector. With the housing of the first connector mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector, for example, in order to separate the housing of the second connector from the housing of the first connector, the housing of the second connector is first. In order to release the connector from the engaged state with the housing, the pair of pressure-bearing portions provided on the pair of lock levers in the housing of the second connector are simultaneously pressed in the direction toward the housing of the second connector. Operation is required. That is, the second connector must be pressed against the pair of pressure-sensitive portions provided on the pair of lock levers in the housing of the second connector at the same time in the direction toward the housing of the second connector. The housing of the first connector cannot be released from the engaged state with the housing of the first connector.

In this case, the operation of simultaneously pressing the pair of pressure-sensitive portions provided on the housing of the second connector toward the housing of the second connector is the first operation of being fixed to the circuit board together with other electronic components and the like. Since the housing of the second connector is mechanically locked to the housing of the connector, the operation is extremely difficult and troublesome due to the presence of other electronic components and the like. .. Therefore, the housing of the second connector, which is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector, is provided in the housing of the second connector each time the housing of the second connector is detached from the housing of the first connector. It is necessary to perform an extremely difficult and troublesome operation on the pair of pressure-applied portions.

Further, in the mutually engaging connector device shown in Patent Document 1, the operation of simultaneously pressing the pair of pressure-sensitive portions provided on the housing of the second connector in the direction toward the housing of the second connector is a circuit board. The housing of the second connector, which is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector fixed together with other electronic components, is formed from the opposite end edge side of the main body, for example, a thumb and an index finger. It is supposed to be held between two fingers, but for this reason, on the circuit board to which the housing of the first connector is fixed, the opposite end edges of the main body of the housing of the first connector are used. A relatively large space is required on the outside for inserting two fingers. As a result, the effective use space on the circuit board to which the housing of the first connector is fixed is reduced.

Further, the mutually engaging connector device shown in Patent Document 2 is composed of a metal rod-shaped member included in the second connector under a state in which the first connector and the second connector are engaged with each other. The rotating shaft forming the locking portion of the movable operating member takes an engaging locking state with respect to the protruding portion provided on the housing of the first connector under a state in which the movable operating member is not elastically deformed. , The housing of the second connector is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector, and the movable operating member is provided in the housing of the first connector in a state of being elastically deformed. The engaged locking state with respect to the protruding portion is released, and the housing of the second connector is released from the mechanical locking with respect to the housing of the first connector. Therefore, the housing of the second connector is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector, and the housing of the second connector is released from the mechanical locking to the housing of the first connector. When the housing of the second connector is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector, a state in which elastic deformation occurs once and then no elastic deformation occurs. The rotating shaft forming the locking portion of the movable operating member that has returned to is in an engaged locking state with respect to the protruding portion provided on the housing of the first connector.

Therefore, the rotating shaft forming the locking portion of the movable operating member that has once undergone elastic deformation and then returned to the state where elastic deformation has not occurred engages with the protrusion provided in the housing of the first connector. When the movable operating member that has been elastically deformed returns to the state where it is not elastically deformed when the stationary state is taken, the movable operating member undergoes plastic deformation due to the elastic deformation and does not return to the original state. There is a risk of being imitated. When such a situation is imitated, the position of the rotating shaft is displaced due to the plastic deformation of the movable operating member, and the rotating shaft engages and locks the protrusion provided on the housing of the first connector. If not done properly, the mechanical locking of the housing of the second connector to the housing of the first connector becomes uncertain.

Further, in the mutually engaging connector device shown in Patent Document 2, the rotating shaft forming the locking portion in the movable operating member penetrates the outer wall-shaped portion in the housing of the second connector from the outside to the inside, and the second Under the support of the housing of the connector, the first connector is engaged and locked with respect to the protrusion provided on the housing of the first connector. That is, the rotating shaft forming the locking portion of the movable operating member does not engage with the metal member having great rigidity, and the housing of the second connector and the first connector formed of an insulating material having inferior rigidity. The housing of the second connector is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector by engaging with the housing of the first connector. Therefore, in particular, the size and weight of the first and second connectors are reduced, and the wall thickness of the housing of the first connector and the housing of the second connector are reduced. Is not firmly supported by the housing of the second connector of the rotating shaft in the movable operating member, and is sufficiently engaged and locked to the protrusion provided in the housing of the first connector by the rotating shaft in the movable operating member. There is a risk that it will not be possible to perform reliably and reliably.

