JP5872503B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector that is fitted and connected to a mating connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board with a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface as a connector insertion / extraction direction.

  This type of electrical connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In Patent Document 1, a receptacle connector to be a mating connector is attached to one circuit board, and a plug connector fitted and connected to the receptacle connector is attached to the mounting surface of the other circuit board. In a state where the mounting surface of the substrate is parallel, the electrical connector assembly is configured by being fitted and connected with the mounting surface being a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. In Patent Document 1, the receptacle side of the receptacle connector (the term “receptacle side” is used to clarify the distinction from the plug connector. The same applies to the plug connector.) The housing has a planar shape. Is rectangular, and the receptacle-side terminals are arranged and held with the longitudinal direction as the terminal arrangement direction. The receptacle-side housing includes a bottom wall facing a mounting surface of one circuit board, a projecting wall that rises from the bottom wall and extends in the terminal arrangement direction toward a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. A peripheral wall that is formed in a frame shape so as to surround the protruding wall and rises upward from the bottom wall, and an annular space that opens upward between the peripheral wall and the protruding wall is a plug. It is formed as a receiving part for receiving the fitting part of the connector. The peripheral wall includes two receptacle side walls extending in the terminal arrangement direction and a receptacle side extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and connecting ends of the receptacle side walls in the terminal arrangement direction. And an end wall.

  The receptacle-side housing of Patent Document 1 holds receptacle-side lock fittings at both ends located outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. The receptacle-side lock fitting is made by punching a metal plate and bending it in the thickness direction, and extends along the wall of the receptacle-side end wall (the wall perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction). And a tongue-like engagement piece which is bent on the receiving portion side and extends downward. The engagement piece can be elastically deformed in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, the plate thickness direction of the engagement piece, and functions as a receptacle-side lock portion for locking with the plug connector.

  On the other hand, the plug-side housing of the plug connector holds and holds the plug-side terminals with the longitudinal direction as the terminal arrangement direction. The plug-side housing includes two plug-side side walls extending in the same direction as the receptacle-side side wall, and a plug extending in the same direction as the receptacle-side end wall and connecting ends of the plug-side side wall in the terminal arrangement direction. The peripheral wall includes a side end wall, and the peripheral wall is formed as a fitting portion that enters from above into an annular concave receiving portion formed in the receptacle-side housing in a connector fitting state.

  The plug-side housing holds plug-side lock fittings at both ends located outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. The plug-side lock fitting is made by punching a metal plate and bending it in the plate thickness direction, and has a plate-like engagement projection having a plate surface protruding outward from the outer surface of the plug-side end wall in the terminal arrangement direction. have. The engaging protrusion functions as a plug-side lock portion for locking the upper end of the engaging piece as the receptacle-side lock portion in the connector pull-out direction (upward) and locking at the protruding end. .

  In the connector assembly disclosed in Patent Document 1, the locking protrusion of the plug-side lock fitting in the connector fitting process causes the engagement surface of the engagement piece of the receptacle-side lock fitting at the tip thereof when lowered in the connector fitting process. Pushing outward in the terminal arrangement direction (in the plate thickness direction) and elastically displacing in the same direction to allow further lowering of the locking protrusion (progress of fitting), the locking protrusion being positioned below the engagement piece When the connector engagement state is reached, the engagement piece returns to the free state, and the lower edge of the engagement piece is positioned above the locking projection. As a result, when an upward external force (connector pulling direction) is applied to the plug connector in the connector-fitted state, the engagement protrusion is locked upward with respect to the lower edge of the engagement piece. Thus, the locked state between the connectors is maintained.

JP2011-065861

  In the lock fitting of the plug connector of Patent Document 1 configured as described above, one engagement from each of the both end walls of the housing toward the outside in opposite directions in the terminal arrangement direction (longitudinal direction of the housing). Only the protrusion is provided protruding. Therefore, the plug connector of Patent Document 1 provided with such a locking metal fitting is fitted into a receptacle connector of a type that receives the plug connector in a concave receiving portion as a fitting portion, and forms the receiving portion of the receptacle connector. The lock can be engaged only with the lock part of the lock fitting provided on the. In other words, it is not possible when the receptacle connector has a lock portion on the outer peripheral wall surface.

  Furthermore, even when the plug connector is received inside the receptacle connector receiving portion, the lock fitting that simultaneously engages with the plurality of locked portions of the plug connector lock fitting by being displaced in one direction in the terminal arrangement direction. In the case of a receptacle connector of the type having a connector, a plurality of locking portions of the receptacle connector are displaced in the same direction when locked, so that one engaging projection provided on each of both end walls is opposite to each other. The plug connector of Patent Document 1 that protrudes outward is no longer usable for fitting with such a receptacle connector.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides an electrical connector having a lock fitting that can be locked regardless of whether the locking portion of the mating connector is located inside or outside the end wall of the electrical connector in a connector-fitted state. The task is to do.

  An electrical connector according to the present invention is an electrical connector that is mateably connected to a mating connector, the electrical connector including a housing that extends in a direction perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction as a longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal A plurality of terminals arranged and held in the housing with a direction as a terminal arrangement direction, and a lock fitting held by the housing, the housing extending on a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction A wall and a peripheral wall standing in the connector insertion / extraction direction from the bottom wall, the peripheral wall extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. An end wall extending between the end portions of the side walls in the terminal arrangement direction, and a space surrounded by the peripheral wall is a receiving portion for receiving a mating connector; It is formed Te.

In such an electrical connector, according to the present invention, the lock fitting has a shape in which the metal plate is bent in the plate thickness direction, and is disposed on each of the both end walls, on the upper wall surface of the end wall of the housing facing the mating connector. A base portion to be arranged, and two lockable leg portions formed in substantially the same shape extending from both side edges of the base portion in the terminal arrangement direction. For each of the metal fittings, a hole portion as a locked portion is provided in the above-described locked leg portions of each lock metal fitting so as to be engageable from one direction to the locked portion located on the same side in the terminal arrangement direction. Either a concave portion or a convex portion is formed, and the concave portion and the convex portion are locked in the connector pulling direction.

  In the present invention, the two locked leg portions of the lock fitting are positioned along both the inner and outer wall surfaces of the end wall of the housing, and the locked portion is formed on any of the locked leg portions. Therefore, even when the locking portion of the mating connector is located on the inner side or the outer side of the end wall of the electrical connector in the connector fitting state, the mating connector is provided at the position corresponding to the locking portion of the mating locking member. The locked portion of the lock fitting engages and locks the lock portion. Therefore, even if the locking part of the mating connector is located only on the inside of the end wall of the electrical connector in the connector-fitted state, it is a kind of locking metal fitting whether it is located only on the outside or on both the inside and outside Can be locked selectively. Further, since the lock fitting is bent along the end wall surface of the housing, it is possible to reinforce the lock fitting itself and to improve the mounting strength to the housing.

Lock fitting extends in the connector width direction from the base, along both the side wall surface of the end wall located on the extension in the terminal arrangement direction of the outer surface of the side wall of the housing are bent in the thickness direction, of the mating connector You may also have two connection parts which contact a shield member. Thus, since the lock fitting also has the connection part integrally, both the lock with the mating connector and the shield connection can be performed only by the lock fitting. Further, since the lock fitting is bent not only along the end wall surface of the end wall of the housing but also along the side wall surface, the lock fitting itself is further reinforced and the mounting strength to the housing is further increased. Improvements can be made.

