JPH0831526A - Connector with latch - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent creep deformation and the chipping or break of a latch. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of contact pins 2 are mounted on a plastic housing. A plastic latch 9 or latches 9, each is extended outward by a printed circuit board 16 or a reinforcement plate 7 fixed to a flexible conductor 5 and when they are pushed to a specified position, returned to the original position to fix and holds the printed 'circuit board 16 or the reinforcement plate 7 is or are arranged on one side or both sides in the width direction of the housing respectively. A reinforcing fixture 14 for accepting the connecting pressure applied is set in the latch 9. A fixing part 18 for fixing to the latch 9 and a supporting part 17 fixed to the printed circuit board 16 which sets the housing are formed in the reinforcing fixture 14. A latch 19, a fixing part 18 for fixing to the housing, and the supporting part 17 fixed to the printed circuit board 16 for setting the housing are formed in the reinforcing fixture 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is mounted on a printed circuit board and the printed circuit board and another printed circuit board or a flexible flat cable (FFC), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a conductive ink circuit (CIC), etc. The present invention relates to a connector with a latch used for connecting with a flexible conductor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printed circuit boards or FFC, FPC, CI
A connector for connecting a flexible conductor such as C to another printed circuit board has been conventionally used. As shown in FIG. 6, as a main part thereof, a large number of metal contact pins B are mounted in a plastic housing A, and a latch C is integrally formed with the width side surface of the housing A with a latch. There is a connector. In this connector with a latch, when a reinforcing plate D attached to a part of a flexible conductor such as a printed circuit board or FFC, FPC, CIC, etc. is inserted into the insertion port of the housing A, the latch C is forcibly pushed outward. ,
When it is inserted into a predetermined position, the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate D is disengaged from the latch C, and the latch C returns to its original position by its own restoring force. The printed circuit board or the flexible conductor is pressed against the contact point of the contact B so as to be electrically contacted with each other while being sandwiched and held.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional connector with a latch has the following problems. ． The contact pressure of the contact pin B is applied to the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate D inserted in the housing A as shown in FIG. 6A as shown in FIG. 6B, and the contact pressure is applied to the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate. It latches on the latch C that holds the plate D in place. However, since the latch C is made of plastic, if it receives the contact pressure for a long time, it will creep and deform as shown in FIG. Therefore, the distance between the printed circuit board substrate or the reinforcing plate D and the contact pin B increases,
The contact between the two becomes insufficient. ． The side surface in the width direction of the printed board or the reinforcing plate D is a latch C.
Since the printed circuit board or the flexible conductor is brought into contact with the contact point of the contact B surely, the latch C is forced to the outside when the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate D is inserted or pulled out. Therefore, the plastic latch C may be cracked or the latch C may be chipped,
It may be broken or worn out. ． In order to increase the strength of the latch C, the rigidity of the latch C may be increased. For that purpose, the thickness of the latch C may be increased or the height of the latch may be increased. There is a difficulty to do it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector with a latch which is less likely to undergo creep deformation due to contact pressure of a contact pin, which is unlikely to be cracked, broken or dented, and which can be miniaturized. To do.

[0005]

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a connector with a latch according to claim 1 of the present invention has a housing 1 made of plastic and a large number of contact pins 2 mounted on the housing 1. An insertion port 8 into which a reinforcing plate 7 attached to a printed circuit board or a flexible conductor 5 can be inserted
Is formed and is spread outward on one side or both sides in the width direction of the housing 1 by the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate 7 that is inserted into the insertion port 8 and when they are pushed to a predetermined position, the conductor returns to the original position. A plastic latch 9 for crimping and holding 5 is provided, and a reinforcing tool 14 for receiving a contact pressure applied thereto is provided on the latch 9.

As shown in FIG. 5, a connector with a latch according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a mounting portion 18 for mounting the latch 9 on the reinforcing member 14 and a supporting portion 17 fixed to the printed circuit board 16 on which the housing 1 is set. Are formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a connector with a latch according to a third aspect of the present invention is fixed to a mounting portion 18 for mounting the latch 9 and the housing 1 on the reinforcing tool 14 and a printed circuit board 16 for setting the housing 1. The support portion 17 is formed.

In the connector with a latch according to claim 4 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a reinforcing tool 14 is fitted on the latch 9 so as to wrap the outer periphery of the latch 9.

