JP2007134091A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connector having a structure where flexure is hardly generated in an electric contact part in fitting or removing the connector, and having high elasticity in the electric contact part. <P>SOLUTION: While a U-shaped part formed with a second vertical piece 9, a second horizontal piece 10 and a third vertical piece 11 elastically deforms, a lower part of the second horizontal piece 10 moves in the bottom part direction of a housing 2. The electric connector is completely fitted to a mating connector, and the lower part of the second horizontal piece 10 abuts an extension part 17. Accordingly, the extension part 17 has a function as a stopper for restricting elastic deformation and movement of an electric contact 3. Thereby, even when downward force above a predetermined value is applied to the contact part, friction force in the direction (upward direction) opposite to the insertion direction of the contact part of the electric contact is increased, whereby the elastic deformation and downward movement of the U-shaped part is restricted at a predetermined position, and flexure of the electric contact 3 is hardly generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector for mechanically fitting a printed wiring board in an opposed state to achieve electrical connection, and more specifically, a connector mounted on a printed wiring board on one side, and a housing and an electrical contact With the preferred mounting method, the elasticity of the electrical contact is improved when the connector is fitted, and the electrical contact is less likely to be bent.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, this type of connector is paired with two types of connectors 101 and 201 that are respectively attached to an electric wiring board (not shown) or the like. And a plurality of electrical contacts 110 and 210.

FIG. 7A shows one connector 101 among the connectors shown in FIG. The connector 101 includes a housing 102 and a plurality of electrical contacts 110.
The housing 102 is provided with concave portions (spaces) 104 partitioned by a plurality of partition walls 103 extending in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction on both side wall portions thereof. A protrusion 105 extending between the walls 103 is provided. Grooves 106 for engaging with the electrical contacts 110 are respectively formed on the opposing wall surfaces of the two partition walls 103.

FIG. 7B shows an electrical contact 110 that is mounted on a side wall portion on one side of the housing 102.
The electrical contact 110 includes a first vertical piece 111 and a second vertical piece 112 connected to each other by a first horizontal piece 114 and a substantially inverted U-shaped portion 118 having an opening (opening 116) on the bottom surface side, and a second vertical piece 112. And a third vertical piece 113 connected to each other by a second horizontal piece 115, and a substantially U-shaped portion 119 having an opening (opening 117) in a direction opposite to the bottom surface. The substantially inverted U-shaped portion 118 and the substantially U-shaped portion 119 have a substantially S-shape by connecting the second vertical pieces in common.

  The first vertical piece 111 has a leg portion 123 extending in an approximately vertical direction from an end opposite to the end where the first horizontal piece 114 is connected, and has an L-shape with the leg 123. There is no. The leg portion 123 is usually connected to a predetermined printed wiring on a printed wiring board (not shown) by a half or the like, whereby the connector 101 is fixed on the printed wiring board. In the width direction of the first vertical piece 111 and the second vertical piece 112, protrusions 120 and 121 are formed to protrude. Further, the third vertical piece is formed in an arc shape near the tip.

  FIG. 7C shows an electrical contact mounted on the other side wall of the housing 102, and the shape thereof is the same as FIG. 7B. 7B and 7C are arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the bottom surface 107 of the housing 102 when mounted on each side wall portion.

  When the electrical contact 110 and the housing 102 are mounted, the projections 120 and 121 of the first vertical piece and the second vertical piece are inserted into the groove portions 106 of the opposing wall surfaces of the partition wall 103 and the housing 102 The protrusion 105 in the recess 104 is inserted into the inside of the substantially inverted U-shaped portion 118 from the opening 116.

  When the mounting is completed, the electrical contact 110 is fixed by frictional engagement between the protrusions 120 and 121 of each vertical piece and each groove 106, and the protruding portion of the housing 102 on the inner side of the substantially inverted U-shaped portion 118. 105 is accommodated with its entire surface in contact. The third vertical piece 113 and the second horizontal piece 115 do not have a contact portion with the housing 102 and are held in a predetermined shape.

