Connector device

Abstract

To improve the strength in locking between a plug and a receptacle.SOLUTION: A connector device 1 comprises a plug 2 and a receptacle 3. The plug 2 has a terminal 10, front and rear locking members 21, right and left locking members 41, and a housing 50. The receptacle 3 has a terminal 60, front and rear locking members 71, right and left locking members 81, and a housing 90. In the plug 2, the front and rear locking members 21 and the right and left locking members 41 respectively have: inner locking parts 30, 47 disposed on an outer lateral surface of an inner protruding part 53 of the housing 50; and outer locking parts 31, 48 disposed on an inner lateral surface of an outer protruding part 55 of the housing 50. In the receptacle, the front and rear locking members 71 and the right and left locking members 81 respectively have: inner locking parts 76, 85 disposed on an inner lateral surface of an outer protruding part 94 of the housing 90; and outer locking parts 77, 86 disposed on an outer lateral surface of the outer protruding part 94 of the housing 90.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector device capable of electrically connecting substrates to each other.

Background Art

[0002] A connector device that arranges two substrates so as to overlap each other and can directly connect both substrates is widely used in electronic devices and the like. This type of connector device includes a plug and a receptacle that can be detachably connected to each other. Of the two substrates, a plug is attached to one substrate and a receptacle is attached to the other substrate.

[0003] Both the plug and the receptacle include terminals and a housing that holds the terminals. The housing of the plug is generally formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is placed on one substrate so that the lower surface faces the one substrate. Further, for example, convex portions are formed on the upper surface of the housing, and one end portion of the terminals of the plug is disposed on the convex portions. Also, the other end portion of the terminals of the plug is disposed on the lower surface of the housing of the plug and is connected to the circuit of the one substrate.

[0004] On the other hand, the housing of the receptacle is also generally formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is placed on the other substrate so that the lower surface faces the other substrate. Further, for example, concave portions are formed on the upper surface of the housing, and one end portion of the terminals of the receptacle is disposed in the concave portions. Also, the other end portion of the terminals of the receptacle is disposed on the lower surface of the housing of the receptacle and is connected to the circuit of the other substrate.

[0005] By aligning the top surfaces of the plug housing and the receptacle housing and fitting the protrusions formed on the plug housing with the recesses formed on the receptacle housing, one end of the plug terminals and one end of the receptacle terminals come into contact with each other. This connection of the plug and receptacle electrically connects the circuits of one circuit board to the circuits of the other circuit board.

[0006] Furthermore, some connector devices of this type have a locking function that locks the plug and receptacle together. Locking the plug and receptacle together means that after the plug and receptacle are connected, the connection is maintained by preventing them from coming loose from each other.

[0007] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-149374 (Patent Document 1) describes a receptacle connector (1) and a plug connector (2) for a circuit board having a locking function. Specifically, the receptacle connector (1) comprises a receptacle terminal (20) and a receptacle locking fitting (30), with a lock recess (23A-1) formed in the receptacle terminal (20) and a lock recess (35A) formed in the receptacle locking fitting (30). The plug connector (2) comprises a plug terminal (60) and a plug locking fitting (70), with a lockable step portion (61A-1) formed in the plug terminal (60) and a lockable step portion (71A) formed in the plug locking fitting (70). When the receptacle connector (1) and the plug connector (2) are connected to each other, the lock recess (23A-1) of the receptacle terminal (20) and the locked step portion (61A-1) of the plug terminal (60) are locked together, and the lock recess (35A) of the receptacle lock fitting (30) and the locked step portion (71A) of the plug lock fitting (70) are locked together. This prevents the receptacle connector (1) and the plug connector (2) from coming apart. The symbols in parentheses are symbols used in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-149374. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-149374 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] When increasing the vibration or shock resistance of electronic equipment, it is necessary to increase the strength of the lock between the plug and receptacle of the connector device used in the electronic equipment.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a connector device that can increase the strength of the lock between the plug and the receptacle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a connector device comprising a first connector mounted on a first substrate and a second connector mounted on a second substrate and connected to the first connector, wherein the first connector comprises a first terminal, a first locking member and a first housing, and the second connector comprises a second terminal, a second locking member and a second housing, and the first housing comprises a first plate portion placed on the first substrate with its lower surface facing the first substrate, a first internal projection protruding upward from the first plate portion and surrounding the outside of a first internal space on the first plate portion, and a projection protruding upward from the first plate portion and passing through a first external space to the front The second housing has a first internal projection and a first external projection surrounding the outside of the first internal projection, the second housing has a second plate portion which is placed on the second substrate so that its lower surface faces the second substrate, a second internal projection which protrudes upward from the second plate portion, and a second external projection which protrudes upward from the second plate portion and surrounds the outside of the second internal projection via a second internal space, and when the first connector and the second connector are connected, the second internal projection enters the first internal space, the first internal projection enters the second internal space, the second external projection enters the first external space, one end of the first terminal is positioned on the first internal projection, and the other end of the first terminal is on the lower surface of the first plate portion Arranged or extending to the outer side surface of the first plate portion One end of the second terminal is positioned within the second internal space, and the other end of the second terminal is on the lower surface of the second plate portion. Arranged or extending to the outer side surface of the second plate portion The first locking member has a first inner locking portion disposed on the outer surface of the first inner projection and a first outer locking portion disposed on the inner surface of the first outer projection, and the second locking member has a second inner locking portion disposed on the inner surface of the second outer projection and engaged with the first inner locking portion, and a second outer locking portion disposed on the outer surface of the second outer projection and engaged with the first outer locking portion.

[0012] In the connector device of the present invention described above, the first locking member is formed from a metal plate held in the first housing, and the first locking member has a first external extension portion that extends from the outside to the inside on the upper surface of the first plate portion between the inner surface of the first external projection and the outer surface of the first internal projection, a first internal rise portion that extends upward from the inner end of the first external extension portion on the outer surface of the first internal projection, and a first external rise portion that extends upward from the outer end of the first external extension portion on the inner surface of the first external projection, and the first internal locking portion may be provided on the first internal rise portion, and the first external locking portion may be provided on the first external rise portion. Furthermore, the first locking member may further include a first outermost extension portion extending from the upper end of the first outer rising portion through the upper surface or interior of the first outer projection from the inside outwards, a first outer descending portion extending downward from the outer end of the first outermost extension portion through the interior of the first outer projection to the lower surface of the first plate portion, and a first lower surface extension portion extending from the lower end of the first outer descending portion along the lower surface of the first plate portion.

[0013] Furthermore, in the connector device of the present invention described above, the second locking member is formed from a metal plate held in the second housing, and the second locking member has a second external extension portion extending from the outside to the inside on the upper surface of the second external projection, a second internal descending portion extending downward from the inner end of the second external extension portion on the inner side surface of the second external projection, and a second external descending portion extending downward from the outer end of the second external extension portion on the outer side surface of the second external projection, wherein the second internal locking portion is provided in the second internal descending portion and the second external locking portion is provided in the second external descending portion. In addition, the second locking member may further have a second lower surface extension portion that extends from the lower end of the second external descending portion to the lower surface of the second plate portion and then extends on the lower surface of the second plate portion.

[0014] Furthermore, in the connector device of the present invention described above, the first connector may be provided with a plurality of first locking members, one of the plurality of first locking members provided in a portion located on one side of the first inner space within the first outer space, another of the plurality of first locking members provided in a portion located on the other side of the first inner space within the first outer space, and the second connector may be provided with a plurality of second locking members, one of the plurality of second locking members provided in a portion located on one side of the second inner protrusion within the second outer protrusion, and another of the plurality of second locking members provided in a portion located on the other side of the second inner protrusion within the second outer protrusion.

