JP2021012890A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of suppressing the generation of an excessive stress at a connection portion between a flat cable and a terminal.SOLUTION: A connector comprises: a flat cable 60 having a hole 64 as a reception part; a housing 10 having an installation surface 19 in which the flat cable 60 is arranged and a projection part 21 projected from the installation surface 19 and inserted into the hole 64; and a terminal 90 connected to a conductive part of the flat cable 60 and engaged to the housing 10. The flat cable 60 includes an extra length part 66 at a portion surrounding the projection part 21 or a portion arranged between the terminal 90 and the projection part 21 in an assembling state, in which the extra length becomes excessively longer than the case where the flat cable is arranged along the installation surface 19 of the housing 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Patent Document 1 discloses a plug connector having an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) having a plurality of contacts and a block on which the FPC is mounted. The plug connector is fitted to the socket connector. Each contact of the FPC is connected to a plurality of contacts held by the socket connector.
Further, the FPC has a plurality of holes. The block has a plurality of protrusions at positions corresponding to each hole. Each protrusion is inserted into each hole and secures the FPC by a heat holding means.

Japanese Patent No. 5665585

By the way, in a flat cable such as an FPC, a terminal is connected to the conductor portion thereof, and this terminal can be connected to the mating terminal of the mating connector (socket connector in the above case). In this case, the terminal is locked to the housing of the connector (block in the above case) by a locking means such as a lance.

However, when the flat cable receives a pulling force in the direction of coming out of the housing, stress is generated at the connection portion between the conductor portion and the terminal of the flat cable, which causes a decrease in the durability (life) of the connection portion. ..

The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of suppressing excessive stress from being generated at a connection portion between a flat cable and a terminal. ..

The connector of the present invention includes a lower housing and an upper housing, a flat cable arranged between the lower housing and the upper housing, and a plurality of terminals attached to the ends of the flat cable. The housing has an installation surface on which the flat cable is laid, a protrusion projecting from the installation surface, and a lance projecting from a position in front of the installation surface, and the lance is bent. The flat cable has a shape that does not deform, and the flat cable has a conductor portion and a hole through which the protrusion portion is inserted, and the terminal is soldered to the conductor portion of the flat cable at a position in front of the hole. It is a connector having a conductor connecting portion to be attached and a main body portion that is locked to the lance at a position in front of the conductor connecting portion.

By configuring the protrusion to penetrate the hole of the flat cable, the flat cable can be hooked on the protrusion when the flat cable receives a pulling force in the direction of coming out of the housing, and the displacement of the flat cable can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to avoid applying excessive stress to the connection portion between the conductor portion and the terminal of the flat cable, and it is possible to improve the durability and extend the life of the connection portion.

It is a top view of the connector which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the main part when the flat cable is pulled in the backward direction from the state of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the main part when the flat cable is pressed in the forward direction from the state of FIG. It is a perspective view when the flat cable which connected the terminal is in the expanded state. It is a perspective view which looked at the flat cable from the opposite side of FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which was formed by folding back the extra length part from the state shown in FIG. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 2 of the connector which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the state which the extra length part was formed in the flat cable which connected the terminal metal fittings. (A) is a cross-sectional view of an extra length portion when a tensile force or a pressing force is not applied to the flat cable, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of the extra length portion when a tensile force is acting on the flat cable. It is a sectional view.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown below.
(1) The flat cable has a seat main body portion and a plurality of branch portions protruding forward from the front end of the seat main body portion in a comb-like shape, and the seat main body portion has the holes. The plurality of branch portions have the conductor portion to which the terminals are solder-bonded, and are arranged between the lower housing and the upper housing.
(2) One surface of the plurality of branch portions is coated with a reinforcing member having a higher rigidity than the branch portion, and the terminals are solder-bonded to the other surface of the plurality of the branch portions. According to this, the rigidity of the flat cable is increased, and the fluctuation of the flat cable in which each terminal is installed can be suppressed.
(3) The upper housing has a relief hole into which the protrusion is inserted, and the protrusion opens on the rear surface of the protrusion, and the upper is retracted relative to the upper housing. It has a fitting recess that allows the rear end of the relief hole of the housing to enter. According to this, the backlash between the lower housing and the upper housing can be suppressed.

