BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the socket connector of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view of a socket connector 10 and a base connector 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side of the socket connector 10 in a separated state. 2 is a perspective view from the side of the socket connector 10 in a state where the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 shown in Fig. 1 are combined. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 in a combined state, taken along the line A-A shown in Fig. 5A. 4A and 4B are perspective views showing the base connector 30 used in combination with the socket connector 10. 5A is a plan view showing the base connector 30 shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in Fig. 5A. 5C is a sectional view taken along the line B-B shown in Fig. 5A.
6A and 6B are perspective views of a socket housing 12 of an embodiment of the present invention. 7A is a plan view showing the socket connector 10 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B. 7B is a side view of the socket connector 10. Fig. 7C is a sectional view taken along the line C-C shown in Fig. 7A. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the socket housing 12 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B taken along the line D-D shown in Fig. 7A. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the socket housing 12 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B taken along the line E-E shown in Fig. 7A.
1 to 3, the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment includes a socket housing 12 and a lock arm 15 connected to an outer surface of the socket housing 12. As shown in Fig. The socket connector 10 is used in combination with the base connector 30. The base connector 30 has a base housing 31 having a latch portion 36 and is fixed to the circuit board S.
In the following description, the state in which the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are combined is referred to as a " combined state ". In the combined state, the direction from the socket connector 10 to the base connector is referred to as " first direction D1 ". And the direction opposite to the first direction D1 is referred to as " second direction D2 ". The direction along the rotation axis of the lock arm 15 is referred to as " third direction D3 ". And is perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the third direction D3 and at the same time in a direction from the center of the socket housing 12 toward the lock arm 15 or from the center of the base housing 31 toward the latch portion 36 Direction is referred to as " fourth direction D4 ". And the direction opposite to the fourth direction D4 is referred to as " fifth direction D5 ".
First, the configuration of the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to Figs. 6A to 9. Fig.
6A to 9, the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment has a pair of protruding portions, which protrude toward the fifth direction D5 side and the third direction D3 side, respectively, of the socket housing 12, And the engaging guide ribs 51, 51 of the engaging guide ribs 51, 51 are provided. The socket housing 12 is provided with a pair of side ribs 53 and 53 projecting toward the third direction D3 side in the fourth direction D4. The socket housing 12 is provided with an injury preventing rib 54 projecting toward the fifth direction D5 side in the fifth direction D5.
Next, the base connector 30 used in combination with the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5C.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 5C, the base connector 30 is a connector fixed to the surface of the circuit board S. The base connector 30 includes a base housing 31 made of a synthetic resin and a plurality of terminals 35. The base housing 31 is provided standing from four sides of a substantially rectangular plate portion 38 and a substantially rectangular plate portion 38 when seen in a plan view (in the first direction D1) And has a substantially rectangular frame-shaped peripheral wall portion 32 as viewed in a plan view. The peripheral wall portion 32 is not necessarily continuous, but has a generally rectangular frame shape as a whole.
The substantially rectangular frame-like peripheral wall portion 32 includes a front wall portion 32a, a rear wall portion 32c, and side wall portions 32b and 32b. The front wall portion 32a is located on the fourth direction D4 side and extends in the third direction D3. The rear wall portion 32c is located on the fifth direction D5 side and extends in the third direction D3. The pair of side wall portions 32b extend in the fourth direction D4 (fifth direction D5) so as to connect both end portions of the front wall portion 32a and both end portions of the rear wall portion 32c. A latch portion 36 is provided on the outer surface of the front wall portion 32a on the side in the fourth direction D4. The height of the rear wall portion 32c is lower than the height of the front wall portion 32a and the side wall portion 32b in order to avoid interference between the rear wall portion 32c and the cable 11 (described later in detail) of the socket connector 10. [ .