  Next, the other connector 201 among the connectors shown in FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 8A shows the other connector 201. The connector 201 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 209. On both sides of the housing 209, partition walls and recesses are formed in the longitudinal direction so as to correspond to both sides of the connector 101, and FIG. The electrical contacts shown in b) and FIG. 8 (c) are arranged in the recesses on the sides. The electrical contact 210 is formed by connecting an inverted U-shaped portion and a leg portion extending in a substantially vertical direction from one end of one linear portion of the inverted U-shaped portion, and the other of the inverted U-shaped portion. The straight portion has a free end and is configured as a contact portion 211 that comes into contact with the electrical contact of the mating connector. Further, the leg portion is connected to the printed wiring board by a half or the like.

The connector 101 and the connector 201 are fitted by inserting the housing 209 of the connector 201 into the recess 107 of the housing 102 of the connector 101. The electrical connection at that time is ensured by elastic contact between the arc-shaped portion of the third vertical piece 113 of the electrical contact 110 and the contact portion 211 of the electrical contact 210.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-162913

  However, at the contact points of the electrical contacts 110 and 210 of the connectors 101 and 201, when the connector 101 and the connector 201 are fitted or removed, in the case of fitting, the fitting direction of the connector (the bottom direction of the housing 102). , Hereinafter referred to as the downward direction) and the resultant force in the elastic pressing direction (lateral direction) of each electrical contact, and in the case of removal, the pulling direction (vertically upward from the bottom of the housing 102, hereinafter referred to as the upward direction) and each It is affected by the resultant force in the elastic pressing direction of the electrical contact (vertical direction with respect to the vertical direction, hereinafter referred to as the lateral direction). When the component of the external force in the vertical direction becomes excessive, the electrical contact is adversely affected as follows.

For example, regarding the U-shaped portion 119 of the electrical contact 110, the bottom portion of the housing 2 is not formed on the lower side of the second horizontal piece 115 of the electrical contact 110 for an excessive external force of the lower component. Depending on the magnitude of the external force and the frictional force at the contact point between the electrical contacts, the horizontal piece 115 may sink downward indefinitely. As a result, in the portion from the leg portion 123 to the second vertical piece 112, the electrical contact is likely to be bent due to the influence of the downward force.
Further, for an excessive external force of the upward component, the third vertical piece 113 of the electrical contact 110 floats upward indefinitely depending on the magnitude of the external force and the frictional force at the contact point between the electrical contacts. There is a possibility. As a result, in the portion from the leg portion 123 to the second vertical piece 115, the electrical contact is likely to be bent due to the influence of the upward force.

  As described above, when the electrical contact is bent or disconnected when the electrical contact is fitted or removed, the arrangement position of the electrical contact 110 is shifted, or an overload is applied to a fixing portion between the electrical contact 10 and the housing. Cause.

  The present invention was created in order to solve the above-described problems, and has a structure in which bending of the electrical contact portion is difficult to occur when the connector is fitted or removed, and the electrical contact portion provides a connector having high elasticity. The purpose is to do.

(1) In order to achieve the above-described object, a connector according to the present invention includes a housing having one or more recesses partitioned by partition walls extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction on both side walls extending in the longitudinal direction. A connector comprising one or more electrical contacts locked to the housing in the recess, the housing having a protrusion extending from a bottom thereof between the partition walls, wherein the electrical contact is a first vertical contact. The piece and the second vertical piece are connected by a first horizontal piece and formed in a substantially U-shape that opens vertically downward toward the bottom portion, and the second vertical piece and the third vertical piece are formed in the second horizontal piece. The U-shaped part is formed of a first U-shaped part, a first vertical piece, a second vertical piece, and a first horizontal piece. The third vertical piece is accommodated in the compartment, and is substantially vertically above the bottom. When an external force is applied, it is configured to be engaged with the partition wall.
(2) Moreover, it is preferable that the connector of this invention is formed with the extension part extended inward of the said housing from the said bottom part vicinity.
(3) Further, in the connector according to the present invention, it is preferable that a free end of the extending portion extends to a central portion of the second horizontal piece in a longitudinal direction of the second horizontal piece.
(4) Furthermore, in the connector of the present invention, it is preferable that only the first vertical piece is in contact with the protruding portion.
(5) Further, in the connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the second vertical piece is also locked to the partition wall when an external force is applied substantially vertically above the bottom portion.