[0015] Furthermore, in the connector device of the present invention described above, the first connector may be provided with a plurality of first locking members, one of the plurality of first locking members provided on a portion extending in the left-right direction in the first outer space, and another of the plurality of first locking members provided on a portion extending in the front-rear direction in the first outer space; the second connector may be provided with a plurality of second locking members, one of the plurality of second locking members provided on a portion extending in the left-right direction in the second protrusion, and another of the plurality of second locking members provided on a portion extending in the front-rear direction in the second protrusion. Also, the first connector may be provided with a first composite locking member formed by connecting one first locking member (a first locking member provided on a portion extending in the left-right direction in the first outer space) and another first locking member (a first locking member provided on a portion extending in the front-rear direction in the first outer space), and the first composite locking member may be formed from a single metal plate. Furthermore, the second connector includes a second composite locking member formed by connecting the first second locking member (a second locking member provided on the portion of the second protrusion extending in the left-right direction) and the other second locking member (a second locking member provided on the portion of the second protrusion extending in the front-rear direction), and the second composite locking member may be formed from a single metal plate. Furthermore, the second composite locking member has a connecting portion that connects the first second locking member (a second locking member provided on the portion of the second protrusion extending in the left-right direction) and the other second locking member (a second locking member provided on the portion of the second protrusion extending in the front-rear direction), and the connecting portion may extend along the outer surface of the corner of the second protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the strength of the lock between the plug and the receptacle can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a plug and a receptacle in a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(A) shows a state of the plug viewed from the upper left rear, and FIG. 1(B) shows a state of the receptacle viewed from the upper left rear. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state immediately before the plug and the receptacle are connected in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an external view showing a state of the plug in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention viewed from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing terminals and a composite lock member of the plug in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the terminals of the plug in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a rear portion of the plug cut along a cutting line VI-VI in FIG. 3 viewed from the left. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the composite lock member of the plug in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a rear portion of the plug cut along a cutting line VIII-VIII in FIG. 3 viewed from the left. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a left portion of the plug cut along a cutting line IX-IX in FIG. 3 viewed from the rear. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an external view showing a state of the receptacle in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention viewed from above. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing terminals and a composite lock member of the receptacle in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the terminals of the receptacle in the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a front portion of the receptacle cut along a cutting line XIII-XIII in FIG. 10 viewed from the left. [Figure 14]This is a perspective view showing a composite locking member of a receptacle in a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle, cut along the cutting line XV-XV in Figure 10, as seen from the left. [Figure 16] This is a cross-sectional view of the left side of the receptacle, cut along the cutting line XVI-XVI in Figure 10, as seen from the rear. [Figure 17] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between a plug and a receptacle when they are connected in a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. When describing the embodiments, the directions of up (Ud), down (Dd), front (Fd), back (Bd), left (Ld), or right (Rd) will be as shown by the arrows drawn in the lower left of Figures 1, 3 to 16.

[0019] (Connector device) Figure 1(A) shows a plug 2 in a connector device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 1(B) shows a receptacle 3 in the connector device 1. Figure 2 shows the state immediately before the plug 2 mounted on the substrate 121 and the receptacle 3 mounted on the substrate 131 are connected to each other.

[0020] Connector device 1 is a connector device for connecting two circuit boards to each other. Connector device 1 includes a plug 2 and a receptacle 3 that can be inserted into and removed from each other. According to connector device 1, as shown in Figure 2, for example, by mounting plug 2 on circuit board 121 and receptacle 3 on circuit board 131, and connecting plug 2 and receptacle 3 to each other, two circuit boards 121 and 131 that are arranged to overlap each other can be directly connected to each other. Note that plug 2 is a specific example of the "first connector", and receptacle 3 is a specific example of the "second connector". Also, circuit board 121 is a specific example of the "first circuit board", and circuit board 131 is a specific example of the "second circuit board".

[0021] In the following description of plug 2, when plug 2 is mounted on the circuit board 121, the side facing the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121 is considered downwards, and when connected to receptacle 3, the side facing receptacle 3 is considered upwards. Similarly, in the description of receptacle 3, when receptacle 3 is mounted on the circuit board 131, the side facing the mounting surface 131A of the circuit board 131 is considered downwards, and when connected to plug 2, the side facing plug 2 is considered upwards. Note that plug 2 in Figure 2 is inverted vertically.

[0022] (plug) Figure 3 shows the plug 2 viewed from above. As shown in Figure 3, the plug 2 comprises six terminals 10, four composite locking members 20, and a housing 50 that holds each terminal 10 and each composite locking member 20. The plug 2 is formed by insert molding. Specifically, after each terminal 10 and each composite locking member 20 is mounted in a mold, the housing 50 is molded by filling the mold with an insulating material such as resin. This forms the plug 2 in which each terminal 10, each composite locking member 20, and the housing 50 are integrated. Note that each terminal 10 is a specific example of a "first terminal," each composite locking member 20 is a specific example of a "first composite locking member," and the housing 50 is a specific example of a "first housing."

[0023] (Plug housing) As shown in Figure 1(A), the housing 50 of the plug 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape from an insulating material such as resin, for example, a liquid crystal polymer. The housing 50 has a bottom plate portion 51, an inner space 52, an inner protrusion 53, an outer space 54, and an outer protrusion 55. The bottom plate portion 51 is a specific example of the "first plate portion," and the inner space 52 is a specific example of the "first inner space." The inner protrusion 53 is a specific example of the "first inner protrusion," the outer space 54 is a specific example of the "first outer space," and the outer protrusion 55 is a specific example of the "first outer protrusion."

[0024] The bottom plate portion 51 is a plate-shaped part that forms the bottom of the housing 50. When the plug 2 is mounted on the circuit board 121, the bottom plate portion 51 is placed on the mounting surface 121A such that the lower surface 51A of the bottom plate portion 51 faces the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121 (see Figure 2). The inner space 52 is provided in the center of the bottom plate portion 51 in the front-rear and left-right directions. The inner projection 53 protrudes upward from the bottom plate portion 51 and surrounds the outside of the inner space 52 all around. The outer space 54 is provided on the bottom plate portion 51 outside the inner projection 53 and surrounds the outside of the inner projection 53 all around. The outer projection 55 protrudes upward from the bottom plate portion 51 and surrounds the outside of the outer space 54 all around.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, in a top view of the housing 50, the inner projection 53 and the outer projection 55 are each formed in a rectangular ring shape with an outer shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. Also, the centers of the inner projection 53 and the outer projection 55 coincide with each other. In addition, the long side portion (the portion that extends in the left-right direction) of the inner projection 53 and the long side portion of the outer projection 55 are parallel to each other, and the short side portion (the portion that extends in the front-rear direction) of the inner projection 53 and the short side portion of the outer projection 55 are parallel to each other.

[0026] Furthermore, a peripheral projection 56 is provided at the upper end of the outer projection 55. As shown in Figure 1(A), the peripheral projection 56 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the outer projection 55 and extends around the entire circumference of the outer projection 55. Also, the peripheral projection 56 is narrower than the outer projection 55.

[0027] (Plug terminals / composite locking components) Figure 4 shows the plug 2 with the housing 50 removed. As shown in Figure 4, the six terminals 10 are arranged in two rows of three at equal intervals in the middle of the plug 2 in the left-right direction. The four composite locking members 20 are located on the left rear, left front, right rear, and right front of the plug 2, respectively. Specifically, of the four composite locking members 20, one is located to the left of the leftmost terminal 10 at the rear of the plug 2. Another composite locking member 20 is located to the left of the leftmost terminal 10 at the front of the plug 2. Yet another composite locking member 20 is located to the right of the rightmost terminal 10 at the rear of the plug 2. The remaining composite locking member 20 is located to the right of the rightmost terminal 10 at the front of the plug 2.

[0028] Each terminal 10 and each composite locking member 20 is formed from a conductive material such as metal, for example, a copper alloy such as phosphor bronze. Each terminal 10 and each composite locking member 20 is formed by cutting a metal plate made of, for example, a copper alloy into a predetermined shape and bending it.

[0029] (Details of the plug terminals) Figure 5 shows the leftmost of the three terminals 10 arranged at the rear of the plug 2 in Figure 4, viewed from the upper left rear. Figure 6 shows the cross-section of the rear of the plug 2, cut along the cutting line VI-VI in Figure 3, viewed from the left. Figure 6 shows the cross-section of the leftmost terminal 10 in the rear row.

[0030] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the leftmost terminal 10 in the rear row of the plug 2 has an inner extension portion 11 that extends from the outside inward (forward) along the upper surface of the inner projection portion 53 of the housing 50, an inner descending portion 12 that extends downward from the inner end (front end) of the inner extension portion 11 along the inner side surface (front) of the inner projection portion 53, an outer descending portion 13 that extends downward from the outer end (rear end) of the inner extension portion 11 along the outer side surface (rear) of the inner projection portion 53, and a lower surface extension portion 14 that extends from the lower end of the outer descending portion 13 through the inside of the bottom plate portion 51 to the lower surface 51A of the bottom plate portion 51, and then extends outward (rearward) along the lower surface 51A of the bottom plate portion 51 to the outer side surface (rear) of the bottom plate portion 51.

