KR20130111318A - Electrical connector assembly and receptacle connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Connectors have a lock holder capable of minimizing occurrence of scratches. CONSTITUTION: A lock arm part of a lock holder (30) comprises a short-wall side lock arm part (33) extended from a short-wall side base part (31A) and a sidewall lock arm part (34) extended from a sidewall base part (31B). The short-wall side lock arm part and the sidewall lock arm part sliding-connect on a plate surface of the opposite lock holder on each plate surface until they move to a standard lock position of the opposite lock holder (60) of a plug connector (2). A lock part (34A) interlocked with the opposite lock holder (60) in a connector-releasing direction in the standard lock position.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND RECEPTACLE CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly having a receptacle connector disposed on a circuit board and a plug connector fit-fit thereto and a receptacle connector constituting one side of the assembly.

This kind of electrical connector assembly is disclosed by patent document 1, for example. In the connector assembly of Patent Literature 1, both the receptacle connector and the plug connector are provided with fasteners, and the fasteners are provided for fixing the solder to the circuit board of the connector at the connecting portion, At the time of connection, the fasteners engage with each other (lock) to prevent the connector from coming off. The fastener is made by processing a metal plate, and is held by the housing at both end positions in the arrangement direction of the terminals of the connector.

The fastener of the receptacle connector has an end portion supported by the end wall of the housing and a side portion that is bent from the end portion and supported by both side walls near the end wall, and viewed from the connector fitting direction. At this time, the shape of the entire U-shape. The end portion is provided with a hook-shaped hook portion which protrudes upward and is bent in an inverted U shape, and the side portion is in contact with each of both inner surfaces of the side wall of the housing. It is hold | maintained and the recessed part of concave shape is formed. In contrast, the fastener of the plug connector has a portion of a plate member that is parallel to an end portion of the fastener of the receptacle connector, and a projection-shaped engaging portion that is inclined to the concave engaging portion at both ends thereof is plated. It is formed as a cross section in the thickness direction, and the U-shaped piece which is bent from the lower edge of the part of the said board member and extended upward is formed, and the other engaging part of protrusion shape is formed in the board surface. In addition, in patent document 1, about the part which engages with each other, both are distinguished using the name of the "engagement part" about the fastener of a receptacle connector, and the term "engagement part" about the fastener of a plug connector. .

When the plug connector is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector of Patent Document 1 having such a fastener, in the fitting process, the projection-like engagement portion of the fixture of the plug connector and the other engagement portion of the projection-shaped portion respectively correspond to the receptacle. The fitting can be advanced to a predetermined position while being elastically deformed only by the amount of interference with the concave locking portion and the inverted U-shaped hooking portion of the connector of the connector, and the elastic deformation is released when the predetermined position is reached. The corresponding engaging portion and the engaging portion have a locking function for preventing the connector from being pulled out by being caught with each other by the amount of interference in the connector disengaging direction.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-198996

In patent document 1, the locking function by the engaging part formed in the fastener of the receptacle connector, and the engaging part formed in the fastener of the plug connector is one place in the end wall which becomes an end part of the housing in a terminal arrangement direction, and It is obtained in two opposing locations on both side walls in the vicinity. That is, the lock function is obtained at three locations in total in one direction with respect to the single wall of the housing and in the direction of the side wall of the housing.

However, in the fastener of Patent Literature 1, the elastic deformation amount at the time of engagement at the engagement portion and the engagement portion is small due to the small amount of elastic deformation at the engagement portion or the engagement portion, until it reaches the normal engagement position. The problem is that it is easy to damage the fitting site.

First, in the fastener of the receptacle connector, the protrusion of the protrusion of the fastener of the plug connector on the opposite side is engaged with the concave engaging portion located on the side wall, but the fastening portion is a protrusion in the plate thickness direction cut surface of the plate. Since it is formed as, it is easy to damage the surface in the vicinity of a locking part to the said locking part. In addition, the projection-shaped engaging portion does not elastically deform even when receiving a reaction force in a direction parallel to the plate surface, and thus has high rigidity in the same direction. As a result, the surface of the surface is greatly damaged, leading to a decrease in the amount of the locking portion itself.

Next, since the engaging portion located on the end wall of the housing of the fastener on the side of the receptacle connector is formed in the center of the end portion supported by the end wall of the housing, the engaging portion is located at the center of this end portion of the two-palmed beam shape. The displacement (displacement) of the position due to the elastic deformation is small.

Moreover, since the said latching part itself is extended in the height direction of the said edge part, it is formed in a short arm body, and since the shape is closely contacted and folded back into an inverted U shape, rigidity is high, and There is little elasticity of the locking portion itself. In addition, since the inverted U-shaped engaging portion is engaged with the surface of the fastener of the plug connector at the distal end of the inverted U-shaped portion, the distal end portion is securely engaged with the engaging portion. In order to do this, the leading edge must touch the surface and move, and it is easy to damage the surface with the sharp edge of the leading edge until the engagement position. In addition, since the engaging portion of the fastener of the plug connector is formed of an arm body that extends shortly in the height direction in the same manner as the engaging portion of the fastener of the receptacle connector, the amount of elastic deformation of the arm body is not secured so much. It is also difficult to avoid the occurrence of scratches.

In this way, in the fastener according to Patent Literature 1, in addition to the small amount of elastic deformation, the fastener is in contact with the plate surface of the fastener in contact with the plate thickness direction cutting surface or the sharp tip edge, so that the plate surface is easily damaged. As a result, the engagement margin decreases due to wear, and the locking function tends to be lowered.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides an electrical connector assembly having a receptacle connector having a lock bracket capable of suppressing the occurrence of scratches as far as the connectors reach the locked position and a plug connector fitted to the same, and An object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector that forms one side of the assembly.