The region on the side of the bottom plate portion 38 of the base connector 30 in the fourth direction D4 (the front wall portion 32a) rises toward the second direction D2 side to form the pedestal portion 34. [ The pedestal portion 34 is adjacent to the front wall portion 32a. The pedestal portion 34 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along the third direction D3. Two pairs of first relief portions 33 are formed in the vicinity of the central portion of the pedestal portion 34 in the third direction D3. The first relief portion 33 is recessed in the first direction D1 and extends along the fourth direction D4. The first relief portion 33 is provided in order to avoid interference between the stopper 23 (described later in detail) of the socket connector 10 and the pedestal portion 34 of the base connector 30 in the combined state .
A second relief portion 32d is formed at a position outside the latch portion 36 in the third direction D3 in the front wall portion 32a. The second relief portion 32d is recessed in the first direction D1. The second relief portion 32d is provided in the combination state to avoid interference between the fulcrum portion 15c of the socket connector 10 and the connecting portion 18 and the front wall portion 32a of the base connector 30 Respectively.
The terminal 35 is made of a metal piece. The terminal 35 has a socket side connection portion 35a protruding from the pedestal portion 34 in the second direction D2 and a socket side connection portion 35b projecting from the front wall portion 32a through the bottom plate portion 38 in the fourth direction D4 And a substrate-side connecting portion 35b. The socket-side connecting portion 35a is electrically connected to the terminal 11a (see Fig. 3) of the cable 11 in the socket connector 10 in the combined state. The board-side connecting portion 35b is electrically connected to the wiring on the circuit board S and is mechanically fixed to the circuit board S by soldering or the like.
A sidewall portion first convex portion 32e protruding toward the inside of the third direction D3 is formed at the center of the pair of sidewall portions 32b and 32b in the fourth direction D4. A groove 43 for side ribs is formed between the front wall portion 32a and the side wall first convex portion 32e.
A sidewall second convex portion 32f protruding toward the inside of the third direction D3 is formed in the fifth direction D5 of the pair of sidewall portions 32b and 32b. A groove 41 for a fitting guide rib is formed between the side wall first convex portion 32e and the side wall second convex portion 32f.
In addition, on the side of the rear wall portion 32c in the fourth direction D4, there is formed a groove 44 for an injury prevention rib.
The groove 43 for the side rib is formed in the base housing 31. The side rib grooves 43 are formed in the base housing 31 in the fourth direction D4 while the pair of side ribs 53 and 53 And is guided to a position on the one-direction (D1) side. The side rib grooves 43 extend in the first direction D1 from the end of the side wall portion 32b on the second direction D2 side to the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 38. [ The side rib grooves 43 can accommodate the side ribs 53 in the combined state.
The fitting guide rib grooves 41 and 41 are formed in the base housing 31. The fitting guide rib grooves 41 and 41 are formed in the socket housing 12 in such a manner that a pair of fitting guide ribs 51 and 51 (D5) side and a position on the first direction (D1) side. The fitting guide rib groove 41 extends in the first direction D1 from the end of the side wall portion 32b on the second direction D2 side to the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 38. [ The fitting guide rib groove 41 has a fitting guide rib engaging portion 42 at a position on the first direction D1 side in the fifth direction D5. The fitting guide rib engaging portion 42 extends in the fifth direction D5 and is capable of accommodating the fitting guide rib 51 in the combined state. That is, the groove 41 for the fitting guide ribs extends in the first direction D1 from the end of the side wall 32b on the side in the second direction D2 as a whole, and is formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 38 And is bent toward the fifth direction D5, and has a substantially L shape as viewed from the side.
A groove 44 for a floating prevention rib is formed in the base housing 31. The flotation-preventing rib groove 44 extends in the fifth direction D5 and is a groove that can receive the flotation prevention ribs 54 (to be described in detail later) of the socket housing 12 in the combined state. The floating prevention rib groove 44 is located on the side of the rear wall portion 32c of the base housing 31 in the first direction D1 and opens toward the fourth direction D4.
