WO2010148228A1

WO2010148228A1 - Wire-to-board connector

Info

Publication number: WO2010148228A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/039034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kazushige Asakawa; Souichiro Kurose
Original assignee: Molex Incorporated
Priority date: 2009-06-17
Filing date: 2010-06-17
Publication date: 2010-12-23
Also published as: CN102576959B; JP2011023329A; CN102576959A; JP5335630B2

Abstract

A wire-to-board connector is disclosed, comprising a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a first terminal connected to an electric wire, and a first housing with the first terminal fitted therein. The second connector, mounted on a board, has a second terminal in contact with the first terminal, and a second housing mated with the first housing, with the second terminal fitted in the second housing.

Description

WIRE-TO-BOARD CONNECTOR

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The Present Application claims priority to prior-filed Japanese Application No. 2009- 144062, entitled "Wire-To-Board Connector," and filed with the Japanese Patent Office on 17 June 2009. The Present Application also claims priority to prior- filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-209281, entitled "Wire-To-Board Connector," and filed with the Japanese Patent Office on 10 September 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of the '062 Application. The contents of both Applications are fully incorporated in their entireties herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION

[0002] The Present Application relates generally to a wire-to-board connector, and more specifically, to a wire-to-board connector which protects against the breakage of terminals located therein. [0003] Conventionally, there has been used a wire-to-board connector to connect an electric wire such as a cable to a circuit board such as a printed circuit board. When an electric-wire connector is going to be inserted into the opening of a board connector with the electric-wire connector inclined to the board connector in this type of wire-to-board connector, the housing of the electric-wire connector is pushed to a terminal of the board connector, by which the terminal is folded down or broken in some cases.

[0004] In general, in cases where the electric-wire connector is mated with the board connector mounted on the circuit board in an assembly process of an electrical device, an electronic device, or the like, the circuit board is attached and bound to a frame or the like and the other end of a cable connected at one end to the electric-wire connector is connected and bound to another circuit board or the like. Moreover, the length of the cable is set to a minimum length.

Therefore, when mating the electric-wire connector with the board connector in the assembly process, an operator sometimes inserts the electric-wire connector into the opening of the board connector with the electric-wire connector inclined to the board connector because there is no allowance for a cable layout. [0005] If the opening of the board connector is wide enough in width in the above case, a longitudinal corner of the electric-wire connector is able to be inserted into the opening of the board connector even if the longitudinal axis of the electric-wire connector is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the board connector. This causes the corner of the housing of the electric- wire connector to enter the opening of the board connector and the corner is pushed to the terminal of the board connector. Thereby, the terminal is folded down or broken. [0006] Therefore, in order to prevent the terminal from being broken, there has been provided a technique of disposing a wall member inside the opening of the board connector. An example may be found in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 05-069873.

[0007] Fig. 23 is a perspective view illustrating the mating operation of a conventional wire-to- board connector. In this figure, a circuit board 991 includes a conductive trace which is not shown and a board connector is mounted on the circuit board 991. The board connector includes a board-side housing 911 formed of insulating material and a plurality of board-side terminals 961 disposed inside the board-side housing 911. The board-side terminals 961 are pin-type terminals and disposed in two rows between external wall members 917. Further, the board-side terminals 961 project downward passing through the bottom surface of each board-side housing 911 with their projecting ends inserted into through-holes formed in the circuit board 991 and fixed by soldering or the like.

[0008] Moreover, a wire-side housing 811 is a housing for an electric-wire connector connected to termination ends of electric wires which are not shown and is formed of insulating material. The wire- side housing 811 has a plurality of terminal accommodating openings which are not shown and accommodates wire-side terminals which are not shown in the respective terminal accommodating openings. When the electric- wire connector is mated with the board connector, the tips of the corresponding board-side terminals 961 enter the terminal accommodating openings and come in contact with the corresponding wire-side terminals. [0009] Further, the board connector has an internal wall member 921 disposed between the rows of the board-side terminals 961 and the electric-wire connector has overhanging portions 821 formed so as to project outward at both ends of the wire-side housing 811. In cases where the electric-wire connector is inclined to the board connector when the electric-wire connector is mated with the board connector, an end portion of the wire-side housing 811 including the overhanging portions 821 abuts against the external wall members 917 and the internal wall member 921 of the board-side housing 911. This prevents the wire-side housing 811 from abutting against the tips of the board-side terminals 961 and therefore the board-side terminals 961 are not folded down or broken. The wire-side housing 811 has a wall member accommodating opening, which is not shown, for accommodating the internal wall member 921 between the rows of the terminal accommodating openings.