[0031] Furthermore, the leftmost terminal 10 in the back row has a contact portion 15, a connecting portion 16, and a locking portion 17. The contact portion 15 contacts the contact portion 67 of the terminal 60 of the receptacle 3 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The contact portion 15 is provided at one end of the terminal 10 and is located on the inner side surface of the inner projection 53 of the housing 50. Specifically, the inner downward portion 12 of the terminal 10 is the contact portion 15.

[0032] The connector 16 is connected to a circuit 122 provided on the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121. The connector 16 is provided at the other end of the terminal 10 and is positioned on the lower surface 51A of the bottom plate portion 51 of the housing 50. Specifically, the lower extension portion 14 is the connector 16.

[0033] The locking portion 17 engages with the locking portion 69 of the terminal 60 of the receptacle 3 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The locking portion 17 is formed on the upper part of the outer downward portion 13 of the terminal 10. Specifically, a recess 18 is formed on the lower part of the outer downward portion 13 that faces the outer space 54 (rear surface), and as a result, the upper part of the outer downward portion 13 that faces the outer space 54 protrudes toward the outer space 54 (rearward) relative to the bottom surface of the recess 18. This protruding portion is the locking portion 17.

[0034] In the six terminals 10 of plug 2, each terminal 10 except for the leftmost terminal 10 in the back row is formed in the same way as the leftmost terminal 10 in the back row. Furthermore, each terminal 10 is joined to the housing 50 by insert molding and is firmly held in place by the housing 50.

[0035] (Details of the plug's composite locking component) The four composite locking members 20 on the plug 2 work in cooperation with the two composite locking members 70 on the receptacle 3 to lock the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 together. That is, after the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected to each other, they prevent the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 from coming loose, thereby maintaining the connected state between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3 or 4, each composite locking member 20 of the plug 2 consists of front and rear locking members 21 and left and right locking members 41 connected to each other via connecting parts 49. These two locking members 21 and 41 are connected to form a composite locking member 20, which is formed by bending a single metal plate cut into a predetermined shape.

[0036] Furthermore, the plug 2 is provided with four composite locking members 20, resulting in four front-rear locking members 21 and four left-right locking members 41. Of the four front-rear locking members 21, two are located in the rear (one side) portion of the inner space 52 within the outer space 54 of the housing 50, and the remaining two are located in the front (other side) portion of the inner space 52 within the outer space 54. Also, of the four left-right locking members 41, two are located in the left (one side) portion of the inner space 52 within the outer space 54, and the remaining two are located in the right (other side) portion of the inner space 52 within the outer space 54. In addition, each front-rear locking member 21 is located in the portion extending in the left-right direction within the outer space 54, and each left-right locking member 41 is located in the portion extending in the front-rear direction within the outer space 54.

[0037] Figure 7 shows a view from the upper left rear of a single composite locking member 20 located on the left rear of plug 2 in Figure 4. Figure 8 shows a view from the left of a cross-section of the rear of plug 2 cut along the cutting line VIII-VIII in Figure 3. Figure 8 shows cross-sections of the front and rear locking members 21 of the composite locking member 20 on the left rear. Figure 9 shows a view from the rear of a cross-section of the left side of plug 2 cut along the cutting line IX-IX in Figure 3. Figure 9 shows cross-sections of the left and right locking members 41 of the composite locking member 20 on the left rear.

[0038] In the left rear composite locking member 20, the front and rear locking members 21, as shown in Figure 8, have an outer extension portion 22 that extends from the outside to the inside (forward) on the upper surface 51B of the bottom plate portion 51 between the inner side surface (front) of the outer protrusion portion 55 of the housing 50 and the outer side surface (rear) of the inner protrusion portion 53; an inner rising portion 23 that extends upward from the inner end (front end) of the outer extension portion 22 on the outer side surface of the inner protrusion portion 53; an inner extension portion 24 that extends from the upper end of the inner rising portion 23 on the upper surface of the inner protrusion portion 53 from the outside to the inside (forward); an inner descending portion 25 that extends downward from the inner end of the inner extension portion 24 on the inner side surface of the inner protrusion portion 53; and an outer rising portion 26 that extends upward from the outer end (rear end) of the outer extension portion 22 on the inner side surface of the outer protrusion portion 55. Furthermore, the front and rear locking member 21 has an outermost extension portion 27 that extends from the upper end of the outer rising portion 26 through the inside of the outer projection 55 from the inside to the outside (rearward), an outer descending portion 28 that extends downward from the outer end of the outermost extension portion 27 through the inside of the outer projection 55 to the lower surface 51A of the bottom plate portion 51, and a lower surface extension portion 29 that extends outward (rearward) from the lower end of the outer descending portion 28 along the lower surface 51A of the bottom plate portion 51 to the outer side surface (rear surface) of the bottom plate portion 51. In addition, the lower end of the inner descending portion 25 of the front and rear locking member 21 is connected to a connecting portion 49 that connects the front and rear locking member 21 and the left and right locking members 41. The entire outer descending portion 28 is embedded within the outer projection 55.

[0039] Furthermore, in the left rear composite locking member 20, the front and rear locking members 21 have an inner locking portion 30 and an outer locking portion 31. The inner locking portion 30 engages with the inner locking portion 76 of the front and rear locking members 71 of the receptacle 3 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The inner locking portion 30 is provided on the upper part of the inner rising portion 23 and is positioned on the outer side (rear surface) of the inner projection 53 of the housing 50. The inner locking portion 30 is formed by making the upper part of the inner rising portion 23 protrude outward (rearward).

[0040] The outer locking portion 31 engages with the outer locking portion 77 of the front and rear locking member 71 of the receptacle 3 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The outer locking portion 31 is provided on the upper part of the outer rise portion 26 and is positioned on the inner side (front) of the outer projection 55 of the housing 50. The outer locking portion 31 is formed by making the upper part of the outer rise portion 26 protrude inward (forward). The outer locking portion 31 also faces the inner locking portion 30 in the front-rear direction via the outer space 54.

[0041] Furthermore, in the left rear composite locking member 20, the front and rear locking members 21 have a connecting portion 32. The connecting portion 32 is connected to the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121. By connecting the connecting portion 32 to a pad provided on the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121 (for example, by soldering), the plug 2 can be firmly fixed on the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121. Alternatively, the connecting portion 32 may be connected to a circuit 122 provided on the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121. This allows the left rear composite locking member 20 to be used as a terminal. For example, terminal 10 may be used as a signal terminal, and the composite locking member 20 may be used as a power terminal or a ground terminal. The connecting portion 32 is provided at the outer end (rear end) of the front and rear locking member 21 and is positioned on the lower surface 51A of the bottom plate portion 51 of the housing 50. Specifically, the lower surface extension portion 29 of the front and rear locking member 21 is the connecting portion 32.

[0042] In the left rear composite locking member 20, as shown in Figure 9, the left and right locking members 41 have an outer extension portion 42 that extends from the outside to the inside (to the right) on the upper surface 51B of the bottom plate portion 51 between the inner side surface (right side) of the outer protrusion portion 55 of the housing 50 and the outer side surface (left side) of the inner protrusion portion 53; an inner rising portion 43 that extends upward from the inner end (right end) of the outer extension portion 42 on the outer side surface of the inner protrusion portion 53; an inner extension portion 44 that extends from the upper end of the inner rising portion 43 on the upper surface of the inner protrusion portion 53 from the outside to the inside (to the right); an inner descending portion 45 that extends downward from the inner end of the inner extension portion 44 on the inner side surface of the inner protrusion portion 53; and an outer rising portion 46 that extends upward from the outer end (left end) of the outer extension portion 42 on the inner side surface of the outer protrusion portion 55. Furthermore, the lower ends of the inner lowering portions 45 of the left and right locking members 41 are connected to the connecting portion 49.