In the base connector 30, a receiving space 39 is formed. The accommodating space 39 is a space surrounded by the bottom plate portion 38 (including the pedestal portion 34) and the substantially rectangular frame-shaped peripheral wall portion 32. The accommodation space 39 is opened in the second direction D2. In the combined state, most of the socket housing 12 in the first direction D1 is accommodated in the accommodating space 39. [
A latch portion 36 is provided on the outer surface of the front wall portion 32a of the base housing 31 (the surface on the fourth direction D4 side). The latch portion 36 is engaged with the hook portion 15a (to be described later in detail) of the lock arm 15 in the socket connector 10. On the outer surface side of the latch portion 36, a latch inclined surface portion 37b and a coupling projection 37a are formed. The latch inclined surface portion 37b is an inclined surface portion inclined from the second direction D2 side of the latch portion 36 toward the first direction D1 and toward the fourth direction D4. The engaging projection 37a is a projection located on the latch inclined surface portion 37b in the first direction D1.
Next, the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment used in combination with the above-described base connector 30 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 6A to 9. Fig.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 6A to 9, the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment includes a socket housing 12, a lock arm 15, and a cable 11.
The socket housing 12 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The lock arm 15 is connected to the outer surface of the socket housing 12 in the fourth direction D4. As shown in Fig. 3, the terminal 11a of the cable 11 is disposed inside the socket housing 12. As shown in Fig. The other end side of the cable 11 extends from the socket housing 12 in the fifth direction D5. The terminal 11a of the cable 11 is electrically connected to the terminal 35 of the base connector 30 in the combined state.
The socket housing 12 has a flange portion 12a. The flange portion 12a is formed by extending a frame portion along the fourth direction D4 on the second direction D2 side outward in the third direction D3. The flange portion 12a improves the ease of gripping the socket housing 12 when the socket connector 10 is attached and detached.
Outer surface recesses 24 and 24 recessed toward the inside of the third direction D3 are formed on a pair of side surfaces of the socket housing 12 along the fourth direction D4. The outer surface concave portion 24 is formed at a position facing the side wall first convex portion 32e of the base connector 30 in the combined state. The outer surface concave portion 24 has a shape slightly larger than the sidewall portion first convex portion 32e. Therefore, when the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are combined, the side wall first protrusion 32e is inserted into the outer surface recess 24 in the first direction D1 to function as an insertion guide .
Portions in the fourth direction D4 and the fifth direction D5 relative to the outer surface concave portion 24 on the side surface of the socket housing 12 are formed in the third direction D3 As shown in Fig. And a pair of fitting guide ribs 51 and 51 projecting outward in the third direction D3 from the portion in the fifth direction D5 relative to the outer surface recessed portion 24 on the side surface of the socket housing 12. [ And a pair of extension ribs 52 and 52 "
More specifically, the fitting guide ribs 51 are provided so as to protrude outward in the third direction D3 on the side of the socket housing 12 in the fifth direction D5. The fitting guide ribs 51 are located on the side of the socket housing 12 in the fifth direction D5 and on the first direction D1 side.
The extension rib 52 is integrally formed with the fitting guide rib 51 and extends from the fitting guide rib 51 to the flange portion 12a. Specifically, the extension rib 52 extends in the second direction D2 from the fourth direction D4 side of the fitting guide rib 51, and is bent toward the fourth direction D4 And is connected to the flange portion 12a.
The fitting guide rib 51 and the extending rib 52 are inserted into the fitting guide groove groove 41 in the first direction D1 when the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are combined, .
A pair of side ribs 53 and 53 protruding outward in the third direction D3 from the portion in the fourth direction D4 than the outer surface recessed portion 24 on the side surface of the socket housing 12 are formed have.
Specifically, the pair of side ribs 53, 53 are provided so as to protrude outward in the third direction D3 on the side of the socket housing 12 in the fourth direction D4. The side rib 53 is formed with a side rib inclined portion 53a. The side rib inclined portion 53a is provided on the side surface of the side rib 53 in the fourth direction D4 and toward the first direction D1 and in the fifth direction D5 toward the first direction D1 There is an incline.
