KR101552942B1 - Electrical connector assembly and plug connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly having a receptacle connector and a plug connector fittingly connected thereto, the plug connector being configured such that the fitting portion of the housing of the plug connector is less likely to be damaged, and a plug connector constituting one of the assemblies.
The plug connector 2 has a reinforcing metal fitting 60 attached to an end portion of the fitting portion in the terminal arrangement direction and the reinforcing metal fitting 60 is a member A base portion 61 that covers the lower surface of the end portion of the fitting portion in a plane perpendicular to the inserting and leaving direction of the connector in a posture in which the fitting portion of the plug connector 2 faces downward, A side plate portion 63 for covering both side surfaces of the end portion in a plane surface parallel to both the terminal arrangement direction and the insertion and removal direction of the connector, And has an end plate portion.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND PLUG CONNECTOR

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly having a receptacle connector disposed on a circuit board and a plug connector disposed on another circuit board and fittingly connected to the receptacle connector, and a plug connector constituting one of the assemblies.

This type of electrical connector assembly is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. In this patent document 1, the housing of the receptacle connector has a protruding wall portion that protrudes from a bottom wall facing the circuit board and extends in the terminal arrangement direction to a peripheral wall And a peripheral wall). A quadrangular annular space opened upward between the stone wall portion and the peripheral wall is formed as a receiving space for accommodating the fitting portion of the plug connector. On the other hand, the housing of the plug connector stands up from a bottom wall facing the other circuit board, and forms a fitting portion at a peripheral wall having a shape suitable for the accommodating space of the receptacle connector. The peripheral wall of the plug connector includes two side walls extending in the terminal arrangement direction and two end walls extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and connecting the end portions of the two side walls End walls). In the fitting portion, a groove-shaped space surrounded by the peripheral wall is formed.

The fitting portion of the plug connector is fitted into the receiving space of the receptacle connector from above while the stowed portion of the receptacle connector is introduced into the groove-shaped space surrounded by the fitting portion of the plug connector from below .

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-241253

In the connector assembly of Patent Document 1, the fitting portion of the plug connector may receive an undesirable external force when the connector is inserted and removed, or in the connector fitting state. For example, when the plug connector is fitted to the receptacle connector from above, if the positions of the connectors are shifted from each other, there is a fear that the lower surface of the fitting portion of the plug connector abuts against the upper surface of the peripheral wall of the receptacle connector or the upper surface of the stone wall portion have.

In addition, the plug connector may be inserted and withdrawn along with a so-called unfolding feeling, which is an attitude to tilt the receptacle connector. As a result, the fitting portion of the plug connector has a side perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction or a cross section orthogonal to the connector width direction abutting against the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall forming the housing space of the receptacle connector, There is a fear that the cross section is cut off or an excessive stress is generated in the fitting portion to be destroyed, or the fitting portion may be damaged. In addition, among the above-mentioned fitting portions, in particular, the end wall is likely to be damaged because it comes into contact with the inner wall surface in two directions of the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction in the case where the above- However, in Patent Document 1, since the end wall of the fitting portion of the plug connector does not particularly have a structure for counteracting the external force, it is impossible to prevent damage to the end wall and further to the housing.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly having a receptacle connector and a plug connector to be fitted and connected thereto, and a plug connector constituting one side of the receptacle connector, And the like.

<First Invention>

The electrical connector assembly according to the present invention includes: a receptacle connector as a mating connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board; a mounting portion disposed on a mounting surface of the other circuit board and having a vertical direction perpendicular to the mounting surface, The receptacle connector has a plurality of mating terminals arranged in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board in the arranging direction so as to be connected to the receptacle housing And the receptacle housing has an accommodating space which opens upward so as to receive the plug connector, and the plug connector is configured such that, when the plug connector is in the engaged state, And a plurality of terminals And the plug housing has a fitting portion which is fitted into a receiving space formed in the receptacle connector.

In this electrical connector assembly, in the present invention, the plug connector has a reinforcing metal fitting (metal fitting) attached to an end portion of the fitting portion in the arranging direction, A base portion which covers the lower surface of the end portion of the fitting portion in a plane perpendicular to the inserting and leaving direction of the connector and in a posture in which the fitting portion of the plug connector faces downward, A side plate portion that covers both side surfaces of the end portion in a plate surface parallel to both the insertion and removal directions and a end plate portion that covers an end surface of the end portion in a plate surface perpendicular to the arrangement direction .

In the present invention, since the reinforcement metal attached to the end portion of the fitting portion of the plug connector covers the both side surfaces and the end surface of the lower surface of the end portion of the fitting portion, even if the respective ends of the end portions come into contact with the housing of the receptacle connector, It is difficult to be damaged. In addition, since the reinforcing metal is formed by bending a metal plate as one member, the strength of the reinforcing metal itself is increased by the bent shape. As a result, the effect of preventing damage to the housing becomes greater.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the reinforcing metal of the plug connector has at least one of the side plate portion and the single plate portion which has an engaging portion capable of resiliently displaceable in the plate thickness direction. The plug housing has, at least on one of the side surface and the end surface of the end portion of the fitting portion, And the engaging portion of the reinforcing metal may be hooked to the corresponding engaging portion of the plug housing in the direction of insertion and removal of the connector.