[0043] Furthermore, in the left rear composite locking member 20, the left and right locking members 41 have an inner locking portion 47 and an outer locking portion 48. The inner locking portion 47 engages with the inner locking portion 85 of the left and right locking members 81 of the receptacle 3 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The inner locking portion 47 is provided on the upper part of the inner rising portion 43 and is positioned on the outer side (left side) of the inner projection 53 of the housing 50. The inner locking portion 47 is formed by making the upper part of the inner rising portion 43 protrude outward (to the left).

[0044] The outer locking portion 48 engages with the outer locking portion 86 of the front and rear locking member 71 of the receptacle 3 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The outer locking portion 48 is provided on the upper part of the outer rising portion 46 and is positioned on the inner side (right side) of the outer projection 55 of the housing 50. The outer locking portion 48 is formed by making the upper part of the outer rising portion 46 protrude inward (to the right). The outer locking portion 48 also faces the inner locking portion 47 in the left-right direction via the outer space 54.

[0045] As shown in Figure 4, the composite locking member 20 located on the left front of the plug 2 is formed symmetrically in the front-rear direction with the composite locking member 20 located on the left rear. The composite locking member 20 located on the right rear of the plug 2 is the same composite locking member as the left front, rotated 180 degrees horizontally and positioned on the right rear of the plug 2. The composite locking member 20 located on the right front of the plug 2 is the same composite locking member as the left rear, rotated 180 degrees horizontally and positioned on the right front of the plug 2. Each composite locking member 20 is bonded to the housing 50 by insert molding and firmly held in place by the housing 50.

[0046] The front and rear locking members 21 and the left and right locking members 41 are specific examples of the "first locking member". The outer extensions 22 and 42 are specific examples of the "first outer extension", the inner rising parts 23 and 43 are specific examples of the "first inner rising", and the outer rising parts 26 and 46 are specific examples of the "first outer rising". The outermost extension 27 is a specific example of the "first outermost extension", the outer descending part 28 is a specific example of the "first outer descending", and the bottom extension 29 is a specific example of the "first bottom extension". The inner locking parts 30 and 47 are specific examples of the "first inner locking", and the outer locking parts 31 and 48 are specific examples of the "first outer locking".

[0047] (Receptacle) Figure 10 shows the receptacle 3 viewed from above. As shown in Figure 10, the receptacle 3 comprises six terminals 60, two composite locking members 70, and a housing 90 that holds each terminal 60 and each composite locking member 70. The receptacle 3, like the plug 2, is formed by insert molding. Note that each terminal 60 is a specific example of a "second terminal," each composite locking member 70 is a specific example of a "second composite locking member," and the housing 90 is a specific example of a "second housing."

[0048] (Receptacle housing) As shown in Figure 1(B), the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape from an insulating material such as resin, for example, a liquid crystal polymer. The housing 90 has a bottom plate portion 91, an internal protrusion portion 92, an internal space 93, an external protrusion portion 94, an external space 95, and a peripheral wall portion 96. The bottom plate portion 91 is a specific example of the "second plate portion," the internal protrusion portion 92 is a specific example of the "second internal protrusion portion," and the internal space 93 is a specific example of the "second internal space." The external protrusion portion 94 is a specific example of the "second external protrusion portion," and the external space 95 is a specific example of the "second external space."

[0049] The bottom plate portion 91 is a plate-shaped part that forms the bottom of the housing 90. When the receptacle 3 is mounted on the substrate 131, the bottom plate portion 91 is placed on the mounting surface 131A such that the lower surface 91A of the bottom plate portion 91 faces the mounting surface 131A of the substrate 131 (see Figure 2). The inner projection portion 92 is located in the center of the bottom plate portion 91 in the front-rear and left-right directions and protrudes upward from the bottom plate portion 91. The inner space 93 is provided on the bottom plate portion 91 outside the inner projection portion 92 and surrounds the outside of the inner projection portion 92 all around. The outer projection portion 94 protrudes upward from the bottom plate portion 91 and surrounds the outside of the inner space 93 all around. The outer space 95 is provided on the bottom plate portion 91 outside the outer projection portion 94 and surrounds the outside of the outer projection portion 94 all around. The peripheral wall portion 96 protrudes upward from the periphery of the bottom plate portion 91 and surrounds the entire outside of the outer space 95.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, in a top view of the housing 90, the shape of the internal projection 92 is a rectangle that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. The external projection 94 and the peripheral wall 96 are each formed in a rectangular ring shape with an external rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction. The centers of the internal projection 92, the external projection 94, and the peripheral wall 96 coincide with each other. The long sides of the internal projection 92 (the parts that extend in the left-right direction), the external projection 94, and the peripheral wall 96 are all parallel to each other. The short sides of the internal projection 92 (the parts that extend in the front-rear direction), the external projection 94, and the peripheral wall 96 are all parallel to each other.

[0051] Furthermore, multiple terminal placement recesses 97 are formed in the internal projection 92. Each terminal placement recess 97 is a recess that forms a space that allows for the displacement of the contact portion 67 of the terminal 60. Three terminal placement recesses 97 are formed on the rear surface of the internal projection 92 to correspond to the terminals 60 arranged in two rows of three, front and back, and three more terminal placement recesses 97 are formed on the front surface of the internal projection 92.

[0052] Furthermore, a peripheral groove 98 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 91 in the area between the outward projection 94 and the peripheral wall portion 96. The peripheral groove 98 extends around the entire circumference between the outward projection 94 and the peripheral wall portion 96. The peripheral groove 98 also has a width smaller than the distance between the outward projection 94 and the peripheral wall portion 96.

[0053] (Receptacle terminals / composite locking components) Figure 11 shows the receptacle 3 with the housing 90 removed. As shown in Figure 11, the six terminals 60 are arranged in two rows of three, at equal intervals, in the middle of the left-right direction of the receptacle 3. The six terminals 60 are arranged to correspond one-to-one with the six terminals 10 of the plug 2. In addition, the two composite locking members 70 are located on the left and right sides of the receptacle 3, respectively. Specifically, one composite locking member 70 is located to the left of the two terminals 60 located on the far left, at the rear and front of the receptacle 3, respectively. The other composite locking member 70 is located to the right of the two terminals 60 located on the far right, at the rear and front of the receptacle 3, respectively.

[0054] Each terminal 60 and each composite locking member 70 is formed from a conductive material such as metal, for example, a copper alloy such as phosphor bronze. Each terminal 60 and each composite locking member 70 is formed by cutting a metal plate made of, for example, a copper alloy into a predetermined shape and bending it.

[0055] (Details of the receptacle terminals) Figure 12 shows the leftmost of the three terminals 60 arranged on the front of the receptacle 3 in Figure 11, viewed from the upper left rear. Figure 13 shows the cross-section of the front of the receptacle 3, cut along the cutting line XIII-XIII in Figure 10, viewed from the left. Figure 13 shows the cross-section of the leftmost terminal 60 in the front row.

[0056] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the leftmost terminal 60 in the front row of the receptacle 3 has an inner extension portion 61 that extends from the outside to the inside (rearward) on the upper surface 91B of the bottom plate portion 91 between the inner side surface (rear surface) of the outer projection portion 94 of the housing 90 and the outer side surface (front surface) of the inner projection portion 92, an inner rising portion 62 that extends upward from the inner end (rear end) of the inner extension portion 61, and an inner extension portion that extends upward from the outer end (front end) of the inner extension portion 61 on the inner side surface of the outer projection portion 94 It has an extended outer upward portion 63, an outer extension portion 64 extending from the upper end of the outer upward portion 63 along the upper surface of the outer projection 94 from the inside out (forward), an outer downward portion 65 extending downward from the outer end of the outer extension portion 64 through the inside of the outer projection 94 to the lower surface 91A of the bottom plate portion 91, and a lower surface extension portion 66 extending outward (forward) from the lower end of the outer downward portion 65 along the lower surface 91A of the bottom plate portion 91 to the outer side (front) of the bottom plate portion 91.

[0057] Furthermore, the leftmost terminal 60 in the front row has a contact portion 67, a connecting portion 68, and a locking portion 69. The contact portion 67 contacts the contact portion 15 of the terminal 10 of the plug 2 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The contact portion 67 is provided at one end of the terminal 60, specifically at the upper part of the inner rising portion 62. The contact portion 67 is formed by making a part of the upper part of the inner rising portion 62 protrude outward (forward). Also, as shown in Figure 13, the contact portion 67 is located near the opening of the terminal arrangement recess 97 formed in the inner projection 92. When the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected, the contact portion 67 is pushed inward (rearward) by the contact portion 15 of the terminal 10 of the plug 2, and strongly contacts the contact portion 15 of the terminal 10 due to the elastic force of the inner rising portion 62.