The side ribs 53 are inserted into the side groove grooves 43 in the first direction D1 to function as insertion guides when the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are combined.
On the fifth direction side of the socket housing 12, an injury preventing rib 54 protruding toward the fifth direction D5 is provided. In detail, a rectangular cable insertion hole 12d into which the cable 11 is inserted is formed in the rear portion 12c of the socket housing 12. As shown in Fig. The injury preventing ribs 54 extend in the third direction D3 along the side of the cable insertion hole 12d in the first direction D1. Therefore, the injury preventing ribs 54 are located on the side of the socket housing 12 in the first direction D1.
The lock arm 15 includes a hook portion 15a extending in the first direction D1 and a counterpoint portion 15b extending in the second direction D2 and a counter portion 15b extending between the hook portion 15a and the counterpoint 15b. And a supporting point portion 15c positioned thereon. The fulcrum portion 15c is connected to the outer surface of the socket housing 12. The lock arm 15 is configured such that the hook portion 15a and the inverted point portion 15b are rotatable about the fulcrum portion 15c.
The hook portion 15a is plate-shaped as a whole. The tip portion (the end on the first direction D1 side) of the hook portion 15a is an engaging projection protruding toward the fifth direction D5. The hook portion 15a rotates about the rotation axis along the third direction D3 with the fulcrum portion 15c as a fulcrum. The hook portion 15a is rotatable in the range of a predetermined angle toward the fifth direction D5 or toward the fourth direction D4. A pressing force is generated on the hook portion 15a so as to rotate in the fifth direction D5 in the state in which the inverted point portion 15b is rotated in the fifth direction D5.
The inverted point portion 15b is plate-shaped as a whole. The tip portion (the end on the second direction D2 side) of the inverted portion 15b is a bulge which bulges toward the fourth direction D4. This bulging portion is formed in order to improve the ease of pressing when the counterpoint 15b is pressed with a finger or the like. The inverted point portion 15b is located on the opposite side of the hook portion 15a with the fulcrum portion 15c therebetween. The turning point portion 15b rotates about the rotation axis along the third direction D3 with the fulcrum portion 15c as a fulcrum. The inverted point 15b is rotatable in the range of a predetermined angle toward the fourth direction D4 or toward the fifth direction D5.
The socket housing (12) has a contact surface (21). The contact surface 21 is located at a connecting portion 18 which is connected to the fulcrum portion 15c of the socket housing 12. [ The contact surface 21 is a surface in contact with the end surface of the base connector 30 on the second direction D2 side in the combined state. The contact surface 21 is in contact with the end surface of the front wall portion 32a of the peripheral wall portion 32 of the base connector 30 on the second direction D2 side.
The support point portions 15c are provided with two (one pair) spaced apart in the third direction D3. That is, the fulcrum portion 15c is discontinuous in the third direction D3. The fulcrum portion 15c is located on the side of the contact surface 21 in the first direction D1.
An opening space (20) is formed in the socket housing (12). The open space 20 is a space opened to the first direction D1 side in the first direction D1 side of the connecting portion 18. [
The open space 20 is a space in which the peripheral wall portion 32 (i.e., the front wall portion 32a) to which the latch portion 36 of the base connector 30 is connected is accommodated in the combined state.
The socket housing (12) has a stopper (23). The stopper 23 is provided to prevent an excessive entry of the hook portion 15a into the open space 20 when the hook portion 15a rotates around the fulcrum portion 15c. The term " preventing the hook portion 15a from entering the open space 20 excessively " means that (1) the hook portion 15a does not enter the open space 20 at all and (2) Means that the hook portion 15a is prevented from entering the open space 20 within a range in which the function of the fulcrum portion 15c is not lost even if the hook portion 15a enters. Examples in which the function of the fulcrum portion 15c is lost include fracture, fracture, plastic deformation, etc. of the fulcrum portion 15c.
