JP7461857B2 - Electrical Connectors - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector that is mounted on a circuit board and to which a mating connector is connected.

For example, the connector of Patent Document 1 is known as such an electrical connector. This connector of Patent Document 1 has multiple connector terminals (two types, a first connector terminal and a second connector terminal, in the example shown in Patent Document 1) made of a metal plate member extending like arms, and one pressing plate made of a metal plate member that, together with the connector terminals, holds a flat conductor as a mating connector. The connector terminals are arranged parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The pressing plate is formed as a separate member from the connector terminals, and is provided over the entire range of the arrangement of the connector terminals at a position above the connector terminals in a vertical direction perpendicular to the mounting surface and spaced apart from the connector terminals. The connector terminals are supported by the housing at both ends in the terminal longitudinal direction in a double-supported beam shape, and the pressing plate is supported by the housing at one end in the same direction in a cantilever beam shape.

Thus, in Patent Document 1, the flat conductor located on the connector terminal is pressed from above with a pressure plate, so that the flat conductor is sandwiched between the connector terminal and the pressure plate, ensuring contact pressure between the connector terminal and the flat conductor.

The pressure plate in Patent Document 1 can be formed as a pressure terminal, and the flat conductor can be clamped between the connector terminal and the pressure terminal to ensure contact pressure, while the connector terminal and the pressure terminal can be electrically connected to the flat conductor on both sides of the flat conductor.

JP2008-234998

In the connector of Patent Document 1, the connector terminal that holds the flat conductor and the pressure plate are held by the housing at positions spaced apart in the vertical direction (thickness direction of the flat conductor), so the connector becomes larger in that direction by the amount of space.

Even if the pressure plate in Patent Document 1 were formed as a pressure terminal, the problem of the connector becoming larger would still remain.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an electrical connector that can reduce the dimensions of the connector in the thickness direction of the mating connector, thereby achieving miniaturization in the same direction.

The electrical connector of the present invention is an electrical connector that is mounted on a circuit board and to which a mating connector is connected, and has a terminal that is bent in the thickness direction of a metal plate member, and a housing that holds the terminal.

In such an electrical connector, in the present invention, the terminal has a first arm and a second arm extending in the front-rear direction, the first arm has a first base portion formed in a portion of the front-rear direction, a first abutting arm portion located rearward of the first base portion and extending in the front-rear direction, and a first mounting portion extending from the first base portion and solder-mounted to a circuit board, the first abutting arm portion has a first abutting portion capable of abutting against the mating connector, the second arm portion has a second base portion formed in a portion of the front-rear direction, and a first mounting portion located rearward of the second base portion and mounted to the mating connector. and a second abutment arm portion positioned away from the first abutment arm portion in the thickness direction of the housing and facing the first abutment arm portion, the second abutment arm portion having a second abutment portion capable of abutting the mating connector, the first base portion and the second base portion being held in the housing in a state of overlapping and in contact with each other in the thickness direction of the mating connector, and the first abutment portion and the second abutment portion sandwiching the mating connector, so that at least the first abutment portion is electrically connected to the mating connector.

According to the present invention configured in this way, the first base of the first arm of the terminal and the second base of the second arm of the terminal are held by the housing in an overlapping state in the thickness direction of the mating connector, so the dimensions of the connector in the thickness direction can be reduced compared to when the first base and the second base are spaced apart.

In the present invention, the second abutment arm can be elastically displaced in the thickness direction of the mating connector, and the second base can be supported by the housing on a surface opposite to the surface that contacts the first base.

By supporting the opposite surface of the second base on the housing in this manner, when a mating connector enters between the first and second contact portions and the second contact arm is elastically displaced in the thickness direction, the force acting on the plate surface of the second base in the direction of elastic displacement, i.e., the force in the direction in which the second base moves away from the first base, can be countered, and the first and second bases can be prevented from moving away from each other. This makes it possible to more reliably ensure a sufficiently large contact pressure against the mating connector to clamp the mating connector between the first and second contact portions.

In the present invention, the second arm may have a connecting portion bent at the rear end of the second base in the thickness direction of the mating connector and connected to the front end of the second abutment arm, and the front surface of the connecting portion may be supported by the housing.

By supporting the front surface of the connecting portion on the housing in this manner, when a mating connecting body enters between the first and second abutment portions and the second abutment arm portion elastically displaces in the thickness direction, it is possible to counteract a force having a forward component acting on the connecting portion, thereby preventing the first and second base portions from separating. This makes it possible to more reliably ensure a sufficiently large contact pressure on the mating connecting body to clamp the mating connecting body between the first and second abutment portions.

In the present invention, the terminal may be held in the housing by insert molding. By holding the terminal in the housing by insert molding in this manner, the first and second bases of the terminal can be held more firmly, so that the contact pressure between the terminal and the mating connector can be more reliably ensured.

In the present invention, the portion of the first arm extending from the first base to the rear end of the first arm and the portion of the second arm extending from the second base to the rear end of the second arm may be at the same position with the same terminal width in the connector width direction. In this way, multiple terminals can be densely arranged in the connector width direction, and as a result, the connector can be made smaller in size in the connector width direction.

In the present invention, the first arm portion and the second arm portion may be formed as separate members. If the first arm portion and the second arm portion are to be formed as a single member, it is necessary to perform a bending process to fold back a portion of the metal plate member. In contrast, if the first arm portion and the second arm portion are formed as separate members, it is not necessary to perform a bending process to fold back the metal plate member, which makes it easier to manufacture the terminal and also improves the material yield.

In the present invention, the second arm portion has a second mounting portion that extends from the second base portion and is solder-mounted to a circuit board, and the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion may be positioned adjacent to each other in the connector width direction.

In this way, by providing not only a first mounting portion on the first arm but also a second mounting portion on the second arm, the terminal is solder-mounted to the circuit board at both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, thereby improving the reliability of the mounting.

In the present invention, the first mounting portion may be located within the range of the first base portion in the connector width direction, and the second mounting portion may be located within the range of the second base portion in the connector width direction. By positioning the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion in this manner, it is possible to prevent the terminal width of the terminal, i.e., the dimension in the connector width direction, from increasing.

In the present invention, the terminal may be a power terminal.

According to the present invention, a terminal made of a metal plate member is provided with a first arm and a second arm, and the mating connector is sandwiched between a first abutment portion of the first arm and a second abutment portion of the second arm in the thickness direction of the plate. The first base portion of the first arm and the second base portion of the second arm are overlapped and in contact with each other, and the housing holds the first and second base portions. This reduces the dimensions of the connector in the thickness direction of the mating connector, making it possible to reduce the size in the same direction.

