JP6741367B2 - Metal fittings - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a metal fitting attached to a connector housing.

The technique described in Patent Document 1 is known as a technique in this field. According to this technique, for example, the reinforcing metal fitting is inserted from the fitting side of the housing, and is pushed in to a position where the lower edge of the protruding portion of the upper end of the reinforcing metal fitting contacts the housing shoulder portion. This abutting position serves as a reference for the fixing position of the reinforcing metal member to the housing.

JP, 2004-311044, A

However, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the reinforcing metal member is a cut-out product of a rolled copper plate and has a processing error. The housing is an injection-molded product of synthetic resin and has a molding error. Due to such a dimensional error of the parts, the amount of protrusion of the tip of the reinforcing metal fitting (hereinafter referred to as coplanarity) from the lower surface of the housing varies depending on the contact position of the reinforcing metal fitting.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a metal fitting such as a metal fitting such as a contact or a metal fitting such as a contact that suppresses variation in coplanarity of the metal fitting that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the housing even if a molding error occurs in the metal fitting such as a contact. The purpose is to provide.

In the reinforcing metal fitting according to the present invention, (1) the lower end portion located below the substantially rectangular main body portion having arrowheads formed on the left and right side edges is soldered to the circuit board and located above the main body portion. A reinforcing metal fitting in which the main body portion including an upper end portion is press-fitted into a groove portion of a housing, wherein the reinforcing metal fitting is a pair of flexible beams extending upward from a central side of the left and right corner portions of the upper end portion. comprising a part, the beam part comprises a hook having a lower edge that projects in a direction away from each other at the tip, the said lower edge features a tapered surface inclined upward along the protruding direction, of the pair of beam portions A U-shaped space is formed between the U-shaped spaces, the bottom edge of the U-shaped space is located below the left and right corners of the upper end of the main body, and the reinforcing metal fitting is press-fitted into the housing. is Rutoki, the pair of beam portions are displaced toward each other in response to the press-fitting amount, the lower edge of the hook in a normal press-fit position locked at a predetermined position in the upper shoulder of the groove, The corner of the upper end is characterized in that it is located below the upper shoulder of the groove .

According to the present invention, the metal fitting press-fitted into the housing includes the beam portion extending upward, and the beam portion includes the hook portion at the tip end that engages with the housing. Thereby, the metal fitting is fixed to the housing by being locked by the hook portion. As a result, a metal fitting in which the variation in coplanarity is suppressed can be obtained.

Metal fittings include contacts, reinforcing fittings, and other fittings. The metal fitting includes not only a metal fitting entirely made of a metal material but also a metal material as a base material and a material whose surface is coated with a material other than metal. In addition, the base material includes a substance other than a metal and the surface of which is coated with a metal by plating or the like.

According to the present invention, at the press-fitting completion position, the beam portion inclines in the anti-projection direction of the hook portion, and the hook portion abuts the upper end corner portion of the housing groove portion by the tapered surface of the lower edge. The inclination of the beam portion is caused by the dimensional error of the metal fitting, and the amount of inclination corresponds to the amount of error. On the other hand, since the amount of press fit corresponds to the coplanarity, the beam part is inclined and the bracket is abutted against the upper corner of the housing groove at any position on the tapered surface to fix the bracket. Is obtained.

According to this invention, since the pair of beam portions is provided, the metal fitting is fixed to the housing in a well-balanced manner. Thereby, the metal fitting in which the variation in coplanarity is suppressed can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a reinforcing metal fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention is separated from a housing. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the reinforcing metal fitting is mounted on the housing. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the reinforcing metal fitting. FIG. 4 is a front view of the reinforcing metal fitting. FIG. 5: is a figure which shows the press fit process of the same reinforcement metal fitting, (A) is before press fit, (B) is after press fit. 6A and 6B are views showing how the beam portion of the reinforcing metal fitting is inclined in accordance with the amount of error, where FIG. 6A shows a state where the inclination is large and FIG. 6B shows a state where the inclination is small. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the reinforcing metal fitting of the second embodiment. FIG. 8: is a front view which shows the reinforcement metal fitting of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 9 is a front view showing the reinforcing metal fitting of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a reinforcing metal fitting according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front view showing the contact of the sixth embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention. You can FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a reinforcing metal fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention is separated from a housing. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the reinforcing metal fitting is mounted on the housing. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the reinforcing metal fitting. FIG. 4 is a front view of the reinforcing metal fitting. FIG. 5: is a figure which shows the press fit process of the same reinforcement metal fitting, (A) is before press fit, (B) is after press fit. 6A and 6B are views showing how the beam portion of the reinforcing metal fitting is inclined in accordance with the amount of error. FIG. 6A shows a state where the inclination is large and FIG. 6B shows a state where the inclination is small.