[0009]

1 to 4 show an example of an embodiment of a connector with a latch according to the present invention. Reference numeral 5 shown in FIG. 1 is a flexible conductor having flexibility such as FFC, FPC, CIC, 16 is a rigid printed circuit board on which various electronic components are mounted, and 21 is a flexible printed circuit board of the present invention mounted on the printed circuit board 16. The conductor connector 21. The connector 21 electrically connects the printed board 16 and the flexible conductor 5.

The latched connector 21 shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), it is composed of a large number of contact pins 2 and a housing 1 in which the contact pins 2 are mounted in a row in a row with a space therebetween, and these are assembled as shown in FIG. 2 (b). These will be described in detail below.

The contact pin 2 is manufactured by stamping a conductive thin metal plate into a shape as shown in FIG. 2, and the terminal portion 22 is soldered to the circuit surface of the printed circuit board 16 shown in FIG. And an upper beam 23 that is locked to the housing 1 and a lower beam 24 that is connected to the conductor line 13 of the flexible conductor 5. At the lower edge of the upper beam 23 formed linearly, the housing 1
4A and 4B, the lower beam 24 is formed in a substantially U-shape, and the contact 4 at the tip thereof is formed as shown in FIGS. ), It has elasticity that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction. Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 2A, each contact pin 2
A contact receiving portion 30 is formed at the tip of the upper beam 23.

The housing 1 is integrally molded of an electrically insulating plastic material into a shape as shown in FIG. 2A, and a large number of pin mounting portions 29 for mounting the contact pins 2 are arranged in a row at uniform intervals. Has been formed. As shown in FIG. 2B, the contact pins 2 are inserted into the respective pin mounting portions 29, and the locking projections 25 thereof are locked and fixed to the housing 1, and the contacts 4 of the contact pins 2 are fixed to the respective pins. The upper surface of the mounting portion 29 is projected upward.

An insertion port 8 is formed in the housing 1. This insertion port 8 is a pin mounting portion 29 of the housing 1.
Upper surface of the housing and the housing receiving portion 3 formed on the upper rear portion thereof
2 and the contact receiving portion 30.
As shown in (b), when the contact pin 2 is mounted and fixed to the pin mounting portion 29, the contact pin 2 is located rearward of the contact 4 of the contact pin 2 in the flexible conductor inserting direction.

Both the housing receiving portion 3 and the contact receiving portion 30 are formed in the connector with a latch shown in FIGS. Of these, the housing receiving portion 3 formed in the housing 1 is the housing 1 as shown in FIG.
Formed over the entire length in the width direction of the pin mounting portion 29
Is projected to above. The housing receiving portion 3 thus formed is in contact with the surface of the insertion end portion 7 of the flexible conductor 5 inserted into the insertion opening 8 as shown in FIG. 4) when the flexible conductor 5 is fitted to the housing 1 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the warp of the insertion end 7 that contacts the surface of the insertion end 7 and receives the reaction force of the contact pin 2 is suppressed, and the contact 4
The contact between the flexible conductor 5 and the conductor line 13 is also ensured.

In the contact receiving portion 30 formed at the tip of the upper beam 23 of the contact pin 2, each contact pin 2 is attached to the pin attaching portion 29 of the housing 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (b). Sometimes the contact receiving part 3
0 is located below the housing receiving portion 3 and the tip of the contact receiving portion 30 is flush with the tip of the housing receiving portion 3. The contact receiving portion 30 has a surface of the insertion end portion 7 of the flexible conductor 5 as shown in FIG. 4A when the flexible conductor 5 is fitted into the insertion port 8 of the housing 1 as shown in FIG. 3B. 4 and the insertion end 7 is horizontally tilted as shown in FIG. 4B and fitted into the housing, the insertion end 7 contacts the surface of the insertion end 7 and receives the reaction force of the contact pin 2. The warp of 7 is suppressed, and the contact between the contact 4 and the conductor line 13 of the flexible conductor 5 is ensured.