1A and 1B are perspective views showing an electrical connector for flat conductors according to an embodiment of the present invention together with flat conductors, in which FIG. 1A shows a state before the flat conductors are inserted, and FIG. 1B shows a state after the flat conductors have been inserted. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the flat conductor electrical connector of FIG. 1 with a movable member in an open position, in which FIG. 2A shows the state as seen from the rear side, and FIG. 2B shows the state as seen from the front side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the flat conductor electrical connector of FIG. 1 with the components separated; 1A is an oblique view showing a terminal in which the first arm member and the second arm member are overlapped, FIG. 1B is an oblique view showing the first arm member and the second arm member separated, and FIG. 1C is an oblique view showing a metal fitting. FIG. 1A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an electrical connector for flat conductors at the position of a slit in a first arm member in the terminal arrangement direction, FIG. 1B is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a plan view showing the mounting portion of the terminal of the electrical connector for flat conductors in FIG. 1A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an electrical connector for flat conductors after the flat conductors have been inserted, where (A) shows a cross-section at the position of the locking portion of the movable member in the terminal arrangement direction, and (B) shows a cross-section at the position of the first abutment arm portion of the first arm member in the terminal arrangement direction. 1A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the mounting process of a movable member during the manufacture of an electrical connector for flat conductors, in which (A) shows the state immediately before mounting, (B) shows the state during mounting, and (C) shows the state after mounting is completed. 13A is a perspective view of a terminal in a modified example, FIG. 13B is a perspective view of a terminal in another modified example, and FIG. 13C is a side view of the terminal of FIG. 13A is a perspective view showing a terminal in yet another modified example together with a housing and a metal fitting, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view showing the first arm member and the second arm member of the terminal in FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a connector in still another modified example with the movable member omitted.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention based on the attached drawings.

Figures 1(A) and (B) are perspective views showing an electrical connector 1 (hereinafter referred to as "connector 1") according to this embodiment together with a flat conductor C as a mating connector, with Figure 1(A) showing the state before the flat conductor C is inserted and Figure 1(B) showing the state after the flat conductor C is inserted.

The connector 1 is an electrical connector for flat conductors that is arranged on the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) and electrically connects the circuit board and the flat conductor C by connecting the flat conductor C. The flat conductor C is in the shape of a belt extending in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction) as seen in Figures 1 (A) and (B), and the front end portion is connected to the connector 1. In this embodiment, the X1 direction is the front, and the X2 direction is the rear. The flat conductor C has a plurality of circuit parts (not shown) extending in the front-to-back direction in the insulating layer of the flat conductor C arranged in the belt width direction (Y-axis direction) of the flat conductor C, and the circuit parts reach the front end (tip) position of the flat conductor C. The front end portion of the circuit part is exposed on the lower surface, which is one surface of the flat conductor C, and can come into contact with the terminal 20 of the connector 1 described later. A notch C1 is formed on both side edges of the front end portion, and the rear end edge of the ear C2 located in front of the notch C1 functions as a locked portion C2A that locks with a locking portion 54 of the movable member 50 of the connector 1 described later (see FIG. 6A). In addition, a reinforcing plate C3 is attached to the top surface, which is the other surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor C.

The connector 1 includes a housing 10 made of an electrically insulating material, which is parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown) and extends in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the front-rear direction, a plurality of metal terminals 20 held by the housing 10 with the connector width direction being the terminal arrangement direction, a movable member 50 made of an electrically insulating material supported by the housing 10 so as to be movable (rotatable) between a closed position and an open position described later, and metal fittings 60 held at both ends of the housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction. The front end portion of the flat conductor C is inserted and connected from the rear side (X2 side) to the connector 1 (see the arrow in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the terminal 20 is used as a power terminal, and has a first arm member 30 as a first arm portion and a second arm member 40 as a second arm portion, which are separate metal plate members, as described later.

As seen in Figures 1 to 3, the housing 10 has side walls 11 located at both ends in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) and extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), a front wall 12 (see Figure 3) that extends in the terminal arrangement direction and connects the front ends of the two side walls 11, and a rear wall 13 that extends in the terminal arrangement direction and connects the rear ends of the two side walls 11. The space surrounded by the two side walls 11 and the front wall 12 and open to the rear forms a receiving section 14 that can receive the front end portion of the flat conductor C from the rear.

The side wall 11 has a guide portion 11A that extends inward in the terminal arrangement direction from the upper portion of the side wall 11 near the rear end. The guide portion 11A is provided at a position where there is a gap between it and the rear wall 13 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The vertical dimension of this gap is slightly larger than the thickness dimension (vertical dimension) of the flat conductor C, and this gap allows the side edge portion of the flat conductor C (both end portions in the Y-axis direction) to enter the receiving portion 14 from the rear. The lower surface of the rear end portion of the guide portion 11A is formed with an upper guide surface 11A-1 that slopes downward as it approaches the front, and the upper guide surface 11A-1 guides the side edge portion of the flat conductor C into the receiving portion 14.

A side guide surface 11B is formed at the rear end of the side wall 11. The side guide surface 11B is an inclined surface that slopes inward in the connector width direction as it moves forward, and is designed to guide the side edge of the flat conductor C into the receiving portion 14.

The rear half of the side wall 11 is formed with a side groove 11C that penetrates vertically at a middle position in the terminal arrangement direction and opens rearward. The side groove 11C corresponds to a regulating arm 63 of the metal fitting 60, which will be described later, and is located below a lateral arm 63B of the regulating arm 63 (see FIG. 2B) in the terminal arrangement direction. The rear end of the side wall 11 is formed with rear projections 11D that project upward on both sides of the side groove 11C. The front surface of each rear projection 11D forms a curved surface that is recessed in an arc shape, and the curved surface is formed as a support surface 11D-1 that rotatably supports a rotating shaft 53 of the movable member 50 (see FIG. 7A to C).

The front wall 12 functions as a front retaining portion that retains the first front retained portion 32 of the first arm member 30 of the terminal 20 and the second retained portion 42 of the second arm member 40, which will be described later, by insert molding (integral molding). The front wall 12 is formed with a support protrusion 12A that protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the upper part of the front wall 12 at a position corresponding to the terminal 20 in the terminal arrangement direction. As will be described later, the support protrusion 12A abuts against the front surface of a connecting portion 43 of the second arm member 40, which will be described later, to support the connecting portion 43 (see Figures 5(A) and 6(B)).

As can be seen in Figures 5(A) to 5(C), the front wall 12 has a lower protrusion 12B that protrudes downward from the underside of the front end of the front wall 12 and extends to the front end at a position corresponding to between a first forward extension 33 and a second extension 44 (described later) of each terminal 20. The lower protrusion 12B is formed with the same dimensions as the first forward extension 33 and the second extension 44 in the up-down direction. The lower surface of the lower protrusion 12B is located at the same height as the lower surfaces of the first forward extension 33 and the second extension 44, respectively, and can come into contact with the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown). The lower protrusion 12B has a front end protrusion 12B-1 that protrudes forward beyond the front surface of the front wall 12.

As can be seen in Figures 5(A) to 5(C), the front end projection 12B-1 extends to a midpoint in the front-to-rear direction within an insertion allowance space 20A (described below) formed between a first recess 33A-2 (described below) of the first front mounting portion 33A and a second recess 44A-2 (described below) of the second mounting portion 44A. In addition, the upper surface of the front end projection 12B-1 forms an inclined surface that slopes downward as it approaches the front.

The rear wall 13 functions as a rear retaining portion that retains the first rear retained portion 34 of the first arm member 30, which will be described later, by insert molding. As shown in FIG. 5(A), a lower guide surface 13A that slopes upward as it approaches the front is formed on the upper surface of the rear end of the rear wall 13, and the front end of the flat conductor C is guided to the receiving portion 14 by the lower guide surface 13A.

The terminal 20 has a first arm member 30 as a first arm portion and a second arm member 40 as a second arm portion, which are separate members. By forming the terminal as two members in this way, there is no need to perform bending work to fold back a metal plate member when manufacturing the terminal, which makes it easier to manufacture the terminal and also improves the material yield. Figure 4 (A) is a perspective view showing the terminal 20 in a state in which the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 are overlapped, and Figure 4 (B) is a perspective view showing the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 separated. The first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 are formed by bending a band-shaped metal plate member extending in the front-rear direction in the plate thickness direction.