<1st invention>

The electrical connector assembly according to the first aspect of the invention has a receptacle connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board and a plug fitted to the receptacle connector with a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface in a connector insertion and withdrawal direction. A connector assembly having a connector, wherein the receptacle connector has a plurality of terminals arranged and held in the housing in one direction parallel to the mounting surface, and the plug connector and the lock at both ends of the housing in the arrangement direction. A locking lock fitting to be engaged is held, and a plug connector has a mating terminal connected to a terminal of the receptacle connector in a connector fitting state, and a mating locking bracket fitting to a lock fitting of the receptacle connector.

In such an electrical connector assembly, in the first invention, both the locking bracket of the receptacle connector and the mating lock bracket of the plug connector are made by processing a metal plate, and the locking bracket of the receptacle connector is viewed in the connector insertion and withdrawal direction. It has a substantially U-shape, and has a base extending from the base in the connector insertion and withdrawal direction, and a lock arm portion extending from the base and capable of bending at right angles to the plate surface, wherein the base includes the arrangement described above. A short wall side base positioned along the end wall of the housing extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the direction, and a side wall side base positioned along the side wall of the housing extending in the arrangement direction from both ends of the short wall side base; The lock arm portion includes a short wall side lock arm portion extending from the short wall side base and a side wall side. And the side lock side arm extending from the side, wherein the end wall side lock arm portion and the side wall side lock arm portion reach the normal lock position with the mating lock bracket of the plug connector, at each plate surface of the mating lock bracket. It is possible to make sliding contact with the plate surface, and it has a lock part or a lock part which mutually locks in a relative lock bracket and a connector pull-out direction in a normal lock position, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the short wall side lock arm portion and the two opposite side wall side lock arm portions are disposed on the plate surface with the counterpart of the mating lock bracket while reaching the normal lock position with the mating lock bracket of the plug connector. Sliding contact. Therefore, stress concentration is less likely to occur than in the case of sliding contact in the plate thickness direction cutting surface or the leading edge of the lock bracket as in the prior art. As a result, scratches are less likely to occur on the plate surface of the lock bracket, so that the engagement margin due to abrasion does not occur, and a decrease in the lock engagement force can be avoided.

In the first aspect of the invention, the side wall side lock arm portion formed in the lock bracket of the receptacle connector may be directed from the side wall base to the arrangement direction of the terminal to be elastically bent in the connector width direction.

In the connector according to the present invention, miniaturization is required in the connector insertion and withdrawal direction, but since the size can be relatively increased in the arrangement direction of the terminals, the connector side insertion and withdrawal direction is produced by directing the side wall side lock arm portion in the arrangement direction. Compared with the case where it is made, the said side wall side lock arm part can be lengthened. Therefore, since the amount of elastic displacement due to the sliding contact with the plate surface of the lock bracket of the plug connector becomes large, the contact pressure between the plate surfaces of the lock brackets until the normal lock position can be lowered by that amount. The locking amount of the locking brackets after the elastic displacement release after the connector fitting is completed can be increased. As a result, the plate surface of the lock brackets becomes less likely to be damaged, and the locking brackets can be secured.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the mating lock bracket formed on the plug connector has a catching arm portion extending in the arrangement direction of the terminal, and at least a part of the catching arm portion is bent inward in the connector width direction to form a catching portion. The locking portion may be engaged with the corresponding locking portion of the housing of the plug connector so as to prevent the plug connector from being detached from the housing in the connector insertion and withdrawal direction.

Thus, by engaging the engaging part formed by the bending process of the engaging arm part of the mating lock bracket with the corresponding engaging part of the step shape of the housing | casing of a plug connector, The deviation can be prevented reliably.

<2nd invention>

A receptacle connector according to a second aspect of the invention is a receptacle connector arranged on a mounting surface of a circuit board and to which a plug connector is fit-fitted in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface in the direction of insertion and withdrawal of the connector, parallel to the mounting surface. A plurality of terminals are array-held in the housing with one direction as the array direction, and a lock bracket for locking engagement with the plug connector is held at both ends of the housing in the array direction.

In such a receptacle connector, in the second aspect of the invention, the lock bracket is formed by processing a metal plate, and the lock bracket has a substantially U-shape, and the plate surface is inserted and pulled out of the connector when viewed in the connector insertion and extraction direction. And a lock arm portion extending in an arm shape from the base to bend in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface, the base extending from an end wall of the housing extending in a connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. Therefore, it has a short wall side base located, and the side wall side base located along the side wall of the housing extended in the said arrangement direction from both ends of the said short wall side base, The said lock arm part bends from the said short wall side base, The said short wall side base Short wall side lock extending in the direction of insertion and withdrawal of the connector to make the surface of the plate parallel to each other. The arm part and the side wall side lock arm part extended from the side wall base to the said arrangement direction along the side wall, and the said short wall side lock arm part and the side wall side lock arm part reach | attain the normal lock position with the mating lock bracket of a plug connector. It is characterized by the fact that it is possible to make sliding contact with the plate surface of the said mating lock metal fitting in each board surface, and to have the lock part or the locking part which locks with the mating lock metal fitting and the connector release direction in a locked position.