In view of these points, the invention described in the scope of the patent claim of the present application includes a first connector mounted on a circuit board and a second connector to which a cable or a wiring board is connected, and the first and first connectors are included. By engaging the two connectors with each other, a mechanism capable of keeping the cable or wiring board connected to the second connector electrically connected to the circuit board on which the first connector is mounted is provided. The first connector is formed, and the housing of the second connector is engaged with the housing of the first connector, and the first connector and the second connector are engaged with each other. The locking means provided on the first connector and the locked means displaceably arranged on the second connector allow the housing of the second connector to be locked and locked to the housing of the first connector. Provided is an interconnected connector device capable of performing release stably and surely with sufficient reliability by a simple and easy operation performed without reducing the effective utilization space on the circuit board.

The interconnected connector device according to the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in the claims of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the invention of the present application) is provided in the first housing and the first housing. A first connector having a plurality of arranged first contacts and a holding metal fitting member for holding the first housing and fixing the first housing to the circuit board, and the first housing are engaged with each other. The second housing is arranged in an arrangement in the second housing and connected to a plurality of cables, respectively, and when the second housing is engaged with the first housing, it is contact-connected to a plurality of first contacts, respectively. A plurality of second contacts that take a state and a second connector having a shell member that partially covers the second housing are included, and a holding metal fitting member is provided outside the first housing. A predetermined direction in which the second connector partially covers the shell member and intersects the shell member in the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts. The cover member is provided with a movablely attached cover member, and the position where the cover member is locked by the engaging locking portion and the position where the covering member is released from the locking by the engaging locking portion as the movement in a predetermined direction is provided. It is characterized by having a locked portion that selectively takes the above.

In particular, in the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention, the shell member included in the second connector is provided with, for example, an engaging support portion forming a protrusion, and the second connector is provided. The cover member provided is provided with, for example, a supported portion forming an elongated hole portion, and the cover member is movably attached to the shell member in a predetermined direction by engaging the engaged support portion with the supported portion. It is supposed to have been done. Under such circumstances, for example, the cover member can be moved with respect to the shell member within the movement range of the protrusion in the elongated hole portion.

In the mutually engaging connector device according to the present invention as described above, when the second housing of the second connector is placed in the engaged state with the first housing of the first connector, the second housing is placed. The plurality of second contacts in the connector are contact-connected to the plurality of first contacts in the first connector, respectively. At the same time, the engaging locking portion of the holding metal fitting member included in the first connector engages with the locked portion of the cover member included in the second connector to lock the locked portion. At this time, the locked portion is positioned to be locked by the engaging locking portion. Thereby, the housing of the second connector partially covered by the shell member to which the cover member is movably attached is mechanically relative to the housing of the first connector secured to the circuit board by the holding bracket member. It is placed in a locked state.

The engagement locking portion is provided, for example, so as to be elastically displaceable, and elastic displacement occurs when engaging the second housing with the first housing to engage the locked portion. By engaging with the locked portion, the locked portion can be locked.

After that, the engaging locking portion of the holding metal fitting member included in the first connector engages with the locked portion of the cover member included in the second connector to lock the locked portion. When the cover member is moved with respect to the shell member in a predetermined direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts, for example, a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts. Along with this, the locked portion of the cover member moves in the predetermined direction described above, and takes a position where the holding metal fitting member is released from being locked by the engaging locking portion. As a result, the housing of the second connector partially covered by the shell member to which the cover member is movably attached is released from the locking of the first connector to the housing fixed to the circuit board by the holding bracket member. It is assumed that it can be removed from the housing of the first connector in the put-out state.

In an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, when the second housing is engaged with the first housing, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first contacts arranged in the first housing. And the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts arranged in the second housing are matched with each other, and the engaging locking portion of the holding metal fitting member provided in the first connector is the first housing. Each of the plurality of first contacts in the first contact is arranged as a pair at both ends in the arrangement direction, and the locked portion of the cover member included in the second connector partially covers the second housing. It is arranged as a pair at both ends of the plurality of second contacts in the array direction in the cover member movably attached to the covering shell member.