The first arm member 30 has a first abutting arm portion 31 that extends straight in the range between the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 in the front-rear direction, a first front held portion 32 that extends from the front end of the first abutting arm portion 31 in a substantially horizontal L-shape and is held by the front wall 12, a first forward extending portion 33 that extends forward from the lower end of the first front held portion 32, a first rear held portion 34 that extends from the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31 in a substantially horizontal L-shape and is held by the rear wall 13, and a first rear extending portion 35 that extends rearward from the rear end of the first rear held portion 34. As shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the first arm member 30 has a first front vertical portion 32B and a first forward extending portion 33 of the first front held portion 32, which will be described later, formed on the Y2 side of the first arm member 30 with a terminal width (dimension in the terminal arrangement direction) that is approximately half that of the other portions of the first arm member 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first abutment arm 31 extends in the front-rear direction between the rear end surface of the front wall 12 and the front end surface of the rear wall 13 with the plate thickness direction being in the up-down direction, and is exposed from the housing 10. The first abutment arm 31 has a window-like slit 31A that penetrates in the up-down direction and extends in the front-rear direction, and abutment ribs 31B that extend in the front-rear direction and are elastically displaceable in the up-down direction are formed on both sides of the slit 31A in the terminal arrangement direction.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the slit 31A is generally rhombus-shaped with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction. Therefore, the abutment ridges 31B located on both sides of the slit 31A have a minimum terminal width at the midpoint in the front-rear direction (the position where the width dimension of the slit 31A in the terminal arrangement direction is maximum), and a maximum terminal width at the front end position and the rear end position. The portion of the abutment ridge 31B where the terminal width is minimum is formed as a first abutment 31B-1 that can abut with pressure against the underside of the front end portion of the flat conductor C. In this embodiment, a circuit portion is exposed on the underside of the front end portion of the flat conductor C, and the first abutment 31B-1 functions as a contact portion that abuts and contacts the circuit portion.

In this embodiment, by forming a slit 31A in the first abutment arm 31, two first abutment portions 31B-1 are provided on one first abutment arm 31, which improves the contact reliability with the flat conductor C. In addition, each abutment ridge 31B is thinner than the entire first abutment arm 31 and is more easily elastically displaced, making it easier to insert the flat conductor C between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A described below. Furthermore, as described above, the abutment ridge 31B has a minimum terminal width at the position of the first abutment portion 31B-1, so that it is more easily elastically displaced in the vertical direction at the position of the first abutment portion 31B-1 when contacting the circuit portion, and the terminal width is maximum at the front end position and the rear end position, so that the strength of the abutment ridge 31B can be ensured at those positions.

The first front retained portion 32 is bent in the plate thickness direction so as to form a horizontal L-shape when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction, and is retained by insert molding on the front wall 12. The first front retained portion 32 has a first front horizontal portion 32A as a first base portion extending forward from the front end of the first abutment arm portion 31, and a first front vertical portion 32B bent at the front end of the Y2 side portion of the first front horizontal portion 32A and extending downward.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the first front horizontal portion 32A is formed with the same terminal width as the first abutment arm portion 31, but the first front vertical portion 32B is formed at a position closer to the Y2 side in the terminal arrangement direction, with a terminal width that is approximately half that of the first abutment arm portion 31. The first front horizontal portion 32A and the first front vertical portion 32B are embedded inside the front wall 12.

The first forward extension 33 is bent at the lower end of the first front vertical portion 32B at a position lower than the lower surface of the front wall 12 (excluding the lower protrusion 12B) and extends forward. The first forward extension 33 is located within the range of the front wall 12 in the front-rear direction, extends along the lower surface of the front wall 12, and further extends forward of the front surface of the front wall 12. The first forward extension 33 is located within the range of the first front horizontal portion 32A as the first base in the terminal arrangement direction. The part of the first forward extension 33 located forward of the front wall 12 is formed as a first forward mounting portion 33A that is solder-mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board. When the connector 1 is placed on the mounting surface of the circuit board, the first forward mounting portion 33A comes into contact with the corresponding circuit portion (not shown) of the circuit board at the lower surface of the first forward mounting portion 33A and can be solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion.

As shown in FIG. 5(C), the first front mounting portion 33A has a first narrow portion 33A-1 formed at its rear end, i.e., at the end located on the front wall 12 side. The first narrow portion 33A-1 has a side edge extending in the front-rear direction on the Y1 side recessed further toward the Y2 side than the side edge on the Y1 side of the other portion of the first front extending portion 33, thereby making the terminal width smaller than that of the other portion of the first front extending portion 33. The first narrow portion 33A-1 forms a first recess 33A-2 as an opening on the Y1 side of the rear end of the first front mounting portion 33A. In other words, the first recess 33A-2 has a shape in which the side edge on the Y1 side of the rear end of the first front mounting portion 33A is notched in an angular shape, and opens toward the Y1 side. As shown in FIG. 5(C), the rear end of the first narrow portion 33A-1, in other words the rear end of the first recess 33A-2, is located at the same position as the front surface of the front wall 12 in the front-rear direction.

As seen in Figs. 4(A) and (B), the first rear held portion 34 extends from the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31 with the same terminal width as the first abutting arm portion 31. As seen in Fig. 5(A), the first rear held portion 34 is bent in the plate thickness direction to form a substantially horizontal L-shape when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction, and is held by insert molding in the rear wall 13. The first rear held portion 34 has a first rear horizontal portion 34A extending rearward from the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31, and a first rear vertical portion 34B bent at the rear end of the first rear horizontal portion 34A and extending downward. In this embodiment, as seen in Fig. 5(A), the first rear horizontal portion 34A and the first rear vertical portion 34B are located inside the rear wall 13 and are embedded in the rear wall 13.

The first rear extension 35 is bent at the lower end of the first rear vertical portion 34B and extends rearward. The first rear extension 35 is located within the range of the rear wall 13 in the front-to-rear direction, extends along the lower surface of the rear wall 13, and further extends rearward beyond the rear surface of the rear wall 13. The portion of the first rear extension 35 located rearward of the rear wall 13 is formed as a first rear mounting portion 35A that is solder-mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board. When the connector 1 is placed on the mounting surface of the circuit board, the first rear mounting portion 35A comes into contact with a corresponding circuit portion (not shown) of the circuit board at the underside of the first rear mounting portion 35A, and can be solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion.

The second arm member 40 has a second abutting arm portion 41 extending in the front-rear direction, a second held portion 42 located forward of the second abutting arm portion 41 and held by the front wall 12, a connecting portion 43 extending in the up-down direction and connecting the front end of the second abutting arm portion 41 to the rear end of the second held portion 42, and a second extending portion 44 extending forward from the lower end of the second held portion 42. As shown in Figures 4(A) and (B), the second arm member 40 has a second vertical portion 42B and a second extending portion 44 of the second held portion 42, which will be described later, formed on the Y1 side of the second arm member 40 with a terminal width (dimension in the terminal arrangement direction) that is approximately half that of the other portions of the second arm member 40.