[0010] In the conventional wire-to-board connector, however, it is impossible to narrow the space between the external wall member 917 or the internal wall member 921 and the board-side terminals 961 sufficiently. Therefore, depending on the attitude of the electric- wire connector with respect to the board connector, a part of the wire-side housing 811 may abut against the tips of the board-side terminals 961, by which the board-side terminals 961 are folded down or broken in some cases. In order to prevent the wire- side housing 811 from abutting against the board- side terminals 961 without fail, there is a need to narrow the space between the external wall member 917 or the internal wall member 921 and the board- side terminals 961 sufficiently. In that case, however, the wall around each terminal accommodating opening in the wire-side housing 811 is too thin and therefore the wire-side housing 811 is not able to be formed practically.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION

[0011] Therefore, an object of the Present Application is to solve the problem of the foregoing conventional wire-to-board connector and to provide a reliable wire-to-board connector capable of preventing a first housing from entering a second mating concave portion of a second connector with the first connector inclined to the second connector so as to reliably prevent a second terminal from being broken by forming an opening extending in a mating direction in a first contact arm accommodating recess portion for accommodating a first contact arm portion of a first terminal fitted in the first housing of the first connector and forming a projecting portion, which projects toward a second contact arm portion in a second terminal protecting wall disposed in the second mating concave portion of the second connector and extends in parallel with the second contact arm portion, and whose ridge is able to enter the opening in the first contact arm accommodating recess portion.

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the Present Application provides a wire-to-board connector comprising: a first connector having a first terminal connected to an electric wire and a first housing with the first terminal fitted therein; and a second connector having a second terminal coming in contact with the first terminal and a second housing to be mated with the first housing with the second terminal fitted in the second housing, the second connector being mounted on a board, wherein: the first housing includes a first contact arm holding portion including a first contact arm accommodating recess portion which accommodates a first contact arm portion of the first terminal and extends in a mating direction between the first housing and the second housing; the first contact arm accommodating recess portion includes an opening extending in the mating direction; the second terminal includes a second contact arm portion which extends in the mating direction and enters the first contact arm accommodating recess portion so as to come in contact with the first contact arm portion; the second housing includes a second mating concave portion, which accommodates the second contact arm portion and which allows the first contact arm holding portion to enter, and a second terminal protecting wall, which is disposed in the second mating concave portion and extends in the mating direction; and the second terminal protecting wall includes a projecting portion, which projects toward the second contact arm portion, extends in parallel with the second contact arm portion, and has a ridge able to enter the opening. [0013] According to another wire-to-board connector of the Present Application, further, the second contact arm portion is a linear rod-like member and the projecting portion is located just above the second contact arm portion with a ridge of the projecting portion close to or abutting against the second contact arm portion. [0014] According to still another wire-to-board connector of the Present Application, further, the front end surface of the projecting portion is located closer to the mating surface of the second housing than the front end of the second contact arm portion and is an inclined surface inclined rearward toward the second contact arm portion and an extended line of the inclined surface is located closer to the mating surface of the second housing than the front end of the second contact arm portion. [0015] According to a further wire-to-board connector of the Present Application, further, a plurality of the second terminals are provided and the second contact arm portions thereof are arranged in the width direction of the second housing and the second terminal protecting wall is disposed in parallel with the extending direction and the arrangement direction of the second contact arm portions. [0016] According to a still further wire-to-board connector of the Present Application, further, the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion.

[0017] According to the Present Application, the wire-to-board connector has an opening, which is formed so as to extend in a mating direction in a first contact arm accommodating recess portion for accommodating a first contact arm portion of a first terminal fitted in a first housing of a first connector, and a projecting portion, which is formed so as to project toward a second contact arm portion in a second terminal protecting wall disposed in a second mating concave portion of a second connector, to extend in parallel with the second contact arm portion, and to have a ridge able to enter the opening in the first contact arm accommodating recess portion. This prevents the first housing from entering the second mating concave portion of the second connector with the first connector inclined to the second connector, thereby reliably preventing the second terminal from being broken and improving the reliability. [0018] These and other objects, features and advantages of the Present Application will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the Present Application, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

[0020] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first connector according to one embodiment of the

Present Application, wherein Fig. IA is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above and Fig.

IB is a diagram viewed from front diagonally above; [0021] Fig. 2 is a tetrahedral view of the first connector of Fig. 1, wherein Fig. 2A is a top view,

Fig. 2B is a rear view, Fig. 2C is a side view and Fig. 2D is a front view;

[0022] Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the first connector of Fig. 1, and an A-A sectional view of Fig. 2B;

[0023] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the second connector according to one embodiment of the Present Application, wherein Fig. 4A is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above and Fig.

4B is a diagram viewed from front diagonally below; [0024] Fig. 5 is a trihedral view of the second connector of Fig. 4, wherein Fig. 5A is a top view,

Fig. 5B is a front view and Fig. 5C is a side view;

[0025] Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of the second connector of Fig. 4, and a B-B sectional view of Fig. 5B; [0026] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the first connector of Fig. 1 and the second connector of

Fig. 4, wherein Fig. 7A is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above the second connector and Fig. 7B is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above the first connector;

[0027] Fig. 8 is a trihedral view of the first connector of Fig. 1 and the second connector of Fig.

4, wherein Fig. 8A is a top view, Fig. 8B is a rear view viewed from the rear of the second connector and Fig. 8C is a side view;

[0028] Fig. 9 is a sectional side view of the first connector of Fig. 1 and the second connector of

Fig. 4, wherein Fig. 9A is a C-C sectional view of Fig. 8A and Fig. 9B is a D-D sectional view of

Fig. 8B;

[0029] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a first connector according to another embodiment of the Present Application, wherein Fig. 1OA is a diagram viewed from front diagonally above and Fig.