The to-be-locked leg portion may have a two-layered shape bent in the plate thickness direction, and the to-be-locked portion may be an edge portion of the hole portion formed by a hole portion penetrating through the two sheets. Thus, by making the to-be-locked leg part into a two-ply shape, the range that can be engaged with the lock part of the mating lock member can be doubled by the plate thickness, so that the mating connector can be prevented from being accidentally pulled out.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the lock fittings attached to the end wall of the housing located at the end in the longitudinal direction of the housing, which is the terminal arrangement direction, are two locked objects located on the end wall surfaces on both the inside and outside of the end wall. Since there is a leg part and each part to be locked is formed, even if the lock part of the mating connector is located either inside or outside the end wall of the electrical connector in the connector fitting state, It can be selectively locked with the lock fitting. As a result, it is possible to expand the range of compatible connector types.

It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the plug connector fitted with respect to this from the upper direction, and has shown the state before connector fitting. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the receptacle connector and the plug connector of FIG. 1 turned upside down, and a perspective view showing the plug connector fitted from below. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mating lock fitting and the elastic deformation member of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1 in a posture held by the receptacle connector of FIG. 1, and (A) shows both the mating lock fitting and the elastic deformation member; (B) shows only the mating lock fitting, and (C) shows only the elastic deformation member. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a process of attaching the mating lock fitting and the elastically deformable member of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1 on a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction, (A) before attaching the mating lock fitting and the elastically deforming member. , (B) shows after the mating lock fitting and the elastic deformation member are attached. It is sectional drawing in the surface at right angles to the connector width direction of the receptacle connector in a fitting state, and a plug connector, and has shown the state which the other party locking metal fitting moves. It is a figure which shows the other party locking metal fitting provided in the one end side in the terminal arrangement direction in FIG. 6, (A) is a perspective view, (B) is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the other party lock metal fitting and shield member of a receptacle connector in the connector fitting state, and the lock metal fitting of a plug connector. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of a receptacle connector and a plug connector according to a second embodiment, and locks between a plug connector lock fitting provided on one end side in a terminal arrangement direction and a mating lock fitting of the receptacle connector. Indicates the state.

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

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector 1 according to the present embodiment and a plug connector 2 fitted to the receptacle connector 1 from above, and shows a state before the connector is fitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 of FIG. 1 turned upside down, and is a perspective view showing a posture in which the plug connector 2 is fitted from below.

  The plug connector 2 and the receptacle connector 1 as a mating connector of the plug connector 2 in the present embodiment are electrical connectors for circuit boards arranged on mounting surfaces of different circuit boards (not shown). A connector assembly having a direction perpendicular to the surface (vertical direction in FIG. 1) as an insertion / extraction direction is configured. In the present embodiment, the fitting direction of the plug connector 1 with respect to the receptacle connector 2 as the mating connector, that is, the direction in which the plug connector 2 is moved downward in FIG. An upward direction at 1 will be described as a “connector extraction direction”. Further, the fitting direction and the extracting direction of the receptacle connector 2 with respect to the plug connector 1 are opposite to the “connector fitting direction” and the “connector extracting direction” of the plug connector 1 described above, respectively.

  First, prior to the description of the plug connector 2, the receptacle connector 1 which is the mating connector will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 is arranged and held in two rows by the receptacle-side housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and the longitudinal direction of the receptacle-side housing 10 as a terminal arrangement direction. A plurality of mating terminals 20, a mating lock fitting 30 as a mating lock member held by the receptacle housing 10 in the longitudinal direction, an elastic deformation member 40 (see FIG. 2) as an elastic deformation portion, and a receptacle housing 10 and a shield member 50 attached to the receptacle-side housing 10 so as to cover the peripheral wall. The receptacle connector 1 is arranged and mounted on a circuit board in the posture shown in FIG.

  The receptacle-side housing 10 is made of, for example, an electrical insulating material such as resin, and extends in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as a longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The receptacle-side housing 10 has a bottom wall 11 (see FIG. 2) parallel to the mounting surface, and a protruding wall portion that rises upward from the bottom wall 11 and extends in the terminal arrangement direction in FIG. 12 and a frame-shaped peripheral wall 13 that stands upward from the bottom wall 11 and surrounds the protruding wall portion 12. The peripheral wall 13 includes a pair of side walls 14 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of end walls 15 extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls 14. Have. An annular space opening upward between the protruding wall portion 12 and the peripheral wall 13 is formed as a receiving portion 16 for receiving a peripheral wall 63 as a fitting portion of the plug connector 2.

  In the receptacle-side housing 10, the terminal accommodating portions 17 for holding the mating terminals 20 form two rows symmetrical in the connector width direction with respect to the longitudinal center line of the protruding wall portion 12, etc. An array is formed at intervals. Each terminal accommodating portion 17 has a vertical groove portion 17A (see FIG. 1) that extends from the side surface of the projecting wall portion 12 and extends in the vertical direction, and a horizontal groove portion 17B that extends in the vertical direction through the bottom wall 11 (see FIG. 1). 2) and a terminal holding hole 17C (see FIG. 1) penetrating in the vertical direction on the side wall 14.

  On the outer surface of the side wall 14 of the receptacle-side housing 10 and the outer surface of the end wall 15 positioned on the extension of the outer surface, a shield member 50 described later is provided at a plurality of positions outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. A shield member holding groove 14A for press-fitting and holding the held side plate portion 52 is formed as a slit-like groove portion that extends at a right angle to the connector width direction and opens upward. Further, on the outer surface of the side wall 14, a leg housing groove 14 </ b> B for accommodating a wide shield leg 56 of a shield member 50 described later is formed between the adjacent shield member holding grooves 14 </ b> A so as to extend in the vertical direction. ing. A tongue piece receiving groove 14 </ b> C for receiving a shield tongue piece 55 of a shield member 50 to be described later is provided on the inner side surface of the side wall 14 at a position outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction. It is formed over the inner surface. The tongue piece receiving groove 14 </ b> C has a lateral groove portion that is sunk from the upper surface of the side wall 14 and a vertical groove portion that is sunk from the inner side surface of the side wall 14.

  The receptacle-side housing 10 is configured to hold the mating lock fitting 30, the elastically deformable member 40, and the shield member 50. In order to understand the form, first, prior to further description of the receptacle-side housing 10, first, The counterpart lock fitting 30, the elastic deformation portion 40, and the shield member 50 will be described.

  3 is a perspective view showing the mating lock fitting 30 and the elastically deformable member 40 of the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. 1 in a posture held by the receptacle-side housing 10 of FIG. 1, and FIG. Both the metal fitting 30 and the elastic deformation member 40, (B) shows only the mating lock metal fitting 30, and (C) shows only the elastic deformation member 40. FIGS. 3A to 3C are shown in a direction corresponding to FIG.

  As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the mating lock fitting 30 is made by punching the metal plate into a predetermined shape while maintaining the flat surface of the metal plate. The mating lock fitting 30 includes a base portion 31 extending in a straight line in the terminal arrangement direction, two upright portions 32 erected upward from a part of the base portion 31, two supported portions 33, and two restricted portions 34. A lock portion 35 projecting from the upper portion of each standing portion 32 toward one end side of the mating lock fitting 30 in the terminal arrangement direction (downwardly leftward in FIGS. 3A and 3B), and the base portion 31. And an unlocking operation portion 36 formed at one end of the.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the upright portion 32, the supported portion 33, and the restricted portion 34 are in a range (one side) from the central position in the longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction) of the base portion 31. One in each of the lower left half range in FIGS. 3A and 3B) and the other end side range (upper right half range in FIGS. 3A and 3B). Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, regarding the standing portion 32, the supported portion 33, and the regulated portion 34, the respective portions located in the range on the one end side are referred to as “first standing portion 32A”, “first supported portion 33A”, “ Also referred to as “first regulated part 34A”, and the respective parts located in the range on the other end side are referred to as “second standing part 32B”, “second supported part 33B”, and “second regulated part 34B”, respectively. Say. As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the range of the one end side, the first restricted portion 34 </ b> A, the first standing portion 32 </ b> A, and the first supported portion from one end to the other end of the base portion 31. 33A is provided in this order. In the range on the other end side, the “second supported portion 33B”, the “second regulated portion 34B”, and the “second standing portion 32B” are provided in this order from one end of the base portion 31 to the other end. It has been. The second upright portion 32B is located at the other end of the base portion 31. The side edge extending in the vertical direction of the second upright portion 32B has an upper protrusion 32B-1 at the upper end position and the lower end position. A lower protrusion 32B-2 is formed.