Also in the second invention, similar to the first invention described above, the short wall side lock arm portion and the two side wall side lock arm portions of the lock bracket of the receptacle connector reach the normal lock position with the mating lock bracket of the plug connector. In the meantime, the corresponding parts of the mating lock brackets are in sliding contact with each other on the plate surface. Therefore, scratches are less likely to occur on the plate surface of the lock bracket, so that a drop in the lock engagement force can be avoided. In addition, similarly to the first invention, since the side wall-side lock arm portion is directed in the arrangement direction, the side wall-side lock arm portion can be formed long, so that it can be easily elastically displaced. Therefore, the plate surface of the lock bracket becomes more difficult to be scratched, and the locking of the lock brackets can be secured.

As described above, in the present invention, the locking brackets of the receptacle connector and the plug connector have locks at three positions in total at the end of the connector on the short wall side and the two opposite side wall sides, so that the connector is tilted and pulled out. Since the lock brackets of both connectors are brought into contact with each other by sliding the plate while reaching the normal lock position, it is hard to be scratched on the surface, while securing a strong advantage against this. There is no fall and a regular locking force is secured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the entirety of a receptacle connector and a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 (a) is a view showing the storage space of both connectors in an upward position, and Fig. 1 (b) Is shown in the attitude | position just before the fitting of both connectors.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1, showing a state before the locking bracket is mounted. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the plug connector of FIG. 1, showing a state before the locking bracket is mounted. FIG.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the lock bracket of the receptacle connector of Fig. 2 and the lock bracket of the plug connector of Fig. 3, in which Fig. 4 (a) shows a state before fitting the connector and Fig. 4 (b) shows a lock state after fitting the connector. It is shown.
Fig. 5 is a view showing the lock bracket of the receptacle connector of Fig. 4 and the lock bracket of the plug connector before fitting the connector. Fig. 5 (a) is a sectional view taken along the line VA-VA of Fig. 4 (a), and Fig. 5 (b). Is a VB arrow diagram of FIG.
Fig. 6 is a view showing the lock bracket of the receptacle connector of Fig. 4 and the lock bracket of the plug connector in the locked state after connector fitting. Fig. 6 (a) is a sectional view taken along the line VIA-VIA of Fig. 4 (b), Fig. 6 (b) is a VIB arrow drawing of FIG. 4 (b).

(Mode for carrying out the invention)

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described based on an accompanying drawing.

1: is a perspective view which shows the whole of the receptacle connector and plug connector in this embodiment, FIG. 1 (a) shows the attitude | position which raised the accommodating space of both connectors, and FIG. 1 (b), It is shown in the attitude | position immediately before the fitting of both connectors. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1, showing a state before the locking bracket is attached. FIG. In FIG. 2, the receptacle connector of FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) is shown upside down. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the plug connector of FIG. 1, showing a state before the locking bracket is mounted. FIG.

The receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 in this embodiment are circuit board connectors arranged on mounting surfaces of different circuit boards (not shown), respectively, and are perpendicular to the surface of each circuit board. The connector assembly which makes the direction (up-down direction in FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 1 (b)) into an insertion and an extraction | extraction direction is comprised.

As shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, the receptacle connector 1 has a housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a longitudinal direction of the housing 10 in the arrangement direction. A plurality of terminals 20 held in two rows by the housing 10 and two lock brackets 30 held at both ends of the housing 10 in the longitudinal direction are provided. The receptacle connector 1 is disposed on a circuit board in a posture shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The housing 10 is made of, for example, an electrical insulating material such as resin, and extends in one longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction) in parallel with the mounting surface of the circuit board. The housing 10 stands up from the bottom wall 11 upwardly with a bottom wall 11 parallel to the mounting surface (see Fig. 2 showing the receptacle connector of Fig. 1 upside down). Together with the protruding wall portion 12 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, the protruding wall portion 13 which stands up from the bottom wall 11 and surrounds the protruding wall portion 12 is formed. Have The circumferential wall 13 extends in a pair of side walls 14 extending in the terminal arrangement direction and ends of the pair of side walls 14 extending in a connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. It has a pair of end walls 15. The annular space opened upward between the protruding wall portion 12 and the circumferential wall 13 accommodates the circumferential wall 63 as a fitting portion of the plug connector 2 which is a mating connector. It is formed as the space 16.

In the housing 10, the terminal holding grooves 17 for holding the terminals 20 form two rows symmetrical with respect to the protruding wall portion 12 in the connector width direction, and the like in the terminal arrangement direction. It is arranged at intervals. The terminal holding groove 17 has a side surface of the protruding wall portion 12, an upper surface of the bottom wall 11, an inner surface of the side wall 14 (a surface facing the side surface of the protruding wall portion 12), and the side wall 14. It extends continuously over the upper surface and the outer surface of the c), and is formed as a groove portion forming a horizontal S-shape in the terminal array direction.

The housing 10 holds the locking bracket 30 at both ends 10A in the terminal arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, the end portion 10A of the housing 10 is located outside the terminal arrangement range in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, outside of the terminal holding groove 17 located at both ends of the terminal arrangement direction. Let's say part. In addition, in this embodiment, the part located in the accommodation space 16 outside the said terminal arrangement range, in other words, the end wall 15 and 2 which comprise the edge part 10A of the housing | casing 10 The space enclosed by the two side walls 14 is called "end space 16A."

In addition, the housing 10 is connected to an end of the protruding wall portion 12 in the terminal arrangement direction at a central position in the connector width direction and protrudes upward from the bottom wall 11 toward the end space 16A. It has the protrusion part 18 extended in the said terminal arrangement direction together. The protruding portion 18 is formed lower than the protruding wall portion 12 and the circumferential wall 13. The protruding portion 18 enters into the step groove 45B of the plug connector 2 described later in the connector fitting state, and guides the plug connector 2 in the connector width direction. It has a function.