[0058] The connector 68 is connected to a circuit 132 provided on the mounting surface 131A of the circuit board 131. The connector 68 is provided at the other end of the terminal 60 and is positioned on the lower surface 91A of the bottom plate portion 91 of the housing 90. Specifically, the lower extension portion 66 is the connector 68.

[0059] The locking portion 69 engages with the locking portion 17 of the terminal 10 of the plug 2 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The locking portion 69 is formed at the lower part of the outer raised portion 63 of the terminal 60. That is, a recess is formed on the lower part of the outer raised portion 63 that faces the inner space 93 (rear surface), and this recess is the locking portion 69.

[0060] In the six terminals 60 of the receptacle 3, each terminal 60 except for the leftmost terminal 60 in the front row is formed in the same way as the leftmost terminal 60 in the front row. Furthermore, each terminal 60 is joined to the housing 90 by insert molding and is firmly held in place by the housing 90.

[0061] (Details of the composite locking component of the receptacle) The two composite locking members 70 on the receptacle 3 work in cooperation with the four composite locking members 20 on the plug 2 to lock the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 together. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the composite locking member 70 located on the left side of the receptacle 3 connects the front and rear locking member 71 located on the left rear side of the receptacle 3 and the left and right locking member 81 located on the left side of the receptacle 3 via a connecting portion 89 located at the left rear corner of the receptacle 3, and also connects the front and rear locking member 71 located on the left front side of the receptacle 3 and the left and right locking member 81 located on the left side of the receptacle 3 via a connecting portion 89 located at the left front corner of the receptacle 3. Furthermore, the composite locking member 70 located on the right side of the receptacle 3 connects the front and rear locking member 71 located on the right rear side of the receptacle 3 and the left and right locking member 81 located on the right side of the receptacle 3 via a connecting portion 89 located at the right rear corner of the receptacle 3, and also connects the front and rear locking member 71 located on the right front side of the receptacle 3 and the left and right locking member 81 located on the right side of the receptacle 3 via a connecting portion 89 located at the right front corner of the receptacle 3. Each composite locking member 70, which is formed by connecting and integrating the three locking members 71, 71, and 81, is formed by bending a single metal plate cut into a predetermined shape.

[0062] Furthermore, the receptacle 3 is provided with two composite locking members 70, resulting in four front-rear locking members 71 and two left-right locking members 81. Of the four front-rear locking members 71, two are located on the rear (one side) portion of the internal projection 92 on the external projection 94 of the housing 90, and the remaining two are located on the front (other side) portion of the internal projection 92 on the external projection 94. Of the two left-right locking members 81, one is located on the left (one side) portion of the internal projection 92 on the external projection 94, and the other is located on the right (other side) portion of the internal projection 92 on the external projection 94. Additionally, each front-rear locking member 71 is located on the portion of the external projection 94 that extends in the left-right direction, and each left-right locking member 81 is located on the portion of the external projection 94 that extends in the front-rear direction.

[0063] Figure 14 shows the left composite locking member 70 viewed from the upper left rear. Figure 15 shows the cross-section of the receptacle 3 cut along the cutting line XV-XV in Figure 10, viewed from the left. Figure 15 shows the cross-sections of the two front and rear locking members 71 of the left composite locking member 70. Figure 16 shows the cross-section of the left part of the receptacle 3 cut along the cutting line XVI-XVI in Figure 10, viewed from the rear. Figure 16 shows the cross-sections of the left and right locking members 81 of the left composite locking member 70.

[0064] In the left composite locking member 70 of the receptacle 3, the front and rear locking member 71 at the left rear has, as shown on the right side in Figure 15, an outer extension portion 72 that extends from the outside inward (forward) on the upper surface of the outer projection portion 94 of the housing 90, an inner descending portion 73 that extends downward from the inner end (front end) of the outer extension portion 72 on the inner side (front) of the outer projection portion 94, an outer descending portion 74 that extends downward from the outer end (rear end) of the outer extension portion 72 on the outer side (rear) of the outer projection portion 94, and a lower surface extension portion 75 that extends from the lower end of the outer descending portion 74 through the inside of the bottom plate portion 91 to the bottom surface of the bottom plate portion 91, and then extends outward (rearward) on the bottom surface 91A of the bottom plate portion 91 to the outer side (rear) of the bottom plate portion 91.

[0065] Furthermore, in the left composite locking member 70, the front and rear locking member 71 at the left rear has an inner locking portion 76 and an outer locking portion 77. The inner locking portion 76 engages with the inner locking portion 30 of the front and rear locking member 21 of the plug 2 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The inner locking portion 76 is provided on the upper part of the inner lowering portion 73 and is positioned on the inner side (front) of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90. The inner locking portion 76 is formed by making the upper part of the inner lowering portion 73 protrude inward (forward).

[0066] The outer locking portion 77 engages with the outer locking portion 31 of the front and rear locking member 21 of the plug 2 when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The outer locking portion 77 is located at the lower part of the outer descending portion 74 and is positioned on the outer side surface (rear surface) of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90. That is, a recess is formed on the surface (rear surface) of the lower part of the outer descending portion 74 that faces the outer space 95, and this recess is the outer locking portion 77. Furthermore, the outer locking portion 77 faces the inner locking portion 76 in the front-rear direction via the outer projection 94.

[0067] Furthermore, in the left composite locking member 70, the left rear front and rear locking member 71 has a connecting portion 78. Similar to the front and rear locking members 21 of the plug 2, the receptacle 3 can be firmly fixed on the mounting surface 131A of the circuit board 131 by connecting the connecting portion 78 (for example, by soldering) to the mounting surface 131A of the circuit board 131. In addition, the left composite locking member 70 can be used as a terminal by connecting the connecting portion 78 to the circuit 132 provided on the mounting surface 131A of the circuit board 131. The connecting portion 78 is provided at the outer end (rear end) of the left rear front and rear locking member 71 and is positioned on the lower surface 91A of the bottom plate portion 91 of the housing 90. Specifically, the lower surface extension portion 75 of the left rear front and rear locking member 71 is the connecting portion 78.

[0068] In the left composite locking member 70, the front and rear locking member 71 on the left front is formed symmetrically in the front-rear direction with the front and rear locking member 71 on the left rear of the left composite locking member 70, as shown in Figure 14.

[0069] In the left composite locking member 70, as shown in Figure 16, the left and right locking members 81 have an outer extension portion 82 that extends from the outside inward (to the right) on the upper surface of the outer projection portion 94 of the housing 90, an inner descending portion 83 that extends downward from the inner end (right end) of the outer extension portion 82 on the inner side surface (right side) of the outer projection portion 94, and an outer descending portion 84 that extends downward from the outer end (left end) of the outer extension portion 82 on the outer side surface (left side) of the outer projection portion 94.

[0070] Furthermore, in the left composite locking member 70, the left and right locking members 81 have an inner locking portion 85 and an outer locking portion 86. When the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected, the inner locking portion 85 engages with the inner locking portions 47 of the two left and right locking members 41 of the plug 2, which are vertically opposed to the left composite locking member 70 and the left locking members 81. The inner locking portion 85 is provided on the upper part of the inner lowering portion 83 and is positioned on the inner side (right side) of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90. The inner locking portion 85 is formed by making the upper part of the inner lowering portion 83 protrude inward (to the right).

[0071] The outer locking portion 86 engages with the left and right locking members 81 of the left composite locking member 70 and the outer locking portions 48 of the two left and right locking members 41 of the plug 2, which are vertically opposed to each other, when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected. The outer locking portion 86 is located at the lower part of the outer descending portion 84 and is positioned on the outer side surface (left side) of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90. That is, a recess is formed on the surface (left side) of the lower part of the outer descending portion 84 that faces the outer space 95, and this recess is the outer locking portion 86. Furthermore, the outer locking portion 86 is opposed to the inner locking portion 85 in the left-right direction via the outer projection 94.