  As described above, the lock portions 35 projecting toward one end in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 31 (terminal arrangement direction) are formed on the upper portions of the standing portions 32A and 32B. In the present embodiment, for convenience of description, the lock portion protruding from the first upright portion 32A is also referred to as “first lock portion 35A”, and the lock portion protruding from the second upright portion 32B is also referred to as “second lock portion 35B”. Each of the lock portions 35A and 35B has a slanted edge that slopes downward as the upper edge moves toward the one end side, and the lower edge extends in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction (terminal arrangement direction). (See also FIGS. 5A and 5B). As will be described later, the locking portions 35A and 35B are in the connector pull-out direction with respect to the locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 described later provided in the plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state. (See FIG. 6). Further, as will be described later, the upright portions 32A and 32B are brought into contact with upper inner wall surfaces (regulating surfaces 18D-2 and 18C-2 described later) of the first projecting wall groove portion 18D and the second end wall groove portion 18C, respectively. The upward movement is regulated.

  The supported portions 33A and 33B are locked downward with respect to corresponding portions (a first end support portion 12B-2 and a second central support portion 12A-2 described later) of the receptacle-side housing 10 to receive the receptacle-side housing. 10 is a part for preventing the mating lock fitting 30 from dropping downward from the base 10 (see FIG. 5B), and has an inverted L-shape that stands up from the base 31 and is bent toward one end in the terminal arrangement direction. It is formed without. Of the inverted L-shaped portions of the supported portions 33A and 33B, the vertical portion extending in the vertical direction is, as will be described later, a regulating surface 12B-2A of the first end support portion 12B-2 and the second central support portion 12A-2. , 12A-2A (the end surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) and functions as a portion for restricting the maximum amount of movement of the mating lock fitting 30 toward the end wall 15 on one end side (FIG. 5 ( B)).

  Further, the regulated portions 34A and 34B are, as will be described later, regulating surfaces 18B-1 and 18E-1 of the receptacle-side housing 10 (the inner wall surfaces of the first end wall groove portion 18B and the second protruding wall groove portion 18E described later). ) To restrict the maximum amount of movement of the mating lock fitting 30 toward the end wall 15 on the one end side, and stands up straight from the base 31 upward. Further, the regulated portions 34A and 34B are moved upward by upper inner wall surfaces (regulating surfaces 18B-2 and 18E-2 described later) of the first end wall groove portion 18B and the second protruding wall groove portion 18E, as will be described later. Movement is regulated. In the present embodiment, the first regulated portion 34A is formed to have a larger dimension in the terminal arrangement direction than the second regulated portion 34B (see also FIGS. 5A and 5B) and has a strength. Has been enhanced. This is because the first end wall groove portion 18B that accommodates the first regulated portion 34A is formed larger in the terminal arrangement direction than the second protruding wall groove portion 18E that accommodates the second regulated portion 34B. Yes.

  The unlocking operation portion 36 is formed to have a larger vertical dimension at one end of the base portion 31 than the base portion 31. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the unlocking operation portion 36 is exposed to the outside of the receptacle-side housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction. As will be described later, the unlocking operation unit 36 receives a pressing operation in the terminal arrangement direction for unlocking.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the elastic deformation member 40 bends the band-shaped metal plate member so as to be folded back in the plate thickness direction at two positions in the longitudinal direction of the metal plate member. As a whole, it has a long and thin ring shape extending in the connector width direction (direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction). The two elastic arm portions 41, 42 that are folded back and extend so as to approach each other have a tapered cantilever shape that becomes narrower toward the free end, and when viewed from above, the elastic arm portions 41, 42, The front ends (free ends) of 42 cross each other (see also FIG. 4). The elastic arm portions 41 and 42 are cantilever beams that can be elastically deformed in the plate thickness direction, in other words, in the terminal arrangement direction, with each end portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic deformation member 40, that is, each folded portion as a fulcrum. It has a shape. In a state where the mating lock fitting 30 and the elastic deformation member 40 are held in the receptacle-side housing 10, the elastic deformation member 40 is such that the intersecting portion of the elastic arm portions 41, 42 is the second standing portion 32 </ b> B of the mating lock fitting 30. The urging force is applied to one end side in the terminal arrangement direction (downwardly diagonally left in FIG. 3A, left in FIG. 4) to the mating lock fitting 30. .

  As seen in FIG. 1, the shield member 50 is made by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending it in the plate thickness direction (see also FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 1, the shield member 50 includes an upper plate portion 51 that covers the upper surfaces of both end walls 15 of the receptacle-side housing 10, and a right angle downward at both end edges of the upper plate portion 51 in the connector width direction. Is bent to extend in the terminal arrangement direction and covers the side wall 14 outside the terminal arrangement range, and is held by the receptacle-side housing 10, and the side edge of the held-side plate part 52 is within the connector width direction. An end plate portion 53 that is bent toward the end and covers the end wall surfaces of both end walls 15, and a side plate portion 54 that extends from the held side plate portion 52 along the side wall 14 in the terminal arrangement direction and covers the side wall 14 in the terminal arrangement range. And have.

  The held side plate portion 52 is bent at the upper edge in the connector width direction in the downward direction and extends into the receiving portion 16, and at a position outside the shield tongue piece 55 in the terminal arrangement direction. And a wide shield leg portion 56 that is bent at a right angle at the lower edge of the held side plate portion 52 and extends outward in the connector width direction. The shield tongue 55 is accommodated in the lateral groove portion of the tongue piece accommodation groove 14C of the receptacle-side housing 10 at its base portion (the portion connected to the upper edge of the held side plate portion 52). The side (lower end side) portion is located outside the vertical groove portion of the tongue piece receiving groove 14 </ b> C and extends into the receiving portion 16. This free end portion can be elastically deformed in the plate thickness direction (connector width direction), and in contact with the shield connection portion 84 of the lock fitting 80 of the plug connector 2 to be described later in contact with the connector. Contact. Further, the elastic deformation of the free end side portion is allowed by the longitudinal groove portion of the tongue piece receiving groove 14C.

  The side plate portion 54 is bent at a right angle at the lower edge of the side plate portion 54 at two positions in the terminal arrangement direction and extends outward in the connector width direction. The narrow shield leg is narrower than the wide shield leg portion 56. A portion 57 is provided. The wide shield leg 56 and the narrow shield leg 57 are soldered to the ground circuit portion of the circuit board.

  The shield member 50 having such a configuration is held by press-fitting the held-side plate portion 52 of the shield member 50 from above the receptacle-side housing 10 into the shield member holding groove 14A. As shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the attachment of the shield member 50 is completed, the shield tongue piece 55 of the shield member 50 has its base portion accommodated in the lateral groove portion of the tongue piece accommodation groove 14C and the free end side. A portion extends into the receiving portion 16. Further, the wide shield leg portion 56 of the shield member 50 is accommodated in the leg portion accommodating groove 14B, and the narrow shield leg portion 57 is positioned between the connection portions 23 of the mating terminal 20 described later.