<Example 1>
Hereinafter, Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. The connector according to the first embodiment includes a housing 10, a flat cable 60 held in the housing 10, and a terminal 90 connected to the flat cable 60 and housed in the housing 10. In the following description, the vertical direction is based on the vertical direction of FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7, and the front-back direction is the left side of FIGS. 1 to 4 as the front side.

The housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and is composed of a lower housing 11 and an upper housing 12 that can be separated and combined vertically.

The lower housing 11 has a flat shape, a plate-shaped base wall portion 13 having a substantially rectangular plan view, a front wall portion 14 projecting upward from the front end of the base wall portion 13, and both ends in the width direction of the base wall portion 13. It has a pair of side wall portions 15 (details are not shown) that project upward.

The base wall portion 13 has a cavity 17 in the front portion of the upper surface, which is partitioned by a partition wall 16 and is arranged side by side in the width direction. The terminal 90 is housed in each cavity 17 from above. As shown in FIG. 2, a lance 18 capable of locking the terminal 90 is provided so as to project from the upper surface of the base wall portion 13. The lance 18 has a trapezoidal cross section and is substantially inflexible and deformable.

The base wall portion 13 has a horizontal flat installation surface 19 which is not partitioned by the partition wall 16 at the rear portion of the upper surface. The flat cable 60 is laid on the installation surface 19 and is arranged between the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 in the combined state.

A plurality of substantially columnar protrusions 21 are projected on the installation surface 19 of the base wall portion 13. The protrusions 21 are provided side by side in a row on the upper surface of the base wall portion 13 at intervals in the width direction. Each protrusion 21 has a fitting recess 22 that opens to the rear surface side. On the upper surface of the base wall portion 13, a lower ridge portion 23 extending in the width direction is projected behind each protrusion 21.

The front wall portion 14 abuts on the front end of the terminal 90 housed in each cavity 17 to restrict the forward movement of the terminal 90. The front wall portion 14 has a plurality of insertion holes 24 at positions facing each cavity 17. When the housing 10 is fitted into a mating housing (not shown), the tabs of the mating terminals (not shown) mounted on the mating housing are inserted into the insertion holes 24, the tabs come into contact with the terminals 90 housed in the cavity 17, and both ends. The child is electrically connected. Each side wall portion 15 has a pair of lock receiving portions 25 on the outer surface side.

The upper housing 12 also has a flat shape, and has a plate-shaped covering wall portion 26 facing the base wall portion 13 in a united state. As shown in FIG. 1, on the upper surface of the covering wall portion 26, a flexible lock arm 27 that holds the mating housing in the fitted state is provided so as to project at a substantially central portion in the width direction.

A pair of lock portions 29 are projected downward at both ends of the covering wall portion 26 in the width direction. The lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 are held in a united state by each lock portion 29 locking the lock receiving portion 25 of each side wall portion 15.

On the lower surface of the covering wall portion 26, an upper ridge portion 28 extending in the width direction is projected at the rear end portion. As shown in FIG. 2, when the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 are in the combined state, a strain relief structure that bends in an L shape or a crank shape between the lower protrusion 23 and the upper protrusion 28 is formed. It is formed. The flat cable 60 is bent and held by a strain relief structure between the lower ridge portion 23 and the upper ridge portion 28, so that its idle movement is restricted.

The covering wall portion 26 is provided with a plurality of relief holes 31 penetrating at positions corresponding to the protrusions 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the tip of the corresponding protrusion 21 is inserted into each relief hole 31. Each relief hole 31 has an elongated hole shape that is long in the front-rear direction. In the process of assembling the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12, the lower housing 11 retracts relative to the upper housing 12, and each protrusion 21 is displaced in each relief hole 31. When the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 are properly assembled, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear end portion of each relief hole 31 enters the fitting recess 22 of each protrusion 21, and the lower housing 11 The backlash between the upper housing 12 and the upper housing 12 can be suppressed.

The flat cable 60 is a deformable plate-shaped cable such as a flexible printed circuit board or a flexible flat cable, which is covered with an insulating sheet member 61 and a sheet member 61, and is arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction. It has a plurality of conductor portions (not shown) and an insulating reinforcing member 62 integrally laminated on the sheet member 61.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the seat member 61 has a rectangular seat main body 63 in a plan view, and a plurality of branch portions 69 protruding forward from the front end of the seat main body 63 in a comb-teeth shape. ing. Each branch portion 69 includes a conductor portion exposed by peeling of the insulating resin. Then, the terminal 90 is attached to each branch portion 69 so as to be soldered to the exposed conductor portion.