The housing 10 is configured to receive and hold the lock bracket 30, but in order to understand the form, prior to further description of the housing 10, the lock bracket 30 is first described. It demonstrates.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the lock bracket of the receptacle connector of Fig. 2 and the lock bracket of the plug connector of Fig. 3, in which Fig. 4 (a) is a state before connector fitting and Fig. 4 (b) is a lock state after connector fitting. Indicates.

The lock bracket 30 is formed by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending the metal plate in the plate thickness direction. As shown in Fig. 4 (a), the lock bracket 30 has a substantially U-shape when viewed in the up-down direction, together with the base 31 in which the plate surface extends in the up-down direction. The retaining part 32 extended from the base 31, the short wall side lock arm part 33, and the side wall side lock arm part 34 are each provided in two pieces.

The base 31 has a terminal wall direction 31A extending in the connector width direction (left and right directions in FIG. 4A) and a terminal arrangement direction (FIG. 4A) from both ends of the end wall base 31A. Has a side wall side base 31B extending obliquely downward to the left side. The held portion 32 is continuously secured to the fixing portion 32A extending from the lower edge of the side wall side base 31B toward the connector width direction outward and the fixing portion 32A. It has a press-fitting arm part 32B which bends toward and extends to the position substantially the same as the upper edge of the side wall side base 31B.

The fixing portion 32A is a portion to be soldered to the corresponding portion of the circuit board, and has a function of fixing the receptacle connector 1 on the circuit board by interacting with the connecting portion 22 of the terminal 20. In the connecting portion (bending portion) between the fixing portion 32A and the press-fit arm portion 32B, a hole portion 32C penetrating in the plate thickness direction is formed, and when the fixing portion 32A is solder fixed, As the molten solder fills the hole 32C, the fixing to the circuit board becomes more firm. The press-fit arm portion 32B is formed with a press-fit protrusion 32B-1 protruding from both edges extending in the vertical direction. When the press-in arm 32B is press-fitted into the bracket holding groove 14A of the housing 10, the press-in protrusion 32B-1 penetrates into the inner wall surface of the bracket holding groove 14A and is fixed. It is supposed to strengthen it.

The short wall side lock arm portion 33 is folded back from the lower edge of the short wall side base 31A to the inside of the terminal arrangement range (left obliquely lower side in Fig. 4 (a)) and upwards and the upper edge of the short wall side base 31A. It has a band shape extending to almost the same position, and elastic bending is possible in the plate thickness direction, in other words, the terminal arrangement direction. The short wall side lock arm portion 33 is provided with a short wall side lock protrusion 33A in which a part of the plate surface protrudes in a substantially hemispherical shape at a position near the upper end thereof (Fig. 5). See also (a)). As described later, the short wall side locking protrusion 33A can be engaged with the short wall side lock recess 62A of the mating lock fitting 60 of the plug connector 2 ( See FIG. 6 (a)). 33 A of said short wall side lock protrusions are formed by the press working in plate | board thickness direction, for example.

The side wall side lock arm portion 34 is directed toward the inside of the terminal arrangement range from the side wall side base 31B, and is slightly inclined toward the inside of the connector width direction, and the plate thickness direction, in other words, the connector width. Elastic bending is possible in the direction. As for the side wall side lock arm part 34, the side wall side lock protrusion 34A which a part of plate surface protrudes toward the inside of the connector width direction is formed in the position near the upper end. The side wall-side lock protrusion 34A forms a protrusion extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and as described later, the side wall-side lock protrusion 34A can be engaged with the side wall-side concave recess 63A of the mating lock fitting 60 of the plug connector 2. It is supposed to be done. Moreover, the upper surface of the said side wall side lock protrusion 34A is formed as the inclined surface which inclines in the connector width direction inward as it goes downward, and when the said mating lock metal part 60 contacts the inclined surface from above, the said The side wall side lock arm part 34 is elastically displaced in the same direction by receiving a force including a component in the connector width direction outward direction. 34A of said side wall side lock protrusions are formed by press work in the plate | board thickness direction similarly to 33 A of above mentioned short wall side lock protrusions.

Returning to the description of the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the end portion 10A of the housing 10 has two metal side wall retaining grooves for press-fitting and holding the press-fit arm portion 32B of the lock bracket 30 on the two side walls 14. 14A is opened and formed upward (downward in FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 1 (b)). In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 14 and the end wall 15 constituting the end portion 10A are provided for accommodating the base 31 and the side wall side lock arm portion 34 of the lock bracket 30. The accommodation groove portion 10B is formed. The accommodating groove 10B is opened upward in an approximately U-shape as viewed from above in Fig. 2 (below in Fig. 1 (a) and Fig. 1 (b)). Moreover, in the said accommodation groove part 10B, the part along the side wall 14 of the said edge part 10A is open toward 16 A of end spaces. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, in the state where the lock fitting 30 is mounted in the housing 10, the side wall side base 31B and the side wall of the locking fitting 30 are inclined. The side lock arm portion 34 is closed toward the end space 16A.