(1) Since the present invention is configured so that the third vertical piece is locked to the partition wall when an external force having an upper part or at least a component thereof is applied, the elastic deformation of the electrical contact And the occurrence of bending of the electrical contact can be prevented. Thereby, an overload is not given to the fixed portion between the electrical contact and the housing.
(2) In the present invention, since the extending portion extending from the vicinity of the bottom of the housing to the inside of the housing is formed, even if an external force is applied to the third vertical piece below or at least having the component, The second horizontal piece is in contact with the extending portion and the movement is restricted, and the occurrence of bending of the electrical contact can be prevented.
(3) In the present invention, since the free end of the extending part of the housing bottom part extends only to the center part of the second horizontal piece, the bottom surface of the housing is inserted into the electrical contact accommodating part, and the electrical contact is mounted. Work space expands.
Therefore, when attaching or removing the electrical contact to or from the housing, it is possible to fix the electrical contact from the bottom side of the housing or to elastically deform it, thereby improving the workability of the electrical contact installation or removal work. Can be made.
(4) In the present invention, since only the first vertical piece of the electrical contact is in contact with the protruding portion of the housing, the load is applied to the aerial holding portion composed of the second and third vertical pieces and the first and second horizontal pieces. Therefore, the elasticity and the absorption are increased with respect to the external force, so that a highly elastic electrical contact can be formed.
(5) In the present invention, the second vertical piece can also be locked to the housing with respect to the external force in the upward direction, so that the elastic deformation of the electrical contact portion can be further restricted, and as a result, the occurrence of bending of the electrical contact is prevented. can do.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 5 showing the present invention are the same as those used in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 showing the prior art, and will be described using new reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector 1 on one side, which is an embodiment of a connector having a mechanical connection structure similar to that of the prior art shown in FIG. The other connector has the same structure as the connector 201 in FIG. Further, the connection with the printed wiring board is omitted here because it has the same structure.
The connector 1 includes a housing 2 and one or more electrical contacts 3, and the electrical contacts 3 are attached to the housing 2.
A partition wall 5 extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is formed on both side walls 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2, and a recess 6 partitioned by the partition wall 5 is formed in the longitudinal direction. Seven are arranged. A protrusion 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) extending between the partition walls 5 to a predetermined position is formed from the bottom of the recess 6 partitioned by the partition wall 5. Further, each of the opposing wall surfaces of the partition wall 5 is formed with a groove portion 16 extending in the height direction at a symmetrical position, and latches with the electric contact 3 against an external force applied to the electric contact 3 described later. A stepped portion 20 constituting the locking surface is formed.

  FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the electrical contact 3. The shape of the electrical contact 3 is a substantially inverted U-shape formed by connecting the first vertical piece 7 and the second vertical piece 9 with the first horizontal piece 8 and opening substantially vertically downward toward the bottom of the housing 2. The shape portion, the second vertical piece 9 and the third vertical piece 11 are connected by the second horizontal piece 10, and are substantially U-shaped portions formed by opening substantially vertically upward from the bottom of the housing 2. The two vertical pieces are commonly formed in a substantially S shape. The first vertical piece 7 is formed with protrusions 13 on both sides in the width direction, and the third vertical piece 11 is formed in an arc shape near the tip. Protrusions 14 that are formed wider than the width of the arc-shaped portion are formed in the vicinity of the base end portion of the arc-shaped portion, and the side surfaces of the arc-shaped portion and the projecting portions 14 are formed on both sides in the width direction of the third vertical piece 11. A step surface 18 is formed between the side surfaces of the first and second surfaces.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mounting process between the housing 2 and the electrical contacts 3 will be described. When mounting the housing 2 and the electrical contact 3, first, the protrusion 13 of the first vertical piece 7 of the electrical contact 3 is inserted to a predetermined position along the groove portion 16 of the wall surface of the partition wall 5. After the insertion, the electrical contact 3 is fixed inside the recess 6 of the housing 2 by frictional engagement between the protrusion 13 and the groove 16.
The protrusion 12 in the recess 6 of the housing 2 is accommodated in a substantially inverted U-shaped section formed by the first vertical piece 7, the second vertical piece 9 and the first horizontal piece 8. It is only in contact with the piece 7 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). When the electrical contact 3 is fixed to the housing 2, the locking surface of the step portion 20 formed on the wall surface of the partition wall 5 and the step surface 18 of the third vertical piece 11 are arranged to face each other (see FIG. 5), the top surface 4 ′ of the side wall 4 of the housing is substantially flush with the top surface of the first horizontal piece 8 or is slightly higher.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line W-W in FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an unfitted state with the counterpart connector. The electrical contact 3 contacts the protruding portion 12 of the housing 2 only in the linear direction of the first vertical piece 7, and the first horizontal piece 8, the second vertical piece 9, the second horizontal piece 10, and the third vertical piece 11 are predetermined. The original shape of the shape is maintained and it is fixedly held without contact with the housing 2. Accordingly, the overall elasticity (spring property) of the electrical contact 3 is enhanced by the two vertical pieces and the two horizontal pieces.
An extension 17 extends from the vicinity of the bottom of the protrusion 12 of the housing 2 toward the inside of the housing 2 (in the direction facing the side wall 4), and forms a part of the bottom of the housing 2. However, since the free end portion of the extending portion 17 extends only to the vicinity of the substantially central portion of the first horizontal piece 10, the concave portion 19 for inserting the mating connector also penetrates in the bottom direction.
Since the concave portion 19 has a through portion, a finger or a tool is inserted from the bottom side of the housing 2 to fix the electrical contact 3 during the operation of mounting the housing 2 and the electrical contact 3, or the third vertical piece 11 or A space in which the second horizontal piece 10 can be elastically deformed is formed, which helps improve workability.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line W-W in FIG. In the process of fitting with the mating connector, first, the arc-shaped portion of the third vertical piece 11 of the electrical contact 3 contacts the electrical contact of the mating connector. In the contact portion, a force in the fitting direction (downward direction) of the mating connector due to the frictional force of the contact portion and an elastic force that presses the arc portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction (lateral direction). A resultant force is added. Due to the resultant force, the U-shaped portion formed by the second vertical piece 9, the second horizontal piece 10 and the third vertical piece 11 is elastically deformed, and the lower part of the second horizontal piece 10 moves toward the bottom of the housing 2. To do. As shown in FIG. 4, when the mating connector is completely fitted, the lower portion of the second horizontal piece 10 comes into contact with the extending portion 17. Therefore, the extending portion 17 has a function as a stopper that restricts elastic deformation and movement of the electrical contact 3. As a result, even if a predetermined downward force is applied to the contact portion of the electrical contact 3, the frictional force in the direction opposite to the insertion direction (upward) of the contact portion of the electrical contact increases (upward). Elastic deformation and downward movement of the shape portion are limited at a predetermined position, and the bending of the electrical contact 3 is difficult to occur.

  Next, a mode in which the electrical contact 3 of the connector 1 is elastically deformed when the fitted connector is removed will be described. To remove the mating connector from the state shown in FIG. 4, a process of pulling the mating connector upward is necessary. In the process, an upward force resulting from the frictional force of the contact portion and an elastic recovery of the lateral arc portion are applied to the contact portion between the arc-shaped portion of the third vertical piece 11 and the electrical contact portion of the mating connector. Combined with force is added. Due to the resultant force, the U-shaped portion formed by the second vertical piece 9, the second horizontal piece 10, and the third vertical piece 11 is elastically restored to the non-fitted state with the mating connector while moving in the resultant force direction. To do. When the downward frictional force at the contact point between the electrical contacts is large, the U-shaped part is elastically deformed by receiving an upward force from the electrical contact of the mating connector while the U-shaped part is restored. Move upward. However, the step surface 18 of the third vertical piece 11 is brought into contact with or locked with the locking surface 21 of the step portion 20 formed on the wall surface of the partition wall 5, and the movement of the U-shaped portion is restricted. It becomes. Therefore, the locking surface 21 of the step portion 20 has a function as a stopper that restricts the movement of the electrical contact 3. As a result, the U-shaped part has a large downward frictional force even when a predetermined upward force is applied, so the U-shaped part is elastically deformed and moved upward. Is restricted at a predetermined position, and the electric contact 3 is less likely to be bent.