In the mutually engaging connector device according to the present invention, when the second housing of the second connector is engaged with the first housing of the first connector, the holding metal fitting provided by the first connector. The engaging locking portion of the member is assumed to engage with the locked portion of the cover member included in the second connector to lock the locked portion, whereby the cover member can be moved. The housing of the second connector partially covered by the shell member attached to is mechanically locked to the housing of the first connector fixed to the circuit board by the holding bracket member. Be taken. Further, when the second housing is locked with respect to the first housing, the cover member is moved with respect to the shell member in a predetermined direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts. Along with this, the locked portion of the cover member moves in the predetermined direction described above, and takes a position where the holding metal fitting member is released from being locked by the engaging locking portion, whereby the cover member is moved. A state in which the housing of the second connector partially covered by a movablely attached shell member is released from mechanical locking to the housing of the first connector fixed to the circuit board by a holding bracket member. It is supposed that it can be removed from the housing of the first connector. Therefore, according to the interconnected connector device according to the present invention, the first and second connectors can be made smaller and lighter, and the thickness of the housing of the first connector and the thickness of the housing of the second connector are respectively increased. When the second housing is engaged with the first housing, the engaging locking portion and the second engaging locking portion of the holding metal fitting member included in the first connector are present even if the factors such as the above are reduced. The locked portion of the cover member included in the connector enables stable and reliable locking and unlocking of the second housing with respect to the first housing with sufficient reliability. ..

Under such circumstances, the operation for locking the locked portion of the cover member of the second connector by the engaging locking portion of the holding metal fitting member of the first connector is the second operation. It is sufficient to engage the second housing of the connector with the first housing of the first connector, and the second connector by the engagement locking portion of the holding metal fitting member provided with the first connector is provided. The operation for releasing the lock on the locked portion of the cover member is a predetermined direction in which the cover member intersects the shell member in the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts, for example, a plurality of second contacts. It is sufficient to move the two contacts in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction. Therefore, according to the interconnected connector device according to the present invention, the housing of the first connector is fixed to lock and release the housing of the first connector with respect to the housing of the second connector. It can be performed stably and reliably with simple and easy operation without reducing the effective utilization space on the circuit board, and with sufficient reliability as described above.

The receptacle connector and the plug connector, which form an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention, are mounted on the circuit board for the receptacle connector, and the cover member is removed from the plug connector. , Is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of cables are connected. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a plug connector from which a cover member constituting an example of an interengagement connector device according to the present invention has been removed, with a shell member further removed. A state in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector constituting an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention are engaged with each other when the receptacle connector is mounted on a circuit board and a plurality of cables are connected to the plug connector. It is a perspective view shown by. A state in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector constituting an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention are engaged with each other when the receptacle connector is mounted on a circuit board and a plurality of cables are connected to the plug connector. It is a plan view shown by. A state in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector constituting an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention are engaged with each other when the receptacle connector is mounted on a circuit board and a plurality of cables are connected to the plug connector. It is a front view shown by. A state in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector constituting an example of the mutual engagement connector device according to the present invention are engaged with each other when the receptacle connector is mounted on a circuit board and a plurality of cables are connected to the plug connector. It is a side view shown by. It is sectional drawing which shows the VII-VII line cross section in FIG. It is a side view which shows the process which the plug connector which connected a plurality of cables is engaged and connected to the receptacle connector about the receptacle connector and plug connector which form an example of the mutual engagement connector device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the IX-IX line cross section in FIG. 8 partially. It is a side view which shows the process which the plug connector which connected a plurality of cables is engaged and connected to the receptacle connector about the receptacle connector and plug connector which form an example of the mutual engagement connector device which concerns on this invention. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the XI-XI line cross section in FIG. 10 partially. It is a side view which shows the state which the plug connector which connected a plurality of cables is engagedly connected to the receptacle connector about the receptacle connector and plug connector which constitute an example of the mutual engagement connector device which concerns on this invention. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the XIII-XIII line cross section in FIG. 12 partially. Regarding the receptacle connector and the plug connector constituting an example of the mutually engaging connector device according to the present invention, the plug connector to which a plurality of cables are connected is engagedly connected to the receptacle connector mounted on the circuit board. It is a top view which shows the state which the cover member provided with a connector is moved with respect to the shell member provided with a plug connector. Regarding the receptacle connector and the plug connector constituting an example of the mutually engaging connector device according to the present invention, the plug connector to which a plurality of cables are connected is engagedly connected to the receptacle connector mounted on the circuit board. It is a side view which shows the state which the cover member provided with a connector is moved with respect to the shell member provided with a plug connector. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the XVI-XVI line cross section in FIG. 15 partially.

The embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the examples of the present invention described below.