The terminal 90 is formed into an elongated shape in the front-rear direction by bending a conductive metal plate or the like. The terminal 90 has a tubular main body 91 to which a tab of a mating terminal is inserted and connected at the front portion, and a strip-shaped conductor connecting portion 92 connected to an exposed conductor portion at the rear portion. There is.

The seat body 63 is provided with a plurality of holes 64 as receiving portions. A plurality of holes 64 are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions 21 at intervals in the width direction, and when the seat body 63 is in the expanded state, the holes 64 are spaced in the front-rear direction from the front row, the middle row, and the rear row. It will be provided open. Each hole 64 has a circular opening shape and has an opening diameter slightly larger than the diameter of each protrusion 21. A corresponding protrusion 21 is inserted into each hole 64 of the seat body 63 in a fitted state.

The seat body 63 has a curved shape along the width direction between each hole 64F in the front row and each hole 64M in the middle row and between each hole 64M in the middle row and each hole 64R in the back row. It has a bent portion 65. The sheet main body 63 is sequentially folded back from the unfolded state shown in FIG. 5 so as to be vertically overlapped via each bent portion 65.

Of the holes 64 of the seat body 63, the holes (front row, middle row, and rear row holes 64F, 64M, 64R) arranged in the front-rear direction in the expanded state are such that the seat body 63 passes through the bent portions 65. By folding back, it fits into the common protrusion 21 and is arranged so as to communicate with the protrusion 21 on the axis coaxial with the protrusion 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the flat cable 60 is folded back through the holes 64F, 64M, and 64R so as to surround the protrusion 21 and triplely overlap in the vertical direction (protruding direction of the protrusion 21). The extra length portion 66 of the folded form (folded form) is formed.

The reinforcing member 62 is made of synthetic resin and is formed to have higher rigidity than the seat member 61. As shown in FIG. 6, the reinforcing member 62 has a region from the front end of each branch portion 69 to the bent portion 65 on the front side in the expanded shape and the bent portion 65 on the rear side in the expanded shape on one surface of the seat member 61. The coating is formed separately from the region from the back row to the rear of each hole 64R. In other words, the reinforcing member 62 has a region on one surface of the sheet member 61 where no coating is formed between the bent portions 65. The reinforcing member 62 surrounds and partitions the holes 64F and 64R in the front row and the rear row, and each hole 64 is opened on one side of the flat cable 60.

Next, the manufacturing method and the effect of the connector of the first embodiment will be described.
In manufacturing the flat cable 60 with the terminal 90, prior to the drilling process, the reinforcing member 62 is placed on a predetermined position on one surface of the unfolded sheet member 61 and joined by a joining means such as an adhesive. Next, a plurality of holes 64 are formed at once by a perforating part such as a press. After that, each terminal 90 is arranged together with solder paste on each branch portion 69 on the other surface of the sheet member 61, and reflow soldering is performed to join each terminal 90 to the sheet member 61. According to this manufacturing method, the rigidity of the flat cable 60 is increased, and fluctuation of the flat cable 60 in which each terminal 90 is installed at the time of reflow can be suppressed. Further, by fixing the flat cable 60 using each hole 64, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation from each terminal 90.

Subsequently, with each side of the flat cable 60 facing downward, each terminal 90 is inserted into each cavity 17 of the lower housing 11, and the front side of the flat cable 60 is placed on the installation surface 19 of the lower housing 11. The terminal 90 is locked to the cavity 17 by preventing the lance 18 from coming into contact with the rear end of the main body 91.

Next, while pinching the rear portion of the flat cable 60, the hole 64F in the front row is fitted into the protrusion 21, and the hole 64M in the middle row is fitted into the protrusion 21 by folding back forward with the bent portion 65 as the boundary. Further, the hole 64R in the rear row is fitted into the protrusion 21 by folding back at the next bent portion 65 as a boundary. The portion of the flat cable 60 behind the holes 64R in the rear row is directly pulled out to the rear of the lower housing 11. As a result, the extra length portion 66 is formed by folding back around the protrusion 21. Unlike the above, the extra length portion 66 may be folded back in advance via each bending portion 65, and the holes 64F, 64M, 64R may be fitted into the protrusion 21 at once in a state of communicating in the vertical direction. Good.