  Returning to the description of the receptacle-side housing 10. The receptacle-side housing 10 has a slit shape in which the lock fitting receiving groove 18 for receiving the mating lock fitting 30 extends at a central position in the connector width direction at a right angle to the connector width direction, and in the terminal arrangement direction. The receptacle-side housing 10 is formed so as to extend over the entire region. As seen in FIG. 5A, the lock fitting receiving groove 18 has a symmetrical shape in the terminal arrangement direction with respect to the center line in the connector width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (A), the lock fitting housing groove portion 18 accommodates the base 31, the standing portions 32A and 32B, the supported portions 33A and 33B, and the regulated portions 34A and 34B of the mating lock fitting 30, respectively. The groove portion or hole portion is formed in communication. Specifically, the lock fitting receiving groove 18 includes a bottom groove 18A for receiving the base 31 of the mating lock fitting 30, a first end wall groove 18B for receiving the first regulated portion 34A, and a second A second end wall groove 18C for accommodating the standing part 32B, a first protruding wall groove part 18D for accommodating the first rising part 32A, and a second protruding wall groove part for accommodating the second regulated part 34B. 18E, a first protruding wall hole 18F for accommodating the first supported portion 33A, and a second protruding wall hole 18G for accommodating the second supported portion 33B. The first end wall groove portion 18B, the second end wall groove portion 18C, the first protruding wall groove portion 18D, the second protruding wall groove portion 18E, the first protruding wall hole portion 18F, and the second protruding wall hole portion 18G are aligned in the terminal arrangement direction. Is located. In the present embodiment, by using the protruding wall portion 12 and the end wall 15 positioned within the range of the receptacle-side housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction, the lock fitting receiving groove 18 for receiving the mating lock fitting 30 is formed. The receptacle connector 1 is prevented from being enlarged in the terminal arrangement direction.

  As seen in FIG. 5A, the bottom groove portion 18A extends through the bottom wall 11 in the same direction over the entire region in the terminal arrangement direction. Further, the bottom groove portion 18 </ b> A penetrates in the vertical direction within a range corresponding to the receiving portion 16 in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, a range between the protruding wall portion 12 and the end wall 15, and communicates with the receiving portion 16. ing. The first end wall groove 18B is one end wall 15 located on one end side (left end side in FIG. 5A) in the terminal arrangement direction, and the second end wall groove 18C is in the terminal arrangement direction. The other end wall located on the other end side (the right end side in FIG. 5A) extends in the vertical direction and opens inward in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, toward the receiving portion 16 side. The upper inner wall surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the vertical direction) of the end wall groove portions 18B and 18C are respectively above the upper edge of the first restricted portion 34A and the second raised portion 32B of the mating lock fitting 30, as will be described later. It functions as restricting surfaces 18B-2 and 18C-2 that abut against the edge and restrict the movement of the mating lock fitting 30 facing upward.

  The first protruding wall groove 18D is on one end side of the protruding wall portion 12 (left end side in FIG. 5A), and the second protruding wall groove portion 18E is on the other end side of the protruding wall portion 12 (FIG. 5A). At the right end side) and extends in the vertical direction and opens outward in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, toward the receiving portion 16 side. The first protruding wall hole portion 18F is closer to one end side than the central position of the protruding wall portion 12 in the terminal arrangement direction, and the second protruding wall hole portion 18G is other than the central position of the protruding wall portion 12. It is formed as a hole penetrating in the vertical direction at a position close to the end side.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (A), the protruding wall portion 12 includes a central partition wall portion 12A that separates the first protruding wall hole portion 18F and the second protruding wall hole portion 18G at the center position in the terminal arrangement direction, A first end partition wall 12B that separates the first projecting wall groove 18D and the first projecting wall hole 18F at a position near one end (left end) in the same direction, and a second at a position near the other end (right end) in the same direction. A second end partition 12C that separates the protruding wall groove 18E and the second protruding wall hole 18G is formed in an island shape.

  The central partition wall portion 12A has a first central support portion 12A-1 and a second central support portion 12A-2 that protrude from the lower end to the one end side and the other end side, respectively. I am doing. Further, the first end partition wall portion 12B has an upper wall portion 12B-1 extending toward the one end side at the upper portion and closing the upper end of the first protruding wall groove portion 18D, and a first end protruding toward the other end portion at the lower portion. Support section 12B-2, and the cross-sectional shape is a crank shape as a whole. Further, the second end partition wall portion 12C has an upper wall portion 12C-1 extending toward the other end side at the upper portion and closing the upper end of the second protruding wall groove portion 18E, and a second end projecting toward the one end portion at the lower portion. The cross-sectional shape as a whole is a crank shape in which the cross-sectional shape of the first end partition wall portion 12B is horizontally reversed. The lower surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the vertical direction) of the upper wall portions 12B-1 and 12C-1, in other words, the upper inner wall surfaces of the projecting wall groove portions 18D and 18E, respectively, as described later, It functions as restricting surfaces 18D-2 and 18E-2 that abut the upper edge of the standing portion 32A and the upper edge of the second restricted portion 34B and restrict the upward movement of the mating lock fitting 30.

  The first projecting wall hole 18F is narrowed at the lower part by the first central support part 12A-1 and the first end support part 12B-2 projecting toward each other in the terminal arrangement direction, and has a T-shape as a whole. ing. Moreover, the lower part of the second protruding wall hole 18G is narrowed by a second central support part 12A-2 and a second end support part 12C-2 that protrude toward each other in the terminal arrangement direction, and as a whole are inverted T-shaped. It has a shape.

  5B, in this embodiment, the first end support portion 12B-2 is engaged with the first supported portion 33A of the mating lock fitting 30, and the second central support portion 12A-2 is By engaging with the second supported portion 33 </ b> B of the mating lock fitting 30, it functions as a support portion for preventing the mating lock fitting 30 from dropping off from the receptacle-side housing 10. That is, in the present embodiment, the second center support portion 12A-1 and the second end support portion 12C-2 are not used as support portions.

  The end surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of the first end support portion 12B-2 and the second center support portion 12A-2 are in contact with the vertical portions of the supported portions 33A and 33B of the mating lock fitting 30. In contact with each other, it functions as regulating surfaces 12B-2A and 12A-2A that regulate the movement of the mating lock fitting 30 toward one end in the terminal arrangement direction.

  Further, the inner wall surfaces perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of the first end wall groove portion 18B and the second protruding wall groove portion 18E are in contact with the restricted portions 34A and 34B of the mating lock fitting 30, respectively, in the terminal arrangement direction. It functions as restricting surfaces 18B-1 and 18E-1 that restrict the movement of the mating lock fitting 30 toward one end.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the receptacle-side housing 10 has an elastic deformation member accommodating recess 19 for accommodating the elastic deformation member 40 at both ends in the terminal arrangement direction. In FIG. 5A and FIG. In this embodiment, the elastic deformation member 40 is accommodated only in the elastic deformation member accommodation recess 19 provided on the other end side in the terminal arrangement direction (the right end side in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 (A), (B)). The That is, in this embodiment, the elastic deformation member accommodation recessed part 19 provided in one end side (left end side in FIG. 2, 4, 5 (A), (B)) is not used. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the elastic deformation member housing recess 19 has a long hole shape that fits with the elastic deformation member 40 and extends in the connector width direction when viewed in the vertical direction. As can be seen from FIG. 5, it extends from the middle position of the end wall 15 to the bottom surface of the bottom wall 11 in the vertical direction and opens downward. 2 and 4, the elastically deformable member accommodating recess 19 intersects with the lock fitting receiving groove 18, and includes a bottom groove 18 </ b> A, a first end wall groove 18 </ b> B of the lock fitting receiving groove 18, and It communicates with the second end wall groove 18C.

