TW201401660A - Electrical connector assembly and receptacle connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly and a receptacle connector constituting one part of the assembly. The electrical connector assembly comprises a receptacle connector for eliminating the damage of a locking fitting as much as possible before the connectors reach a locking position, and a plug connector engaged therewith. To solve the problem, the locking arm of the locking fitting (30) comprises an end wall locking arm (33) extended from the base of the end wall (31A), and a side wall locking arm (34) extended from the base of the side wall (31B) The end wall locking arm (33) and the side wall locking arm (34) may be slidably connected with the plate surface of a mated locking fitting (60) via the individual plate surface before reaching a regular locking position with the mated locking fitting (60) of the plug connector (2), and comprise a locking portion (34A) for being locked with the mated locking fitting (60) at the regular locking position in a connector unplugging direction.

Description

Electrical connector assembly and socket connector

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly and a socket connector as one of the assemblies, the electrical connector assembly having a socket connector disposed on a circuit board and a plug connector mated thereto.

Such an electrical connector assembly is disclosed, for example, in the configuration of Patent Document 1. The connector assembly of Patent Document 1 is provided with a fixing member (fitting) for the socket connector and the plug connector, and the fixing member is used for soldering and fixing the circuit substrate of the connector with the connector portion when the connectors are connected to each other When connected, the fixing members are engaged (locked) with each other to prevent the connector from coming off. The fixing member is formed by processing a metal plate and held by the casing at both end positions in the arrangement direction of the terminals of the connector.

The fixing member of the socket connector has: an end portion supported by the end wall of the housing, and a side portion which is bent from the end portion and supported by both side walls of the end wall; when the connector is fitted When observing, the whole is made into a U shape. A hook-shaped locking portion that protrudes upward and is bent into an inverted U-shape is provided at the end portion, and the side portions are respectively in contact with each other. A concave locking portion is formed on both inner surfaces of the side wall of the casing. a fixing member of the plug connector having a plate member parallel to an end portion of the fixing member of the socket connector, and a protruding card that is engaged with the concave locking portion at both ends thereof The joint portion is provided as a cut end surface in the thickness direction of the plate, and is provided with a U-shaped piece which is bent upward from the lower edge of the portion of the plate member and has a protruding portion formed on the plate surface. In Patent Document 1, the "locking portion" is used for the fixing member of the socket connector, and the "locking portion" is used for the fixing member of the plug connector to distinguish the two.

When the plug connector is mated and connected to the receptacle connector of Patent Document 1 having the fixing member, the protruding engaging portion of the fixing member of the plug connector and the protrusion-like other portion are fitted in the fitting process. The engaging portion, the concave locking portion of the fixing member of the corresponding socket connector and the hook-shaped locking portion of the inverted U-shape can be fitted to a predetermined position in a state of being elastically deformed by the interference amount. When the predetermined position is reached, the elastic deformation is released, and the corresponding engaging portion and the locking portion are engaged in the connector pulling direction by the interference amount, and the locking function for preventing the connector from being pulled out is provided.

[Advanced technical literature] [Patent Literature]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-198996

In Patent Document 1, the fixing member in the socket connector is used. The locking function achieved by the engaging portion of the locking portion and the fixing member of the plug connector is such that a portion of the end wall of the end portion of the housing in the terminal arrangement direction has a side wall and two side walls in the vicinity thereof The two parts of the opposite direction are obtained. That is to say, for one fixing member, the locking function is obtained in three places in a total of three directions in the direction of the end wall of the casing and the direction to the side wall.

However, in the fixing member of Patent Document 1, the amount of elastic deformation at the time of engagement of the engaging portion or the locking portion is small, and the elastic deformation before the engagement is likely to be caused. The problem of damage to the engagement area.

First, in the fixing member of the socket connector, in the concave locking portion located on the side wall, the engaging portion is a protruding engaging portion of the fixing member of the plug connector on the object side, and the engaging portion is on the plate. Since the cut surface in the thickness direction of the plate is formed in a protruding shape, it is easy to damage the surface in the vicinity of the locking portion before reaching the above-described locking portion. Further, since the protruding engagement portion does not elastically deform even if it receives a reaction force in a direction parallel to the plate surface, the rigidity in the same direction is high, and the surface near the locking portion where the locking portion abuts will be The damage is greatly reduced, and as a result, the amount of jamming of the locking portion itself is reduced.

Then, the locking portion of the end wall of the housing of the fixing member on the side of the socket connector is disposed at the center of the end portion supported by the end wall of the housing, so that the locking portion is located at both ends of the beam-like shape In the center of the end portion, the positional movement (shift) caused by the elastic deformation is small.

The locking portion body extends toward the height of the end portion Therefore, it is formed into a short wrist body, and its shape is close to the shape and is folded back into an inverted U shape so that the rigidity is high, and the body of the locking portion has almost no elasticity. Further, since the inverted U-shaped locking portion is engaged with the front surface of the inverted connector of the plug connector, the front end edge portion of the inverted U-shaped portion is required to be engaged with the engaging portion. The front end edge portion is moved in contact with the face portion, and the face is easily damaged by the sharp edge of the front end edge portion before reaching the engagement position. Further, in the same manner as in the case of the locking portion of the fixing member of the socket connector, the engaging portion of the fixing member of the plug connector is formed as a wrist body that extends in the height direction, so that the amount of elastic deformation of the wrist body is also It cannot be guaranteed to be large and it is difficult to avoid damage.

