JP2004296094A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector enhancing the holding force of a terminal to a connector housing even if a narrow terminal is used. <P>SOLUTION: An inserting part 43 to be inserted into a mounting hole 25 formed in a connector housing 2 and a pair of locking parts 44a, 44b projecting outward in the radial direction from the insertion part 43 are formed in a terminal 4 housed in the connector housing 2. The mounting hole 25 is composed of a circular guide hole 25a into which the insertion part 43 can be inserted but the locking parts 44a, 44b cannot be inserted, and a slit 25b integrally formed with the guide hole 25a and into which the locking parts 44a, 44b can be inserted. After the locking part 44b is inserted into the slit 25b, the terminal 4 is rotated by about 90° around a shaft center, the locking parts 44a, 44b are engaged with a top surface 21a and a bottom surface 21b of a mounting part 21 respectively to prevent the coming off of the terminal 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector including a terminal housed in a connector housing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a connector terminal in which a plurality of press-fit portions are formed on each side along a press-fit direction, and the press-fit portions are fixed by being pressed into a connector housing (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-251993 (FIG. 7)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Generally, by increasing the number of press-fitting portions, the holding force of the terminal to the connector housing by press-fitting can be increased. However, in a terminal having a thin shape, it is difficult to obtain sufficient strength of the terminal against press-fitting a plurality of portions. . There is also a method in which the terminal or the connector housing is engaged with a lance. However, in a thin terminal, it is difficult to form a lance or an engaging hole for engaging with the lance to be engaged with the connector housing.
[0005]
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can increase the holding force of a terminal with respect to a connector housing even when a thin terminal is used. I do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As means for achieving the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a connector housing, and a tab portion that fits with a mating terminal, and is mounted on the mounting portion of the connector housing so that the connector housing can be mounted on the connector housing. In a connector including a terminal to be accommodated, the terminal is formed integrally with the tab portion and is inserted into a mounting hole that penetrates the mounting portion of the connector housing, and protrudes radially from the insertion portion. A pair of locking portions formed in the axial direction so as to sandwich the insertion portion, the mounting hole of the connector housing allows the insertion portion to be inserted, and the locking portion is inserted. A guide hole which cannot be made to engage with the guide hole, and which is formed integrally with the guide hole and radially protrudes from the guide hole to engage at least the one of the guide holes. After the one locking portion of the terminal is inserted into the slit of the connector housing, the terminal is rotated about an axis, and each of the locking portions is The connector is characterized in that the terminal is mounted on the mounting portion by engaging with the mounting portion.
[0007]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that each of the locking portions of the terminal is constituted by a pair of protruding portions protruding in opposite directions from the insertion portion, and the slits are provided at two locations facing each other with the guide hole interposed therebetween. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is formed.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 3, wherein the distance between the locking portions of the terminal is made smaller than the axial length of the mounting portion of the connector housing, and when the terminal is mounted on the mounting portion, The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting portion is sandwiched by a stop portion.
[0009]
Function and effect of the present invention
<Invention of claim 1>
After inserting one of the locking portions of the terminal into the slit, the terminal is mounted on the mounting portion by rotating the terminal around the axis and engaging the pair of locking portions with the mounting portion of the connector housing. The holding force of the terminal can be increased without forming a press-fit portion or a lance in the terminal.
[0010]
<Invention of Claim 2>
Each locking portion is constituted by a pair of protruding portions protruding in opposite directions from the insertion portion, and the slit is formed at two locations facing each other with the guide hole interposed therebetween, so that the terminal is stably provided without tilting the terminal. Can be mounted on the mounting part.
[0011]
<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the distance between the pair of locking portions is smaller than the axial length of the mounting portion of the connector housing, and the mounting portion is sandwiched between the pair of locking portions, the terminal is stably mounted on the mounting portion without rattling. .