FIG. 5 shows a partially enlarged front view of the range A shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the opposing direction of the electrical contacts after the housing and the electrical contacts are mounted. In the electrical contact 3, a step surface 18 formed on the protrusion 14 of the third vertical piece 11 and a locking surface 21 formed on the step portion of the partition wall 5 of the housing 2 are arranged with a facing interval. Yes. As described above, when an external force in the upward direction is applied when the mating connector is removed in the mating state of the connector, the third vertical piece 11 moves upward, and the step surface 18 on the electrical contact side and the locking surface 21 on the housing side. The distance between the contact and the contact is close, and the movement of the electrical contact 3 is limited.
As a modification, the second vertical piece 9 is similarly formed with a protruding portion 14 'extending in the width direction, and a corresponding step portion is also formed on the partition wall 5 on the housing side to restrict the movement of the electrical contact. can do. In this case, since two locking portions are provided simultaneously between the first vertical piece and the second vertical piece and the housing, the upward movement and elastic deformation of the electrical contact 3 can be further suppressed.

As described above, in the connector of the present invention, the portion formed of the two vertical pieces and the two horizontal pieces of the electric contact portion does not have a contact portion with the housing, so that the high elastic force ( Maintain springiness.
Further, the present invention focuses on the point of suppressing the elastic deformation of the electrical contact portion against a transient external force, and a contact portion or a locking portion is provided between the electrical contact portion and the housing, so that the connector fitting direction or When an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied in the removal direction, the elastic deformation of the electrical contact portion is limited. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the electric contact from being bent, and it is possible to provide a connector in which no overload is applied between the electric contact portion and the housing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one connector according to the present invention out of a pair of connectors that are mechanically fitted and connected to each other with a printed wiring board facing each other. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an electrical contact of one connector. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line W-W ′ when the connector is not fitted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line W-W ′ with the connector in a fitted state. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged front view of the range indicated by A in FIG. 1 as viewed from the opposing direction of the electrical contacts after the housing and the electrical contacts are mounted. FIG. 6 is a perspective view before mounting a pair of connectors in the prior art. FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view of one connector of a pair of connectors in the prior art, and FIGS. 7B and 7C are perspective views of one connector electrical contact. 8A is a partial perspective view of the other connector of the pair of connectors in the prior art, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the other connector electrical contact.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector 2 ... Housing 3 ... Electrical contact 4 ... Side wall part 5 ... Partition wall 6 ... Recessed part 7 ... 1st vertical piece 8 ... 1st horizontal piece 9 ... Second vertical piece 10 ··· Second horizontal piece 11 ··· Third vertical piece 12 ··· Protruding portion 13 · · Protrusion 14 · · Protruding portion 14 '· · Protruding portion 16 · · Groove portion 17 ··· Extension Step 18 ·· Stepped surface 19 ··· Recessed portion 20 · · Housing stepped portion 21 · · Locking surface 101 · · One connector 102 · Housing 103 · · Partition wall 104 · · Recessed portion 105 · · Protruding portion 106 · · Groove 107 ··· concave portion 110 · · electrical contact 111 · · first vertical piece 112 · · second vertical piece 113 · · third vertical piece 114 · · first horizontal piece 115 · · second horizontal piece 116 · · opening 117 .. Opening 118.. Inverted U-shaped part 119.. U-shaped part 120. 1 .. Projection 123 .. Section 201 .. Other connector 209 .. Housing 210 .. Electrical contact 211. Contact portion

Claims (5)

On both side walls extending in the longitudinal direction, a housing having one or more recesses separated by a partition wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and one or more electrical contacts locked to the housing in the recesses are provided. Connector,
The housing has a protrusion extending between the partition walls from its bottom;
The electrical contact is formed in a substantially U shape that connects the first vertical piece and the second vertical piece with the first horizontal piece and opens vertically downward toward the bottom, and the second vertical piece and the third vertical piece. A vertical piece is connected by a second horizontal piece, and is formed in a substantially U-shape that opens vertically from the bottom,
The protrusion is housed in a U-shaped section formed of a first vertical piece, a second vertical piece and a first horizontal piece;
The connector, wherein the third vertical piece is locked to the partition wall when an external force is applied substantially vertically above the bottom.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein an extending portion is formed extending from the vicinity of the bottom portion toward the inside of the housing.   4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a free end of the extending portion extends to a central portion of the second horizontal piece in a longitudinal direction of the second horizontal piece. 5.   The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein only the first vertical piece is in contact with the protruding portion.   5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein when an external force is applied substantially vertically above the bottom portion, the second vertical piece is also locked to the partition wall.

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