The engaging portion of the reinforcing metal fitting and the corresponding engaging portion of the step shape of the plug housing are engaged with each other in the direction of insertion and removal of the connector, so that the reinforcing metal is hardly displaced from the plug housing in the direction of insertion and removal of the connector. Further, by forming the engaging portion on the reinforcing metal and the engaging portion corresponding to the plug housing in this manner, the size of the plug housing can be avoided. More specifically, for example, a slit-shaped holding groove parallel to both side surfaces of the end wall of the plug housing is formed on the end wall, and the holding portion of the relative lock metal is held by the holding groove It is necessary to form the wall portion surrounding the holding groove with a sufficient thickness. As a result, the plug housing becomes large in the width direction and the length direction of the plug housing. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the end portions of both ends of the end wall of the plug housing are cut out to form the corresponding stopping portions, there is no need to form the holding grooves as described above, The housing is not enlarged. Further, since the corresponding latching portion has a simple shape, it can be easily formed.

In the first invention, in the plug connector of the present invention, the plug housing has a groove portion extending in the terminal arranging direction on the lower face of the end portion of the fitting portion, and the base portion of the reinforcing metal fitting is provided at a position corresponding to the groove portion, And the receptacle connector has a slit portion extending in the arranging direction with the same width and the receptacle housing is protruded upward from the bottom surface of the accommodating space at the end in the arranging direction to have the same width as the groove portion and the slit portion, And the projecting portion of the receptacle connector passes through the slit portion of the plug connector and enters the groove portion in the connector fitting state.

Even if the protruding portion of the receptacle connector passes through the slit portion of the plug connector and enters the groove portion in the connector fitting state, even if an external force such as vibration is received in the connector fitting state, the inner wall surface of the groove portion and the edge portion The movement of the protrusion in the connector width direction is restricted by the edge portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent displacement of the connectors in the connector width direction. Particularly, since the edge portion of the slit portion is a part of a reinforcing metal member which is a member made of metal and has a high strength, the effect of regulation is improved accordingly.

<Second invention>

A plug connector according to the present invention includes a receptacle connector as a mating connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board, and is arranged on a mounting surface of another circuit board, and the vertical direction perpendicular to the mounting surface is a direction A plurality of terminals connected to mating terminals formed in the receptacle connector in a connector fitting state are arranged in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the other circuit board in the arranging direction, And the plug housing has a fitting portion to be fitted into the accommodating space formed in the receptacle connector from above.

In the plug connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the plug connector has a reinforcing metal piece attached to an end portion of the fitting portion in the arranging direction, and the reinforcing metal piece is made by bending a metal plate as one member, A base portion that covers the lower surface of the end portion of the fitting portion in a plane perpendicular to the inserting and withdrawing direction of the plug connector and a base portion that faces the inserting direction of the plug connector and the inserting / A side plate portion that covers both side surfaces of the end portion in a parallel plate surface and a single plate portion that covers the end surface of the end portion in a plate surface perpendicular to the arranging direction.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the reinforcement metal is attached to the end portion of the fitting portion of the housing of the plug connector so as to cover the lower surface, the both side surfaces and the end surface of the end portion, the damage of the fitting portion can be prevented . Further, the reinforcing metal is made by bending a metal plate as one member, and the strength of the reinforcing metal itself is large, so that the effect of preventing damage to the housing is greater.

Fig. 1 (a) is a perspective view showing the receptacle connector and the plug connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1 (b) , And the posture of both connectors are shown immediately before fitting.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector of Fig. 1, showing a state before mounting of the relative lock metal fitting. Fig.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plug connector of Fig. 1, showing the state before the lock metal fitting is mounted. Fig.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a relative lock piece of the receptacle connector of Fig. 2 and a lock piece of the plug connector of Fig. 3, wherein Fig. 4 (a) Respectively.
5 (a) is a sectional view taken along the line VA-VA in FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. 5 (b) is a cross- ) Is the VB arrow in Fig. 4 (a).
Fig. 6 is a view showing the relative lock of the receptacle connector of Fig. 4 and the lock metal of the plug connector in the locked state after the connector is fitted. Fig. 6 (a) is a sectional view taken along the line VIA- 6 (b) is a view of the arrow VIB in Fig. 4 (b).
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view at a position of an end portion of a receptacle connector and a plug connector in a terminal arrangement direction. Fig. 7 (a) is a cross section in a state before connector fitting, and Fig. Respectively.

(Mode for carrying out the invention)

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

1 is a perspective view showing the entire receptacle connector and plug connector in the present embodiment. Fig. 1 (a) shows the receptacle space of both connectors in an upward posture. Fig. 1 (b) Are shown in a posture just before fitting of both connectors. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector of Fig. 1, showing a state before mounting of a lock metal fitting. In Fig. 2, the receptacle connector of Fig. 1 (a) and Fig. 1 (b) is shown inverted upside down. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plug connector of Fig. 1, showing a state before the lock metal fitting is mounted.

The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 in the present embodiment are circuit board connectors arranged on the mounting surfaces of different circuit boards (not shown), respectively, (Upward and downward directions in Figs. 1 (a) and 1 (b)) in the insertion and removal directions.