The second abutment arm 41 extends rearward from the rear end of the front wall 12 at a position above and spaced from the first abutment arm 31 of the first arm member 30. The second abutment arm 41 has the same terminal width as the first abutment arm 31 and is at the same position as the first abutment arm 31 in the terminal arrangement direction. The rear end (free end) of the second abutment arm 41 is located between the first abutment portion 31B-1 of the first abutment arm 31 and the rear end of the first abutment arm 31 in the front-rear direction, as seen in Figures 5(A) and 6(B). The second abutment arm 41 has a second abutment portion 41A that protrudes downward at the same position as the first abutment portion 31B-1 in the front-rear direction, formed by bending the second abutment arm 41 in the plate thickness direction. The dimension of the gap formed between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A in the vertical direction is smaller than the thickness dimension of the flat conductor C. In addition, the portion extending from the second abutment portion 41A to the rear end of the second abutment arm portion 41 is formed as a rear end inclined portion 41B that inclines upward as it extends rearward.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the second retained portion 42 is bent in the plate thickness direction to form a horizontal L-shape when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction, and is retained by insert molding on the front wall 12. The second retained portion 42 has a second horizontal portion 42A as a second base portion extending forward from the lower end of the connecting portion 43, and a second vertical portion 42B bent at the front end of the Y1 side portion of the second horizontal portion 42A and extending downward.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the second horizontal portion 42A is formed with the same terminal width as the second abutment arm portion 41, but the second horizontal portion 42A is formed with a terminal width that is approximately half that of the second abutment arm portion 41 at a position closer to the Y1 side in the terminal arrangement direction. The second horizontal portion 42A and the second vertical portion 42B are embedded inside the rear wall 13.

The second horizontal portion 42A has the same terminal width as the first front horizontal portion 32A of the first arm member 30, and is at the same position as the first front horizontal portion 32A in the terminal arrangement direction. In addition, the portion extending from the second horizontal portion 42A to the rear end of the second abutting arm portion 41 has the same terminal width and is at the same position as the portion extending from the first front horizontal portion 32A to the rear end of the first abutting arm portion 31 in the terminal arrangement direction. In this way, the multiple terminals 20 can be densely arranged, and as a result, the connector 1 can be made smaller in size in the terminal arrangement direction. Here, "densely arranged" means that the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 are arranged close to each other so that the distance (shown as "P2" in FIG. 5(C)) between the portions (broken line portions in FIG. 5(C)) of the first front extension portion 33 and the second extension portion 44 located rearward of the front surface of the front wall 12 of the housing 10 is as small as possible.

The second vertical portion 42B has the same terminal width as the first front vertical portion 32B of the first arm member 30, is in the same position as the first front vertical portion 32B in the front-rear and up-down directions, and is positioned differently from the first front vertical portion 32B in the terminal arrangement direction and is adjacent to the first front vertical portion 32B.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the lower surface of the second horizontal portion 42A contacts the upper surface of the first front horizontal portion 32A of the first arm member 30, and is electrically conductive with the first front horizontal portion 32A. In this manner, in this embodiment, the first front horizontal portion 32A and the second horizontal portion 42A are held in the front wall 12 in a state where they overlap and contact each other in the vertical direction, so that the dimensions of the connector 1 in the vertical direction can be suppressed, thereby making it smaller in size in the vertical direction, i.e., lower in height.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(A), the second horizontal portion 42A is supported by its upper surface on the front wall 12. Therefore, when the flat conductor C enters between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A and the second abutment arm portion 41 is elastically displaced upward, the force acting on the second horizontal portion 42A in the elastic displacement direction, i.e., the upward force that separates the second horizontal portion 42A from the first front horizontal portion 32A, can be resisted, and the first front horizontal portion 32A and the second horizontal portion 42A can be prevented from separating. Therefore, a sufficiently large contact pressure against the flat conductor C for clamping the flat conductor C between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A can be more reliably secured.

As seen in Figures 5(A) and 6(B), the connecting portion 43 has the same terminal width as the second abutment arm portion 41 and the second horizontal portion 42A, and is bent upward at the rear end of the second horizontal portion 42A and connected to the front end of the second abutment arm portion 41. The connecting portion 43 extends along the rear surface of the support protrusion 12A of the front wall 12, i.e., along the protruding top surface of the support protrusion 12A, at a position rearward of the front wall 12. The front surface of the connecting portion 43 is supported by the rear surface of the support protrusion 12A.

By supporting the front surface of the connecting portion 43 against the rear surface of the support protrusion 12A in this way, when the flat conductor C enters between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A and the second abutment arm portion 41 is elastically displaced upward, it is possible to counteract the force having a forward component acting on the connecting portion 43, and as a result, it is possible to prevent the first front horizontal portion 32A and the second horizontal portion 42A from separating. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably ensure a sufficiently large contact pressure on the flat conductor C to clamp the flat conductor C between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A.

The second extension portion 44 is bent at the lower end of the second vertical portion 42B at a position lower than the lower surface of the front wall 12 (excluding the lower protrusion 12B) and extends forward. The second extension portion 44 is located within the range of the front wall 12 in the front-to-rear direction and extends along the lower surface of the front wall 12, and further extends forward of the front surface of the front wall 12. The second extension portion 44 is located within the range of the second horizontal portion 42A as the second base in the terminal arrangement direction. In addition, the second extension portion 44 has the same terminal width as the first forward extension portion 33 of the first arm member 30, is located at the same position as the first forward extension portion 33 in the front-to-rear and up-down directions, and is located differently from the first forward extension portion 33 in the terminal arrangement direction and is adjacent to the first forward extension portion 33.

The portion of the second extension 44 located forward of the front wall 12 is formed as a second mounting portion 44A that is solder mounted on the mounting surface of the circuit board. When the connector 1 is placed on the mounting surface of the circuit board, the underside of the second mounting portion 44A comes into contact with a corresponding circuit portion (not shown) that is the same as the corresponding circuit portion on which the first front mounting portion 33A of the first arm member 30 is mounted, and can be solder connected to the corresponding circuit portion. Note that it is not essential to provide the second vertical portion 42B and the second extension 44 on the second arm member 40.

As shown in FIG. 5(C), the second mounting portion 44A has a second narrow portion 44A-1 formed at its rear end, i.e., the end located on the front wall 12 side. The second narrow portion 44A-1 has a side edge extending in the front-rear direction on the Y2 side recessed further toward the Y1 side than the Y2 side edge of the other portion of the second extending portion 44, making the terminal width smaller than that of the other portion of the second extending portion 44. The second mounting portion 44A has a second recess 44A-2 formed as an opening on the Y2 side of the rear end by the second narrow portion 44A-1. In other words, the second recess 44A-2 has a shape such that the side edge on the Y2 side of the rear end of the second mounting portion 44A is cut out in an angular shape, and opens toward the Y2 side.

In this embodiment, the space between the first narrow portion 33A-1 and the second narrow portion 44A-1 in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words, the space formed between the first recess 33A-2 and the second recess 44A-2, is formed as an insertion allowance space 20A that allows the insertion of a mold pin (not shown) provided in the molding die in the vertical direction when the terminal 20 is held in the housing 10 by insert molding.

In one terminal 20, the dimension of the gap between the first narrow portion 33A-1 and the second narrow portion 44A-1 in the terminal arrangement direction, in other words the dimension of the insertion allowance space 20A (shown as "P1" in FIG. 5(C)), is larger than the gap between the first front vertical portion 32B and the second vertical portion 42B in the terminal arrangement direction, and is also larger than the gap between the first forward extension portion 33 (excluding the first narrow portion 33A-1) and the second extension portion 44 (excluding the second narrow portion 44A-1). FIG. 5(C) shows a state in which the dimension P1 of the insertion allowance space 20A in the terminal arrangement direction is larger than the gap P2 between the portions of the first forward extension portion 33 and the second extension portion 44 that are located rearward of the front surface of the front wall 12 of the housing 10 (the dashed line portions in FIG. 5(C)).