2, the end portion 10A of the housing 10 has an accommodating hole 15A for accommodating two short wall side lock arm portions 33 of the lock bracket 30, respectively. It opens toward the upper side (downward in FIG. 1 (a) and FIG. 1 (b)) from the end wall 15, and is formed in the connector width direction. The two said accommodation hole parts 15A are located in the substantially space U-shaped accommodation groove part 10B as seen from the upper part of FIG. 2, and open toward the said end space 16A. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, in the state in which the lock bracket 30 is attached to the housing 10, the said short wall side lock arm part 33 is open toward the end space 16A.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inner edge of the upper surface of the end 10A of the housing 10, that is, the edge extending substantially U-shaped along the end space 16A, is directed toward the end space 16A. The guide surface 10C which inclines downward according to this is formed. At the time of connector fitting, the end wall 63 of the plug connector 2 described later is guided into the end space 16A from the guide surface 10C, whereby the circumferential wall 43 of the plug connector 2 is connected to the receptacle connector 1. It is to be meshed in the accommodation space 16 of ().

The terminal 20 is made by punching the metal plate while maintaining the flat surface of the metal plate, and is arranged so that the plate surface is perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. The terminal 20 has a horizontal S-shape as a whole in the terminal arrangement direction (plate thickness direction), and the contact portion 21 which contacts the terminal (relative terminal) 50 of the plug connector 2 is once The connection part 22 which is solder-connected to the side and the corresponding circuit part of a circuit board is formed in the other end side. When viewed from the terminal arrangement direction, the terminal 20 has the retained portion 23 having an inverted U-shape hung on the side wall 14 of the housing 10, and the terminal holding groove 17 from above. It is press-fitted in) and is attached. In the held portion 23, a lock protrusion 23A for engaging with the mating terminal 50 of the plug connector 2 protrudes toward the contact portion 21 side.

In the state where the terminal 20 is held in the terminal holding groove 17, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 protrudes. The lock protrusion 23A protrudes from the inner side of the side wall 14 toward the accommodating space 16 while protruding from the side of the wall portion 12 toward the accommodating space 16. Moreover, the connection part 22 of the said terminal 20 is extended from the housing 10 toward the connector width direction outward at substantially the same height as the bottom face of the housing 10.

As described above, the lock bracket 30 described above is attached from the bottom wall 11 side (above in FIG. 2) of the housing 10. Specifically, the base 31, the side wall side lock arm part 34, the press fitting arm part 32B, and the short wall side lock arm part 33 of the lock bracket 30 each hold the bracket of the housing 10. It is accommodated in the groove | channel 14A, in the accommodation groove part 10B, and in the accommodation hole part 15A. As a result, the press fitting protrusion 32B-1 of the press fitting arm portion 32B digs into the inner wall surface of the bracket holding groove 14A, so that the lock bracket 30 press-holds the housing 10. Supported.

Next, the structure of the plug connector 2 is demonstrated based on FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 1 (b), and FIG. The plug connector 2 includes a housing 40 forming an approximately rectangular parallelepiped outline, and a plurality of terminals 50 arranged and held in two rows by the housing 10 with the longitudinal direction of the housing 40 in the arrangement direction. (Hereinafter referred to as "relative terminal 50") and two mating lock brackets 60 held at both ends of the housing 40 in the longitudinal direction. The plug connector 2 is placed on the circuit board in the posture shown in Fig. 1A, and is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 1 in an upside down position as shown in Fig. 1B.

The housing 40 is made of an electrical insulating material such as resin, for example, and extends in one longitudinal direction (terminal arrangement direction) parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The housing 40 is upwardly from the bottom wall 41 (see Fig. 1 (b)) parallel to the mounting surface, and as shown in Figs. 1 (a) and 3. It has a frame-shaped circumferential wall 43 standing up. The circumferential wall 43 extends in a pair of side walls 44 extending in the terminal arrangement direction and ends of the pair of side walls 44 extending in a connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. It has a pair of end walls 45. The space surrounded by the circumferential wall 13 and opened upward is formed as an accommodation space 46 for accommodating the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1.

The housing 40 is configured to hold the mating lock bracket 60. However, in order to understand the form, first of all, the mating lock bracket 60 is described in detail before the housing 40 is described. Explain.

Mainly based on FIG.4 (a), the structure of the mating lock bracket 60 hold | maintained by the said housing 40 is demonstrated. In FIG. 4 (a), it is shown in the same direction in the up-down direction with the counter-lock bracket 60 in FIG. 1 (b), and is reversed in the up-down direction with the counter-lock bracket 60 in FIGS. 1 (a) and 3. Is shown. The mating lock bracket 60 includes a base 61 covering the lower surface (the upper surface in FIGS. 1A and 3) of the end wall 45 of the housing 40 in FIG. 1B, and the base 61. ) And the side wall side protrusion part 63 which bends upward from the base wall 45 and covers the end surface of the said end wall 45, and the side wall side protrusion part 63 which bends upwards from the said base 61 and covers the side surface of the said end wall 45. FIG. Have

The base 61 is formed with a slit portion 61A extending in a terminal arrangement direction (left obliquely downward in FIG. 4 (a)) at a center position in the connector width direction (left and right directions in FIG. 4 (a)). It is. The slit part 61A is located in correspondence with the step groove 45B of the end wall 45 of the housing 40, which will be described later, with the mating lock bracket 60 mounted to the housing 40 (Fig. 1). (a)).

As shown in Fig. 4 (a), the short wall side blocking portion 62 is located at a position corresponding to the short wall side lock arm portion 33 of the lock bracket 30 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector width direction. The upper edge of the short wall side blocking portion 62 is cut into a substantially semi-circular shape, and a short wall side blocking recess 62A for engaging with the short wall side locking protrusion 33A of the short wall side locking arm portion 33 is formed. It is.