FIG. 1 shows a receptacle connector 11 forming a first connector and a plug connector 12 forming a second connector, which form an example of an interengagement connector device according to the present invention, mounted on a circuit board 13 for the receptacle connector 11. The plug connector 12 is shown in the state of being connected, and the plug connector 12 is shown in the state where a plurality of cables 15 arranged in an array are connected with the cover member 14 removed from the plug connector 12. In the following, the first connector is referred to as a receptacle connector 11, and the second connector is referred to as a plug connector 12. The receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12 are supposed to be in a mutually engaged state.

The receptacle connector 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 16 (first housing) formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and the housing 16 is a surface of the circuit board 13 facing upward in FIG. , Called the top surface.)

In the housing 16, a fitting recess 18 provided in the housing 17 (second housing) of the plug connector 12 into which the fitting protrusion 31 is inserted, which is shown in FIG. 7 to be described later, is a length of the housing 16. It is provided to form a groove extending along the direction, and when the fitting convex portion 31 provided in the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is inserted into the fitting recess 18 provided in the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11. , The housing 17 is placed in an engaged state with the housing 16. Further, in the housing 16, a plurality of receptacle-side contacts 19 (first contacts) forming bent band-shaped members, each of which is made of an elastic conductive plate material, are arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction of the housing 16. ing. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 19 in the housing 16 is the longitudinal direction of the housing 16. Each of the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 19 has a board connection portion 19a connected to a wiring terminal portion (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the circuit board 13, and a plug connector 12 described later. The contact connecting portion 19b with which the contact portion 30b arranged on the fitting convex portion 31 provided on the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 in the plug-side contact 30 (second contact) provided in the above is in contact with each other is a strip-shaped member. It is provided to form both ends of the. The contact connection portion 19b is supposed to be arranged in the fitting recess 18.

Further, a pair of holding metal fitting members 21 for holding the housing 16 and fixing the housing 16 to the circuit board 13 are attached to the housing 16 at a pair of end portions 20 facing each other with an array of a plurality of receptacle side contacts 19 interposed therebetween. There is. Each of these pair of holding metal fitting members 21 is formed by, for example, punching and bending an elastic metal plate material, and is arranged on the upper surface of the housing holding portion 22 and the circuit board 13 that engage with the end portion 20 of the housing 16. It has a soldering portion 23 to be soldered and an engaging locking portion 24 facing the outside of the end portion 20 of the housing 16.

The soldered portions 23 of each of the pair of holding metal fitting members 21 are soldered and fixed to the upper surface of the circuit board 13, whereby the pair of holding metal fitting members 21 hold the housing 16 and fix it to the circuit board 13. Is taken. Further, the engaging locking portions 24 in each of the pair of holding metal fitting members 21 are assumed to be substantially erected on the upper surface of the circuit board 13 with the pair of engaging claw portions 24a protruding. It is provided so as to be elastically displaceable in the direction of approaching or separating from the end portion 20 of 16.

The plug connector 12 forming the second connector shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 17 formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, a shell member 25 fixed to the housing 17 in a state of partially covering the housing 17, and a shell. A cover member 14 movably attached to the shell member 25 is provided to partially cover the member 25. The moving direction of the cover member 14 with respect to the shell member 25 is a predetermined direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the housing 17 to which the shell member 25 is fixed, for example, a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. The shell member 25 is formed by punching / bending a metal plate material, for example, and the cover member 14 is also formed by punching / bending a metal plate material, for example. It is supposed to be. Further, a plurality of cables 15, each of which is a coaxial cable, are arranged and connected to the plug connector 12 along the longitudinal direction of the housing 17.

The shell member 25 has a hanging flat plate portion 25a that completely covers the end face portion 17b facing the end face portion 17a from which a plurality of cables 15 in the housing 17 are led out, and further, in the longitudinal direction in the housing 17. A pair of engaging support portions 27, each of which forms a protrusion, are provided on both end portions 26 that are positioned corresponding to both end portions of the above. Further, when the cover member 14 is movably attached to the shell member 25, the protrusion formed by the engaging support portion 27 provided on the shell member 25 is movably received, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. A supported portion 28 is provided which forms an elongated hole portion extending in a predetermined direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the housing 17, which is orthogonal to the housing 17. Since the engaging support portions 27 provided on the shell member 25 are paired with each other, the supported portions 28 provided on the cover member 14 are also paired with two (a pair of supported portions). One of the parts 28 does not appear in the figure). Then, the protrusion formed by the engaging support portion 27 in the shell member 25 received by the elongated hole portion formed by the supported portion 28 in the cover member 14 extends in the elongated hole portion formed by the supported portion 28. It is supposed to be able to move along the direction. As a result, the cover member 14 is orthogonal to the shell member 25, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the housing 17 within the moving range of the protrusion formed by the engaging support portion 27 in the elongated hole formed by the supported portion 28. It is movable in a predetermined direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the housing 17, which is the direction, and is outward from the first stationary position closer to the hanging flat plate portion 25a side of the shell member 25 and the end face portion 17a of the housing 17. It is possible to selectively take a second stationary position closer to the side of the plurality of cables 15 to be derived.