The movable member 50 is disposed above the housing 10 and the terminals 20, and can rotate about the axis of a pivot shaft 53 described below between a closed position in which it is parallel to the circuit board (not shown) as seen in Figs. 1(A) and (B), and an open position in which it stands upright in the vertical direction as seen in Figs. 2(A) and (B). When the movable member 50 is in the closed position, the flat conductor C is prevented from being removed, and when the movable member 50 is in the open position, the flat conductor C is allowed to be removed.

As seen in FIG. 3, which shows the movable member 50 in the same position as when it is in the open position, the movable member 50 has a plate-shaped main body portion 51 extending in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) as its longitudinal direction, end plate portions 52 provided at both ends of the main body portion 51 in the terminal arrangement direction, a pivot shaft portion 53 provided on the lower end side of the end plate portion 52, and a locking portion 54 (see FIG. 2(B)) that protrudes forward (in the X1 direction) from the end plate portion 52.

The movable member 50 is positioned over approximately the same area of the housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction, and in the front-rear direction, it is positioned so as to cover approximately the entire area of the receiving portion 14 when in the closed position (see Figures 1(A) and (B) and Figure 5(A)), and is positioned at the rear end of the housing 10 when in the open position (see Figures 2(A) and (B)).

As shown in FIG. 2(B), when the movable member 50 is in the open position, a groove-shaped main body groove portion 51A is formed on the front surface (X1 side surface) of the main body portion 51, which extends vertically at a position corresponding to the terminal 20 in the terminal arrangement direction. By forming the main body groove portion 51A in this manner on the main body portion 51, it is possible to prevent the main body portion 51 from interfering with the second abutment arm portion 41 of the second arm member 40 of the terminal 20 when the main body portion 51 is in the closed position.

2B, the end plate portion 52 has a slit-shaped end groove portion 52A extending downward from a position near the upper end and penetrating in the front-rear direction at a position corresponding to the side groove portion 11C of the housing 10 and the restricting arm portion 63 of the metal fitting 60 in the terminal arrangement direction. When the movable member 50 is in the closed position, the end groove portion 52A is located within the range of the side groove portion 11C of the housing 10 in the front-rear direction and accommodates the bent arm portion 63B-2 of the metal fitting 60 (see FIG. 7C). Also, as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3, the lower end of the end plate portion 52 is recessed below the lower end of the main body portion 51 at a position corresponding to the guide portion 11A of the housing 10 in the front-rear direction and the terminal arrangement direction, forming an end recess 52B. As shown in Figures 1(A), (B) and 2(B), the end recess 52B accommodates the guide portion 11A, thereby preventing interference between the movable member 50 and the guide portion 11A.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pivot shaft 53 is connected to the lower end of the end plate 52 at a position outside the end recess 52B in the terminal arrangement direction, and extends over a range including the end groove 52A. As shown in FIGS. 7(A) to 7(C), the pivot shaft 53 has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, but the surface extending from the rear surface to the lower surface when the movable member 50 is in the closed position forms a single continuous convex curved surface. This convex curved surface is curved with approximately the same curvature as the support surface 11D-1 of the housing 10, and forms the supported surface 53A that is rotatably supported by the support surface 11D-1 during the rotation of the movable member 50.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the end plate portion 52 is in the open position, the locking portion 54 is located above the end recess 52B and slightly inside in the terminal arrangement direction, and protrudes from the front surface of the end plate portion 52 (the lower surface in the closed position) (see also FIG. 6A). In the terminal arrangement direction, the locking portion 54 is located on both outsides of the arrangement range of the terminals 20, specifically, corresponding to the side edge of the flat conductor C. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the movable member 50 is in the closed position, the lower surface of the locking portion 54 is formed as an inclined surface 54A that slopes downward as it approaches the front, and the front surface of the locking portion 54 is formed as a locking surface 54B that forms a flat surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the movable member 50 is brought to the closed position after the insertion of the flat conductor C, the locking portion 54 enters the notch C1 of the flat conductor C from above. As a result, the locking portion 54 is positioned behind the locked portion C2A so that it can be locked to the locked portion C2A by the locking surface 54B, preventing the flat conductor C from being pulled out.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4(C), the metal fitting 60 is made by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction. The two metal fittings 60 provided on the connector 1, i.e., the metal fitting 60 located on the Y1 side and the metal fitting 60 located on the Y2 side, are symmetrical in shape in the terminal arrangement direction. Below, the metal fitting 60 on the Y2 side will be described, and the description of the metal fitting 60 on the Y2 side will be omitted. As shown in Figures 3 and 4(C), it has a fixed part 61 that extends facing the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown), a reinforcing part 62 that is held by insert molding in the housing 10, and a restricting arm part 63 that supports the rotating shaft part 53 of the movable member 50 and restricts the movement of the rotating shaft part 53 upward and forward.

The fixing portion 61 is formed in a flat plate shape with its plate surface (surface perpendicular to the plate thickness direction) parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown), and is approximately L-shaped when viewed from above. The fixing portion 61 has a rear fixing portion 61A extending in the terminal arrangement direction and a front fixing portion 61B extending forward from the rear fixing portion 61A at an inner position in the terminal arrangement direction. As seen in Figures 1 (A) and (B), the rear fixing portion 61A is located rearward of the side wall 11 of the housing 10. The front fixing portion 61B extends forward along the lower surface of the side wall 11 at a position inner than the side groove portion 11C in the terminal arrangement direction. The fixing portion 61 is fixed to the mounting surface by contacting a corresponding portion of the mounting surface of the circuit board with its lower surface and soldering it.

The reinforcing portion 62 has a vertical plate portion 62A that is bent at the inner side edge in the terminal arrangement direction at the front end of the front fixing portion 61B and extends upward, and a horizontal plate portion 62B that is bent at the upper edge of the vertical plate portion 62A and extends inward in the terminal arrangement direction. The reinforcing portion 62 is located within the range of the guide portion 11A of the side wall 11 in the front-to-rear direction. The vertical plate portion 62A is embedded inside the part of the side wall 11 that is more inward than the side groove portion 11C, reinforcing the inner part. The horizontal plate portion 62B is embedded inside the guide portion 11A, reinforcing the guide portion 11A.

The restricting arm 63 has a vertical arm 63A that is bent at the front edge of the rear fixing part 61A at an outer position in the terminal arrangement direction of the rear fixing part 61A and extends upward, and a horizontal arm 63B that is bent at the upper edge of the vertical arm 63A and extends forward. The restricting arm 63 is located in correspondence with the side groove 11C of the housing 10 and the pivot shaft 53 of the movable member 50 in the terminal arrangement direction. The vertical arm 63A is located behind the side groove 11C. The horizontal arm 63B extends forward directly above the side groove 11C and is located penetrating the end groove 52A of the movable member 50 in the open position as seen in FIG. 2(A).