  Next, attachment of the mating lock fitting 30 and the elastic deformation member 40 to the receptacle-side housing 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the supported portions 33A and 33B of the mating lock fitting 30 are positioned at the same positions as the protruding wall holes 18F and 18G of the receptacle-side housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction. The mating lock fitting 30 is positioned below the receptacle-side housing 10. Then, the mating lock fitting 30 is moved upward (arrow P1), the supported portions 33A and 33B are caused to enter the protruding wall holes 18F and 18G, respectively, and the horizontal portions of the supported portions 33A and 33B are The first end support portion 12B-2 and the first center support portion 12A-2 are provided above. At this time, the base 31, the first standing part 32 </ b> A, the second standing part 32 </ b> B, the first regulated part 34 </ b> A, and the second regulated part 34 </ b> B of the mating lock fitting 30 are the bottom groove part 18 </ b> A of the receptacle-side housing 10, It enters the protruding wall groove 18D, the second end wall groove 18C, the first end wall groove 18B, and the second protruding wall groove 18E. Further, the unlocking operation portion 36 is located outside the receptacle-side housing 10 on one end side (left end side) of the receptacle-side housing 10.

  Next, the mating lock fitting 30 is moved to one end side in the terminal arrangement direction (arrow P2), and the horizontal portions of the supported portions 33A and 33B are respectively connected to the first end support portion 12B-2 and the first central support portion. Bring directly above 12A-2. As a result, each lateral portion is supported so as to be locked downward with respect to the first end support portion 12B-2 and the first center support portion 12A-2, and the mating lock fitting 30 from the receptacle-side housing 10 is supported. Omission is prevented. At this time, the lock portions 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B of the mating lock fitting 30 protrude outside the first projecting wall groove portion 18 </ b> D and outside the second end wall groove portion 18 </ b> C of the receptacle-side housing 10 and are positioned inside the receiving portion 16. Further, the side edge (left edge) of the vertical portion of the supported portions 33A, 33B and the side edge (left edge) of the restricted portions 34A, 34B are respectively the restriction surfaces 12B-2A of the first end support portion 12B-2, The control surface 12A-2A of the second central support portion 12A-2, the control surface 18B-1 of the first end wall groove portion 18B, and the control surface 18E-1 of the second projecting wall groove portion 18E are positioned so as to be in contact with each other. (See FIG. 5B).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, the elastic deformation member 40 is attached from below to the elastic deformation member accommodating recess 19 on the other end side (right side in FIG. 5A) (arrow P3). In the present embodiment, between the second upright portion 32B of the mating lock fitting 30 already accommodated in the lock fitting accommodation groove 18 and the inner wall surface (surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of the second end wall groove 18C. The dimension in the terminal arrangement direction is smaller than the dimension in the terminal arrangement direction of the elastic deformation member 40. Therefore, the elastic deformation member 40 is accommodated in the elastic deformation member accommodating recess 19 so as to be compressed in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, in a state where the elastic arm portions 41 and 42 of the elastic deformation member 40 are elastically deformed to the other end side. . The elastic deformation member 40 is positioned between the upper protrusion 32B-1 and the lower protrusion 32B-2 of the second upright portion 32B in the vertical direction in the elastic deformation member housing recess 19, and these protrusions The position in the vertical direction is regulated by the above.

  Further, the elastic deformation member 40 urges the mating lock fitting 30 toward one end side by the restoring force in the elastic deformation member housing recess 19. As a result, there is a state in which the horizontal portions of the supported portions 33A and 33B of the mating lock fitting 30 can be locked downward with respect to the first end support portion 12B-2 and the first central support portion 12A-2. The counterpart lock fitting 30 is held in the receptacle-side housing 10 while being maintained. Further, the state in which the lock portions 35A and 35B of the mating lock fitting 30 are projected outside the first projecting wall groove portion 18D and the second end wall groove portion 18C of the receptacle-side housing 10 is maintained. Further, the supported portions 33A and 33B and the regulated portions 34A and 34B are respectively the regulating surface 12B-2A of the first end supporting portion 12B-2, the regulating surface 12A-2A of the second central supporting portion 12A-2, and the first end. The maximum movement amount of the mating lock fitting 30 toward one end side is regulated by contacting the regulating surface 18B-1 of the wall groove 18B and the regulating surface 18E-1 of the second protruding wall groove 18E. By restricting the maximum movement amount of the lock fitting in this way, the maximum value of the lock amount of the lock portions 35A and 35B with respect to the locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 of the plug connector 2 described later is restricted. Is done. Therefore, the lock portions 35A and 35B are prevented from being damaged when the lock fitting 80 comes into contact with the lock portions 35A and 35B from above in the connector fitting process due to the excessive lock amount. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the mating lock fitting 30 receives the above urging force, and the lock portions 35A and 35B protrude from the first projecting wall groove portion 18D and the second end wall groove portion 18C, respectively (the solid line in FIG. 6). And “lock release position” (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6) in which the lock portions 35A and 35B are accommodated in the first projecting wall groove portion 18D and the second end wall groove portion 18C, respectively, against the urging force. It is possible to move in the terminal arrangement direction.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B), the lock fitting receiving groove 18 has a symmetrical shape. ) Can be accommodated in the lock fitting accommodation groove 18 even if the orientation shown in FIG. In this way, when the mating lock fitting 30 is reversed left and right, the base 31, the first standing portion 32A, the second standing portion 32B, the first supported portion 33A, the second supported portion 33B, The one regulated portion 34A and the second regulated portion 34B are respectively a bottom groove portion 18A, a second protruding wall groove portion 18E, a first end wall groove portion 18B, a second protruding wall hole portion 18G, and a first protrusion of the lock fitting housing groove portion 18. It is accommodated in the wall hole 18F, the second end wall groove 18C, and the first protruding wall groove 18D. The unlocking operation section 36 is located outside the housing on the other end side of the receptacle-side housing 10 (the right end in FIGS. 5A and 5B). The elastic deformation member 40 is housed in the elastic deformation member housing recess 19 on one end side (the left end in FIGS. 5A and 5B), and the lock fitting is fitted on the other end side (FIGS. 5A and 5B). ) Energize towards the right).

  At this time, the horizontal portions of the supported portions 33A and 33B are respectively engaged with the second end support portion 12C-2 and the first center support portion 12A-1, thereby preventing the mating lock fitting 30 from coming out downward. Is done. The supported portions 33A and 33B are regulating surfaces 12C-2A and 12A, which are end surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of the second end support portion 12C-2 and the first center support portion 12A-1, respectively. -1A (refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B). Further, the regulated portions 34A and 34B are regulating surfaces 18C-1 and 18D-1 (surfaces perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of the second end wall groove portion 18C and the first protruding wall groove portion 18D, respectively. (See FIGS. 5A and 5B). As a result, the maximum of the mating lock fitting 30 to the other end side (to the right in FIGS. 5A and 5B) by these regulating surfaces 12C-2A, 12A-1A, 18C-1, and 18D-1. The amount of movement is regulated.

  At this time, the upper edges of the standing portions 32A and 32B and the regulated portions 34A and 34B are the second protruding wall groove 18E, the first end wall groove 18B, the second end wall groove 18C, and the first protruding wall groove, respectively. It is positioned so as to be able to come into contact with regulating surfaces 18E-2, 18B-2, 18C-2, 18D-2 (see FIG. 5A) which are upper inner wall surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the vertical direction) of 18D. The upward movement of the mating lock fitting 30 is restricted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mating terminal 20 is made by bending a strip-like piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the plate thickness direction. The mating terminal 20 is bent at a right angle at a base portion 21 (see FIG. 2) extending in the connector width direction in a lateral groove portion (groove portion formed in the bottom wall 11) of the terminal accommodating portion 17 and one end of the base portion 21. A contact arm portion 22 (see FIG. 4) extending upward in the vertical groove portion (groove portion formed in the protruding wall portion 12) of the terminal accommodating portion 17, and upward from the base portion 21 in parallel with the contact arm portion 22. A holding arm portion (not shown) extending toward the outside and a connection portion 23 extending from the other end of the base portion 21 to the outside of the receptacle-side housing 10 are provided. The contact arm portion 22 is elastically deformable in the plate thickness direction, in other words, in the connector width direction, and protrudes outward in the connector width direction at the upper end of the contact arm portion 22 and is located in the receiving portion 16. 22A is formed. The mating terminal 20 having such a configuration is formed by press-fitting the held arm portion of the mating terminal 20 into the terminal holding hole portion 17 </ b> C formed in the side wall 14 from below the receptacle-side housing 10 (bottom wall 11 side). The terminal is accommodated and held in the terminal accommodating portion 17.