In the fixing member of Patent Document 1, since the amount of elastic deformation is not large, the plate surface of the fixing member is abutted against the plate surface in the thickness direction of the plate or the sharp front end edge abuts and is engaged, so that it is easily damaged. As a result of the above-mentioned board surface, as the wear is reduced, the locking mechanism tends to deteriorate.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical connector assembly and a socket connector as one of the assemblies, the electrical connector assembly having: before the connectors reach each other in a locked position A socket connector for suppressing a damaged locking fitting, and a plug connector mated thereto.

<First invention>

An electrical connector assembly according to a first aspect of the invention includes: a receptacle connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board; and a connector that is inserted at a right angle to the mounting surface as a connector insertion and insertion direction a plug connector; the socket connector retains a plurality of terminal arrangements in the housing in a direction parallel to the mounting surface, and maintains a plug for the plug at both ends of the housing in the array direction The connector locks the engaged locking fitting, and the plug connector has an object terminal that is connected to the terminal of the socket connector in a connector fitting state, and an object locking fitting that engages with the locking fitting of the socket connector.

In the electrical connector assembly, in the first invention, the locking fitting of the socket connector and the object locking fitting of the plug connector are formed by processing a metal plate, and the locking fitting of the socket connector has: A base portion having a substantially U-shaped shape when viewed in the direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, and a base portion extending in a direction in which the board is inserted and removed, and a lock extending from the base portion at a right angle to the board surface a wrist portion; the base portion having an end wall side base portion of an end wall of the casing extending in a width direction of the connector at a right angle to the arrangement direction, and a position along a base portion from the end wall side a side wall side base portion of a side wall of the housing extending from the both ends toward the arrangement direction; the locking arm portion having: an end wall side locking arm portion extending from the end wall side base portion, and a side wall side locking arm portion extending from the side wall side base portion The end wall side locking arm portion and the side wall side locking arm portion are slidably attached to the upper plate surface before reaching the official locking position of the object locking fitting of the plug connector The object locks the surface of the fitting and has: in the official locking position in the connector pull-out direction A locking portion or a locked portion that interlocks with the object locking fitting.

In the first invention, the end wall side locking arm portion and the opposite side wall side locking arm portions are mutually in contact with the corresponding portions of the object locking fitting portion before reaching the formal locking position with the object locking fitting of the plug connector. Slide the board surface. Therefore, stress concentration is less likely to occur than in the case where the cutting surface or the front end edge portion of the locking fitting is cut in the thickness direction of the plate. As a result, since it is difficult to damage the plate surface of the lock fitting, the engagement area is not reduced by abrasion, and the deterioration of the lock engagement force can be avoided.

In the first invention, the end wall side locking arm portion provided in the lock fitting of the socket connector extends from the side wall side base portion toward the terminal arrangement direction, and is elastically deflectable in the connector width direction.

In the connector of the present invention, the connector is required to be miniaturized in the direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, and since the size of the terminal can be increased in the direction in which the terminals are arranged, the side wall side locking arm portion is extended in the above-described arrangement direction. The side wall side locking wrist can be lengthened as compared with the case where the insertion and removal directions are extended. Therefore, the amount of elastic displacement caused by the sliding contact with the plate surface of the lock fitting of the plug connector becomes large, whereby the abutment pressure of the plate faces of the lock fittings before reaching the formal lock position can be lowered, and The locking amount of the lock fittings after the elastic displacement of the connector is completed is increased. As a result, it is not easy to damage the board surface of the lock fitting, and the locking of the lock fittings can be surely performed.

In the first invention, the object locking fitting provided to the plug connector has a locking arm extending toward the direction in which the terminals are arranged, the locking wrist At least a part of the portion is bent toward the inner side in the width direction of the connector to form a locking portion that is locked with the segment-shaped corresponding locking portion of the housing of the plug connector, and is prevented from being inserted and removed from the connector. The housing of the plug connector is detached.

By locking the locking portion formed by the bending of the locking arm of the object locking fitting to the segment-shaped corresponding locking portion of the housing of the plug connector, the insertion and removal direction of the connector can be surely prevented. The object locking fitting is detached from the above casing.

<Second invention>

The socket connector of the second aspect of the invention is configured such that a plug connector is fitted and connected to a mounting surface of the circuit board at a right angle to the mounting surface as a connector insertion/removal direction; and a parallel to the mounting surface The direction serves as an arrangement direction, and a plurality of terminal arrangements are held in the housing, and a locking fitting for locking engagement with the plug connector is held at both ends of the housing in the arrangement direction.

In the socket connector, in the second invention, the locking fitting is formed by processing a metal plate, and the locking fitting has a substantially U-shaped shape when viewed in a direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, and a plate thereof a base portion extending in a direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, and a locking arm portion extending from the base portion into a wrist shape and deflecting at a right angle to the plate surface; the base portion having a position along the alignment An end wall side base portion of an end wall of the housing extending in a width direction of the connector at a right angle, and a position of the housing extending from the both ends of the end wall side base toward the arrangement direction a side wall side base portion of the side wall; the locking arm portion having an end wall side locking arm portion that is bent from the end wall side base portion such that the end wall side base portion and the plate surface are parallel to each other in the connector insertion/removal direction, and a side wall side locking arm portion extending from the side wall side base portion along the side wall toward the above-described arrangement direction; the end wall side locking arm portion and the side wall side locking arm portion before reaching the main locking position of the object locking fitting of the plug connector The plate surface of the object locking fitting can be slidably attached to the plate surface of the object locking fitting, and has a locking portion or a locked portion that locks with the object locking fitting in the connector pulling direction in the locking position.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in the same manner as the first invention described above, the end wall side locking arm portion and the two side wall side locking arm portions of the locking fitting of the socket connector reach the official locking position of the object locking fitting with the plug connector. In the previous period, the corresponding portions of the object locking fittings are slidably coupled to each other by the plate surface. Therefore, since the board surface of the lock fitting is not easily damaged, the deterioration of the lock engagement force can be avoided. In the same manner as the first aspect of the invention, since the side wall side locking arm portion extends in the above-described arrangement direction, the side wall side locking arm portion can be formed to be long and can be easily elastically displaced. Therefore, it is not easy to damage the board surface of the lock fitting, and the locking of the lock fittings can be surely performed.