1OB is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above;

[0030] Fig. 11 is a tetrahedral view of the first connector of Fig. 10, wherein Fig. 1 IA is a top view, Fig. HB is a rear view, Fig. HC is a side view and Fig. 1 ID is a front view;

[0031] Fig. 12 is a sectional side view of the first connector of Fig. 10, and an E-E sectional view of Fig. HB;

[0032] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a second connector according to another embodiment of the Present Application, wherein Fig. 13A is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above and

Fig. 13B is a diagram viewed from front diagonally below;

[0033] Fig. 14 is a trihedral view of the second connector of Fig. 13: Fig. 14A is a top view; Fig. 14B is a front view; and Fig. 14C is a side view;

[0034] Fig. 15 is a sectional side view of the second connector of Fig. 13, and an F-F sectional view of Fig. 14B;

[0035] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the first connector of Fig. 10 and the second connector of

Fig. 13, wherein Fig. 16A is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above the second connector and Fig. 16B is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally below the first connector; [0036] Fig. 17 is a trihedral view of the first connector of Fig. 10 and the second connector of Fig. 13, wherein Fig. 17A is a top view, Fig. 17B is a rear view viewed from the rear of the first connector and Fig. 17C is a side view;

[0037] Fig. 18 is a sectional side view of the first connector of Fig. 10 and the second connector of Fig. 13, wherein Fig. 18A is a G-G sectional view of Fig. 17A and Fig. 17B is an H-H sectional view of Fig. 17B;

[0038] Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a first connector according to another embodiment of the Present Application, wherein Fig. 19A is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above and Fig. 19B is a diagram viewed from front diagonally above; [0039] Fig. 20 is a tetrahedral view of the first connector of Fig. 19, wherein Fig. 2OA is a top view, Fig. 2OB is a rear view, Fig. 2OC is a side view and Fig. 2OD is a front view; [0040] Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a second connector according to another embodiment of the Present Application, wherein Fig. 4A is a diagram viewed from rear diagonally above and Fig. 4B is a diagram viewed from front diagonally below; [0041] Fig. 22 is a trihedral view of the second connector of Fig. 21, wherein Fig. 22A is a top view, Fig. 22B is a front view and Fig. 22C is a side view; and

[0042] Fig. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a mating operation of a conventional wire-to- board connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] While the Present Application may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the Figures, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the Present Application, and is not intended to limit the Present Application to that as illustrated. [0044] In the illustrated embodiments, directional representations - i.e., up, down, left, right, front, rear and the like, used for explaining the structure and movement of the various elements of the Present Application, are relative. These representations are appropriate when the elements are in the position shown in the Figures. If the description of the position of the elements changes, however, it is assumed that these representations are to be changed accordingly. [0045] In the drawings, first connector 1, preferably, an electric-wire connector, which is one part of the wire-to-board connector, is connected to a termination end of a cable having plurality of electric wires 91. Further, first connector 1 is mated with second connector 101 (described later), preferably, a board connector, which is the other part of the wire-to-board connector. Second connector 101 is mounted on the surface of a board such as a circuit board. Although five electric wires 91 are illustrated, the number of electric wires 91 may nevertheless vary per application. Further, in accordance with the Present Application, first connector 1 may also be used to connect flat and flexible cables, such as flexible flat cables, flexible printed circuits or the like. The wire-to-board connector according to the Present Invention includes first connector 1 and second connector 101, and electrically connects electric wires 91 to the board. Although the board is a printed circuit board used for, for example, an electronic device, it may be any type of board. Further, although the electronic device may be a personal computer, a portable telephone, a digital television, a vehicle navigation device, a gaming machine or the like, it may be any type of electronic device.

[0046] Preferably, first connector 1 is integrally formed of an insulating material, such as a resin, and includes first housing 11 as a wire-side housing (which is a housing having an overall substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape) and a first terminal 51 as a wire-side terminal (which is a metal terminal fitted in first housing 11). First housing 11 is a member mated with second housing 111 (described later) of second connector 101. As illustrated, first housing 11 includes first body 14 for holding first terminals 51, pair of first sidewalls 17 disposed on both sides of first body 14 and extending in the anteroposterior direction (the left-right direction in Fig. 2C) of first connector 1 (i.e., in the mating direction between first and second housing 11, 111) and a first top plate 12 disposed above first body 14. Moreover, first mating surface 1 Ia is disposed perpendicular to the extending direction of first terminal 51; that is, the mating direction and to first top plate 12 and first sidewalls 17. [0047] First top plate 12 is connected to an upper surface of upper wall portion 14c of first body 14 via top plate connecting portion 12a, which is thin, flexible and swingable with respect to first body 14 around top plate connecting portion 12a. A part located anterior (the right side in Fig. 2C) to top plate connecting portion 12a in first top plate 12 functions as a locking arm. On both sides of the tip part of first top plate 12, there are formed first engaging convex portions 12b respectively engaging second engaging convex portions 112b (described later) provided in second connector 101. Further, a part located posterior (the left side in Fig. 2C) to top plate connecting portion 12a in first top plate 12 functions as a manipulating arm. In the rear end part of first top plate 12, manipulating raised portion 12c is formed. To unmate first connector 1 from second connector 101, an operator manipulates the connectors and manipulates and depresses manipulating raised portion 12c. Thereupon, the tip part of first top plate 12 rises, releasing the engagement between the first and second engaging convex portions 12b, 112b, thereby releasing the locking between first and second connector 1, 101.