<Overall Overview> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcing metal fitting 10 according to the present embodiment is attached to a connector housing 20 (hereinafter referred to as a housing 20). The reinforcing metal fitting 10 is inserted from the lower surface of the housing 20, that is, the board side. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 20 is provided with a projecting portion in which a groove portion 210 is formed along the long side edge portion. An opening 215 is formed on the lower surface side of the groove 210.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcing metal fitting 10 is inserted into the opening 215 of the groove 210 from the leading end and fixed at the insertion completion position.

In addition to the reinforcing metal fitting 10, a contact 30 is mounted on the housing 20 as shown in FIGS. Although not shown in detail, the contact 30 is also inserted from the lower surface side and fixed at a predetermined position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The housing 20 is an injection molded product made of non-conductive synthetic resin. The reinforcing metal member 10 is a punched product of a rolled metal material. Generally, a copper alloy or an iron-based metal is used for the reinforcing metal member 10, and the surface thereof is surface-treated with tin, gold or the like in consideration of corrosion resistance and solderability.

Since the contacts 30 and the reinforcing metal fittings 10 fixed at predetermined positions of the housing 20 are fixed to the terminals on the circuit board (not shown) by soldering, the tips of the contacts 30 and the reinforcing metal fittings 10 are moved downward from the lower surface of the housing 20 by a predetermined amount. It is overhanging.

It is desirable that the amount of overhang is uniform, but it is the current situation that the amount of overhang varies within a predetermined range due to processing errors and molding errors. This variation is called coplanarity below. Depending on the context, coplanarity may also be the amount of overhang.

The control value of the overhang amount varies depending on the specifications, but a standard value such as 0.1 mm or less is generally provided.

In the case of the present embodiment, since the contacts 30 and the reinforcing metal fittings 10 are aligned and press-fitted from the lower surface of the housing 20, there is an advantage in that the housing 20 having a particularly large depth has good workability and is easy to manage coplanarity. ..

<Terminal Fitting> As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal fitting 10 includes a substantially rectangular main body 100 having upper and lower edges, and a pair of beam portions 110 extending upward from the upper edges. .. The lower edge of the main body 100 is a portion that projects downward from the lower surface of the housing 20 at the press-fitting completion position and is soldered and fixed to a circuit board (not shown) during mounting.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reinforcing metal member 10 has a left edge and a right edge, and arrowheads 130 projecting outward are formed on the left edge and the right edge. The arrowhead 130 is locked to a corresponding portion of the housing 20 when the arrowhead 130 is pressed into a predetermined portion of the housing 20.

The portion to which the solder is fixed at the time of mounting includes the solder connection portion of the contact 30 in addition to the lower edge of the reinforcing metal member 10. Since the reinforcing metal fitting 10 reinforces the mechanical connection between the solder connection portion of the contact 30 and the circuit board (not shown), the standard of the coplanarity of the contact 30 is also applied to the reinforcing metal fitting 10. Thereby, the coplanarity of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 and the contact 30 is generally managed under a common standard.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the beam portions 110 are aligned in a pair and extend substantially straight upward, and a hook portion 120 is formed at the tip thereof. The beam portion 110 can be elastically displaced not only in the front-back direction on the paper surface of FIG. 4 but also in the left-right direction. At this position, a reaction force corresponding to the displacement amount is applied to the corresponding position of the housing 20 to generate a locking force. Let

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the beam portion 110 is parallel to the main body portion and is upward at the same height as the main body portion so as to form a U-shaped space between the pair of beam portions 110, 110. It is extended. The bottom edge of the U-shaped space is located below the top edge of the body. With such a bending structure of the beam portion 110, the beam portion 110 can appropriately convert the reaction force generated by the displacement into the locking force.