Prior to the description of the plug connector 2, first, the receptacle connector 1 which is a mating connector will be described. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the receptacle connector 1 includes a receptacle housing 10 having an approximately rectangular parallelepipedal outer shape, and a receptacle housing 10 having a longitudinal direction of the receptacle housing 10 arranged in an array direction (Hereinafter referred to as &quot; mating terminal 20 &quot;) arranged in two rows by the receptacle housing 10 and the receptacle housing 10 in the longitudinal direction, (Hereinafter referred to as &quot; relative lock metal 30 &quot;). The receptacle connector 1 is disposed and mounted on a circuit board in a posture shown in Figs. 1 (a) and 1 (b).

The receptacle housing 10 is made of an electrically insulating material such as resin and extends in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board in the longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The receptacle housing 10 includes a bottom wall 11 (see FIG. 2 showing the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1 by reversing the receptacle connector in FIG. 1) parallel to the mounting surface, (13) extending upward from the bottom wall (11) and surrounding the protruding wall portion (12), the protruding wall portion (12) I have. The peripheral wall (13) includes a pair of side walls (14) extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of side walls (14) extending in a connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction And a pair of end walls (end walls) An annular space opened upward between the stone wall portion 12 and the peripheral wall 13 is formed as a receiving space 16 for receiving the peripheral wall 43 as a fitting portion of the plug connector 2 have.

The receptacle housing 10 is provided with terminal holding grooves 17 for holding the mating terminal 20 in two rows symmetrical with respect to the wall 12 in the connector width direction, (Or the like). The terminal holding grooves 17 are formed on the side surface of the stone wall portion 12, the upper surface of the bottom wall 11, the inner surface of the side wall 14 (the surface facing the side surface of the stone wall portion 12) And is formed as a groove portion having a transverse S-shape in the terminal arrangement direction.

The receptacle housing 10 holds the relative lock pieces 30 at both end portions 10A in the terminal arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, the end portion 10A of the receptacle housing 10 refers to a portion located outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, a terminal holding groove 17 &quot;). &Lt; / RTI &gt; In this embodiment, the portion of the accommodating space 16 located outside the terminal arrangement range, that is, the end wall 15 forming the end portion 10A of the receptacle housing 10 and the two side walls 14 The space is referred to as &quot; end space 16A &quot;.

The receptacle housing 10 is connected to the end portion of the protruding wall portion 12 in the terminal arrangement direction at a central position in the connector width direction and protrudes upward from the bottom wall 11 toward the end space 16A And a protruding portion 18 extending in the direction of the terminal arrangement. The projecting portion 18 is formed lower than the projecting wall portion 12 and the peripheral wall 13. The projecting portion 18 enters the short groove portion 45B of the plug connector 2 to be described later and has a function of guiding the plug connector 2 in the connector width direction (See also Figs. 7 (a) and 7 (b)).

The receptacle housing 10 is configured to receive and retain the relative lock metal fitting 30 before the receptacle housing 10 is explained in detail. In order to understand the shape of the receptacle housing 10, 30 will be described.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a relative lock piece of the receptacle connector of Fig. 2 and a lock piece of the plug connector of Fig. 3, wherein Fig. 4 (a) Respectively.

The relative lock metal fitting 30 is formed by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending it in the plate thickness direction. As shown in Fig. 4 (a), the relative lock piece 30 has a base portion 31 having a substantially U-shaped plate shape extending in the up-and-down direction when viewed in the vertical direction, Side arm portion 33 and the side wall-side locking arm portion 34, which extend from the left and right side wall-side arm portions 31 and 31, respectively.

The base portion 31 includes a base portion 31A extending in the connector width direction (the left and right direction in Fig. 4A), and a base portion 31B extending from both ends of the base portion 31A in the terminal arrangement direction Side base portion 31B extending in the left-to-right direction in FIG. The pivot holder portion 32 includes a fixed portion 32A bent and extending outward from the lower edge of the side wall base portion 31B in the connector width direction, And a press-fitting arm portion 32B that is bent toward the side wall base portion 31B and extends to substantially the same position as the upper edge of the side wall base portion 31B.

The fixing portion 32A has a function to fix the receptacle connector 1 on the circuit board by acting with the connection portion 22 of the mating terminal 20 as a portion to be soldered to the corresponding portion of the circuit board . A hole portion 32C penetrating in the plate thickness direction is formed at a connecting portion (bending portion) between the fixing portion 32A and the press-fitting arm portion 32B. When the fixing portion 32A is fixed by soldering, The melted solder fills the hole portion 32C, so that the fixing to the circuit board becomes stronger. The press-fitting arm portion 32B is formed with a press-fit projection portion 32B-1 protruding from both ends extending in the up-and-down direction. When the press-fitting arm portion 32B is press-fitted into the metal retaining groove 14A of the receptacle housing 10, the press-fit protruding portion 32B-1 is pierced on the inner wall surface of the metal retaining groove 14A, So that the fixing is strengthened.