  Next, the configuration of the plug connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 to 8. The plug connector 2 includes a plug-side housing 60 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, a plurality of terminals 70 arranged and held in two rows by the plug-side housing 60 with the longitudinal direction of the plug-side housing 60 as a terminal arrangement direction, and the longitudinal And two lock fittings 80 held by both end portions (end wall 65 described later) of the plug-side housing 60 in the direction. The plug connector 2 is disposed and mounted on the circuit board in the posture shown in FIG. 2, and is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 1 in a posture reversed upside down as shown in FIG.

  The plug-side housing 60 is made of, for example, an electrical insulating material such as resin, and extends in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as a longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction). The plug-side housing 60 includes a bottom wall 61 (see FIG. 1) parallel to the mounting surface and a frame-like fitting portion that stands upward from the bottom wall 61 as seen in FIG. As a peripheral wall 63. The peripheral wall 63 includes a pair of side walls 64 extending in the terminal arrangement direction and a pair of end walls 65 extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls 64. Have. A space surrounded by the peripheral wall 63 and opening upward is formed as a receiving portion 66 for receiving the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1.

  The plug-side housing 60 is configured to hold the lock fitting 80, but for the understanding of the form, the lock fitting 80 will be described first prior to further description of the plug-side housing 60.

  The lock fitting 80 is made by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending it in the plate thickness direction. As is often seen in FIG. 2, the lock fitting 80 includes a base portion 81 disposed so as to cover the upper wall surface of the end wall 65 of the plug-side housing 60, and the inner and outer sides of the end wall 65 extending from the base portion 81 in the terminal arrangement direction. And two shielded leg portions 82 and 83 bent along the end wall surfaces on both sides of the connector, and the shield of the receptacle connector 1 extending from the base portion 81 in the connector width direction and bent along both side wall surfaces of the end wall 65. It has two shield connection portions 84 that come into contact with the shield tongue 55 of the member 50. Thus, the lock fitting 80 is bent in the thickness direction of the metal plate along the end wall surface and the side wall surface of the plug-side housing 60, whereby the lock fitting 80 itself is reinforced and attached to the plug-side housing 60. The mounting strength is improved.

  Of the two locked leg portions 82 and 83, the locked leg portion located on the inner end wall surface side of the end wall 65 is the “inner locked leg portion 82” and is located on the outer end wall surface side of the end wall 65. The locked leg portion to be locked is referred to as “outer locked leg portion 83”. 7 is a view showing a lock fitting 80 provided on one end side (left end side) in the terminal arrangement direction in FIG. 6, (A) is a perspective view, and (B) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6. It is. Here, in FIG. 7B, unlike FIG. 7A, the lock portion 35A of the mating lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 is shown in a locked state. 7A and 7B, the inner locked leg portion 82 is connected to the base portion 81 and extends upward (downward in FIG. 2), and the inner exposed plate portion 82A. An inner holding plate portion 82C that is folded outwardly in the terminal array direction (left side in FIGS. 7A and 7B) at the inner folded edge portion 82B that forms the upper edge of the portion 82A and extends downward. Yes. The outer locked leg portion 83 includes an outer exposed plate portion 83A connected to the base portion 81 and extending upward (downward in FIG. 2), and an outer folded edge portion 83B forming the upper edge of the outer exposed plate portion 83A. It has an outer held plate portion 83C that is folded back inward in the terminal arrangement direction (right side in FIGS. 7A and 7B) and extends downward.

  In a state where the lock fitting 80 is attached to the plug-side housing 60, the inner exposed plate portion 82A and the outer exposed plate portion 83A of the lock fitting 80 are respectively connected to the inner surface of the end wall 65 as shown in FIG. And it is exposed so as to form the same surface as the outer surface. As shown in FIG. 7A, the inner held plate portion 82C and the outer held plate portion 83C are press-fitted and held when the lock fitting 80 is press-fitted by the plug-side housing 60 on both side edges extending in the vertical direction. The press-fitting protrusions 82C-1 and 83C-1 are formed so as to protrude. The press-fitting protrusions may be provided on the exposed plate portions 82A and 83A in addition to the held plate portions 82C and 83C. Further, instead of the held plate portions 82C and 83C, the press-fit protrusions may be provided only on the exposed plate portions 82A and 83A.

  As is often seen in FIG. 7B, the inner exposed plate portion 82A and the inner held plate portion 82C of the inner locked leg portion 82 face each other in the terminal arrangement direction, and each penetrates in the plate thickness direction. The hole 82D is formed at the same position when viewed from the terminal arrangement direction. The edges of the two hole portions 82D of the inner locked leg portion 82 (the lower edges in FIGS. 7A and 7B) are combined to engage with the lock portion 35A of the mating lock fitting 30. Function as the inner locked portion 82D-1. Similarly to the inner locked leg portion 82, the outer exposed plate portion 83A and the outer held plate portion 83C of the outer locked leg portion 83 also face each other in the terminal arrangement direction, and each penetrates in the plate thickness direction. The hole 83D is formed at the same position when viewed from the terminal arrangement direction. The edges of the two holes 83D of the outer locked leg 83 (the lower edges in FIGS. 7A and 7B) are combined to engage with the lock of the mating lock fitting 30. It functions as the outer locked part 83D-1.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner locked portion 82D-1 of the inner locked leg portion 82 of the lock fitting 80 provided on one end side (left end side in FIG. 6) in the terminal arrangement direction. And the outer locked portion 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 provided on the other end side (the right end side in FIG. 6) is locked with the lock portions 35A and 35B of the mating lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1. Used as part. That is, in the present embodiment, the outer locked portion 83D-1 of the outer locked leg portion 83 of the lock fitting 80 provided on one end side, and the lock fitting provided on the other end side (right end side in FIG. 6). The 80 inner locked portion 82D-1 is not used as the locked portion.

  As described above, in the lock fitting 80 of the plug connector 2 according to the present embodiment, the two to-be-locked legs 82 and 83 are positioned along the inner and outer end wall surfaces of the end walls 65 of the plug-side housing 60, The locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 are also formed on the locked leg portions 82 and 83. Therefore, even if the receptacle connector 1 is in a posture in which the posture shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is reversed left and right, the lock fitting 80 of the plug connector 2 can be locked with the mating lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1. it can. In that case, the outer locked portion 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 on one end side and the inner locked portion 82D-1 on the other end side are used as the locked portion.

  Returning to the description of the plug-side housing 60. As is often seen in FIG. 2, the upper wall surface (the lower surface in FIGS. 1 and 6) of the end wall 65 has a recess 65A for receiving the base 81 of the lock fitting 80, and a groove and terminal array extending in the connector width direction. It is formed as a cross-shaped concave portion in which grooves extending in the direction intersect. On the inner end wall surface of the end wall 65, an inner groove portion 65B (see also FIG. 7B) for accommodating the inner locked leg portion 82 of the lock fitting 80 is vertically connected to the recess 65A. It is extended and formed. On the outer end wall surface of the end wall 65, an outer groove portion 65C (see also FIG. 7B) for accommodating the outer locked leg portion 83 of the lock fitting 80 is provided in the vertical direction continuously to the recess 65A. It is extended and formed. On the side wall surface of the end wall 65, that is, the surface located on the extension of the outer surface of the side wall 64 in the terminal arrangement direction, a side groove portion 65D for accommodating the shield connection portion 84 of the lock fitting 80 is continuous with the concave portion 65A. And extending in the vertical direction.