4 and 7(C), the horizontal arm 63B is bent downward at a midpoint in the front-rear direction, and then bent diagonally upward and forward. As a result, the substantially rear half forms a straight arm 63B-1 extending straight in the front-rear direction, and the substantially front half forms a bent arm 63B-2 that is substantially V-shaped when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction. As shown in FIG. 7(C), the front end portion of the straight arm 63B-1 is formed as an upper restriction portion 63B-1A that abuts against the pivot shaft 53 from above and restricts excessive upward movement of the pivot shaft 53. The bent arm 63B-2 has a portion extending in the vertical direction that is formed as a front restriction portion 63B-2A that is positioned so as to be able to abut against the pivot shaft 53 from the front and restricts excessive forward movement of the pivot shaft 53. The upper restriction portion 63B-1A and the front restriction portion 63B-2A are always capable of restricting excessive upward and forward movement of the pivot shaft portion 53 regardless of the rotation position of the movable member 50, so that the movable member 50 can be effectively prevented from accidentally coming off the housing 10.

The connector 1 according to this embodiment is manufactured as follows. First, the second horizontal portion 42A of the second arm member 40 is placed in a molding die (not shown) with the second horizontal portion 42A of the first arm member 30 overlapping from above, and the metal fitting 60 is also placed in the molding die. The molding die can be divided into multiple parts, and at least one of the upper die placed from above and the lower die placed from below has a die pin extending in the vertical direction to form the housing with the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 positioned. The die pin is inserted in the vertical direction into the insertion allowance space 20A (see FIG. 5(C)) formed between the first narrow portion 33A-1 and the second narrow portion 44A-1. At this time, the pin is inserted so as to be located in the front half of the insertion allowance space 20A.

In this embodiment, the die pins of the molding die can enter the above-mentioned insertion allowance space 20A, so even if the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40 adjacent to each other in the terminal arrangement direction are arranged so that the gap between them is narrow, there is no need to form the die pins thin, and die pins with sufficient strength can be arranged during the insert molding of the terminals 20 and the housing 10. Therefore, it is possible to densely arrange the terminals while maintaining their accurate positions, without narrowing the entire terminal area or increasing the arrangement pitch of the terminals.

Next, the molten resin is injected into a molding die and then solidified to form the housing 10. As a result, the first arm member 30, the second arm member 40, and the metal fitting 60 are held in the housing 10 by insert molding (integral molding).

Next, the movable member 50 is attached to the housing 10 from the front. The procedure for attaching the movable member 50 will be described with reference to Figures 7(A) to (C). First, as shown in Figure 7(A), the movable member 50 in the closed position is placed on the housing 10 in a position forward of the metal fitting 60. Next, the movable member 50 is moved backward while maintaining the closed position. At this time, the pivot shaft 53 abuts against the front end portion of the bent arm 63B-2 of the metal fitting 60 from the front, i.e., the portion that is inclined diagonally upward and forward, elastically displacing the bent arm 63B-2 and thus the lateral arm 63B upward, and as a result, the movable member 50 is allowed to move further backward.

When the movable member 50 is attached, the fixing portion 61 of the metal fitting 60 is not fixed to the mounting surface of the circuit board. Therefore, the metal fitting 60 is capable of elastic displacement with the entire length of the portion along the range from the front end of the restricting arm portion 63 to the front end of the forward fixing portion 61B being the arm length. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7B, during the process of attaching the movable member 50, the horizontal arm portion 63B, the vertical arm portion 63A and the fixing portion 61 are elastically displaced. In this embodiment, since the arm length can be secured in this manner, it is easier to displace the horizontal arm portion 63B upward, which makes it easier to attach the movable member 50.

When the pivot shaft 53 of the movable member 50 reaches a position rearward of the bent arm 63B-2, the horizontal arm 63B, vertical arm 63A and fixed portion 61 reduce their elastic displacement. As a result, the horizontal arm 63B moves downward, and as shown in FIG. 7(C), the upper regulating portion 63B-1A of the straight arm 63B-1 abuts against the pivot shaft 53 from above, and the front regulating portion 63B-2A of the bent arm 63B-2 is positioned so that it can abut against the pivot shaft 53 from the front. In this way, the movable member 50 is attached to the housing 10, and the connector 1 is completed.

Next, the operation of connecting the connector 1 and the flat conductor C will be described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 6 (A) and (B). First, the first front mounting portion 33A and the first rear mounting portion 35A of the first arm member 30 of the terminal 20 and the second mounting portion 44A of the second arm member 40 are solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portions of the circuit board, and the fixing portion 61 of the metal fitting 60 is solder-connected to the corresponding portion of the circuit board and fixed.

By soldering the metal fitting 60 to the circuit board, the only part of the metal fitting 60 that can be elastically displaced is the restricting arm 63. Therefore, compared to when the movable member 50 is attached during the manufacture of the connector 1, the arm length for elastic displacement in the metal fitting 60 is shorter, making it difficult for the restricting arm 63 to be elastically displaced. As a result, after the connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board, it is possible to more reliably prevent the movable member 50 from coming off the housing 10.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, with the movable member 50 in the closed position, the flat conductor C is positioned at the rear of the connector 1 so that it extends in the front-to-rear direction along the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown).

Next, the flat conductor C is inserted forward into the receiving portion 14 of the connector 1. At this time, the flat conductor C is guided into the receiving portion 14 by the upper guide surface 11A-1, the side guide surface 11B, and the lower guide surface 13A of the housing 10. During the insertion process of the connector 1, when the front end of the flat conductor C abuts against the inclined surface 54A of the locking portion 54 of the movable member 50, a force (component force) directed forward and a force (component force) directed upward act on the inclined surface 54A. As a result, the upward force lifts the locking portion 54 and thus the movable member 50 by the thickness dimension of the flat conductor C, allowing further entry of the flat conductor C. At this time, the upper regulating portion 63B-1A of the metal fitting 60 receives an upward force from the pivot shaft portion 53 of the movable member 50, and the horizontal arm portion 63B is elastically displaced upward, allowing the movable member 50 to move upward.

In addition, immediately after the front end of the flat conductor C begins to lift the locking portion 54, the front end of the flat conductor C abuts against the plate surface (inclined surface) of the rear end inclined portion 41B of the second abutting arm portion 41 of the second arm member 40, elastically displacing the second abutting arm portion 41 upward and entering between the second abutting portion 41A and the first abutting portion 31B-1 of the first arm member 30 (see FIG. 6(B)).

When the front end of the flat conductor C abuts against the rear surface of the front wall 12, the ear C2 of the flat conductor passes the position of the locking portion 54 of the movable member 50, and the notch C1 reaches the position of the locking portion 54. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6(A), the movable member 50 returns to the closed position, the locking portion 54 enters the notch C1 from above, and the locking surface 54B of the locking portion 54 is positioned so that it can be locked from the rear by the locked portion C2A of the flat conductor C. By allowing the locking portion 54 to be locked to the locked portion C2A in this way, the flat conductor C is prevented from being accidentally pulled out rearward.

When the front end of the flat conductor C abuts against the rear surface of the front wall 12 and the insertion of the flat conductor C is completed, as shown in FIG. 6(B), the second abutting arm 41 maintains its elastically displaced state, and the second abutting portion 41A presses the flat conductor C from above. In other words, the flat conductor C is clamped in the vertical direction by the first abutting portion 31B-1 and the second abutting portion 41A. As a result of the flat conductor C receiving a pressing force from above by the second abutting portion 41A, the circuit portion exposed on the underside of the flat conductor C is pressed from above against the first abutting portion 31B-1, making contact with the circuit portion through contact pressure and establishing electrical continuity. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6(B), the first abutting portion 31B-1 receives a force from above from the circuit portion, and the abutting rib portion 31B is slightly elastically displaced downward.