[0048] First mating concave portion 13 opens in first mating surface 11a and mates with second connector 101. First mating concave portion 13 is defined by the part anterior to top plate connecting portion 12a in first top plate 12, first contact arm holding upper plate portion 14f (which is an upper surface of first contact arm holding portion 14a ) and left and right first sidewalls 17 in the surroundings. Second terminal protecting wall 121 (described later), provided in second connector 101 enters first mating concave portion 13 for mating. Although first contact arm holding upper plate portion 14f includes alignment convex portion 15, formed to engage alignment concave portion 115 (described later), formed in second terminal protecting wall 121, alignment convex portion 15 may be omitted appropriately. [0049] First terminal 51 is preferably integrally formed by manipulating a metal plate and, as shown in Fig. 3, includes conductive wire connecting portion 53, first fixing portion 52 connected to the rear end of conductive wire connecting portion 53 and first contact tip portion 55 connected to the front end of conductive wire connecting portion 53. Conductive wire connecting portion 53 is electrically connected to core wire 92 (provided in electric wire 91), and is fixed by crimping core wire 92. Moreover, core wire 92 is connected and fixed to conductive wire connecting portion 53 (more firmly by soldering, if necessary). Moreover, first fixing portion 52 fixes core wire 92 by crimping electric wire 91 from around an insulating coating covering the periphery of core wire 92. First fixing portion 52 crimps electric wire 91, by which first terminal 51 is reliably connected to the termination end thereof. [0050] Further, first contact tip portion 55 contacts second terminal 151 (described later) provided in second connector 101. Moreover, first contact tip portion 55 is preferably a square gutter- shaped portion extending in the tip direction from the tip of first fixing portion 52, and has a lower plate and side plates rising from both side edges thereof so as to have a horseshoe-shaped cross section with an upper surface opened. Moreover, in the inside of both side plates are disposed contacting convex portions 55a, which contact second terminal 151. [0051] Further, hook piece 55b, which is preferably a cut-raised piece, is formed so as to project downward of the lower plate in the lower plate of first contact tip portion 55. When first terminal 51 is inserted into first terminal accommodating recess portion 16 from rear surface 14b and is fitted in first housing 11, as shown in Fig. 3, hook piece 55b enters hook concave portion 14e formed in bottom plate 14d so as to be hooked. This prevents first terminal 51, fitted in first housing 11, from falling out rearward.

[0052] Each first terminal accommodating recess portion 16 is formed in first body 14 so as to pass through from rear surface 14b to the front. Additionally, first terminal accommodating recess portion 16 includes first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a, which is preferably a groove-shaped concave portion) extends in the mating direction in first contact arm holding portion 14a. First contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a accommodates at least a part relatively close to the tip of first contact tip portion 55. Moreover, in the region corresponding to each first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a in first contact arm holding upper plate portion 14f, terminal overhead opening 16b is formed so as to pass through from the upper surface of first contact arm holding upper plate portion 14f to first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a. Therefore, each first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a has terminal overhead opening 16b, having a horseshoe- shaped cross section with the upper surface opened, and forms a groove or a gutter extending in the longitudinal direction of first contact tip portion 55. Further, projecting portion 121a enters the groove or gutter, where projecting portion 121a is a second terminal protective projecting portion (described later), formed in second terminal protecting wall 121.

[0053] Moreover, in the region corresponding to each first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a on the front end surface of first contact arm holding portion 14a, counterpart terminal accommodating opening 16c, which is formed with same width as the terminal overhead opening 16b so as to connect to terminal overhead opening 16b, is formed so as to pass through up to first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a. When first connector 1 is mated with second connector 101, second terminal 151 passes through the counterpart terminal accommodating opening 16c and enters first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a. Terminal overhead opening 16b and counterpart terminal accommodating opening 16c make first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a opened in its upper and front surfaces. [0054] Second connector 101 is also preferably integrally formed of insulating material, such as a resin, and includes board-side second housing 111 (having an overall substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape) and boa second terminal 151 as a board- side terminal, which is a metal terminal fitted in the second board-sidehousing 111. As illustrated, second housing 111 includes a second body 114 for holding second terminals 151, pair of second sidewalls 117, disposed on both sides of second body 114 and extending in the anteroposterior direction (the left-right direction in Fig. 5C) of second connector 101 (i.e., in the mating direction) and second top plate 112 disposed above second body 114. Moreover, second mating surface 11 Ia is perpendicular to the extending direction of second terminal 151; that is, the mating direction and to second top plate 112 and second sidewalls 117.

[0055] Second top plate 112 has substantially rectangular concave top plate concave portion 112a in the center of second top plate 112, and the bottom of top plate concave portion 112a is second terminal protecting wall 121. Second terminal protecting wall 121 extends in the anteroposterior direction and the left-right direction (the left-right direction in Fig. 5A) of second connector 101 and is disposed in proximity to at least second contact tip portion 155 of second terminal 151. Moreover, pair of left and right second engaging convex portions 112b are formed on the upper surface of second terminal protecting wall 121. Further, when first connector 1 is mated with second connector 101, at least the tip part of first top plate 12 enters top plate concave portion 112a and first engaging convex portions 12b engage with second engaging convex portions 112b, by which first connector 1 is locked to second connector 101.