The pair of beam portions 110, 110 incline inward during the press-fitting process, and the bending posture is fixed at a tilt corresponding to the press-fitting completion posture at the position where a predetermined amount of press-fitting is performed. The beam portion 110 engages with the housing 20 by applying a restoring force to the corresponding portion of the housing 20 in this bending posture.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the hook portion 120 is provided so as to project to the outer edge of the tip of the beam portion 110, and has a ‘2’ shape on the projecting side. Since the hook portion 120 is engaged with the corresponding portion of the housing 20 in the press-fitting completed posture, the reinforcing metal fitting 10 reinforces the fixing strength of the housing 20 to the circuit board (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hook portion 120 has a lower edge that locks with a corresponding portion of the housing 20. The lower edge of the hook portion 120 is a tapered surface 140 having an inclination. The direction in which the lower edge inclines is a direction in which the lower edge extends upward with increasing distance from the outer edge.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hook 120 has a polyhedral shape, and an inclined surface 150 is formed from the upper edge to the side edge. In the process of inserting the reinforcing metal fitting 10 into the housing 20, the inclined surface 150 contacts a predetermined portion of the housing 20 to incline the beam portion 110 inward.

<Before and after Press-fitting> The press-fitting process of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The reinforcing metal fitting 10 is press-fitted from the lower surface side of the housing 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 20 has a groove portion 210 communicating with the opening 215, and shoulder portions 220 protruding inwardly on both side surfaces are provided above the groove portion 210. The reinforcing metal fitting 10 is press-fitted into the groove 210 through the opening 215.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing metal fitting 10 is inserted into the groove portion 210 from the lower surface side of the housing 20 with the leading end thereof facing upward.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dimensions of the main part are set to the width m0 of the main body 100 of the reinforcing metal fitting 10, the maximum width m1 of the beam 110, the width h0 of the groove 210, and the minimum width h1 of the shoulder 220.

As shown in FIG. 5, the maximum width m1 of the beam portion 110 is smaller than the width m0 of the main body portion 100, smaller than the width h0 of the groove portion 210, and larger than the minimum width h1 of the shoulder portion 220. The width m0 of the main body 100 is formed to be slightly larger than the width h0 of the groove 210.

Due to such a dimensional relationship, the reinforcing metal fitting 10 is left and right of the main body 100 until the hook 120 at the tip of the beam 110 comes into contact with the shoulder 220 above the groove 210 of the housing 20, as shown in FIG. It is possible to move the arrowheads 130 on the side edges into the right and left side surfaces of the groove portion 210 while sliding the arrowheads 130 to the inner side without bending deformation of the beam portion 110.

When the hook 120 at the tip of the beam 110 further press-fits from the position where it abuts the shoulder 220 of the housing 20, the maximum width m1 of the beam 110 is larger than the minimum width h1 of the shoulder 220. The inclined surface 150 contacts the lower corner of the inner edge of the shoulder 220. The shoulder 220 advances downward along the inclined surface 150, and the beam 110 intensifies inwardly in accordance with the progress thereof.

As the press-fitting proceeds, as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum width m1 of the beam portion 110 is related to the minimum width h1 of the shoulder portion 220, and the inclination of the beam portion 110 becomes maximum. At this time, about half of the main body 100 has entered the groove 210, and the arrow bar 130 on the side edge starts to engage with the groove 210.

When the press-fitting is further advanced, as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum width m1 of the beam portion 110 passes through the minimum width h1 of the shoulder portion 220, and the lower edge of the hook portion 120 becomes the upper edge corner portion of the shoulder portion 220. Get involved. As a result, the beam 110 starts to return to its original state, and the maximum inclination gradually decreases.