The end wall side lock arm portion 33 is folded back from the lower edge of the base wall side base portion 31A to the inside of the terminal arrangement range (left oblique lower side in FIG. 4 (a)), Like shape extending to almost the same position as that of the terminal, and elastic bending in the plate thickness direction, that is, the terminal arrangement direction, is possible. The end wall side lock arm portion 33 is formed with an end wall side lock projection portion 33A which protrudes in a substantially hemispherical shape from the position near the upper end of the end wall side lock arm portion 33 toward the terminal arrangement range side (see also Fig. The end wall side lock projection portion 33A is engageable with a lock concave portion 62A on the end wall side of the lock metal fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 6 (a)). The end wall side lock projection portion 33A is formed by, for example, press working in the plate thickness direction.

The side wall side lock arm portion 34 is extended from the side wall base portion 31B toward the inside of the terminal arrangement range and is slightly inclined toward the inside of the connector width direction, In other words, elastic bending in the connector width direction is possible. The side wall side lock arm portion 34 is formed with a side wall side lock portion 34A in which a part of the plate surface protrudes inward in the connector width direction at a position near the upper end. The side wall side locking protrusion 34A is formed as a ridge extending in the terminal arrangement direction and is capable of engaging with the side wall side concave portion 63A of the lock metal fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 . The upper surface of the side wall side lock portion 34A is formed as an inclined surface inclined inward in the connector width direction as it goes downward. When the lock metal 60 is brought into contact with the inclined surface from above, The side arm portion 34 is elastically displaced in the same direction by a force including a component in the connector width direction outward direction. The side wall side locking protrusion 34A is formed by, for example, pressing in the plate thickness direction in the same manner as the end wall side locking protrusion 33A described above.

Returning to the description of the receptacle housing 10, 2, the end portion 10A of the receptacle housing 10 is provided with two brackets for pressing and holding the press-fitting arm portion 32B of the relative lock bracket 30 And the support groove 14A is formed so as to open upward (downward in Figs. 1 (a) and 1 (b)). 2, the base portion 31 of the relative lock metal fitting 30 and the side wall lock arm portion 34 are received in the side wall 14 and the end wall 15 constituting the end portion 10A, The receiving groove portion 10B is formed. The receiving groove portion 10B has an approximately U-shaped shape when viewed from above (Fig. 1 (a) and Fig. 1 (b)) and opens upward. The accommodating groove portion 10B has a portion of the end portion 10A extending along the side wall 14 toward the end space 16A. 1 (a) and 1 (b), when the relative lock piece 30 is mounted on the receptacle housing 10, the side wall base portion 31B of the relative lock piece 30 And the side wall side locking arm portions 34 are exposed toward the end space 16A.

2, the end portion 10A of the receptacle housing 10 has a receiving hole portion 15A for accommodating the two end wall side lock arm portions 33 of the relative lock metal fitting 30, respectively, Are opened upward from the end wall 15 (downward in Figs. 1 (a) and 1 (b)) and are arranged in the connector width direction. The two receiving hole portions 15A are positioned so as to be surrounded by the receiving groove portion 10B having a substantially U shape when viewed from above in Fig. 2, and open toward the end space 16A. 1 (a) and 1 (b), when the relative-lock metal fitting 30 is mounted on the receptacle housing 10, the end wall-side lock arm portion 33 is inserted into the end space (16A).

As shown in FIG. 1, a rim extending substantially in a U-shape along the inner edge of the upper surface of the end portion 10A of the receptacle housing 10, that is, the end space 16A, A guide surface 10C inclining downward toward the end space 16A side is formed. The end wall 45 of the plug connector 2 to be described later is guided into the end space 16A of the guide surface 10C so that the peripheral wall 43 of the plug connector 2 is inserted into the receptacle connector 1 In the receiving space 16 of the main body.

The mating terminal 20 is formed by punching the metal plate while maintaining the flat surface of the metal plate, and the plate surface is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. The mating terminal 20 has a substantially S-shaped cross-section as viewed in the terminal arrangement direction (plate thickness direction), and a corresponding contact portion 21 which contacts the terminal 50 of the plug connector 2 is formed on one end side And a connection portion 22 to be solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board is formed on the other end side. The relative terminal 20 is configured such that the pivot holder portion 23 having a reverse U-shape when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction straddles the side wall 14 of the receptacle housing 10, And is press-fitted into the holding groove (17). The pivot holder portion 23 is formed by protruding a locking protrusion 23A for engagement with the terminal 50 of the plug connector 2 toward the corresponding contact portion 21 side.

1 (a) and 1 (b), when the mating terminal 20 is held by the terminal holding groove 17, the mating terminal 21 of the mating terminal 20 Is projected from the side surface of the convex wall portion 12 toward the accommodation space 16 and the lock projection portion 23A is protruded from the inner side surface of the side wall 14 toward the accommodation space 16. [ The connecting portion 22 of the mating terminal 20 is extended from the receptacle housing 10 toward the outer side in the connector width direction at substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the receptacle housing 10.