In this embodiment, when the flat conductor C enters between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A, the second abutment arm portion 41 is elastically displaced upward, and a force acts on the second horizontal portion 42A of the second arm member 40 in the direction of elastic displacement, that is, an upward force that separates the second horizontal portion 42A from the first front horizontal portion 32A. However, as shown in FIG. 6(B), since the second horizontal portion 42A of the second arm member 40 is supported by the front wall 12 at its upper surface, it is possible to counter the upward force acting on the second horizontal portion 42A, and it is possible to prevent the first front horizontal portion 32A and the second horizontal portion 42A from separating from each other.

In addition, in this embodiment, as the second abutment arm portion 41 of the second arm member 40 elastically displaces upward, a force having a forward component acts on the connecting portion 43. As shown in FIG. 6(B), the front surface of the connecting portion 43 of the second arm member 40 is supported by the rear surface of the support protrusion 12A of the front wall 12, so that the above-mentioned force acting on the connecting portion 43 can be resisted, which also prevents the first front horizontal portion 32A and the second horizontal portion 42A from separating from each other.

In this way, in this embodiment, the first front horizontal portion 32A and the second horizontal portion 42A are effectively prevented from separating, so that a sufficiently large contact pressure against the flat conductor C for clamping the flat conductor C between the first abutment portion 31B-1 and the second abutment portion 41A can be more reliably ensured.

When removing the flat conductor C from the connector 1, the movable member 50 is rotated to the open position. As a result, the locking portion 54 of the movable member 50 is brought out of the notch C1 of the flat conductor C, and the locking state between the locking portion 54 and the locked portion C2A of the flat conductor C is released, so that the flat conductor C can be pulled backward and easily removed from the connector 1.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the lower surface of the second horizontal portion 42A of the second arm member 40 is in contact with the upper surface of the first front horizontal portion 32A of the first arm member 30 so as to be electrically conductive, but it is not essential that they are electrically conductive. For example, as a modified example, at least one of the upper surface of the first front horizontal portion 32A and the lower surface of the second horizontal portion 42A may be insulated so that the upper surface of the first front horizontal portion 32A and the lower surface of the second horizontal portion 42A are not electrically conductive even when they are in contact with each other. In this case, examples of the insulation treatment include applying an insulating paint or attaching an insulating sheet.

In the previously described embodiment, the second arm member 40 is arranged with respect to the first arm member 30 such that the second horizontal portion 42A simply contacts the first front horizontal portion 32A from above, but as a modified example, the second arm member may further be provided with a locking piece located below the first front horizontal portion. FIG. 8(A) is a perspective view of a terminal 120 in this modified example. In FIG. 8(A), parts corresponding to the respective parts in the previously described embodiment are indicated by reference numerals in the previously described embodiment with the number "100" added. Descriptions of parts having the same shape as the previously described embodiment will be omitted.

The terminal 120 has a first arm member 130 and a second arm member 140. The first arm member 130 is formed in the same shape as the first arm member 30 of the previously described embodiment. The second arm member 140 is formed by extending a locking piece 145 (described later) from one side edge (the side edge on the Y1 side in FIG. 8(A)) of the second horizontal portion 42A of the previously described embodiment. Specifically, the locking piece 145 is folded back at the one side edge of the second horizontal portion 42A and extends toward the other side edge (the side edge on the Y2 side in FIG. 8(A)), and its tip (free end) is located within the range of the first front horizontal portion 132A in the terminal arrangement direction.

The upper surface of the locking piece 145 is in contact with the lower surface of the first front horizontal portion 132A of the first arm member 130. In other words, the second arm member 140 holds the first front horizontal portion 132A between the second horizontal portion 142A and the locking piece 145. In the modified example of FIG. 8(A), even if an external force acts upward on the second horizontal portion 142A of the second arm member 140 when the flat conductor is inserted into the connector, the locking piece 145 abuts and locks the first front horizontal portion 132A from below, so that the locking force can also counter the external force, and the second horizontal portion 142A and the first front horizontal portion 132A can be more reliably prevented from separating.

In the previously described embodiment, the terminal 20 is composed of two members, i.e., the first arm member 30 and the second arm member 40. However, as a modified example, the terminal may be composed of a single member, as shown in Figs. 8(B) and (C). Fig. 8(B) is a perspective view of the terminal 220 in this modified example, and Fig. 8(C) is a side view of the terminal 220 in Fig. 8(B). In Figs. 8(B) and (C), parts corresponding to the respective parts in the previously described embodiment are indicated by reference numerals in the previously described embodiment with the number "200" added. Descriptions of parts having the same shape as the previously described embodiment will be omitted.

8B and 8C, the terminal 220 is made by punching out a single metal plate and bending it in the thickness direction, and has a shape in which the front end of the first front horizontal portion 32A of the first arm member 30 and the front end of the second horizontal portion 42A of the second arm member 40 in the previously described embodiment are connected to each other. Specifically, the terminal 220 has a shape in which the first front horizontal portion 232A as the first base and the second horizontal portion 242A as the second base, the front ends of which are connected to each other via the folded portion 221 described later, overlap in the vertical direction and come into contact with each other. The terminal 220 further has a first front held portion 232 and a first front extension portion 233 on the front end side of the first abutting arm portion 231, and a first rear held portion 234 and a first rear extension portion 235 on the rear end side of the first abutting arm portion 231.

The first front held portion 232 and the first front extension portion 233 are formed by cutting and raising a part of the connection portion (folded portion) between the front end of the first abutting arm portion 231 and the front end of the second abutting arm portion 241 toward the front side in the central region in the terminal arrangement direction, and bending in the plate thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 8(C), the first front held portion 232 and the first front extension portion 233 extend in the terminal arrangement direction in a bent shape similar to the first front held portion 32 and the first front extension portion 33 of the terminal 20 of the above-mentioned embodiment. The folded portion 221 is formed by folding back the front end of the first front horizontal portion 232A on both sides of the first front held portion 232 and the first front extension portion 233 in the terminal arrangement direction. The second horizontal portion 242A, which is connected to the front end of the first front horizontal portion 232A by the folded portion 221, has its lower surface in contact with the upper surface of the first front horizontal portion 232A.

As can be seen in Figures 8(B) and (C), the first abutment arm 231, the first rear held portion 234, the first rear extension portion 235, and the second abutment arm 241 have the same shapes as the first abutment arm 31, the first rear held portion 34, the first rear extension portion 35, and the second abutment arm 41, respectively, of the previously described embodiment.

In the modified example shown in Figures 8(B) and (C), the terminal 220 is formed as a single member, so the number of components that make up the terminal 220 can be kept to a minimum, which simplifies the manufacture of the connector.

In the previously described embodiment, the terminal 20 is held in the housing 10 by insert molding, but as a modified example, as shown in Figs. 9(A) and (B), the terminal may be held in the housing by press-fitting. Fig. 9(A) is a perspective view showing the terminal 320 in this modified example together with the housing 310 and the metal fitting 360, and Fig. 9(B) is a perspective view showing the first arm member 330 and the second arm member 340 of the terminal 320 in Fig. 9(A) separated. In Figs. 9(A) and (B), parts corresponding to the respective parts in the previously described embodiment are indicated by the reference numerals in the previously described embodiment plus "300". Parts having the same shape as those in the previously described embodiment will not be described.

In the modified example shown in Figures 9(A) and (B), the first front horizontal portion 332A serving as the first base of the first arm member 330 has a first press-fit protrusion 332A-1 protruding from both side edges (side edges extending in the front-rear direction), and the second horizontal portion 342A serving as the second base of the second arm member 340 has a second press-fit protrusion 342A-1 protruding from both side edges. The terminal 320 of this modified example has the same shape as the terminal 20 of the previously described embodiment, except that it has the first press-fit protrusion 332A-1 and the second press-fit protrusion 342A-1.