Two stoppers 23 are provided in the third direction D3. The stopper 23 is guided into the first relief portion 33 when the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are combined. The stopper 23 is provided at a position facing the first relief portion 33 in the combined state. The stopper 23 has a shape slightly smaller than that of the first relief portion 33.
The socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 having the above-described configuration are combined as follows, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, so that a socket-base connector pair is formed. The side wall first convex portion 32e and the outer side concave portion 24 are opposed to each other so that the fitting guide rib 51 and the fitting guide rib groove 41 are opposed to each other, The opening space 20 and the front wall portion 32a of the peripheral wall portion 32 are opposed to each other so that the stopper 23 and the first relief portion 33 are opposed to each other, 15c and the second relief portion 32d. In this state, the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are relatively moved in the first direction D1 or the second direction D2.
As a result, the side wall first convex portion 32e is inserted into the outer surface concave portion 24, the fitting guide rib 51 is inserted into the fitting guide groove groove 41, and the side ribs 53 The front wall portion 32a of the peripheral wall portion 32 is inserted into the open space 20 and the stopper 23 is inserted into the first relief portion 33, (15c) is inserted into the second relief portion (32d).
In particular, it is preferable that the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are combined in the procedure shown in Figs. 10A to 11B. Figs. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B are schematic diagrams showing the sequence of combining the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 sequentially. 10A to 11B, the socket connector 10 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.
First, the fifth direction D5 side of the socket housing 12 of the socket connector 10 is tilted toward the first direction D1. In this state, the fitting guide ribs 51 are engaged with the fitting groove (41). That is, before inserting the side ribs 53 into the side rib grooves 43, the fitting guide ribs 51 are inserted into the grooves 41 for the fitting guide ribs.
The socket connector 10 is moved in the first direction D1 toward the base connector 30 in a state in which the slope thereof is substantially maintained. At some point, the side rib inclined portion 53a of the side rib 53 contacts the wall in the fourth direction D4 in the groove 43 for the side rib. At this point, the fitting guide rib 51 is located in the vicinity of the fitting guide rib engaging portion 42 in the fitting guide rib groove 41. In addition, the injury preventing ribs 54 are located in the vicinity of the groove 44 for the injury preventing ribs.
When the socket connector 10 is further moved in the first direction D1, the side ribs 53 receive a reaction force in the fifth direction D5 from the groove 43 for the side ribs. As a result, the fitting guide ribs 51 are slidably received and accommodated in the fitting guide rib engaging portions 42. Similarly, the injury preventing ribs 54 are slidably received and accommodated in the groove 44 for the injury preventing ribs.
As described above, when the fitting guide rib 51 is received in the fitting guide rib catching portion 42 and the flotation preventing ribs 54 are accommodated in the flotation rib grooves 44, the socket housing 12, Even if the fifth direction D5 side of the engaging guide rib 51 is moved away from the base housing 31 (i.e., in the fourth direction D4) 42). The fifth direction D5 of the socket housing 12 is difficult to separate from the base housing 31 because the flotation prevention ribs 54 are caught in the flotation rib grooves 44. [
Further, the extending rib 52 functions as a reinforcing member of the fitting guide rib 51. That is, in the process of combining the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30, the fitting guide ribs 51 are subjected to a load in a bending direction. On the other hand, the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment has an extending rib 52 integrally formed with the fitting guide rib 51. [ Even if the fitting guide rib 51 is hooked on the fitting guide rib groove 41 or the like and a load in the direction of bending the fitting guide rib 51 is applied to the fitting guide rib 51, Is difficult to bend.