The extra length portion 66 is a portion that becomes extra length when the flat cable 60 is linearly arranged (arranged along the creepage surface) along the installation surface 19 of the lower housing 11, and is the inner surface and the protrusion 21 of the hole 64. It is formed with a sufficient length that exceeds the gap between the two.

After that, the upper housing 12 is attached to the lower housing 11, and the lower housing 11 and the upper housing 12 are held in a united state. The tip of each protrusion 21 is inserted into each relief hole 31 of the upper housing 12. This completes the connector assembly.

By the way, when a backward pulling force acts on the flat cable 60 pulled out from the housing 10, the gap between the rear end of the hole 64R in the rear row and the protrusion 21 is widened, while the front end and the protrusion of the hole 64R in the rear row are widened. The gap between the hole and the 21 is closed, and as shown in FIG. 3, the tensile force is finally received by the front end of the hole 64R in the rear row and the protrusion 21 coming into contact with each other. The holes 64M in the middle row and the holes 64F in the front row are maintained in a state of having a front-rear gap between the protrusions 21 and no tensile force acts on them. Furthermore, no tensile force acts on the connection portion 50 (see FIG. 2) between the conductor portion of the flat cable 60 and the terminal 90.

Further, when a forward pressing force acts on the flat cable 60 pulled out from the housing 10, the gap between the front end of the hole 64R in the rear row and the protrusion 21 is widened, while the rear end and the protrusion of the hole 64R in the rear row are widened. The gap between the hole and the 21 is closed, and as shown in FIG. 4, the pressing force is finally received by the contact between the rear end of the hole 64R in the rear row and the protrusion 21. The holes 64M in the middle row and the holes 64F in the front row are maintained in a state where there is a front-rear gap between the protrusions 21 and the pressing force does not act on them. Furthermore, the pressing force does not act on the connection portion 50 between the conductor portion of the flat cable 60 and the terminal 90.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the flat cable 60 has an extra length portion 66 that gives an extra length to the case where the flat cable 60 is arranged along the installation surface 19 in the assembled state, the hole 64 is formed. The extra length portion 66 can absorb the displacement (positional deviation) of the flat cable 60 due to the gap between the inner surface and the protrusion 21. As a result, it is possible to avoid applying stress to the connection portion 50 between the conductor portion of the flat cable 60 and the terminal 90, and it is possible to improve the durability and extend the life of the connection portion 50.

Further, when a tensile force or a pressing force acts on the flat cable 60, the protrusion 21 may come into contact with the inner surface of the hole 64R, but in the case of the first embodiment, the periphery of the hole 64R is partitioned by the reinforcing member 62. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shape of the hole 64R from being deformed due to interference with the protrusion 21.

Further, in the case of the first embodiment, the extra length portion 66 fits the holes 64F, 64M, 64R in the front row, the middle row, and the rear row into the common protrusion 21 and surrounds the protrusion 21 in the vertical direction 3 Since the flat cables 60 are provided so as to overlap each other, the flat cables 60 can be smoothly assembled in a state of being positioned by the protrusions 21. Further, since the extra length portion 66 is folded back, it is possible to prevent the flat cable 60 from becoming large in the vertical direction. Further, since the extra length portion 66 is less likely to come off from the protrusion 21, the reliability of positioning of the flat cable 60 can be improved.

<Example 2>
8 to 10 show Example 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the shape and arrangement of the extra length portion 66A are different from those in the first embodiment. The configuration of the housing 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description overlapping with the first embodiment will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the flat cable 60A has a continuous V-shape formed by repeating folding ridges in the front-rear direction between the terminal 90 and the protrusion 21 in a state of being assembled to the housing 10, when shown. It has a substantially M-shaped extra length portion 66A. Unlike the first embodiment, the flat cable 60A does not have a portion that overlaps in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 9, the holes 64A are provided in a row at intervals in the width direction, and are provided in a row in the developed shape in the front-rear direction. Not placed in parallel with.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the flat cable 60A is mounted on the installation surface 19 of the lower housing 11 between the terminal 90 and the extra length portion 66A and between the extra length portion 66A and the protrusion 21 in the assembled state. It has a side portion 68 that is arranged linearly along the line (arranged along the creeping surface).