When the press-fitting proceeds to a predetermined press-fitting depth, the beam 110 returns the inclination to near the original state as shown in FIG. In the beam portion 110, the hook portion 120 is locked to the shoulder portion 220 of the housing 20 in a state where the inclination is returned to the original state. The lower edge of the hook portion 120 is locked to the corner portion of the shoulder portion 220 to be in the press-fitting completed posture.

<Inclination of Beam> For example, in the conventional push-cut press-fitting method from the fitting surface, the contact position (push-cut position) between the locking portion of the reinforcing metal fitting (not shown) and the locked portion of the housing (not shown) is not shown in the housing. Since the reinforcing metal fitting (not shown) is located at the reference position in the vertical direction, the error amount such as a dimensional error directly appears as a variation in coplanarity.

In the case of the present embodiment, the press-fitting amount of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 corresponds to the protruding amount of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 from the lower surface of the housing 20, and when the predetermined press-fitting amount is press-fitting, the reinforcing metal fitting to the shoulder portion 220 of the housing 20. Although the position of the lower edge of the hook portion 120 of 10 varies depending on an error component such as a molding error, the lower edge of the hook portion 120 having the tapered surface 140 is locked to the shoulder portion 220 of the housing 20. Since the beam portion 110 having the hook portion 120 at the head can be elastically inclined, the error component is corrected by the inclination of the beam portion 110. As a result, the coplanarity is not affected by the error component, so that the reinforcing metal fitting 10 with suppressed variations can be obtained.

When the lower edge of the hook portion 120 is larger than the reference value with respect to the shoulder portion 220 of the housing 20, the beam portion 110 is largely inclined and locked to the housing 20 in the press-fitting completed posture, as shown in FIG. 6(A). doing. When the beam portion 110 is largely inclined, the outer edge side of the lower edge of the hook portion 120 is locked to the shoulder portion 220. That is, the vertical distance from the lower edge of the main body portion 100 of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 to the lower edge of the hook portion 120 is increased.

This is applicable when the molding error of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 or the housing 20 is larger on the plus side than the reference value. Therefore, when the error amount is on the plus side, as shown in FIG. The outer edge side of the lower edge 120 is engaged with the shoulder portion 220 of the housing 20 to correct a large error amount with a large inclination.

When the molding error of the reinforcing metal member 10 or the housing 20 is larger than the reference value on the minus side, as shown in FIG. 6B, the lower edge of the hook 120 is the housing when the beam 110 is not substantially inclined. 20 to the shoulder 220. That is, the press-fitting completion posture is achieved in a state where the vertical distance from the lower edge of the main body portion 100 of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 to the lower edge of the hook portion 120 is small.

When the reinforcing metal fitting 10 and the housing 20 can be molded according to the reference values, they are locked to the shoulder portion 220 of the housing 20 around the middle of the lower edge of the hook portion 120 in the press-fitting completed posture. That is, the vertical distance from the lower edge of the main body portion 100 of the reinforcing metal fitting 10 to the lower edge of the hook portion 120 indicates a reference value at this time.

<Effect> The reinforcing metal fitting 10 of the present embodiment includes a pair of beam portions 110, 110 and a hook portion 120 at the tip. This improves the holding force when the reinforcing metal fitting 10 is inserted from the substrate surface side.

In the reinforcing metal fitting 10 of the present embodiment, since the lower edge of the hook portion 120 is locked to the shoulder portion of the groove portion 210 of the housing 20 at the press-fitting completion position, variations in coplanarity are suppressed.

In the reinforcing metal fitting 10 of the present embodiment, the lower edge of the hook 120 is locked to the shoulder 220 of the groove 210 at the press-fitting completion position, and the position on the tapered surface 140 to be locked is determined according to the error amount of the molding error. This suppresses variations in coplanarity.

The reinforcing metal fitting 10 of the present embodiment is provided with an outward arrowhead 130 on the side edge of the main body 100. As a result, the holding of the press-fitting completion position is reinforced.

Since the reinforcing metal fitting 10 of the present embodiment is press-fitted from the bottom surface of the housing 20, the press-fitting direction is aligned with the contact 30. This facilitates press-fitting work and reduces production costs.