Further, in the cover member 14, the fitting protrusion 31 provided in the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is provided in the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 while the cover member 14 is movably attached to the shell member 25. When the housing 17 is inserted into the 18 and placed in the engaged state with the housing 16, the pair of holding metal fitting members 21 attached to the housing 16 are respectively locked by the pair of engaging locking portions 24. It has a pair of locked portions 29 that take a state. In each of the pair of locked portions 29, the fitting convex portion 31 provided on the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 to which the cover member 14 is movably attached to the shell member 25 is attached to the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11. The engagement locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 attached to the housing 16 as the cover member 14 moves with respect to the shell member 25 in the predetermined direction when the cover member 14 is inserted into the fitting recess 18 provided. The position to be locked by the engaging locking portion 24 and the position to be released from the locking by the engaging locking portion 24 are selectively taken. Specifically, when the cover member 14 takes the above-mentioned first rest position, it takes a position where it is locked by the engagement locking portion 24, and when the cover member 14 takes the above-mentioned second rest position, It takes a position where it is released from being locked by the engaging locking portion 24. In this case, the engaging locking portion 24 is engaged with the locked portion 29 by engaging the engaging claw portion 24a provided in the engaging locking portion 24 with the locked portion 29. ..

As shown in FIG. 2, which shows the plug connector 12 from which the cover member 14 has been removed and the shell member 25 from which the shell member 25 has been removed, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 has an elastic conductive plate material, respectively. A plurality of plug-side contacts 30 (second contacts) forming a bent band-shaped member formed by the above are arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the plurality of plug-side contacts 30 in the housing 17 is the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later, each of the plurality of plug-side contacts 30 has a center conductor 15a of the corresponding one of the plurality of cables 15 arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. A contact portion that is arranged on a cable connection portion 30a to be connected and a fitting convex portion 31 (not shown in FIG. 2) provided in the housing 17 and abuts on the contact connection portion 19b of the receptacle side contact 19. 30b and 30b are provided. The connection of the plug-side contact 30 of the central conductor 15a of the cable 15 with the cable connection portion 30a is performed by, for example, soldering. Then, the fitting convex portion 31 provided in the housing 17 is inserted into the fitting concave portion 18 provided in the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 together with the contact portions 30b in the plurality of plug-side contacts 30 arranged therein. It is supposed to be done.

Further, in the housing 17, for example, a ground connection plate member 32 connected by soldering to the outer conductors 15b of each of the plurality of cables 15 arranged in an array is arranged so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. Has been done. As shown in FIG. 7, the ground connection plate member 32 is composed of a pair of conductive plate materials that sandwich the outer conductors 15b of each of the plurality of cables 15.

As described above, the plug connector 12 provided with the housing 17, the shell member 25, and the cover member 14, which is disassembled and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is shown in FIGS. 3 (perspective view) and 4 (plan view). As shown in FIGS.), 5 (front view), 6 (side view), and 7 (cross-sectional view showing the VII-VII line cross section in FIG. 5), with the plurality of cables 15 connected. It is assumed that it is in a mutually engaged state with the receptacle connector 11 mounted on the circuit board 13 and is used. When the plug connector 12 is in an mutually engaged state with the receptacle connector 11, the longitudinal direction of the housing 16 in the receptacle connector 11, that is, the arrangement direction of the plurality of receptacle side contacts 19, and the longitudinal direction of the housing 17 in the plug connector 12. The direction, that is, the arrangement direction of the plurality of plug-side contacts 30, is matched, and as described above, the fitting recess 18 provided in the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 is provided in the housing 17 of the plug connector 12. The fitted convex portion 31 is inserted, and the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 as shown in FIG.