According to the present invention, the lock fitting of the socket connector and the plug connector has a locking portion at the end portion of the connector at the end wall side and the opposite side wall sides, so that the connector is pulled out obliquely. Can also ensure good advantages for it, and reach the official lock position During the period before the installation, the locking fittings of the two connectors are slidably contacted with each other by the plate surface, and it is not easy to damage the face thereof, and the locking amount is not reduced by the abrasion, and the formal locking force can be ensured.

1‧‧‧Socket connector

2‧‧‧ plug connector

10‧‧‧shell

14‧‧‧ side wall

15‧‧‧End wall

20‧‧‧ terminals

30‧‧‧Locking accessories

31‧‧‧ base

31A‧‧‧End wall side base

31B‧‧‧ sidewall side base

33‧‧‧End wall side locking wrist

34‧‧‧ Side wall side locking wrist

40‧‧‧shell

45A‧‧‧corresponding to the locking part

50‧‧‧Object terminal

60‧‧‧Object locking accessories

63B‧‧‧Clock wrist

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the entirety of a receptacle connector and a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (A) shows a posture in which the accommodation spaces of the two connectors are upward, and (B) shows a fitting of the connectors. The previous posture.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector of Fig. 1 showing the state before mounting of the lock fitting.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plug connector of Fig. 1 showing the state before mounting of the locking fitting.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the lock fitting of the receptacle connector of Fig. 2 and the lock fitting of the plug connector of Fig. 3, (A) showing the state before the connector is fitted, and (B) showing the connector being embedded. The locked state after closing.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the lock fitting of the receptacle connector and the lock fitting of the plug connector of Fig. 4 before the fitting of the connector, and (A) is a sectional view of the VA-VA of Fig. 4(A), (B) ) is a view as seen from the direction of the VB arrow of Fig. 4 (A).

Fig. 6 is a view showing the lock fitting of the receptacle connector and the lock fitting of the plug connector of Fig. 4 in the locked state after the connector is fitted, (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIA-VIA of Fig. 4(B), and (B) is a view as seen from the direction of arrow VIB of Fig. 4(B).

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the entirety of a receptacle connector and a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (A) shows a posture in which the accommodation spaces of the two connectors are upward, and (B) shows a fitting of the connectors. The previous posture. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector of Fig. 1 showing the state before mounting of the lock fitting. In the second drawing, the socket connectors of Figs. 1(A) and (B) are displayed upside down. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plug connector of Fig. 1 showing the state before mounting of the locking fitting.

The socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 of the present embodiment are connectors for circuit boards that are respectively disposed on mounting surfaces of different circuit boards (not shown), and constitute a direction at right angles to the faces of the circuit boards ( The vertical direction of the first drawing (A) and (B) is a connector assembly in the insertion and removal direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and (B), the receptacle connector 1 has a housing 10 which is formed into a substantially rectangular outer shape, and the longitudinal direction of the housing 10 is defined as an arrangement direction by the housing. The terminal 20 of the plurality of rows and the two lock fittings 30 held by the both end portions of the casing 10 in the longitudinal direction are arranged. The socket connector 1 is disposed in the circuit in the posture shown in FIG. 1 (A) and (B). On the substrate.

The casing 10 is made of, for example, an electrically insulating material such as resin, and extends in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as a longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The casing 10 has a bottom wall 11 that is parallel to the mounting surface (refer to a second view in which the socket connector of FIG. 1 is displayed upside down), and rises upward from the bottom wall 11 and is arranged toward the terminal. The protruding protruding wall portion 12 and the frame-shaped peripheral wall 13 that rises upward from the bottom wall 11 and surrounds the protruding wall portion 12 are formed. The peripheral wall 13 has a pair of side walls 14 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of ends extending in a connector width direction at right angles to the terminal arrangement direction, and connecting end portions of the pair of side walls 14 to each other. Wall 15. An annular space that opens upward between the protruding wall portion 12 and the peripheral wall 13 is formed as a housing space 16 for accommodating the peripheral wall 63 as a fitting portion of the plug connector 2 as the target connector.

In the casing 10, terminal holding grooves 17 for holding the terminals 20 are arranged in the row in the terminal arrangement direction at equal intervals in the connector width direction with respect to the projecting wall portion 12. The terminal holding groove 17 covers a side surface of the protruding wall portion 12, an upper surface of the bottom wall 11, and an inner side surface of the side wall 14 (a surface facing the side surface of the protruding wall portion 12), and an upper surface and an outer surface of the side wall 14, The groove is continuously formed and recessed, and is formed in a groove shape of a horizontal S shape as viewed in the terminal arrangement direction.

The casing 10 holds the lock fitting 30 at both end portions 10A in the terminal arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, the end portion 10A of the casing 10 is located outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. In other words, that is, a portion located at both ends of the terminal arrangement direction and more outside the terminal holding groove 17. In the present embodiment, a portion of the accommodating space 16 that is outside the terminal arrangement range, in other words, a space surrounded by the end wall 15 and the two side walls 14 of the end portion 10A of the casing 10 is referred to as "end space 16A". "."