The previously described relative lock metal fitting 30 is attached from the side of the bottom wall 11 (above in Fig. 2) of the receptacle housing 10, as shown in Fig. Specifically, the base portion 31 of the relative lock metal fitting 30, the side wall side lock arm portion 34, the press-in arm portion 32B, and the end wall side lock arm portion 33 are received by the receptacle housing 10 Is received in the receiving hole portion 15A in the groove portion 10B and in the metal holding groove 14A. As a result, the press-in protruding portion 32B-1 of the press-in arm portion 32B fits on the inner wall surface of the metal retaining groove 14A, so that the relative lock metal 30 is inserted into the receptacle housing 10 And is press-fitted and held.

Next, the configuration of the plug connector 2 will be described mainly based on Fig. 1 (a), Fig. 1 (b), and Fig. The plug connector 2 includes a plug housing 40 having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and a plurality of terminals arranged and arranged in two rows by the plug housing 40 in the longitudinal direction of the plug housing 40 And two lock pieces 60 which are held by both ends of the plug housing 40 (the end wall 45 described later) in the longitudinal direction. The lock metal fitting 60 also has a function as a reinforcing metal for reinforcing the plug housing 40, as will be described later. The plug connector 2 is disposed and mounted on a circuit board in a posture shown in Fig. 1 (a), and is fitted into a receptacle connector 1 as a mating connector in a posture that is turned upside down as shown in Fig. 1 Respectively.

The plug housing 40 is made of, for example, an electrically insulating material such as resin, and extends in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board in the longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The plug housing 40 includes a bottom wall 41 (see FIG. 1 (b)) parallel to the mounting surface and a bottom wall 41 as viewed in FIG. 1 (a) And a circumferential wall 43 as a fitting portion of a frame shape rising up toward the center. The peripheral wall 43 has a pair of side walls 44 extending in the terminal arrangement direction and extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction to connect the ends of the pair of side walls 44 And a pair of end walls 45 which are formed on the outer circumferential surface. A space surrounded by the peripheral wall 43 and opening upward is formed as a receiving space 46 for receiving the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1. [

The plug housing 40 is configured to hold the lock metal fitting 60. In order to understand the shape of the plug housing 40 prior to the specific description of the plug housing 40, Explain.

The structure of the lock metal 60 held by the plug housing 40 will be described mainly based on Fig. 4 (a). 4 (a), the lock piece 60 is shown in the same direction as the lock piece 60 of FIG. 1 (b) in the vertical direction, and the lock piece 60 of FIG. 1 (a) And in the up-and-down direction. The lock metal fitting 60 is formed by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending it in the plate thickness direction. The lock metal fitting 60 has a base portion 61 covering the lower surface (the upper surface in FIG. 1A) of the end wall 45 of the plug housing 40 in FIG. 1B, Side cover portion 62 that is bent upward from the base portion 61 and covers the end surface of the end wall 45 and a side wall portion side portion 60 that is bent upward from the base portion 61 and is curved upward And a side-wall-side confined portion 63 as a covering end plate portion.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the lock metal fitting 60 is attached to the end wall 45 of the peripheral wall 43 as the fitting portion of the plug connector 2, and the lock metal fitting 60 , Both sides and the end face. Therefore, even if the receptacle housing 10 is brought into contact with the receptacle housing 10 on each side of the end wall 45, the end wall 45 is hardly damaged. Further, since the metal plate as one member is formed by bending the lock metal fitting 60, the strength of the reinforcement metal itself is increased by the bent shape. As a result, the effect of preventing damage to the plug housing 40 of the plug connector 2 becomes greater.

The base portion 61 is formed with a slit portion 61A extending from the central position in the connector width direction (the left-right direction in Fig. 4 (a)) in the terminal arrangement direction (left diagonal downward direction in Fig. . The slit portion 61A is located in correspondence with the short groove portion 45B of the end wall 45 of the plug housing 40 to be described later with the lock metal fitting 60 mounted on the plug housing 40 1 (a) and 7 (a) and 7 (b)).

As shown in Fig. 4 (a), the end wall side unlocked portion 62 is located at a position corresponding to the end wall side lock arm portion 33 of the relative lock metal fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector width direction Walled convex portion 62A to be engaged with the end wall side lock portion 33A of the end wall side lock arm portion 33 is formed in a substantially semicircular shape Respectively.

4 (a), the sidewall-side secured portion 63 is provided at a position on the lower side close to the base portion 61, in the vicinity of the edge portion of the terminal arrangement range (lower left side in FIG. 4 (a) And side wall side concave portions 63A for engagement with the side wall side locking projections 34A of the relative lock pieces 30 of the receptacle connector 1 are formed extending in the terminal arrangement direction. An engaging arm portion 63B for mounting the lock metal fitting 60 to the plug housing 40 is formed to extend inward of the terminal arrangement range at the upper side of the side wall side concave portion 63A . The latch arm portion 63B is bent slightly inward in the connector width direction, and is slightly bent, thereby forming a latching portion capable of resilient displacement in the width direction of the connector. The side wall side concave portion 63A accommodates the side wall side locking protrusion 34A of the relative lock piece 30 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector fitting state as described later, And is engaged with the sidewall side locking protrusion 34A at the lower edge of the side groove concave portion 63A in the connector detachment direction (upper direction).