In this way, when the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11, first, FIGS. 8 (side view) and 9 (IX-IX in FIG. 8) are taken. As shown in the partial cross-sectional view showing the portion of the line cross section), the plug connector 12 to which the plurality of cables 15 are connected is a receptacle connector under, for example, the cover member 14 is assumed to take the first stationary position. The longitudinal direction of the housing 16 of the 11 housing 16, that is, the arrangement direction of the plurality of receptacle side contacts 19, and the longitudinal direction of the housing 17 of the plug connector 12, that is, the arrangement direction of the plurality of plug side contacts 30, are made to match. For example, assuming that the position is above the receptacle connector 11 in FIGS. 8 and 9, the receptacle connector 11 mounted on the circuit board 13 is arranged to face the receptacle connector 11.

In such a case, the position where the fitting convex portion 31 provided in the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 corresponds to the fitting concave portion 18 provided in the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 arranged on the upper surface of the circuit board 13. I'm sick. Further, at this time, each of the pair of locked portions 29 included in the cover member 14 of the plug connector 12 corresponds to the engaging locking portion 24 included in the holding metal fitting member 21 attached to the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11. Be in position.

Next, the plug connector 12 is moved toward the receptacle connector 11 mounted on the circuit board 13, and FIGS. 10 (side view) and 11 (partial cross-sectional view showing a portion of the XI-XI line cross section in FIG. 10). As shown in the above, the fitting convex portion 31 provided in the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 begins to be inserted into the fitting concave portion 18 provided in the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11, and the cover member 14 of the plug connector 12 is inserted. The locked portion 29 of the receptacle connector 11 is in contact with the engaging claw portion 24a provided on the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 of the receptacle connector 11. In such a case, the locked portion 29 included in the cover member 14 in contact with the engaging claw portion 24a provided on the engaging locking portion 24 has the engaging claw portion 24a at the end 20 of the housing 16. Presses in the direction toward, causing the engagement locking portion 24 to elastically displace in the direction close to the end 20 of the housing 16.

Subsequently, the plug connector 12 is further moved toward the receptacle connector 11 mounted on the circuit board 13, and the fitting convex portion 31 provided on the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is provided on the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11. After completing the insertion into the fitting recess 18, the housing 17 is a housing as shown in FIGS. 12 (side view) and 13 (partial cross-sectional view showing a portion of the XIII-XIII line cross section in FIG. 12). The engaged portion 29 of the cover member 14 of the plug connector 12 is placed in the engaged state with the 16 and the engaging claw provided on the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 of the receptacle connector 11. It disengages from the portion 24a and releases the pressure on the engaging claw portion 24a, and accordingly, the engaging locking portion 24 returns from the state in which the elastic displacement is generated, and the engagement is provided on the engaging locking portion 24. A state is taken in which the joint claw portion 24a engages with the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14 to lock the locked portion 29. As a result, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is mechanically engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 by the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 and the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14. It is stopped, and the engagement state of the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 is stably and surely maintained with sufficient reliability.

Then, when the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11, as shown in FIG. 7, the fitting convex portion 31 provided on the housing 17 is a housing. The receptacle side contact 19 which is inserted into the fitting recess 18 provided in 16 and whose contact portion 30b in the plug side contact 30 arranged in the fitting convex portion 31 faces the inside of the fitting recess 18. Contact the contact connection portion 19b in the above. As a result, the plurality of plug-side contacts 30 arranged in the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 are contact-connected to the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 19 arranged in the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11. As a result, a plurality of cables 15 in which each center conductor 15a is connected to the cable connection portions 30a in each of the plurality of plug-side contacts 30 are provided via the plurality of plug-side contacts 30 and the plurality of receptacle-side contacts 19. The substrate connection portion 19a of each of the receptacle side contacts 19 is electrically connected to the circuit board 13 having the wiring terminal portion to which the substrate connection portion 19a is connected.

As described above, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is mechanically attached to the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 by the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 and the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14. As shown in FIGS. 14 (plan view), 15 (side view), and 16 (partial cross-sectional view showing a portion of the XVI-XVI line cross section in FIG. 15), the plug connector 12 is locked. The cover member 14 provided in the housing 17 is moved from a first stationary position to a second stationary position, for example, by moving the cover member 14 in a predetermined direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the housing 17, which is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. As the cover member 14 moves, the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14 with respect to the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 of the receptacle connector 11. It is moved from the end face portion 17a of the housing 17 to the side of the plurality of cables 15 led out to the outside, disengages from the engaging claw portion 24a provided in the engaging locking portion 24, and the engaging claw is released. It is released from the locking by the portion 24a. As a result, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is mechanically engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 by the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 and the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14. It is released from the stopped state and placed in a state where it can be separated from the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11.