The casing 10 is connected to an 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 is arranged toward the terminal. An extended ridge portion 18. The ridge portion 18 is formed to be lower than the projecting wall portion 12 and the peripheral wall 13. The ridge portion 18 enters the end groove portion 45B of the plug connector 2 to be described later in a state in which the connector is fitted, and has a function of guiding the plug connector 2 in the connector width direction.

Although the casing 10 is formed to receive the retaining lock fitting 30, the lock fitting 30 will be described before the housing 10 is further described in order to understand its shape.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the lock fitting of the receptacle connector of Fig. 2 and the lock fitting of the plug connector of Fig. 3, (A) showing the state before the connector is fitted, and (B) showing the connector being embedded. The locked state after closing.

The locking fitting 30 is formed by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending it in the thickness direction of the plate. As shown in Fig. 4(A), each of the lock fittings 30 has two base portions 31 which are formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the up-and-down direction and whose plate faces extend in the up-and-down direction, and are retained from the base portion 31. Part 32, end wall side locking wrist 33. And the side wall side locking arm portion 34.

The base portion 31 has an end wall side base portion 31A extending in the connector width direction (the right and left direction in Fig. 4(A)), and a terminal arrangement direction from both ends of the end wall side base portion 31A (Fig. 4) (A) left side obliquely downward) the side wall side base portion 31B extending. The held portion 32 has a fixing portion 32A that is bent outward in the connector width direction on the lower edge of the side wall side base portion 31B, and a portion that extends in the upper portion of the side wall side base portion 31B so as to be continuous upward with the fixing portion 32A. The upper edge is pressed into the wrist portion 32B at substantially the same position.

The fixing portion 32A is a portion soldered and fixed to a corresponding portion of the circuit board, and has a function of fixing the socket connector 1 to the circuit board together with the connecting portion 22 of the terminal 20. In the connecting portion (curved portion) of the fixing portion 32A and the press-fit arm portion 32B, a hole portion 32C penetrating in the thickness direction of the plate is formed, and when the fixing portion 32A is welded and fixed, the molten solder is filled in. In the hole portion 32C, the fixing to the circuit board is made stronger. The press-fit arm portion 32B is formed with a press-fitting projection 32B-1 that protrudes from both end edges extending in the vertical direction. When the press-fitting portion 32B is press-fitted into the fitting holding groove 14A of the casing 10, the press-fitting projection 32B-1 bites into the inner wall surface of the fitting holding groove 14A to make it stronger.

The end wall side locking arm portion 33 is folded back from the lower edge of the end wall side base portion 31A toward the inside of the terminal arrangement range (on the lower left side of the fourth drawing (A)), and is formed to extend upward to the end wall side base portion 31A. The upper edge is approximately the same position of the strip, in the thickness direction of the plate, in other words, in the terminal arrangement The direction can be flexibly deflected. The end wall side locking arm portion 33 is formed at a position near the upper end thereof with an end wall side locking projection 33A whose part of the plate surface protrudes toward the terminal arrangement range side in a substantially hemispherical shape (see also FIG. 5(A) ). The end wall side locking projection 33A can be locked to the end wall side of the object lock fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 by the locking recess 62A (refer to Fig. 6(A)). The end wall side locking projection 33A is formed, for example, by press working in the thickness direction of the plate.

The side wall side locking arm portion 34 extends from the side wall side base portion 31B toward the inside of the terminal arrangement range, and is slightly inclined toward the inner side in the connector width direction, and is elastically deflectable in the thickness direction of the connector in the plate thickness direction. The side wall side locking arm portion 34 is formed at a position near the upper end thereof with a side wall side locking projection 34A whose part of the plate surface protrudes inward in the connector width direction. The side wall side locking projections 34A are formed as protrusions extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and as will be described later, the side wall side of the object lock fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 is locked by the recessed portion 63A. The upper surface of the side wall side locking projection 34A is formed as an inclined surface which is inclined toward the inner side in the connector width direction as it goes downward, and when the target locking fitting 60 abuts against the inclined surface from above, the side wall side locking wrist The portion 34 is subjected to a force including a component outward in the width direction of the connector, and is elastically displaced in the same direction. The side wall side locking projections 34A are formed, for example, by press working in the thickness direction of the sheet, similarly to the end wall side locking projections 33A.

Return to the description of the housing 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the end portion 10A of the casing 10 is formed to open upward (the lower side of Figs. 1(A) and (B)) on the two side walls 14 for pressing the lock fitting 30. Enter the wrist The portion 32B presses into the held fitting holding groove 14A. As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 14 and the end wall 15 which are the end portions 10A are formed with a receiving groove portion 10B for accommodating the base portion 31 of the lock fitting 30 and the side wall side locking arm portion 34. The accommodating groove portion 10B is formed to have a substantially U-shape and is opened upward as viewed from the upper side of FIG. 2 (the lower side of FIGS. 1(A) and (B)). The accommodation groove portion 10B is opened toward the end space 16A along a portion of the side wall 14 of the end portion 10A. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and (B), in a state in which the lock fitting 30 is attached to the casing 10, the side wall side base portion 31B and the side wall side lock arm portion 34 of the lock fitting 30 are exposed toward the end space 16A.

As shown in Fig. 2, the end portions 10A of the casing 10 are arranged in the connector width direction so as to open upward at the end wall 15 (the lower side of Figs. 1(A) and (B)). The end wall side of the lock fitting 30 locks the receiving hole portion 15A in which the arm portion 33 is accommodated. The two accommodating hole portions 15A are surrounded by the accommodating groove portion 10B having a substantially U-shape as viewed from above in the second drawing, and are opened toward the end space 16A. Then, as shown in Fig. 1, in the state in which the lock fitting 30 is attached to the casing 10, the end wall side locking arm portion 33 is exposed toward the end space 16A.