[0072] Furthermore, in the left composite locking member 70, the left and right locking members 81 have cover portions 87 that cover the left end of the internal projection 92 of the housing 90. The cover portion 87 has the function of reinforcing the left end of the internal projection 92. As shown in Figure 16, the cover portion 87 is connected to the lower end of the internal lowering portion 83 of the left and right locking members 81 via a cover connecting portion 88 that extends from the inner side surface (right side) of the external projection 94 to the outer side surface (left side) of the internal projection 92 on the upper surface 91B of the bottom plate portion 91.

[0073] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, in the left composite locking member 70, the connecting portion 89 that connects the left rear front and rear locking member 71 and the left and right locking members 81 connects the left end of the outer downward portion 74 of the left rear front and rear locking member 71 and the rear end of the outer downward portion 74 of the left and right locking members 81. The connecting portion 89 also extends along the outer surface of the left rear corner of the outward projection 94 of the housing 90. The outer surface of the left rear corner of the outward projection 94 has an arc-shaped R surface. The connecting portion 89 is curved in an arc along this R surface. Similarly, in the left composite locking member 70, the connecting portion 89 that connects the left front front and rear locking member 71 and the left and right locking members 81 connects the left end of the outer downward portion 74 of the left front front and rear locking member 71 and the front end of the outer downward portion 74 of the left and right locking members 81. Furthermore, the connecting portion 89 extends along the outer surface of the left front corner of the outward projection 94 of the housing 90, and is curved along the R-shaped surface of the outer surface of the left front corner of the outward projection 94.

[0074] As shown in Figure 11, the composite locking member 70 located on the right side of the receptacle 3 is formed symmetrically with the left composite locking member 70 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, each composite locking member 70 is bonded to the housing 90 by insert molding and is firmly held in place by the housing 90.

[0075] The front and rear locking members 71 and the left and right locking members 81 are specific examples of the "second locking member". The outer extensions 72 and 82 are specific examples of the "second outer extension", the inner descending parts 73 and 83 are specific examples of the "second inner descending", and the outer descending parts 74 and 84 are specific examples of the "second outer descending". The lower extension 75 is a specific example of the "second lower extension". The inner locking parts 76 and 85 are specific examples of the "second inner locking", and the outer locking parts 77 and 86 are specific examples of the "second outer locking".

[0076] (Connecting the plug and receptacle) Figures 17(A) to 17(C) show the state immediately before plug 2 and receptacle 3 are connected. In Figure 17(A), the cross-section of plug 2 is the cross-section obtained by cutting plug 2 in Figure 3 along the cutting line VI-VI, and the cross-section of receptacle 3 is the cross-section obtained by cutting receptacle 3 in Figure 10 along the cutting line XIII-XIII. In Figure 17(B), the cross-section of plug 2 is the cross-section obtained by cutting plug 2 in Figure 3 along the cutting line VIII-VIII, and the cross-section of receptacle 3 is the cross-section obtained by cutting receptacle 3 in Figure 10 along the cutting line XV-XV. In Figure 17(C), the cross-section of plug 2 is the cross-section obtained by cutting plug 2 in Figure 3 along the cutting line IX-IX, and the cross-section of receptacle 3 is the cross-section obtained by cutting receptacle 3 in Figure 10 along the cutting line XVI-XVI. Also, in Figures 17(A) to (C), plug 2 is inverted vertically.

[0077] As shown in Figures 17(A) to (C), the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected by fitting the upper part of the housing 50 of the plug 2 and the upper part of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 together, facing each other. When the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected, the inner projection 92 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 enters the inner space 52 of the housing 50 of the plug 2, the inner projection 53 of the housing 50 of the plug 2 enters the inner space 93 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3, the outer projection 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 enters the outer space 54 of the housing 50 of the plug 2, and the outer projection 55 of the housing 50 of the plug 2 enters the outer space 95 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3.

[0078] In Figure 17(A), the internal projection 53 of the housing 50 of the plug 2 enters the internal space 93 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3, causing the contact points 15 of the six terminals 10 of the plug 2 and the contact points 67 of the six terminals 60 of the receptacle 3, which are opposite each other in the vertical direction, to come into contact with each other. As a result, the circuit 122 of the circuit board 121 on which the plug 2 is mounted and the circuit 132 of the circuit board 131 on which the receptacle 3 is mounted are electrically connected to each other. At the same time, the locking parts 17 of each terminal 10 of the plug 2 and the locking parts 69 of each terminal 60 of the receptacle 3 are locked together. This maintains the state in which each terminal 10 and each terminal 60 are in contact with each other.

[0079] Furthermore, in Figure 17(B), as the protruding portion 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 enters the outer space 54 of the housing 50 of the plug 2, the inner locking portions 30 of each front and rear locking member 21 of the plug 2 and the inner locking portions 76 of each front and rear locking member 71 of the receptacle 3 are locked together, and at the same time, the outer locking portions 31 of each front and rear locking member 21 of the plug 2 and the outer locking portions 77 of each front and rear locking member 71 of the receptacle 3 are locked together. As a result, the left rear, left front, right rear, and right front of the plug 2 and the left rear, left front, right rear, and right front of the receptacle 3 are locked together.

[0080] Furthermore, in Figure 17(C), as the protruding portion 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 enters the outer space 54 of the housing 50 of the plug 2, the inner locking portions 47 of each left and right locking member 41 of the plug 2 and the inner locking portions 85 of each left and right locking member 81 of the receptacle 3 are locked together, and at the same time, the outer locking portions 48 of each left and right locking member 41 of the plug 2 and the outer locking portions 86 of each left and right locking member 81 of the receptacle 3 are locked together. As a result, the left and right parts of the plug 2 and the left and right parts of the receptacle 3 are locked together.

[0081] Furthermore, in Figures 17(B) and (C), when the protruding portion 55 of the housing 50 of the plug 2 enters the outer space 95 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3, the peripheral projection 56 of the plug 2 enters the peripheral groove 98 of the receptacle 3. This allows for a liquid-tight seal between the peripheral edge of the housing 50 of the plug 2 and the peripheral edge of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 (specifically, between the peripheral projection 56 and the peripheral groove 98, or between the protruding portion 55 and the peripheral wall 96). By creating a liquid-tight seal between the peripheral edge of housing 50 and the peripheral edge of housing 90, it is possible to prevent liquid or liquid substance such as potting agent from entering from outside housings 50 and 90 into the area inside the peripheral projection 56 in housing 50 of plug 2, and into the area inside the peripheral groove 98 in housing 90 of receptacle 3, after connection between plug 2 and receptacle 3.

[0082] As described above, in the connector device 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, the front and rear locking members 21 of the plug 2 have an inner locking portion 30 arranged on the outer side surface of the inner projection 53 of the housing 50 of the plug 2, and an outer locking portion 31 arranged on the inner side surface of the outer projection 55 of the housing 50. The front and rear locking members 71 of the receptacle 3 have an inner locking portion 76 arranged on the inner side surface of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3, and an outer locking portion 77 arranged on the outer side surface of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90. When the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are connected, the inner locking portion 30 of the front and rear locking members 21 of the plug 2 and the inner locking portion 76 of the front and rear locking members 71 of the receptacle 3 are locked together, and the outer locking portion 31 of the front and rear locking members 21 of the plug 2 and the outer locking portion 77 of the front and rear locking members 71 of the receptacle 3 are locked together. With this configuration, the connector device 1 of this embodiment can increase the locking strength between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 compared to conventional connector devices.

[0083] To explain in more detail, in the conventional connector device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-149374 (Patent Document 1), as shown in Figure 5 of the said publication, when connecting a plug connector (2) and a receptacle connector (1), the locked step portion (71A) of the plug lock fitting (70) located on the outer side surface of the projection of the housing (50) of the plug connector (2) and the lock recess (35A) of the receptacle lock fitting (30) located on the inner side surface of the projection on the outer circumference of the housing (10) of the receptacle connector (1) are locked together. In this conventional connector device, the locking structure is such that only the inner side surface of the outer projection of the receptacle housing is connected to the plug housing via a locking member. In contrast, in the connector device 1 of this embodiment, when connecting the plug 2 and the receptacle 3, the inner locking part 30 located on the outer side surface of the inner projection 53 of the housing 50 of the plug 2 and the inner locking part 76 located on the inner side surface of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 are locked together. At the same time, the outer locking part 31 located on the inner side surface of the outer projection 55 of the housing 50 of the plug 2 and the outer locking part 77 located on the outer side surface of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 are locked together. The locking structure in the connector device 1 of this embodiment is such that both the inner and outer sides of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3 are connected to the housing 50 of the plug 2 via a locking member. Comparing the strength of the connection between the plug and the receptacle in a conventional connector device where only the inner side surface of the outer protrusion of the receptacle housing is connected to the plug housing via a locking member, with the locking structure in the connector device 1 of this embodiment where both the inner and outer side surfaces of the outer protrusion of the receptacle housing are connected to the plug housing via a locking member, the locking structure in the connector device 1 of this embodiment provides a stronger connection between the plug and the receptacle than the locking structure in the conventional connector device. Therefore, the connector device 1 of this embodiment can increase the strength of the lock between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 compared to the conventional connector device.