Since the housing receiving portion 3 and the contact receiving portion 30 are located rearward of the contact 4 of the contact pin 2 in the direction of inserting the flexible conductor, the flexible conductor 5 is inserted into the insertion port 8 and the insertion end 7 is inserted. When the rear end P is rotated to the contact pin 2 side, the rear end P, the housing receiving portion 3, the contact receiving portion 30, and the contact pin 2 are rotated.
3 points of the contact point 4 of FIG. 3 become a force point, a fulcrum, and an action point according to the principle of leverage, and the conductor line 1 of the flexible conductor 5 is applied by a weak pressing force.
3 can be pressed against the contact 4 of the contact pin 2. When the force received by the flexible conductor 5 from the contact 4 is f, the pressing of the insertion end portion 7 is f × {| distance between action point and fulcrum | / | distance between force point and fulcrum |}. If the distance between the force point and the fulcrum is designed to be larger than the distance between the action point and the fulcrum, the pressing force can be reduced accordingly.

Two latches 9 are formed at both ends of the housing 1 in the width direction. The latch 9 is formed by molding and is integrated with the housing 1. The short-axis beam portion 36, a long-axis beam portion 35 formed in parallel with a gap 37 inside thereof, and a tip portion of the long-axis beam portion 35. The contact protrusion 12 is formed on the inner surface so as to protrude inward. A drop-out preventing protrusion 20 is formed below the contact protrusions 12 in the housing 1 and slightly toward the rear. With the housing 1 having such a structure, as shown in FIG. 1, the contact end 4 of the flexible conductor 5 inserted into the insertion port 8 obliquely from above, and the contact 4 of the contact pin 2 with the receiving part 3 as a fulcrum. When it is turned to the side, both side surfaces 10 and 11 of the insertion end 7 in the width direction come into contact with the contact protrusion 12 of the latch 9,
When the latch 9 is pushed outward and the insertion end 7 is further rotated, both widthwise side surfaces 10 and 11 thereof are disengaged from the contact protrusion 12 and the latch 9 is returned to the inside, so that the contact protrusion 12 of the latch 9 is released. Overlay the insert end 7. At this time, even if the conductor line 13 of the flexible conductor 5 is pressed against the contact 4 of the contact pin 2 and the insertion end 7 of the flexible conductor 5 is pushed upward by the contact pressure of the contact pin 2, the insertion end 7
Since the contact protrusion 12 of the latch 9 covers the upper surface of the
It is ensured that the insertion end portion 7 does not return to the upper side carelessly (does not rotate) and the conductor line 13 is in pressure contact with the contact 4 of the contact pin 2. Further, the fitting concave portions 19 formed on both sides of the insertion end portion 7 in the width direction and the slip-out preventing protrusion 20 are fitted to each other, so that the insertion end portion 7 cannot be accidentally pulled out.

A reinforcing member 14 is attached to the latch 9. The reinforcing tool 14 is manufactured by stamping a thin metal plate and bending it to obtain a shape as shown in FIGS. 2A, a mounting portion 15 mounted on the housing 1 and a support portion 17 mounted on the printed board 16 on which the housing 1 is mounted and soldered.
And a mounting portion 18 that covers the outside of the long-axis beam portion 35 of the latch 9, and a bent portion 44 that is inserted into a gap 37 between the short-axis beam portion 36 and the long-axis beam portion 35. Mounting part 1
8 and the attachment portion 15 and the support portion 17 are connected by a bent portion 44, and the attachment portion 18 and the attachment portion 15, and the attachment portion 18 and the support portion 17 can swing with respect to each other. This reinforcement 14
Is not necessarily made of metal, and may be made of reinforced plastic or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the mounting portion 15 is formed so that it can be inserted into the insertion hole 40 formed in the housing 1.
When the mounting portion 15 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 40, the locking projection 41 bites into the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 40 and is locked and fixed in the insertion hole 40. Two
When it is attached to the housing 1 as shown in (b), it does not come off after that.

The supporting portion 17 of the reinforcing member 14 is the printed circuit board 1
It is bent outward in an L-shape so that it can be placed on the surface of 6 and soldered. Further, the support portion 17 is divided into three elongated rods so that the support portion 17 can be used for position detection when the connector with latch of the present invention is automatically mounted on the printed board 16 by a machine. In addition, by soldering the support portion 17 to the printed circuit board 16, the housing 1
Can be firmly fixed to the printed circuit board 16, and even if a strong force is applied to the flexible conductor 5 connected to the connector, unnecessary force is not applied to the solder connection portion between the contact pin 2 and the printed circuit board 16. The solder connection portion does not peel off from the printed circuit board 16 or break.