As shown in FIG.4 (a), the said side wall side convex part 63 is the edge of the inside of terminal arrangement range (lower left diagonally in FIG.4 (a)) in the position of the lower side close to the base 61. As shown in FIG. Is cut out, and the side wall side locking projections (34A) of the lock bracket (30) of the receptacle connector (1) and the side wall side recessed concave portions (63A) for hanging are formed extending in the terminal arrangement direction. Moreover, above the side wall side concave recessed part 63A, the latching arm part 63B for attachment of the mating lock bracket 60 to the housing 40 extends toward the said terminal arrangement range inside, and is formed. . The locking arm portion 63B is bent slightly inward in the connector width direction to form a locking portion that can be elastically displaced in the connector width direction. As described later, the side wall side concave recess 63A accommodates the side wall side lock protrusion 34A of the lock bracket 30 of the receptacle connector 1 in the connector fitting state, and the side wall side concave portion 63A. At the lower edge of the recess 63A, the side wall-side lock protrusion 34A and the connector release direction (upward) are caught.

Returning to the description of the housing 10. As shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, the end wall 45 of the housing 10 holds the mating lock bracket 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the end wall 45 has an upper surface (lower surface in FIG. 1B), a side surface (a surface perpendicular to the connector width direction), and a cross section (terminal arrangement direction) except for corner portions. The plane perpendicular to the surface of the opponent locks only the plate thickness of the opponent lock bracket 60. Moreover, the lower part of the side surface of the said end wall 45 is further dug up, the edge part is formed, and the said edge part is correspondingly latched for attachment of the said mating lock bracket 60 to the housing 40. It functions as a part 45A. As shown in FIG. 3, the top surface of the end wall 45 is provided with the end groove part 45B as a groove part extended in the terminal arrangement direction from the center position in the connector width direction. As described later, the stepped groove portion 45B accommodates the protrusion 18 of the housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1 in a connector fitting state.

The mating terminal 50 is made by bending the strip | belt-shaped piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the plate | board thickness direction. The mating terminals 50 are integrally molded and held on each side wall 44 of the housing 40, and are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the side wall 44. The mating terminal 50 is a straight connection portion 51 directed from the side wall 44 outward from the side wall 44 at a height position substantially the same as that of the bottom wall 41 of the housing 10, and the connection portion ( Inverse U, which is bent toward the upper side (downward in FIG. 1 (b)) in FIG. 1 (a) and FIG. 3 while being continued to 51, and folded back into an inverted U shape and buried in the side wall 44. I have a part. The reverse U-shaped portion extends along the side wall 44, and is exposed so that the reverse U-shaped plate surface forms the same surface as the side wall 44.

Of the two leg portions of the inverted U-shaped portion of the mating terminal 50, one leg portion located on the inner side of the side wall 44 corresponds to contacting the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1. It is formed as the contact portion 52. In the corresponding contact portion 52, a corresponding contact recess 52A for accommodating the protruding contact portion 21 of the terminal 20 is formed from the plate surface. Moreover, the other leg part located in the outer surface side of the side wall 44 is formed as the locking part 53 for engaging with 23 A of lock protrusions of the said terminal 20. As shown in FIG. The blocking portion 53A is formed with a blocking recess 53A for accommodating the lock protrusion 23A from the plate surface.

The attachment of the mating lock bracket 60 to the housing 40 of the plug connector 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the mating lock bracket 60 has a single end wall 45 of the housing 40 from a side (upward in FIG. 3) in which the housing space 46 of the housing 40 is opened. It is mounted to cover. As a result, the upper surface, both side surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the connector width direction), and end surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction) of the end wall 45 in FIG. 3 are covered by the mating lock brackets 60. Therefore, the said end wall 45 is reinforced by the mating lock bracket 60, and the said end wall 45 becomes difficult to deform even if it receives an unexpected external force.

In the mounting process of the mating lock bracket 60, first, two locking arm parts 63B serving as a latching portion of the mating lock bracket 60 are respectively fitted on the side surface of the end wall 45 of the housing 40 on a plate surface. It is elastically displaced toward the connector in the connector width direction outward (falling direction). And when the said latching arm part 63B jumps over the step-shaped corresponding latch part 45A, and reaches the downward position of the said latching part 45A, the said latching arm part 63B will be in an elastic displacement state. Return from. As a result, the engaging arm portion 63B is engaged with the corresponding engaging portion 45A, and the deviation of the mating lock bracket 60 from the housing 40 in the vertical direction is prevented.

In the present embodiment, the entirety of the locking arm portion 63B is formed as the locking portion, but instead of this, only a part of the locking arm portion 63B may be formed as the locking portion by receiving the bending deformation process. In addition, in this embodiment, although the locking arm part and the concave part were formed in the side wall side of a housing, it is needless to say that you may form in the short wall side instead.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the engaging arm part 63B of the mating-lock bracket 60 and 45 A of corresponding engagement parts of the step | shape of the housing | casing 40 are caught, in the width direction of the said housing 40, Size can be reduced. Specifically, for example, a form of attachment in which a retaining groove having a slit shape parallel to both sides of the end wall of the housing is formed in the end wall, and the retaining portion of the mating lock fitting is pressed into the holding groove. In this case, the wall portion surrounding the holding groove needs to be formed to a sufficient thickness, so that the housing is enlarged in the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the housing. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the corresponding engaging part 45A for locking the engaging arm part 63B of the mating lock bracket 60 is cut off a part of both side surfaces of the end wall 45 of the housing 40, Since what is necessary is just to form in a stage shape, the housing 40 does not become large in the said width direction and the longitudinal direction.