[0084] Furthermore, in the connector device 1 of this embodiment, the front and rear locking members 21 of the plug 2 are formed from a metal plate held in the housing 50 of the plug 2. The front and rear locking members 21 have an outer extension portion 22 that extends from the outside to the inside on the upper surface 51B of the bottom plate portion 51 between the inner side surface of the outer protrusion 55 and the outer side surface of the inner protrusion 53 of the housing 50 of the plug 2, an inner rising portion 23 that extends upward on the outer side surface of the inner protrusion 53, and an outer rising portion 26 that extends upward on the inner side surface of the outer protrusion 55. The inner locking portion 30 is provided on the inner rising portion 23, and the outer locking portion 31 is provided on the outer rising portion 26. As a result, the front and rear locking members 21 can be formed from a single U-shaped or curved metal plate that follows the outer side surface of the inner protrusion 53, the upper surface 51B of the bottom plate portion 51, and the inner side surface of the outer protrusion 55. Therefore, the strength of the front and rear locking members 21 can be increased, and the bonding strength between the front and rear locking members 21 and the housing 50 in the plug 2 formed by insert molding can be increased. In addition, the front and rear locking members 21 can be easily attached to the mold during insert molding.

[0085] Furthermore, the front and rear locking members 21 of the plug 2 have an outer downward portion 28 embedded within the outer projection 55 of the housing 50 of the plug 2. This further increases the strength of the connection between the front and rear locking members 21 and the housing 50.

[0086] Furthermore, the front and rear locking members 21 of the plug 2 have a lower extension portion 29 that extends along the lower surface 51A of the housing 50 of the plug 2 and connects to the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121. This allows the plug 2 to be firmly fixed to the mounting surface 121A of the circuit board 121 via the lower extension portion 29 (connecting portion 32), and the front and rear locking members 21 can also be used as terminals.

[0087] Furthermore, in the connector device 1 of this embodiment, the front and rear locking members 71 of the receptacle 3 are formed from metal plates held in the housing 90 of the receptacle 3. The front and rear locking members 71 have an outer extension portion 72 extending from the outside to the inside on the upper surface of the outer projection 94 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3, an inner descending portion 73 extending downward on the inner side surface of the outer projection 94, and an outer descending portion 74 extending downward on the outer side surface of the outer projection 94. The inner locking portion 76 is provided on the inner descending portion 73, and the outer locking portion 77 is provided on the outer descending portion 74. This allows the front and rear locking members 71 to be formed from metal plates bent in a U-shape or U-shape so as to follow the inner side surface of the outer projection 94, the upper surface of the outer projection 94, and the outer side surface of the outer projection 94. Therefore, the strength of the front and rear locking members 71 can be increased, and the bonding strength between the front and rear locking members 71 and the housing 90 in the receptacle 3 formed by insert molding can be increased. In addition, the front and rear locking members 71 can be easily attached to the mold during insert molding.

[0088] Furthermore, the front and rear locking members 71 of the receptacle 3 have a lower extension portion 75 that extends over the lower surface of the housing 90 and is connected to the mounting surface 131A of the substrate 131. This allows the receptacle 3 to be firmly fixed to the mounting surface 131A of the substrate 131 via the lower extension portion 75 (connecting portion 78), and the front and rear locking members 71 can also be used as terminals.

[0089] Furthermore, in the connector device 1 of the present invention, the plug 2 has four front and rear locking members 21, of which two front and rear locking members 21 are provided in the portion of the housing 50 located behind the inner space 52 in the outer space 54, and the remaining two front and rear locking members 21 are provided in the portion of the housing 50 located in front of the inner space 52 in the outer space 54. The receptacle 3 also has four front and rear locking members 71, of which two front and rear locking members 71 are provided in the portion of the housing 90 located behind the inner protrusion 92 in the outer protrusion 94, and the remaining two front and rear locking members 71 are provided in the portion of the outer protrusion 94 located in front of the inner protrusion 92. As a result, the rear of the plug 2 and the rear of the receptacle 3 can be prevented from coming off by locking each front and rear locking member 21 of the plug 2 and each front and rear locking member 71 of the receptacle 3, and the front of the plug 2 and the front of the receptacle 3 can be prevented from coming off. Therefore, even when a force is applied to the connector device 1 that attempts to separate the rear of the plug 2 and the rear of the receptacle 3 from each other, or when a force is applied to the connector device 1 that attempts to separate the front of the plug 2 and the front of the receptacle 3 from each other, the connection between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 can be maintained against these forces, thereby increasing the strength of the lock between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3.

[0090] Furthermore, in the connector device 1 of the present invention, the plug 2 has four left and right locking members 41, of which two left and right locking members 41 are provided in the portion of the housing 50 located to the left of the inner space 52 in the outer space 54, and the remaining two left and right locking members 41 are provided in the portion of the housing 50 located to the right of the inner space 52 in the outer space 54. The receptacle 3 also has two left and right locking members 81, of which one left and right locking member 81 is provided in the portion of the housing 90 located to the left of the inner protrusion 92 in the outer protrusion 94, and the other left and right locking member 81 is provided in the portion of the outer protrusion 94 located to the right of the inner protrusion 92. As a result, the locking of each left and right locking member 41 of the plug 2 with each left and right locking member 81 of the receptacle 3 prevents the left part of the plug 2 from coming off and prevents the right part of the plug 2 from coming off. Therefore, even when a force is applied to the connector device 1 that attempts to separate the left side of the plug 2 and the left side of the receptacle 3 from each other, or when a force is applied to the connector device 1 that attempts to separate the right side of the plug 2 and the right side of the receptacle 3 from each other, the connection between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 can be maintained against these forces, thereby increasing the strength of the lock between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3.

[0091] Furthermore, in plug 2, each front and rear locking member 21 is provided on the portion extending in the left-right direction in the outer space 54, and each left and right locking member 41 is provided on the portion extending in the front-rear direction in the outer space 54. Similarly, in receptacle 3, each front and rear locking member 71 is provided on the portion extending in the left-right direction in the outer projection 94, and each left and right locking member 81 is provided on the portion extending in the front-rear direction in the outer projection 94. When plug 2 and receptacle 3 are connected, each locking member 21, 41 of plug 2 and each locking member 71, 81 of receptacle 3 are locked together. As a result, when the substrates 121 and 131 are connected to each other by the connector device 1, even if a force is applied to tilt the substrate 121 in the front-to-back direction relative to the substrate 131, or if a force is applied to tilt the substrate 121 in the left-to-right direction relative to the substrate 131, the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 can maintain their connected state against these forces, thereby increasing the strength of the lock between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3.

[0092] Furthermore, in the connector device 1 of this embodiment, the plug 2 includes a composite locking member 20 in which front and rear locking members 21 and left and right locking members 41 are connected, and the composite locking member 20 is formed from a single metal plate. By integrating the front and rear locking members 21 and the left and right locking members 41, the strength of each of the front and rear locking members 21 and the left and right locking members 41 can be increased, and the number of parts that need to be mounted in the mold during insert molding of the plug 2 can be reduced. Similarly, the receptacle 3 includes a composite locking member 70 in which front and rear locking members 71 and left and right locking members 81 are connected, and the composite locking member 70 is formed from a single metal plate. By integrating the front and rear locking members 71 and the left and right locking members 81, the strength of each of the front and rear locking members 71 and the left and right locking members 81 can be increased, and the number of parts that need to be mounted in the mold during insert molding of the receptacle 3 can be reduced.