The mounting portion 18 of the reinforcing member 14 is formed in a substantially C shape so as to cover the upper surface 45 of the long axis beam portion 35 and the holding groove 43 formed on the back surface of the housing 1 as shown in FIG. There is. The mounting portion 18 can swing in accordance with the movement of the latch 9 that can swing in the direction of arrow ab in FIG. 1, but the lower edge of the mounting portion 18 is inserted into the holding groove 43 of the housing. Therefore, the mounting portion 18 can swing only within the width of the holding groove 43, and thus the expansion of the latch 9 can be restricted. Therefore, the latch 9 is less likely to be chipped or broken. Further, the latch 9 is located at the upper side (Z direction) of FIG.
It is also possible to prevent creep deformation that deforms to. Further, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the contact force of the connector caused by the creep deformation, and to prevent contact failure between the connector and the printed board.

Incidentally, in order to prevent the creep deformation of the latch 9, normally, the height T of the latch 9 shown in FIG. 2 (a) is made high. However, by doing so, the height of the connector becomes high and the connector is Although there is a drawback that the height cannot be reduced and the size cannot be reduced, in the present invention, since it is not necessary to increase the height T, it is possible to reduce the size of the connector by reducing the height.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible conductor 5 is formed by laminating a plurality of elongated conductor lines 13 between thin sheets (for example, polyester sheet, polyimide sheet, etc.) 50, 51 at intervals. A relatively thick reinforcing plate 6 is attached to the surface (upper surface) of the insertion end 7 of the flexible conductor 5, and on the contrary, a part of the sheet 51 is peeled off from the back surface (lower surface) of the insertion end 7. The internal conductor line 13 is exposed. A U-shaped fitting recess 19 is formed on the side edge of the insertion end portion 7 of the flexible conductor 5 in the width direction so as to fit with the pull-out prevention protrusion 20 formed in the housing 1.

[0024]

Second Embodiment of the Invention Connector 21 with a latch according to the present invention
May be of a straight type that is vertically attached to the printed circuit board 16 as shown in FIG. In this type of connector, the insertion port 8 is formed on the lower side of the housing as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5B, when the insertion end portion 7 of the flexible conductor 5 inserted obliquely from above into the insertion opening 8 is rotated toward the contact point 4 side of the contact pin 2 with the housing receiving portion 3 as a fulcrum, FIG. As shown in c), the both side surfaces 10 and 11 of the insertion end 7 in the width direction come into contact with the contact protrusions 12 of the latch 9, and the latch 9 is expanded outward. When the insertion end portion 7 is further rotated, the side surface in the width direction of the insertion end portion 7 is disengaged from the contact protrusion 12 and the latch 9 is returned to the inside, so that the latch 9 covers the insertion end portion 7 to cover the insertion end portion 7. Hold. Further, the conductor line 13 of the flexible conductor 5 is connected to the contact 4 of the contact pin 2.
Is pressed against. Further, the fitting recesses 19 formed on both sides of the insertion end 7 in the width direction are fitted with the slip-out preventing protrusions 20, so that the insertion end 7 does not come out accidentally.

Even the connector with the latch shown in FIG.
Reinforcing tools 14 are attached to the latches 9 provided on both sides in the width direction of the. In this case, the to-be-fitted portion 18 formed on the upper portion of the reinforcing tool 14 is covered, and the to-be-fitted portion 18 is locked to the side surface of the upper protrusion 9 a of the latch 9. This fitted portion 18
Receives the contact pressure (in the direction of arrow X) of the contact pin 2 applied to the latch 9 via the printed board or the reinforcing plate 7 set in the connector as shown in FIG. It is possible to prevent the creep deformation.
Further, when the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate 7 is set on the connector, the latch 9 is forced by the outside (arrow Y).
Direction) and restricting the spread to the outside.
It is also possible to prevent it from spreading too far outside and deforming or breaking. This reinforcing tool 14 also has a supporting portion 17 fixed to the printed circuit board 16 by soldering.

In the case of any of the connectors with latches of the first and fifth embodiments, when the insertion end 7 of the flexible conductor 5 is removed from the housing 1, the latch 9 is spread outward by, for example, a fingertip and the pinching by the latch 9 is released. After that, if the insertion end 7 is rotated in the direction opposite to that at the time of mounting, the insertion end 7
Can be taken out from the insertion port 8. In this case, when the pinching by the latch 9 is released, the insertion end 7 is pushed in the direction opposite to that at the time of mounting by the contact pressure of the contact 2, so that the insertion end 7 can be easily removed from the insertion port 8.