Next, the fitting operation | movement of connectors will be demonstrated based on FIG.1 (b), FIG.4, 5,6. Fig. 5 is a view showing the lock bracket of the receptacle connector 1 of Fig. 4 and the lock bracket of the plug connector 2 before fitting the connector, and Fig. 5 (a) shows the VA-VA of Fig. 4 (a). 5 (b) is a VB arrow diagram of FIG. 4 (a). FIG. 6 is a view showing only the lock bracket of the receptacle connector 1 of FIG. 4 and the lock bracket of the plug connector 2 in the locked state after the connector is fitted, and FIG. 6 (a) shows the lock bracket of FIG. VIA-VIA sectional drawing, FIG. 6 (b) is a VIB arrow diagram of FIG. 4 (b).

First, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are attached to the corresponding circuit board by solder connection, respectively. Next, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the receptacle connector 1 is in a posture in which the accommodation space 16 faces upward, and the plug connector 2 is located above the receptacle connector 1. The accommodating space 46 is set downward. At this time, as shown in Figs. 4 (a), 5 (a) and 5 (b), the lock brackets have a short wall side recessed recess 62A and a side wall side recessed recess of the mating lock bracket 60. 63A is located above the short wall side lock protrusion 33A and the side wall side lock protrusion 34A of the lock bracket 30, respectively.

Next, the plug connector 2 is moved downward while maintaining the posture of FIG. 1 (b), and the protruding wall portion 12 of the receptacle connector 1 is lowered into the accommodation space 46 of the plug connector 2. The main wall 43 of the plug connector 2 enters from the upper side into the accommodation space 16 of the receptacle connector 1 while entering from the top. As a result, the contact portion 21 and the lock protrusion 23A of the terminal 20 of the receptacle connector 1 are in the corresponding contact recess 52A of the mating terminal 50 of the plug connector 2 and the recessed recessed portion. Each enters the 53A, and electrical contact between the terminals and locking in the connector release direction (upward) are made. Moreover, the protrusion part 18 of the housing 10 of the receptacle connector 1 penetrates below the slit part 61A of the mating lock bracket 60 of the plug connector 2 from the lower part of the housing 40, It enters into the groove part 45B. As a result, even if an external force such as vibration is applied in the connector fitting state, movement of the protrusion 18 in the connector width direction is prevented by the inner wall surface of the step groove 45B and the edge of the slit portion 61A. Since it is regulated, misalignment of the connectors in the width direction can be prevented. In particular, the edge of the slit 61A is a part of the mating lock bracket 60, which is a metal member, and the strength thereof is high, whereby the effect of regulation is improved.

In the connector fitting process, the short wall side lock portion 62 of the mating lock bracket 60 moves the short wall side lock arm portion 33 of the lock bracket 30 outside the terminal arrangement direction (the short wall side base). 31A), the sheet surface of the short wall side blocking portion 62 is in sliding contact with the short wall side locking protrusion 33A of the short wall side lock arm portion 33 while being elastically displaced toward the side. And as shown in FIG.4 (b), FIG.6 (a), FIG.6 (b), the end wall side lock convex part 62A of the said end wall side blocking part 62 has said end wall side lock protrusion part 33A. When the lock brackets reach the normal lock position, the short wall side lock arm portion 33 returns to the free state, and the short wall side lock protrusion 33A is the short wall side concave recess ( It penetrates into 62A). As a result, the short wall side lock projection 33A and the short wall side concave recess 62A are engaged with each other.

On the other hand, the side wall side blocking portion 63 of the mating lock fitting 60 is elastically displaced toward the connector width direction outward of the side wall side locking arm 63 of the locking bracket 30, while the side wall side blocking portion 63 Sliding contact with the side wall-side lock protrusion 34A of the side wall-side lock arm portion 34 at the plate surface. And as shown in FIG.4 (b), FIG.6 (a), FIG.6 (b), the side wall side concave recessed part 63A of the said side wall side concave part 63 is 34 A of side wall side lock protrusion parts. When the lock brackets reach the normal lock position, the side wall side lock arm portion 34 returns to the free state, and the side wall side lock protrusion 34A is the side wall side concave recess 63A. Rush into). As a result, the side wall side locking protrusion 34A and the side wall side concave recess 63A are engaged with each other.

Thus, the fitting operation | movement of a connector is completed by coming of lock brackets in a normal lock position. As a result, by engaging the short wall side lock protrusion 33A with the short wall side recessed recess 62A and the side wall side lock protrusion 34A and the side wall side recessed recess 63A, Unintended fallout is prevented.

In this embodiment, as for the short wall side lock arm part 33 and the side wall side lock arm part 34 of the lock bracket 30 of the receptacle connector 1, until the lock brackets reach a normal lock position, The short wall side blocking part 62 and the side wall side blocking part 63 of the mating lock bracket 60 are in sliding contact with each other on the plate surface. Accordingly, stress concentration is less likely to occur than in the case of sliding contact in the plate thickness direction cut surface or edge of the lock bracket as in the prior art. As a result, scratches are less likely to occur on each of the plate surfaces of the lock bracket 30 and the mating lock bracket 60, so that the engagement space due to abrasion does not occur, and the fall of the lock engagement force can be avoided. have.

The lock bracket 30 and the mating lock bracket 60 each have lock portions at positions of a total of three end walls and two side walls facing each other at the end of each connector. Therefore, even when the plug connector 2 is inclined in any of the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction in the connector fitting state, a strong locking force is secured against this, so that unexpected connectors can be prevented from coming off.