As a result, according to the receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12 as described above, the plug connector 12 is provided with mechanically unlocking the housing 17 of the receptacle connector 11 with respect to the housing 16 of the plug connector 12. A circuit board to which the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 is fixed, for example, simply moving the covered cover member 14 in a predetermined direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the housing 17, which is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. With simple and easy operation performed without reducing the effective use space on 13, stable and reliable operation can be performed with sufficient reliability.

In the above description, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 under the condition that the cover member 14 of the plug connector 12 to which the plurality of cables 15 are connected takes the first stationary position. It is assumed that the plug connector 12 is in an engaged state, and the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14 of the plug connector 12 is attached to the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 of the receptacle connector 11 at the end 20 of the housing 16. After generating elastic displacement in the approaching direction, the engaging claw portion 24a provided on the engaging locking portion 24 engages with the locked portion 29 included in the cover member 14, and the locked portion 29 is engaged. It is designed to be locked, but unlike that, the plug connector 12 is provided with the cover member 14 in the plug connector 12 to which a plurality of cables 15 are connected to take a second stationary position. The housing 17 of the receptacle connector 11 may be engaged with the housing 16. In such a case, after the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11, the cover member 14 provided on the plug connector 12 is, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the housing 17. It is assumed that the housing 17 is moved in a predetermined direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the housing 17, which is considered to be an orthogonal direction, to shift from the second stationary position to the first stationary position. As a result, the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14 becomes the engaging claw portion 24a provided on the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 of the receptacle connector 11 as the cover member 14 moves. It is assumed that they are engaged and locked by the engaging claw portion 24a, and as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 described above, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is engaged and locked by the holding metal fitting member 21. The locked portion 29 included in the portion 24 and the cover member 14 is mechanically locked to the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11.

In an example of the interengaging connector device according to the present invention including the receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12 as described above, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11. When in the engaged state, the pair of engaging locking portions 24 of the pair of holding metal fitting members 21 included in the receptacle connector 11 are respectively engaged with the pair of locked portions 29 of the cover member 14 included in the plug connector 12. Together, the locked portion 29 is locked, whereby the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 partially covered by the shell member 25 to which the cover member 14 is movably attached is held. It is placed in a state of being mechanically locked to the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 fixed to the circuit board 13 by the metal fitting member 21. Further, under the case where the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is locked with respect to the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11, the cover member 14 included in the plug connector 12 has, for example, a plurality of plug-side contacts 30 with respect to the shell member 25. When the plurality of plug-side contacts 30 are moved in a predetermined direction intersecting the arrangement direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction, the locked portion 29 of the cover member 14 is moved in the predetermined direction described above. To take a position where the retaining connector member 11 of the receptacle connector 11 is released from the engagement locking portion 24, whereby the cover member 14 is movably attached by the shell member 25. The partially covered housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is placed in a state of being released from mechanical locking of the receptacle connector 11 fixed to the circuit board 13 by the holding metal fitting member 21 with respect to the housing 16, and the receptacle connector 11 is released. It is assumed that it can be removed from the housing 16. Therefore, according to an example of the interengaging connector device according to the present invention, which includes the receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12, the receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12 can be made smaller and lighter, and the receptacle connector can be reduced in size and weight. Even if the wall thickness and the like of the housing 16 of the plug connector 12 and the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 are reduced, when the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is engaged with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 The housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 with respect to the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is formed by the engaging locking portion 24 included in the holding metal fitting member 21 included in the receptacle connector 11 and the locked portion 29 included in the cover member 14 included in the plug connector 12. It is possible to stably and surely lock and release the lock with sufficient reliability.