After the fitting guide ribs 51 are received in the fitting guide rib engaging portions 42 and the flushing preventing ribs 54 are received in the flushing rib grooves 44 or at substantially the same time, The hook portion 15a of the latch portion 15 slides on the latch inclined surface portion 37b of the latch portion 36 and rotates about the fulcrum portion 15c in the fourth direction D4. Further, along with this rotation, the hook portion 15a rides over the engaging projection 37a and is engaged with the latch portion 36. [ In this manner, the engaged state of the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 is maintained by the hook portion 15a and the latch portion 36 being engaged.
When releasing the engagement between the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30, the hook portion 15a is rotated in the fourth direction D4 about the fulcrum portion 15c by depressing the inverted portion 15b . The socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 are relatively separated from each other in the first direction D1 or the second direction D2 so that the combined state of the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 Can be released.
According to the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the following effects are exhibited.
In the socket connector 10 of the present embodiment, the socket housing 12 is provided with the injury preventing ribs 54 projecting toward the fifth direction D5 side in the fifth direction D5. The base housing 31 is provided with a groove 44 for preventing the lifting ribs 54 extending in the fifth direction D5 and capable of holding the lifting ribs 54 in a combined state.
Therefore, even if the fifth direction D5 of the socket housing 12 is moved in the direction away from the base housing 31 (that is, in the second direction D2), the injury preventing ribs 54 And is caught in the floating prevention rib groove 44. This makes it difficult for the socket housing 12 to be separated from the base housing 31 in the fifth direction D5. Therefore, the fulcrum portion 15c of the lock arm 15 is hard to break.
The socket housing 12 has a pair of fitting guide ribs 51 projecting outward in the third direction D3 on the fifth direction D5 side. The base housing 31 has a pair of fitting guide ribs 51 for guiding the pair of fitting guide ribs 51 to a position on the side of the base housing 31 in the fifth direction D5 and on the side of the first direction D1 And a groove 41 for a fitting guide rib.
The direction of the fifth direction D5 of the socket housing 12 is directed toward the base housing 31 as shown in the combining procedure of the socket connector 10 and the base connector 30 described above, And can be stably moved. Therefore, the lock arm 15 and the latch portion 36 can be easily engaged in a state in which the socket housing 12 is completely combined with the base housing 31. [
Although the embodiments of the socket connector of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed.
For example, the position of the fitting guide ribs 51, the extending ribs 52, the side ribs 53, the side rib inclined portions 53a, the injury preventing ribs 54 and the like in the socket housing 12, Size, shape, and the like. The side rib inclined portion 53a may be provided over the whole area of the side rib 53 on the side in the fourth direction D4. Rounding may be applied to the portion of the side rib 53 on the side of the fourth direction D4 instead of the side rib inclined portion 53a.
In the base housing 31, the positions of the fitting guide rib groove 41, the fitting guide rib catching portion 42, the side rib groove 43, the flotation rib groove 44 and the like, Size, shape, and the like.
Chambers or rounding processes are performed on the ribs 51, 53 and 54 or chamfering or rounding process is performed on the grooves 41, 43 and 44 to form ribs 51 and 53 And 54 can be improved.
The length of the fitting guide rib 51 (the length along the inserting direction into the fitting guide rib catching portion 42) or the depth of the fitting guide rib catching portion 42 It is possible to increase the contact area between the fitting guide rib 51 and the fitting guide rib engaging portion 42 so that the fitting guide rib 51 and the fitting guide rib engaging portion 42, Can be further improved.
Similarly, the length of the flotation prevention ribs 54 (the length along the insertion direction into the flotation rib grooves 44) is increased or the depth of the flotation rib grooves 44 (the insertion of the flotation prevention ribs 54) By increasing the contact area between the flotation prevention ribs 54 and the flotation rib grooves 44, the engagement of the flotation prevention ribs 54 and the flotation prevention rib grooves 44 can be suppressed, Can be improved.
In the socket connector 10, the cable 11 may extend in a direction other than the fifth direction D5 (for example, the second direction D2).
At least three fulcrum portions 15c of the lock arm 15 may be provided.