Returning to the description of the receptacle housing 10, The end wall 45 of the receptacle housing 10 holds the lock metal fitting 60 as shown in Figs. 1 (a) and 1 (b). As shown in FIG. 3, the end wall 45 has a top surface (a bottom surface in FIG. 1B), a side surface (a surface perpendicular to the connector width direction) Is inclined by the amount corresponding to the thickness of the lock metal fitting 60. [0064] The side surface of the end wall 45 has a substantially lower half portion that is further inwardly formed and has an end portion which is engaged with the plug housing 40 for attachment of the lock metal fitting 60 to the plug housing 40 And serves as a part 45A. As shown in Fig. 3, on the upper surface of the end wall 45, there is formed a short groove portion 45B as a groove portion extending from the central position in the connector width direction to the terminal arrangement direction. The stepped groove portion 45B accommodates the protruding portion 18 of the receptacle housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1 in the state of fitting the connector as described later (Figs. 7A and 7B) Reference).

The terminal 50 is made by bending a strip piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction. The terminals 50 are integrally molded and held on the side walls 44 of the plug housing 40 and arranged at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the side walls 44. [ The terminal 50 has a linear connection portion 51 extending outward from the side wall 44 in the connector width direction at substantially the same height position as the bottom wall 41 of the receptacle housing 10, And has an inverted U-shaped portion which is curved upwardly (downward in FIG. 1 (b)) in FIG. 1 (a) and FIG. 3 and folded back into an inverted U- have. The inverted U-shaped portion extends along the side wall 44 and is formed in such a manner that the inverted U-shaped plate surface forms the same surface as the side wall 44.

One of the two leg portions of the inverted U-shaped portion of the terminal 50 located on the inner side of the side wall 44 is a contact portion for contacting the mating terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1, As shown in Fig. The contact portion 52 is formed with a contact concave portion 52A for receiving the protruding contact portion 21 of the mating terminal 20 from the plate surface. The other leg portion located on the outer side of the side wall 44 is formed as a locked portion 53 for engaging with the lock projection 23A of the mating terminal 20. A concave portion 53A for receiving the lock protrusion 23A is formed in the protector 53 from the plate surface.

The mounting of the lock metal fitting 60 to the plug housing 40 of the plug connector 2 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, the lock metal fitting 60 extends from the side (upper side in Fig. 3) where the housing space 46 of the plug housing 40 is opened to the end wall 45 of the plug housing 40 As shown in Fig. As a result, the upper surface of the end wall 45, both side surfaces (the surface perpendicular to the connector width direction), and the end surface (surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of FIG. 3 are covered with the lock metal 60. Therefore, the end wall 45 is reinforced by the lock metal 60, so that the end wall 45 is less likely to be deformed by an unexpected external force.

In the process of mounting the lock metal fitting 60, first, the two engaging arm portions 63B as engaging portions of the lock metal fitting 60 abut on the side surface of the end wall 45 of the plug housing 40, respectively, , And are elastically displaced toward the outside of the connector width direction (directions away from each other). When the latch arm portion 63B rides over the stepped shaped latching portion 45A and reaches the lower position of the corresponding latching portion 45A, the latching arm portion 63B is in the elastic displacement state Lt; / RTI &gt; As a result, the latching arm portion 63B is engaged with the corresponding latching portion 45A to prevent the lock metal 60 from coming off from the plug housing 40 in the vertical direction (Figs. 7A and 7B) 7 (b)).

In the present embodiment, the entire latching arm portion 63B is formed as a latching portion. Alternatively, however, only a part of the latching arm portion 63B may be formed as a latching portion by bending deformation processing. In the present embodiment, the engaging arm portion and the concave portion are formed on the side wall of the housing, but it is needless to say that it may be formed on the side of the wall.

In this embodiment, since the engaging arm portion 63B of the lock metal fitting 60 is engaged with the corresponding engaging portion 45A of the plug housing 40 in the shape of a step, the width of the plug housing 40 in the width direction It is possible to reduce the size of the device. More specifically, for example, a slit-shaped holding groove parallel to both side surfaces of the end wall of the housing is formed on the end wall, and the fitting shape of the lock piece is press-fitted into the holding groove. , It is necessary to form the wall portion surrounding the holding groove with a sufficient thickness so that the housing becomes large in the width direction and the length direction of the housing. In the present embodiment, the engaging portions 45A for engaging the engaging arm portions 63B of the lock metal fitting 60 are simply formed by cutting off portions of both sides of the end wall 45 of the plug housing 40 The plug housing 40 is not enlarged in the width direction and the length direction. Further, since the engaging portion 45A has a simple shape, it is easy to form the engaging portion 45A.

Next, a fitting operation of the connectors according to Figs. 1 (b), 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be described. Fig. 5 is a view showing the relative lock piece 30 of the receptacle connector 1 of Fig. 4 and the lock piece 60 of the plug connector 2 before the connector is fitted. Fig. 5 (a) 5A is a VA-VA sectional view of Fig. 4A, and Fig. 5B is a VB arrow of Fig. 6 shows only the relative lock piece 30 of the receptacle connector 1 of Fig. 4 and the lock piece 60 of the plug connector 2 in the locked state after the connector fitting. Fig. 6 Is a sectional view taken along the line VIA-VIA in Fig. 4 (b), and Fig. 6 (b) is a view taken along the line VIB in Fig. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction at the positions of the ends of the receptacle connector and plug connector in the terminal arrangement direction. Fig. 7 (a) b) shows a cross section in the connector fitting state.

First, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are attached to corresponding circuit boards by solder connection. Next, as shown in Fig. 1 (b), the receptacle connector 1 is set in a state in which the accommodation space 16 faces upward, and the plug connector 2 is placed above the receptacle connector 1, And the accommodation space 46 of the second housing 40 faces downward. At this time, as shown in Figs. 4 (a), 5 (a), 5 (b) and 7 (a), the lock metal portions are fixed to the end wall side concave portion 62A of the lock metal fitting 60 The side wall side concave portions 63A are located at positions corresponding to the end wall side lock projection portions 33A and the side wall side lock projection portions 34A of the relative lock metal fittings 30 respectively. 7A, the short groove portion 45B and the slit portion 61A of the plug connector 2 are positioned above the protruding portion 18 of the receptacle connector 1. As shown in Fig.

Next, the plug connector 2 is moved downward while maintaining the attitude of Fig. 1 (b), and the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1 is moved downward into the accommodating space 46 of the plug connector 2 And causes the peripheral wall 43 of the plug connector 2 to enter from the upper side into the receiving space 16 of the receptacle connector 1. In addition, As a result, the corresponding contact portion 21 and the lock projection 23A of the mating terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 are inserted into the contact concave portion 52A of the terminal 50 of the plug connector 2, (53A), and electrical contact between the terminals and locking in the connector withdrawing direction (upward) are made.

7 (b), the protruding portion 18 of the receptacle housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1 is inserted into the slit portion 61A of the lock metal fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 Penetrates from the lower side and enters the short groove portion 45B of the plug housing 40. [ As a result, even if an external force such as vibration is applied in the connector fitting state, the connector can be prevented from moving in the connector width direction (left and right direction in Fig. 7B) by the inner wall surface of the stepped portion 45B and the edge portion of the slit portion 61A, The movement of the protruding portion 18 in the width direction is restricted, so that the displacement of the connectors in the width direction can be prevented. Particularly, the edge portion of the slit 61A is a part of the lock metal 60, which is a member made of metal, and the strength is high, so that the effect of regulation is improved.

In the connector fitting process, the end wall-side secured portion 62 of the lock metal fitting 60 is formed so that the end wall-side lock arm portion 33 of the relative lock metal fitting 30 is located outside the terminal arrangement direction Wall side lock portion 33A of the end wall side lock arm portion 33 on the plate surface of the end wall side lock portion 62 while being elastically displaced toward the end wall side lock arm portion 33A. As shown in Fig. 4 (b), Fig. 6 (a) and Fig. 6 (b), the end wall side concave portion 62A of the end wall side covered portion 62 is formed by the end wall side lock projection 33A Side lock arm portion 33 is returned to the free state and the end wall side lock projection portion 33A comes to the position of the end wall side concave recess portion 33A 62A. As a result, the end wall side lock projection portion 33A and the end wall side groove concave portion 62A are engaged with each other.

On the other hand, the sidewall-side secured portion 63 of the lock metal fitting 60 resiliently displaces the sidewall-side lock arm portion 34 of the relative lock metal fitting 30 outward in the connector width direction, Side sliding lock portion 34A of the side wall-side lock arm portion 34. The side wall- As shown in Figs. 4 (b), 6 (a), 6 (b), and 7 (b), the sidewall side protective concave portion 63A of the sidewall- The side wall side lock arm portion 34 is returned to the free state and the side wall side lock portion 34A is moved to the side wall side It rushes into the groove concave portion 63A. As a result, the sidewall side locking protrusion 34A and the sidewall side concave portion 63A are engaged with each other.

In this manner, the lock pieces come to the regular lock positions, and the fitting operation of the connectors is completed. As a result, by engaging the end wall side lock projection portion 33A with the end wall side groove concave portion 62A and the engagement between the side wall side lock projection portion 34A and the side wall side groove concave portion 63A, Unintentional withdrawal is prevented.

In the present embodiment, the end wall side arm portion 33 and the side wall side arm portion 34 of the relative lock piece 30 of the receptacle connector 1 are in a state in which the lock pieces come to a regular lock position The side wall-side confined portion 62 and the side wall-side confined portion 63 of the lock metal fitting 60, respectively. Therefore, stress concentration is unlikely to occur, as compared with the conventional sliding contact of the lock metal in the plate thickness direction cut surface or the edge portion. As a result, the plate surfaces of the relative lock metal fitting 30 and the lock metal fitting 60 are less likely to be scratched, so that there is no reduction in the engagement clearance due to abrasion and the deterioration of the lock engaging force can be avoided have.