Under such circumstances, the operation for locking the locked portion 29 included in the cover member 14 included in the plug connector 12 by the engaging locking portion 24 included in the holding metal fitting member 21 included in the receptacle connector 11 is performed. It is sufficient to engage the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 with the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11, and the cover member 14 provided by the plug connector 12 by the engaging locking portion 24 of the holding metal fitting member 21 included in the receptacle connector 11 The operation for releasing the lock on the locked portion 29 is such that the cover member 14 is oriented perpendicular to the shell member 25, for example, in the arrangement direction of the plurality of plug-side contacts 30. It is sufficient to move the contacts 30 on the plug side in a predetermined direction intersecting the arrangement direction. Therefore, according to an example of the interconnected connector device according to the present invention, which includes the receptacle connector 11 and the plug connector 12, the housing 17 of the plug connector 12 is locked to the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11. The unlocking is performed with a simple and easy operation without reducing the effective utilization space on the circuit board 13 to which the housing 16 of the receptacle connector 11 is fixed, and as described above, the reliability is sufficient. Based on this, it will be possible to do it stably and surely.

The interconnected connector device according to the present invention is mounted on a circuit board, for example, a first connector as a receptacle connector is connected to a cable or a wiring board, for example, a second connector as a plug connector. By engaging the first connector and the second connector with each other, the cable or wiring board connected to the second connector is electrically attached to the circuit board to which the first connector is mounted. It forms a mechanism that can be kept in a connected state, and the housing of the second connector is engaged with the housing of the first connector, and the first connector and the second connector are mutually connected. Under the engaged state, the locking means provided on the first connector and the locked means displaceably arranged on the second connector provide a first with respect to the housing of the second connector. Locking and unlocking of the connector to the housing can be performed stably and reliably with sufficient reliability by a simple and easy operation that is performed without reducing the effective utilization space on the circuit board. As possible, it can be widely applied to various electronic devices and the like.

11 ... Receptacle connector (1st connector), 12 ... Plug connector (1st connector), 13 ... Circuit board, 14 ... Cover member, 15 ... Cable, 15a ... Center conductor, 15b ... Outer conductor, 16 ... Housing (first housing), 17 ... Housing (second housing), 18 ... Fitting recess, 19 ... Receptacle side contact ( 1st contact), 19a, ... Board connection part, 19b ... Contact connection part, 21 ... Holding metal fitting member, 23 ... Soldering part, 24 ... Engagement locking part, 24a ... Engagement claw part, 25 ... Shell member, 25a ... Hanging flat plate part, 27 ... Engagement support part, 28 ... Supported part, 29 ... Locked part, 30・ ・ ・ Plug side contact (second contact), 30a ・ ・ ・ Cable connection part, 30b ・ ・ ・ Contact part, 31 ・ ・ ・ Fitting convex part, 32 ・ ・ ・ Ground connection plate member

Claims (6)

A first connector including a first housing, a plurality of first contacts arranged in the first housing, and a holding metal fitting member for holding the first housing and fixing it to a circuit board.
A second housing that engages with the first housing, is arranged in the second housing and connected to a plurality of cables, respectively, and the second housing engages with the first housing. A plurality of second contacts that are in contact with each of the plurality of first contacts when the state is taken, and a second connector having a shell member that partially covers the second housing.
Consists of including
The holding metal fitting member is assumed to have an engaging locking portion facing the outside of the first housing, and the second connector partially covers the shell member and is attached to the shell member. On the other hand, the cover member is provided so as to be movable in a predetermined direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts, and the cover member moves with the movement in the predetermined direction. An inter-engagement connector device comprising a locked portion that selectively takes a position of being locked by the engaging locking portion and a position of being released from being locked by the engaging locking portion. The shell member is provided with an engaging support portion, the cover member is provided with a supported portion, and the engaging support portion engages with the supported portion, whereby the cover member is provided with respect to the shell member. The interconnected connector device according to claim 1, wherein the connector device is movably attached in a predetermined direction. The engaging support portion forms a protrusion, and the supported portion forms an elongated hole portion that movably receives the protrusion portion, and the cover member forms a shell within the movement range of the protrusion portion in the elongated hole portion. The interconnected connector device according to claim 2, wherein the member is movable with respect to the member. The interconnected connector device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the plurality of second contacts. When the engaging locking portion is provided so as to be elastically displaceable and the second housing is engaged with the first housing, the engaging locking portion is elastically displaced and locked. The interconnected connector device according to claim 1, wherein a state in which the portions are locked can be taken. When the second housing is engaged with the first housing, the arrangement directions of the plurality of first contacts and the arrangement directions of the plurality of second contacts are matched with each other. The engaging locking portions are arranged as pairs at both ends of the plurality of first contacts in the arrangement direction in the first housing, and the locked portions partially cover the shell member. The interconnected connector device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is arranged as a pair at both ends of the plurality of second contacts in the arrangement direction.

Images