The reinforcing member 62A is formed on one surface of the seat member 61A by covering a region from the front end of the branch portion 69 to the rear of the hole 64A. Therefore, the reinforcing member 62A includes the extra length portion 66A, and the extra length portion 66A has a structure in which the seat member 61A and the reinforcing member 62A are laminated. Further, the reinforcing member 62A partitions the periphery of the hole 64A. The extra length portion 66A is formed into a predetermined shape by press working before the flat cable 60A is assembled to the housing 10.

Here, when the flat cable 60A is assembled to the housing 10 and pulled backward, the flat cable 60A retracts within the range of the gap between the inner surface of the hole 64A and the protrusion 21, and the front end of the hole 64A and the protrusion 21 come into contact with each other. Upon contact, the backward displacement is stopped. During this time, as shown from (A) to (B) of FIG. 10, the extra length portion 66A is deformed so as to extend backward by the amount of retreat of the flat cable 60A, and absorbs the retreat displacement of the flat cable 60A. Therefore, it is possible to avoid applying stress to the connection portion 50 between the conductor portion of the flat cable 60A and the terminal 90, and it is possible to improve the durability and extend the life of the connection portion 50 as in the first embodiment. it can.

In the case of the second embodiment, the extra length portion 66A can be formed in advance by press working or the like prior to assembling the flat cable 60A to the housing 10, so that the work load of assembling can be reduced.

Further, since a side portion 68 along the installation surface 19 of the lower housing 11 is provided between the terminal 90 and the extra length portion 66A and between the extra length portion 66A and the protrusion 21, the housing 10 is moved to the housing 10. The terminal 90 does not tilt during assembly, and the workability of assembly can be further improved.

<Other Examples>
Hereinafter, other embodiments will be briefly described.
(1) The extra length portion may be provided in a folded form (folded form) between the terminal and the protruding portion in a state where the flat cable is assembled to the housing.
(2) The extra length portion may be in a curved shape, for example, without being folded.
(3) In the first embodiment, the extra length portion may be provided so as to surround the protrusion portion in four or more layers.
(4) In the first embodiment, the bent portion may be bent at an acute angle in a polygonal line shape.
(5) In the second embodiment, the extra length portion may be provided in a V shape or an inverted U shape.
(6) The reinforcing member may be omitted from the flat cable.
(7) The receiving portion may be in a form in which a protrusion is inserted and locked, and may be, for example, a recess formed so as to cut out a side edge of a flat cable.

10 ... Housing 19 ... Installation surface 21 ... Protrusion 50 ... Connection part 60, 60A ... Flat cable 61, 61A ... Seat member 62, 62A ... Reinforcing member 64, 64A ... Hole (receiving part)
66, 66A ... Extra length 90 ... Terminal

Claims (4)

With the lower housing and upper housing,
A flat cable arranged between the lower housing and the upper housing,
With a plurality of terminals attached to the ends of the flat cable,
The lower housing has an installation surface on which the flat cable is laid, a protrusion projecting from the installation surface, and a lance projecting from a position in front of the installation surface.
The lance has a shape that does not bend and deform.
The flat cable has a conductor portion and a hole through which the protrusion portion is inserted.
The terminals include a conductor connecting portion soldered to the conductor portion of the flat cable at a position in front of the hole, and a main body portion locked to the lance at a position in front of the conductor connecting portion. Has a connector. The flat cable has a seat body portion and a plurality of branch portions protruding forward from the front end of the seat body portion in a comb-teeth shape.
The sheet body has the holes.
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of branch portions have the conductor portion to which the terminals are solder-bonded, and are arranged between the lower housing and the upper housing. 2. One surface of the plurality of branch portions is coated with an insulating reinforcing member having a higher rigidity than the branch portion, and the terminals are solder-bonded to the other surface of the plurality of the branch portions. The connector described in. The upper housing has a relief hole into which the protrusion is inserted.
The protrusion has a fitting recess that opens to the rear surface of the protrusion and allows the rear end of the relief hole of the upper housing to enter by the relative retreat of the lower housing with respect to the upper housing. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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