In the present embodiment, the side wall side lock arm portion 34 of the lock bracket 30 is directed in the terminal arrangement direction, so that the side wall side lock is compared with the case where the side wall lock arm portion 34 is directed in the vertical direction (connector insertion and withdrawal direction). The arm part 34 can be lengthened. Therefore, since the amount of elastic displacement due to sliding contact with the plate surface of the side wall side blocking portion 63 of the mating lock bracket 60 becomes large, the engagement between the plate surfaces of the lock brackets up to the normal lock position is increased accordingly. While the contact pressure can be lowered, the locking amount between the locking brackets after completing the connector fitting can be increased. As a result, scratches are less likely to occur on the plate surfaces of the lock brackets 30 and the counterpart lock brackets 60, and the locking brackets can be secured.

In the present embodiment, the side wall side lock arm portion of the lock bracket is directed from the side wall base to the terminal arrangement direction, but the direction in which the side wall side lock arm portion is directed is not limited thereto, and the height dimension of the connector is sufficiently large. For example, you may make it direct from a side wall side base part to a connector insertion and disengagement direction (up-down direction).

In the present embodiment, two short wall side lock arm portions of the lock bracket and two short wall side concave portions of the mating lock bracket are formed, respectively, but instead of this, only one may be formed, and three or more may be formed respectively. good.

In the present embodiment, the projection-shaped lock portion is formed in the lock bracket of the receptacle connector, and the recessed lock portion is formed in the mating lock bracket of the plug connector. Instead, the recessed lock portion is formed in the lock bracket. In addition, it is good also as forming a processus | protrusion lock part in the said mating lock bracket. In addition, in this embodiment, although the lock arm part which can be elastically displaced is formed in the lock bracket, instead of this, the lock arm part may be formed in the mating lock bracket, and the lock arm part may be formed in the lock bracket.

1: Receptacle Connector
2: plug connector
10: Housing
14: sidewall
15: single wall
20: terminal
30: rock bracket
31: Donate
31A: Base wall side
31B: Sidewall Side Base
33: side wall arm part
34 side wall lock arm part
40: Housing
45A: corresponding catch
50: Relative terminal
60: opponent rock bracket
63B: Hang Arm

Claims (4)

A connector assembly having a receptacle connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board and a plug connector fitted and connected to the receptacle connector at a right angle with respect to the mounting surface in a connector insertion and withdrawal direction, wherein the receptacle connector is connected to the mounting surface. A lock in which a plurality of terminals are array-held in the housing with one parallel direction as the arrangement direction, and lock engagement with the plug connector at both ends of the housing in the arrangement direction. An electrical connector assembly having a bracket, the connector having a mating terminal connected to a terminal of the receptacle connector when the plug connector is fitted and a mating lock fitting engaged with the lock bracket of the receptacle connector. ,
Both the lock bracket of the receptacle connector and the mating lock bracket of the plug connector are made by processing a metal plate, and the lock bracket of the receptacle connector has a substantially U-shape and the plate is inserted into the connector when viewed in the direction of insertion and withdrawal of the connector. And a base extending in the disengaging direction and a lock arm portion extending from the base to bend in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface, the base extending in a connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. And a side wall side base located along a side wall of the housing extending in the array direction from both ends of the end wall side base, and the lock arm portion is a short wall extending from the end wall side. The side lock arm portion and the side wall side lock arm portion extending from the side wall side base, While the wall-side lock arm portion and the side wall-side lock arm portion reach the normal lock position with the mating lock bracket of the plug connector, each plate surface is made to be in sliding contact with the plate surface of the mating lock bracket. An electrical connector assembly comprising: a lock portion or a locked portion that locks each other in a lock release direction with a mating lock bracket in a locked position. The method of claim 1,
An electrical connector assembly, wherein the side wall side lock arm portion formed in the lock bracket of the receptacle connector is extended from the side wall base in the arrangement direction of the terminal to be elastically bent in the connector width direction. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The mating lock bracket formed on the plug connector has a catching arm portion extending in the arrangement direction of the terminal, at least a part of the catching arm portion being bent inward in the connector width direction to form a catching portion, and the catching portion forms a housing of the plug connector. An electrical connector assembly which is engaged with a corresponding engaging portion of an end shape and prevents the plug connector from being detached from the housing in the connector insertion and withdrawal direction. A receptacle connector disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board and to which a plug connector is fit-fitted at right angles to the mounting surface thereof as a connector insertion and withdrawal direction, wherein a plurality of receptacle connectors are arranged in a direction parallel to the mounting surface. A receptacle connector in which a terminal is held in an array in a housing, and a lock bracket for locking engagement with a plug connector is held at both ends of the housing in the arrangement direction.
The lock bracket is formed by processing a metal plate, and the lock bracket has a substantially U-shape and a plate surface extending in the connector insertion and removal direction when viewed in the connector insertion and withdrawal direction, and an arm from the base. A lock arm portion extending in a shape and capable of bending in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface, wherein the base includes a short wall side base positioned along a short wall of the housing extending in a connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, and the short wall side; The lock arm portion has a side wall side base located along a side wall of the housing extending from both ends of the base in the arrangement direction, and the lock arm portion is bent from the short wall side base to allow the connector to be parallel with the short wall side base and the plate surface. The short wall side lock arm portion extending in the direction and the ship along the side wall from the side wall side base; The side lock side arm extending in the direction, wherein the short side lock side arm and the side lock arm end reach the normal lock position with the mating lock bracket of the plug connector, and the mating lock bracket on each plate surface. The receptacle connector, which is capable of sliding contact with the plate surface of the plate, and has a lock portion or a lock portion that locks to each other in the connector locking direction and the mating lock bracket in the locked position.

Images