[0056] Second mating concave portion 113 opens in second mating surface Ilia and mates with first connector 1. Second mating concave portion 113 is defined by second top plate 112, second terminal protecting wall 121, bottom plate 114d of second body 114 and left and right second sidewalls 117 in the surroundings. First contact arm holding portion 14a of first connector 1 enters second mating concave portion 113 for mating. Although alignment concave portions

115, which engage with alignment convex portions 15 formed in first contact arm holding upper plate portions 14f of first connector 1, are formed in the lower surface of second terminal protecting wall 121, alignment concave portions 115 may be omitted appropriately. Moreover, parts in proximity to the inner side surfaces of left and right second sidewalls 117 in second mating concave portion 113 are sidewall accommodating recess portions 113a each having a greater vertical dimension than other parts and first sidewalls 17 of first connector 1 enter sidewall accommodating recess portions 113a.

[0057] Second terminal 151 is preferably a metallic linear rod-like member of a type referred to as a so-called pin-type terminal or contact pin. She second terminals 151 are held by terminal holding portion 114a of second body 114. Terminal holding portion 114a has second terminal accommodating holes 116, which are formed passing through terminal holding portion 114a in the anteroposterior direction (the left-right direction in Fig. 6), and second terminals 151 are press-fit into respective second terminal accommodating holes 116 so as to be held by terminal holding portion 114a. Further, a part, which projects rearward of terminal holding portion 114a in second terminal 151, is tail portion 153. Tail portion 153 is inserted into a through-hole formed in the board which is not shown and fixed by soldering or the like so as to be electrically connected to a conductive trace of the board. Moreover, a part, which projects forward of terminal holding portion 114a in second terminal 151, is second contact tip portion 155, which comes in contact with first contact tip portion 55 and extends in the mating direction. [0058] Preferably, second connector 101 is a so-called straight-type connector and is mounted on the board in a standing manner thereto; that is, in a state where second mating surface Ilia which is the mating surface of second housing 111 is oriented upward, with an orientation in which rear surface 11 Ib of second housing 111 is opposed to the upper surface of the board. In this case, rear surface 114b is opposed to the upper surface of the board and the tip of tail portion 153 projecting rearward from rear surface 114b is inserted into the corresponding through-hole. Thereby, second connector 101 is attached with a predetermined orientation in a predetermined position on the board. The tip of tail portion 153 passes through the through-hole and projects from the lower surface of the board. Then, tail portion 153 is fixed to the through-hole of the board by soldering, by which second connector 101 is fixed to the board. [0059] As described above, second terminal protecting wall 121 includes projecting portions

121a which are in proximity to second contact tip portions 155, project toward second contact tip portions 155 (i.e., downward) and extend in the mating direction (i.e., in the longitudinal direction of second contact tip portions 155). Projecting portions 121a are integrally formed in the lower surface of second terminal protecting wall 121 in the positions corresponding to second contact tip portions 155, respectively. In other words, as illustrated in Fig. 5B, projecting portions 121a are located just above respective second contact tip portions 155. [0060] Projecting portion 121a can be divided into base 121c having a trapezoidal cross section with a relatively wide upper end connected to the lower surface of second terminal protecting wall 121 and narrow tip portion 121b, which has a substantially rectangular cross section, connected to the narrow lower end of base 121c. Narrow tip portion 121b corresponding to the ridge of projecting portion 121a has a width dimension preferably equal to or less than the width dimension of second contact tip portion 155; that is, equivalent to or less than the diameter thereof and preferably equal to or less than the width dimension of terminal overhead opening 16b of first connector 1 so as to be able to enter terminal overhead opening 16b or first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a located thereunder. [0061] Moreover, a gap between the lower end of each narrow tip portion 121b; that is, the lower end of the ridge of each projecting portion 121a and the upper end of each second contact tip portion 155, is preferably extremely narrow and may be zero. In other words, preferably the ridge of projecting portion 121a is extremely close to second contact tip portion 155 and may abut against second contact tip portion 155 in some cases. This prevents a member of the first connector 1 from entering the space between the projecting portions 121a and the second contact tip portions 155 when the first connector 1 is mated with the second connector 101, thereby preventing the second contact tip portions 155 from being damaged. Moreover, in cases where the member of the first connector 1 abuts against the second contact tip portions 155 from direction where the projecting portions 121a are not present, for example, from below, the projecting portions 121a support the second contact tip portions 155 from their behind and therefore the second contact tip portions 155 are not deformed even if the member of the first connector 1 applies a force thereto. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the second contact tip portions 155 from being broken. [0062] Further, the front end surface 121d of the second terminal protecting wall 121 and the front end surface of the projecting portion 121a are preferably located in a position anterior to the front end of the second contact tip portions 155, that is, located relatively close to the second mating surface 111 a of the second housing 111. This prevents the member of the first connector 1 from abutting against the front ends of the second contact tip portions 155 when the first connector 1 is mated with the second connector 101 so as to prevent the second contact tip portions 155 from being damaged. [0063] In addition, a part relatively close to the lower end of the front end surface 121d of the second terminal protecting wall 121, that is, a part including the front end surface of each projecting portion 121a is preferably an inclined surface 121e which is inclined downward and rearward in order to guide the first contact arm holding portion 14a of the first connector 1 so as to smoothly enter the second mating concave portion 113 when the first connector 1 is mated with the second connector 101. In this case, the inclined surface 121e is preferably formed so that the downward extended line of the inclined surface 121e is located in a position anterior to the front end of the second contact tip portion 155. This prevents the first contact arm holding portion 14a which enters the second mating concave portion 113 along the inclined surfaces 121e and any other members of the first connector 1 from abutting against the tips of the second contact tip portions 155, thereby preventing the second contact tip portions 155 from being damaged.