A front storage recess 312C is formed in the front wall 312 of the housing 310 to accommodate the first front retained portion 332 (first front horizontal portion 332A and first front vertical portion 332B) of the first arm member 330 and the second retained portion 342 (second horizontal portion 342A and second vertical portion 342B) of the second arm member 340. A rear storage recess 313B is formed in the rear wall 313 of the housing 310 to accommodate the first rear retained portion 334 (first rear horizontal portion 334A and first rear vertical portion 334B) of the first arm member 330. Other parts of the housing 310 (portions other than the front storage recess 312C and the rear storage recess 313B) and the metal fitting 360 have the same shape as the housing 10 and the metal fitting 60 of the previously described embodiment.

The first arm member 330 and the second arm member 340 are accommodated by the first front retained portion 332 and the second retained portion 342 being pressed into the front accommodating recess 312C from above, and are held by the first press-in protrusion 332A-1 and the second press-in protrusion 342A-1 biting into the inner wall surface of the front accommodating recess 312C. At this time, the first rear retained portion 334 is accommodated in the rear accommodating recess 313B from above, and both side edges of the first rear retained portion 334 are held by the inner wall surface of the rear accommodating recess 313B. It is not essential that the first rear retained portion 334 is held, and it may be accommodated in the rear accommodating recess 313B without contacting the inner wall surface of the rear accommodating recess 313B.

In the previously described embodiment, only one type of terminal, i.e., terminal 20 as a power terminal, is provided on the connector. However, as a modified example, other types of terminals having different shapes from the terminals may be provided on the connector. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the other types of terminals may be provided as signal terminals, for example. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a connector in such a modified example, with movable members omitted. In the modified example shown in FIG. 10, the connector 1 in the previously described embodiment is configured to have multiple signal terminals on both sides of the arrangement range of the terminals 20. In FIG. 10, parts corresponding to the respective parts in the previously described embodiment are indicated by the reference numerals in the previously described embodiment with "400" added. Explanations of parts having the same shape as the previously described embodiment will be omitted.

The signal terminal 470 in this modified example is made by punching a flat metal plate member in the plate thickness direction. The signal terminal 470 is held in the front wall 412 of the housing 410 by insert molding in a position in which the plate thickness direction coincides with the terminal arrangement direction. The signal terminal 470 holds the flat conductor between two elastically deformable abutting arms 471 extending rearward from the front wall 412, and is electrically connected to the flat conductor. Here, the holding form of the signal terminal 470 is not limited to holding by insert molding, and may be, for example, press-fit holding. In the case of press-fit holding, the signal terminal 470 is, for example, pressed into a terminal holding groove formed in the front wall 412 of the housing 410.

In the embodiment described above, all of the terminals 20 are used as power terminals. Alternatively, in the case where multiple terminals of the same type having the same shape are provided, some of the terminals may be used for different purposes. For example, some of the multiple terminals may be used as power terminals, and the remaining terminals may be used as signal terminals.

In the embodiment described above, the circuit portion of the flat conductor is exposed on the underside of the front end portion of the flat conductor and comes into contact with the first abutment portion of the first arm member. Alternatively, the circuit portion may be exposed on the upper surface of the front end portion of the flat conductor, and the second abutment portion of the second arm member may abut and contact the circuit portion. Alternatively, the flat conductor may have two layers of circuit portions in the vertical direction, and the circuit portions may be exposed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the front end portion of the flat conductor, with the first abutment portion of the first arm member coming into contact with the circuit portion on the lower surface, and the second abutment portion of the second arm member coming into contact with the circuit portion on the upper surface.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Connector 10, 310, 410 Housing 20, 120, 220, 420 Terminal 30, 130, 330, 430 First arm member (first arm portion)
31, 131, 231, 331: First abutment arm portion 32, 132, 232, 332: First front held portion 32A, 132A, 232A, 332A: First front horizontal portion (first base portion)
33, 133, 233, 333 First forward extension portion 33A, 133A, 233A, 333A First forward mounting portion 33A-1 First narrow portion 33A-2 First recess 40, 140, 340, 440 Second arm member (second arm portion)
41, 141, 241, 341 Second abutting arm portion 42, 142, 342 Second held portion 42A, 142A, 242A, 342A Second horizontal portion (second base portion)
43, 143, 243, 343 Connection portion 44, 144, 333 Second extension portion 44A, 144A, 344A Second mounting portion 44A-1 Second narrow portion 44A-2 Second recess

Claims (9)

An electrical connector that is mounted on a circuit board and to which a mating connector is connected,
An electrical connector having a terminal formed by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction thereof and a housing for holding the terminal,
The terminal has a first arm portion and a second arm portion extending in a front-rear direction,
The first arm portion and the second arm portion are formed as separate members,
The first arm portion has a first base portion formed at a portion in the front-rear direction, a first abutment arm portion located rearward of the first base portion and extending in the front-rear direction, and a first extension portion located forward of the first base portion ,
The first abutment arm portion has a first abutment portion capable of abutting against the mating connecting body,
the first extension portion has a first mounting portion that is solder-mounted to a circuit board,
the second arm portion has a second base portion formed at a portion in the front-rear direction, a second abutting arm portion located rearward of the second base portion and spaced apart from the first abutting arm portion in the thickness direction of the mating connector and facing the first abutting arm portion , and a second extending portion located forward of the second base portion ,
The second abutment arm portion has a second abutment portion capable of abutting against the mating connecting body,
the second extension portion has a second mounting portion that is solder-mounted to a circuit board,
the first base portion and the second base portion are held in the housing in a state where they overlap and come into contact with each other in a thickness direction of the mating connector,
the first contact portion and the second contact portion sandwich the mating connection body, so that at least the first contact portion is electrically connected to the mating connection body ,
the first extension portion is formed to have a terminal width smaller than that of the first base portion in a connector width direction perpendicular to both the front-rear direction and the thickness direction of the mating connection body,
the second extending portion is formed at a position different from the first extending portion in the connector width direction and has a terminal width smaller than that of the second base portion,
The electrical connector is characterized in that the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are located at the same position in a thickness direction of the mating connecting body . The second abutment arm is elastically displaceable in a thickness direction of the mating connection body,
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the second base is supported by the housing on a surface opposite to a surface in contact with the first base. the second arm portion has a connecting portion bent at a rear end of the second base portion in a thickness direction of the mating connector and connected to a front end of the second abutment arm portion,
3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a front surface of said connecting portion is supported by said housing. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminals are held in the housing by insert molding. 5. An electrical connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a portion of the first arm extending from the first base to the rear end of the first arm and a portion of the second arm extending from the second base to the rear end of the second arm are at the same position in the connector width direction and have the same terminal width. 6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are positioned adjacent to each other in a width direction of the connector. An electrical connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first mounting portion is located within the range of the first base in the connector width direction, and the second mounting portion is located within the range of the second base in the connector width direction. the first arm portion has a first vertical portion extending in a thickness direction of the mating connecting body and connecting a front end of the first base portion and a rear end of the first extension portion;
the second arm portion has a second vertical portion extending in a thickness direction of the mating connecting body and connecting a front end of the second base portion and a rear end of the second extending portion,
8. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion are located at the same position in the front-rear direction. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the terminal is a power terminal.

Images