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector 1 constitutes a connector for a circuit board, and includes two flat terminals 3 and two thin terminals 4 housed in a connector housing 2. The connector housing 2 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and has a flange portion 22 attached to an electronic circuit board (not shown) and a hood portion 23 into which a cable side connector (not shown) as a mating connector is fitted. And a projection 24 for determining the position of the connector housing 2 with respect to the electronic circuit board. In FIG. 3, an electronic circuit board is attached to the lower surface of the flange portion 22.
[0013]
The flat plate terminal 3 is formed integrally by pressing a flat metal plate. As shown in FIG. 3, the flat plate terminal 3 is formed continuously with a tab portion 31 fitted to a mating terminal and below the tab portion 31. A base portion 32 and a mounting portion 33 that is formed to be branched below the base portion 32 and that is attached to the electronic circuit board at the tip thereof to conduct with the circuit pattern of the electronic circuit board. The flat plate terminal 3 is fixed to the mounting portion 21 of the connector housing 2 by press-fitting the base terminal 32 from above.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the terminal 4 is a thinner terminal than the flat terminal 3 and is integrally formed of metal. At the lower end, an attachment portion 42 is formed at the lower end thereof, which is attached to the electronic circuit board, and is electrically connected to the circuit pattern. Further, between the tab portion 41 and the mounting portion 42, an insertion portion 43 to be inserted into the mounting hole 25 formed in the mounting portion 21 of the connector housing 2 is formed. A pair of locking portions 44 a and 44 b protruding radially outward of the terminal 4 from the portion 43 are formed so as to sandwich the insertion portion 43.
[0015]
The locking portion 44a includes a pair of protruding portions 44a1 and 44a2 protruding in the opposite direction from the insertion portion 43, and the locking portion 44b similarly includes a pair of protruding portions 44b1 and 44b2 protruding in the opposite direction from the insertion portion 43. As shown in FIG. 3, the locking portion 44a formed on the upper portion engages with the upper end surface 21a of the mounting portion 21, and the locking portion 44b formed on the lower portion engages with the lower end surface 21b. ing. Since the distance S (shown in FIG. 4) between the locking portions 44a and 44b of the terminal 4 is set smaller than the axial length L (shown in FIG. 3) of the mounting portion 21, the distance S between the locking portions 44a and 44b is small. The terminal 4 is fixed to the mounting portion 21 by sandwiching the mounting portion 21. In the present embodiment, the insertion portion 43 has substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the tab portion 41 and the attachment portion 42, but is not necessarily limited to this configuration.
[0016]
On the other hand, the mounting hole 25 of the connector housing 2 is formed so as to penetrate the mounting portion 21, and the mounting portion 42 and the insertion portion 43 of the terminal 4 may be inserted as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A guide hole 25a having a circular cross section through which the locking portions 44a and 44b cannot be inserted, and a slit 25b formed integrally with the guide hole 25a and through which the locking portions 44a and 44b can be inserted. It is configured. The slit 25b has a rectangular cross section, and is formed at two locations radially outward of the guide hole 25a, and projects in opposite directions. Therefore, the slits 25b face each other across the guide hole 25a. Both the guide hole 25a and the slit 25b vertically pass through the mounting portion 21 of the connector housing 2. FIG. 6 is a view showing the terminal 4 when viewed from above or below when the terminal 4 is mounted on the mounting portion 21. In the figure, the reference numerals in parentheses indicate the configuration when viewed downward.
[0017]
Next, a method for mounting the terminal 4 to the mounting portion 21 of the connector housing 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the mounting portion 42 at the lower end of the terminal 4 is inserted into the guide hole 25a from the upper end surface 21a side of the mounting portion 21, and then the locking portion 44b formed at the lower portion is slit. 25b. After the locking portion 44b passes through the slit 25b and protrudes toward the lower end surface 21b of the mounting portion 21, the terminal 4 is rotated by about 90 ° about the axis to lock as shown in FIGS. The engagement of the portions 44a and 44b with the upper end surface 21a and the lower end surface 21b respectively prevents the terminal 4 from coming off.