[0064] An alternative embodiment of the embodiment just described is set forth in Figs. 19-22, wherein Fig. 19 corresponds to Fig. 1, Fig. 20 corresponds to Fig. 2, Fig. 21 corresponds to Fig. 4 and Fig. 22 corresponds to Fig. 5. In this alternative embodiment, the orientation of accommodating recess portion 16 is essentially flipped over.

[0065] The following describes an operation of mating the first connector 1 with the second connector 101 configured as described above. The first connector 1 is connected to a termination end of the cable including the electric wires 91 by the connection between the first terminals 51 and the termination ends of the electric wires 91. Moreover, it is assumed that the second connector 101 is mounted on the board by the insertion of the tail portions 153 of the second terminals 151 into the through-holes formed in the board which is not shown and fixing of the tail portions 153 by soldering or the like. [0066] Then, with the first mating surface 11a of the first connector 1 opposed to the second mating surface 11 Ia of the second connector 101, the operator moves the first connector 1 and/or the second connector 101 so as to come close to the counterpart, inserts the first contact arm holding portion 14a of the first connector 1 into the second mating concave portion 113 of the second connector 101, inserts the first sidewalls 17 of the first connector 1 into the sidewall accommodating recess portions 113a of the second connector 101, and inserts the second terminal protecting wall 121 of the second connector 101 into the first mating concave portion 13 of the first connector 1 in order to mate the first connector 1 with the second connector 101 as shown in Figs. 7 to 9.

[0067] In doing so, the second contact tip portion 155 of each second terminal 151 of the second connector 101 enters the first terminal accommodating recess portion 16 in the first contact arm holding portion 14a of the first connector 1 and comes in contact with the first contact tip portion 55 of the first terminal 51 disposed in the first terminal accommodating recess portion 16 and more specifically comes in contact with the contacting convex portion 55a. Thereby, the conductive wire of each electric wire 91 is electrically connected to the conductive trace connected to the through-hole formed in the board via the first terminal 51 and the second terminal 151. The lower end of each projecting portion 121a, which is disposed so as to be extremely close to or so as to abut against the second contact tip portion 155, enters the terminal overhead opening 16b or the first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a thereunder as shown in Fig. 9A. In this case, the narrow tip portion 121b of the projecting portion 121a has the width dimension equivalent to or less than the diameter of the second contact tip portion 155. Therefore, when entering the first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a, the lower end of the projecting portion 121a does not interfere with the first contact tip portion 55 of the first terminal 51.

[0068] Moreover, upon the completion of the mating between the first connector 1 and the second connector 101, the second terminal protecting wall 121 of the second connector 101 enters the first mating concave portion 13 of the first connector 1 and the first engaging convex portions 12b of the first top plate 12 engage with the second engaging convex portions 112b of the second terminal protecting wall 121. This locks the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 together and prevents unmating between the first connector 1 and the second connector 101. Moreover, it is possible to confirm the engagement between the first engaging convex portions 12b and the second engaging convex portions 112b by visual observation from the outside and therefore possible to easily check that the first connector 1 is reliably mated with and locked to the second connector 101.

[0069] As described in "Description of the Related Art," generally in some cases the electric- wire connector is inserted into the opening of the board connector with the electric-wire connector inclined to the board connector. Further, conventionally a part of the housing of the electric-wire connector sometimes abuts against the terminal of the board connector, by which the terminal may be broken.

[0070] In this embodiment, however, the wire-to-board connector includes the first connector 1 having the first terminals 51 connected to the electric wires 91 and the first housing 11 with the first terminals 51 fitted therein and the second connector 101 having the second terminals 151 coming in contact with the first terminals 51 and the second housing 111 to be mated with the first housing 11 with the second terminals 151 fitted in the second housing 111, the second connector 101 being mounted on the board. Further, the first housing 11 includes the first contact arm holding portion 14a including the first contact arm accommodating recess portions 16a which accommodate the first contact tip portions 55 of the first terminals 51 and extend in the mating direction between the first housing 11 and the second housing 111. Each of the first contact arm accommodating recess portions 16a includes the terminal overhead opening 16b extending in the mating direction. Each of the second terminals 151 includes the second contact tip portion 155 which extends in the mating direction and enters the first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a so as to come in contact with the first contact tip portion 55. The second housing 111 includes the second mating concave portion 113, which accommodates the second contact tip portions 155 and which allows the first contact arm holding portion 14a to enter, and the second terminal protecting wall 121 which is disposed in the second mating concave portion 113 and extends in the mating direction. The second terminal protecting wall 121 includes the projecting portions 121a, each of which projects toward the second contact tip portion 155, extends in parallel with the second contact tip portion 155, and has the ridge able to enter the terminal overhead opening 16b.