  The lock fitting 80 is attached to the plug-side housing 60 by press-fitting the locked leg portions 82 and 83 into the inner groove portion 65B and the outer groove portion 65C from above in FIG. When the mounting is completed, the base 81, the inner locked leg 82, the outer locked leg 83, and the shield connecting part 84 of the lock fitting 80 are respectively connected to the recess 65A, the inner groove 65B, the outer groove 65C, and the plug connecting housing 60. It is accommodated in the side groove 65D. Further, the press-fitting protrusions 82C-1 and 83C-1 (both see FIG. 7A) of the held plate portions 82C and 83C bite into the inner edges on both sides extending in the vertical direction of the inner groove portion 65B and the outer groove portion 65C. This prevents the lock fitting 80 from coming off.

  The terminal 70 is made by bending a strip obtained by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminals 70 are integrally molded and held on the side walls 64 of the plug-side housing 60, and are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the side walls 64. . The terminal 70 is connected to the straight connection portion 71 extending outward from the side wall 64 in the connector width direction at substantially the same height as the bottom wall 61 of the plug-side housing 60, and the connection portion 71 in FIG. And a contact arm portion 72 that is bent toward the upper side (lower side in FIG. 1) and is embedded and held in the side wall 64. The contact arm portion 72 extends along the inner surface of the side wall 64, and faces the receiving portion 66 so that the plate surface of the contact arm portion 72 forms the same surface as the inner surface of the side wall 64. Exposed. On the exposed plate surface of the contact arm portion 72, a contact recess 72A for receiving the contact protrusion 22A of the mating terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 and making contact with the contact protrusion 22A is recessed from the plate surface. ing.

  Next, a connector fitting operation between the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6. First, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are attached to the corresponding circuit boards by solder connection. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 is placed in a posture in which the receiving portion 16 faces upward, and the receiving portion 66 (see FIG. 2) of the plug connector 2 is below the receptacle connector 1. The posture is suitable for.

  Next, the plug connector 2 is lowered while maintaining the posture of FIG. 1 so that the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1 enters the receiving portion 66 of the plug connector 2 from below, and the peripheral wall 63 of the plug connector 2 is The receptacle connector 1 is made to enter the receiving portion 16 from above. As a result, the contact protrusion 22A of the mating terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 enters the contact recess 72A of the terminal 70 of the plug connector 2 to make electrical contact between the terminals.

  Further, in the connector fitting process, the lower ends of the two lock fittings 80 provided on the plug connector 2 are respectively above the lock portions 35A and 35B (shown by solid lines in FIG. 6) of the mating lock fitting 30 at the lock position. Abutting on the edge (inclined edge), the lock portions 35A and 35B are pressed with a pressing force toward the other end side (the right end side in FIG. 6) in the terminal arrangement direction. When receiving the above pressing force, the lock portions 35A and 35B move (retract) together with the upright portions 32A and 32B to the other end side as indicated by broken lines in FIG. The second end wall groove 18C is accommodated in the unlocked position. At this time, the movement of the lock portions 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B is permitted by elastic deformation (compression) of the elastic deformation member 40, that is, elastic deformation toward the other end side of the elastic arm portions 41 and 42.

  As described above, when the lock portions 35A and 35B are brought to the unlock position, the plug connector 2 can be further lowered. As shown in FIG. 6, the hole 82D of the inner locked leg portion 82 of the lock fitting 80 on one end side (left end side in FIG. 6) and the lock fitting on the other end side (right end side in FIG. 6). When the hole portion 83D of the 80 outer locked leg portion 83 reaches the position of the lock portions 35A and 35B of the mating lock fitting 30, the lock portions 35A and 35B are released from the pressing force described above. As a result, the elastic arm portions 41 and 42 of the elastic deformation member 40 are restored to one end side so as to reduce the amount of elastic deformation, and return to the initial locked position. The lock portions 35A and 35B that have returned to the locked position enter into the holes 82D and 83D, respectively, as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 6, and are locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 (FIG. 7A). ), (B)), that is, locked to the lower edge of the holes 82D and 83D so as to be engageable in the connector extraction direction (upward).

  Further, as seen in FIG. 8, the shield connection portions 84 of the lock fitting 80 of the plug connector 2 press the shield tongues 55 of the shield members 50 of the corresponding receptacle connectors 1 outward in the connector width direction. By being elastically deformed, it comes into contact with the shield tongue 55 with contact pressure.

  In this way, the mating terminals 20 and 50 are connected to each other, the mating lock fittings 30 and 80 are locked to each other, and the shield tongue 55 and the shield connection portion 84 are connected to each other, thereby completing the connector fitting operation. To do. Even if the plug connector 2 is inadvertently raised in the connector extraction state (upward), the upper edges of the upright portions 32A and 32B and the restricted portions 34A and 34B are the receptacle-side housings. Since the contact surfaces of the ten restriction surfaces 18D-2, 18C-2, 18B-2, and 18E-2 are in contact with each other, the upward movement of the mating lock fitting 30 is restricted. As a result, the locked state of the lock portions 35A and 35B of the mating lock fitting 30 and the locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 is maintained, and a stable locked state can be maintained.

  Next, the connector extracting operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the plug connector 2 in the connector fitting state with the receptacle connector 1 is pulled out, the unlocking operation portion 36 of the mating lock fitting 30 of the receptacle connector 1 is moved to the other end side in the terminal arrangement direction (right side in FIG. 6). )) To release. When the unlocking operation part 36 receives the pressing force to the other end side as a releasing operation force, the elastic deformation member 40 is elastically deformed in the same direction. Then, as described in the connector fitting process described above, the elastic deformation member 40 is compressed and elastically deformed, and the lock portions 35A and 35B move toward the other end side together with the standing portions 32A and 32B. .

  As a result, the lock portions 35A and 35B are accommodated in the first projecting wall groove portion 18D and the second end wall groove portion 18C and brought to the unlocked position (see the broken line in FIG. 6), and the lock portions 35A and 35B The locked state in which the locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B) of the lock fitting 80 of the plug connector 2 can be locked is released. Then, by lifting the plug connector 2 in the connector extraction direction (upward), the plug connector 2 is extracted without difficulty, and the connector extraction operation is completed.

  In the mating lock fitting 30, the standing portions 32A and 32B are positioned in the first protruding wall groove portion 18D and the second end wall groove portion 18C, and the lock portions 35A and 35B protrude from the upper portions of the standing portions 32A and 32B. Located in the receiving part 16. In other words, the standing portions 32A and 32B and the lock portions 35A and 35B are located within the range of the receptacle-side housing 10 in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the receptacle-side housing, and move within this range. ing. Therefore, even if a large protruding amount of the lock portions 35A and 35B is ensured, the terminals of the lock portions 35A and 35B and the standing portions 32A and 32B are within the above-described range regardless of whether the counterpart lock fitting 30 is disposed. Since a space for allowing movement in the arrangement direction can be easily secured, an increase in the size of the connector in the terminal arrangement direction can be avoided. Further, in the present embodiment, the mating lock fitting 30 is made while maintaining a plate surface perpendicular to the connector width direction without being bent. Therefore, since it is sufficient to secure the dimension of the thickness of the mating lock fitting 30 in the connector width direction within the range between the side walls 14 in the same direction, it is possible to avoid an increase in size of the connector in the same direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, movement of the mating lock fitting 30 in the terminal arrangement direction is allowed by elastic deformation of the elastic deformation member 40. As described above, by providing the elastic deformation member 40 which is a separate member from the mating lock metal fitting 30, it is not necessary to give the lock portions 35A and 35B itself elasticity, so that the lock portions 35A and 35B themselves have rigidity and strength. It can be increased and a stable locked state can be obtained. Further, by increasing the protruding amount of the lock portions 35A and 35B, the rigidity and thus the strength of the lock portions 35A and 35B can be further increased, so that the stability of the locked state can be further improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the two locked leg portions 82 and 83 of the lock fitting 80 are located along the inner and outer end wall surfaces of the both end walls 65 of the plug-side housing 60, and any of the locked leg portions 82 is located. , 83 are also formed with locked portions 82D-1, 83D-1. Therefore, the plug connector 2 of the present embodiment is like the receptacle connector 1, that is, the lock portions 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B are provided inside the end wall 15 on one end side and the other end side of the protruding wall portion 12. Not only the connector of this form but also the locking part can be locked to the mating connector provided at a different position.