[0093] Furthermore, in the composite locking member 70 of the receptacle 3, the connecting portion 89 that connects the front and rear locking members 71 and the left and right locking members 81 extends along the outer side surface of the corner of the protruding portion 55 of the housing 90 of the receptacle 3. This allows the outer side surface of the connecting portion 89 to contact the surface of the mold when the composite locking member 70 is mounted to the mold during insert molding of the receptacle 3, thereby securely fixing the composite locking member 70 to the mold.

[0094] Furthermore, the left and right locking members 41 of the plug 2 may be provided with an outermost extension, an outer downward extension, and a lower extension, similar to the front and rear locking members 21. Also, the left and right locking members 81 of the receptacle 3 may be provided with a lower extension, similar to the front and rear locking members 71.

[0095] Furthermore, in plug 2, the front edges of the left and right locking members 41 of the left rear composite locking member 20 and the rear edges of the left and right locking members 41 of the left front composite locking member 20 may be joined together to integrate the left rear composite locking member 20 and the left front composite locking member 20. Similarly, the right rear composite locking member 20 and the right front composite locking member 20 may be integrated.

[0096] Furthermore, in plug 2 or receptacle 3, the front / rear locking members and the left / right locking members do not need to be connected. Also, in plug 2 and receptacle 3, the locking members may consist only of front / rear locking members or only of left / right locking members. Also, in plug 2 and receptacle 3, the number of front / rear locking members or left / right locking members may be increased or decreased. Also, in plug 2 and receptacle 3, the number of terminals is not limited. Also, in receptacle 3, the peripheral wall portion 96 is not required.

[0097] Furthermore, the present invention may be modified as appropriate, provided that it does not contradict the gist or idea of ​​the invention as can be read from the claims and the specification as a whole, and connector devices with such modifications are also included in the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1. Connector device 2 Plugs (1st connector) 3. Receptacle (Second Connector) 10 terminal (1st terminal) 20. Composite locking member (first composite locking member) 21 Front and rear locking members (first locking member) 22 Outer extension part (first outer extension part) 23. Inner rising section (first inner rising section) 26. Outer rising section (first outer rising section) 27. Outermost extension (first outermost extension) 28 Outer descending section (first outer descending section) 29 Bottom extension part (first bottom extension part) 30 Internal locking mechanism (first internal locking mechanism) 31. External locking section (first external locking section) 41 Left and right locking members (first locking member) 42 Outer extension part (1st outer extension part) 43. Inner rising section (first inner rising section) 46 Outer rising section (First outer rising section) 47 Internal locking mechanism (first internal locking mechanism) 48. External locking section (first external locking section) 49 Connecting part 50 Housing (Housing 1) 51 Bottom plate part (1st plate part) 52. Inner space (first inner space) 53. Internal protrusion (first internal protrusion) 54 Outside space (1st outside space) 55 External protrusion (1st external protrusion) 60 terminal (2nd terminal) 70. Composite locking member (second composite locking member) 71 Front and rear locking members (second locking member) 72 External extension part (2nd external extension part) 73 Inner descending section (second inner descending section) 74 Outer descending section (second outer descending section) 75 Bottom extension part (second bottom extension part) 76 Internal locking mechanism (second internal locking mechanism) 77 External locking section (second external locking section) 81 Left and right locking members (second locking member) 82 External extension part (2nd external extension part) 83 Inner descending section (second inner descending section) 84 Outer descending section (second outer descending section) 85 Internal locking mechanism (second internal locking mechanism) 86 External locking section (second external locking section) 89 Connecting part 90 Housing (Second Housing) 91 Bottom plate part (second plate part) 92 Internal protrusion (second internal protrusion) 93. Inner space (second inner space) 94 External protrusion (second external protrusion) 121 Circuit board (First circuit board) 131 Circuit board (Second circuit board)

Claims

1. A connector device comprising a first connector mounted on a first substrate, and a second connector mounted on a second substrate and connected to the first connector, The first connector comprises a first terminal, a first locking member, and a first housing. The second connector comprises a second terminal, a second locking member, and a second housing. The first housing has a first plate portion which is placed on the first substrate such that its lower surface faces the first substrate, a first internal projection which protrudes upward from the first plate portion and surrounds the outside of the first internal space on the first plate portion, and a first external projection which protrudes upward from the first plate portion and surrounds the outside of the first internal projection via the first external space, The second housing has a second plate portion placed on the second substrate such that its lower surface faces the second substrate, a second internal projection protruding upward from the second plate portion, and a second external projection protruding upward from the second plate portion and surrounding the outside of the second internal projection via a second internal space. When the first connector and the second connector are connected, the second internal protrusion enters the first internal space, the first internal protrusion enters the second internal space, and the second external protrusion enters the first external space. One end of the first terminal is positioned on the first internal projection, and the other end of the first terminal is positioned on the lower surface of the first plate or extends to the outer side surface of the first plate. One end of the second terminal is positioned within the second internal space, and the other end of the second terminal is positioned on the lower surface of the second plate or extends to the outer side surface of the second plate. The first locking member has a first inner locking portion disposed on the outer surface of the first inner projection and a first outer locking portion disposed on the inner surface of the first outer projection. The connector device is characterized in that the second locking member has a second inner locking portion disposed on the inner surface of the second outer projection and engaged with the first inner locking portion, and a second outer locking portion disposed on the outer surface of the second outer projection and engaged with the first outer locking portion.

2. The first locking member is formed from a metal plate held in the first housing, The first locking member has a first external extension portion that extends from the outside to the inside on the upper surface of the first plate portion between the inner surface of the first external projection portion and the outer surface of the first internal projection portion, a first internal rise portion that extends upward from the inner end of the first external extension portion on the outer surface of the first internal projection portion, and a first external rise portion that extends upward from the outer end of the first external extension portion on the inner surface of the first external projection portion. The connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first internal locking portion is provided on the first internal rising portion, and the first external locking portion is provided on the first external rising portion.

3. The connector device according to claim 2, wherein the first locking member further comprises a first outermost extension portion extending from the upper end of the first outer rising portion to the upper surface or interior of the first outer projection portion from the inside to the outside, a first outer descending portion extending downward from the outer end of the first outermost extension portion to the interior of the first outer projection portion to the lower surface of the first plate portion, and a first lower surface extension portion extending from the lower end of the first outer descending portion to the lower surface of the first plate portion.

4. The second locking member is formed from a metal plate held in the second housing, The second locking member has a second outward extension portion extending from the outside to the inside on the upper surface of the second outward projection, a second inward descending portion extending downward from the inner end of the second outward extension portion along the inner side surface of the second outward projection, and a second outward descending portion extending downward from the outer end of the second outward extension portion along the outer side surface of the second outward projection. The connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second internal locking portion is provided in the second internal descending portion, and the second external locking portion is provided in the second external descending portion.

5. The connector device according to claim 4, characterized in that the second locking member extends from the lower end of the second outer descending portion to the lower surface of the second plate portion, and then further extends on the lower surface of the second plate portion.

6. The first connector comprises a plurality of first locking members, one of the plurality of first locking members provided in a portion located on one side of the first inner space within the first outer space, and the other of the plurality of first locking members provided in a portion located on the other side of the first inner space within the first outer space. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second connector comprises a plurality of second locking members, one of the plurality of second locking members is provided on a portion of the second external projection located on one side of the second internal projection, and the other second locking members are provided on a portion of the second external projection located on the other side of the second internal projection.

7. The first connector comprises a plurality of first locking members, one of the plurality of first locking members provided in a portion extending in the left-right direction in the first outer space, and the other of the plurality of first locking members provided in a portion extending in the front-rear direction in the first outer space. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second connector comprises a plurality of second locking members, one of the plurality of second locking members is provided on a portion of the second protrusion that extends in the left-right direction, and the other second locking members are provided on a portion of the second protrusion that extends in the front-rear direction.

8. The first connector includes a first composite locking member in which the one first locking member and the other first locking member are connected, The connector device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first composite locking member is formed from a single metal plate.

9. The second connector comprises a second composite locking member to which the first second locking member and the other second locking member are connected. The connector device according to claim 7, characterized in that the second composite locking member is formed from a single metal plate.

10. The second composite locking member has a connecting portion that connects the first second locking member and the other second locking member to each other. The connector device according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting portion extends along the outer surface of the corner of the second protruding portion.

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