As shown in Fig. 1, the inner edge portion of the upper surface of the end portion 10A of the casing 10, that is, the edge portion extending along the end space 16A to form a substantially U-shape, is formed along with the end space. The guide surface 10C which is inclined downward toward the 16A side. When the connector is fitted, the peripheral wall 43 of the plug connector 2 is brought into the receptacle connector by guiding the end wall 63 of the plug connector 2 described later toward the end space 16A with the guide surface 10C. 1 containment Within space 16.

The terminal 20 is formed by punching the flat surface of the metal plate and punching the metal plate so as to form a right angle with respect to the terminal arrangement direction. In the terminal arrangement direction (the thickness direction of the board), the terminal 20 is formed in a lateral S shape, and a contact portion 21 that is in contact with the terminal (target terminal) 50 of the plug connector 2 is formed on one end side, and the other end side is formed on the other end side. A connecting portion 22 that is soldered to a corresponding circuit portion of the circuit board. The terminal 20 is press-fitted into the terminal holding groove 17 from above so that the inverted U-shaped holding portion 23 crosses the side wall 14 of the casing 10 when viewed from the terminal arrangement direction. In the held portion 23, a locking projection 23A for locking with the target terminal 50 of the plug connector 2 is formed to protrude toward the contact portion 21 side.

In a state in which the terminal 20 is held by the terminal holding groove 17, as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and (B), the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 protrudes from the side surface of the protruding wall portion 12 toward the accommodating space 16, and The locking projection 23A protrudes from the inner side surface of the side wall 14 toward the accommodating space 16. The connecting portion 22 of the terminal 20 extends from the casing 10 toward the outer side in the connector width direction at substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the casing 10.

As shown in Fig. 2, the above-described lock fitting 30 is attached from the side of the bottom wall 11 of the casing 10 (above in Fig. 2). Specifically, the base portion 31, the side wall side locking arm portion 34, the press-fit arm portion 32B, and the end wall side locking arm portion 33 of the lock fitting 30 are housed in the fitting holding groove 14A of the casing 10, and accommodate the groove portion. Inside the 10B, the inside of the receiving hole portion 15A. As a result, by pressing the above-mentioned press-in projection into the wrist portion 32B 32B-1 bites into the inner wall surface of the accessory holding groove 14A, and presses and holds the lock fitting 30 into the casing 10.

Next, the structure of the plug connector 2 will be described based on Figs. 1(A), (B) and 3D. The plug connector 2 has a housing 40 that is formed into a substantially rectangular outer shape, and a plurality of terminals 50 that are arranged in the two rows by the housing 10 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 40 (hereinafter referred to as The "target terminal 50") and the two object locking fittings 60 held by the both end portions of the casing 40 in the longitudinal direction. The plug connector 2 is attached to the circuit board in the posture shown in FIG. 1(A), and is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 1 in a vertically inverted posture as shown in FIG. 1(B).

The casing 40 is made of, for example, an electrically insulating material such as resin, and extends in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as a longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The casing 40 has a bottom wall 41 that is parallel to the mounting surface (refer to FIG. 1(B)), and as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 3, rises upward from the bottom wall 41. The frame-shaped peripheral wall 43. The peripheral wall 43 has a pair of side walls 44 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of ends extending in a connector width direction at right angles to the terminal arrangement direction, and connecting end portions of the pair of side walls 44 to each other. Wall 45. A space surrounded by the peripheral wall 13 and opened upward is formed as a housing space 46 for accommodating the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1.

Although the housing 40 is formed to maintain the shape of the object locking fitting 60, further description of the housing 40 is provided in order to understand its shape. Previously, the above-described object locking accessory 60 has been described.

The configuration of the object locking fitting 60 held by the above-described housing 40 will be mainly described based on Fig. 4(A). The fourth drawing (A) is displayed in the same direction as the object locking fitting 60 of the first drawing (B) in the vertical direction, and is vertically oriented with the object locking fitting 60 of the first (A) and third drawings. Reverse display. The object locking fitting 60 has a base portion 61 that covers the lower surface of the end wall 45 of the casing 40 of Fig. 1(B) (the upper surface of Fig. 1(A) and Fig. 3), and the base portion 61 The end wall-side locked portion 62 that is bent upward to cover the end surface of the end wall 45, and the side wall-side locked portion 63 that is bent upward from the base portion 61 and covers the side surface of the end wall 45.

In the base portion 61, a slit portion 61A extending in the terminal arrangement direction (the obliquely downward direction in FIG. 4(A)) is formed at a central position in the connector width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 4(A)). The slit portion 61A is in a state in which the target locking fitting 60 is attached to the casing 40, and its position corresponds to the end groove portion 45B of the end wall 45 of the casing 40 to be described later (refer to FIG. 1(A)).

The end wall side locked portion 62 is at a position corresponding to the end wall side locking arm portion 33 of the lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector width direction as shown in Fig. 4(A), and the end wall side is The upper edge of the lock portion 62 is not substantially semicircular, and an end wall-side locked recess 62A for locking with the end wall-side locking projection 33A of the end wall-side locking arm portion 33 is formed.