In the reinforcing metal fitting 10 of this embodiment, the inclination of the taper surface 140 at the lower edge of the hook 120 can be changed. The amount of error can be dealt with by changing it.

<Other Examples> The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the reinforcing metal fitting of the second embodiment. FIG. 8: is a front view which shows the reinforcement metal fitting of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 9 is a front view showing the reinforcing metal fitting of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a reinforcing metal fitting according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a front view showing the contact of the sixth embodiment.

<Second Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing metal fitting 1010 of the second embodiment has a lower edge of the hook 1120 with an inclination angle of 0 degrees or approximately 0 degrees. On the other hand, the shoulder portion 1220 of the groove portion 210 of the housing 20 to be locked is provided with the tapered surface 1230. Accordingly, the locking point is specified as one point on the tapered surface 1230 according to the error amount of the reinforcing metal fitting 1010 or the housing 20.
Even if such modifications are made to the reinforcing metal member 1010 and the housing 20, the above-described effects can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 8, the reinforcing metal fitting 2010 of the third embodiment is characterized in that the hook portion 2120 provided at the tip of the beam portion 2110 has an inward projection. The corresponding housing 20 comprises a shoulder 2220 between the pair of beams 2110, 2110, as shown in FIG.
Even if such modifications are made to the reinforcing metal fitting 2010 and the housing 20, the above-described effects can be generally obtained.

<Fourth Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 9, the reinforcing metal fitting 3010 of the fourth embodiment has only one beam portion 3110 on the upper edge of the main body portion 3100 and is locked to the shoulder portion 3220 of the housing 20. It is characterized by
Even if such a change is made, the above-mentioned effects can be obtained.

<Fifth Embodiment> As shown in Fig. 10, the reinforcing metal fitting 4010 of the fifth embodiment is press-fitted from the 20th fitting surface side of the housing.
Even if such a change is made, the above-mentioned effects can be obtained.

Sixth Embodiment A contact 30A of the sixth embodiment is a contact 30A that is press-fitted into the housing 20A from the bottom surface, as shown in FIG. The beam 110A is provided with a hook 120A at its tip, and the tapered surface 140A at the lower edge of the hook 120A engages with the corresponding shoulder 220A of the housing 20A.
With such a structure of the contact 30A, the above-described effects can be obtained.

1. Connector 10, 1010, 2010, 3010, 4010 Reinforcing metal fitting 100, 1100, 2100, 3100, 4100 Body part 110, 1110, 2110, 3110, 4110, 110A Beam part 120, 1120, 2120, 3120, 4120, 120A Hook Part 130 Arrowhead 140, 2140, 3140, 4140, 140A Tapered surface 150 Inclined surface 20, 20A Housing 210, 210A Groove 215 Opening 220, 1220, 2220, 3220, 4220, 220A Shoulder 1230 Tapered surface 30, 30A Contact m0 Reinforcement Width m1 of the main body 100 of the metal fitting 10 Maximum width h0 of the pair of beams 110, 110 Width h1 of groove 210 Minimum width of shoulder 220

Claims (1)

Lower end located below the arrowhead formed substantially rectangular main body portion is solder fixed to the circuit board to the left and right side edges, the groove of the main body portion housing including an upper portion located above the main body portion A reinforcing metal fitting that is press-fitted into
The reinforcing metal member includes a pair of flexible beam portions that extend upward from a central side of the left and right corners of the upper end portion , and the beam portions have a lower edge protruding from the tip in a direction away from each other. Section,

The said lower edge features a tapered surface inclined upward along the protruding direction,

A U-shaped space is formed between the pair of beam portions , the bottom edge of the U-shaped space is located below the left and right corners of the upper end of the main body,

Said reinforcing bracket is press-fitted into the housing Rutoki, the pair of beam portions are displaced toward each other in response to the press-fitting amount,
In the normal press-fitting position, the lower edge of the hook portion is locked to the upper end shoulder portion of the groove portion at a predetermined position, and the corner portion of the upper end portion is located below the upper end shoulder portion of the groove portion. Reinforcing metal fittings.

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