The relative lock piece 30 and the lock piece 60 have lock portions at three positions in total at the ends of each connector, on the side of the end wall, and on the two side walls facing each other. Therefore, even if the plug connector 2 is inclined in either the terminal arrangement direction or the connector width direction in the connector fitting state, a strong locking force is secured against this, so that unintentional disconnection of the connectors can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, since the side arm side lock arm portions 34 of the relative lock metal fittings 30 are directed in the terminal arrangement direction, as compared with the case where the side arm side lock arm portions 34 are directed in the vertical direction (insertion and removal direction of the connector) The arm portion 34 can be made longer. Therefore, since the amount of elastic displacement due to the sliding contact with the plate surface of the side wall-side secured portion 63 of the lock metal fitting 60 becomes large, the amount of elastic displacement due to the sliding contact of the plate surfaces of the lock metal fittings The pressure can be lowered and the amount of engagement of the lock pieces after the connector fitting is completed can be increased. As a result, the plate surfaces of the relative lock piece 30 and the lock piece 60 are hardly scratched, and the lock pieces can be securely latched.

In the present embodiment, the side wall side lock arm portion of the relative lock metal is directed in the terminal array direction from the side wall base portion. However, the direction in which the side wall side lock arm portion is directed is not limited to this. For example, in the insertion and removal direction (vertical direction) of the connector from the side wall base portion.

In the present embodiment, two rocking arm portions of the relative lock metal and a single rocking wall side rocking concave portion of the lock metal are respectively formed. Alternatively, only one rocking arm portion and three or more rocking metal portions may be formed good.

In the present embodiment, the protruding lock portion is formed on the relative lock piece of the receptacle connector and the concave portion is formed on the lock piece of the plug connector. However, instead of this, And a protruding lock portion may be formed on the lock metal. In this embodiment, the lock arm portion capable of being resiliently displaceable is formed in the relative lock piece. However, instead of this, a lock arm portion may be formed in the lock piece, or a lock arm portion may be formed in the relative lock piece .

1: receptacle connector
2: Plug connector
10: Receptacle housing
16: accommodation space
18: Stone formation
20: Relative terminal
30: Relative lock bracket
40: Plug housing
43: peripheral wall (fitting portion)
45A:
45B: Short groove portion (groove portion)
50: terminal
60: Lock bracket (reinforcement bracket)
61: donation
61A:
62: Side wall-side confined part (side plate part)
63: end wall side uncovered portion (single plate portion)
63B: engaging arm portion (engaging portion)

Claims (4)

A receptacle connector as a mating connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board; and a mounting portion which is disposed on a mounting surface of another circuit board and which is vertically orthogonal to the mounting surface, An electrical connector assembly having a plug connector to be connected,
Wherein the receptacle connector has a plurality of mating terminals arranged and held in the receptacle housing in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board in an arranging direction, And has a receiving space which is opened upward so as to be accommodated,
Wherein the plug connector is configured such that a plurality of terminals connected to mating terminals formed in the receptacle connector in a connector fitting state are arranged and held in the plug housing in the same direction as the arranging direction and the plug housing is formed in the receptacle connector An electrical connector assembly having a fitting portion that is fitted into a receiving space,
The plug connector has a reinforcing metal fitting (metal fitting) attached to an end portion of the fitting portion in the arranging direction,
Wherein the reinforcing metal member is formed by bending a metal plate as one member and has a fitting portion of the plug connector which is provided with a base portion which covers the lower surface of the end portion of the fitting portion in a plane perpendicular to the direction of insertion and removal of the connector, A side plate portion that covers both sides of the end portion in a plane surface parallel to both the arrangement direction and the insertion direction of the connector and a direction in which the connector is pulled out, (End plate portion)
The side plate portion of the reinforcing bracket has an arm portion extending inward in the arranging direction, the arm portion forming a latching portion at least at a portion thereof, and the plug housing is formed as a step portion at the side of the end portion of the fitting portion Wherein the engaging portion of the reinforcing metal is capable of engaging with a corresponding engaging portion of the plug housing in a connector insertion and removal direction when the plug housing is attached to the plug housing. delete The method according to claim 1,
The plug connector is characterized in that the plug housing has a groove portion extending in the terminal arranging direction on the lower surface of the end portion of the fitting portion and the base portion of the reinforcing metal member has the same width as that of the groove portion in the position corresponding to the groove portion, And a slit portion,
The receptacle connector has a protruding portion protruding upward from a bottom surface of the accommodating space at the end in the arranging direction and extending in the arranging direction with the same width as that of the groove portion and the slit portion,
Wherein the protruding portion of the receptacle connector passes through the slit portion of the plug connector and enters the groove portion in the connector fitting state. The receptacle connector as a mating connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board and being vertically disposed perpendicularly to the mounting surface of the other circuit board, A plug connector comprising:
The plurality of terminals connected to the mating terminal formed in the receptacle connector in the connector fitting state are arranged and held in the plug housing in the arranging direction parallel to the mounting surface of the other circuit board, And a plug connector having a fitting portion to be fitted from above into a receiving space formed in the receptacle connector,
The plug connector has a reinforcing metal member attached to an end portion of the fitting portion in the arranging direction,
The side plate portion of the reinforcing bracket has an arm portion extending inward in the arranging direction, the arm portion forming a latching portion at least at a portion thereof, and the plug housing is formed as a step portion at the side of the end portion of the fitting portion Wherein the engaging portion of the reinforcing metal is capable of engaging with the corresponding engaging portion of the plug housing in a direction of insertion and removal of the plug when the plug housing is attached to the plug housing.

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