The side wall side being locked portion 63 is as shown in Fig. 4(A) In the position on the lower side of the base portion 61, the edge portion of the inside of the terminal arrangement range (the left obliquely downward side in Fig. 4(A)) is notched, and is extended in the terminal arrangement direction to form a socket connector 1 for use. The side wall side to which the side wall side locking projection 34A of the lock fitting 30 is locked is locked by the recess 63A. A locking arm portion 63B for attaching the target locking fitting 60 to the casing 40 is formed on the side of the side wall side of the locking recess 63A so as to extend toward the inside of the terminal arrangement range. The locking arm portion 63B is slightly bent in a bending process toward the inner side in the width direction of the connector, and a locking portion that is elastically displaceable in the width direction of the connector is formed. The side wall side locked recess portion 63A, as will be described later, is used to receive the side wall side locking projection 34A of the lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector fitting state, and the lower edge of the side wall side locked recess portion 63A is The connector pull-out direction (upper) is locked with the above-described side wall side locking projection 34A.

Return to the description of the housing 10. The end wall 45 of the casing 10 is used to hold the object locking fitting 60 as shown in Figs. 1(A) and (B). As shown in Fig. 3, the end wall 45, except for the corner portion, the upper surface (below the first drawing (B)), the side surface (the surface at right angles to the connector width direction), and the end surface (relative to the end surface) The surface in which the terminals are arranged at right angles is recessed to the extent of the thickness of the panel of the object locking fitting 60. The side surface of the end wall 45 is further recessed substantially in the lower half to form a segment which functions as a corresponding locking portion 45A for mounting the object locking fitting 60 to the casing 40. As shown in Fig. 3, on the upper surface of the end wall 45, an end groove portion 45B as a groove portion extending in the terminal arrangement direction is formed at a central position in the connector width direction. The end groove portion 45B is connected as will be described later. The fitting state is for accommodating the ridge portion 18 of the housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1.

The target terminal 50 is formed by bending a strip-shaped piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction of the plate. The target terminal 50 is integrally molded and held by the side walls 44 of the casing 40, and is arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the side wall 44. The target terminal 50 has a straight connecting portion 51 that extends from the side wall 44 toward the outer side in the connector width direction at substantially the same height position as the bottom wall 41 of the casing 10, and is continuous with the connecting portion 51 and faces the first figure. (A), the upper part of Fig. 3 (below the first figure (B)) is bent and folded back into an inverted U shape to bury the inverted U-shaped portion held by the side wall 44. The inverted U-shaped portion extends along the side wall 44, and the inverted U-shaped plate surface is exposed to be flush with the side wall 44.

One of the two leg portions of the inverted U-shaped portion of the target terminal 50 located on the inner side surface side of the side wall 44 is formed as a corresponding contact portion 52 for contacting the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1. . A corresponding contact recess 52A for accommodating the projecting contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 is formed in the corresponding contact portion 52 from the plate surface. The other leg portion on the outer side surface side of the side wall 44 is formed as a locked portion 53 for locking with the locking projection 23A of the above-described terminal 20. In the locked portion 53, a locked concave portion 53A for accommodating the locking projection 23A is formed in a recessed shape from the plate surface.

The attachment of the object locking fitting 60 to the housing 40 of the plug connector 2 will be described. The object locks the accessory 60 as shown in FIG. The end wall 45 covering the casing 40 is attached from the opening side of the housing space 46 of the casing 40 (above in FIG. 3). As a result, the upper surface, the both side surfaces (the surface at right angles to the connector width direction), and the end surface (the surface at right angles to the terminal arrangement direction) of the end wall 45 of Fig. 3 are covered by the object locking fitting 60. . Thus, the end wall 45 is reinforced by the object locking fitting 60, so that the end wall 45 is not easily deformed even by an inadvertent external force.

In the mounting process of the object locking fitting 60, the two locking arm portions 63B as the locking portions of the object locking fitting 60 abut against the side faces of the end wall 45 of the casing 40 with the plate surface facing the connector width direction. The outer sides (directions away from each other) are elastically displaced. When the locking arm portion 63B passes over the segment-shaped corresponding locking portion 45A and reaches the position below the corresponding locking portion 45A, the locking arm portion 63B returns from the elastically displaced state. As a result, the locking arm portion 63B is locked to the corresponding locking portion 45A, and the object locking fitting 60 is prevented from coming off the casing 40 in the vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the entire locking arm portion 63B is formed as a locking portion, and instead of this, only a part of the locking arm portion 63B is subjected to bending deformation processing to be formed as a locking portion. In the present embodiment, the locking arm portion and the locked concave portion are provided on the side wall side of the casing, and of course, the end wall side may be provided instead.

In the present embodiment, since the locking arm portion 63B of the target locking fitting 60 is locked with the segment-shaped corresponding locking portion 45A of the casing 40, the casing 40 can be downsized in the width direction. More specifically, for example, a slit-like retaining groove shape parallel to both side faces of the end wall of the casing will be described. In the end wall, the type in which the holding portion of the target locking fitting is press-fitted into the holding groove is required to form a wall portion surrounding the holding groove with a sufficient thickness, so that it is wide and long in the width direction of the casing. The side direction will enlarge the casing. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, only the corresponding locking portion 45A for locking the locking arm portion 63B of the target locking fitting 60 is formed as a notch in a part of both side faces of the end wall 45 of the casing 40. Since the shape is completed, the casing 40 does not increase in size in the width direction and the longitudinal direction.

Next, the fitting operation of the connectors will be described based on FIGS. 1(B), 4, 5, and 6. Fig. 5 is a view showing the lock fitting of the receptacle connector 1 and the lock fitting of the plug connector 2 in Fig. 4 before the connector fitting, and (A) is a VA-VA sectional view of Fig. 4(A). (B) is a view as seen from the direction of the VB arrow of Fig. 4(A). Fig. 6 is a view showing the lock fitting of the receptacle connector 1 and the lock fitting of the plug connector 2 of Fig. 4 in a locked state after the connector is fitted, and (A) is VIA-VIA of Fig. 4(B). The cross-sectional view, (B) is a view as seen from the direction of the arrow VIB of Fig. 4 (B).