[0018]
As described above, since the distance S between the locking portions 44a and 44b of the terminal 4 is set smaller than the axial length L of the mounting portion 21, when the terminal 4 is mounted on the mounting portion 21, The terminal 4 is firmly fixed to the mounting portion 21 by vertically sandwiching the mounting portion 21 between the locking portions 44a and 44b. Instead of the mounting method described above, the tab portion 41 at the upper end of the terminal 4 is inserted into the guide hole 25a from the lower end surface 21b side of the mounting portion 21, and then the locking portion 44a formed at the upper portion is slit. After the terminal 4 is inserted into the mounting portion 21, the terminal 4 may be rotated by about 90 ° about the axis.
[0019]
According to the present embodiment, after the locking portion 44b of the terminal 4 is inserted into the slit 25b, the terminal 4 is rotated about an axis, and the pair of locking portions 44a and 44b are respectively connected to the upper end surface 21a of the mounting portion 21, Since the terminal 4 is mounted on the mounting portion 21 by engaging with the lower end surface 21b, the holding force of the terminal 4 on the connector housing 2 can be increased without forming a press-fit portion or a lance on the terminal 4. Further, the distance S between the locking portions 44a and 44b is made smaller than the axial length L of the mounting portion 21 of the connector housing 2, and the mounting portion 21 is sandwiched between the locking portions 44a and 44b. It is stably mounted on the mounting portion 21 without touching.
[0020]
Further, the locking portions 44a, 44b are constituted by a pair of protruding portions 44a1, 44a2 and 44b1, 44b2 protruding from the insertion portion 43 in opposite directions, and the slits 25b are formed at two opposing portions of the guide hole 25a. Accordingly, the terminal 4 can be stably mounted on the mounting portion 21 without tilting.
[0021]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further depart from the gist other than the following. Various changes can be made without departing from the scope.
(1) The pair of locking portions need not have the same shape, but may be different from each other. In this case, the slit of the mounting hole may be any slit as long as at least one locking portion can be inserted therethrough.
(2) The present invention may be applied to a terminal of a connector other than the connector for a circuit board.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the connector of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a method of mounting the terminal to the connector housing according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a state where the terminal is mounted in a mounting hole of the connector housing.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector 2 ... Connector housing 4 ... Terminal 21 ... Mounting part 25 ... Mounting hole 25a ... Guide hole 25b ... Slit 41 ... Tab part 43 ... Insertion part 44a, 44b ... Locking part 44a1, 44a2, 44b1, 44b2 ... Projection part L: Length of mounting part in the axial direction S: Distance between locking parts

Claims (3)

In a connector including a connector housing, and a tab portion that is fitted with a mating terminal, the terminal having a terminal housed in the connector housing by being mounted on a mounting portion of the connector housing,
The terminal is formed integrally with the tab portion and is inserted into a mounting hole that penetrates the mounting portion of the connector housing.The terminal protrudes radially from the insertion portion, and extends axially so as to sandwich the insertion portion. Including a pair of locking portions formed apart from each other,
The mounting hole of the connector housing has a guide hole through which the insertion portion can be inserted and through which the locking portion cannot be inserted, and a guide hole formed integrally with the guide hole and extending radially from the guide hole. It is constituted by a slit that can protrude and allow at least one of the locking portions to pass therethrough,
After the one locking portion of the terminal is inserted into the slit of the connector housing, the terminal is rotated about an axis, and the locking portion engages with the mounting portion, so that the terminal is rotated. Is mounted on the mounting portion. Each of the locking portions of the terminal is constituted by a pair of protruding portions protruding in opposite directions from the insertion portion, and the slit is formed at two places facing each other with the guide hole interposed therebetween. The connector according to claim 1, wherein The distance between the locking portions of the terminal is made smaller than the axial length of the mounting portion of the connector housing, and when the terminal is mounted on the mounting portion, the mounting portion is moved by the locking portion. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is held.

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