[0071] This prevents the first housing 11 of the first connector 1 from entering the second mating concave portion 113 in a position inclined to the second housing 111 of the second connector 101 and reliably prevents the second contact tip portions 155 of the second terminals 151 from being broken, thereby improving the reliability.

[0072] Moreover, the second contact tip portion 155 is a linear rod- like member. Each projecting portion 121a is located just above the corresponding second contact tip portion 155 and the ridge of the projecting portion 121a is close to or abuts against the second contact tip portion 155. This prevents a member of the first connector 1 from entering the space between the projecting portions 121a and the second contact tip portions 155 when the first connector 1 is mated with the second connector 101, thereby preventing the second contact tip portions 155 from being damaged. Moreover, in cases where the member of the first connector 1 abuts against the second contact tip portions 155 from direction where the projecting portions 121a are not present, for example, from below, the projecting portions 121a support the second contact tip portions 155 from their behind and therefore the second contact tip portions 155 are not deformed even if the member of the first connector 1 applies a force thereto. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the second contact tip portions 155 from being broken. [0073] Further, the front end surface of the projecting portion 121a is located closer to the second mating surface 11 Ia of the second housing 111 than the front end of the second contact tip portion 155 and is the inclined surface 121e inclined rearward toward the second contact tip portion 155. The extended line of the inclined surface 121e is located closer to the second mating surface 11 Ia of the second housing 111 than the front end of the second contact tip portion 155. This prevents the first contact arm holding portion 14a entering the second mating concave portion 113 along the inclined surfaces 121e and any other members of the first connector 1 from abutting against the tips of the second contact tip portions 155 and therefore prevents the second contact tip portions 155 from being damaged.

[0074] Still further, the width dimension of the narrow tip portion 121b corresponding to the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact tip portion 155. Therefore, when entering the first contact arm accommodating recess portion 16a, the narrow tip portion 121b does not interfere with the first contact tip portion 55 of the first terminal 51. [0075] Subsequently, a further embodiment of the Present Application will be described. Components having the same structures as previously described are denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. In addition, the descriptions are also omitted with respect to the operations and effects as those previously described. [0076] First, the configuration of the first connector 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, an upper wall portion 14c of a first body 14 extends forward up to a first mating surface 11a and is formed so as to cover the upper part of a first contact arm holding portion 14a. Therefore, the upper surface of a first mating concave portion 13 is not defined by a first top plate 12 as in the first embodiment, but defined by the upper wall portion 14c. [0077] Moreover, in this embodiment, the first top plate 12 is not a plate-like member as in the first embodiment, but a substantially U-shaped member viewed from above, having a pair of slender arm members extending in the anteroposterior direction of the first connector 1 and a connecting member for connecting the rear ends of the arm members. The arm members are disposed so as to be almost parallel to the upper wall portion 14c above the upper wall portion 14c and the front ends of the arm members are connected to the front end of the upper wall portion 14c via a top plate connecting portion 12a having flexibility. Moreover, first engaging convex portions 12b are formed so as to project upward from the upper surfaces of the arm members and a manipulating raised portion 12c is formed on the upper surface of the connecting member. To unmate the first connector 1 from a second connector 101, an operator picks up the connectors with his/her fingers and manipulates and depresses the manipulating raised portion 12c. Thereupon, the entire first top plate 12 swings with the top plate connecting portion 12a as a fulcrum and is displaced downward, which thereby releases the engagement between the first engaging convex portion 12b and a second engaging concave portion 112c, described later, of the second connector 101 and thereby releases the locking between the first connector 1 and the second connector 101. Further, in this embodiment, alignment convex portions 15 are omitted. Other structures in the first connector 1 are the same as those in the first embodiment and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted. [0078] The following describes the configuration of the second connector 101 according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, a second top plate 112 is formed so as to cover almost the entire upper surface of a second housing 111, a top plate concave portion 112a is formed on the lower side of the second top plate 112 and is a part of a second mating concave portion 113 as a concave portion to be mated with the first connector 1. Moreover, a pair of second engaging concave portions 112c are formed in the second top plate 112. The second engaging concave portions 112c are formed as through -holes passing through the second top plate 112 in the thickness direction. Upon the mating between the first connector 1 and the second connector 101, the second engaging concave portions 112c engage with the corresponding first engaging convex portions 12b, respectively, to lock the first connector 1 to the second connector 101. The second engaging convex portions 112b are omitted. [0079] In this embodiment, a projecting portion 121a is not able to be divided into a base 121c and a narrow tip portion 121b, but has a rectangular or trapezoidal cross section as a whole. In the shown example, the width dimension of the lower end portion, that is, a ridge of the projecting portion 121a is equivalent to or more than the diameter of a second contact tip portion 155. Moreover, in this embodiment, alignment concave portions 115 are omitted. Other structures in the second connector 101 are the same as those in the first embodiment and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0080] The following describes an operation of mating the first connector 1 with the second connector 101 in this embodiment. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the operator inserts the first contact arm holding portion 14a of the first connector 1 into the second mating concave portion 113 of the second connector 101, inserts the first sidewalls 17 of the first connector 1 into the sidewall accommodating recess portions 113a of the second connector 101, and inserts the second terminal protecting wall 121 of the second connector 101 into the first mating concave portion 13 of the first connector 1 in order to mate the first connector 1 with the second connector 101 as shown in Figs. 16 to 18. [0081] In doing so, at least the tip part of the upper wall portion 14c and at least the tip part of the first top plate 12 in the first connector 1 enter the top plate concave portion 112a on the lower side of the second top plate 112 in the second connector 101 and then the first engaging convex portions 12b of the first top plate 12 engage with the second engaging concave portions 112c of the second top plate 112. This locks the first connector 1 and the second connector 101 together and prevents unmating between the first connector 1 and the second connector 101. Moreover, since the second engaging concave portions 112c are through-holes, it is possible to confirm the engagement between the first engaging convex portions 12b and the second engaging concave portions 112c by visual observation from the outside and therefore possible to easily check that the first connector 1 is reliably mated with and locked to the second connector 101. Other operations and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted here.