First, the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are attached to respective circuit boards by soldering. Next, as shown in FIG. 1(B), the socket connector 1 is placed in a posture in which the accommodating space 16 is directed upward, and the plug connector 2 is placed above the socket connector 1 so that the accommodating space 46 faces downward. . At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 5(A) and (B), the end wall side of the target lock fitting 60 is locked by the recessed portion 62A and the side wall side is locked by the recessed portion 63A, respectively. The end wall side locking projection 33A and the side wall side of the lock fitting 30 The locking projection 34A is located above.

Next, the posture of the first figure (B) is maintained, and the plug connector 2 is moved downward, so that the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1 enters from below in the accommodating space 46 of the plug connector 2, and the plug connector is made The peripheral wall 43 of the second wall 43 enters from the upper side in the accommodating space 16 of the receptacle connector 1. As a result, the contact portion 21 and the locking projection 23A of the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 respectively enter the corresponding contact recess 52A and the locked recess 53A of the target terminal 50 of the plug connector 2, and electrical contact and contact of the terminals are performed. The connector is pulled out of the direction (upper). The protruding portion 18 of the casing 10 of the receptacle connector 1 penetrates the slit portion 61A of the target locking fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 from below and enters the end groove portion 45B of the casing 40. As a result, even if an external force such as vibration is applied to the connector fitting state, the movement of the ridge portion 18 in the connector width direction is restricted by the inner wall surface of the end groove portion 45B and the edge portion of the slit portion 61A. It is possible to prevent the connectors in the width direction from shifting from each other. In particular, the edge portion of the slit portion 61A is a member made of metal, that is, a part of the object locking fitting 60, and the strength is high, and this portion enhances the effect of the restriction.

In the connector fitting process, the end wall side of the target locking fitting 60 is locked by the locking portion 62, and the end wall side locking arm portion 33 of the lock fitting 30 is elastically displaced toward the outside in the terminal arrangement direction (the end wall side base portion 31A side). The end wall side locking projection 33A of the end wall side locking arm portion 33 is slidably attached to the end surface of the end wall side locked portion 62. As shown in Fig. 4(B) and Fig. 6(A) and Fig. 6(B), the end wall side of the end wall side locked portion 62 is locked by the recessed portion 62A, and reaches the end wall side locking projection 33A. Bit When the lock fittings are brought to the main locking position, the end wall side locking arm portion 33 returns to the free state, and the end wall side locking projection portion 33A projects into the end wall side locked recess portion 62A. As a result, the end wall side locking projection 33A is engaged with the end wall side by the locking recess 62A.

On the other hand, the side wall side of the target locking fitting 60 is locked by the locking portion 63, and the side wall side locking arm portion 34 of the lock fitting 30 is elastically displaced toward the outer side in the connector width direction, and the side surface of the side wall side locked portion 63 is used. Further, the side wall side locking projection 34A of the side wall side locking arm portion 34 is slidably coupled. As shown in FIG. 4(B) and FIG. 6(A) and FIG. 6(B), when the side wall side of the side wall side to-be-locked portion 63 is locked by the recessed portion 63A, the position of the side wall side locking projection portion 34A is reached. When the lock fittings are brought to the main locking position, the side wall side locking arm portion 34 is returned to the free state, and the side wall side locking projection portion 34A projects into the side wall side locked recess portion 63A. As a result, the side wall side locking projection 34A is engaged with the side wall side by the locking recess 63A.

In this way, the fitting action of the connectors is completed by bringing the locking fittings to each other to the official locking position. As a result, the engagement between the end wall side locking projection 33A and the end wall side locked recess 62A, and the locking of the side wall side locking projection 34A and the side wall side locked recess 63A prevent the connectors from each other. Inadvertently falling off.

In the present embodiment, the end wall side locking arm portion 33 and the side wall side locking arm portion 34 of the locking fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 are opposite to the end wall of the subject locking fitting 60 before the locking fittings reach each other to the formal locking position. The side locked portion 62 and the side wall side locked portion 63 are mutually plated Sliding surface. Therefore, stress concentration is less likely to occur than in the case where the cut surface or the edge portion of the lock fitting is cut in the thickness direction of the fitting. As a result, since it is difficult to damage the respective plate faces of the lock fitting 30 and the object lock fitting 60, the engagement area is not reduced by abrasion, and the deterioration of the lock engagement force can be avoided.

The lock fitting 30 and the object lock fitting 60 have locking portions at the end portions of the respective end portions on the end wall side and the two side wall sides facing each other. Therefore, even if the plug connector 2 is tilted in either of the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction in the connector fitting state, a relatively good locking force can be ensured, so that the inadvertent connector can be prevented from falling off each other.

In the present embodiment, since the side wall side locking arm portion 34 of the lock fitting 30 extends in the terminal arrangement direction, the side wall side locking arm portion 34 can be increased as compared with the case of extending in the up-and-down direction (connector insertion/removal direction). Then, the amount of elastic displacement caused by the sliding of the side surface side of the object locking fitting 60 by the plate surface of the locking portion 63 becomes large, whereby the abutting pressure of the plate faces of the locking fittings before reaching the formal locking position can be made. It is lowered, and the locking amount of the locking fittings after the fitting of the connector is completed can be increased. As a result, it is not easy to damage the respective plate faces of the lock fitting 30 and the object lock fitting 60, and the locking of the lock fittings can be surely performed.

In the present embodiment, the side wall side locking arm portion of the lock fitting extends from the side wall side base portion toward the terminal arrangement direction, and the direction in which the side wall side locking arm portion extends is not limited thereto, and when the height of the connector is sufficiently large, for example, Can be inserted from the side wall side base toward the connector (upper and lower To) extend.