  For example, when the receptacle connector has a lock portion that protrudes inward in the terminal arrangement direction from the inner side surface of each end wall of the receptacle-side housing, the receptacle connector is provided on both end walls 65 of the plug connector 2. Each outer locked portion 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 is used as a locked portion. Further, when the receptacle connector has a lock portion that protrudes outward from the both end wall surfaces of the protruding wall portion of the receptacle-side housing toward the terminal arrangement direction, the lock provided on the both end walls 65 of the plug connector 2 is provided. Each inner locked part 82D-1 of the metal fitting 80 is used as a locked part.

  Further, the receptacle connector is a connector in which the entire peripheral wall of the receptacle-side housing is fitted into the receiving portion 66 of the plug connector 2, and outwards in the terminal arrangement direction from the outer side surfaces of the both end walls of the receptacle-side housing. When it has the lock part which protrudes toward each, each inner side locked part 82D-1 of the lock metal fitting 80 provided in the both-ends wall 65 of the plug connector 2 is used as a to-be-locked part.

  As described above, according to the plug connector 2 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to selectively lock various types of receptacle connectors having different positions of the lock portions with the kind of the lock fitting 80. As a result, it is possible to expand the range of compatible connector types.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 are the two plate portions of the lock leg portions 82 and 83 of the lock fitting 80, that is, the exposed plate portions 82A and 83A and the covered plate portions. Since the holding plate portions 82C and 83C are formed as the edge portions of the holes penetrating with the same diameter at the same position, the counterpart lock fitting 30 is compared with the case where the locked portion is provided only in one plate portion. The range of the portion that can be locked to the lock portions 35A and 35B is doubled as the thickness of the two sheets, and the certainty and stability of the locked state can be improved accordingly. In this embodiment, although the to-be-locked part was provided in two board parts, it cannot be overemphasized that a locked state can be further stabilized by providing in three or more board parts. Also, if a sufficient amount of locking can be secured with the thickness of one sheet, it is possible to form a hole only in the exposed plate portions 82A and 83A and use the edge as a locked portion. is there.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the locked portions 82D-1 and 83D-1 of the lock fitting 80 of the plug connector 2 are provided at the edge portions of the holes 82D and 83D of the locked leg portions 82 and 83. In the embodiment, the locked portion is formed as a convex portion protruding from the plate surface of the locked leg portion, and this is different from the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of a receptacle connector and a plug connector according to a second embodiment, and locks between a plug connector lock fitting provided on one end side in a terminal arrangement direction and a mating lock fitting of the receptacle connector. The state is shown by a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction. The shape of the plug connector 102 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the plug connector 2 of the first embodiment except for the above-mentioned locked portions 182D and 183D. 100 ”is added and the description is omitted.

  As seen in FIG. 9, the locked portions 182D and 183D of the lock fitting 180 are formed as convex portions that protrude from the plate surfaces of the exposed plate portions 182A and 183A of the locked leg portions 182 and 183. The locked portions 182D and 183D are formed by, for example, pressing the exposed plate portions 182A and 183A. In the connector fitting state, as shown in FIG. 9, the locked portions 182D and 183D are positioned below the lock portions 135A and 135B of the mating lock fitting 130 provided on the receptacle connector 101. It is located so as to be able to be locked toward the connector extraction direction (upward) with respect to 135B.

  The shape of the locked portion of the plug connector is not limited to the hole portion as in the first embodiment or the convex portion as in the second embodiment. For example, the exposed portion without penetrating the exposed plate portion of the locked leg portion. You may form as a recessed part which sank from the board surface of the board part. In such a form, the surface perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction (the lower inner wall surface when the plug connector is fitted from above) among the inner wall surfaces forming the recess functions as the locked portion.

  In the first and second embodiments, the lower edge of the lock portion of the mating lock metal fitting extends substantially at right angles to the vertical direction, but instead, it moves upward as it goes to the tip in the terminal arrangement direction. You may have the inclination edge which inclines toward. In this way, when the lock part is provided with an inclined edge, when the plug connector is lifted upward with a predetermined output or more when the connector is pulled out, the inclined part (lower edge) of the lock part in the locked position is The locked portion abuts from below and presses the lock portion toward the unlock position in the terminal arrangement direction. As a result, the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation member or the elastic deformation portion allows the movement of the lock portion to the unlock position, and the lock state is released, so that the plug connector can be pulled out. That is, since the plug connector can be pulled out only by raising the plug connector, there is no need to provide a lock release operation portion on the mating lock fitting. Such a configuration is preferably applied to a connector whose locking strength is not so high. The same applies to the case where the upper edge portion of the locked portion is provided with an inclined edge that is inclined downward toward the lock portion side in the terminal arrangement direction instead of or together with the lower edge of the lock portion. An effect is obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the plug connector and the receptacle connector are electrical connectors for circuit boards. However, the type of both connectors is not limited to this, and for example, an electrical connector for cables connected to a cable. It is good also as being.

  In the first and second embodiments, the mating lock member and the elastic deformation member are formed as metal fittings. Instead, the mating lock member and the elastic deformation member may be formed of, for example, resin. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receptacle connector (mating connector) 66 Receiving part 2 Plug connector 80 Lock metal fitting 30 Mating lock metal fitting 81 Base 35A First lock part 82 Inner lock leg part 35B Second lock part 82D Hole part 60 Plug side housing 82D-1 Inner cover Lock part 61 Bottom wall 83 Outer lock leg part 63 Peripheral wall 83D Hole 64 Side wall 83D-1 Outer lock part 65 End wall 84 Shield connection part

Claims (3)

An electrical connector that is mateably connected to a mating connector, the electrical connector having a housing extending in a direction perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction as a longitudinal direction, and the housing having the longitudinal direction as a terminal arrangement direction A plurality of terminals held in an array and a lock fitting held by the housing, and the housing extends from a bottom wall extending in a plane perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction from the bottom wall. A peripheral wall standing in the connector insertion / removal direction, the peripheral wall extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and the side wall in the terminal arrangement direction. And an end wall connecting the end portions of each of the electrical connectors, wherein the space surrounded by the peripheral wall is formed as a receiving portion for receiving the mating connector In,
The lock metal fitting has a shape in which a metal plate is bent in the plate thickness direction, and is arranged on each of both end walls. The base is arranged on the upper wall surface of the end wall of the housing facing the mating connector, and the terminal arrangement direction The two locking legs formed in substantially the same shape extending from both side edges of the base portion, and the mating lock portion provided on the mating connector is arranged in a terminal arrangement with respect to each of the lock fittings on the both end walls. Either a hole, a recess, or a protrusion is formed as a locked part in the above-mentioned locked leg part of each lock fitting so that the locked part located on the same side in the direction can be engaged from one direction. An electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is engaged with the mating lock portion in the connector extraction direction. Lock fitting extends in the connector width direction from the base, along both the side wall surface of the end wall located on the extension in the terminal arrangement direction of the outer surface of the side wall of the housing are bent in the thickness direction, of the mating connector The electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising two connection portions that come into contact with the shield member. The locked leg portion has a two-layered shape bent in the thickness direction, and the locked portion is an edge portion of the hole portion formed by a hole portion penetrating through the two sheets. Or the electrical connector of Claim 2.

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