[0082] While a preferred embodiment of the Present Application is shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing Description and the appended Claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A wire-to-board connector comprising: a first connector (1) having a first terminal (51) connected to an electric wire (91) and a first housing (11) with the first terminal (51) fitted therein; and a second connector (101) having a second terminal (151) coming in contact with the first terminal (51) and a second housing (111) to be mated with the first housing (11) with the second terminal (151) fitted in the second housing (111), the second connector (101) being mounted on a board; wherein: the first housing (11) includes a first contact arm holding portion (14a) including a first contact arm accommodating recess portion (16a) which accommodates a first contact arm portion (55) of the first terminal (51) and extends in a mating direction between the first housing (11) and the second housing (111); the first contact arm accommodating recess portion (16a) includes an opening

(16b) extending in the mating direction; the second terminal (151) includes a second contact arm portion (155) which extends in the mating direction and enters the first contact arm accommodating recess portion (16a) so as to come in contact with the first contact arm portion (55); the second housing (111) includes a second mating concave portion (113), which accommodates the second contact arm portion (155) and which allows the first contact arm holding portion (14a) to enter, and a second terminal protecting wall (121), which is disposed in the second mating concave portion (113) and extends in the mating direction; and the second terminal protecting wall (121) includes a projecting portion (121a), which projects toward the second contact arm portion (155), extends in parallel with the second contact arm portion (155), and has a ridge able to enter the opening (16b).

2. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 1, wherein the second contact arm portion (155) is a linear rod-like member and the projecting portion (121a) is located just above the second contact arm portion (155) with a ridge of the projecting portion (121a) close to or abutting against the second contact arm portion (155).

3. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 2, wherein: the front end surface of the projecting portion (121a) is located closer to the mating surface (11 Ia) of the second housing (111) than the front end of the second contact arm portion (155) and is an inclined surface (12Ie) inclined rearward toward the second contact arm portion (155); and an extended line of the inclined surface (12Ie) is located closer to the mating surface (11 Ia) of the second housing (111) than the front end of the second contact arm portion (155).

4. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 3, wherein: a plurality of the second terminals (151) are provided and the second contact arm portions (155) thereof are arranged in the width direction of the second housing (111); and the second terminal protecting wall (121) is disposed in parallel with the extending direction and the arrangement direction of the second contact arm portions (155).

5. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 4, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

6. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 1, wherein: the front end surface of the projecting portion (121a) is located closer to the mating surface (11 Ia) of the second housing (111) than the front end of the second contact arm portion (155) and is an inclined surface (12Ie) inclined rearward toward the second contact arm portion (155); and an extended line of the inclined surface (12Ie) is located closer to the mating surface (11 Ia) of the second housing (111) than the front end of the second contact arm portion

(155).

7. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 6, wherein: a plurality of the second terminals (151) are provided and the second contact arm portions (155) thereof are arranged in the width direction of the second housing (111); and the second terminal protecting wall (121) is disposed in parallel with the extending direction and the arrangement direction of the second contact arm portions (155).

8. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 7, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

9. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 6, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

10. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 1, wherein: a plurality of the second terminals (151) are provided and the second contact arm portions (155) thereof are arranged in the width direction of the second housing (111); and the second terminal protecting wall (121) is disposed in parallel with the extending direction and the arrangement direction of the second contact arm portions (155).

11. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 11 , wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

12. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 1, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

13. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 2, wherein: a plurality of the second terminals (151) are provided and the second contact arm portions (155) thereof are arranged in the width direction of the second housing (111); and the second terminal protecting wall (121) is disposed in parallel with the extending direction and the arrangement direction of the second contact arm portions (155).

14. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 13, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

15. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 2, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

16. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 3, wherein: a plurality of the second terminals (151) are provided and the second contact arm portions (155) thereof are arranged in the width direction of the second housing (111); and the second terminal protecting wall (121) is disposed in parallel with the extending direction and the arrangement direction of the second contact arm portions (155).

17. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 16, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).

18. The wire-to-board connector according to Claim 3, wherein the width dimension of the ridge is equal to or less than the width dimension of the second contact arm portion (155).