In the present embodiment, although the end wall side locking arm portion of the locking fitting and the end wall side of the object locking fitting are respectively provided with two locking recesses, instead of this, only one of them may be provided, or three of them may be respectively provided. More than one.

In the present embodiment, although the locking fitting of the socket connector forms the locking portion, and the object locking fitting of the plug connector is provided with the concave locking portion, instead of this, the locking fitting is provided with the concave locking. And a protruding locking portion is provided in the object locking fitting. In the present embodiment, although the lock fitting is provided with the elastically displaceable locking arm, instead of this, the locking arm is provided in the object locking fitting, and the locking arm is provided in the locking fitting.

1‧‧‧Socket connector

2‧‧‧ plug connector

10‧‧‧shell

10A‧‧‧End

10C‧‧‧ Guide surface

12‧‧‧Blint

13‧‧‧Wall

14‧‧‧ side wall

14A‧‧‧Accessory ditch

15‧‧‧End wall

16‧‧‧ accommodating space

16A‧‧‧End space

17‧‧‧ terminal retention groove

18‧‧‧Bulge

20‧‧‧ terminals

21‧‧‧Contacts

22‧‧‧Connecting Department

23‧‧‧ Keeped Department

23A‧‧‧Locking projection

30‧‧‧Locking accessories

31B‧‧‧ sidewall side base

32B‧‧‧ pressed into the wrist

33‧‧‧End wall side locking wrist

34‧‧‧ Side wall side locking wrist

40‧‧‧shell

41‧‧‧ bottom wall

43‧‧‧Weibi

44‧‧‧ side wall

45‧‧‧End wall

46‧‧‧ accommodating space

50‧‧‧Object terminal

51‧‧‧Connecting Department

52‧‧‧ Corresponding contact

52A‧‧‧ Corresponding contact recess

53‧‧‧Locked Department

53A‧‧‧ Locked recess

60‧‧‧Object locking accessories

61‧‧‧ base

61A‧‧‧Slits

62‧‧‧End wall side locked part

63‧‧‧ Side wall side locked part

Claims (4)

An electrical connector assembly having: a socket connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board; and a plug that is fitted to the socket connector in a direction in which the connector is inserted at a right angle with respect to the mounting surface a connector; the socket connector holds a plurality of terminal arrangements in the housing in a direction parallel to the mounting surface, and maintains a plurality of terminal arrangements in the housing at the two ends of the housing for locking with the plug connector The locking locking fitting has a target terminal that is connected to the terminal of the socket connector in a connector fitting state, and an object locking fitting that engages with the locking fitting of the socket connector, and is characterized in that: The locking fitting of the connector and the object locking fitting of the plug connector are formed by processing a metal plate, and the locking fitting of the socket connector has a substantially U-shaped shape when viewed in a direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, and a base extending from the plate surface in the direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, and extending from the base to deflect at a right angle to the plate surface a locking portion; the base portion having an end wall side base portion of an end wall of the housing extending in a width direction of the connector at a right angle to the array direction, and a position along the side wall from the end wall side a side wall side base portion of a side wall of the casing extending at both ends of the base portion in the arrangement direction; the locking arm portion having an end wall side locking arm portion extending from the end wall side base portion and a side wall side locking extending from the side wall side base portion Wrist The end wall side locking arm portion and the side wall side locking arm portion are slidably attached to the panel surface of the object locking fitting with a respective plate surface before reaching the main locking position of the object locking fitting of the plug connector, and The locking portion or the locked portion that locks with the object locking fitting in the connector pulling direction at the official locking position. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm portion is locked on the side wall side of the lock fitting of the socket connector, extending from the side wall side base toward the terminal arrangement direction, and is elastic toward the connector width direction Flexed. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the object locking fitting provided to the plug connector has a locking arm extending toward the direction in which the terminals are arranged, and at least a portion of the locking arm is connected The inner side in the width direction of the device is bent to form a locking portion that is locked with the segment-shaped corresponding locking portion of the housing of the plug connector, and the housing from the plug connector is prevented from being inserted and removed in the connector. Fall off. A socket connector is provided on a mounting surface of a circuit board, and a plug connector is fitted and connected in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as a connector insertion direction; a direction parallel to the mounting surface is arranged as an arrangement a direction in which a plurality of terminal arrangements are held in the housing, and a locking fitting for locking engagement with the plug connector is held at both ends of the housing in the arrangement direction, wherein the locking fitting is a metal Made by a plate processing, the locking fitting has a substantially U-shaped shape when viewed in a direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, And a base portion extending from the plate surface in the direction in which the connector is inserted and removed, and a locking arm portion extending from the base portion into a wrist shape and deflecting at a right angle to the plate surface; the base portion having a position along the An end wall side base portion of an end wall of the housing extending in a width direction of the connector at a right angle to the array direction, and a side wall of the side wall of the housing extending from both ends of the end wall side base portion toward the arrangement direction The side base portion; the locking arm portion has an end wall side locking arm portion that is bent from the end wall side base portion so as to be parallel to the connector end in a state in which the end wall side base portion and the plate surface are parallel to each other, and a side wall side The side wall side locking arm portion of the base portion extending along the side wall toward the above-mentioned arrangement direction; the end wall side locking arm portion and the side wall side locking arm portion, before reaching the main locking position of the object locking fitting of the plug connector, can be The respective plate faces are slidably attached to the plate surface of the object locking fitting, and have a locking portion or a locked portion that interlocks with the object locking fitting in the connector pulling direction in the locking position.