[0027]

The connector with a latch according to the first aspect of the invention has the following effects because the latch is provided with a reinforcing member for receiving a contact pressure applied thereto. ． The latch is less susceptible to creep deformation due to the contact pressure of the contact, the contact force of the connector is prevented from being reduced due to the creep deformation, and the contact failure between the connector and the printed circuit board is also prevented. Further, since it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the latch, it is not necessary to make the latch thick or increase its height. Therefore, the housing can be reduced in height and can be downsized. ． Even if the latch is forcibly pushed outward by the reinforcing plate attached to the printed circuit board or flexible conductor, the latch is held by the reinforcing tool, so the expansion of the latch is restricted,
The latch is less likely to crack, break, or sag, and can withstand repeated attachment / detachment of the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate.

In the connector with a latch according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the mounting portion for mounting the latch to the reinforcing member and the supporting portion fixed to the printed circuit board for setting the housing are formed, the mounting portion serves as the latch and the supporting portion. If is fixed to the printed circuit board, the reinforcing tool can be easily attached to the latch, the creep deformation of the latch due to the contact pressure of the contact pin can be prevented, and the reinforcing tool can also be easily fixed to the printed circuit board.

In the connector with a latch according to a third aspect of the present invention, a mounting portion for mounting the latch and the housing on the reinforcing tool, and a mounting portion and a supporting portion fixed to the printed circuit board for setting the housing are formed. By fixing the support part to the latch and the housing to the printed circuit board, the reinforcing tool can be easily attached to the latch, and the creep deformation and the spread of the latch due to the contact pressure of the contact pin can be prevented. It can also be easily fixed to.

In the connector with a latch according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, since the reinforcing tool is fitted on the latch so as to wrap the outer periphery of the latch, the reinforcing of the latch is ensured, and in particular, the reinforcing plate attached to the printed circuit board or the flexible conductor. Prevents the latch from spreading outward even if it is forced to spread outwards, making it difficult for the latch to crack, break, or sag. Can also endure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a connector with a latch according to the present invention.

2A is an exploded perspective view of the connector with latch of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an assembled state.

3A is a perspective view showing a state in which a flexible conductor is inserted in the connector with a latch of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a state in which the flexible conductor is rotated and fitted into the connector.

FIG. 4 (a) is a view of a connector with a latch of the present invention as shown in FIG.
Sectional drawing of the state of (a), (b), (c) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the part where the state of FIG.3 (b) differs.

5A is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a connector with a latch according to the present invention, FIG. 5B is a sectional view showing a state in which a flexible conductor is inserted in the connector, and FIG. Sectional drawing of the state rotated and set to the same connector.

6A is an explanatory view showing a relationship between a contact pin and a printed circuit board or a reinforcing plate and a latch in a conventional connector with a latch, FIG. 6B is an explanatory view of a reaction force applied to the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate, and FIG. ) Is a modification explanatory view of the latch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Housing 2 Contact Pin 5 Flexible Conductor 7 Reinforcement Plate 8 Insertion Port 9 Latch 14 Reinforcing Tool 16 Printed Circuit Board 17 Supporting Part 18 Mounting Part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of contact pins (2) are mounted on a plastic housing (1), and a reinforcing plate (7) attached to a printed circuit board or a flexible conductor (5) can be inserted into the housing (1). The insertion port (8) is formed, and the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate (7) inserted into the insertion port (8) pushes outward to one side or both sides in the width direction of the housing (1), and they are spread at predetermined positions. When it is pushed up to its original position, a plastic latch (9) for returning to its original position and crimping and holding the printed circuit board or the reinforcing plate (7) is provided, and the reinforcing member (14) which receives the contact pressure applied to the latch (9). ) Is provided, the connector with a latch characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. A reinforcement (14) is provided with a mounting portion (18) for attaching to a latch (9) and a supporting portion (17) fixed to a printed circuit board (16) on which the housing (1) is set. The connector with a latch according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A mounting portion (18) for mounting the latch (9) and the housing (1) on the reinforcing member (14), and a supporting portion (17) fixed to a printed circuit board (16) for setting the housing (1). The connector with a latch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connector is formed. 4. The connector with a latch according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing tool (14) is fitted on the latch (9) so as to wrap the outer circumference of the latch (9).